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Keith Wheelock's avatar

Two noble Nobels against blatant Russian/Soviet invasions of sovereign nations:

1) The Russian publisher who received the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for his courageous and outspoken articles on Putin’s Russia has placed his Nobel award up for auction, with the proceeds to go to Ukraine. Heritage Auctions estimates that this may result in a $1 or 2 million bid by June 20th.

2) Niels Bohr, the famous Danish physicist, in 1939 auctioned off his Nobel Prize in Physics, with the proceeds going to the Finns, who were bravely resisting an unprovoked Soviet invasion.

My candidates for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize (and/or Time Person of the year) are Zelensky, for his courageous leadership in Ukraine against Putin’s draconian invasion and Jose Andres, founder of World Central Kitchen, who has risked his life in providing countless million meals to Ukrainians both within Ukraine and in bordering countries and to hungry people in other disaster areas.

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Lynell(VA by way of MD&DC)'s avatar

This is a fine piece of news about four exceptional individuals in our time. Thanks, Keith.

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Alexander Moss (VA)'s avatar

Good morning, Lynell!

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Lynell(VA by way of MD&DC)'s avatar

Morning, Alexander! We in deep kim chi here in Virginia, aren't we!

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Allen Hingston's avatar

Hey, don't slam Kim Chi. I love the HOT Korean style, best described as rotten cabbage with chilis to burn your butt off.

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Lynell(VA by way of MD&DC)'s avatar

Not only that, Allen, my beloved kitty was named Kim Chi! (Hope you are doing well)

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Allen Hingston's avatar

I named my cats Thoughts and Prayers because they are useless

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JustRaven's avatar

😆😆😆

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Alexander Moss (VA)'s avatar

Great way to put it, Lynell, and I totally agree with you.

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Lynell(VA by way of MD&DC)'s avatar

But on a lighter note, I see your profile has a feline persuasion in it...got two myself!

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Alexander Moss (VA)'s avatar

I am actually one of those people who loves most all animals...have had cats for many years, and lost the last one a couple of years ago to old age. I just haven't had the heart to bring another one in, of whatever persuasion. Maybe at some point, but for now, we are pet-free.

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Lynell(VA by way of MD&DC)'s avatar

Understand completely, Alexander. We were pet-free for a few years for the same reason as you. Then one day a neighbor knocked on the door trying to find homes for several feral cats/kittens she found in an abandoned barn. Oh, my goodness, that was over six years ago. Maybe for you, at some point, when the time is right...

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Christine (FL)'s avatar

I second that motion.

Salud, Keith. 🗽

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JDinTX's avatar

Always on the job to inform and inspire. Badly needed, thank you.

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Gailee Walker Wells's avatar

Love this so much. Thank you Keith

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FERN MCBRIDE (NYC)'s avatar

Keith Wheelock, you have highlighted character, accomplishments, service, support for humanity and the principles of Democratic Governance as criteria for candidates of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize. You have expressed the values we most prize and work to support.

'In the will he drafted in 1895, Nobel instructed that most of his fortune be set aside as a fund for the awarding of five annual prizes “to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind.” (Britannica)

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Hope Lindsay's avatar

Whoa, Keith, that is Time's Person of the Year, no longer relegated to men alone. However, your candidates are well-deserving.

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Keith Wheelock's avatar

Hope I sit corrected! At 3:30 in the morning my mind reverted to when Time magazine was actually published, had a circulation of millions, and was a manly magazine. ‘Person’ also avoids the dilemma of gender at birth, which this curmudgeon finds confusing these days.

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Romeo's avatar

😂. Talk about confusing. I’m thinking what in the heck is a “curmudgeon “ ? Is it where Keith is from ? I can not believe I lived to be so old and sometimes not so happy let’s say and didn’t know what it was called. 😂.Blame it on where I live. Flori-duh ! But you keep it interesting for sure.👍

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Keith Wheelock's avatar

Maria This cur has smudged (past participle of slung mud) for eons—curmudgeon.

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Romeo's avatar

You have lots of company. Where I’m from they use Sign Language. Their Middle finger .

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J. Horowitz's avatar

Digital communication. Very twenty-first century.

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FERN MCBRIDE (NYC)'s avatar

Keith has withheld his teaching chops from you, Marcia. In the case of cur·​mud·​geon | \ (ˌ)kər-ˈmə-jən \

Definition of curmudgeon

1: a crusty, ill-tempered, and usually old man

Might the word suit him on this occasion? What say you and what says Keith?

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Keith Wheelock's avatar

Fern Darn. I thought that curmudgeon meant sweet, witty, ‘late middle aged’ pain in the ass. Tant pis

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FERN MCBRIDE (NYC)'s avatar

Keith, It is never to late to go back to school.

tant pis

/ˌtän ˈpē/

exclamation

so much the worse; the situation is regrettable but now beyond retrieval.

"if that was the route to his success, tant pis"

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Romeo's avatar

Keith would you prefer that I do not comment to you’re Post ‘s ?

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Keith Wheelock's avatar

Marcia I enjoy your posts and find them informative and delightful. When I go a bit bonkers, I am fair game to common sense.

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Romeo's avatar

Keith, back to ya ! Your word yesterday, once I read the definition it made me laugh. It was simply relatable. Not only because of what is happening in our country since that day in June of 2015, but also the State I live in.The day before it was you who stated “ that your wife asks you if you are ever going to grow up ?” A Commenter told me “ I should go to the source and ask your wife”. ? I have know idea who your wife is ? If she’s on here I’ll be happy to ask her if it’s okay to “just be silly and share a few laughs “. I personally think going “ Bonkers “ every now and then is a good thing for our mental health. 2ed to that is a good sense of humor. Thank you for your knowledge, experiences, words and good sense of humor.

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Romeo's avatar

If you have a wife that only asks when will you grow up you can’t be that bad.😉

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FERN MCBRIDE (NYC)'s avatar

Why not speak directly to the source, Keith's wife?

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Romeo's avatar

Well there’s the 🌿! I know it made Ref. to a male because Keith inspires me to look up the definitions of words that are unknown to me. He keeps me busy.😂. Where I live it would not be a surprise to have a Female Senior Flip you off, go 0-60 in an explosive tirade cussing you like a drunken Merchant Marine !

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FERN MCBRIDE (NYC)'s avatar

Marcia, what's your point!

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Keith Wheelock's avatar

Wasn’t there a Yellow Pages (now I really date myself) ad that said ‘Let your fingers do the walking [talking?] And, of course, there is ‘finger food.’ AWWWK

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Dick Montagne's avatar

👍👍👍🙏🇺🇦

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Allen Hingston's avatar

I totally approve of your 2022 choices.

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VermontGirl57's avatar

WELL DONE Keith!

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Zelita Figueiredo Morgan's avatar

Interesting and worthy, but I am wondering how this relates to Professor Richardson's post.

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Lynell(VA by way of MD&DC)'s avatar

As far as I know, there is no rule that one must post content that relates to what the Professor posts. If there is a rule, I have broken it many a time.

Keith's comment is like a palate cleanser before embarking on the next meal😉

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Kathy's avatar

Agreed, Lynell. An amuse-bouche:) Keith shares a cornucopia of knowledge, life experiences and the essential….humor.

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Keith Wheelock's avatar

Lynell Heather focuses most of her marvelously in-depth commentaries on one or two subjects. I often link my commentary to these plus kibitzing on other comments. I see no reason not to provide informative commentary on something related to a Heather past blog. I have found that when I venture into ‘economics,’ a great majority of the readers become glassy eyed.

Incidentally my noble Nobelhas garnered 224 likes so far, which suggests that some readers are not put off by my ‘off-the-wall’ comment.

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Lynell(VA by way of MD&DC)'s avatar

Off the wall, Keith? More like bringing a bright spot to an otherwise grim reality we are all having to cope with.

That you garnered 224 likes tells me I'm not the only one who appreciates your contribution today. Thank you!

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Zelita Figueiredo Morgan's avatar

Keith, don't get me wrong. There is nothing on your posts I dislike. Your insight as well of others enrich the space. You posted in reference to a past blog and I am coming to this blog for the fresh thoughts from Heather and others around the topic/s she presented. I am trying to follow the thread of comments related specifically to this post.

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Zelita Figueiredo Morgan's avatar

Not sure. I subscribed to Prof. Richardson's page and that is my "meal". I have no formed opinion on the subject of Keith's writing, however I don't think he is following the best etiquette. Interesting people like Keith should consider creating their own page.

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Susan Lorraine Knox's avatar

Keith isn't doing anything negative. If you aren't interested in his apperitif- like banter, skip down to something in the main course.

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Hope Lindsay's avatar

Are you referring to Keith's post? I had the same thought, if so. I like Keith, and he is always gracious, but sometimes LFAA (as do all substacks) gets derailed for other purposes. Sometimes other contributors with their own substacks post here to bring attention to their own pages. Alas, even here—one of the best letters—we are not free of digressing and trolling.

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Keith Wheelock's avatar

Hope I do not have my own substack post. Often i post a principal commentary directly referenced to Heather’s nightly LFAA. In addition, I add other items, such as the noble Nobels that I sense would interest other subscribers.

NOT MEANING TO OFFEND, I SHALL SUSPEND ALL COMMENTS ON THE LFAA FOR AT LEAST 48 HOURS. There is too much offensive going on in our country and globally to have folks offended by my well-intentioned posts.

Perhaps we shall encounter one another sometime next week. (My great aunt Hope would agree, but my aunt Hope, who was a flaky love, marched to a different drummer.]

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Lynell(VA by way of MD&DC)'s avatar

Keith, do not suspend. You have done nothing wrong. You contribute greatly to this community. Heather would never countenance your being silenced in this way.

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Ellie Kona's avatar

Aren't we in an era of learning to not let a minority power against the majority? You have a ratio of 2 criticisms to 235 likes!

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Lynell(VA by way of MD&DC)'s avatar

Thanks for weighing in, Ellie. I had the same thought. Not only 235 likes, 32 off my comment to him, then the following back-and-forth among this community - all in support of Keith, certainly not against.

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Lynell(VA by way of MD&DC)'s avatar

Morning, Keith! I won't rest easy til I "see" you live on Heather's Letters from an American. I'll be over on LFAA 's 6/3/22 post.

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Keith Wheelock's avatar

Lynell After sleeping on it, and reflecting on your and Ellie’s comments, I’ve decided not to be put off by Zelita, who was a new name to me, since I don’t recall any of her postings.

I believe that, on balance, Heather—a fellow professor—would be supportive of my commentaries, even those that don’t relate directly to her latest post.

My instinct, at 3:30 a. M. Was that Heather’s readers would appreciate my noble Nobel newsworthy insight (so far, 236 likes). When one swings for the fences, every ball won’t go for a home run. Indeed, I find that the likes for my ‘wild swings’ often are greater and spark more vibrant commentary than my more staid attaboys on Heather’s nightly post.

I see that Zelita was a former council person in Portsmouth, NH. I was an elected municipal official and spent fifteen years on town council, planning board, and zoning board of appeals for fifteen years. If she has a separate blog, I believe that we could converse on a topic not appropriate for Heather’s blog.

I found Hope’s comment off putting. She and I have had some upbeat exchanges.

Oh well, it something satisfied everyone, it would be tasteless gruel. And who knows, when I turn 89 later this year, I might lose the fire in my belly that, so far, has kept me vibrant. Is Geritol still available for oldies?

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JustRaven's avatar

Keep posting your thoughts!! The commentary from the "regulars" in our community is often just as interesting and informative as HCR's original posting, regardless of whether "on topic" or tangential. 👍💜

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Lynell(VA by way of MD&DC)'s avatar

I am so glad you've had a change of heart, Keith. I have been stewing on your behalf since last night.

I have also gone off topic only to find I garnered more "likes" than when I try to post within the confines of the day's Letter. Truth is, I do not have the breadth of knowledge as others, so avoid making my own commentary. As it is, I try to find topics (links) where people would perhaps be more informed, just like you did with your Nobels post. And 236 likes is NOT small potatoes!

As a retired court stenographer, I can kinda see where Zelita, and possibly Hope, would be put off by someone "straying" from the issue at hand. In the context of litigation, witnesses are instructed they must answer a direct question directly; those that try to deflect don't get away with it. But this community is not a litigation proceeding, nor, I would surmise, is it a council meeting.

FWIW, I believe we would have Heather's full approval for how we conduct ourselves here.

Anyway, thanks for reaching out to me. I feel much better having heard from you. As to the Geritol, good luck with that!

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Keith Wheelock's avatar

Lynell Lagunitas Maximus is my Geritol.

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Zelita Figueiredo Morgan's avatar

Yes, that is for sure.

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Patricia Andrews (WA)'s avatar

I think it might be “graveyard” humor.

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