Update about blogCa

Who knew all this would happen afterwards! A past visit to the Atlantic beaches.

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Not So Wordless Wednesday

 

Located in Black Mountain!

Wall St. Asheville, NC

Tai and Kendra at Penland School of Crafts, Christmas 2013. Yesterday was her birthday!

The good news for the environment:

China's wind power.

China is a global leader in clean energy manufacturing. But did you know that most of the emissions reductions -- resulting from the solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, batteries and more that it builds -- will go to other countries?

new analysis by Carbon Brief highlights the huge impact this is having at the global scale. In 2024 alone, for example, China’s booming exports of clean-energy technologies are estimated to have slashed global carbon emissions by 1 percent.

It's true that manufacturing those items generated emissions. However, those emissions—110 million tonnes—will be offset in only six months. Over their operational lifetimes, these exported clean-energy technologies will avoid a cumulative 4 billion tons of emissions. That’s incredible!

China is also making clean-energy investments overseas, including building solar panel manufacturing plants abroad, and has pledged to stop supporting the development of coal-fired power plants abroad. This is a good example of how no country is an island, so to speak. What happens in one country can have an enormous impact on other countries. In the case of China, it's clearly impacting the entire world

The not so good news:

The Mediterranean has been in the grips of a sweltering heat wave that has sent temperatures soaring throughout the region, including Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Turkey, which recorded its highest temperature on record on Friday: 50.5 degrees Celsius (113F) in the southeastern city of Silopi near the Iraqi border.

Above normal temperatures coupled with dry conditions have led to deadly wildfires in Turkey, where 13 people died the week of July 21 fighting a blaze in Eskisehir province. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country was “faced with a truly great disaster” from the fires, which some 25,000 personnel were fighting across the country.

Finland is also experiencing record-breaking heat, hitting temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius for 19 consecutive days as of last week Wednesday. The previous all-time heat record was 13 consecutive days above 30 degrees Celsius, in 1972.

And flooding in Beijing, China, has left at least 30 people dead and forced thousands more out of their homes. Meanwhile, in Alberta, Canada, the fifth-wettest July on record resulted in thousands of basements flooded, submerged cars, and inundated parks. And in the U.S., heavy rainfall in Detroit caused a ground stop at the airport and flooded a tunnel there, while flash floods across New York and New Jersey led to states of emergency being declared in many areas.

Of course we’ve had extreme heat and flood before: and the worst damages occur when people build and live in areas already vulnerable to flood and heat. However, as the planet warms, it’s loading the weather dice against us. Heatwaves are more frequent and more severe; heavy rainfall is increasing; and all of this puts us at risk.

As I often say, “It’s not about saving the planet: it’s about saving us!”

Katharine Hayhoe

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Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Orbital and space

 


Ed White out for his spacewalk June 1965





Remembering the loss of 97 year old astronaut  last week...Jim Lovell flew to the Moon twice, first on Apollo 8 in 1968 and then on Apollo 13 in 1970. He is a recipient of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and co-authored the book Lost Moon.



Dragon Grace on its maiden voyage to the International Space Station.

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I just read/listened to the audio of the book "Orbital" by Samantha Harvey, winner of the Booker Prize. I had checked it out from our library's system Libby, and listened to it over a couple of weeks. I was warned it was due back in 3 days...so I would spend a bit more time each day listening to it. Sunday when it was due, it still played, and I had 7- 1/2 minutes left, when it stopped.

I could place it on hold and wait again,  but of course won't. So I don't know the ending. But it was like it was a beginning to ending kind of book.

Read by a nice English woman (meaning with that accent rather than American). Is that the author? I can't find details anymore since it's been turned in.

The whole short book (5 hours) is about 6 astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS). Their thoughts as well as activities are throughout, and how they feel. What a wonderful glimpse into how different nationalities approach science and being away from their loved ones.

And  of course they form their own community, a family if you will. 


Wikipedia says this:

The novel, told over the course of 24 hours, follows six astronauts and cosmonauts from Japan, the United States, Britain, Italy, and Russia, four men and two women, aboard the International Space Station as they orbit Earth. In addition to detailing the official duties and tasks of the astronauts aboard the spacecraft, the novel also features their reflections about humanity and subjects including the existence or nature of God, the meaning of life, and existential threats such as climate change. Each chapter of the novel covers a single 90-minute orbit around Earth, with 16 orbits in the 24 hours.

Orbital draws upon the work and research of Carl Sagan and incorporates the use of the Cosmic Calendar, a concept developed by Sagan in his 1977 book The Dragons of Eden and on his 1980 television series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage.

It was published in 2023, and she wrote much of the book during COVID. It's fiction, but she gives enough details that I didn't know, it sounds as if she's familiar with the lives of the astronauts.

I highly  recommend "Orbital."


Today's quote:

For us to transform as a society, we have to allow ourselves to be transformed as individuals. And for us to be transformed as individuals, we have to allow for the incompleteness of any of our truths and a real forgiveness for the complexity of human beings.

ANGEL KYODO WILLIAMS

An old photo:


Me and Sundance. I knew next to nothing about raising or training a dog. And I lived with a bunch of other people in a big house in Tallahassee at the time, who didn't like that I'd leave Sundance tied up when I went away sometimes. He barked a lot apparently. Oops. Here I'm visiting near the Sopchoppy River. My tee-shirt says "Penny Pincher" which was a little neighborhood kind of newspaper with ads as well as a few classifieds. I helped with doing layout, which was real 'cut and paste' back in the mid 70s.


Monday, August 11, 2025

Can't get there from here

The Blue Ridge Parkway is still closed to traffic, as is the Mt. Mitchell State Park, since damages from Hurricane Helene haven't yet been repaired to various roads...maybe next year. So here's a memory of a visit from the Way-Back-Machine, through my old blog Living in Black Mountain. 


View from picnic area on Mt. Mitchell, 2010


Today's quote:

What is Art any way?

When I think of how hopelessly unable I am to answer that question I can not help feeling like a farce… I'll lose what little self respect I have — unless I can in some way solve the problem a little — give myself some little answer to it. 

 Georgia O'Keefe


Our area which was devastated by Hurricane Helene, has now been doing something to train people to be able to help their neighbors. Here's the article about that...

Lessons in Survival.


And some Good news:

 Texas Republicans were blocked from passing their new redistricting plan—at least for now—after dozens of Democrats left the state in protest.

In a huge victory for solar power, the California Supreme Court unanimously ruled that state regulators were given undue deference in deciding to roll back rooftop solar credits for homeowners, reversing an appeals court ruling that upheld the regulators' decision.

The National Weather Service will hire back 450 meteorologists, hydrologists, and radar technicians, months after being hit by DOGE-related staffing cuts.

A first-of-its-kind city-funded shelter for trans and gender non-conforming people experiencing homelessness has opened in New York City. Located in Long Island City, the shelter is managed by LGBTQIA+ non-profit Destination Tomorrow and is named Ace’s Place, in honor of the founder’s late mother.⁠

The Third District Court of Appeals in Miami, FL upheld an earlier ruling by a Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge declaring that the city of Miami had no legal authority to postpone its November election until 2026 without voter approval.

King County, WA passed a ballot measure to renew a fund that expands parks and wild spaces.

Rhode Island Democrat Stefano Famiglietti won a landslide victory in his Senate District 4 race, winning over 80% of the vote – a 56-point greater margin than the top of the ticket’s victory in this district in November 2024.

In Delaware Democrat Alonna Berry defeated GOP nominee Nikki Miller in a special election for a state house seat.

ICE officers are no longer allowed to identify themselves as local police or use deceptive tactics during home arrests in Southern California, following a court-approved settlement reached in a class action lawsuit.

A federal judge has thrown out a defamation lawsuit filed by Devin Nunes—former congressman and current CEO of Trump Media—against NBC Universal over a comment made by MSNBC host Rachel Maddow.

The House Oversight Committee has officially issued the Epstein files subpoena. The Trump DOJ must now release the files by August 19.

A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from reallocating $4 billion meant to help communities protect against natural disasters.

The Gates Foundation announced a new $2.5 billion commitment meant “to accelerate research and development focused exclusively on women’s health.”

A philanthropist gave 500 free bikes to youth in Milwaukee to help them bike to school and around their community.

Jen Pawol became the first woman to umpire in Major League Baseball this weekend when she worked games between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves.

A federal judge said the construction of “Alligator Alcatraz” in Florida must stop for 14 days while she considers arguments that building and operating the immigration detention facility would harm the environment.

Global fur production has collapsed.

Overall crime in the U.S. declined last year, with both violent and property crimes reaching their lowest levels in years.

ICE released Purdue University student Yeonsoo Go, who was abruptly arrested after leaving her visa hearing last week and then detained in Louisiana.

A new law in Illinois will require all public schools to offer third- through 12th-grade students a free, optional mental health screening once a year.

Arrests by U.S. immigration agents dropped by nearly 20% in July.

Missouri is building a nearly 300-mile-long butterfly trail to attract monarchs and tourism.

The Long Beach Public Library is opening up its e-book library so teens from other states can read banned books.

The leading professional association for gynecologists is cutting financial ties with the federal government rather than adhere to Trump administration policies that it says prevent it from providing evidence-based guidance.

Volunteers in South Carolina are building and installing hundreds of manufactured reefs to restore Kiawah Island’s coastline. One of the area’s “most critical ecosystems,” the watershed marsh provides a buffer to storm surges and increased tides, a habitat for marine life, and water filtration.

Online bookselling platform Bookshop.org saw 65% growth in the first six months of 2025.

The U.S. Department of Defense said it will continue sharing key satellite data for hurricane forecasts, reversing its original plans to stop providing it by the end of July.

A new Gallup poll released this week finds more Americans identify as Democrats or independents who lean toward the Democratic Party (46%) than Republicans or Republican-leaners (43%). This is a 3 point increase since the beginning of the year.

DuPont and two other companies will settle environmental claims concerning PFAS, commonly referred to as "forever chemicals," and pay New Jersey up to $2 billion. It’s the largest settlement of its kind in the state’s history.

Immigration arrest rates in California are far below the rates of arrests in red states. The Los Angeles Times attributes this to sanctuary laws, community resistance, and rapid response networks. Obviously these rates are still way too high, but nice work keeping them lower than they would otherwise have been, CA!

As the Trump administration ends 988 crisis line support for LGBTQ+ individuals, members of a Michigan-based nonprofit are stepping in, offering support and resources to trans youth and their family members with a revamped hotline run by parents with trans children.

New research reveals that three East African fig tree species have the unusual ability to create and store calcium carbonate—sequestering carbon by essentially turning into stone in their branches, trunk, root systems, and even their leaves.

A new report has shown that local climate activism leads to ‘remarkable’ gains.

The Trump administration wants to eliminate the Energy Star program, but an “unlikely coalition” of bakers, builders, hot tub lobbyists, and chemical companies are trying to save it.

A new report shows that pediatric asthma ER visits dropped 40 percent after a coal processing plant near Pittsburgh closed down.

A federal judge ruled that Rhode Island’s gun permit system, which requires residents to show “a need” to openly carry a firearm throughout the state, does not violate the Second Amendment.

A judge has blocked a recent Arkansas law requiring a copy of the Ten Commandments be hung in all public schools and buildings.

After organizing by Faith in Action Bay Area, San Francisco will now allow homeless families extensions to remain in shelters after just 90 days – giving families more time to stabilize and rebuild.

Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to be placed on house arrest for the remainder of his ongoing trial.

Rep. Mike Flood faced a barrage of criticism at a packed town hall in Lincoln, Nebraska, Monday evening as audience members repeatedly confronted him over his support for Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” immigration policy and what they described as threats to democracy.

Penske Truck Rental released a statement condemning the Department of Homeland Security for using its trucks in Los Angeles immigration raids.

The Tucson city council voted unanimously against bringing the massive and water-devouring Project Blue data center — tied to tech giant Amazon — into city limits.

Geoff Duncan, who served as Lieutenant Governor of Georgia from 2019 to 2023 as a Republican, announced in an Op-Ed that he’s officially swapping sides to join the Democrats.

For the first time in the Culinary Union’s 90-year history, all major casinos on the Vegas Strip are now unionized. Backed by 60,000 members, most of them in Las Vegas, it is now the largest labor union in Nevada.

The Trump admin is restoring full funding for a CDC program that provides grants to reduce and track drug overdoses, including fentanyl.

A hospital system in Central Ohio is upgrading the cameras used during forensic exams for survivors of sexual assault. This new technology can make exams faster, more precise, and less invasive.

The city of San Francisco is fast-tracking an all-electric standard for major renovations.

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon was interrupted in the middle of a talk to the conservative Young America's Foundation by audio of someone calling her a "corrupt billionaire" and another clip of circus music.

“South Park” took on Trump’s immigration raids and poked fun at Kristi Noem’s “ICE Barbie” persona in the show’s second episode of the season.

Democrats in Texas, in blue governors’ seats, and even in DC are showing a renewed grit, spine, and fight. We are thrilled to see it!


Thanks "Chop Wood, Carry Water."



Sunday, August 10, 2025

Thai Basil lunch

 

The same comfortable eating area, with new owners in the last year. 


My summer rolls, with more cilantro than I was expecting,  and less basil. But I did enjoy them with the delightful peanut sauce. 

We each chose Pad Thai, mine here with shrimp. It was delicious and gave me two meals...but why would people cook shrimp with the tail on, which has to be removed before one can eat it? I never quite understand this!

A very nice menu presentation. One has to remember that all the meals on one page are only priced according to whatever the protein is added.


We had a choice of a salad and spring roll or crab Rangoon with our lunches.


My friend and I went home with left overs for another meal. But I'm not drawn to return. During Covid I would stop by when they were open to get a take-away with tofu and broccoli in a peanut sauce. I couldn't find anything like that. Pad Thai was the only thing with peanut sauce that I saw.

Hope you enjoyed seeing our lunch.

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A couple of days ago I learned that my oldest son, Marty, has a new-to-us disease, where lots of tests have confirmed his condition. He wants to keep details private at this time, but I am quite concerned about him. He just turned 61 in the spring, and works daily outside in Florida.

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Today's quote:

Rather than relying on a thin, idealized hope that we will all one day just get along, we can approach conflict resolution as an art form that we are privileged to develop and hone.

Diane Musho Hamilton

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An old photo:


Myself and Marty Heym enjoying pre-sunset on St. Petersburg FL beach, 2019.  I'm happy to say I'm about 40 pounds lighter now, while Marty has a bit more grey in his hair.



Saturday, August 9, 2025

Saturday's Critters

 First - some older shots. 

Don't miss the squirrel. And are there really 6 doves around the birdbath?

(A reposted photo from 2013 above.)

In 2014 we drove along a back road in North Carolina with a traffic jam.


No farmer around, and not many places of interest to these cows.


They were kind enough to move to the far side of the road so we drove on by.

In 2018 I found the Canada Geese weren't shy about people walking right past them. If they wanted to nap or feed by Lake Tomahawk, they'd just do it.

In June 2023, there were goslings to capture as well as protective parents.


And this week I met these critters:

Are these white doves? Or pigeons?

David was walking his three little friends (and I only remember the tri-colored one is Winnie.)







July 30 post on Facebook
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Today's quote:

Like the whales, we each sing a unique song that heals and uplifts our collective.


Old photo:


Myself and daughter-in-law to-be Michelle, at falls in Georgia. Probably around 1997.

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My Sepia Saturday post for this week is in Three Family Trees, about Families, horses, children, and Indigenous homes.

Friday, August 8, 2025

Trekking in Asheville- Part two - bookstores and then some!

 Our day trip to nearby Asheville NC meant more time visiting shops, walking around, eating etc. and less time on the road compared to some other trips we've taken. This is the last of two posts about that trip.

The exterior of the Grove Arcade. Inside are many shops, and a delightful architectural salute to times gone by. The upper floors hold apartments.


Helen had really wanted to show us this book store, but unfortunately it was closed.

But we knew where another one was...so off we walked, around downtown!

A pocket community garden was one part of our walk-about.

Walking through a parking lot and down a steep incline brought us to Haywood Ave, where we didn't go to the library but on to Malaprops Bookstore!

I was aware I had read most of the banned books in high school. My friends were surprised. I said we had to write book reports on them also. Of course a couple of these hadn't been written yet when I was in high school.

I happily had a big bottle of water to re-hydrate, while my friends indulged in chocolates.

Asheville does allow sidewalk buskers, as long as they don't interfere with pedestrian traffic.

The restaurants on Wall St. weren't open, and the Laughing Seed vegetarian restaurant has closed for good. As you may notice it was cloudy and cool, so walking wasn't that unpleasant.

Wall Street with big Gingko trees.



Start at Wall Street Garage (lower left) climb stairs to the Grove Arcade (between Page Ave & O'Henry Ave. 
Walk around inside and browse in shops, eat lunch at Carmel's. 
Go outside and try to go to bookstore which was closed. 
Walk up Page Ave and through parking lot by gardens over to Haywood St. (we took a long way around!)
Walk down to corner of Walnut and enjoy Malaprops book store. 
Go across the street to the chocolatier. 
Then see the busker singing at the Flat Iron, and walk back on Wall Street to the garage.

Sorry I couldn't figure out how to give each of those steps a number, but we made a big circuit of part of downtown Asheville.

And I for one was exhausted and went home to take a 2 hour nap!

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Today's quote:

Annie Proulx was 80 years old and she called herself “bossy, impatient, reclusively shy, short-tempered, single-minded.”
On writing, she says: “You should write because you love the shape of stories and sentences and the creation of different worlds on a page. Writing comes from reading, and reading is the finest teacher of how to write.”