May 6th, 2022

 Hey there,

I wrote the below a couple weeks ago and didn't post cause I was running out of town.  The cases in TW hit 20K before the end of April and they were 36K yesterday....

What's new you ask?  Well the Covid is out and about in Taiwan.  Last week it was just over 1000 and it is up to .  They say we'll hit 10K per day by the end of April and it feels like it'll be sooner.  

For the most part, Taiwan has been pretty chill and have not noticed any big reduction in people in the streets or at shops.  Dinner reservations seem to be a bit easier, but at least the places are all still open.  One thing they are closing if cases are discovered are schools and ours in no exception.  Last week, mentioned that the High School went on line for 10 days, and this week, the Middle School had a case and it went on line too.  That then means that my baseball coaching also was canceled for the time being and so decided to bug out of Dodge.  The Boss made me a reservation and will get into Seattle on Wednesday the 27th.  Have been busy looking at concert calendars and there are lots to see, starting with the English Beat the night of arrival.  Plan on being out of it 5 different ways for that one.  

Before I go, want to clean out my saved Taiwan news stories.  First up is this: Taiwan lowers jailtime for growing marijuana for personal use.  Sadly, it only lowers it from a minimum of 5 years to 1 year, but have to tip the cap for it being lowered somewhat I suppose.  It is not gonna be legal here in my time on the island.  It wasn't legal anywhere in the States when we left to come live here and now it is pretty much able to be purchased in most of the states recreationally.  Maybe that is why we have the rise of Fascists in that same time since the rest of us are to stoned to notice.  Or care.

Finally for today...this.  There is a call from some civic groups to drop the current Chinese name for the hymen as it is viewed as being discriminatory to women.  The literal translation for the Chinese word for hymen apparently is "virginity membrane"  The article goes onto say 

"The term 'virginity membrane' makes a strong association with women's virginity while virginal obsession and the myth of purity persist in society," the groups said. "We should opt for a more neutral wording to avoid the inappropriate association, which unconsciously undermines women's sexual autonomy."

Can't argue with that.  I'm sure there is a portion of this dump that would pitch a fit with this like Ted Cruz does about everything.  They are proposing another word be used that is out there but less common which translates to "vaginal corona".   I have a new band name.