February 28, 2025
Today is a suggested action day in the U.S. There are many suggestions. I’ll repost one I’ve received from a couple of directions at the end. I plan to follow through with doing no business on Friday, period. Every little bit….
On other fronts, for the weekend:
There have been several interesting comments to the Ukraine post, here.
Zero Day on Netflix is highly recommended by myself, my spouse, my sister and doubtless others. Of course, since it is a political thriller, there are differences of opinion. I watched it as a citizen – if such a thing possible: how would people react if this really happened (definitely more than a theoretical possibility). Much to think about. Spoiler alert: here is Netflix commentary about the film. Suggest you not look at this till after you see the six episodes, but your choice.
You are probably aware of the fragile nature of Pope Francis’ health. If you haven’t seen Conclave, the movie, make it a point to do so. The film is up for Academy Awards. Catholic Cardinals, all under 80 years of age, will select the next Pope, whenever. Of course, the official Catholic Church isn’t a democracy. At the same time, the designated leader of the Catholic Church, the Pope, is an important opinion leader. In my opinion, Pope Francis has been a great Pope. He was elected in 2013, and is in his late 80s.
Strictly Personal: By my count we’re at day 39 of the first 100 days of #47, and it is apparent that the only protected class in the U.S. are the already filthy rich. All of the rest of us are disposable, and this will become more and more visible.
There are, of course, already endless numbers of legitimate issues everywhere.
There is a tendency to withdraw – hide – from engagement in times of crisis, such as the one we are now in. However it is described, “chaos”, “shock and awe”, or whatever, has an adverse impact on everyone, and it is intended by the perpetrators. I have felt hopeless before, and actually wrote my feelings about this in 1996. If you are interested, here is what I wrote, then: Politics 1996. I have the same tendency as anyone else to withdraw from engagement. But that is self-destructive. I encourage working through the resistance and doing something, anything as part of the politics of this country. There are endless ways of engaging. We, the people, are, after all, “politics”, period. Politics is not them; it is all of us. At minimum, there are over 75,000,000 of us who did not vote for what we are now experiencing. It is our problem as much as it is theirs.
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I have noticed what I think is a deliberate intent to mislead by throwing around big numbers like millions and billions and trillions. Here’s something I put together sometime ago about numbers:
(I noted the price of a single egg yesterday at the local supermarket. Depending on size, it was roughly between 60 and 70 cents an egg. They were out of organic eggs. I was at another restaurant yesterday morning. One egg on the menu was $1.95.)
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ONE ACTION IDEA FOR THE 24 HOURS OF FEBRUARY 28, 2025.
The 24 hour Economic Blackout
forwarded by Kathy V:
COMMENTS:
from Ken: Zero Day was a great view. We enjoyed it very much. It sure made you think! Lots of plot twists.
from Chuck: Love your movie selections and math. Zero Day…OMG….Love the line about the difference between freedom and liberty. It made it well worth the 5 hrs of sitting on my butt.;-)
[Below is link to] a 30 minute YouTube video I sure you will appreciate and share with others. Just over a year old…but OMG what a great thinker and analyst of where we are, and where we are heading.
LIVING IN THE METACRISIS with Jonathan Rowson. [Note: you need to sign in to YouTube and then search word Jonathan Rowson to access this. But it is easy to access]
In the Making 3.65K subscribers 20,678 views Oct 19, 2023 #perspectiva #metacrisis
Jonathan Rowson is co-founder and Director of Perspective and author of the Joyous Struggle on Substack. He was previously Director of the Social Brain Centre at the RSA where he authored a range of influential research reports on behavioral change, climate change and spirituality. Jonathan is an applied philosopher with degrees from Oxford, Harvard and Bristol Universities. In a former life he was a chess Grandmaster and British Champion and views the game as a continuing source of insight and inspiration. His book, “The Moves that Matter – A Grandmaster on the Game of Life” was published by Bloomsbury in 2019.
Now I don’t feel pressured to finish the book I’ve been working on for 26 years. 😊 This wise intellectual captures most of the basics….(except the need for current world actions?). I’m curious if his perspective on Project 250 – would consider it to be a potential pivot point for humanities mind/body, spirit transformation. Our awakening to our irreversible global interdependence.
from Dick: I just watched “In the Making” (above). It is about 34 minutes and very worthwhile to help generate personal thought
from Sue: Thank you Dick. I have started the spending boycott. Zero Day was excellent. Your thoughts are welcome.