A quiet day today, and a quiet night tonight. Would love to predict a quiet week ahead, too, but that seems to me unlikely. Still, let’s take our calm when we can get it. I’ll see you tomorrow.
Deepest gratitude for your fortitude and carrying on in the face of incredible events. Love and blessings to you and yours. And to all the LFAA folks! Yall give me hope and stamina!
You, Joyce White Vance and Dan Rather - “Steady On” are keeping my family informed, educated and you each offer an important perspective. We need you. Thank you. Rest and free your minds whenever you can!
It’s a rainy day here on the coast of Oregon. A Good day to knit and remember those ugly days of Selma and Birmingham. Hard memories but necessary to refocus on moving forward. No matter that there 10 year olds on one side of the Congressional chamber at the moment.
I spent MLK Day writing postcards for the election of Jennifer McClellan to be U.S. House Representative for Virginia's 4th District. Election day is February 21, 2023. I have been following her since she ran for Governor of our state. She lost the primary, so returned to her duties as State Senator. Going forward, I think she will make a great Congresswoman. Go, Jenn!
Thanks HCR--yes, a bit of quiet would be wonderful. For the amusement (?) of this group, a bit of Missouri nonsense that the NY Times picked up yesterday. The (white, male) Ghastly Oligarch Party majority in the Missouri legislature, late last week, voted a new DRESS CODE for members of the legislature. But not all of them. Only the vaginas in the room. Who are now required to COVER THEIR ARMS with additional clothing: a jacket or (reluctantly apparently because it was an amendment to the new regulation that had to be voted on) a cardigan. The clothing requirements for men have not changed. It appears that the right wingnut males of the MO legislature are too distracted by the appearance of female biceps in their midst to do their jobs. https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2023-01-13/the-missouri-house-tightens-its-dress-code-for-women-to-the-dismay-of-democrats
Were these the same guys who went ape-sh** over the idea that they should not be infection vectors for Covid 3 years ago and should instead wear masks to protect themselves and everyone else? Yep. Are these the same legislators who are currently ignoring the fact that MO is dead last in salary levels for teachers, almost dead last when it comes to maternal mortality, almost dead last in addressing the massive numbers of people dying from opioid addiction and the lacing of drugs with fentanyl? You bet. But by golly: women, keep your arms covered! Oh, and preferably wear high heels.
Lengthy article on the dire nature of China's reduced population (year on year). But, I would like to add: Ten thousand years ago humans took up farming on a community scale. The adoption of farming, instead of hunting and gathering, resulted in two autocatalytic impacts:
1. Ever larger human population density.
2. Ever larger deforestation and species decline to support the ever larger human population.
Farming has resulted in the following doom loop cycle: Rising population has resulted in the need for more farming. Ever more farming results in ever more deforestation and species decline. Repeat.
The net outcome of the above farming/population doom loop is massive fossil fuel burn into the atmosphere, massive deforestation and climate change.
The only real way out of the farming/human population doom/extinction loop is? Dramatically reduce human based farming/deforestation and human population.
I grew up on an East Texas farm and while I lived in that area watched logging companies denude the old growth forest that then existed in that area and hand it over to farmers. I did not like it then but did not understand.
Now I do. If you look at google earth you will see the disaster that farming has caused in the formerly forested areas of the USA and the world.
IF we do not take on human population reduction, then, we will extinct ourselves through climate change brought on by the human population/farming doom loop.
Because, it is not true that "Renewables" are going to save us and, anyway, nobody is making a change to renewables except a few people with money to spare to buy a Tesla. We MUST reduce population and it looks like China is leading the way.
I bought, in 2014, a 75 acre farm in NY. I am working mightily to reforest it. Yes, I plow a bit of it. But, I will not cut one tree to expand.
Stop farming expansion now. Stop population growth NOW.
Good grief, I thought I was never going to get through. Kept asking me for a password, then teling me it had sent me a link. Anyway, here I am looking at glacial calm and peace. We've got about 40° outside.
We are extraordinarily fortunate to have Heather as our helms person as our ship of state sails its turbulent course.
The lovely photo reminds me of the lull before the storm or the strange quiet in the eye of a hurricane.
Let’s enjoy it, before the next chaotic storm.
I recall experiencing this sequence as a youth on a schooner in Maine. We made landfall after a harrowing trip around the Cape. With lobsters boiling in the galley, we would make the boat ship shape in the tranquility of Bar Harbor.
Within days we would again be embroiled in fog, high winds, and water echoing off rocks seemingly from 360 degrees. Eventually, with my father’s assured handling, the storm would subside and again we enjoyed silent tranquility.
Deepest gratitude for your fortitude and carrying on in the face of incredible events. Love and blessings to you and yours. And to all the LFAA folks! Yall give me hope and stamina!
Thank you Heather for a week of telling Letters and for this lovely winter photo.
There is more to learn from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr; more to understand, more to share, more to give
NBC's Rarely Seen 1967 Interview With Dr. Martin Luther King …
https://www.primetimer.com/watch/the-rarely-seen-1967-nbc-news-interview-of-dr-martin-luther-king-jr
Richard Pryor remarks on Martin Luther King birthday at USDA Jan. 14, 1983 -- FULL REMARKS VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpukvO4iwQ8
🕯️🕯️🕯️
Fern
"Let's take our calm when we can get it." Words to live by. Or maybe that's what I'll proclaim when I feel a siesta coming on.
Love the photo.
Martin Luther King,Jr. a man with Vision and great Courage, who believed in Today and Tomorrow.
“The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life.”
- Rabindranath Tagore 🌳
“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
Thank you, Professor Richardson, for helping us understand and focus on History and its meaning for Today and Tomorrow.
.
.
The calm before the Santos crapola and others.
Lovely picture!
You, Joyce White Vance and Dan Rather - “Steady On” are keeping my family informed, educated and you each offer an important perspective. We need you. Thank you. Rest and free your minds whenever you can!
Yeah, Heather, sometimes one just needs to take the bliss wherever you can find it. thank you for sharing your newsletter.
It’s a rainy day here on the coast of Oregon. A Good day to knit and remember those ugly days of Selma and Birmingham. Hard memories but necessary to refocus on moving forward. No matter that there 10 year olds on one side of the Congressional chamber at the moment.
Fabulous, thank you, Heather!
I spent MLK Day writing postcards for the election of Jennifer McClellan to be U.S. House Representative for Virginia's 4th District. Election day is February 21, 2023. I have been following her since she ran for Governor of our state. She lost the primary, so returned to her duties as State Senator. Going forward, I think she will make a great Congresswoman. Go, Jenn!
https://jennifermcclellan.com/about/
Thanks HCR--yes, a bit of quiet would be wonderful. For the amusement (?) of this group, a bit of Missouri nonsense that the NY Times picked up yesterday. The (white, male) Ghastly Oligarch Party majority in the Missouri legislature, late last week, voted a new DRESS CODE for members of the legislature. But not all of them. Only the vaginas in the room. Who are now required to COVER THEIR ARMS with additional clothing: a jacket or (reluctantly apparently because it was an amendment to the new regulation that had to be voted on) a cardigan. The clothing requirements for men have not changed. It appears that the right wingnut males of the MO legislature are too distracted by the appearance of female biceps in their midst to do their jobs. https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2023-01-13/the-missouri-house-tightens-its-dress-code-for-women-to-the-dismay-of-democrats
Were these the same guys who went ape-sh** over the idea that they should not be infection vectors for Covid 3 years ago and should instead wear masks to protect themselves and everyone else? Yep. Are these the same legislators who are currently ignoring the fact that MO is dead last in salary levels for teachers, almost dead last when it comes to maternal mortality, almost dead last in addressing the massive numbers of people dying from opioid addiction and the lacing of drugs with fentanyl? You bet. But by golly: women, keep your arms covered! Oh, and preferably wear high heels.
"https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/16/business/china-birth-rate.html?unlocked_article_code=zXKJJl21lDXH0IPDnJMrcXcuQOscAB3kBdYhxvwaFL0rSHYU7QJ0bbezdlTtsoIkIb75Y5K46jw2RJlXUYFZ37CqTENHPjPXsX951XnwiJRDkRXAOefh4xuQDHdGRK1Ms_K3qMJ4R959lXQpo40TsNgsqBFD_51Pa3LfRWg2-AwYKd4Ifa4_4KwA_zvkZmLIl5_XylLyE2e_jv7gKO5ntcFINzc2FaUvA9FDu1befId-tsJRAgq60jSSQsAK23Z2apBNoE2au9OmzS7gcYWDqEioj7vNcncxUPhLq4GnJhcKF6N51BRNTxRUmcKSU6-RdwYZQMsUIAq3ps4&smid=share-url"
Lengthy article on the dire nature of China's reduced population (year on year). But, I would like to add: Ten thousand years ago humans took up farming on a community scale. The adoption of farming, instead of hunting and gathering, resulted in two autocatalytic impacts:
1. Ever larger human population density.
2. Ever larger deforestation and species decline to support the ever larger human population.
Farming has resulted in the following doom loop cycle: Rising population has resulted in the need for more farming. Ever more farming results in ever more deforestation and species decline. Repeat.
The net outcome of the above farming/population doom loop is massive fossil fuel burn into the atmosphere, massive deforestation and climate change.
The only real way out of the farming/human population doom/extinction loop is? Dramatically reduce human based farming/deforestation and human population.
I grew up on an East Texas farm and while I lived in that area watched logging companies denude the old growth forest that then existed in that area and hand it over to farmers. I did not like it then but did not understand.
Now I do. If you look at google earth you will see the disaster that farming has caused in the formerly forested areas of the USA and the world.
IF we do not take on human population reduction, then, we will extinct ourselves through climate change brought on by the human population/farming doom loop.
Because, it is not true that "Renewables" are going to save us and, anyway, nobody is making a change to renewables except a few people with money to spare to buy a Tesla. We MUST reduce population and it looks like China is leading the way.
I bought, in 2014, a 75 acre farm in NY. I am working mightily to reforest it. Yes, I plow a bit of it. But, I will not cut one tree to expand.
Stop farming expansion now. Stop population growth NOW.
Or else.
Sorry guys. We gotta wake up on the off days too.
Good grief, I thought I was never going to get through. Kept asking me for a password, then teling me it had sent me a link. Anyway, here I am looking at glacial calm and peace. We've got about 40° outside.
In Tucson our river is raging, but that is calming because we get out of the way and things will grow.
Thank you, always, for the calm engagement you inspire
We are extraordinarily fortunate to have Heather as our helms person as our ship of state sails its turbulent course.
The lovely photo reminds me of the lull before the storm or the strange quiet in the eye of a hurricane.
Let’s enjoy it, before the next chaotic storm.
I recall experiencing this sequence as a youth on a schooner in Maine. We made landfall after a harrowing trip around the Cape. With lobsters boiling in the galley, we would make the boat ship shape in the tranquility of Bar Harbor.
Within days we would again be embroiled in fog, high winds, and water echoing off rocks seemingly from 360 degrees. Eventually, with my father’s assured handling, the storm would subside and again we enjoyed silent tranquility.
Might this be the pattern of life?
Thanks. A nice way to start the day.