Trump's second impeachment trial: Capital Security Camera

Senate Impeachment Trial: January 6 - Trump's Denial, Deflection, Disinformation

Age-restricted content 

Sometimes content doesn't violate our policies, but it may not be appropriate for viewers under 18. In these cases, we may place an age-restriction on the video. 

Video shows the attack by Trump supporters on the U.S. Capital including the death of insurgent Ashli E. Babbitt. 

Xmas 2020

 

Food, Exercise, & Plants during COVID

 

Ramen soup - my new daily staple w/ greens, mushrooms and soy chorizo. 

Lots of happy, healthy plants!

I don't have to run on the road in the cold during the winter. Yay! Not the greatest view, but I watch videos on my iPad while exercising. 

Cook at home, eating less meat, lower cholesterol levels. 

COVID Inspired Garden

The garden is planted! tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, green onions, radishes, lettuce, spinach, beets, green beans, cucumbers, and zucchini squash! Plus a herb section with dill, oregano, thyme, rosemary, parsley and basil! Now let’s hope it grows!

Another COVID Project

No surprises. All four grandparents immigrated to America from Poland in their late teens on ships through Elis Island, NYC. They all live in Polish immigrant communities in NJ and met their respective spouses. My parents first generation Americans met at a Polish American Club in Manville, NJ. Exactly what I expected.

Sheltering in Place Activities

1) Family's house - Mulch, Prune Landscape, Clean, Wash, Paint, etc. 

2) Exercise - Run/Cycle - Three Bikes Operating 

3) Online Programming Classes 

4) Applying for Jobs 

5) Prepping Garden 

6) Odd Jobs around my house in CT 

7) Organizing Pictures /Documenting my Travel Adventures 

8) DNA Test 

9) Farmer’s Market

Sergeantsville, NJ

Originally, traveling was supposed to continue until 1 September, 2020, but obviously that came to a sudden halt not only for me, but a lot of my travel friends. I currently sheltering in place in the small little Western New Jersey town that I grew up in.

Reparation Flight from Niamey, Niger to Dulles, USA

I contacted the U.S. Embassy in Niamey regarding being stranded in Niger since the airport was closed 10 days earlier. They added me to an email list and contacted me when the US State Department hired a plane to fly U.S. citizens back to Dulles Airport, near Washington, D.C.  The majority of the passengers on the plane worked at the U.S. Embassy in Niamey and many of them had children.

U.S.A. Ambassador to Niger 

Waiting to check-in. Airport was empty. 

The plane started in Madagascar, stopped in Tanzania and Ethiopia before arriving in Niger

67 passengers boarded in Niamey 

Re-fueling

Quarantine Seating

Flight crew took everybody's temperature 

Seats were installed in an old Military Medical Plane 

Flight Crew

Nobody was behind me. Reclining wasn't an issue. 

Ashtray 

Niger: Stay or Depart

EMAIL ALERT:

Event: During this time of global response to COVID-19, U.S. Embassy Niamey is prioritizing assistance to American citizens. With the suspension of commercial air service in Niger, U.S. Embassy Niamey is attempting to arrange repatriation flights to the United States. The first of such flights could depart Niamey as early as Sunday evening, March 29, or during the early morning hours of Monday, March 30, probably to Washington, DC. We are evaluating the interest of the American citizen community regarding who wishes to take advantage of this option.

 U.S. citizens seeking to depart are required to sign a promissory note value $2,000 per seat and will be billed at a later date by the Department of State in Washington, DC. The U.S. Embassy is awaiting many details about this first flight, including the number of seats available. We are also exploring other flight options.

 Please note that no pets will be permitted on the flight and that baggage will be limited. Please let us know today, Saturday, March 28, at NiameyACS@state.gov, if you are interested on leaving on this flight because of an urgent medical need. We will contact you if a flight is arranged and you are confirmed for a seat. Unless you receive an e-mail from the U.S. Embassy in Niamey confirming your flight, please DO NOT come to the Embassy or go to the airport in Niamey.

 Passengers will be listed in priority order per State Department guidelines as follow:

1) U.S. citizens at higher risk from the virus – adults 65 and older, and people of any age with underlying health issues that render them more vulnerable to a negative outcome should they contract the COVID-19 virus. Please let us know if you have an urgent medical need.
2) U.S. citizen minors and one (1) escort.
3) Adult U.S. citizens in need of medical assistance who do not fall into a higher priority group. Other U.S. citizens.
4) Non-U.S. citizen dependents of U.S. citizens.
5) Eligible non-U.S. citizens, such as legal permanent residents (LPRs – “Green card” holders) with priority given to those with underlying health issues or 65 years or older.

Return to US or Not... 

 Pros 

1. Get to spend time w/ Dad and family if “anything” happens.

2. Internet speed is significantly faster in US. Take online classes.

3. Start job search. Potentially there should be new job openings in financial institutions due to economic stress as a result of the pandemic.
4. If the C-19 cases increase in Niamey, I won’t be stuck here. It could get very ugly, very fast!
5. I only understand English; Niger is a French speaking country. I struggle.

Cons 

1. Probably safer in Niger (only 18 cases) vs. New Jersey, USA (52 cases). The C-19 situation in the USA is a lot worse than the C-19 situation Africa, in general as of today (3/30/20)
2. I know nobody in Niamey, so social distancing is VERY easy.
3. Currently there are no other scheduled flights out of Niamey, other than the reparation flight currently being offered (email above). Don’t know went the next flight out of Niamey will occur.
4. Stress levels in the USA will mostly be higher. Niamey is not very stressful.

On March 19, 2020 the all airports and borders were closed in Niger. My flight was schedule to depart on 21 March. Eventually the US State Department organized a private reparations flight out of Niger to Dulles, Washington D.C. While waiting waiting for the State Department to organize the flight, I self-isolated in a very secure, gated AirBnB compound with gardens and an menagerie of animals. Only time I left the compound was to grocery shop and jog in the morning along the near by rice patties.

My Morning Run

While my AirBnB was only 2k from downtown Niamey, it near the river. Irrigation and agriculture was plentiful.

Tomatoes

Melons 

Eggplants

Rice

Zucchini

Endless Rice Patties