While it’s not officially summer yet, the town is coming to life. The lilacs and apple trees are blooming over the forget-me-nots, and over them all is the bright blue sky of the coming summer. For me, though, the clearest sign of the change of seasons is that Buddy is back on the water, and sunrise photos like this are waiting for me on my phone when I get up many hours after he has headed out to haul.
There is something about sunrises and sunsets that are almost mesmerizing. I don't know what it is, but I love them and have many photos of them here in Florida where the cloud formations make them works of art.
There is a funny 'Calvin and Hobbes' toon that balances this sentiment, and Dr Richardson's pic., almost perfectly. Set with Calvin outdoors, under a night-time sky:
> Calvin, standing alone, looking at the twinkling stars in the first frame; 😯
> Calvin declaring audibly to the heavens, "¡I'm significant!", in the second; 🥳
> Calvin staring upward in the third;🤔and,
> a resigned Calvin looking at the reader and confessing, "Screamed the dust-speck . . . ." in the final frame. 🤫
WE all realize we are mere "dust-specks". Too bad there are so many who havent come to that realization yet. Perhaps when other species are extinct, there is no? water and the heat touches even those in their millionaire/billionaire bunkers? I truly wonder the lack of brainpower that cant comprehend the fact of climate change & what is happening right this minute in front of them.
We are mere specs of dust and in 100 years no one will know that we existed. Still, there is something that we can do so that those people 100 years from now can enjoy the wonders of nature that we do. And we are presently working at it.
Hey, Kim, just not confident that staying calm in a maelstrom is the help I'm looking for! Do we ever DO anything about the rise of tyranny? Something that is sufficient to turn the tide when the other side has no respect for Queensberry rules? What are the preventive ACTION steps, aside from keeping each other company? Vote? Pray? Buy a strong front door? Emigrate? Be able to say, 'told you so', in so many ways?
(Not quite what Washington, et al, did.)
How does one stop the corruption of the Judiciary? I'm long past being interested in another proof Alito and Thomas are corrupt, if it has no sufficient action item.
It's good to give vent to our feelings of helpless and despair. It's also good to take action. No matter how small our efforts feel, it's good to remember snowflakes can lead to snowballs can lead to avalanches.
Taking action.......Jesus on 2 occasions had to clear the temple. He would go to quiet areas to mediate. Do not let the Magotts corrupt or deceive us anymore. We know the truth and it will set us free. Vote for the good man...top down......
IF they (or we! - dems also gerrymander…) are corrupting the voting so that it is not representative, OR if they will not positively assert to accept the last presidential election ( which was thoroughly validated upon challenge in the courts),
THEN we are irresponsible & not very clever, both, to just wait and hope we win the next vote (or to think we could abide what comes next).
>Heads in the sand< ☹️
The time to address both those problems is NOW!!! 🤨
Executive action.
Stack the SC.
Impeach corruption.
Is there ANY other recourse - at today’s too far gone politics - than people in the streets and/or fascism?
If we wish to keep our democracy WE may well need to ‘fight’ in response.
Perfect description MisTBlu. Any or all on the list of action possibilities as noted by Mark Shields. There is no “only way” and it’s not preordained as some want to say when it seems hopeless to try. We do have free will. We must “ keep on keeping’ on” in search of our tribe to collaborate in our efforts to support a more perfect union. These comments can be comforting in preventing us from giving up. For me, read Dr Heather’s letters, believe I’m not being foolish by reading Simon Rosenberg’s Hopium Chronicles, donate with thought & believe every small amount helps, speak up when others talk nonsense (with facts from aforementioned writings) VOTE and encourage others to do the same. I’m grateful for all of your thoughtful comments. Not feeling alone is a strength in itself. For now, remember why we have this holiday weekend and never give up because of all of them
I tried to listen to Simon Rosenberg's podcast; after 20 minutes I folded. I so wanted his positivity to wash over me but two things stopped that from happening. First, he said twice that Haley endorsed Trump. She specifically did not; she may do so but she hasn't yet and it bothered me that an experienced political operative would say that. Second, and most importantly, he went into a looong discussion about polls. By listening for as long as I did I broke my resolve to tune out any discussion of polls. I believe -- and experience has shown -- that the only polls that matter are the ones where we cast our ballots. As I didn't listen to the full hour I am curious if he has anything to say about the effect of Biden's position on Palestine vis-a-vis the cohort of young voters who have been protesting Israel's actions.
Christy, I like your comment, re: "We need a majority of Democrats to protect democracy". I would've worded it that we need a "majority" of "people" to quit bad-mouthing the way things are in our country. Stop. Myself, I reflect on this: The will of the "majority" is exactly what has been so subtly pervaded, and so egregiously especially since the 1930's. The intentions of the "people" who drew up the framework (papers & documents) for this 'new' country, that would allow us to live and govern ourselves in a normal and reasonably sense-able way, have been obscured by the scum which has risen to the top of the pot and allowed to boil over. We have been succumbed by it. Like a wildfire burning out of control blanketing our nation in smoke. We came close to it being 'ashes' on Jan 6th. I pose this to all who might read it, without reference to the ner-do-wells responsible for the untenable predicament we could be in.
Sorry I was so unclear. I meant we need a 2/3 Democratic Senate Majority to follow thru on 🤞🏼 at least a couple of the most corrupt of the SCOTUS being impeached by a Democratic majority in our House.
Thanks for the names of these organizations. I have been looking for a 'GET OUT THE VOTE" group--one that perhaps teams with churches to take people to polling places and reward them with a nice social event. For whatever reason, this seems the most promising strategy--just getting more people out to vote. I will look into these groups and interested for people to share ones focused on "getting out the vote."
Thanks, Christy, I DO think these 'within the system' voting approaches are NECESSARY & essential; but strongly believe they are NOT SUFFICIENT, once the vote has been abridged or denied.
And the vote is being systematically abridged and denied.
This should come to trial NOW, in states across the US. New Hampshire tried and convicted a deep-fake election scam (by a 3rd party 'dem'!) in 4 months.
Mark, I’m not well read in all the controversies but we’re up against the wealthiest of the wealthy that can afford never ending litigation. My assumption is that sometimes you have to fight fire with fire, and we need a level playing field??
Mark, emigration out of this corrupt and disintegrating system we’re hoping to prop up seems like a comforting thought. How does the EU devote so much time and thought and finance into the well being of the majority of its people while we have citizens drowning in médical and educational debt, or no health care at all, legislators serving those who paid for their elections. It’s hard to see a bright spit.
Researched and completed application for a Retirement visa in 2016, but family & finances can make it too hard for most. And there’s the principle of fixing the system from within, so long as this can be viable. And the affection for the aspirational aspects of one’s country.
But blind nationalism is an evil, too, one that kills millions without end.
I'm watching The American Conspiracy:the Octopus Murders....and honestly Mark, I'm not sure the human race is redeemable. As I sit outside, drinking my coffee, enjoying the crisp, rain cleaned air of the morning, listening to the beautiful sounds of nature, I am more convinced than ever that the human race on this earth is like fleas on a dog. A nuisance that is is growing intolerable. And the dog is about to shake.
Thank you Heather for interjecting the true beauty of life into the miserable miasma of human thought and being. It is our only redemption and I feel blessed to enjoy every moment before the earth shakes itself free from us.
Hey, Susan, I'm watching 'The Silent Service', an interesting (fictional - military/political action movie) 'popular' update on the changing Japanese view of the brewing SEAsia conflict. (My wife's Japanese; movie is not 5-star, but like the 1980's American movie 'Red Dawn', this movie is interesting because it appears to have a political messaging mission, targeting defense oriented thinking in Japan, and perhaps the younger generation.)
I feel SEAsia is a tinderbox (& Ukraine and Mideast conflicts amplify this); the world's primary AI chip foundry in Taiwan (TSMC) is hostage to both the great powers; neither is willing to let the other have it. We currently have dominion (ONLY via $ and inertia), but China is two feet away and pouring money (partly from cheap Russia oil savings) into military & AI capacity.
There's no Solomon on hand to judiciously 'divide' the baby.
Suspect working at TSMC feels a bit like I felt working in a US Embassy in Africa during the early 2000's - "something may be about to happen."
Once the last human survivor ceases breathing, due to nuclear poisoning or unsurvivable heat, the earth will relax its poor shoulders and think…We, the non-destructive flora and fauna, have how many more millennia until the next so-called more intelligent life form evolves and we go through the “human cycle” of evolution and self-destruction again?
Not to end on a depressingly pessimistic note, I’ll offer a ray of hope. Climate scientists offer what may be s saving theory that once enough of the ice caps melt, northern ocean water will not be cold enough to sink and send warm equatorial waters north such as the Gulf Stream does to warm Europe. The earth will then enter its next Ice Age, which could be quickly, predicted within 10 to 100 years of the tipping point being reached. So come on Ice Age…the fossil fuel giant corporations are depending on you.
Mark, I agree that we should all be writing our Congresspersons, hitting all the take action buttons on other sites, getting out the vote, joining other groups, but no one can be in full go mode all the time, Taking moments to calm, recharge, and appreciate what is good in nature, in this country, and what President Biden and legislatures, and judges that are positive helps us know what we are fighting for. We don’t need to keep reinjuring ourselves with what we already know. It is important to stop from time to time and take a deep breath and appreciate beauty, love, hopefulness, and joy.
(Been following RR for literally decades (since I took macro econ in the 80's), and share him with my son who is an artist looking for a niche. I do subscribe to his substack. I read it without exception for quite a while, partly because there are interesting discussions, but it is getting familiar and I seek a variety of ideas - not that I agree with him any less. Also Rather I often read, but don't subscribe. J Vance and HCR are current favs.)
Miselle gave us the dumpalito.com website a few days ago so we can register our COMPLAINTS OF MISCONDUCT re Alito and Cannon to their pertinent Courts. Copies go to Senator Dick Durbin, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Senate Majority Whip, I
believe can calll hearings on these two Judges. I think these are Actionable tasks we, as citizens, can do!
It was apparently, Linda, a hoax and I've put everything I've learned and that is there is no way to file a Complaint of misconduct altho I'm going to send my forms against Alito and Cannon anyway to let them know I think both are not complying with their own Code of Conduct, "themselves as unrestricted by any ethics rules.”
The Supreme Court’s new official Code of Conduct is comprised of five canons: (1) uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary, (2) avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all activities, (3) perform the duties of office fairly, impartially, and diligently, (4) engage in extrajudicial activities that are consistent with the obligations of the judicial office, and (5) refrain from political activity. These canons offer the Justices . . . "
Kim, I want CHANGE in my environment (& I have grandkids too...) - even more than I want calm.
I am fine with CALMLY impeaching the corrupt justices, and CALMLY stacking the bench, and calmly bringing federal cases against anti-democratic treason, and definitely want a president who is CALMLY and compellingly and regularly riding the bully pulpit to call out tfg's insurrection.
OR whatever is the most potent action - but it would be a mistake to calmly wait to vote - or, to even think a winning vote will preserve democracy - the race will be thrown to the house, and they will pick tfg. We need to do MORE than vote, and I'm looking for ideas. Agree with the snowflake metaphor offered above.
But I'm a monitoring and evaluation numbers-oriented former civil servant; when the trend is not going where it needs to go, the most efficient change of course is now, not a day before or a day after election.
There's a climate change underway, and the snowflakes are not yet adding up.
I appreciate your passion and understand your frustration. I agree we are on a precipice. Embracing moments of calm help me to energize for the action I take in my community and in my work.
Kim, my dad, a Quaker preacher, and a pacifist in WWII - a rare and very UN-popular conviction for a tool and die-maker by trade - used to tell the story of revivalist/evangelist John Wesley interviewing his (horse-back) wandering reverends after they'd returned from a stint of 'outreach'. He'd ask how many churches they'd built - none? Well how many souls did you save - none? Well how many people did you make mad? This story, from a hard-core pacifist.
Some need calming down. Some people need stirring up.
To calm myself down, I expect I will need to stir more people up. ;)
And, Mark, we are not only dealing with the corruption of the judiciary. As Supreme Court Justice Jackson asked, during the presidential immunity hearings...if we give a president immunity what will keep any administration from becoming an international center of crime. We've already had that with Reagan. His manipulation of the Iran hostages to win the presidency, the Iran Contra affair and the corruption of the NSA, the CIA, the FBI, and the Justice Department.
DT is the resurrection of that era with an intention to finish the job that Reagan began.
Exactly so, Susan. Judiciary is just one focal point in a short comment, of many possible.
tfg, his handlers, and fellow neo-fascists, are busy corrupting and decapitating EVERY branch of government (via 'Section F' extension of nepotism), to serve a consolidation of power in a minority... and soon thereafter a kleptocratic oligarchy.
SC is too 'clever' to hand presidential immunity to the president until AFTER tfg has taken the WH. Biden needs to call their hand NOW; they can't have it one way for him, the other for tfg.
I'm fortunate to have lived on both coasts and the sun rising over the Sierra's is quite impressive as well. But every place has it's own special beauty if you take the time to notice.
Yes. A significant historical framework, Tyler P. Harwell.
“The term Wôbanakiak includes many culturally related groups of Native peoples who were the original inhabitants of present-day Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, parts of Massachusetts, parts of southern Canada, and the Maritimes. Wôbanakiak means “people of the east” or “Dawnland people.” Linguistically, the word includes the morphemes for dawn (wôban), and land (-aki), combined with an animate plural ending (-ak) to indicate people. English, French, and Dutch attempts to pronounce the Native language resulted in different spellings and pronunciations such as Wabanaki, Abenaki, Abénaquis, and Abnaki.” (Abstract, “Wôbanaki Lifeways - Circa 1600”, Bruchac, 2004)
Thanks for that reference. You can similarly trace "Penobscot". I knew one.
This offers yet another lesson in how native Dawn Land words for places and peoples get mangled by , speakers of English. Sometimes this is deliberate. When it is, it yields an insult, as in that scene from "Last of the Mohicans", when General Amherst refers to Mahgwa as "Mugwump". I don't know if this is in the Copper novel or whether it is a screenplay embellishment. But it served the story line by pointing out that the English man did not know who he was dealing with .(Iroquois speaker in this case I think.)
Here is another example I will offer though it is conjectural. There is an old road in Wilmot, New Hampshire, in the flats along the river at the foot of Mt. Kearssrge. Shindagan is the name. Its origins are lost to time. To me at least, it is unmistakenly indigenous.
As best as I can determine having consulted my Abenaki dictionary, it is a corruption of "shandakawa", meaning 'place where the onions grow". Which only makes sense. Hence, "Chicago", and "Chicagoans".
Kearssrge of course is from "Karasaguwa" or Proud Mountain. But note there are two in NH, the other being east of North Conway on the border with Maine .
I'm looking for it. I bought it years ago to track down that place name . My reconstruction is highly conjectural but based on the nearest root words found. Most place names are compounds. Just like in Germanic languages. Another name of local interest is Ascutney. There is no such place or thing in England. Local legend has the Abenaki name being "Cascandak" or something like that.
Yes, thank you for sharing Buddy’s photos. My husband does some of his best writing and picture sharing in the wee hours of the morning, so I often awaken to another gift. It’s so special.
Buddy takes some beautiful photos and how sweet is that to wake to such beauty. Enjoy the holiday weekend. I’m certain with History being so much a part of your daily life, that Memorial Day has great meaning. It does for me and makes me want to make sure all of those that paid the intimate price, will have not died in vain or those that have painful memories because they were assuring our freedom. Enjoy!! I always look forward to your Letters but rest for now
A beautiful post, Heather. And that image! One can get lost in it…Thank you. The comments thus far are lovely and prompt my own thoughts to well up. My beloved husband was an ironworker, was up and out very early, sometimes three plus hours before I rose to go to teach school. How special to wake up to find new images on your phone or computer screen. My own mother wrote voluminous letters as my brothers and I grew into adulthood. Some of the content was troublesome… I remember very little as reflective or sensitive. But she once wrote, “The light is changing,” and those four words have stayed with me for years. Images of their home in Southern California are in my mind, accompanying those words as I picture what she was probably referencing. Poignant. Were she living, I have no idea how she would adapt to global and national events, the many digital newsletters, the Internet… But I won’t concern myself with speculation. I’ll simply return to and rest in those words: “The light is changing.”
So often, in old age, I “simply return to and rest in those words.” Words that have meant everything to me since the writer of them has been gone a long time, but is still with me in ways that I never expected. So glad you find comfort…
For your readers, I visited a great Museum in the old Bates Mill in Lewiston called MaineMILL (Museum of Innovative Learning +Labor) and it includes a "Hopeful/Anxious" wall.
Take the whole w / e off, Ma'am. Just relax. The M.A.G.A. types and, worse, Trump are not going anywhere.
"With malice toward none with charity for all with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right let us strive on to finish the work we are in to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan ~ to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."
Beautiful picture, the Universe much bigger than us and we should always be in awe! Thanks Heather!
There is something about sunrises and sunsets that are almost mesmerizing. I don't know what it is, but I love them and have many photos of them here in Florida where the cloud formations make them works of art.
There is a funny 'Calvin and Hobbes' toon that balances this sentiment, and Dr Richardson's pic., almost perfectly. Set with Calvin outdoors, under a night-time sky:
> Calvin, standing alone, looking at the twinkling stars in the first frame; 😯
> Calvin declaring audibly to the heavens, "¡I'm significant!", in the second; 🥳
> Calvin staring upward in the third;🤔and,
> a resigned Calvin looking at the reader and confessing, "Screamed the dust-speck . . . ." in the final frame. 🤫
WE all realize we are mere "dust-specks". Too bad there are so many who havent come to that realization yet. Perhaps when other species are extinct, there is no? water and the heat touches even those in their millionaire/billionaire bunkers? I truly wonder the lack of brainpower that cant comprehend the fact of climate change & what is happening right this minute in front of them.
We are mere specs of dust and in 100 years no one will know that we existed. Still, there is something that we can do so that those people 100 years from now can enjoy the wonders of nature that we do. And we are presently working at it.
In the midst of the social/political maelstrom, aren’t we with companions who help calm the waters lucky?
Kim, indeed we are. I always look forward to what I call the serenity photo each week. Heather and Buddy, thank you.
The Serenity Photo! Perfect, Michele!
Thank you. We all need it after a week of politics.
Hey, Kim, just not confident that staying calm in a maelstrom is the help I'm looking for! Do we ever DO anything about the rise of tyranny? Something that is sufficient to turn the tide when the other side has no respect for Queensberry rules? What are the preventive ACTION steps, aside from keeping each other company? Vote? Pray? Buy a strong front door? Emigrate? Be able to say, 'told you so', in so many ways?
(Not quite what Washington, et al, did.)
How does one stop the corruption of the Judiciary? I'm long past being interested in another proof Alito and Thomas are corrupt, if it has no sufficient action item.
It's good to give vent to our feelings of helpless and despair. It's also good to take action. No matter how small our efforts feel, it's good to remember snowflakes can lead to snowballs can lead to avalanches.
Taking action.......Jesus on 2 occasions had to clear the temple. He would go to quiet areas to mediate. Do not let the Magotts corrupt or deceive us anymore. We know the truth and it will set us free. Vote for the good man...top down......
OR WOMAN!
Yeah, kinda still hoping for a convention surprise…
IF they (or we! - dems also gerrymander…) are corrupting the voting so that it is not representative, OR if they will not positively assert to accept the last presidential election ( which was thoroughly validated upon challenge in the courts),
THEN we are irresponsible & not very clever, both, to just wait and hope we win the next vote (or to think we could abide what comes next).
>Heads in the sand< ☹️
The time to address both those problems is NOW!!! 🤨
Executive action.
Stack the SC.
Impeach corruption.
Is there ANY other recourse - at today’s too far gone politics - than people in the streets and/or fascism?
If we wish to keep our democracy WE may well need to ‘fight’ in response.
What is going down right now took years of preparation by the hard core right........
We all have been asleep at the wheel thinking this could never happen.
MAGA is their dream come true.
Perfect description MisTBlu. Any or all on the list of action possibilities as noted by Mark Shields. There is no “only way” and it’s not preordained as some want to say when it seems hopeless to try. We do have free will. We must “ keep on keeping’ on” in search of our tribe to collaborate in our efforts to support a more perfect union. These comments can be comforting in preventing us from giving up. For me, read Dr Heather’s letters, believe I’m not being foolish by reading Simon Rosenberg’s Hopium Chronicles, donate with thought & believe every small amount helps, speak up when others talk nonsense (with facts from aforementioned writings) VOTE and encourage others to do the same. I’m grateful for all of your thoughtful comments. Not feeling alone is a strength in itself. For now, remember why we have this holiday weekend and never give up because of all of them
I tried to listen to Simon Rosenberg's podcast; after 20 minutes I folded. I so wanted his positivity to wash over me but two things stopped that from happening. First, he said twice that Haley endorsed Trump. She specifically did not; she may do so but she hasn't yet and it bothered me that an experienced political operative would say that. Second, and most importantly, he went into a looong discussion about polls. By listening for as long as I did I broke my resolve to tune out any discussion of polls. I believe -- and experience has shown -- that the only polls that matter are the ones where we cast our ballots. As I didn't listen to the full hour I am curious if he has anything to say about the effect of Biden's position on Palestine vis-a-vis the cohort of young voters who have been protesting Israel's actions.
Excellent.
Are those misty blue - eyes? :)
True Blue Patriotic Democrat
Thanks for relieving my imagination 😏☺️
There are many people throughout the land taking action. Joining them is an antidote to despair.
https://www.lwv.org/
https://protectthevote.net/
https://www.eac.gov/help-america-vote
We need a majority of Democrats to protect democracy. We the people have the power as long as we embrace it before it’s too late.
Christy, I like your comment, re: "We need a majority of Democrats to protect democracy". I would've worded it that we need a "majority" of "people" to quit bad-mouthing the way things are in our country. Stop. Myself, I reflect on this: The will of the "majority" is exactly what has been so subtly pervaded, and so egregiously especially since the 1930's. The intentions of the "people" who drew up the framework (papers & documents) for this 'new' country, that would allow us to live and govern ourselves in a normal and reasonably sense-able way, have been obscured by the scum which has risen to the top of the pot and allowed to boil over. We have been succumbed by it. Like a wildfire burning out of control blanketing our nation in smoke. We came close to it being 'ashes' on Jan 6th. I pose this to all who might read it, without reference to the ner-do-wells responsible for the untenable predicament we could be in.
Sorry I was so unclear. I meant we need a 2/3 Democratic Senate Majority to follow thru on 🤞🏼 at least a couple of the most corrupt of the SCOTUS being impeached by a Democratic majority in our House.
Thanks for the names of these organizations. I have been looking for a 'GET OUT THE VOTE" group--one that perhaps teams with churches to take people to polling places and reward them with a nice social event. For whatever reason, this seems the most promising strategy--just getting more people out to vote. I will look into these groups and interested for people to share ones focused on "getting out the vote."
There are some doing this. Happy to post links if you want them
Yes, please post links. Thanks!!!
https://www.ucc.org/our-faith-our-vote/
https://www.turnoutsunday.com/your-vote-matters
https://sojo.net/articles/more-800-faith-leaders-are-ready-de-escalate-election-tension
Thanks, Christy, I DO think these 'within the system' voting approaches are NECESSARY & essential; but strongly believe they are NOT SUFFICIENT, once the vote has been abridged or denied.
And the vote is being systematically abridged and denied.
This should come to trial NOW, in states across the US. New Hampshire tried and convicted a deep-fake election scam (by a 3rd party 'dem'!) in 4 months.
If only we could clone Marc Elias. I read where MAGA are afraid of him! Donating to ACLU or sharing about their work.
https://www.influencewatch.org/person/marc-elias/
https://www.aclu.org/documents/about-voting-rights-project
Or one can support Marc's work directly:
https://www.democracydocket.com/
Christy, I would like to hear Marc's rationale for super PACs.
Do you know why he thought they were a good idea?
Mark, I’m not well read in all the controversies but we’re up against the wealthiest of the wealthy that can afford never ending litigation. My assumption is that sometimes you have to fight fire with fire, and we need a level playing field??
Mark, emigration out of this corrupt and disintegrating system we’re hoping to prop up seems like a comforting thought. How does the EU devote so much time and thought and finance into the well being of the majority of its people while we have citizens drowning in médical and educational debt, or no health care at all, legislators serving those who paid for their elections. It’s hard to see a bright spit.
Researched and completed application for a Retirement visa in 2016, but family & finances can make it too hard for most. And there’s the principle of fixing the system from within, so long as this can be viable. And the affection for the aspirational aspects of one’s country.
But blind nationalism is an evil, too, one that kills millions without end.
I'm watching The American Conspiracy:the Octopus Murders....and honestly Mark, I'm not sure the human race is redeemable. As I sit outside, drinking my coffee, enjoying the crisp, rain cleaned air of the morning, listening to the beautiful sounds of nature, I am more convinced than ever that the human race on this earth is like fleas on a dog. A nuisance that is is growing intolerable. And the dog is about to shake.
Thank you Heather for interjecting the true beauty of life into the miserable miasma of human thought and being. It is our only redemption and I feel blessed to enjoy every moment before the earth shakes itself free from us.
Hey, Susan, I'm watching 'The Silent Service', an interesting (fictional - military/political action movie) 'popular' update on the changing Japanese view of the brewing SEAsia conflict. (My wife's Japanese; movie is not 5-star, but like the 1980's American movie 'Red Dawn', this movie is interesting because it appears to have a political messaging mission, targeting defense oriented thinking in Japan, and perhaps the younger generation.)
I feel SEAsia is a tinderbox (& Ukraine and Mideast conflicts amplify this); the world's primary AI chip foundry in Taiwan (TSMC) is hostage to both the great powers; neither is willing to let the other have it. We currently have dominion (ONLY via $ and inertia), but China is two feet away and pouring money (partly from cheap Russia oil savings) into military & AI capacity.
There's no Solomon on hand to judiciously 'divide' the baby.
Suspect working at TSMC feels a bit like I felt working in a US Embassy in Africa during the early 2000's - "something may be about to happen."
Once the last human survivor ceases breathing, due to nuclear poisoning or unsurvivable heat, the earth will relax its poor shoulders and think…We, the non-destructive flora and fauna, have how many more millennia until the next so-called more intelligent life form evolves and we go through the “human cycle” of evolution and self-destruction again?
Not to end on a depressingly pessimistic note, I’ll offer a ray of hope. Climate scientists offer what may be s saving theory that once enough of the ice caps melt, northern ocean water will not be cold enough to sink and send warm equatorial waters north such as the Gulf Stream does to warm Europe. The earth will then enter its next Ice Age, which could be quickly, predicted within 10 to 100 years of the tipping point being reached. So come on Ice Age…the fossil fuel giant corporations are depending on you.
Mark, I agree that we should all be writing our Congresspersons, hitting all the take action buttons on other sites, getting out the vote, joining other groups, but no one can be in full go mode all the time, Taking moments to calm, recharge, and appreciate what is good in nature, in this country, and what President Biden and legislatures, and judges that are positive helps us know what we are fighting for. We don’t need to keep reinjuring ourselves with what we already know. It is important to stop from time to time and take a deep breath and appreciate beauty, love, hopefulness, and joy.
"It IS important to stop from time to time and take a deep breath and appreciate beauty, love, hopefulness, and joy."
True, Linda, to everything a season - including, sadly, the prospects of a more perfect union.
Mark you might like https://actionnetwork.org/letters/stock-buyback-accountability-act?source=group-revoke-wall-streets-license-to-steal&referrer=group-revoke-wall-streets-license-to-steal&redirect=https://secure.actblue.com/donate/sh-o98-trumpprison&link_id=0&can_id=055343633712997bcf8f7658706fe72b&email_referrer=email_2331698&email_subject=its-a-winwin-for-corporate-greed&refcodeEmailReferrer=email_2331698
also sign up for Robert .reich’s substack
and check out Rather on netflex and and sign up for his substack Stewdy
Thanks, Linda. You are indeed correct!!
(Been following RR for literally decades (since I took macro econ in the 80's), and share him with my son who is an artist looking for a niche. I do subscribe to his substack. I read it without exception for quite a while, partly because there are interesting discussions, but it is getting familiar and I seek a variety of ideas - not that I agree with him any less. Also Rather I often read, but don't subscribe. J Vance and HCR are current favs.)
Mark I don’t see them as exclusive,
True. :)
Miselle gave us the dumpalito.com website a few days ago so we can register our COMPLAINTS OF MISCONDUCT re Alito and Cannon to their pertinent Courts. Copies go to Senator Dick Durbin, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Senate Majority Whip, I
believe can calll hearings on these two Judges. I think these are Actionable tasks we, as citizens, can do!
Sandra, you can also just contact Durban directly https://www.durbin.senate.gov/contact/email
It was apparently, Linda, a hoax and I've put everything I've learned and that is there is no way to file a Complaint of misconduct altho I'm going to send my forms against Alito and Cannon anyway to let them know I think both are not complying with their own Code of Conduct, "themselves as unrestricted by any ethics rules.”
The Supreme Court’s new official Code of Conduct is comprised of five canons: (1) uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary, (2) avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all activities, (3) perform the duties of office fairly, impartially, and diligently, (4) engage in extrajudicial activities that are consistent with the obligations of the judicial office, and (5) refrain from political activity. These canons offer the Justices . . . "
Sandra you can also sign up to Daily Kos and they have many Take Action notices to Senator Durbin
Many thanks Linda!
Thank you!
Ah, but Mark, calm and doing are not exclusive! And if we want calm in our environment, we first have to learn how to find it in ourselves.
Kim, I want CHANGE in my environment (& I have grandkids too...) - even more than I want calm.
I am fine with CALMLY impeaching the corrupt justices, and CALMLY stacking the bench, and calmly bringing federal cases against anti-democratic treason, and definitely want a president who is CALMLY and compellingly and regularly riding the bully pulpit to call out tfg's insurrection.
OR whatever is the most potent action - but it would be a mistake to calmly wait to vote - or, to even think a winning vote will preserve democracy - the race will be thrown to the house, and they will pick tfg. We need to do MORE than vote, and I'm looking for ideas. Agree with the snowflake metaphor offered above.
But I'm a monitoring and evaluation numbers-oriented former civil servant; when the trend is not going where it needs to go, the most efficient change of course is now, not a day before or a day after election.
There's a climate change underway, and the snowflakes are not yet adding up.
I appreciate your passion and understand your frustration. I agree we are on a precipice. Embracing moments of calm help me to energize for the action I take in my community and in my work.
Kim, my dad, a Quaker preacher, and a pacifist in WWII - a rare and very UN-popular conviction for a tool and die-maker by trade - used to tell the story of revivalist/evangelist John Wesley interviewing his (horse-back) wandering reverends after they'd returned from a stint of 'outreach'. He'd ask how many churches they'd built - none? Well how many souls did you save - none? Well how many people did you make mad? This story, from a hard-core pacifist.
Some need calming down. Some people need stirring up.
To calm myself down, I expect I will need to stir more people up. ;)
And, Mark, we are not only dealing with the corruption of the judiciary. As Supreme Court Justice Jackson asked, during the presidential immunity hearings...if we give a president immunity what will keep any administration from becoming an international center of crime. We've already had that with Reagan. His manipulation of the Iran hostages to win the presidency, the Iran Contra affair and the corruption of the NSA, the CIA, the FBI, and the Justice Department.
DT is the resurrection of that era with an intention to finish the job that Reagan began.
Exactly so, Susan. Judiciary is just one focal point in a short comment, of many possible.
tfg, his handlers, and fellow neo-fascists, are busy corrupting and decapitating EVERY branch of government (via 'Section F' extension of nepotism), to serve a consolidation of power in a minority... and soon thereafter a kleptocratic oligarchy.
SC is too 'clever' to hand presidential immunity to the president until AFTER tfg has taken the WH. Biden needs to call their hand NOW; they can't have it one way for him, the other for tfg.
Wow! Never thought of that. SC waiting for a T presidency to make a decision.
Yeah, 'Justice delayed...' IS corruption, but very hard to impeach.
Yes…we are very lucky,
Beautiful photo! Thank you for sharing these.
Having been born and raised on the West Coast, it's surprising to see a sunrise over the ocean!
I'm fortunate to have lived on both coasts and the sun rising over the Sierra's is quite impressive as well. But every place has it's own special beauty if you take the time to notice.
Great comment, Tracy S! Thank you. A clear reminder to us all of how framework matters.
Woban Aki. Dawn Land. Abenaki.
Yes. A significant historical framework, Tyler P. Harwell.
“The term Wôbanakiak includes many culturally related groups of Native peoples who were the original inhabitants of present-day Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, parts of Massachusetts, parts of southern Canada, and the Maritimes. Wôbanakiak means “people of the east” or “Dawnland people.” Linguistically, the word includes the morphemes for dawn (wôban), and land (-aki), combined with an animate plural ending (-ak) to indicate people. English, French, and Dutch attempts to pronounce the Native language resulted in different spellings and pronunciations such as Wabanaki, Abenaki, Abénaquis, and Abnaki.” (Abstract, “Wôbanaki Lifeways - Circa 1600”, Bruchac, 2004)
Thanks for that reference. You can similarly trace "Penobscot". I knew one.
This offers yet another lesson in how native Dawn Land words for places and peoples get mangled by , speakers of English. Sometimes this is deliberate. When it is, it yields an insult, as in that scene from "Last of the Mohicans", when General Amherst refers to Mahgwa as "Mugwump". I don't know if this is in the Copper novel or whether it is a screenplay embellishment. But it served the story line by pointing out that the English man did not know who he was dealing with .(Iroquois speaker in this case I think.)
Here is another example I will offer though it is conjectural. There is an old road in Wilmot, New Hampshire, in the flats along the river at the foot of Mt. Kearssrge. Shindagan is the name. Its origins are lost to time. To me at least, it is unmistakenly indigenous.
As best as I can determine having consulted my Abenaki dictionary, it is a corruption of "shandakawa", meaning 'place where the onions grow". Which only makes sense. Hence, "Chicago", and "Chicagoans".
Kearssrge of course is from "Karasaguwa" or Proud Mountain. But note there are two in NH, the other being east of North Conway on the border with Maine .
Again, yes, with interest and enthusiasm.
Names matter - words matter - and people matter. That’s the framework I try to live by.
Please tell me more about your Abenaki dictionary.
I'm looking for it. I bought it years ago to track down that place name . My reconstruction is highly conjectural but based on the nearest root words found. Most place names are compounds. Just like in Germanic languages. Another name of local interest is Ascutney. There is no such place or thing in England. Local legend has the Abenaki name being "Cascandak" or something like that.
Peace.
.
Agreed! (Lived on the west coast my whole life.)
Thanks for having shared Buddy's photos with us (your readers & fan club) so many times.
We're grateful that he is in your life.
Yes, thank you for sharing Buddy’s photos. My husband does some of his best writing and picture sharing in the wee hours of the morning, so I often awaken to another gift. It’s so special.
Buddy takes some beautiful photos and how sweet is that to wake to such beauty. Enjoy the holiday weekend. I’m certain with History being so much a part of your daily life, that Memorial Day has great meaning. It does for me and makes me want to make sure all of those that paid the intimate price, will have not died in vain or those that have painful memories because they were assuring our freedom. Enjoy!! I always look forward to your Letters but rest for now
Slacker! 😉 Seriously, you work so hard for us. Thank you for everything. Enjoy a restful Maine day!
A beautiful post, Heather. And that image! One can get lost in it…Thank you. The comments thus far are lovely and prompt my own thoughts to well up. My beloved husband was an ironworker, was up and out very early, sometimes three plus hours before I rose to go to teach school. How special to wake up to find new images on your phone or computer screen. My own mother wrote voluminous letters as my brothers and I grew into adulthood. Some of the content was troublesome… I remember very little as reflective or sensitive. But she once wrote, “The light is changing,” and those four words have stayed with me for years. Images of their home in Southern California are in my mind, accompanying those words as I picture what she was probably referencing. Poignant. Were she living, I have no idea how she would adapt to global and national events, the many digital newsletters, the Internet… But I won’t concern myself with speculation. I’ll simply return to and rest in those words: “The light is changing.”
So often, in old age, I “simply return to and rest in those words.” Words that have meant everything to me since the writer of them has been gone a long time, but is still with me in ways that I never expected. So glad you find comfort…
New shell starting in. Keep hauling.
For your readers, I visited a great Museum in the old Bates Mill in Lewiston called MaineMILL (Museum of Innovative Learning +Labor) and it includes a "Hopeful/Anxious" wall.
Big medicine and an incredible location.
Sounds like a place I’d like to visit one day
Rest easy.
Hooray for Buddy! Good on him
Thanks for sharing another beautiful image from Buddy! Rest well, and have a good evening.
You two are so well suited for each other.
Have a lovely night, professor.
You're sending me to bed in serenity....
Wonderful photo by Buddy. It almost inspires me to get up early. Just almost.
Lovely.
Take the whole w / e off, Ma'am. Just relax. The M.A.G.A. types and, worse, Trump are not going anywhere.
"With malice toward none with charity for all with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right let us strive on to finish the work we are in to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan ~ to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."