Photo by Jill Wellington on Pexels.com Some very positive events are occurring. I'm posting below the intro and conclusion from Robert Hubbell's Today's Edition newsletter, published September 22--an issue he titled: "A Good Day." ___________________ A half-dozen major stories broke on Wednesday. Together, they reinforce the rule of law and confirm the renewed strength … Continue reading SOME GOOD NEWS…
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Why Do Voters Trust Republicans on the Economy More Than Democrats?
Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com “For all of the ‘pain at the pump’ stories, the answer is that wages and salaries have kept pace with inflation since Biden took office—and by this measure, most Americans are much better off than before the pandemic hit in 2020, and before he took office in 2021.” —Robert … Continue reading Why Do Voters Trust Republicans on the Economy More Than Democrats?
LET’S ALL MAKE SURE WE PROTECT DEMOCRACY ON NOVEMBER 8TH (My attempt to create a helpful candidates guide)
Photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels.com With the completion of the primaries on September 13 and the midterm elections less than two months away, it’s time to zero in on particular candidates who have been targeted by the Republicans, and/or those I feel are especially worthy of your votes, active support, and any dollars you … Continue reading LET’S ALL MAKE SURE WE PROTECT DEMOCRACY ON NOVEMBER 8TH (My attempt to create a helpful candidates guide)
The Trees Are Coming! The Trees Are Coming!
We'll soon get one of these beauties! (photo from township manager) When we bought our suburban home--lo, those many years ago--it was the trees that sealed the deal. The wonderful mighty oaks on both sides of the street stretched toward the middle, forming a leafy canopy elegant enough to welcome a royal procession. For a … Continue reading The Trees Are Coming! The Trees Are Coming!
From Obama to Trump: Dr. Jill Biden’s Remarks Got Me Thinking…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8oJ_-xvnDs Barack and Michelle Obama's return to the White House for the unveiling of their portraits was a joyous occasion. It was also evocative in any number of ways—most notably, a reminder of the importance of peaceful rituals involving the transfer of power. If you haven’t seen any of the coverage, I’ve included above the … Continue reading From Obama to Trump: Dr. Jill Biden’s Remarks Got Me Thinking…
Looking Toward “Roevember”
Photo [of Alaska] by Andrew Hanson on Pexels.com I’m trying not to get too giddy. We have a lot of hard work ahead to pull off democracy-saving Democratic wins in November—just a little over two months from now. When I wrote my post “Abortion Is Actually Going to Save Democracy,” I cited the work of … Continue reading Looking Toward “Roevember”
Why Did the Main Stream Media Tune Out the President’s Warning About Democracy?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wygovCnX8Uw President Biden made a bold and powerful speech in Philadelphia about the dangers our democracy faces due to Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans. If you haven't seen it, you can watch it above (speech begins around 6.25, after music) and/or read it here. I think it must have taken a lot to get … Continue reading Why Did the Main Stream Media Tune Out the President’s Warning About Democracy?
When the “Green Revolution” Smacks Up Against the Green of Dollars…
Photo by Leonardo Lamas on Pexels.com A front-page story in The New York Times: “Secret Data, Tiny Islands and a Quest for Treasures on the Ocean Floor.” (Diligent Times readers are excused from finishing this post, though I’ve condensed a story that was more than twenty printed pages with photos into a much shorter piece!) … Continue reading When the “Green Revolution” Smacks Up Against the Green of Dollars…
“Abortion Is Actually Going to Save Democracy”
Photo by Emma Guliani on Pexels.com "Abortion is actually going to save Democracy." Those were the words of Alexis McGill Johnson, president of Planned Parenthood, announcing that her organization is donating more than $50 million to help elect pro-choice candidates in November. How far-fetched is Johnson’s assessment? Not nearly as far as it was before … Continue reading “Abortion Is Actually Going to Save Democracy”
Sex and Gender: Diversity in Chimps, Bonobos, and Us
Photo by Keith Lobo on Pexels.com Frans de Waal is a Dutch biologist and primatologist who thinks humans have some silly ideas/constructs about sex and gender. He’s written a number of books, most recently Different: Gender Through the Eyes of a Primatologist. I heard him express his strong opinions on Alan Alda’s Clear and Vivid … Continue reading Sex and Gender: Diversity in Chimps, Bonobos, and Us
I Think We All Need This…
https://twitter.com/QueenLesli/status/1558125131540619269?s=20&t=Sab8VCm9uU9L1tTKzJLbIg We must hope the penguin's assistant is treating him/her well--and the proper conditions for penguin good health are just outside the camera's range (an ice bath, for sure). In my heart, I know this cutie shouldn't be in captivity. I've persuaded myself that the artiste is having lots of fun and will be just … Continue reading I Think We All Need This…
Who Could Take Down the Felon-in-Waiting? Librarians!
From an Occupied Democrats Facebook posting Stephen Colbert's wise and witty observation warms my heart. If the National Archives and Records Administration's informing the Justice Department about all those missing super-secret documents leads to the indictment and conviction of the former guy for violating the Espionage Act, among others, we'll be seeing Karma raised to … Continue reading Who Could Take Down the Felon-in-Waiting? Librarians!
Moms, Kids, and the Makeup of Congress
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com In this intolerable heat, I’ve been thinking a lot about poor single moms and their children. Lacking air conditioning, where do they go for relief? How do they manage? Last year, the Federal government gave tangible help to these families and others. One of the most enlightened, potentially most important … Continue reading Moms, Kids, and the Makeup of Congress
Some Happy Governmental Stuff…(and not about that guy)
In place of "Dems in Disarray," I'm looking for the mainstream media stories reporting "Dems in Array!"
THANK YOU, KANSAS VOTERS!
In my recent post, I asked: “What’s the Matter in Kansas?” Republican politicians were deliberately trying to confuse voters into passing a constitutional amendment that would enable them to overturn a Supreme Court ruling protecting abortion. Last night we learned that Kansas voters, by a VERY large margin, said NO WAY! Republicans, unaffiliated voters, and … Continue reading THANK YOU, KANSAS VOTERS!
A Russia Expert on Ukraine: WE MUST NOT BUY INTO PUTIN’S NARRATIVE
Photo by Mathias Reding on Pexels.com The horrors that Putin is wreaking on the Ukrainian people are increasing, but this news is no longer at the forefront. Though the fading attention is understandable and probably inevitable, it’s just what Putin is counting on. He is playing the long game, figuring that once the forbidding winter … Continue reading A Russia Expert on Ukraine: WE MUST NOT BUY INTO PUTIN’S NARRATIVE
HE MADE IT ALL HAPPEN! A Post-(Eighth)January 6th Hearing Acrostic
H ere, for the world to see, is theE vidence that removes all doubt: The M AGA-LOW-man-baby satA nd watched his worst-laid plan againstD emocracy sputter and wither while heE njoyed chaos by the cruel/clueless. I t’s not enough to say “He did nothingT o stop them”—he did A ll he could to pump them … Continue reading HE MADE IT ALL HAPPEN! A Post-(Eighth)January 6th Hearing Acrostic
What’s the Matter in Kansas? Abortion Law Trickery Likely to Spread
Photo by Kelly on Pexels.com I noted in my post “How to Be a Part of the Solution” that an organization I work with, PostCardsToVoters, is seeking to inform Kansas voters about the intricacies of a proposed state constitutional amendment on abortion. Significantly, this amendment would reverse the state Supreme Court’s 2019 ruling that the … Continue reading What’s the Matter in Kansas? Abortion Law Trickery Likely to Spread
“Bright April” and the Librarian of Congress–and All We Must Protect
This is a story about a young girl who saw herself in a picture book for the first time—and went on to great prominence in our nation. It’s a story of the power of books, libraries, and librarians—and, by extension, the perverse acknowledgment of that power in the attempts to block it by a growing … Continue reading “Bright April” and the Librarian of Congress–and All We Must Protect
How to Be a Part of the Solution
If you're feeling upset and frustrated about events you feel you can't control, consider how you might volunteer to effect change. And please don't tell me "I voted in 2020 and nothing's perfect." Democracy is worth the sustained effort to move it forward. This is a critically important election.
Where the Present and History Collide…
Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org What a sad, sad coincidence. Yesterday, The New York Times ran a front-page piece claiming that “Democrats Have Soured on Biden.” They cited a poll finding loss of confidence in the President across all age and ethnic groups. The primary reason for overall pessimism? Widespread concerns about the economy and inflation. … Continue reading Where the Present and History Collide…
A Couple of Garden Haikus
One feathery… Resplendent CardinalStraddles bough with familyFeeds babe, Mom looks on. Photo by Chris F on Pexels.com (I wish you could have seen Mom; she looked around as if to say, "As soon as this is done, I'm outta here.") The other furry… Brown rabbit pausesWhite-footed gray cat snoozesShared spot, different days. Photo by Steffi … Continue reading A Couple of Garden Haikus
“I No Longer Recognize My Country…”
I have increasingly come across the sad expression: “I no longer recognize my country.” I not only understand that expression; I also share it. We are being buffeted by a series of events that are searing to live through. We used to be so proud to be Americans. How did things go so terribly wrong?
This Radical Supreme Court Majority Is Killing US: A Call to Action
I've been working on this post on and off for weeks, trying to decide if advocating for court reform sounds too pie-in-the-sky. Since the overturn of Roe, which for the first time ever removed a Constitutionally protected right from Americans—with promises of more such decimation of established rights to follow—I’ve been eager to complete it. This week, the radical court majority’s beyond the beyond rulings moved my thinking from “too pie-in-the-sky” to “Do or die.”
“Something Is Not Right Around the Court…”: Reblogging a 2020 Post
At the hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett, President Trump's ultra-conservative nominee to replace the late liberal giant Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (Dem, RI) gave a remarkably clear and extremely important tutorial on the forces that are really moving the Supreme Court's decision-making in ways large and small...I hope you will view this video, which succinctly captures so much about why our government is failing to meet the needs of the American people.
Gun Safety: Small Step Forward; Big Step Back, But We Made a Difference!
The Supreme Court majority has just struck down a very sensible gun safety law--just as the often calcified Senate toddled toward a modest, though significant, breakthrough. Undeterred by my lack of legal credentials, I'm gonna venture that the American people had a say in both developments. Please bear with me...
This Stalwart Republican’s Words, “Chiseled in Stone,” May Help Save Our Democracy
When retired Appellate Court Judge J. Michael Luttig began his slow, laborious statement as a witness at the January 6 Committee hearings, I worried he’d lose half the viewing/listening audience. I could picture the outwardly composed committee members passing frantic messages back and forth, trying to figure out how to handle this important witness. Judge … Continue reading This Stalwart Republican’s Words, “Chiseled in Stone,” May Help Save Our Democracy
We’ve All Just Gotta Hang In There…
In my severely dog-deprived state,First thoughts of that photo, I’ll relate,Were that I’d dognap her right away--And also double her doggie pay! But broadly thinking about these timesThat try our souls, I reach for rhymes.The furry gymnast now says, with care,“We’ve all just gotta hang in there!” Please let your imagination roamIn responding to this … Continue reading We’ve All Just Gotta Hang In There…
The January 6th Committee Hearings Are Must-See TV!
Here's a veryvery brief summary of the Second Hearing.
The Capitol Police Gave Their All
In Honor of Caroline Edwards, Witness at the January 6th Committee's First Public Hearing, and Her Colleagues
We Will Hear About “The Unthinkable” in Just Two Days
If anyone reading this post has not been planning to watch the January 6 Committee hearings--or listen to them--I urge you to do so. If you’re not available, tape the sessions for later viewing. Even if you’ve turned off politics, it’s imperative that you inform yourself now—for the good of us all.
The President’s Fury
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GPtFM3KiYU While waiting for President Biden to make his suddenly scheduled address on gun violence last night, several somewhat sympathetic “talking heads” discussed what we could expect from his speech. They concluded he’d have to be very careful, appealing to those ten elusive Republicans whose votes are essential if we are to see anything—anything at … Continue reading The President’s Fury
Some Wisdom About Gun Policy–and Everything Else
Photo by Markus Spiske on Pexels.com “All healthy societies are ready to sacrifice the existential moment for their children’s future and for children after those. The sense of the future is behind all good policies. Unless we have it, we can give nothing either wise or decent to the world.” —quotation attributed to CP Snow … Continue reading Some Wisdom About Gun Policy–and Everything Else
You Just Never Know Where Kindness Leads…
https://twitter.com/CoryBooker/status/1527368871916605440?s=20&t=eQlCL-rohWNOlcDOkdde7Q A bit of cheer from the ebullient Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ)--much needed, I think, at the end of this painfully sad week. Annie
How Can a Politician Campaign to Win Your Vote?
In this critically important November election, some very extreme candidates who spout the Big Lie are running against some very reasonable ones. How do the reasonable ones appeal to voters, who are the vast majority?
An Alternative Replacement Theory…
From a 2019 series of tweets Did you know that "they" are paying their life savings to smugglers, traveling long distances under dangerous and horrific conditions, risking deportation when they reach the US—all because they are so desperate to cast a fraudulent vote? This is the newest Republican 100% false scare tactic to persuade Americans … Continue reading An Alternative Replacement Theory…
Spreading the Lie “for Power, Political Gain and for Profit”
In President Biden's significant speech to the Buffalo community in anguish following the rampage by a white supremacist, he was forthright about the "poison...running through our body politic" and called out those who profit from it.
This Pot Ain’t All It’s Cracked Up To Be!
(Gotta mix things up in Annie land; it’s time for a breather from the headlines.) Way back in February, I wrote a piece called “It’s the Cereal, Stupid!” about my spouse’s and my cereal/serial bickering over the every-other-day task of generating steel cut oatmeal for our consumption at breakfast.
Whoa! What’s Going On Here?
Remember the notorious Access Hollywood video that surfaced in 2016, in which the former President and current Republican party cult leader joked about grabbing women inappropriately? Many of us naively thought that would automatically disqualify him. Alas! We’ve learned of any number of alleged sexual improprieties by the former guy. As of 2020, 26 women … Continue reading Whoa! What’s Going On Here?
On the Economy, Biden Wins!
https://twitter.com/BidensWins/status/1490702636810649601?s=20&t=FJs1GAIbrOFpsyaYZdTGlQ Yes, there is actually good news. Some enterprising person is finally getting the idea that the President’s low poll numbers are in part due to a lack of proper messaging. I just began to follow @BidensWins on Twitter, which I suspect began in February. It consists of pithy little things--some for fun, some serious--that … Continue reading On the Economy, Biden Wins!
What a “Weird Moment” We’re In…
Photo by Duanu00e9 Viljoen on Pexels.com (Excerpts below from historian Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American newsletter, May 2, 2022) “Tonight, news broke of a leaked draft of what appears to be Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s majority decision overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision establishing access to abortion as a … Continue reading What a “Weird Moment” We’re In…
A Great American’s Final Warning to Us
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtDgkjdJpuI Madeleine Korbel Albright, our nation’s first woman Secretary of State, knew authoritarianism up close and so very personal. Born in Czechoslovakia, she arrived in the US—on the ship SS America—with her diplomat father and family when she was eleven years old. At that young age, she’d already survived the Nazis' blitz of London and … Continue reading A Great American’s Final Warning to Us
Team Magpie Wins Round One
Photo by Daniil Komov on Pexels.com Not long ago, I posted some fascinating insights I’d learned about Lessons from Plants. Our flora friends depend on one another for the important things in life. They don’t hold back in asking for help. I wasn’t surprised, then, to learn about similar behaviors in birds. And I’d long … Continue reading Team Magpie Wins Round One
Should the US Provide Frozen Russian Assets to Ukraine?
https://twitter.com/tribelaw/status/1515134737421119493 Experts' views of the Russians' horrific war against Ukraine have changed over the weeks of battle--and the once-impossible scenario depicting the Ukrainians actually stopping the Russians has gained favor. Now, with the Russians claiming they plan to push on to overtake Moldova, the threat of a widening war that the US has tried to … Continue reading Should the US Provide Frozen Russian Assets to Ukraine?
A Slice of Wonder in a Trembling World
Sunlight sweeps across our yard in a glistening arc. Adolescent trees sway rhythmically in a Wind so tamed from the wrath I feared in March that I smile with relief at the trees’ gentle dance. But wait; there’s more: The goldfinches visit en masse, Their feathers startlingly brighter, richer— Another paean to the lengthening stretch … Continue reading A Slice of Wonder in a Trembling World
A Few Truly Special Jackie Robinson Stories
Whenever I see an essay bearing Doug Glanville's byline, I know I should set aside the time to read and savor it. I've written about Glanville several times and carried one of his pieces here and a video here. A friend of my older daughter's since childhood, he is an extraordinarily gifted person: former baseball … Continue reading A Few Truly Special Jackie Robinson Stories
That Elon Musk/Twitter Brouhaha: Why Should We Care?
NOTE: I wrote this piece on Friday, planning to post in on Wednesday. My original title was "Twitter, Twitter, What Have You Done?" But this morning's news changes all that in what may be a more ominous way.
Fame and Adversity, Love and Grace
I'm not one to look to entertainers for personal heroism. And I'm certainly aware that the made-for-public-consumption exteriors often hide some fairly unpleasant human beings. But I've long found musician Jon Batiste--a jazz pianist best known as the "Stay Human" band leader for Stephen Colbert's program--to be an extremely appealing guy: upbeat and open, seemingly … Continue reading Fame and Adversity, Love and Grace
“Free Speech Under Attack”: The House Spotlights Book Banning and Academic Censorship
Tomorrow (April 7), my favorite legislator will swing into action to breathe new life into the First Amendment. Former Constitutional Law Professor and Constitution devotee Jamie Raskin (D-MD), who chairs the House Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, will begin hearings to expose and investigate the nationwide attempts to throttle free speech in schools and public libraries.
A Teaching Justice: Why America Needs Judge Jackson Now!
Photo by Sora Shimazaki on Pexels.com In the midst of the loud, dreadful—and grossly distorted—attacks on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson during her Senate Judiciary Committee hearings, one of her many admirable qualities impressed me the most. Judge Jackson, the daughter of educators, is a superb educator as well. I found myself fascinated by her explanations … Continue reading A Teaching Justice: Why America Needs Judge Jackson Now!
The Transfer of Power: Abe Lincoln and January 6th
Photo by Ramaz Bluashvili on Pexels.com I am listening to Rep. Jamie Raskin reading the audio version of his wrenching and beautiful memoir, Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and American Democracy. Raskin (D.-MD) is a former Constitutional law professor who headed the House team that sought to persuade the Senate to convict Donald Trump after his second … Continue reading The Transfer of Power: Abe Lincoln and January 6th
The Senate Astonishes: Votes Unanimously…and Gets Things Exquisitely Wrong…
You’ve no doubt heard about the Senate’s vote last week on the “Sunshine Protection Act.” This extraordinary bit of bipartisanship would make daylight savings time (DST) permanent beginning in 2023. After that, we’d no longer “fall back.” One more “spring forward”—and there we’ll stay. Forever sprung. And that’s a good thing? Maybe not.
Bill-Barr One Mo’ Time…I Seek Refuge in Rhyme
Bill Barr Image courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org We’ve all had a lovely reprieveFrom Bill-Barr’s penchant to deceiveBut he’s back with a hook:It’s his new “tell-all” bookWith li(n)es he assumes we’ll believe. Let me state that I will not payOne cent for this Bill-Barr display;I can learn what I needFrom reviews that I readOf the Truth he’ll … Continue reading Bill-Barr One Mo’ Time…I Seek Refuge in Rhyme
The Heroic Zelensky in Happier Times
https://twitter.com/VeraMBergen/status/1498814410911006723?s=20&t=Dk0uqy0THzs3KICGmMekuw The Ukraine President when he was just playing one on TV. This is a clip from "Servant of the People," the TV show starring Volodymyr Zelensky in which he portrayed a teacher who was elected President of Ukraine after a video of him as a corruption fighter in the show went viral. His performance … Continue reading The Heroic Zelensky in Happier Times
Bearing Witness, Asking for More…
Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com I am sitting in my comfortable warm home, a sliver of sunlight illuminating the papers on my desk, the sounds outside confined to the occasional passing car and disparate birdsongs. I am writing one day before the US Congress will hear an impassioned speech delivered by the individual who has … Continue reading Bearing Witness, Asking for More…
AG Garland and That Pesky Matter…
Photo by Sora Shimazaki on Pexels.com This post was originally a rather formal "Open Letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland." I began by praising him for the extraordinary courage and skill he showed in prosecuting the horrific 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and said I'd heard a number of his former colleagues attest to his intellect, … Continue reading AG Garland and That Pesky Matter…
She Wants To Be Alone!!!!
I gave her a bath to rid her (and me) of her fleas just now and she will not forgive. Can you see the hurt look in her eyes? She has been sulking in her crate ever since. And she rarely if ever goes into this crate!!!!
Our Cyborgian Future
Photo by Rodrigo on Pexels.com To my cautious, risk-averse self, the concept of rock climbing is beyond the beyond. I am fascinated, however, by those who’ll go where I would never tread. I’m also fascinated by the amazing world of biotech, which continually presses against the limits of human health and capabilities—and often extends them … Continue reading Our Cyborgian Future
The Historian and the President–Please Read and Watch…
I am a fan of historian Heather Cox Richardson, whose Letters From an American newsletter invariably helps put the events we're living through in historical context. Richardson wrote to her subscribers on March 4 that she encourages people who feel helpless to change the direction of our future that we can do so by "changing … Continue reading The Historian and the President–Please Read and Watch…
The Wind and March, 2022 (With Apologies to the Literary Giants)
Photo by Engin Akyurt on Pexels.com To Shelley, the West Wind brought to mind:Seasons change; Spring can’t be far behind. Zephyrus, Chaucer’s Wind-gazing god,Sweetly exhaled with a Springlike nod To me, the Wind assaults the senses—So fiercely loud, coldly relentless. Its fury caused the Oaks’ surrender,Upending blocks of florae splendor In other acts of carefree … Continue reading The Wind and March, 2022 (With Apologies to the Literary Giants)
“Legitimate Political Discourse”?? –A Befuddled Acrostic
Listen: The RNC’s shockingEvaluation of the 1/6 Insurrection as aGarden-variety political discussionIs—in two words—nutty scary. IThink we need a collective gut checkIn which we figure out why soMany Americans would again willinglyAssign the Ship of State to actors who’llTitanically steer toward (melting) icebergsEven as its keel has just been stabilized. Please explain the “enthusiasm gap”Observed … Continue reading “Legitimate Political Discourse”?? –A Befuddled Acrostic
During Black History Month, a Message That Resonates…
emorate Black History Month in a way that isn't trite and says something both pertinent and uplifting about where we are today. The conversation in Pennsylvania between Pastor Mitchell and Congressman Conor Lamb, who's running for the US Senate, moved me profoundly and met my criteria.
There’s a Guy Climbing Over My Neighbors’ Fence…
He's been there for a veryveryvery long time. I think he's stuck. What shall I do? Call the police? Bring him a bowl of steel-cut oatmeal? Annie ________ NOTE: With egomaniacal Vladimir Putin already moving toward what could be the largest war in Europe since World War II, I felt some silliness was in order. … Continue reading There’s a Guy Climbing Over My Neighbors’ Fence…
Worried About Inflation? Here’s How the Republicans Are Fighting It…
https://twitter.com/noliewithbtc/status/1493716224198553602?s=21 Inflation is a legitimate concern of all Americans, and the Biden administration has been doing everything it can to bring it down. The inflation stems from the pandemic, which has messed up supply chains and unleashed strong consumer spending that had been pent up during the previous few years. It's also been fueled by … Continue reading Worried About Inflation? Here’s How the Republicans Are Fighting It…
Oh, No: Not That Tired Old Argument Again!
Why "We're a Republic, not a Democracy" is so wrong--and why we must respond to those who say it.
“It’s the Cereal, Stupid!”
“This Needs to Be a National Conversation”
With all the concerns about the various attempts to disenfranchise voters, another voting issue hasn’t been talked about much. ..."the epidemic of uncounted ballots in America."
News About Climate Change–Some Good, Some Bad–Courtesy of Lizards…
Tiny lizards inspired biologist Thor Hanson to write a book: "Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squids." I heard him speak in yet another fascinating Alan Alda Clear&Vivid podcast. Hanson’s book, Alda says, is about “the ways plants and animals are responding as we humans are messing with their lives.”
“We the Students” Want to Read Banned Books!
Photo by Janko Ferlic on Pexels.com In one of my previous lives as a freelance writer, I was active in the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA). One of ASJA’s yearly efforts was a celebration of the freedom to read through commemorating Banned Books Week, which you can read about here. One year, I … Continue reading “We the Students” Want to Read Banned Books!
A Film’s Backward Look Evokes a Brutal Post-Roe v Wade Future
A powerful new documentary about courageous women in the 1960s has messages for us today.
Buzz Saw Ambivalence
The pounding in my head has been almost unbearable. Sporadic, fortunately, but I shudder from its power, reaching for a way to steady myself. Immediately following, moments of relative quiet, then the incessant buzzing—for seconds…then minutes…to an hour at a time. Our neighborhood is in the throes of a necessary but painful clearing of old trees. My mind doesn’t doubt the validity of the decision. My gut and heart feel otherwise.
The Senate Debate on Voting Rights Is Not the End of the Story
"And thanks to him, we now all have our marching orders--to keep believing in the possibility of remaking this country we love until it lives up to its full promise.” --President Obama, eulogizing John R. Lewis
I Choose Hope for America
President Obama presents Congressman John Lewis with Presidential Medal of Freedom. Image commons.wikimedia.org It feels as though the Doomsday Clock for American democracy and stability took a swing in the wrong direction these past few days. Two greed-driven Democrats whose campaign coffers have been swelling with special interest money even though they’re not up for … Continue reading I Choose Hope for America
“God’s Tech Support”: Essential Viewing (!)
Essential viewing (!). Says a lot in only 1-1/2 minutes.
A Millipede Has How Many Legs? (Caution: Trick Question)
And why should we care? If curiosity and learning for learning’s sake aren’t enough, I found this story suggestive of the sweep of history and millipedes’—and our—places within it. Please accompany me on this creepy-crawly journey that, despite the overly ambitious topic, I’ve tried to keep mercifully brief.
“The Enemy Is Within” (An Acrostic for Nancy Pelosi–Revisited With Hope)
Commemorating the January 6, 2021 insurrection, I reprint my acrostic for Nancy Pelosi and colleagues--and exhort us all to overcome our fatigue to actively protect our fragile democracy.
“We Heed This Old Spirit In A New Day’s Lyric”
Pondering how to approach the New Year with the shadow of January 6th lingering, I derive inspiration from the young poet we met at President Biden's inauguration: Amanda Gorman.
A Lovely Blogging Tradition Continues…
Appreciation and special recognition for a fine blogging tradition: from its originator to the current keeper of the flame.
Yep, We Need to “Rattle the Windows,” For Sure
This extraordinary woman has become a superb advocate for working poor people. Her message and efforts are important for us all.
A “Bill of…Responsibilities”: Is Dialogue Possible?
Can past discussions about the possible contents of a "Bill of Responsibilities" assist us now?
Annie’s New Knee: Final Installment—Yea!
Wherein I close the books--or posts--on the saga of my knee replacement.
Are Members of the Media “Serving as Accessories to the Murder of Democracy”?
What is the responsibility of journalists when our country is in "an existential struggle between self-governance and an authoritarian alternative"?
Is Amazon’s Mighty Bookstore Stumbling? My Schadenfreude Slips Out…
Amazon towers over the book market, which it has transformed. But customers seem to be getting antsy--with good reason.
The Radical Supreme Court Majority: Where Will They Stop?
The Supreme Court majority's questions during oral arguments about the Mississippi abortion law suggest a dangerous precedent extending beyond abortion.
The “Creative” Painting Elephant Seen on Facebook: A Cautionary Tale
A video on Facebook showing an elephant painting a self-portrait is more revealing than first appeared.
Presenting the First Thanksgiving as Seen by Native Americans
With the belief that our nation becomes stronger as we examine the times that we've failed, sometimes grievously, to live up to our ideals, I'm providing this story assembled by The Washington Post. he Myth of Thanksgiving" explores the storied first Thanksgiving dinner between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe in Massachusetts on the anniversary of its 400-year occurrence. The article places the events in context and brings us up to date on the fate of the tribe--and of Indigenous people in the US generally.
Thankfulness/Gratitude–and a More Optimistic “…Way to Think About What’s Going On” in America
How developing and expressing a sense of gratitude can help us physically, psychologically--perhaps even politically!
An Acrostic for Love and Luck, Plus World Children’s Day
Photo by Steve Johnson on Pexels.com B ought at a Dollar Store’s adieu sale A leafy stalked duo graced our table for M ore than two years; then decay crept in. B argaining for lengthened time with us, to O utwit apoptosis, I severed leaves from stalks. O ver time, new roots promise love and … Continue reading An Acrostic for Love and Luck, Plus World Children’s Day
“It’s OK To Be Exhausted”
Some valuable insights on remaining "steady" while navigating through our volatile nation and world.
Art Inspired This Physician’s “Empathy Project”
Physician and CBS News Correspondent Jon LaPook talks with Alan Alda about physicians and empathy.
WE WUZ HACKED!
--Or at least our bank was, and that's pretty creepy, don't you think?
The letter from the bank about this turn of events seemed ominous. First, it was dated November 3 and arrived on November 9. That meant, we suspected, that the evil-doers had had nearly a week to do their evil without our knowledge. Why was our bank so lackadaisical?
President Biden as Dynamo (!)
He’s the guy with falling poll numbers. Pundits have laid Virginia’s gubernatorial loss at his feet and have depicted his Presidency as a growing disaster. The right wing claims he’s senile and bumbling (unlike their purported hero, who sounds increasingly unhinged with every public appearance). But the person I saw on the news this morning was an ebullient leader who faced the press in a winning lap after the bipartisan passage of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. He was cogent, calm, and humorous as he described the contents of this bill that will become law as soon as he signs it.
And Now, For Something Completely Different…
A bit of fun with two budding four-footed Instagram stars.
A Wakeup Call for Americans
Diverse voices that validate how important it is for Americans to be aware of the dangers our democracy faces now--and to make sure we protect it.
Remember That First-Ever Alzheimer’s Drug–and Its Controversial Approval?
A quick look at what's happened since the controversial approval of an expensive first-ever drug to treat Alzheimer's disease.
New Knee Report: And I Thought I’d Been So Careful!
A funny thing happened on my way to recovery from my knee replacement. A cautionary tale about heavy meds.
Nouns, Adjectives, Mark Twain, and Lightning Bugs
Some thoughtful--perhaps controversial (?)--advice about writing from a best-selling author.
“Dems in Disarray” or the New American Zeitgeist?
We're at the brink of what could be transformative change that vastly improves American lives--and may even reduce polarization. Why then, are we simply hearing about timelines and bottom lines--and not the significance of this legislation and what it would accomplish?
The Republicans Are Playing Chicken: A Reblog of a TOKYOSAND CALL TO ACTION
Please respond to this critically important call to action from TokyoSand. The Republican Party must not be permitted to throw our economy and country into chaos.
A “Reality Check” on Afghanistan
Journalist Eugene Robinson has written what I believe is one of the wisest opinion pieces about events in Afghanistan.
Some Valuable Insights re: Afghanistan
The surprising and deeply disturbing events in Afghanistan deserve in-depth examination. Historian Heather Cox Richardson provides some background and insights.
It’s All in the Attitude…
A couple of fun items from social media.
MY GOAL…
A quick hello as I move toward resuming my twice-weekly blogging schedule.
Tomorrow…
An explanation for some probably imminent blogging lapses...
Young People MUST BE Vaccinated Against Covid-19!
With the rise of the Delta variant, which is infecting younger people, the need to break through vaccination hesitation/misinformation has become even more urgent--for us all.
Wherein Annie the Blogger Became a Money Launderer…
A Cautionary Tale? Probably not...
WHAT Did They Say About Judicial Activism?
Remember when we used to hear about the “judicial activism” by a left-leaning court? Sounds kinda quaint now that the 6-3 Republican majority on the Supreme Court (with no less than three Trump appointees, thanks to Mitch McConnell) has gone even further toward nullification of the 1965 Voting Rights Act and protecting the dark money that undermines the legislative process...
So My Anthropomorphism Wasn’t Totally Off Base!
I'm learning "Lessons from Plants" just as we welcome ten new residents from this amazing world into our backyard.
The Demagogues Are Having a Field Day
With screeds to "defund the military" coming from extremists, we need to hear from voices of reason to counter these politically motivated attacks.
Is One Michigan County an Important Electoral Bellwether?
I just read a 62-page article (big type, lots of pictures!) in POLITICO Magazine that provides an interesting perspective—especially after the Republican Senators’ predictable but still distressing refusal to even allow discussion of S.1, the voting rights bill. The article, written by Zack Stanton, is titled: “As Long as the Party Embraces Trump, It’s Going to Have Trouble.”
My Vote for “Best in Show”…and Welcome to Our Newest Holiday!
Some fun with our furry friends...and a brief appreciation for the recognition of Juneteenth as a national holiday.
“The Worst Billionaires Are the Good Billionaires”
Have billionaires received a public relations coup from "The Giving Pledge" that averts attention from their failure to pay their fair share in taxes--and the urgent need for tax reform to fund priorities most Americans agree we need?
‘This Is the Defining Moment of Our Time”
I am writing to you today with a dollop more optimism about the future of our democracy than I’ve had to date.
Did the FDA Just Make a Huge Mistake?
Normally, I’d be excited to explore and write about a breakthrough medical development that could vastly improve and extend the quality of life for more than 6 million people. But I am worried about that newly approved drug for Alzheimer’s disease—and not just about the drug itself.
This President Goes Where None Has Gone Before…
Save draft Preview(opens in a new tab) Publish Add title This President Goes Where None Has Gone Before... Biden Delivers Remarks To Commemorate 100th Anniversary ... The above video is almost 43 minutes long, but it gives an extraordinary view of President Biden expanding his leadership by assuming the roles of teacher/historian—even as he accelerates his role as Healer-in-Chief. When President Biden traveled to Tulsa to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the decimation of Greenwood, a section of the city that was called “the Black Wall Street,” he described in often graphic detail the horrors that happened there... He also tied such events—and the pervasive institutional racism still existing—to the need for the programs he’s proposed to help affected communities achieve the economic stability of home ownership and entrepreneurship, which the people of Greenwood and elsewhere had created of their own volition before the 1921 massacre.
“Liberty and Union, Now and Forever…”
President Biden used his Memorial Day Address at Arlington National Cemetery to honor our nation's fallen service members and tie their sacrifices to protecting our democracy.
The Website Advised Me To Name It…
Wherein I stumble into a lively and rich new world that's actually surrounded me all along.
Can Fannie Lou Hamer Save Our Democracy?
Marc Elias of Democracy Docket, whom I’ve written about before, is one of the most deeply committed individuals at the forefront of our battle to combat voter suppression. He was constantly in the courtroom during the post-2020 election challenges, beating back all the phony claims, and he’s fighting the good fight once again. In the May 25th issue of Democracy Docket, he describes a precedent set by civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer in the 1960s that could be employed today against anyone who is elected to office where voting discrimination has occurred.
Why I’m Almost As Excited As Joe Biden About That New Pickup Truck…
This is a story that combines several happy elements—good old American ingenuity, the importance of immigrants in our nation’s life and future, and real potential advances in both creating good new jobs and enhancing our efforts to protect the earth from climate change.
What We Can Do About the Sustained Attack on Voting Rights (Reblog from TokyoSand)
I am reblogging this post by TokyoSand at politicalcharge.org: it includes valuable links for action to counter the anti-democratic efforts by Republicans nationwide to suppress the vote.
“I’m Coming to Your Lab and I’ll Be Your Guinea Pig: I Want My Foot Back”
Developmental biologist Michael Levin is doing some cutting-edge research that may be yet another way to learn the secrets of life--with potentially far-reaching implications.
Misinformation Threatens Democracy; How Do We Counter It?
Amid the deeply troubling and complex topic of persistent misinformation, a group of researchers found ways to counter this trend on social media.
Our Dickensian Moment…
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” I was struck by how appropriate Dickens’ famous opening words are to our current American crisis. Dickens, however, was speaking of A Tale of Two Cities. Our situation can, sadly, be described as “A Tale of Two Countries.”
Patella–Pashmella! I Go With the Second Opinion
Revisiting my approach to forthcoming knee surgery: beyond my imperfect patella, described in imperfect rhyme.
“Space Rocks”–Indeed!
Some people are amazingly good at a great many things. Brian May, founder of the rock group Queen, is also an astrophysicist and inventor. I found an interview with him fascinating.
Hollywood and the Images of Black People
Despite the apparent progress toward diversity in Hollywood, a new report finds it's the least diverse industry in the US. What are the implications? Please read on...
Our Garden’s Color Palette…
A spring tribute to the joys of Nature so close at hand.
OOPS–The Dark Money Folks Learn Conservatives Hate Dark Money Too!
“Unfortunately, we’ve found that [inhibiting billionaires from buying elections] is a winning message, for both the general public and also conservatives. It was most persuasive, convincing, riled them up the most.” New Yorker writer Jane Mayer acquired a leaked tape about a meeting of right-wing groups intent on killing HR.1.
A Paean to My Imperfect Patella (and my fondness for acrostics)
Dealing with a surgical dilemma, I resort to the comfort of an acrostic to describe my plight.
FROM M*A*S*H TO SCIENCE COMMUNICATION WHISPERER: THE VERSATILE AND HUMANE ALAN ALDA
Alan Alda, invariably remembered as Hawkeye Pierce in the TV show M*A*S*H, has had an extraordinarily diverse career. He recently received a very special award. I link to the award presentation video and tell you some of the highlights of this remarkable man's achievements.
This Time, Some Better News About Guns: A Reblog in Appreciation of the Biden-Harris Plans to Treat Our Public Health Epidemic
As the outlook for sensible gun safety legislation isn't positive right now, we are fortunate that the Biden-Harris administration has created a significant six-part program to reduce gun violence. Parts of it mesh well with information I came across in 2019 about evidence-based programs that were working, but lost their funding. Both the relevant aspects of the new administration plan and my earlier blog appear here.
YET ANOTHER COVID-RELATED WORRY…
I’m sorry to do this to you—I really am. Haven’t we had enough stories about being careful during this damn pandemic? But I think you’ll want to consider the implications of this one... Apparently, the Covid throwaway detritus—the single-use gloves (often latex) and face masks (usually with rubber strings and made of polypropylene, a thermoplastic fabric)—has been identified as an “emerging threat” to animals.
“Impending Doom” or Expanding Our Vaccinated Herd?
Dr. Rochelle Walensky said we're so close to reining in the pandemic, but she feels impending gloom if we return to our pre-COVID ways too soon. Here are resources to help us encourage those who may be reluctant to be vaccinated.--including ourselves.
Georgia’s Voter Suppression Law Is Only the Beginning
When President Biden stressed in his first formal press conference that our times are being marked by the battle between autocracy and democracy, he wasn't just speaking about other countries. He was stressing what's happening right here, in the US. Right now! I am reblogging this post from TokyoSand at politicalcharge.org because it contains both the sense of urgency and some valuable resources for anyone who wants to learn more and/or donate to the pro-democracy Georgia organizations who are at the forefront of the battle.
WOULD YOU–WILL YOU–SUPPORT “THE DEMOCRACY PLEDGE”?
“Voters’ voices are loud, but for corporate America, consumers’ voices are louder. So, folks, let’s let them hear our voice.” The speaker is Glenn Kirschner, a former federal prosecutor and cofounder of a new effort called “The Democracy Pledge.” He's describing this campaign on a podcast.
The Little Guy Wins!
Thoughts (in couplets) inspired by a gentoo penguin's flight from killer whales in Antartica.
“This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things…”
The extraordinary Heather McGhee, author of a new book, The Sum of Us, describes how racism hurts white people as well as Black Americans, and how we can work to change the dynamic for the good of us all.
SAVING OUR DEMOCRACY, PART 4 (and the last on this subject for now)
In truth, I hadn’t planned a fourth segment. But when I turned to Friday’s New York Times editorial page, this headline called to me: “Save Democracy: Kill the Filibuster.” So even though the filibuster has been discussed in the first three parts of this series, how could I ignore this piece? It sorta felt this was the right place to rest the series—at least for now. (And a four-part series has a kind of nice symmetry to me.)
SAVING OUR DEMOCRACY, PART 3
Marc Elias was instrumental in defeating the stream of litigation filed in behalf of Donald Trump in his efforts to overturn the election. Elias has warnings for us now, and he's both litigating and educating Americans about the urgency in protecting our democracy.
SAVING OUR DEMOCRACY, PART 2
A friend who’s not all that interested in politics asked me the other day why, if President Biden ran on bipartisanship, everything he’s proposing is now being rejected by the Republicans. I responded that the American Rescue Plan, which will soon pass the Senate and be signed into law, has nationwide bipartisan support: 75% of the public support it, including 60% of Republicans. But the Republicans in both chambers have not been willing to legislate for some time. Thomas L. Friedman, a New York Times opinion columnist who I find generally hews toward the middle politically, minced no words in a recent essay titled: ”What Trump, San Francisco and the Deer in My Backyard Have in Common.” The subtitle was “Democracy depends on understanding the connection.” (emphases mine throughout)
SAVING OUR DEMOCRACY, PART 1
NOTE: While we are becoming accustomed to the idea of a "normal" president doing presidential work, we must not be complacent. The battle to return the Trumpian Republican Party to power is in full swing--in both the national and state legislatures. As historian Heather Cox Richardson points out below, this is not--must not be--a partisan issue. I am printing Richardson's recent column below. I began to emphasize the passages I felt were most important by using the bold font--but found I was bolding just about every paragraph.
“Gumbo Diplomacy”
As we near the end of this year’s commemoration of Black History Month, it seems appropriate to pay tribute to a woman whose life story is that of a Black American girl who rose from humble beginnings in the segregated South to a place of honor and influence in our country. I hope you’ll spend 10 minutes watching this TedTalk video of Linda Thomas-Greenfield, our newly appointed ambassador to the United Nations, as she describes overcoming adversity and being strengthened by it--with compassion, kindness, and a smile.
Backstage in My Blog World: An Explanation and an Apology–Revisited
NOTE: I have had a more-than-usual amount of crappy tech snafus in my blogging and personal life the past few days. Rather than bore you with all the bytes that bit me, I decided to reblog one of my earliest posts--written shortly after I began this blog two years ago. I'd like to think I've become slightly more technically adept since then, but... Some of the explanatory material about WP was necessary because at the time I had more email subscribers than fellow bloggers. I had fun writing this piece, and I hope you'll have fun reading it.
Winning Over White Supremacists–One Hater at a Time
I am writing this piece with images of the January 6th insurrection at the Capitol still very fresh in my mind. It is a huge stretch to think of those brutal, sadistic, remorseless thugs and imagine summoning an iota of compassion for them. But others of their ilk--and many psychologists and researchers--say that’s precisely what’s needed. They call themselves the “formers”: former Klansman, neo-Nazis, or generic white supremacists or other racial extremists who are now devoted to guiding those who’d followed similar paths to come to a better life.
PRESIDENT BIDEN IS KEEPING HIS PROMISES
I don’t think it’s too early to give a shoutout to our new President for seizing the initiative on important issues that he stressed in his campaign. He started off with a dizzying flourish of Executive Orders, which are cited here. He’s working tirelessly and smartly to demonstrate to the Republicans in Congress how popular his $1.9 trillion Covid assistance package is by going directly to the people. He’s met with mayors and governors who are desperate for help from the federal government. Tuesday night, he went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for his first town hall as President, answering questions from the public in great detail. Some polls are now showing that 75% of the public support this bill.
IMPEACHMENT HAIKU
This haiku carries with it my gratitude to the House impeachment managers, all superb, but especially lead manager Congressman Jamie Raskin, whose brilliance, dedication, and patriotism shone despite his grieving the death of his son.
Keeping Our Eyes Where We Don’t Want Them To Be…
When I saw my gastro Monday morning, I told him how much better I was feeling. And the light bulb had gone off. My GI system almost instantaneously expressed its enormous gratitude and relief when Joe Biden replaced Donald Trump in the Oval Office “You’re not the only one of my patients who’ve said that,” the good doctor informed me. All this prelude is to tell you how much I want to forget about Donald Trump. I embrace his absence with my head, heart, and gut. Good riddance and all that! But I strongly suspect that we must keep that weather eye open.
An Alternate View of Black History Month
There's no doubt that we Americans need to know more about Black history. There's also no doubt that even as we recognize the need to root out white supremacy and institutional racism in all its manifestations, more and more white Americans have become aware of the racial injustices that continue to mar our country as we seek to live up to our ideals. But is a "celebration of Black History Month" a meaningful contribution to that moral imperative? Ernest Owens, a journalist in Philadelphia, thinks not.
WHEN HUNTERS BECOME PROTECTORS…
This is a story of changed hearts leading to changed behavior—in the backdrop of climate change. Spanning more than 15 years, it has heroes and villains, triumphs and tragedies, and a mostly happy ending—perhaps. As I can’t do justice to the drama and complexity here, I encourage you to read it in its entirety in the Daily Beast.
“The Enemy Is Within” (An Acrostic for Nancy Pelosi)
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, reacting to elected members who are threatening their fellow Representatives, said that "The Enemy Is Within." This acrostic is an homage to Pelosi, her colleagues and staffers--some across the aisle--who are laboring under the terrible circumstances her comment laments.
annieasksyou... 