Richard V. Rupp

September 4, 2021

Good Saturday morning. I'm author Richard V. Rupp, writing from Burbank, California. Welcome to Rupp's Notes/FBI Special Agent Hartman Series posts. I hope you are having a great Labor Day weekend. I know many are not.

 

"This is a new world," Mayor Bill de Blasio told CNN Friday, adding that the intensity and frequency of storms are rising and arguing the US is going to need "entirely different responses."

 

Yes, Mayor, "This is a new world," and that's why I'm writing my novel SKYWARD, where millennials understand what has been left to them and are seeking a solution. I believe the colonization of space should be a priority. It may not be the complete solution, but it's worth doing to continue the existence of humanity and maybe help heal our Earth.

 

I sit in my Burbank apartment watching the TV, and I'm not sure if I'm watching a horror movie or the national news. I was fortunate enough to grow up during "Happy Days," and it seems the latter days of my life are going to be the "Catastrophe Days."

 

The last few months have proven that the new world will continue to see new viruses, flooding, tornados, hurricanes, drought, and wildfires. Earth has too many people too close to each other. We, humans, evolved and, in the process, like the prehistoric animals before us, destroyed and outgrown our habitat. It was not done purposely, but that's what we humans do. 

 

The Earth's new warranty that included low temperatures, predictable rainfall, and new frontiers has expired. The safety valves of insurance (my old business) and humanitarian aid (both governmental and private) are outdated and overwhelmed. Both are reevaluating whether the models they have been using to smooth out the bumps in the road will work in a world of widespread reoccurring physical and political catastrophes.

 

Yes, what I read about my old industry indicates that the concept of insurance, as we have known it, may not work any longer for the protection of property. Getting the right price (premium) and an adequate deduction for the continued physical catastrophes will make it unaffordable for many and undesirable for the rest. The debate on what to do is going on in the industry right now. Meanwhile, funds for humanitarian aid will not be adequate and are becoming more tribal in how they are distributed.

 

Speaking of "Happy Days," I loved the folk music of the 50s and 60s and the term "Kumbaya." I don't foresee a "Kumbaya" coming to our rescue. Unless I am totally missing something, the world's competing powers will not come together to solve the "Catastrophe Days" problem.

 

In its latest issue, FOREIGN AFFAIRS indicates that "Great-power rivalry has not yet sparked a hot war but appears to be on the brink of sparking a cold one. Meanwhile, the worst pandemic in a century is not yet over, and the climate crisis is only accelerating."

 

Yesterday, there was an article in the LA TIMES by Eli Stokols on President Biden's Tuesday remarks. Here's a bit of what he wrote, "He seemed to have shouted them. The president's anger and frustration were palpable, as was his innate stubbornness. . . The grandfatherly Biden has modeled his presidency on FDR's. But this was no fireside chat. And yet, his emotion seemed to reflect that of the country — deeply polarized, self-certain, constantly outraged. His remarks underscored the difficulty of revitalizing the political center in a moment when the center, it seems, cannot hold."

 

Okay, enough of being a sour puss.

 

This is a sports day for me. First, there is college football. I'll watch my local teams USC play San Jose State, and then UCLA plays LSU. Occasionally, I will flip over to my Dodgers going against their long-time rivals, the Giants. I suspect many games will be canceled because of the flooding, power outages, and wildfires. It's great to have sports that can take our minds off of what is happening.

 

I've given up on the gin and tonics. Found out too many bad things about tonic water. Apparently, drinking tonic water can cause diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and restlessness. Who knew? So, I'm back to what I drank in my younger years – gin on the rocks with an olive. My research indicates that green olives are good for you. They are very high in vitamin E and other powerful antioxidants. They are also good for the heart and may protect against osteoporosis and cancer. Maybe I'll add two olives. One glass of gin and then onto a glass or two of Brunello di Montalcino. My local Costco didn't have the Kirkland Signature Brunello I mentioned in my last post. But apparently, their wine buyers have been to the area because I found A Ridolfi 2015 Brunello. Not as bold as I'm used to, but not bad. Or, it could be because the straight gins do a number on my taste buds.

 

I'm going to take a holiday on Monday, Labor Day, and spend the entire day reading (In addition to Labor Day, it's Read A Book Day and Rosh Hashanah, which begins at Sunset) and working on my novel. My next post will be Wednesday.

 

Cheers,

 

Richard V. Rupp, Author

Website – www.richardvrupp.com

Email – rupprisk@gmail.com

Copyright©2021 by Richard V. Rupp