tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-272955212024-03-07T21:30:10.829-06:00Bob BarbanesRandom, often inane ramblings of a career pilot/beach bum/motorcyclist/music loverBob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.comBlogger717125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-90389722018558525232023-05-26T09:05:00.002-05:002023-05-26T09:35:17.382-05:00AN ACT OF GLOBAL BIO-TERRORISMAs an Uber driver, I talk with around a dozen different people a day. We don't *all* talk about the pandemic anymore (as we used to during peak-panic), but the subject still comes up a lot. And it is interesting to me that so many people confidently *know* stuff that may or may not be true. I guess that's just human nature: Thanks to the internet, we think we're smarter than we are. Bob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-36697774854941160972021-05-17T19:55:00.000-05:002021-05-17T19:55:12.903-05:00UBER DRIVER SHORTAGE?Both Uber and Lyft are complaining that they do not have enough drivers. Every time I log-on, I'm bombarded with bonus offers for recommending other drivers sign-up. Not only that, but it's been really busy lately. However, many of the trip requests I get when I'm out and about are often 18 or 20 minutes away. (I always reject them; no need to drive for 18 minutes to pick Bob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-70604724345259924202021-04-14T09:53:00.000-05:002021-04-14T09:53:46.615-05:00HighpointersIt occurred to me that in all of the nine summers I spent in Washington State, I never once visited their tallest mountain. That would be Mt. Rainier, which towers up to 14,411 feet. Imagine my surprise to discover that here in Florida I'm living in the veritable shadow of the tallest point of the state! Britton Hill is in Lakewood Park, which is just 54 nautical miles to my east as the crow Bob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-9295516018620097762021-04-09T20:53:00.002-05:002021-04-09T20:53:16.232-05:00Dear DiaryI used to blog a lot. But now I do most of my writing on Facebook. There, I make semi-regular posts. I jokingly started referring to them as my "Morning Coffee Rambling" because I'd post them as I drank my...you get the idea. I actually stole said idea from my friend, Russell Madden, who usually posts long daily missives filled with common-sense and wisdom. To Bob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-18157148155853334412021-03-19T09:10:00.001-05:002021-03-19T12:03:48.378-05:00CORONAVIRUS: Some NumbersLet us be very, very clear: The death rate from COVID19 in the U.S. is 1.8%. In other words, if you get the disease, you have better than a 98% chance of survival. It is reported that 547,649 people have died from COVID19 in the U.S. That number is arguable, but let's accept it for this exercise. It is also reported that 29,632,042 people have tested positive for the virus. Okay, this is easyBob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-6963707286488380512021-03-03T10:30:00.002-06:002021-03-03T10:30:42.439-06:00CORONAVIRUS: Hey Abbott...!In discussing the coronavirus pandemic, one of my friends sighed, "I just want this to be over." A sentiment shared by all of us, I'm sure. I expressed my doubts that all this will ever be "over." I think that mask will still be required in certain places from now until...like...forever. And as a society we will always be suspicious when we're in the presence of someone with a cough or cold.Bob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-31406525266529821282021-01-26T08:51:00.000-06:002021-01-26T08:51:00.476-06:00TACO TUESDAY I had a hankering for Mexican food last night. Instead of going out, I made some shrimp tacos, which turned out great if I do say so myself. I know that Tuesday is official "taco day," and so I may have violated some law by having them on a Monday. Oh well, sue me. Anyway, it reminded me of the Tuesday nights in the summer up in Washington State when all of the cherry-drying pilots inBob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-40156904408220408732021-01-17T09:17:00.001-06:002021-01-17T09:17:32.437-06:00Political Advice From Actors?The headline in my newsfeed read: "ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY REACTS TO TRUMP IMPEACHMENT."Hmm. I don't know about y'all, but I'm really kind of tired of *actors*...let's say, "all people in the entertainment industry" trying to tell me how to think. I mean, I really don't give a shit. What makes friggin' Alec Baldwin an expert on anything, much less politics? George Clooney?&Bob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-22550286689635010912021-01-14T08:26:00.000-06:002021-01-14T08:26:25.627-06:00"Simple" JobsI walked into my laundry rooom the other day and thought I'd entered a sauna. Most of the year, that's not a totally unfamilar sensation here in Florida. But in January? Something was wrong. You've probably already guessed that the dryer hose had become disconnected. Not a big deal, right? Pull the dryer out, clean up all the lint and lost socks and other crap Bob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-19110042081789561552021-01-05T07:08:00.000-06:002021-01-05T07:08:12.680-06:00Lesson In HumilityIt was Saturday, January 2nd and I was out Ubering, now that that's a verb. I had both the Uber and Lyft apps on. I get a Lyft "ping" to pickup at the ghetto Walmart out on Mobile Highway. We Uber/Lyft drivers usually decline such trip requests, even at the non-ghetto Walmarts. Most WM shoppers live pretty close to the store. The trip usually involves a ton of Bob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-88214167345003274612020-12-31T11:28:00.002-06:002020-12-31T11:37:28.244-06:00CORONAVIRUS - NEW YEAR'S EVE UPDATEAs for the coronavirus...heyyy, it's been a while since we talked about it! So let's.At one point, the "experts" were saying that for natural "herd immunity" to kick in, something like 60% of the population had to be infected. I don't know if that's still true or not; they keep moving the goal posts. You never know what numbers are going to come out of Dr. Fauci's ass (or hat, Bob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-26563347866168402402020-12-22T21:55:00.000-06:002020-12-22T21:55:20.227-06:00Suddenly I SeeCountry singer KT Oslin died the other day; she was 76. When I heard the news, I initially thought it was another singer, KT Tunstall who died, but the latter KT is much younger and is still with us. It reminded me of a funny story though.Picture it: We're in Brewster, Washington back in 2012, not long after I met my friend Brandon Arago. We both love music, and over the Bob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-14531790829522391142020-12-18T21:54:00.002-06:002020-12-18T21:54:49.608-06:00Car SmellsA lot of Uber drivers eat in their cars, but I don't. I don't want the car smelling like food. Which is also why I don't do Door Dash, Uber Eats, or any of the other food-delivery services. It's bad enough that the car smells like me. I don't need people getting in and going, "So you had McDonalds for lunch, eh?" And then I'd go, "Uhhhhh yeah, *four hours* ago!" Bob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-85575919294878183362020-12-14T08:23:00.006-06:002020-12-14T08:38:30.296-06:00Hypocrisy When We See It1) California Governor Gavin Newsom recently implemented pretty strict lockdown measures in his state, and then was caught attending a birthday party at a super-fancy restaurant. Initially, Newsom *LIED* and said it was a small gathering that was held outdoors. Turns out there were 24 people in the group and it was held INDOORS. Did Newsom exhibit any shame or embarrassment?&Bob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-31357057696328355882020-10-21T22:56:00.000-05:002020-10-21T22:56:29.944-05:00Hunter Biden's Supposed LaptopSo back in 2019, Hunter Biden supposedly turned in a water-damaged laptop to a computer store in Delaware. For some reason, he left it and never went back for it. Eventually, the snoopy store owner (a Trump supporter) delved into the hard drive and found...supposedly found all sorts of questionable material, including some incriminating pictures (or videos) and emails. But not Bob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-24464754372143813332020-10-06T10:15:00.000-05:002020-10-06T10:15:55.129-05:00Life On The Gulf CoastEvery area of the country has its downside. California has earthquakes and mudslides and forest fires. The midwest has tornadoes. And New Jersey has...well...just being New Jersey is bad enough! Down here on the gulf coast we get hurricanes. (We don't even worry about tropical storms.) During hurricane season (June through October), we anxiously watch the Bob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-31486287050606546542020-08-26T08:51:00.000-05:002020-08-26T08:51:33.772-05:00The Easiest, Most Delicious Casserole Recipe Do you like tacos? WHO DOESN'T LIKE TACOS! Why, that would be un-American!
This is not a cooking blog. But being a single guy who loves to eat, I occasionally come across a recipe for something that tastes really good and that even I, with my limited abilities in the kitchen, can cook. There are a few "standard" dishes that I make when I have company over. Bob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-18781099291667221862020-08-14T21:24:00.002-05:002020-08-14T21:24:48.744-05:00Willful AmnesiaI'd like to expand a bit on my post about Slavery just below this one...
A friend of mine and I were talking about Slavery, especially as it applies to the U.S. here in 2020. He sent me a link to an interesting article on a website called "The World," which is a part of PRI (Public Radio International). You can read the article HERE.
The article is about Africa's role in the Bob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-58085891012228668222020-08-12T08:33:00.002-05:002020-08-12T08:33:54.641-05:00Black Privilege
There are these things called unintended consequences. It's when you do something, and it has the desired effect. But then there are..."other" things that happen as well that you did not predict. Sometimes the unintended consequences are good...sometimes not.
Let's take Slavery. Bad, right? No question. A horrible stage in American history...something for Bob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-62745371580086030702020-08-04T11:05:00.003-05:002020-08-04T11:05:41.488-05:00CORONAVIRUS: Jumping The Gun?With regard to my post just below this one - in the interest of fairness I may want to rethink things.I posted something similar on my Facebook page about the decreasing number of new cases and deaths here in Florida. But ultimately took that post down. I may have spake too soon. A friend reminded me that the coronavirus testing centers in South Florida were closed for a couple Bob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-739265927900177752020-08-03T07:10:00.001-05:002020-08-03T07:10:24.652-05:00CORONAVIRUS: Gambling In FloridaI think it was silly to assume that the coronavirus could ever have been stopped. Yet many Americans did just that. "If we'd only just stay home." "If we'd only just wear our damn masks." "If we'd only blah blah blah." But viruses go where viruses go. You can't stop them.Anyway, "Flatten The Curve" was never about stopping the virus. It was the philosophyBob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-58174190317447700642020-08-01T07:33:00.001-05:002020-08-01T07:33:07.720-05:00Well, That's Bullshit!Some of my Facebook friends seem perplexed that the American public just won't take the word of the government or government experts on some things. Specifically, they bring up this hydroxychloroquine issue. The government says the drug has no value in treating the coronavirus. Some doctors and recovered COVID19 victims disagree. My FB friends just can't seem to understandBob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-16598832614255371002020-07-20T21:16:00.000-05:002020-07-20T21:16:09.278-05:00CORONAVIRUS: Sweden UpdateSweden never really had any drastic lockdowns, quarantines or mask-mandates. The attitude of their government was to let nature take its course so that their citizens could quickly reach the so-called "herd immunity." It was controversial because it was counter to the way nearly everyone else on the planet was dealing with the coronavirus.
As time wore on, Sweden's rate of infection Bob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-881240696349116452020-07-01T16:48:00.000-05:002020-07-01T16:48:21.891-05:00CORONAVIRUS: Media Hype Versus RealityLong-time CNN reporter Gary Tuchman went out to Gulf Shores, Alabama during the Memorial Day Weekend (May 24-26). The beach was open and jam-packed full of people, young and old, who'd been cooped-up in their homes for the last couple of months.
Tuchman opens his report with an alarming falsehood. Coronavirus cases in Alabama are going the wrong way. They are trending up. But the stateBob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27295521.post-23454115583896627582020-06-29T12:59:00.001-05:002020-06-29T13:12:38.439-05:00CORONAVIRUS: The CDC Finally Catches OnOh, dear God. So now the CDC is saying that the number of people infected with COVID19 in the U.S. is likely "10X" higher than the number of confirmed-positive cases?
We already know this. WE. KNOW. THIS.
Some of us have been saying this for months, ever since the *three* studies were done back in April that showed that the actual number of people infected back then was between Bob Barbanes:http://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com0