Life On A B-I7

Month in Review

This closes out the month of October. It’s been a terrific month. I’ve been able to spend time with my daughters, including celebrating the birthday of one that lives out of town. I’ve also had the pleasure of attending the baby shower of a close friend’s daughter. I spent time camping on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon with good friends. I was also able to get back on the bike this month. Of course, not the least of my pleasures this month has been spending time with my wonderful companion. I cherish each and every day that is given to me with her. Who could ask for more? Showing gratitude makes these experiences even more memorable. I’m a very lucky person.

Pickleball for Real?

I saw this book and was immediately intrigued. It is a history of Pickleball. I have no reason to doubt the author, but I am curious to know if the author got the story right. The reason I say that is because a good friend and companion, dare I say love-of-my-life, is intimately familiar with the origins of the game. She is closely related to one of the founders. I think it will be fun to surprise her with a copy of this book and see what she has to say about its accuracy. I don’t have to worry about spoiling the surprise by mentioning my intention here — she doesn’t read what I write… and who can blame her!

Sunset

This is a sunset photo taken off the back deck at my daughter’s home in Salt Lake City. They don’t get any better than this.

Robert Reich

This is a cartoon by Robert Reich. He is writer/commentator that I like. I’m impressed by his artistic talent as well as his writing skill. I’d love to have his talent at both. Sadly…

Life’s Lessons

I’ve got some advice

If your ready to listen

These are a few of life’s lessons…

Lesson number one

Be true to yourself

Lesson number two

Be kind to everyone else

Always choose love

In the face of transgressions

These are a few

Of life’s lessons.

This world can be so cruel

It’ll drive any man insane

But you will never see the sun shine

Till you make it through the rain

When your feeling weak

What seems like a curse

Might just turn out to be a blessing

These are a few

Of life’s lessons.

Lyrics courtesy of D.K. Harrell.

Tariffs are Beautiful

This is how Switzerland is responding to Donald Trump. This from one of my favorite Swiss businesses:

“Due to disruptions caused by US tariffs imposed on the EU, shipping to the US is currently unavailable. We apologies for the inconvenience.”

If I were them, I wouldn’t apologize. My favorite coffee is no longer shipping to the U.S. due to Trumps (likely) illegal tariffs.

All Christians Should Be Liberals

It’s not too hard to figure this one out, except this is not the norm — in far too many cases.

Why?

If you take a close look at political leaders on the right what you see is a manifesto that leverages sexism, racism, and homophobia in order to garner votes. This is a great way to appeal to the baser instincts in people, but is this really the way Christians should be looking at their fellow humans. After all, who can possible argue against the statement that Christ is likely the greatest liberal in all of human history? (At least that I know of in the Western World.) There shouldn’t bet a difference between religion and politics when it comes to ethics or morals. That is where I think things tend to get confusing for a lot of religious people. My notion of the two is tightly woven. If your theology is not a guiding light for your politics, then you are missing the religious points that Christianity wants you to incorporate into your life. To put it simply, you can’t go to Church on Sunday and be a bigot Monday through Saturday, nor can you be the sort of religious person that ignores the plight of your fellow human.

Crazier Than I Am

Donald Trump is losing his mind. It would be a wonderful day indeed if his enablers woke up and banded together to have him impeached. Better yet, impeached and committed.

Why do I waste my time writing fantasy?

Because it makes me feel better.

Nobel Peace Prize

The announcement of this year’s winner of the Nobel Peace Prize having been awarded to someone other than Donald Trump is a genuine relief. He has campaigned aggressively for the award but despite his almost constant argument, the committee awarded the prize to Maria Corina Machado of Venezuela. What makes the committee’s decision even more satisfying to those of us that think Mr. Trump is the last person on earth to have earned the award, is the fact that Machado has worked tirelessly for democracy in Venezuela against it’s authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro. No small hint of irony there, since Donald has worked tirelessly himself to move the United States in that same direction. The United Sates today resembles Venezuela more than it resembles it’s former self before the uniquely under-qualified and overblown king of bragging and whining. took office. (That name, a good one, was taken from a New York Times article.)

What To Publish?

These are the choices Austin Kleon makes when determining what to publish in his newsletter.

I take a slightly different approach.

Is it useful or interesting?

Yes: Share It,

No: Share It,

I Don’t Know: Share It.

Anxious or Bewildered

I get anxious when I see a teenager on an electric bike. Anxious might be too strong a word, bewildered might be better. I realize there are two types of electric bikes, pedal assist and full electric, I’m talking about both, but particularly the full electric. Electric bikes are for old people with arthritis. When I see a teenager ride by without having to exert energy to move, and move rapidly it should be noted, it gives me pause. By giving kids electric bikes we aren’t giving, we are taking away. I know this makes me sound old. I realize the cat is out of the bag and there is no going back when it comes to electric bikes, but there is still a part of me that thinks kids on electric bikes are missing out on something very important. A sense of self-reliance. A sense of putting effort into “getting somewhere.” I can’t help but think this will have an impact on other aspects of their lives once they become adults. We shall see.

Why Not?

Shhhhhhh…

I have a new goal. I want to be the oldest person to ride a bicycle across the United States. It looks like the current record is 85 years old. It will be a couple of years before I can challenge that record. (About 12 to be exact.) But why not have a goal? I’ll keep you posted here on my progress from time-to-time. Right now I’m recovering from a torn meniscus. Playing Pickleball is something I’m going to have to monitor closely if I want to have the legs 12 years from now to accomplish this goal.

The Cat is No Dummy

He leads me wherever he needs me to be. That is primarily two places, the back door or his food dish. I keep the back door closed and his food dish picked up because I find the game amusing. He will get my attention with a concentrated stare, or if he is close enough he will nuzzle me or gently paw me. He started out using his claws to paw me but I have since taught him to paw gently without using his claws, another sign of his intelligence. Anyway, I’ll stop what I’m doing and he will lead me in the direction he wants me to go. I will hold his tail while we walk to his dish or the back door. He doesn’t mind. He knows I’m following him without his having to look back. Just to make things a bit more interesting, occasionally I will let go of his tail and head off into another room. I’m sure he finds this a bit annoying but he doesn’t let on, he’ll just come find me and start the entire process over again. He probably knows I’m messing with him and simply takes it in stride. Another sign of his intelligence.

Overland Prep List

Graciously provided by Ellie. (No doubt with help from someone that is tired of watching me fumble around.)

• Fill fuel RotoPaks with high-test
• Fill propane containers
• Fill water RotoPaks
• Fill trailer water tank
• Buy case of water bottles
• Yeti power pack
• Electric blanket
• Bring fully charged handheld radios. (Future: install a hardwire radio.)
• IPAs for six days (or however long we will be out)
• Rye Whiskey (Amaro Averna for Manhattans optional)
• Freeze large ice cubes
• Ignik Fire Box
• Tools
• Spatula, both soft and a scraper style

Note: AluBoxes should be dedicated to specific uses.

Congratulations

Congratulations on your baby soon-to-be. You are going to be a wonderful mother. I remember when you were a baby yourself. Watching you grow up has been a privilege for me and I could not be more proud of you. I am looking forward to seeing your little one grow up to be just like mom!

Retribution

It’s consoling in a morbid way that Trump, instead of governing, has shifted his focus of late to retribution against has (many) perceived enemies. It means he is concerned about the outcome of the mid-terms and he has decided to get his licks in while he still can… with luck before he is impeached… again.

On a separate note, if the Governor of Illinois and the Mayor of Chicago are actually “locked up,” it will be the end of Democracy in America. Look for the Governor to be a candidate on the Democratic Ticket in 2028.

Red vs. Blue Part Deux

See Journal Entry on 10/9

I think the reason there are people that want to take the country back to the previous century, is simply because they don’t have the capacity to deal with modern society’s complexity. It’s ironic because the leaders implementing this transformation are not dumb. They are the opposite of dumb in fact, but there is a vital part of their capacity to deal with the complexity of modern society that is simply missing from their intellectual makeup.

Oversimplification? Perhaps. Give me a better answer… please…

Four Favorite People

Well maybe not my favorite, but pretty close, especially when you compare them to certain people in similar positions of judicial, science, health and political leadership today.

These paintings were done by artist, and I’m proud to say my friend, Adam Hansen out of Seattle. He specializes in urban and pop art. You can learn more about Adam at Addicted To Paint

Don’t Be Fooled

Trump rules (note the use of the word “rules” over the more appropriate “leads”) by declaring emergencies. Don’t be fooled. Not every event that occurs every day is an emergency. If you believe this nonsense you are a sucker. Trump’s use of emergency declarations as a means to implement policy is completely out of hand. He is on a pace to announce 70 emergencies in his administration, which would almost match the total number of Presidential emergencies announced over the last 45 years. I’m sorry, things are not bad enough to warrant that approach to governing.

The Constitution

The Constitution of the United States was intended by our Founders to be a living document. As society evolved, the Founders expected that the meaning and application of the Constitution would evolve as well. Tools were provided to accomplish that goal. The notion that today we can magically infer what the Founders intended the document to mean when it was written so long ago and apply that original meaning across the expanse of time is ludicrous. The conservative right has found an argument for interpretation of the Constitution that unthinking people easily swallow. It would be better for all of us if the Founders could return long enough to put out a podcast clearly outlining how we should be interpreting the product of their hard work. I fear that unless that happens (sadly it will not) we are on a path that will see the best accomplishments of our history become little more than polluted memories. I for one intend to hold on to those cherished memories even if there are some bent on destroying them.

After writing these words I went out to the mailbox to find this month’s Atlantic Magazine. Emblazoned on the cover were these words by Jill Lepore, a teaser for the cover story inside.

”The authors of the Constitution believed that it could, and should, change over time. The process of amendment is built into the document. Why have we abandoned — and all but forgotten — this essential democratic tool?”

[Inside] “is the story of how partisans of the legal philosophy known as originalism have undermined the process of constitutional evolution envisioned by the Founders. The Constitution is not a living document, originalists say. In the words of the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, it is ‘dead, dead, dead.’ And the only people who can be trusted to interpret its meaning, they argue, are the originalists themselves.”

Pardon me, that is simply wrong, wrong, wrong.

Our Response to Political Violence

If flags are going to be flown at half staff for the assassination of a right-wing activist then flags should also be flown at half staff for the assassination of left-wing activists.

The fact that we have entered a new era in our history where a distinction is made based on party affiliation is an indication that we are loosing our way as a nation.

I object to the use of the terms “right-wing” and “left-wing.” As a country we have become more politically intolerant than I ever dreamed we would become. I’m appalled.

Please view this as not only my denunciation of all political acts of violence but also my condemnation of treating others that do not share the same political views as an enemy instead of as a fellow citizen.

Words to Live By

I have to repost. “Words are not violence, violence is violence.” If someone’s words anger you, that is a natural human reaction. Anger never gives you justification to hurt someone. Never. Even those of us (myself included) that do not have what it takes to physically harm, much less attempt to murder a fellow being, still have to remind ourselves of this. I admire George Packer for putting such a noble thought into so few words. Living by these words is the key to peace and security for all of us.

Charlie Kirk

Three days ago the outspoken right-wing organizer Charlie Kirk was brutally murdered. There are those calling for vengeance against his left-wing opponents. Retribution is not the answer. Retribution, especially that dealt through the use of violence is an authoritarian response. America has, at least up until now, prided itself on avoiding authoritarianism as a response to heinous acts. In the words of George Packer, “words are not violence, violence is violence.” Let’s keep these two concepts distinct from one another. Violence (in all its forms) is not a solution for political positions that are different from the ones that we may hold.

Nothing New Under the Sun

From the early 1800’s to the late 1800’s there was a concerted effort by the French government to suppress political thought using censorship. It didn’t work. The eagerness with which our current administration is attempting to limit political expression through the withdrawal of funding for public media and the far to frequent use of the phrases “fake news”, “enemy of the people” and “witch hunt,” is equally repulsive. History has demonstrated that censorship of thought cannot successfully be achieved. It’s time the administration grew up and started acting like adults. If not acting like adults, at least realizing that they are not any smarter than their historical antecedents.

9/11

Today is the day to honor those who perished on 9/11 when the twin towers in lower Manhattan were destroyed. Not only did innocent people die that day but many brave first responders also perished. The best way to honor all the fallen is with an act of kindness. It will not only honor their memory but it will also make the world a better place. The event that occurred yesterday (unspeakable) is a perfect example of actions that degrade and lower us. We must rise above our worst impulses, not only in our actions but also in our thoughts, if we are ever to become a truly humane society.