These are historic times. I know, I know, I have been muttering about that for almost a full year. I think I was right, but that is an example of how historic things are. We talked about the massive intrusion of cold and chill yesterday, so I will give you an example.

This is the awning, left deployed in order to keep our lower proximities dry during infrequent observations of the accumulation of sheet ice on the placid green awning over the deck. Some smart guys used geometry- a known form of mathematics- to figure out angles and load-bearing. I trusted them.

You can see here that my faith may have been misplaced. I am not sure who to blame. The mathematics used in the original construction? The applied math used to fabricate the appropriate bolts driven forthrightly into the structure of the house? The math used in the weather modeling that predicted “icy rain?” From that, I had expected a mostly peaceful wet mass that would drop gently and run down the slope. I carefully calculated that in order to keep my butt dry while peering over the burning tip of a Marlboro Red at the garage. Could it have been some systemic predilection that cause me to trust it?

As you know, the internet isn’t good for much. But one of those good things came up when I was waiting for the ice sheet on the awning to either melt or cause catastrophic collapse. Either would be a result of math. The news was from Oregon, where a lot of good thinking happens.

“The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) recently encouraged teachers to register for training that encourages “ethnomathematics” and argues, among other things, that White Supremacy manifests itself in the focus on finding the right answer.”

That pearl was from a recent ODE newsletter regarding “Pathway(s) to Math Equity Micro-Course.” It was directed at middle school teachers to help “dismantle racism in mathematics.” They proudly note assistance from California’s San Mateo County Office of Education and others. I welcome this, naturally, since I have been engaged in a campaign against objectivism in all things for like, forever.

Math was a tough issue, since like the awning, there appears to be a direct relationship between accuracy in numbers to the matter of the canvas staying up and not collapsing in an ice mass on our heads.

Ethnocentrism in awning construction has been widely known. But thankfully there are greater truths being revealed all the time. The intrinsic bias in mathematics has stumped me, since it rehires overcoming “correct” answers to arrive at more “equitable” ones. I was pleased to note that both head and butt would be equitably soaked in that circumstance.

So, I think we have got it this morning. We are going to go with our feelings. “Dry butts are better than wet ones” is an example of patriarchal despotism, of course.

I recognize the inherent possibility that the subjective nature of my appreciation for the condition of my butt could contravene the just notion that others might consider my dank wetness to be in solidarity with others, wet or not, who judge my relative comfort to be of no interest in the equitable higher calling.

Life is problematic, naturally. But throwing off a couple thousand years of systemic bias in numbers was a good pre-breakfast achievement. There was more history to be either absorbed or subsumed before lunch. This weekend, the Senate decided to hear witnesses on the impeachment of a former President. Then they decided not to, since one of the House Impeachment Managers was expected to be asked about his relations with that Chinese spy, and Speaker Pelosi would be subject to questions about what she knew and when she knew it.

I am confident I have the answer for that, but will ignore it until all stake-holders have an equitable chance to comment, whether they are called or not.

Meanwhile, the Pandemic is still casting a long shadow in these historic times. There was some talk that the troops will stay in Washington until the end of the year to protect us from…I forget. Math? Other Troops? Never mind. The mandate to wear masks will continue through the summer and possibly through the next flu season, or perhaps all of them. Public emotions about the availability of vaccines, delivered in record time, are audible and real. The Socotra Decision Desk is adamant that they will either claw earnestly to the front of any available line or just wait in seclusion until things settle out a bit.

We took a vote this morning at The Farm about how to proceed and I would be happy to report on the results of that crucial matter, except we are waiting for mail-in ballots from Georgia. There are other things going on which will not have the attention they are due. Oh well, that is how historic times work. Of course, we only remember them because they were so… interesting. Wait a minute. I heard something out on the deck. I better check, even though that is a patriarchal assumption that it could be bad.

Copyright 2021 Vic Socotra
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