Category: Fourre-tout

The invasion is underway. I don’t know if you are aware of it, but we have been overrun. In a new type of blitzkrieg, silent columns of enemy convoys have been pouring over our borders with virtually no resistance.

Our vaunted Maginot Line has been as effective as its French parents. The attack has been sneaky but effective and the distraught population is grasping for answers.

In the case of a national crisis, citizens usually turn to their leaders for guidance and reassurance, but our king has been far from comforting. We have “beautiful tests” he said, but we don’t know where they are and how many we have. Just a few as I understand it.

According to the 2018 census, we have a population of about 325 million in the United States and we have tested less than 5000 people for the Coronavirus. In comparison, South Korea with about 50 million, has tested more than 100,000 people. Is it me or is there something seriously wrong with our Healthcare System? It is no time to panic (yet), but we have to acknowledge our weakness and do something about it. Fast. Very fast.

When I came to the United States, I noticed that the people were very loud, much louder than in Europe. I thought about it and I came to the conclusion (?) that the Europeans were much quieter than the Americans because they all had been occupied during World War Two.

When you are under the enemy’s thumb, you remain quiet and discreet. You don’t want to attract any undue attention and you whisper instead of talking normally. You don’t know who is sitting at the next table and what they will do if they hear your conversation. You are suspicious of everybody and everything.

Today, we are creeping in this direction. If anybody around you coughs or sneezes (especially if they look Asian), you don’t stick around. You even become wary of your pets… not me, I haste to say.

If we don’t develop an effective vaccine quickly enough, we will morph in such people. We will keep away from one another and whisper… plotting violent retribution.

I would feel much better, if the man in charge appeared on television with rolled-up sleeves, speaking from the heart instead of reading a script. This would reassure me (and all of us) much more than deferring a difficult job to a political toady,

I love you, but don’t try to sneak up and plant a big one on me.

Alain

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Before I start my little briefing, I would like to recognize Mike O’Leary, Mark Shirkey, Sandra Shirkey, and Abby Danielson.

According to my intelligence people, these individuals worked tirelessly to groom our field, particularly Mark and Sandra who were here last Thursday and Saturday. Please give these people a big, very big, round of applause.

When I woke up Sunday morning, I peeked outside and the first thing I noticed was a white blanket of frost covering the surrounding roofs.
My cat who is a weather authority declined to go outside to do whatever she does every morning. This was telling. I then wondered, that due to the weather conditions and the fear of virus contamination, how many people would show up on our courts.

But Pétanquistas are a hearty breed. I was happily surprised to find out that, braving frost and virus threats, they came. Over 40 of them. Without counting those poor souls who could not find partners.

The temperature on the field that morning was hovering around 40 °F and never rose above 60. It was cold, especially in the early morning and late afternoon, and the minute they were done, most of the people hurriedly left the field. I personally was wearing five layers of clothing and managed fairly well.

Due to various reasons, I abstained to play in this tournament, and concentrate instead on recording this event on film. They say that “idle hands are the devil’s workshop” and since I didn’t have anything else to do, I shot hundreds of pictures. I recorded around 900 shots to be precise.

It took me a tremendous amount of time to correct and whittle this down to a reasonable quantity and that’s why I am late in publishing this report. But you won’t be disappointed. A picture is worth a thousand words and instead of telling you what happened, I will let the images tell the story.

Interestingly enough, none of the favorites came on top. I was very surprised to notice that Peter Mathis’ team after annihilating everybody in the morning was promptly eliminated in the afternoon. Same for Manu, Maggie and Erin. On the other hand, Bleys, George and Teri showed a dogged determination and it paid off.

You will probably also notice that since the threat of contamination is real, most of the people opted to greet their friends with the elbow bump. Some though, could not help themselves and continued to smooch.

Bug enough with small talk.

Concours:
1st Place: C. Couto, Brigitte Moran, Ken Lee                   $50.00 each
2^nd Place: G. Bedrossian, Teri Sirico, Bleys Rose           $42.00 each
3^rd Place: Ed Couto, Liza Moran, Louis Toulon               $33.00 each

Consolante:
1st Place: Kevin Evoy, Patrick Vaslet, H. Sammons         $25.00 each
2^nd Place: Eddy Pay, Beth Lysten, Trish                                $16.00 each

I hope that you will enjoy my pictures and let me know about it. It will do my heart good.

Alain

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The Great World Unifier has arrived. Hosanna! Hosanna!
Well, maybe not… for the Great Unifier is not really our friend but our enemy. Its only merit is its potential to unite all the nations of the world.

Alliance does not mean love any more than war means hate.
Francis Parker Yockey

Just a few short years ago, Martians were the enemies who would invade our planet and enslave Earthlings. But Martians have yet to materialize while Covid-19 (Darth Vader’s relative) is already among us.

Temporarily forgetting their past quarrels, world leaders are starting (albeit unwillingly) to cooperate to fight a common foe.

Covid-19 is a cunning enemy. It has not yet shown its face, but it is already in our midst, spreading fear and dissensions. Just like spying moles, it is hiding in plain sight.

Covid-19 is a unifier AND a divider. Its great strength lies with its uncanny ability to divide friends and families alike. Fear is irrational. The irony is that you might have cut communication with your neighbors while cooperating with Iran or China.

Humans, above all, fear the unknown and the Coronavirus is a riddle, difficult to comprehend. How is the virus spreading? Why is a person who does not travel (and has not been in contact with a traveler) is suddenly infected?

Is this the beginning of Armageddon?
The woefully unprepared authorities are wringing their hands and hoping for the best. Our commander in chief is as usual, uninformed about the situation, while assuring his fanbase that the country is fully prepared to cope with this calamity.

Judging by the frantic hoarding of face masks and disinfecting products, most of the population don’t share his crass optimism. And as usual, during a crisis, some contemptible hustlers are trying to gouge their fellow human beings. Would you pay $149 for a two-pack of 12-ounce bottles of Purell?

In France (a so-called socialist country) the price of hydroalcoholic gel has been capped at 2 euros per 50 ml. Pharmacies and websites will be fined 7,500 euros if they sell these gels above the set price.
What are we waiting for to mirror that decision? Is money more important than human lives?

In closing

This crisis, just like previous emergencies, will eventually abate and disappear. What won’t disappear so fast though are the mistakes and miscalculations perpetrated by incompetent people. A responsible high-level position should never be offered to anybody as a result of a pollical contribution. Merit is the only thing that should be considered.

Hello Washington, are you listening?

Virtual kisses and hugs.

Alai

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