Garrison Keillor

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This has been a very long week.  I want to give a prelude to my own summary, by offering some observations by Garrison Keillor, who I first became acquainted with in 1977.  Keillor’s two most recent columns are here and here.

I have a long affinity for Keillor’s work, beginning with the first time I saw him in person at a local college in the days before he became famous.  In those days, you could walk in off the street and there was plenty of seating, and the likes of the Powder Milk Biscuit band were just beginning to evolve.  I think he became a national item in about 1981, and the rest is history.

The first picture I have of him is at St. John’s University at the Swayed Pines Festival in 1979.  I took the photo.  He’s the long lanky guy and the dark beard.  (He talks about these years in the referenced columns)

Garrison Keillor at St. John’s University Swayed Pines Festival April, 1979

At some point I was searching for something else in the musty archival stacks of the Walter Library at the University of Minnesota and inadvertently came across a bunch of student literary magazines, The Ivory Tower.  Among the old publications were two, including two 1965 commentaries on hockey by Garrison Keillor, then a Senior at the UofM.  This week is hockey state tournament week in Minnesota, and in recognition, I offer the two essays by Keillor.  You’ll see the talent.  Keillor Ivory Tower 1965001.  Whether you’re a hockey nut or not, you’ll find these articles to be truly vintage Keillor.

October 23, 2010 University of Minnesota Garrison Keillor at center with daughter, attending talk by President Obama.

Please take time: “This has been a very long week.  I want to give a prelude to my own summary”  (post for March 6, 2025)

COMMENTS (more at end):

from Jeff: I always enjoy the yearly [Minnesota] State High School Hockey Tournament.  It remains the best high school tournament in any sport in the nation.  I also find the quality of the hockey at this level unparalleled in the USA, and it seems to get better every year.  (about 5 years ago I watched a game or two of the Wisconsin State High School tournament where the talent level paled in comparison to here, the winner was Superior High School, which is de facto part of Minnesota anyway)

Thanks for the Keillor articles, have to save and read later….and send to a friend.

from Larry: Thank you, Dick, for the GK piece. I read and l listen to his free columns but I see you subscribe. I should. Keillor has been a source of inspiration for me since his first MPR broadcast in 1974. That’s when I bought an FM radio for the living room. Listened each week and taped a sizable number of shows until I recorded them on CDs. He still hasn’t lost the touch. We were and still are contemporaries. He was at the U of M when I was there. I didn’t know him. He worked at KUOM, the student station, and I was the late night and all night on the weekends DJ at 50,000 watt KSTP. Had I known more about the Great American Songbook and life itself, I could have done a much better job at KSTP. I wasn’t experienced enough, in my own mind, but I earned a “voluntary quit” slip from Hubbard Broadcasting when I left in ’64 to get married and return to ND, turning to a different side of broadcasting. Which, as I write my history, was a good decision, although far less “glamorous” than staying with an on-air position I earned at a broadcast station in the 13th market nationally.  Thanks for the piece. Stimulated lots of memories, Dick.  LG

 

Aftermath

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Today was day 45 of the first 100 days….  The dump has just begun.  The perpetrators can say, “don’t blame us. You were warned”.  But the first reaction is like being dumped on by an avalanche, or mud slide, or hit by a tsunami, earthquake or wildfire.  Until it happens, you don’t really expect it, and when it hits, panic sets in and nobody knows what to do.  Those who voted for this, or didn’t vote at all, were fools.  And we’re all stuck with the results.

This is the unfortunate reality.  The fortunate part of that is that the vast majority of those in the path of this looming catastrophe are survivors thus far, and we can react and we can respond, and the only question is, will we get off our duffs and attack this head on as long as we need to.  The time for sitting back is over.

*

I watched the entirety of the “show” in Congress on Mardi Gras evening, and the 10 minutes response by Michigan U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin afterwards.  Then the snow began, and we were snowed in all of Ash Wednesday, not plowed out till Wednesday night.

I have one recommendation: Give Senator Slotkin 10 minutes of your time.  Here is the YouTube link as recorded by Associated Press.  Here’s the link to two earlier posts on this topic.  [March 7, 2025: here is a crucial post received this morning, Thinking About by Timothy Snyder, “Antisemitism in the Oval Office”].

Here’s how I saw the speech, at least through the doodle on my note pad, which had scarcely any notes of the verbiage – there was nothing new.  Some psychologist can uncover some deep meaning – have at it.  Suffice to say I did not leave the speech feeling any optimism for the future, if this holds.

9-11-01 marked my entrance into the then-mysterious world of e-networks.  This post is 24 1/2 years after the first group e-mail, and over 4,000 posts at this space in this tiny corner of the internet.  I’m aware of the potential and largely unrealized ability of the 75 million of us who sought a different result on Nov. 5, 2024.

Here are the responses following the March 3 post.  Feel welcome to add yours.

from Flo: We watched the program from begining to end. Trump is a total jerk! Wish the DFL [Democrats] would have been more visible.

from Mary:  I am so in awe of those of you who had the stomach to watch from beginning to end.  24/7 TV and Radio being what they are I doubt that I will miss anything and that much exposure to highness would surely send me to a therapist.

BTW, making chili today, I casually inventoried my bean supply and it comes from Canada.  I also noted that the tomato sauces come from Canada.  The vegetables that I get at Aldis came from California and Mexico.  My peanut butter comes from-who knows- the label just admits to a distribution center in North Carolina.
My car was in for recall work today and the fuel pump which has been on order for 8 months finally arrived – from China!
As an aside, I was part of a discussion group last night at the local library and was uncomfortably appalled at a participant who stated that there was no poverty in America.
We have some serious work to do!
Have a good week!


from Carlo:  We do not need to act like frightened children. We have the power to stop this Chaos. It is time to ask our representatives to do their jobs.

Following are the things that a president can and cannot do:
The Constitution limits what a president can do in several ways, including:
Making laws:
Congress has the power to make laws, not the president.
Declaring war: Congress has the power to declare war, not the president.
Overturning laws: Congress has the power to overturn laws, not the president.
Taking over powers from other branches:
The president cannot take over powers from other branches, such as Congress or the courts.
Sidestepping checks and balances:
The president cannot use executive orders to sidestep checks and balances.
The Constitution also limits the president in other ways, including:
The president can veto specific legislative acts, but Congress can override vetoes with a two-thirds majority.
The Senate advises and consents on key executive and judicial appointments.
The Senate approves or ratifies treaties.
The president can be removed from office through impeachment and conviction for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

Please share.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Republicans are again upsetting the American people with their Save ACT, where married women are going to be going to be required to produce their birth certificate to vote. THAT IS ABSOLUTE NONSENSE.

The 19th Amendment, passed on June 4, 1919, gave women the right to vote. No ifs, ands or buts, no conditions.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Mr. Trump’s discussion about Canada becoming the 51st State is nonsense. The conditions regarding statehood are spelled out in the Admissions Clause of the US Constitution. Those conditions do not exist and are highly unlikely to exist anytime in the future.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
One thing I do not understand is why our representatives didn’t start the process of amending the constitution regarding qualifications for a person to run for president in 2020. The constitution states that a person must be a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years of age, and have lived in the United States for 14 years. That’s it!  I feel some additional requirements are needed. For example, a person cannot be a felon, convicted of fraud, have bankruptcies, be indicted, participate in an insurrection, etc.

Amending the Constitution is not an easy process. It takes a 2/3 vote of the United States House of Representatives, a 2/3 vote of the US Senate, and a 3/4 vote of the states to ratify an amendment. The president is not involved at all except to sign it into law.

I remember debating whether 18-year-olds should have the right to vote when I was in the eighth grade, and I believe that was in 1958. It took until July 1, 1971, for the ratification of the 26th Amendment, when 18-year-olds gained the right to vote. I was told that that was the fastest-passing amendment in our history. I haven’t verified that, but that’s what I was told.

In my opinion, it’s time for us to update the constitution, and this is as good a time as any.

And I would like to state that we shouldn’t be afraid; we have the tools and just have to use them.


from John:  You guys are made of sterner stuff than I am. I watched exactly 0 minutes of it – I didn’t wanna watch another campaign rally diatribe– turns out it was apparently an hour and a half of disjointed discourse.

Not sure where we as a country go from here – I’m just hoping that there are at least four Republican moderate congressman, and at least two moderate Republican senators that will somehow grow the courage to stand up to the more obvious BS -and the undoubtedly worst stuff that is going on behind the scenes


from Jeff:  “To the Great Farmers of the United States: Get ready to start making a lot of agricultural product to be sold INSIDE of the United States. Tariffs will go on external product on April 2nd. Have fun!” Trump said Monday on social media.

Trump, and I suspect many of his advisors  have no idea whatsoever how the markets

are structured on agri products….that a huge portion of the production of soy and corn
is exported because there isnt a market for it here. Not to mention special crops like pulses like peas for instance…..or cotton, or sorghum…..not to mention that USAID/Food for Peace also is a big market for the above and their byproducts and milled products.
how will farmers be able to change planting plans and rotations….not to mention the falling market prices for just about everything then….
Farmers, most of whom voted for Trump, are in for some big surprises if this all goes thru.   At this point even I think none of it will…except the china stuff, as the stock markets are turning bearish mainly because of the chaos and uncertainty….
I suppose he could mandate all cars be made to accept 25% ethanol in gas…but that wont make his oil donors very happy….nor will it help mpg in any car,
deep thinkers. (Trump and MAGA, and the farmer voters who went for him)

from Dick:  Am I disappointed that only a few people shared responses?  Not at all.  I’m very much aware of how numbers work, from long experience.  If you didn’t respond, you know how you feel, and how you feel can be transplanted into action, which was the essence of Senator Slatkin’s 10 minute response to Tuesday night.

I’ve had a long-time analogy about our body politic – all of us – generally, which increasingly been intentionally divided into ever more polarized appearing left and right ‘wings’.  I compare our body to a magnificent American Eagle, which to function at all has to have an entire functioning body.  An Eagle with only a right wing, is not an eagle in any sense of the word, regardless of the strength of the rest of the body and control of the head.  Eliminate or minimize the other wing or any of other parts or their effect, and the Eagle is dead.

 

Eagle at the Mississippi River near Hastings MN (at old Nininger) April 6, 2021 photo Dick Bernard


Even more important, now, is the fantasy of the bubble of, for instance, a divided Congress, executive and judicial such as we witness every day.  Using the same body analogy, let’s say the body has a serious malady of any sort invading other organs – a cancer as it were.  It is a fantasy world that, in the political example, a stronger Right (the winning body) can eliminate an apparently minority Left (cancer) (or vice versa), when there is a left wing everywhere in this nation and world.

We are all stuck in the world and country and state and town and neighborhood together.  What are we to do when faced with an endless array of issues clumped together to get a ‘shock and awe’ effect – far too much to handle?  My suggestion, which I’m trying to follow myself, pick the issues closest to you and do everything you can to make policy makers and others aware of them.  There are 75 million of us…an immense reserve of power IF we choose to exercise the power for good.

The earlier those who seek to control the other learn this, the better for all of us.  Will they learn?  The rest of us have to teach them the hard lesson by not acquiescing.

*
A final thought: there is absolutely no question in my mind that the current struggle for control is between the ultra wealthy and the vast majority who are the rest of us.  The primary legislative focus is to make permanent the tax cuts for the ultra wealthy who already control most of the wealth in our country.  What they demand is what they want, not what they need, and the expectation is that we pay the bill, through cuts in services we need, or through massive increases in debt which we will have to pay for in the long run.  It is a losing proposition for everyone.

A single example: a narrative is that Social Security is at risk.  Musk called it, recently and falsely, a “Ponzi scheme”.  Social Security is financed by withholding (paying premiums, in effect) by withholding a portion of earned income for Social Security and Medicare.  There is a ceiling on the obligation to pay premiums, which is very low for the very rich.   Here is the explanation of the obligation to the benefit by the rich.

This fits in with the obsession with “Woke”,  term endlessly and worthlessly thrown around.  I had occasion to come across a brief definition of “woke” not long ago.  It is presented here.Woke from Barbara Holmes.  Dr. Holmes is a person with credentials.  Read a bit about her here.

UPDATE March 9, 2025:  Five years ago, mid-March, 2020, my ‘world’ changed: I think it was March 18, 2020, that public functions in Minnesota closed by state order.  (I had planned to meet a friend for breakfast on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, but the restaurant closed early, and unexpectedly, the previous day.)  As any of us around at that time in history know,  mid-February to mid-March, 2020, was the time of reckoning about Covid-19, for even the most skeptical.  Death was loose among us.  It wasn’t until more than a year later, about May, 2021,  that there was some confidence that we were past the worst of the pandemic and life slowly returned to normal.

This morning, March 9, 2025, I feel the same as I felt in mid-February, 2020.  Something ominous seems to be on the horizon, and slowly but surely the warning signals are being sent.  Will we listen, is the question I have.  Are we facing a self-imposed political and financial pandemic which will claim lots of victims?  I don’t know, neither do you, but I’m certainly paying attention.

Below is an opportunity to consider what we’re facing at this moment in our history.

Yesterday, a good friend of long-standing, a retired Professor, forwarded a post that came her way from Facebook about what I would call the “Musk faction” presently dominating the American government conversation.

The ‘meat’ of the post, begins at the paragraph which begins “Finally…”.  I have made it more easily readable in pdf form: Follow the Money Feb 9 2025.  I urge you to read this.  Make up your own mind.  Of course, your comments public or private are welcome.

(If you have a Facebook account the entire post from Feb 9, 2025 – one month ago – is likely still accessible here.)

Respect and Perspective

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10:40 p.m. March 4, 2025: I watched it all, near two hours, of #47’s speech to Congress; and then the approximately 10 minute Democrat response of Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan.  There is nothing new in the President’s script.  Sen. Slatkin’s response is on-line here, take the time to watch and listen, and especially make note of her three recommendations.

*

Also, March 1, here

Friday was the shameful ambush of Ukraine President Zelinskyy in the Oval Office at the White House.  It was a shameless rampage of bullies in my House but not in my name.  Nonetheless, all of us are tarnished by the spectacle of a few brutes.

Tomorrow night the President speaks to a joint session of the U.S. Congress and Senate.  I will write a short note to my Congresswoman and my two Senators today.  The message will be brief, and it is my position on this matter (FYI my Senators and Congresswoman are all Democrats):

“I strongly support Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people.  I also support freedom of speech, though a prime ethic learned almost from the cradle is to value the truth, a commodity in very short supply these days of mis- and dis-information.  I will do all I can as an individual; all I ask is your public witness in support of Ukraine.”

Here is a photo of the Ukraine student delegation as they arrived in Minneapolis in August 17, 2023.  I can’t attribute the source, someone sent it to me.   I saw these students at another setting on August 22 – they speak for themselves.

We will be absolutely awash in “information” this week, as always.  I put the word in quotations, since it is a fool’s errand to find truth among pious pronouncements.

Yesterday, looking for something else, I found some newspaper items from June, 2023, a couple of months before these students arrived in Minneapolis. The pdf is a dozen pages and includes at least 7 letters to the editor by citizens with varied points of view.  Here it is: Ukraine Star Tribune June 2023.  I know several of the writers.  And I have had more than a casual acquaintance with one of the organizations mentioned.  It may assist you in your own personal positioning.

But that is irrelevant to this conversation.

About all I ask is that we demand that our democracy continues, rather than ends in a trash heap as is now becoming more and more apparent.  The task isn’t an easy one, but as I’ve said before, there are at least 75 million of us who marked our ballot for an alternative vision; and certainly among the 77 million who voted differently, and 90 million who didn’t vote at all, there are some who would feel differently if there was a do over of November 5, 2024.

August of 2023, I was invited to say a few words to the entire assembled group.  All that I recall. saying for certain was “Slava Ukraini“.  The kids understood.  Last night someone uttered the same during the annual Oscars program.

PERSONALLY, I have been more than moderately involved in issues of peace and justice for many years, most especially since the tragedy of 9-11-01 where I felt our countries reaction – essentially vengeance – was not in our long term interest.

My personal bent is towards peace and justice.  At the same time, I come from a very long background of military service, including my own, and a grandson who’s a present day Marine.  It would be nice to live in a perfect world of peace and justice, but this has never been part of the human condition.  There is always a new generation of despots who feel like they’ve figured out how to beat the system, which never works, but that makes no difference.  One leaves and another follows.  So the work is endless.  Democracy, which is messy, is far better that the varieties of dictatorship that inflict us, including in the present day.  I prefer the mess of Democracy, where people of differing points of view try to work things out.  That was helpful in my career representing public school teachers.

POSTSCRIPT: Check back at this space probably Thursday, March 6, for post-Tuesday evening thoughts.  I solicit yours as well.

Heather Cox Richardson’s Letter from an American for March 3 is important reading, I feel.  Also, Paul Krugman on Canada.

COMMENTS:

from Stephen: The Kremlin addresses Congress tonight

from Fred, from a conservative who went to Cuba in 1959:  In the end, I don’t want my tax money going to any foreign leader more deferential than Zelensky to high political mucketymucks who negotiate over his head with aggressors. The US needs fierce and fearless allies, not lackeys. If the Oval Office conference didn’t go as expected, where does the fault lie — with the master negotiator who wrote The Art of the Deal, or the comedian-turned-warrior who refused helicopter evacuation and demanded ammunition?

I’m glad I happen to be reading Russia just at the time of the Zelensky-Trump crisis.  It goes far to explain the world Z grew up in and inhabits, the relentlessness and inhumanity of the juggernaut he has been withstanding for three years now, and the difficulty or impossibility of getting business-oriented dealmaking Americans to understand it.  The incommensurability is summarized in the absurd numbers of people convicting Z of “disrespect” for coming to meet Trump wearing the green track suit that has been his trademark since February 24, 2022.  Sixty-five years ago Castro came to DC in his signature fatigues and nobody had a problem:

 

 .
Fidel Castro in Washington DC 65 years ago.  This was about the time of the Cuban Revolution, and before Castro became enemy of the U.S..  Note the dress.  Fred, who sent the above quote from his friend, made this comment about the photo: “You also might want to look at Fidel Castro in fatigues on his visit to the US. No hubbub for Fidel on clothing choice.“

In the junk at my grandparents North Dakota farm I found a college text, “A History of Latin America” by Prof Hubert Herring, Second Edition Revised, 1961, Alfred  Knopf.  The last paragraph of the chapter on Cuba said this at page 422: “Reflecting upon the sorry state of Cuba in 1960, the onlooker could say that two things are reasonably clear: Cuba was indeed overdue for a revolution, and revolutions are never mild and gentlemanly.”  Anyone with even a small interest in history and seniority in life, knows why Herring wrote that last sentence about the time preceding his revision; and what happened the next year and what we’ve caused to endure for the following 64 years….


from Jeff: the whole thing is like a performance… I mean the presidency…he trashes Zelensky, the Brits and French, tells Zelensky he has to make up somehow, now comes the news the mineral deal may be back on and Trump may be touting it tonight and of course telling the world his rude shit provoked the Zelensky kneeling….


Today the markets sell off again, wiping out all the gains since his election victory …and now comes the rumor that he is considering pausing or doing some carveouts on the 25% tariffs on Mex and Canada……its like crazytown….businesspeople cannot plan for this,
(I remain cynical that hedge fund billionaire donors were privy to the game from Donald and sold the market and have put the buys in already at the bottom as he announces some relief to Mexico and Canada…nothing repeat nothing would surprise me…Teapot Dome is penny ante compared to what he and Musk are doing)
Yes, the politics….the fundamental remains for me that nothing will change till his voters feel the pain….and still they haven’t…they are just enjoying the performance..the  tough guy.

from Stephen to President Zelenskyy: Dear President Zelenskyy,  I am a Vietnam Veteran who co founded Veterans for Peace in the 1980’s, and am now a member of the Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers who helped host a number of students from your country.  My wife and I have attended many events hearing speakers about your country, especially at the Ukrainian Center in Minneapolis.  We appreciate how our Senator Amy Klobuchar has strongly spoken on behalf of your country.  Having been in combat myself, I know bravery when I see it, and we certainly are witnessing that from your resistance to Putin….thank You …Steve

from Ruth, in Canada: Canadians are pretty angry right now and feeling very anti-American.  I had a Letter to the Editor of the Wpg Free Press saying we should retaliate against Red States and not punish the people who voted Democrat like Minnesota.  Most Canadians don’t know the difference between Red States and Blue States.  We will be retaliating on tariffs, and prices will go up, people lose their jobs and lots of Trump voters will be hurt.  It is so nunecessary.  We know it is hard on Democrats and Trump enemies.  I was disgusted what he did to President Zelenskyy last Friday.  I was watching the press conference in real time.  Mezmerizing!  Horrible!  I am sure you agree.  I think Trump wants to take over Canada and get our resources cheap.  He is damaging our economy and threatening our sovereignty.  Canadians are refusing to travel to the US, boycotting American goods and selling their US real estate.  Our PM said today that a lot of people on both sides of the border are going to get hurt.  It was all so avoidable!  I think he is a modern Hitler.

 

 

Decency

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Yesterday I planned to participate in the 24 hour vacation from American commerce.  I thought (and think) it a good idea, and publicized at least twice the ideas (listed in Feb 24 and 28 posts).  It’s now a day later and time for my personal report.

My wife would attest, I think, that if the American economy depended on my personal shopping we’d be in depression.  It’s not my thing.

I almost passed on my daily cup of coffee at Caribou yesterday, but didn’t.  I usually leave a dollar tip; yesterday it was $5.  American business to me is mostly young people who are servers, cashiers, and the like, and they make precious little.  In fact, they don’t know this, but they are an important part of my day, more so than just the coffee.

Service workers of any age are the first in line as victims of slashing ‘waste’, though without these largely low wage workers everyone’s quality of life would suffer.

Otherwise, I mostly stayed with the program yesterday, though all this practically meant was either doing the needed shopping the previous day, or the next….

Two things I was going to do yesterday, I deferred:  I was going to pick some “targets” for an excellent commentary about the Target chain, but why not just share again the column I shared in the Feb. 24 post: op ed on DEI.  One of my “targets” was going to be the local Target.  Why not just communicate with the corporate headquarters in Minneapolis?  I’ve known Target since the mid 1960s when I lived near one of the five original stores in suburban Minneapolis.  (Target today has 1600 stores nationwide. I note that a reader of yesterday’s post, Carlo, left a comment about Target.  See comments below.)

The second action, which I will do today, was to write four folks with a considerably larger ‘footprint’ than mine with some information from 1959 I think they will find useful about ‘the rule of law’, now so under attack in our country.  I last sent this around to this list on February 14, 2025 (scroll down).

Of course, there remains the remainder of February 28, 2025.

I published yesterdays post at 12:30 a.m., and after noon, was when I learned of the outrageous spectacle in the Oval Office which is front page news everywhere.  We have not heard the last about this outrage, and it is possible that the Bully Response to any difference of opinion  may have met its match this time, and in addition be an excellent teaching opportunity for those of us who believe that persons deserve decent treatment, and that bullies are losers and cowards.

We live in what has been, with all its many faults, a wonderful place, possessing only four percent of the world’s population, but controlling near one-fourth of the world’s wealth.  Wealth of UN Countries.  Another of the timeless sayings I remember from my youth is “being too big for your britches“.  This applies to countries too.

I try to keep in perspective that each of us is only one, and we all depend on each other regardless of how omnipotent we might feel.

If you’re a Minnesotan, here’s a listing of contact information for our elected state and national officials: Legislators 2025.  Exercise your franchise.  Here, from 1971, are some tips for effective communication with legislators: Political letter writing tips 1971.  (There are endless tip sheets on this topic, as you know, and 1971 is a long time ago, but the elements never change.  To communicate, you have to actually communicate, regardless of the medium or the message!)

The essential tip, as Michelle Obama so memorably said last summer, “Do something.”  Every day….

COMMENTS:

from Tim Snyder on yesterday at the White House: here about five minutes.  This came as a freebie from Tim’s “Thinking About” Substack.  I think it is accessible as a single use.  Tim is an outstanding resource.

from Paul:  I have been frustrated, depressed and angered by the dangerous actions unfolding in our nation and around the world.  It is shocking. I am wondering what I can do to stop what is happening to America.  There is an atmosphere of hate being fomented that will have long lasting consequences.  There is demonizing of the vulnerable that has happened elsewhere in history. Apathy, acquiescence, ignoring reality is not the remedy.

I received the link below from a good friend and am sending it to as many people that I can think of in hopes it and other positive messages will take hold and move us to some forms of action towards positive change grounded in kindness, respect, care for all.  There are leaders, organizations, groups, associations, even some companies that are committed to that better kind of world. They deserve our support – cash, volunteer help, emailing and phone calling, whatever we are willing to do.
This speech by the Governor of Illinois may offer some inspiration to you. It is well worth the time it takes to watch. Please take a look,


from Carlo: I took part in the Blackout. I enjoyed being home and not buying anything with the rest of the folks.

Then I saw online that Hobby Lobby was permanently closing one of its MN stores. I said, “Yes!” I decided years ago to boycott Hobby Lobby. I had my own personal boycott. Yesterday I spoke with a woman who had also decided to boycott Hobby Lobby years ago. That was surprising. I decided I will not spend my money where I and others are not treated with dignity and respect. I feel good about my decision about Hobby Lobby. And, I am never going back to Target.  Years ago,  I wrote their previous CEO after they publicly donated to the Republican Party and asked him, “Why do you want to tick off over half the people who walk through your doors with a donation to one party?”

With them rescinding DEI even though black women benefit the least from DEI, I have decided to permanently boycott them.


from Ellen: I saw the debacle of the Oval Office shakedown of Zelensky by Trump and Vance on the 28th.

from Remi: As I had feared, Zelensky was lured to Washington for this purpose. It was nothing less than a setup—an ambush meticulously orchestrated and executed by Vance, who had claimed that Ukraine was parading foreign leaders for propaganda tours. I could not be more disappointed and disgusted.

 

February 28, 2025

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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.

*

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.)

*

ONE ACTION IDEA FOR THE 24 HOURS OF FEBRUARY 28, 2025.

The 24 hour Economic Blackout

For one day we show them who really holds the power
 
WHEN:
Thursday February 27th from Midnight till Friday The 28th Midnight
(A full 24 hours of the 28th)
12:00 AM to 12:00 AM
 
WHAT NOT TO DO:
Do not make any purchases
Do not shop online, or in-store
No Amazon, No Walmart, No Best Buy
Nowhere!
Do not spend money on:
Fast Food
Gas
Major Retailers
Do not use Credit or Debit Cards for non-essential spending
 
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Only buy essentials if absolutely necessary 
(Food, Medicine, Emergency Supplies)
If you must spend, ONLY support small, local businesses.
 
SPREAD THE MESSAGE
Talk about it, post about it, and document your actions that day!
 
WHY THIS MATTERS!
~ Corporations and banks only care about their bottom line.
~ If we disrupt the economy for just ONE day, it sends a powerful message.
~ If they don’t listen (they won’t) we make the next blackout longer (we will).
 
This is our first action.
This is how we make history. 
February 28th
The 24 Hour Economic Blackout Begins.

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.

Ukraine – Three Years

/4 Comments/in /by

Please see POSTNOTE at end of today’s post.  Overnight Heather Cox Richardson summarizes Feb. 24, here.

*

Today [Feb 24] marks three years since Russia invaded Ukraine.  I did a post about this Feb 16, 2022 – a Wednesday.  Friday of that week I was in surgery at UofM Hospital (colon) and on the day of the actual invasion by Russia I watched some of the unfolding events in my hospital room.

(The surgery was successful, and I just had my three year post-op and all continues to be okay.)

I have had subsequent posts about Ukraine (enter search word “Ukraine” at the magnifying glass icon at right.)  I notice I had two earlier and directly pertinent posts about Ukraine:  Nov. 21, 2014, Oct 19, 2019.  And for the person with lots of time on their hands, “Ukraine” appears in over 80 other posts.

Each year since the invasion, I have been honored to be able to be in the same place with young visitors from Ukraine in the summers of 2022, 2023 and 2024.

The inclination is to stop here, and suggest ‘browse away’.  I strongly support the U.S. continuing support of Ukraine’s fight against uninvited invaders from Russia.

About a year into the war, I was sitting at my coffee shop and noticed a woman carefully drawing a flag of Ukraine on the blackboard.  It is presented here as a sign of solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

Here’s Frontline’s report on Ukraine conflict, received today.

The United States and Canada together have near 2 1/2. million citizens with Ukrainian descent.  More than half of these are in Canada, making Ukrainian Canadian the largest diaspora in the western world; U.S. is second.  There is an interesting article in Wikipedia identifying the significance of the name “Ukraine”

late August 2022 Ukrainian young people visit Minnesota

POSTNOTE: A few days ago I noted: “I heard about a just-released series on Netflix entitled Zero Day“.  At the time, I hadn’t actually watched the six episode series.  I now have watched all six, and I highly recommend it.  I asked my spouse how she would rank it, and she gave it a “10” (best).   Yes, it is fiction, and political, but it is very educational.  I watched it from the perspective of just being a citizen.  Don’t pass it by.  Initiatives like this deserve and depend on support from people like ourselves.

A friend in Santa Fe NM send this op ed from a member of a very prominent family in Minnesota: op ed on DEI.  I think you’ll want to read this short opinion by Adele Oliveira, in the Feb 16, 2025 Santa Fe New Mexican.

I plan to participate in the below activity on Friday.

The 24 hour Economic Blackout

For one day we show them who really holds the power
 
WHEN:
Thursday February 27th from Midnight till Friday The 28th Midnight
(A full 24 hours of the 28th)
12:00 AM to 12:00 AM
 
WHAT NOT TO DO:
Do not make any purchases
Do not shop online, or in-store
No Amazon, No Walmart, No Best Buy
Nowhere!
Do not spend money on:
Fast Food
Gas
Major Retailers
Do not use Credit or Debit Cards for non-essential spending
 
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Only buy essentials if absolutely necessary 
(Food, Medicine, Emergency Supplies)
If you must spend, ONLY support small, local businesses.
 
SPREAD THE MESSAGE
Talk about it, post about it, and document your actions that day!
 
WHY THIS MATTERS!
~ Corporations and banks only care about their bottom line.
~ If we disrupt the economy for just ONE day, it sends a powerful message.
~ If they don’t listen (they won’t) we make the next blackout longer (we will).
 
This is our first action.
This is how we make history. 
February 28th
The 24 Hour Economic Blackout Begins.

COMMENTS (See also end of post):

from Carol: And also donated to the Protez Foundation in Oakdale which brings Ukrainian soldiers here who have had limbs blown off, to receive state-of-the-art prosthetics.

from Remi, Feb 25:  NATO was never the primary issue; Ukraine was far from joining the alliance. The United States only began providing arms to Ukraine after Russia invaded Crimea. There was no formal agreement with Gorbachev regarding NATO; it was merely a comment. Putin’s goal was control, not security. Ironically, his actions have led Finland and Sweden to seek NATO membership.

Biden’s support for Ukraine came too little, too late. While it was adequate to prevent a defeat, it was insufficient to secure a victory. His fear of provoking Putin—specifically, concerns about nuclear retaliation—resulted in costly delays. Acting sooner might have led to a resolution of the conflict long ago.

In contrast to Biden, Trump does not fear Russia—rightly so. Russia is significantly weakened, with its economy in shambles, deteriorating daily, and suffering devastating military casualties and heavy equipment losses estimated at nearly 60%. Trump understands that Putin would not even consider a nuclear response; Putin has already lost. The real question is whether Trump will take action to save him—Trump doesn’t know what he will do himself.

You can make this public if you’d like.

from Remi, Feb 28: As I had feared, Zelensky was lured to Washington for this purpose. It was nothing less than a setup—an ambush meticulously orchestrated and executed by Vance, who had claimed that Ukraine was parading foreign leaders for propaganda tours. I could not be more disappointed and disgusted.

Zero Day

/2 Comments/in /by

By my count, today is day 32 of the first 100 days of what more and more seems like an attempted bloodless coup d’etat.

I am simply one of the peasants wondering what to do – if I can do anything.  I can’t sit idly by.  There are at least 75,000,000 of us that did not ask for this fate, and the mantra “Do something” comes to mind.  I’ve made my choice; I urge you to make yours.  100 days is somewhere around May 1.  Focus on what you can do, not on what something someone else should do, or should have done.  This is our country and our world.  Don’t let it be stolen from us.

Yesterday I heard about a just-released series on Netflix entitled Zero Day.  Its first episode was last night.  I haven’t watched it yet, but will.

[Feb. 22: I did watch the first segment, and it is well worth the time.  Feb 22, Marion wrote: “Thanks for the Netflix tip!“.  Last night we watched episodes 2 and 3 (of 5), and found the film very worthwhile. We’ll probably watch the rest today.  It is a learning and reflection opportunity at a time of genuine crisis in our country.]

Simply put in search words Zero Day, starring Robert DeNiro.  It is political fiction, set in the present day, and production began in 2022, and you can doubtless find, already, any number of reviews, from must see to don’t bother.  The story line, as I understand it, is plausible.  Worthy of thought.  That’s all I’ll say.

I’m going to watch it from a citizen point of view – where do I fit into this picture, now and in the coming days, months and years.  The only advantage I have is that I listened to a few minute segment featuring the producer and the two folks integral to developing the concept and the production itself.  I’ll say no more about the film.  Whether you subscribe to Netflix or not, you can pay per view, and watch on your home computer.  You don’t have to go out.  Take the risk.

A companion book might be the new one from Chris Hayes, “The Sirens’ Call“, a New York Times bestseller.

*

Separate news, locally.  The candidate nominated by Gov. Walz for chair of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer Labor Party (DFL) will  be in Woodbury at 7:30 p.m. Monday Feb 24, 2025.  E-mail me if you wish further information.  An rsvp will be requested.

*

There is an immense amount of credible factual information available about the implications of the ongoing ‘shock and awe’ emanating from the White House.  It seems redundant to pass the play-y-play along.  I have previously indicated sources which I consider very knowledgable and credible in this time of a daily avalanche of truly fake news, where rumors are passed along as fact.  For those specifically requesting, I’ll send along a list of those sources which I consider well worth your time.

COMMENTS (more at end of post):

from Mary:  I am not one of those many Americans who see the current scenarios as ‘blips’ with a good outcome eventually-amaller government, transparency, increased respect in the world, better living for most of us, etc.  We are all in for a world of hurt.

I can’t even imagine the anguish of thousands of federal workers (including Rebecca) who are or may be seeing some tough changes in their immediate futures.  How do you do effective work or set any goals when so much is uncertain?
Too many Americans are showing their mean streaks and selfish tendencies to the world – including Canada!
 But, we need to keep chugging along.

from Claude: Dick, here’s one idea you can spread, a Feb 28 Economic Boycott. I received this from a post in Facebook by my French cousin! [NOTE: this one is going around.  I reprinted the same list in the Presidents Day Post on Feb. 17.  Worth doing.  Neither list attributed its composition to anyone.  Mostly I was interested in the content.]

 

The 24 hour Economic Blackout

For one day we show them who really holds the power
 
WHEN:
Thursday February 27th from Midnight till Friday The 28th Midnight
(A full 24 hours of the 28th)
12:00 AM to 12:00 AM
 
WHAT NOT TO DO:
Do not make any purchases
Do not shop online, or in-store
No Amazon, No Walmart, No Best Buy
Nowhere!
Do not spend money on:
Fast Food
Gas
Major Retailers
Do not use Credit or Debit Cards for non-essential spending
 
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Only buy essentials if absolutely necessary 
(Food, Medicine, Emergency Supplies)
If you must spend, ONLY support small, local businesses.
 
SPREAD THE MESSAGE
Talk about it, post about it, and document your actions that day!
 
WHY THIS MATTERS!
~ Corporations and banks only care about their bottom line.
~ If we disrupt the economy for just ONE day, it sends a powerful message.
~ If they don’t listen (they won’t) we make the next blackout longer (we will).
 
This is our first action.
This is how we make history. 
February 28th
The 24 Hour Economic Blackout Begins.

from Joyce Vance (I’m a subscriber, access to this free): Civil Discourse Democracy Index.

 

Presidents Day

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A reminder of the responsibility of being part of a Democracy.

Last week came one of those outsized don’t ignore envelopes, including a return address that I recognized – a statewide group I’ve been a member of for years, though never really been active within it.

Inside the large envelope were two other envelopes, one with my secret ballot, the other a postage paid return envelope.  And a booklet with brief candidate bios of those running for the indicated offices.  It was meant to be looked at, and acted on, and it was just a routine election….

There are three positions up for election: one has two candidates; the other two have 13 candidates each for ten available positions (“Vote for up to ten”).  I scanned the candidate list, and personally knew more than half of them, most for years.  For me it will be an easy election, with a deadline of two weeks.  In many ways it mirrored the Nov 5, 2024, election, including the machine scan for the first two of 39 (picture below).

I wonder how many who received the ballot will actually vote.  I doubt there will be anyone contesting (“stop the steal”) or such.  Just another election, one that is very familiar to most every adult in our society.  (In Nov. 2024, 90,000,000 eligible American voters didn’t vote at all, more than voted for either major candidate.)

We’re in tumultuous times here in our country – anybody who denies this is just not paying attention.  In the election just past, a certain number of people voted for candidate 1, a certain number for candidate 2, and the largest number didn’t vote at all….  Where was your mark?

There are so many issues, so little time.  It’s ‘shock and awe’ on purpose, and very dangerous.

I’ve basically decided to try to focus most on issues that have personal relevance.  Just a very few examples.

Last fall I wrote a long letter to my representatives, including the then-President, about my thoughts on public education, my career trade.  I didn’t expect a response from anyone.  I do know that someone at least scans the letters received.  Jan. 14, 2025, I got a response from Senator Tina Smith, one of two Minnesota Senators representing near 6 million people.  Her response was probably. form letter (fine by me) which details her views, which are here:  Education at Federal Level Sen Smith Jan 20250001.  At minimum, they cover some of the issue percolating at the national level, and I appreciate the response.  Legislators represent thousands of citizens.  There are many positive ways we can provide support as they do their work.

I’ve taken a particular interest in the intent to destroy USAID, in large part because I knew well a person who spent most of his career as an AID representative, ‘boots on the ground’, in 16 countries – his obituary is here, and was also in a recent post.  John has been gone for some years, but lives on in the memories and activism of at least one of his family, who I stay in touch with.  At minimum, I can be a support system, even though the family member lives over a thousand miles away.  USAID is not a thing; it is a person, representing our country to people in other countries.

I’ve made a list of personal things I can do.

This morning, a colleague sent a an e-mail with an idea, which I pass along here, from Larry: “Walter Enloe [referred to in this link] was a long time friend and colleague.  Feel free to send to anyone who might know teachers, or who might want to donate to increase the amount available for small grants.”

Also, today, Carol passed along an idea which appears to be getting lots of traction around the country – suggestion about what citizens united can do to raise awareness.  Here is the idea, as I received it from Carol. She didn’t recall the originating source, so just consider it somebody’s good idea.

The 24 hour Economic Blackout

For one day we show them who really holds the power
 
WHEN:
Thursday February 27th from Midnight till Friday The 28th Midnight
(A full 24 hours of the 28th)
12:00 AM to 12:00 AM
 
WHAT NOT TO DO:
Do not make any purchases
Do not shop online, or in-store
No Amazon, No Walmart, No Best Buy
Nowhere!
Do not spend money on:
Fast Food
Gas
Major Retailers
Do not use Credit or Debit Cards for non-essential spending
 
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Only buy essentials if absolutely necessary 
(Food, Medicine, Emergency Supplies)
If you must spend, ONLY support small, local businesses.
 
SPREAD THE MESSAGE
Talk about it, post about it, and document your actions that day!
 
WHY THIS MATTERS!
~ Corporations and banks only care about their bottom line.
~ If we disrupt the economy for just ONE day, it sends a powerful message.
~ If they don’t listen (they won’t) we make the next blackout longer (we will).
 
This is our first action.
This is how we make history. 
February 28th
The 24 Hour Economic Blackout Begins.

POSTNOTE: Presidents Day from Heather Cox Richardson

Presidents Day, Valentines Day

/0 Comments/in /by

 

Feb. 12 was Abe Lincoln’s birthday, and Feb 17 is the official President’s Day this year, and George Washington’s Birthday is the 17th and Valentine’s Day is today.  So it goes, Happy All of Them to Everybody.  Here’s Wikipedia’s interesting recitation on Presidents Day.

The cards, as usual, are from the Busch farm trove in the early 1900s, when my grandparents, my mother’s parents, were newlyweds in their 20s, hundreds of miles from their home country in southwest Wisconsin; part of the land rush to North Dakota in the early 1900s.  (There was an earlier settlement phase in Dakota Territory including my Dad’s family in the 1870s, but the real boom time came after statehood (1889), the railroad network, etc.  It was exciting times, and lonely times.  A letter from home was cherished.

They received lots of cards like the below, sometimes as postcards, sometimes as inserts with separate letters.  They kept them all, and I use them frequently here.  The originals related to history are with the North Dakota Historical Society; the others, like valentines,  were parceled out to the Busch family.

Theodore Roosevelt was President of the United States when my grandparents moved west in 1905.  In the farm basement was a badly damaged portrait of all the President till Teddy Roosevelt.  Here is a photo I took of the bedraggled picture years ago:

The U.S. presidents and the U.S. Capitol, 1905. All Presidents shown up to and including Theodore Roosevelt. Found in the basement of the North Dakota farmhouse of my grandparents, who came to North Dakota in 1905.  George Washington (#1) front and center; Teddy (#26) is standing, front right.  Abraham Lincoln (#16) is standing front left.

POSTNOTE: Previous posts this week, if you wish, Feb 8 , 10, 11, 13.  Easy access through archive.  There is a lot of national news, of course.  You see the same things I do.  Be well informed and in action.

As I write, the Rule of Law ia under assault in this country of ours.  I have several times in this space referred to a 1959 52 page booklet released by the American Bar Association.  Here is a recent reference from May 5, 2024:

“In the course of developing the archival record of CGS MN.  I came across a very interesting booklet published by the American Bar Association booklet on the Rule of Law.  A pdf in four parts is here: Law Day Am Bar Assoc 1959 (c0ver through p. 17); Law Day (2) Am Bar Assoc 1959 (pages 18-24); Law Day (3) Am Bar Assoc 1959 (pages 25-43); Law Day (4) Am Bar Assoc 1959 (pp 45-52).

If I were to recommend a single page to read, it would be p. 49, “Law in a Treehouse World”.  The entire booklet is a timeless seminar for any novice in the law.”

If you haven’t read this before, give yourself the time to read these the remamining weeks of February, 2025.  The entire post is here.

This is your country under assault.  It is your responsibility – all of ours – to get engaged actively in saving it.

COMMENTS:

from Brian: Happy Valentine’s Day, Dick!    Thanks for posting.

from Judy: Thank you for these thoughts………….I cannot have imagined I would live any part of my life with the government operating as it is today.

from SAK:

Thanks Mr Bernard & I hope Valentine’s day was good for you,

We might also like to remember Saint Valentine who was martyred in the 3rdcentury . . .

As you mention, p.49 of that document you kindly sent is impressive. I would also like to point out a bit from pp 46-47 [below]. Yes these days are different days from the Red scare days of the 1950s so allowance must be made for that. Yet it is good to keep in mind why some succeed while others fail & history rhymes even when it doesn’t repeat.

Law Above Man

Democratic government is government by law. Communist government is government by men. That, reduced to its essentials, is the difference between our way of life and that of Russia. It is therefore, singularly appropriate that May Day, the traditional day of Red celebration has been set aside in this country as Law Day.

It’s a lot harder to glamorize a law than it is to glamorize a man. Laws are by nature impersonal things. They are created by bodies of men who have been chosen by vote to represent all the citizens. They are by design expressions of the wishes of all these citizens as to how their affairs shall be regulated. They represent as nearly as possible what the majority of us feel and have felt in the past is the most just, wise and honorable way to regulate our society.

Law can’t be personalized. Legislators on any level from the national Congress to the Court of Common Council may achieve popularity or abuse through campaigns to get certain measures on the books. But once a bill becomes law, it’s bigger than and beyond the people who wrote it or voted for it. It’s bigger than those in the executive arm of government, be it the President or the dog warden, who administer it. It’s bigger than the enforcement officer, J. Edgar Hoover or the town constable. It’s bigger than the courts, from the Chief Justice in Washington to the part-time country justice of the peace.

Under communism a man—one man— is bigger than the law. His aims, his whims, his self-imposed need to stay in power are the final factors. He operates the system and changes it at will to suit his purposes; he does not operate under the system. He is above and beyond the law which works, in the last analysis, only to achieve his will. There is no law beyond the will of the dictator.

The guarantees of law, the assurance that all men are equal under the law, are the prime sources of the strength of the individual in a free society. In these days of contest with the Reds on many fronts this strength is being called upon as never before. Our celebration of Law Day is a reminder and a reinforcement of those strengths, upon which rest the hope and the confidence of the free world.

—Meriden Journal, Meriden, Conn.

Thanks again!

from Flo: All we are now facing in just the first month of the US President and his colleagues is the disaster they have brought with them to the whole world.  Mistakes happen even with the best of us, but most of us can at least apologize.

Don

/2 Comments/in /by

Yesterday was the “Gathering” to say goodbye to our friend Don, who died Feb. 3 at 95 years of age.

Don was our across-the-street neighbor for many years, until the old-people’s carriage, an ambulance, took him to the hospital in the Fall of 2021.  He didn’t come home, but led the rest of his long life in a local nursing home, long outliving expectations.  Until the last year or so, his quality of life was pretty good.  Here is his obit.

Don was a ‘character’ – then again, all of us are characters, regardless of age.  Over the years I took quite a few pictures of him.  This one, in Lanesboro in 2018, was one that caught my attention.  He got a kick out of it.

The Memorial Card had quite a different photograph: of Don with Audrey Hepburn at, he said, an Academy Awards in the distant past.  He and she were born in the same year.  There is a story, of course.  Many.  Probably all true.  All interesting.

Don’s small home was quite literally a gallery,  almost a museum.  There was not a wall in his house, nary a room, that was not full of an eclectic collection of art, some of which he did himself.   I’m guessing few people saw this museum – he was pretty careful about who was allowed in, probably with good reason.  Once he showed my son, Tom, around.  Tom was very impressed.  (Don, in the below photo, from 7 years ago, wears the same green sweater he wears for eternity – it was his dress at the open casket yesterday.)

This piece would be very long if I went down all the side streets of Don’s life.  His love for birds that stopped by, especially the crows.  His always interest in antique shopping.  His love of nature generally.  Growing up in St. Paul’s Frogtown neighborhood.

One early New Year we had taken him out for a drive, and it was the perfect chance to take a picture of his favorite tree, a gnarly oak at Lake Middle School.  My photo  became part of his gallery until his death, literally.

So long, Don.  Been good to know you.

COMMENTS:

from Tom (in third picture above): Don was a fascinating guy. His house was probably one of my favorite museums. It is sad to hear of his passing.