March 6, 1857 The U.S. Supreme Court handed down the Dred Scott decision (Dred Scott v. Sandford) which declared that an escaped slave, Scott, could not sue for his freedom in federal court because he was not a citizen. Those of African descent could never be considered citizens but “as a subordinate and inferior class of beings,” according to the Court. Dred Scott Dred Scott’s fight for freedom (2 links) Chief Justice Roger Taney stated in his opinion that the “unhappy Black Race. . . had no rights which the white man was bound to respect; and that the negro might justly and lawfully be reduced to slavery for his benefit. He was bought and sold and treated as an ordinary article of merchandise and traffic, whenever profit could be made by it.” Chief Justice Roger Taney Read the decision
March 6, 1884 Susan B. Anthony Susan B. Anthony and more than 100 delegates from the National Woman Suffrage Association met with President Chester Alan Arthur concerning women’s right to vote. Anthony asked him, “Ought not women have full equality and political rights?” He responded, “We should probably differ on the details of that question.” President Chester Alan Arthur
March 6, 1957 Ghana became the first black African country to become independent from colonial rule. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah became independent Ghana’s first leader. Ghana’s flag Read more
March 6, 1967 Muhammad Ali was ordered by the Selective Service to be inducted into military service. He refused, citing his religious beliefs that precluded him from killing others. “I ain’t got no quarrel with those Vietcong.” Top Black athletes gather to hear Muhammad Ali (formerly Cassius Clay) give his reasons for rejecting the draft, United States, June 4, 1967.
March 6, 1982 The University for Peace near San Jose, Costa Rica, was founded. UPeace, the U.N.-mandated graduate school of peace and conflict studies had been chartered by the General Assembly for research and the dissemination of knowledge specifically aimed at training and education for peace. Visit the University for Peace
The monument on campus sculpted by Cuban artist Thelvia Marín in 1987, is the world’s largest peace monument.
A couple of “new to me” favorites! Moon Carrots and Blood Lilies –
We have some lovely islands in our parking lot at work. Over the years they’ve been lushly and beautifully planted with all manner of wonderful things. Year before last, during a stretch of drought, the irrigation quit working and everything died. Our director of research is a gifted landscaper. He’s taking the islands on as a personal project. I’m continually delighted all season long with the things he’s done.
About midsummer last year these started turning up.
I sent the r&d director a picture captioned “ What the hell!?” He texted back “ Moon Carrot”
I texted back“ Dumb ass – just tell me what kind of plant this is!”
“ It’s a Moon Carrot plant . “Seseli” something or a rather. (Seseli gummiferum) It’s an Apiaceae( carrot family) .
Details – a member of the carrot family (Apiaceae or Umbellifers – the flowers form a pleasing umbrella shape) the plant is originally from the dry mountainous regions of Turkey and Ukraine.
Light : Full sun, tolerates some shade
Height: 2 to 4 ft
Spread: 1 to 1 1/2 ft.
Flower Form : flowers grow off a central stem forming an umbrella shape
Culture: Originally from dry, mountainous regions , Moon Carrot thrives in near drought conditions and poor soil. Make sure the soil is well drained -No wet feet! pH and general soil quality are unimportant. This plant thrives in tough conditions. My kind of plant!
The pictures all seem to look like this – one central stalk – very upright
Ours all look like this – Lucy goosey laying over with several blooms coming up from off of the stem
Moon carrots are biennial. This means that the moon carrot’s life cycle takes two seasons to complete. The first season the plant grows from seed into a small mound of lovely blue green foliage. With cold weather this foliage dies back to the ground, just like a herbaceous perennial. After a winter’s rest, in the spring, the plant returns, this time growing the long stalk accumulates in an umbral of flowers. These eventually form seed. With the second season of cold weather, it dies back to the ground never to return. The seeds, sown by gravity in the immediate area, will germinate and form new plants with the warm weather The following season. Biennial = 2-year life cycle with flowers and seeds forming in the second season. I have read that if the flowers are removed before forming seed, the plant will come up every season and form flowers until those flowers are permitted to set seed at which time the plant will die. By removing the blooms, we can turn the plants into what is essentially a perennial. Does this work? I don’t know. I may try that this year !
Moon carrot seems like the perfect specimen plant to me. An attention grabbing, hard to miss beauty that would be overpowering in a group.
Propagation is from seed.
One day, during my first season in my current position, my boss stuck his head my office, threw me a bag and said “Here, you’ll thank me later”
It was a Blood Lily – Scadoxus multiflorus . From Africa, we get ours from Swaziland and the Congo.
Usually planted in pots , these spectacular flowers make a great specimen plant. Get them up on a table where you can look closely at the marvelous geometric precision.
Light: Bright , indirect sun, or partial sun during the day. Avoid hot direct sunlight such as unfiltered afternoon sun.
Height: 18 – 24 “
Spread: 15 – 18”
Flower Form: Amazing !
Foliage: Bright green, succulent leaves may appear while blooming, they’ll usually they show up after blooming is done.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 9 – 11
Culture: Best in a container. Sandy soil with good drainage. Some compost is nice to help the soil hold moisture. They only need moderate water – don’t overdo it! Use a high phosphorus fertilizer a couple of times a month during growing season -one formulated for blooms is perfect. After the plant blooms and begins to go dormant gradually reduce the water and stop fertilizing. The upper greenery will all die back. Move indoors for the winter. Water only enough to keep the soil moist. I kept mine in the closet. In the Spring, once the danger for frost is past, pull the plant out into the light, give it a good drink of water and some food.
Propagation is easy . After the flower blooms, little red berries appear. The seeds are in there. When the seeds fall off – rinse off what’s left of the berry and let them dry. Sow them right on top of some moist potting mix. A bulb will form on top of the soil. In a few months, new growth will appear.
On plants that are several years old, offsets will appear on the main stem. Allow them to grow for a couple of seasons. Once the time is passed, use sharp scissors to remove the offset, roots and all. Plant in a new pot.
There are more poisonous plants than blood lilies, they can, however, make you or your pets pretty sick. Be careful!
That is your two cool plants for today. Everyone will envy you and they will make you happy.
Trump admin is rethinking Guantánamo immigrant detention plan amid cost issues and power struggles
Trump still wants to use the base for detention, but a scaled-down version is the likeliest outcome, sources said.
Now Trump ‘cuts off intelligence-sharing’ with Ukraine
The United States has cut off intelligence-sharing with Kyiv in a move that could seriously hamper the Ukrainian military’s ability to target Russian forces, the CIA’s director has confirmed.
Dems didn’t get good coverage by larger named media outlets; larger names presented it all as awkwardly as possible for Democrats. As they have for most of my lifetime. Leave it to God-FAIR coverage!🤣 A
THE LORD’S STATE OF THE UNION: Because the president is a psychopath, because the vice president hath the spine of a jellyfish, because the people of this nation are terrorized, the state of the union is strong…ly fucked up.
1. Al Green Shows The Way
Lo, the air was thick with lies, the ground shook with deranged threats, and the halls of power reeked of cowardice. But only one man in that chamber understood the moment and had the courage to stand up to the bully, right to his bloated orange face.
And that man was Al Green. Al Green shouted the truth, he stood against the madness, and he got kicked out for it. He is also unrepentant for this righteous trouble, which I fully support.
God bless Representative Al Green. This is the kind of fire and leadership that people are looking for. PUT HIM IN CHARGE!
2. Little Roadrunner Signs Are Not The Way
On the other end of the protest spectrum, we have Little Roadrunner Signs. What the hell were those sad little signs supposed to accomplish?
“MUSK STEALS.” “PROTECT VETERANS.” “SAVE MEDICAID.” Ooooo, so scary. They might as well have held up “PLEASE DON’T HURT US, SIR” for all the good it did.
The fascists stood and roared, grinning ear to ear like morons, while Democrats meekly raised their tiny placards.
God proclaims this tactic to be WEAK SAUCE.
That said, maybe the signs could have worked if they had better phrases. Here are some other phrases they should have used instead:
“Go to Mars and stay there.”
“Deport Elon Musk.”
“Billionaires shouldn’t exist.”
“Fuck you, Donald!”
“Burn in hell, fascist.”
Ya know, that sort of thing. HARSHER. Keep it going in the comments.
3. God’s Final Word
FOR THE RECORD, despite what he says, Donold was NOT saved by God to make America great again. Also, I categorically reject Donold’s request for Me to “bless America.” I will not be doing that until he is long gone.
Fuck you, Donold!
4. We’re Fighting Back—And It’s Working
How many good people have been fired? How many voices silenced? How many innocent people deported?
About a third of Project 2025 has already been implemented. They’re getting away with it.
You know what’s coming. You’ve seen what they do with power. But you don’t have to sit back and watch.
Here’s how we fight:
Expose corruption that corporate media won’t touch.
Keep people engaged & informed—with truth, hope and laughter.
Rally thousands of voices to push back against fascism.
Build an independent platform where truth can’t be silenced.
Updating German pastor Martin Niemöller’s 1946 poem for 2025 Read on Substack
My Fellow Democracy Defenders,
Martin Niemöller was a prominent Lutheran pastor in Germany. After Hitler seized power in 1933, the pastor became an outspoken critic. For defying a dictator, he spent the last eight years of Nazi rule (1937 to 1945) in prisons and concentration camps. Pastor Niemöller is best remembered for his 1946 poem, which I have updated for our current situation below.
First they came for the refugees, and I did not speak out—because I was not a refugee.
Then they came for the trans children, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trans child.
Then they came for the people of color, and I did not speak out—because I was not a person of color.
Then they came for the abortionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not an abortionist.
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the journalists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a journalist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the civil servants, and I am speaking out—my partner has lost her job, and I am fighting for mine.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
Will you speak up for all those who are oppressed by fascists? (snip)
Rachel Maddow runs through an exhausting but by no means exhaustive list of false statements made by Donald Trump in his first address to a joint session of Congress of his second term.
Scottie's Playtime 