Update about blog
Saturday, July 4, 2026
Fighting for freedom
Monday, June 8, 2026
The Blue Ridge Mountains plus democracy
by Shelley Hale flame azalea Carver Gap on the Appalachian Trail
Monday, November 11, 2024
In memory of those who died
... so that we might have freedom. And those who died of other causes while serving in the armed forces.
I drive by the Veterans Cemetery almost 3 times a week. This last Thursday I saw all the markers had flags flying over them in honor of Veterans Day today.

And Veterans day also gives me a chance to wish that no armed persons die from any conflicts between nations any more. May we somehow have peace.
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https://fb.watch/vLeJceGTAu/ Just a bit of cello music for your enjoyment.
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Today's quote:
Once and for all / the idea of glorious victories / won by the glorious army / must be wiped out / Neither side is glorious / On either side they're just frightened men messing their pants / and they all want the same thing / Not to lie under the earth / but to walk upon it / without crutches.
-Peter Weiss, writer, artist, and filmmaker (1916-1982)
by Georgia O'Keeffe
Sunday, October 20, 2024
A President-to-be's birthday
Happy birthday Vice President Kamala Harris. Born in Oakland CA in 1964.
NOT a photo of baby Kamala, but just a reminder of how small and vulnerable we all are at birth.I watch several news programs, as well as read the news links on line. This election is as tight as ever there was, but I have hopes that she will win. Our democracy depends upon it.
Today's quote:
Victoria Woodhull once wrote, “Let women issue a declaration of independence sexually, and absolutely refuse to cohabit with men until they are acknowledged as equals in everything, and the victory would be won in a single week.” First woman to run for Presidency in 1872
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Closer to home.
Is North Carolina being played by Elon Musk and the PAC he's behind for Trump?
Here's an article (August 7, 2024) about state agencies investigating this.
Multiple state agencies are looking into...
On Facebook a few weeks ago, there was a clarification that certain links to supposedly register you to vote, were fake. They only collected your information. I'm always glad when smart Facebook readers catch these things.
That's the action that is being investigated by the following:
“North Carolina law makes it a crime for someone to fail to submit a voter’s registration form if that person has told a voter that they would be submitting the voter’s registration form,” elections board spokesman Pat Gannon said.
America PAC is backed by Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk, who tops the Forbes list of world billionaires, as well as several other wealthy tech industry insiders. The group didn’t provide a statement when reached for comment.
Gannon said the elections board itself doesn’t have the power to file criminal charges but could refer the case for prosecution, depending on what its investigation discovers.
The North Carolina Department of Justice is also looking into America PAC but has yet to begin a formal investigation, a spokeswoman for Attorney General Josh Stein confirmed this week.
Stein, a Democrat, is running for governor this year. The state elections board is also led by a Democratic majority. And the complaint into America PAC and its pro-Trump activities that kicked off the investigation was filed by a Democratic activist from western North Carolina, David Wheeler (who leads a liberal PAC called American Muckrakers)
So I say again, watch the puppet masters of the Republican party...among whom are many billionaires looking out for their interests. Are there puppet masters in the Democratic party? I imagine so, but the thrust of their campaign is to retain the constitutionally designed democratic republic that we currently have... i.e. democracy.
Remember the cliche' "Follow the Money."
Incidentally, tRump will be appearing in Asheville NC today. Downtown has closed lots of roads near the convention center. Considering Asheville is known to be a liberal blue town, I'm quite certain lots of MAGA folks from around the county will appear. Of course I'll stay away!
But I do hope the Blue Wave people have a counter-demonstration outside the talk! And I can't wait to see what our local news shows. On the local news last night, the local Democratic headquarters said they are not planning any demonstration. The news still showed a clip from the last time tRump came to Asheville, there were angry protestors going against each other. The city of Asheville says nobody has asked for a permit to have a demonstration.
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And another footnote, I watched CBS's Sunday evening show "Sixty Minutes" finally last night, and there were some interview clips with Biden. Biden quoted Trump at one point. And the show cut away from the interviewer completely with a "correction that Trump made to that quote later." This smacks of how our news is so bent due to Trump's minion's heavy hands. I shouted at my TV! Incidentally, (loving that word) I don't know if the splice was done by CBS or by local TV editors...anything is possible.
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And today is also the anniversary of Social Security! Thank you Frances Perkins! (See Letters from an American today!)
Today's quote:
Friday, January 12, 2024
So you want to do something about keeping democracy alive?
Before voting, people have to be on the ballots, and here are some who are wanting to run for Congress, and will support gun control laws...from the Gifford PAC.
Whether or not you want to contribute in this way, keep an eye on these people, find ways to encourage their campaigns in whatever way you can, and of course, if you happen to live in their states, you know what to do!
Today's quote:
Gratefulness draws on the best of the human spirit in all of us. It renews and refreshes us, and best of all it is contagious. |
AMY EDELSTEIN |


















