March 11, 2023

Bud Grant has passed.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/bud-grant-former-vikings-coach-and-nfl-hall-of-famer-dead-at-95/ar-AA18uYMh?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=5ab95d2a59754cab91779894a7b895c7&ei=12

“We are absolutely heartbroken to announce that legendary Minnesota Vikings head coach and Hall of Famer Bud Grant has passed away this morning at age 95," the Vikings said in a statement Saturday. "We, like all Vikings and NFL fans, are shocked and saddened by this terrible news."

March 10, 2023

Out-of-Towners Head to 'Climate-Proof Duluth'

The former industrial town in Minnesota is coming to terms with its status as a refuge for people moving from across the country because of climate change.



https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/10/realestate/duluth-minnesota-climate-change.html?unlocked_article_code=vBSsb6LyQM5MgmXr-tRqdIlxczZfYiKTzTed4_aAlf7Nvw--g7iPBidvZ1lD9LD28F5duAktA8G-x_is902eD-CCxmKw3rIqku6jJyaQ6GTtim21_aC65zg8IBuehw4FhuxNkzGmICacv1Hyrs4uHv204li5HmQQO5xA5rpHQAu9WnBm2aDuykSzeAi4uTHiJVyIPhEsWgwW5nsxz63QrcfhO2fPXgTW_FZvvSMmxkR5DHvA9wx1vXNYYnVZC7_fdqQ8OAj0Xolxku8iUH6JGqeFNhKMXhV9Hlt0WGQGcOwwL_TQLtZO15vS0xSQb2KtLJAa9Y32vAhZbrx1GGDSju6MK-5tf4w0MugEuA&smid=url-share

The above article link is gifted (no paywall). I find it interesting that people from California and Colorado seek refuge in freezing cold Duluth, while people from MN run to warmer climates. Interesting article about a town I love to visit.

February 28, 2023

Seriously, we need to change the narrative

The idea that Joe Biden is too old is all over the media these days, and we can’t afford these musings. Americans, and especially democrats need to knock this shit off and come together here. There are fascist, racist, authoritarian monsters trying to take over the world, and people are worried that an experienced, extremely effective president might be too old? PLEASE!

The media keeps beating this drum, and going on about the age of the President and how his VP is not viable (here’s a clue, she is extremely qualified and capable should she be called on to take over.) Problem is, the media and the right, and even some dems are banging the drum that she is not “likeable” or that she laughs inappropriately, and Joe is so old and feeble. JUST STOP!

An incumbent President does not step aside and give the fascist an advantage in a crucial election. To say that Biden is too old is a narrative that we can ill afford. Rather than trying to convince people to adopt this ageist crap, why not instead encourage democrats and sane indifferent folk to rally around and save democracy. It’s kind of important…it’s the whole ballgame.

This was written in response to a post that disappeared before I finished responding. Probably alerted on and removed. Rightfully so.

RANT OFF. ☮️

February 14, 2023

Wow, Rachel, just WOW

Calling out authoritarianism around the world and here at home. Kind of scaring me.
She is not wrong or hyperbolic.

February 8, 2023

Here comes Huckleberry Sanders

And her flood of lies!

June 24, 2022

Maybe it's just me

But I feel like if Liz Cheney wants democrats to vote for her in a primary, giving up their right to support a democratic candidate, she ought to throw them a bone. Not just “well I’m against tRump, but acknowledge that she has seen the light and will reject the republican bullshite. If she is unwilling to come to Jebus and recognize that her party is crap, why should a democrat cross over and support her. I grew up in Wyo, so I totally realize that no democrat would ever be elected there, but she ought to acknowledge that it’s not just tRump that is a problem. It’s her whole toxic, fascist party. She ought to leave the party and their shitty policy choices.

I know, ain’t gonna happen, but she has surprised us before.

May 16, 2022

"Quartet" on Netflix

This is an older movie (2012?) but I found it to be a heartwarming thing of beauty.

"Quartet is a 2012 British comedy-drama film based on the play Quartet by Ronald Harwood, which ran in London's West End from September 1999 until January 2000. It was filmed late in 2011 at Hedsor House, Buckinghamshire. The film is actor Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut." Wikipedia

May 2, 2022

What Trevor Noah Got Desperately Wrong at the White House Correspondent's Dinner

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/05/trevor-noah-mistake-white-house-correspondents-dinner.html

*Snip

The most notable part of an event that has felt in recent years like a stale and hackneyed tradition—even before the former guy’s multi-year boycott—came when Daily Show host Trevor Noah stuck the landing as he closed out the evening with a gentle admonition to U.S. journalists. Noah ended the event with these words:

"Ask yourself this question: If Russian journalists who are losing their livelihoods… and their freedom for daring to report on what their own government is doing, if they had the freedom to write any words, to show any stories or to ask any questions, if they had, basically, what you have, would they be using it in the same way that you do?"

*Snip

Well. Illiberalism is nigh. It voted in 2016, it rampaged in the Capitol in 2021, it formed the basis of myriad new election restrictions in 2022, and it may well steal the election in 2024. It is dictating what children may read, what teachers may teach, how private companies may speak, how parents can raise their own children, and it’s conscripting citizen vigilantes as its lawful enforcers. We should report on that as though we are in Russia because, in real ways, many Americans are already experiencing similar levels of repression. Women in Texas have been in reproductive Russia since September of 2021. Freedom is a continuum and not a touchdown dance, and nearly everyone in media knows this. The problem isn’t so much that we in the press aren’t doing our jobs. It’s that we know nobody would come to watch a show about how now that the occupiers and election deniers have temporarily and mostly—though not entirely—vacated the Capitol, they’re actually still out there, preparing for the next attacks, that very little is being done to stop them, and that this is generally considered neither interesting nor news.

April 22, 2022

MTG has taken the stand

April 22, 2022

Cool Dashboard

Bird migration dashboard. Select your state/county and the dashboard will show how many birds crossed over your county last night, at what altitude and direction and shows a list of the types of birds that migrate through your area. For example, it showed that last night, 886,000 birds flew through the county I selected. Pretty interesting!

link:https://dashboard.birdcast.info