How to lose a day

 How do I lose a day?

Easy. Shove me in front of a screen with American Politics playing, especially on a day where things are really happening - and today was one of those days.

Just as the conclave which brings in a new Pope or our own elections here in Australia, today's final confirmation by Congress of Joseph Biden as the President incumbent was fascinating, made even scarier by the disruption to parliament by the insurgents - I'm not going to call them protesters - they're not. 

I woke early as I saw Cleo the trainer at 7.15 this morning - at this stage they'd just cleared the Houses and the riff raff were walking through the chambers, raiding podiums, sitting at peoples desks and imitating Jamiroquai - I don't get this one. 

That four people have died (one was shot in the house, the rest succoumbed to other riot-induced trauma bringing on things like heart attacks et al) is terrible. That they died for this - you have to wonder. 

They had brought Congress to order a few hours later and resumed confiming the results. This too was fascinating. Just watching the process, seeing what should be a given at times argued over, stopping play and finally shot down. At times it was very painful. At times funny - and knowing it was getting into the early hour when they finished, even better. 

But there are so many questions from today. Things like: 

• How come white dudes storming Congress are insurgents and are welcome in by the police, but the Black Lives Matter people were greeted with the national guard, tear gas and batons?
• Why did the cops let the insurgents in in the first place?
• Why isn't Trump up on treason or sedition charges?
• Where do these peopple get their news from?

There are so many anomilies to all of this - but violence is never the answer - and as the insurgents I saw interviewed could barely provide a reason as to why they were there. 

It's scary stuff.

Later in the afternoon, as the certifying was taking place, the objections came in. A number of objections were flat out denied at the first post because they weren't ratified by a senator. But the  Arizona and Pennsylvania ones held and then needed to be discussed.

As an Australian, I just don't get it. We have an independent, national electoral commission. We vote on paper. There are scrutineers from all sides ensuring the validity of the election. Turning up at the polls is compulsory, so you get the vast marjority having their say. And if the side you voted for didn't get in, you can have a whinge, but you get on with it, accepting of the outcome (even if you don't like it). How can this be happening in America. 

I went for a trip to the myotherapist to get a shoulder tweak sorted. When I came back, it was still going. 

I find it all fascinating.

But I got nothing done. 

Today's Song: