I enjoyed seeing the map showing ancient rulers of Europe and the Mediterranean.
The connection is (not about rulers, though that's pretty big in conversations these days) but about how we human move about and deal with changes all around us! Civilizations, cultures, immigrants...it's been happening since the beginning of time.
And another map which shows the peoples who lived in North America before the western Europeans arrived.
So here's a map showing the routes the various visitors from European counties took into the Americas.
Locations of Stone Circles and Henges in the UK & Ireland - just so you don't think I'm totally
Ameri-centric. But I'm sorry this was such a pale photo-map...a bit hard to see where what is.
No idea how to pronounce, but it is preferable to Gulf of America (as Trump wants to change it.)
And this is the Dymaxion Map...which shows the land masses in proper sizing...as opposed to the more popular and inaccurate Mercator maps.
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OK, back to real life. Today I'm thankful that the cold front which slammed into our area with heavy winds on Sunday as I was writing this, didn't bring snow as had been forecast. However, you never know, as of then it was due on Wednesday which was yesterday as you read this.
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Sunday I got into a cooking frenzy...I want you to know my usual meals go from refrigerator to microwave...so there I was cleaning some baby bella mushrooms, cutting up some garlic, and sauteing them all in butter. It smelled so good. So how about making it into a soup, I thought. I hunted around in the pantry and found some vegetable stock that expired in 2023. It's going to boil, I thought, so whatever might have happened to it will be ok. Then I thought, cream. Nope, didn't have anything but 2% milk. I put 2 cups in anyway. Thickener? There was this expired container of mashed potatoes.
DO NOT USE THESE! I was innocent of what would happen. Science came along and smacked me upside the head. The potatoes were runny, so I gently stirred them into the soup mix. No problem. No chunks appeared, so I got bold and poured the rest in. I sure didn't have any other use for them, so thought they might make a nice body for the soup. I sprinkled my favorite spices and some dried onions (since I didn't want to cut a whole one which might be too much for those baby bellas.)
Then there were little blobs that formed throughout the soup. They were like little pieces of tapioca, which for all I knew had been hidden in the potatoes which had stopped having any firmness to them already. But nothing, stir stir stir, would get rid of the little blobs. And they were noticeable when I tasted the soup. Yuk.
OK, maybe I can blenderize them away. So slowly poured hot soup (without mushrooms) into the glass blender, tried low setting, no help. Tried the highest setting. And the blobs were gone. Of course the soup was now aerated with plenty of tiny air bubbles. I poured that first batch into a container which would go in refrigerator. Then did another batch. Let me just say by the time I got to the lase of 6 batches I tried using a colander that had a bigger bottom than the top of the blender...so soup ran down all the outside as well as inside, and the mushrooms I'd been trying to save were covered with little blobs...so that wasn't working.
I just blenderized the mushrooms too. Once I was trying to let some steam escape from the blender, and whirring at the same time...so it splattered mushroom soup all over the place. So that had to be cleaned up.
I finally had all the soup turned to aerated liquid without any blobs, and I served myself the last cup. Of course lots of the seasoning was in it...whew, lots of flavor. But I ended up with 2 quarts of my own creamed mushroom soup!
Now if only I had someone to do the dishes....
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Today's politics: (yes, I am back thinking, reading, listening, sharing!)
So how do Democrats fight back? If the GOP doesn’t care about the negative impact Trump’s and Musk’s policies and decisions have on ordinary Americans, aren’t Democrats essentially negotiating with political terrorists?
Many demonstrations against Musk and Trump "Not our King" on President's Day, Feb. 17, 2025
So far we have seen three models of Democratic pushback.
One camp of Democrats appears to think that doing the same thing and expecting a different result is the way to go, clinging to norms that have been shattered by the opposition in hopes that a bygone notion of bipartisan consensus about the importance of public service can be preserved. We saw how this worked out for Merrick Garland the last four years. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also appears to be mounting a wait-and-see approach in the face of unprecedented, anti-democratic onslaught.
A second camp, represented by a younger cohort of Democrats, wants to counter the GOP blow for blow, trolling back hard in the hopes it will bring press attention to the unfolding national crisis. For example, Rep. David Garcia recently presented a photo of Elon Musk on the House floor as a “dick pic.” And Rep. Jasmine Crockett famously fired back at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene during a hearing, calling her a “bleach blond butch bad built body.” These are admittedly headline-grabbing moves, which in this attention economy has some real value. They also demonstrate to Democratic voters that someone is fighting back, an important reassurance at this time. But while these counterpunches may feel good in the moment, there is little evidence they actually do anything to make MAGA stop behaving so terribly. If anything, they encourage more bad behavior in an endless cycle. If the other side is behaving like spoiled children, and our side does it, too, the fear is we will be locked forever in a schoolyard fight.
Perhaps there’s a third way, best represented by Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s style of discourse. He combines a willingness to engage and actually listen to the other side with a sturdy defense of Democratic values. Buttigieg is not afraid to go on Fox News and other outlets where Republicans are tuned in. He looks past the bad behavior and taunts of the MAGA right and tries instead to get at the heart of why they feel aggrieved, even when that grievance is tainted with racism and misogyny. He then seeks to find common ground, at least on some level. He always presents a path forward, even if it is an aspirational one, where the two sides can treat each other as people caught in the same dysfunctional system, yet all with a shared need for security, health, and community.
It may be too lofty for these rough and tumble times. And there are few in the Democratic Party who can actually step into this role with the skill of Buttigieg and consistently resist the urge to condemn the other side as irredeemable monsters. Few leaders will bother to try and unpack whatever it is that drives the dangerous nihilism at the core of the MAGA right.
But considering the incredibly high stakes, more Buttigieges may be sorely needed if we are ever to escape the downward pull of Trumpian nihilism.
“People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle but I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly alive.”
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Today's art:
Art by Sophie Blackall from If You Come to Earth.1
Lake Tomahawk has thawed from its ice of a few weeks ago. And a few sunny days bring out shirt-sleeved people enjoying the environment
And yes, the first little sprouts are coming up in the garden near the path.
This duck flew overhead and landed on the water. It wasn't until I tried to get this shot of him, that I realized he had a white spot on his head and his sides...he wasn't a mallard like the other ducks. But he was more interested in staying a long way away so this is the best I got.
The mallard couple were more used to hanging out by the bank nearby.
Noonday sun casts long shadows still...it's February.
And I stopped to watch the gentleman sailor with his radio controlled boat skimming around with the wind.
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I went upstairs to pick up a "to-go" lunch and saw some of the other seniors who signed up for these low cost meals. I don't go every day, but look at the menu for the month and sign up for which days I want to order their meal. They are prepared by the Moose Cafe' - a favorite southern style restaurant in Asheville, then trucked over to Black Mountain in insulated boxes. Council on Aging still is offering them (she says as so many federal programs are being cut)...and we pay a minimal fee of $1.50. I usually toss $2 into the till, to keep the program running as long as we can!
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Sharing with "My Corner of the World" hosted from New Zealand. The header is the more recent phot of the lake.
Today's quote:
Civilization is the encouragement of differences.
-Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948)
Today's art:
by Tina Schart Hyman
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Today's politics:
If you’re feeling down, depressed or filled with dread, may I recommend a bit of action? Join a protest, go on a march, be around others who feel the same way as you do! It will lift your spirits, and who knows? And the world needs to see us out there, to know that Americans are not complacent nor complicit. Share your participation and others’ with your contacts and social media, because the mainstream media will report on protests only sporadically, at best. Next time, invite your friends and neighbors!
Starhawk
Starhawk demonstrating in San Francisco at the Tesla showroom, Feb. 17, 2025
This Complex served as Wright's primary residence, studio and laboratory during the first 20 years of his career from 1889 to 1909.
The Home and Studio is the Birthplace of the Prairie Style of Architecture and a Historic House Museum.
Most of the sculptures on the exterior of the Home and studio were designed by Wright's friend and collaborator, Richard Bock.
These include the two boulder figures flanking the entrance of the studio, which features a man crouching and breaking free from the ground beneath him (above the column on the right in this photo)
Wright raised six Children with his first wife, Catherine Tobin and designed such famous buildings as The Robie House, Larkin Building and Unity Temple.
Many of his Trademark designs can be seen in their Infancy, as he experimented with concepts before sharing them with Clients.
Or take a tour...
Sharing with Tuesday's Treasures
Today's quote:
Sometimes we need to be alone, to simply do nothing but enjoy the sound of silence.
Today's art:
Alice Ravenel Huger Smith (American painter) 1876 - 1958
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And while you are enjoying the beautiful construction by Frank Lloyd Wright, or Miss Smith's cranes, here is a bit of trivial world facts. Not politics though!!
I subscribe to Keith Kron's Substack, -Weekly Prayer. February 16, 2025
Just one paragraph gave me some world statistics that I wanted to share, thanks to Transparency International.
We pray for an end to corruption worldwide. Transparency International released its 2024 list of levels of corruption of countries around the world.
The least corrupt countries in order are Denmark, Finland, Singapore, New Zealand. Luxembourg, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Australia, Ireland, and Iceland (the latter three were tied) are in the top 10.
The countries with the most corruption were South Sudan, Somalia, Venezuela, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, Nicaragua, and the Sudan and North Korea (the latter two tied).
Russia ranks 154th.
The United States is tied with the Bahamas in 28th.
Canada is ranked as the 15th least corrupt country.
Mexico is ranked 140th.
Italy ranked 54th continues its policing in the Palermo area to end organized crime. Over 150 people suspected of mafia connections were arrested.
We pray for justice and fairness worldwide. (bullet points mine)
This is the order which Keith published the information in. And he gave many other interesting things associated with Feb. 16. (Sorry I didn't have room to include this on that day's post)
If you’re looking to celebrate today is also National Almond Day, National Tartar Sauce Day, World Whale Day, Do a Grouch a Favor Day, Innovation Day, Library Lovers Day, and No One Eats Alone Day—even if all you eat is almonds with tartar sauce. We say a prayer of remembrance for these observations.
And finally, a prayer for perpetual kindness, attention, and giving. A father in Fort Worth, Texas, this week out at breakfast with his family of five, learned from his server that the bill had been paid for by another customer. The server brought the $85 dollar receipt to show the note written on it that read, “Thank you for being a great dad.” The father also saw the note on the back of the receipt that read. “Thank you for being the dad they need you to be regardless of who’s watching. We need more men like you, Thank you for letting us see your love for them all.” The note was ended with, “from a retired army medic.”
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Politics here...kind of.
And I also enjoyed on Sunday last...an interview by Jen Rubin with Heather Cox Richardson on the Integrity of the President. If the link doesn't work, it may be because I'm a subscribed member of The Contrarian, bu the free version also has a lot of information to keep up with our wild times.
Swannanoa Grassroots Alliance, Feb 3, 2025. These people are working to have disaster preparedness for their area, and help for those still suffering from Hurricane Helene.
Suffragists in front of the White House
Sunday Feb. 13, 2000 was the anniversary of the last Peanuts cartoon.
Paul McCartney Set The Glastonbury Festival On Fire Saturday Night With A Jaw-Dropping Surprise That Had The Crowd Raging—Bringing Out Unbelievable Guests Dave Grohl And Bruce Springsteen!
Seen on I-75 in Cincinnati OH and posted on Facebook
Photo by staff at Rocky Mountain National Park (before thousands of National Park staff were laid off from their jobs by Musk.)
Today's quote:
It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.
AUDRE LORDE
Today's art:
Unknown photographer
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Call House Speaker Mike Johnson 202-225-4000.
"I am calling you as you are the Speaker of the House. I read today that you are OK with Trump not following the laws and judicial rulings. What does that mean for the rest of us? Are we now all allowed to ignore laws? I am confused. Could you please clarify? "
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Happy 91st birthday to my friend Bette Potter Jones! She lives alone in her own home with two cats...and is as feisty as ever...having fun and eating lovely food!
Another cold rainy day when friends got together to munch on good Italian food in Nebo NC. I brought home half of my pizza, while Bette polished off her meatball sub, and Judy had a Greek salad and Cathy had a Pizza Sub...ok, maybe not totally Italian!
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WARNING: The rest of this post is about our government, politics, and the many people who have now lost their jobs.
Some facts:
"... On February 11, Trump signed an executive order putting billionaire Elon Musk in charge of “large-scale reductions in force,” and yesterday, (Feb 14?) Musk and his allies began purging the federal government of career employees, beginning with employees still in their probationary period, typically those with less than a year in the job.
The Department of Veterans Affairs lost 1,000 people,
the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau lost more than 100 people,
the U.S. Department of Agriculture lost more than 2,400,
the U.S. Forest Service lost more than 3,000,
the Environmental Protection Agency lost 400,
the Small Business Administration lost more than 100,
and the Interior Department lost 2,300, including workers at national parks. (Bullet points mine)
The Department of Health and Human Services is expected to lose nearly all of its 5,200 workers in their probationary period, including 1,300 at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—10% of its workforce—while the National Institutes of Health (NIH) lost 1,500. “I am heartbroken, more than anything, for the future of science in this country as we gut this institution that has for so long been intentionally shielded as much as possible from politics,” an NIH employee told Will Stone, Pien Huang, and Rob Stein of NPR.
Five government employees’ unions have sued, saying the mass firings violate the formal procedures for reductions in force...
Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) points out that rather than saving money, “it is a massive waste of taxpayer dollars to fire employees the department just invested months into recruiting, vetting and training.”
It certainly appears that those in charge of the firings didn’t know what they were doing: on Thursday they fired more than 300 workers at the National Nuclear Security Administration, apparently not aware that they were the people who oversee the nation’s nuclear weapons. Today, Peter Alexander and Alexandra Marquez of NBC News reported that officials are now trying to rehire them but can’t figure out how to reach them because the workers lost access to their work email when they were fired.
The firings of federal employees come after the Trump administration instituted a “freeze” on federal spending. This impoundment of funds is illegal—the Constitution, Congress, and the courts have all established that once Congress has established a program, the president must implement it. But the truth is that Congress implemented these programs for a reason, and members would not kill them because they recognize they are important for all Americans.
Now MAGA voters are now discovering that much of what billionaire Elon Musk is cutting as “waste, fraud, and corruption” is programs that benefit them, often more than they benefit Democratic-dominated states. Dramatically, farmers, who backed Trump by a margin of three to one, are badly hit by the freeze on funding provided by the Inflation Reduction Act for conservation of land, soil, and water. “This isn’t just hippie-dippy stuff,” Wisconsin cattle, pig, and poultry farmer Aaron Pape told Linda Qiu and Julie Creswell of the New York Times. “This is affecting mainstream farmers.”
Similarly, the shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is a blow to the agricultural sector: USAID buys about $2 billion in agricultural products from U.S. farmers every year. It has also supported funding for research at state universities like the University of Tennessee, the University of Missouri, and the University of Louisiana.
Cuts to indirect spending in grants from the National Institutes of Health will also hit hard across the country, and states where Trump won more than 55% of the 2024 vote are no exception. Former college president Michael Nietzel noted in Forbes that Texas stands to lose more than $300 million; Ohio, more than $170 million; and Tennessee, Missouri, and Florida, more than $130 million apiece. These losses will cause thousands of layoffs and, as the Association of American Medical Colleges said, “diminish the nation’s research capacity, slow scientific progress and deprive patients, families and communities across the country of new treatments, diagnostics and preventive interventions.”
Trump said Wednesday he wanted to shutter the Department of Education immediately, calling it “a big con job.” That Department provides grants for schools in low-income communities as well as money for educating students with special needs: eight of the ten states receiving the most federal money for their K–12 schools are dominated by Republicans.
Excerpts from Letters from an American Feb 15, 2025 by Heather Cox Richardson
My newsletter from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication posted this a few days ago.
Americans who think global warming is happening outnumber those who think it is not by a ratio of more than 5 to 1 (73% versus 14%).
A majority of Americans (60%) understand that global warming is mostly human-caused. By contrast, 28% think it is caused mostly by natural changes in the environment.
64% of Americans say they are at least “somewhat worried” about global warming. This includes 28% who say they are “very worried.”
56% of Americans think extreme weather poses either a “high” (16%) or “moderate” (40%) risk to their community over the next 10 years.
Additionally, 66% of Americans think global warming is affecting weather in the United States, including 35% who think weather is being affected “a lot.”
11% of Americans have considered moving to avoid the impacts of global warming.
Majorities of Americans also think global warming is currently affecting many environmental problems in the United States, including extreme heat (77%), wildfires (74%), droughts (73%), flooding (72%), rising sea levels (71%), hurricanes (71%), air pollution (68%), water shortages (67%), reduced snowpack (65%), tornados (65%), water pollution (63%), electricity power outages (62%), and agricultural pests and diseases (61%)."
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So the statistics show what we (as Americans) think of weather and climate change. I'm amazed that 28% still think that global warming is caused mostly by natural changes in the environment, rather than man made. (first bullet point).
It is always interesting to have a conversation with someone to see what they think...natural disasters are almost all blamed on climate change in my conversations. But to miss the link to oil production and use is really sad.
So keep on doing whatever you/I can to reduce pollution in whatever way you have. Since we had a strange hurricane disaster here in the mountains of western North Carolina...we have been given an opportunity to change several things. Be better prepared, work harder on reducing global warming both on local and international levels, and talk about it.
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We can do more disaster preparedness!
Individuals:
having a go-bag packed with 4 days of essential clothes and toiletries
having those important papers in a zip-lock bag,
having a week's worth of water and food that doesn't need power to be edible
having 2 weeks worth of medications that are necessary
having a resource to leave the area in case you rely upon power for medical treatments like C-Papa, electric wheel-chairs needing recharging, nebulizers, etc.
having a full tank of gas if you have a car
having a friend with a car in case you need to leave quickly
having a first aid kit that really has bandages and tape and antibiotic creams - I did buy one, and have yet to put it in the car
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That's off the top of my head, and I have almost none of these ready as of this writing - but I do believe these are minimums, and there may be more I didn't think of.
------------ What I learned from Hurricane Helene:
When all communication disappears, you are very alone, and hopefully have some neighbors around. No contact was available through any electronic means. Cell towers went down and the internet went with the electricity. No water means you can't flush.
No power means food will spoil quickly...remaining ice will only last a day or so, and we didn't have power for 2 weeks
Those with a generator were able to keep so much more going...but they require gas. And guess what...without electric power at gas stations, you couldn't even pump gas. So people had to drive to South Carolina to fill up gas cans to take back to Black Mountain to run their generators. (I saw a line of folks doing so when I finally evacuated to South Carolina, (on day 4) and was getting my car gas tank filled.) But many places in South Carolina were also without power so some gas stations were still closed 4 days later, and some people had no power weeks later (even in Columbia SC.)
Communication by Black Mountain's town square meetings (with a PA system via generator) brought a lot of people together who were experiencing the disaster. Helene hit Friday morning. Our first town meeting (held every day that first week) was at noon on the following Monday. A woman who worked with the US Forest Service organized it and was the MC. I watched it via the Town of Black Mountain's Facebook page, sent through Starlink while I was in South Carolina. That was also the day FEMA started setting up and giving out water and food in the parking lot of Ingles Grocery.
Our water lines had been destroyed by the floods, as well as many power lines. Major roads had been completely washed away as well as bridges. The first responders had their hands full!
Word of mouth was the only source of information on days one on, until people provided Starlink to get on the web at certain places. Churches were first to provide meals, and people of all walks of life stood in line for a hot meal. There were poster-board signs in front of churches and the police staation, saying when the various places would be open, or when a Town Meeting would be held.
On day one, September 27, a Friday, I had no idea what the floods had done in Swannanoa and Asheville. I mainly saw downed trees, which were being cut back to make the most traveled roads open first, like US 70 and I-40. Yes, for several hours nobody could travel in or out of Black Mountain on either of our main connecters.
And actually there was no interstate travel, and smaller two-lane highways usually had been flooded or lost bridges. I-26 going south was the only open interstate out of our 4 interstate directions by Monday (day 4) when I drove it. The mountain pass on I-40 to eastern North Carolina had landslides as well as pavement that had washed out, and was able to open sometime later that week for 2 lanes only. The roads north on I-26 and west on I-40 weren't repairable, having the pavement eaten away by river erosion. It was hard to imagine that these interstate highways were estimated to not be opened again until 2025, and this was just the end of September! Today in February 2025, I hear the I-40 west connector to Tennessee should be open for 2 lanes of traffic at 40 mph by March 1. People are saying on TV it's thanks to Trump.
These routes being cut off meant supplies were difficult to come from outside areas...FEMA and other charities like World Central Kitchen did arrive and set up distribution sites. People were requested to bring their chain saws to help with clearing debris that was left all over roads.
So major transportation and utilities were top problems, as well as somehow helping people who lived either on the sides of mountains, or back in coves that were cut off from any help. Did you ever think what your life would be like if you had no water to flush your toilet, for weeks!
People started bringing buckets to swimming pools (closed for the season) and taking home whatever they could carry in order to flush. And when some water was finally available through the pipes that had been repaired, it was only useable for flushing. The source of our water, the Asheville reservoir had turbulence of all the clays that had washed into it...and it became a major problem for around a month to try to get the water to be clear enough for drinking. Nobody had expected that!
Well, I've gotten way off track now. And I already blogged a bunch with photos of some of the damage. I was always on line when living in exile at John's and then Martha's houses. So I saved photos that I saw. I kept abreast of the situation about as good as if I were home. But since there wasn't potable water yet, I was glad to not go home until I had electric power and could flush.
I didn't want to haul drinking water in plastic bottles by the case to be able to have good water. It ended up that I did keep using those plastic bottles for the next few months anyway. And I even have a stash of them still...for the next time.
I do hope there won't be a next time.
The ad from Science Moms about climate change (below) that was aired on Super Bowl Sunday.
Today's quote:
Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.
-Eleanor Roosevelt, diplomat and writer (1884-1962)
Last Monday I went to the library early where trained volunteers from AARP do my income taxes for me - free. Of course I'm a fairly simple person, so don't have any major deductions.
I was Tom's first client that day. A 9 o'clock appointment was such that I was completely finished by 10.
Mike Brubaker is another blogger, who I read when he posts weekly on Sepia Saturday...his passion for old post cards and marching bands usually.
In 2021 I met his wife, Claudette, by a chance encounter at the AARP tax preparation site at our library. She started telling me (in her wonderful English accent) about her husband's penchant for collecting post cards, and his blog. We then knew immediately that I was the Barbara who had commented on his blogs, and posted my own on the same meme of Sepia Saturdays.
I've been blogging for around 14 years, and much of that time contributed to Sepia Saturday. So has Mike!
I do enjoy what thorough posts Mike comes up with, mostly musically oriented as he teaches band at the local high school, and has an extensive knowledge of brass instruments.
This week I've again had Claudette review my taxes before they were sent off to the IRS. As her first client, she was gracious and cheerful, and very particular at doing the review.
And I am done for this year with the tax requirement. But since this post doesn't have any old photos, I won't use it for Sepia Saturday this week!
I must note that on Monday I was planning to go to an important meeting of the Social Action Committee as it began to stretch further into dealing with climate change. Meeting was at 1 o'clock, and I proceeded to sit here blogging away till 1:55 when I noticed the time. Guess I missed that meeting. I had some trepidations about volunteering to do things, and not always being successful at carrying them out. I guess my trepidations won out that time.
Our glad hearts, accepting the miracle of this moment, this breath, this day, this life—that is the foundation of all sanity.
TERRY PATTEN
Today's art - new friendly furrby. Benny I think.
She was helping her mom, Sarah Ann, welcome people and make sure they had their identifications to do their taxes at the library. The only way she (dog) would stay still for a photo was when she begged for a belly rub.
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