Good Morning!

the cat, a black fur sausage with yellow Houdini eyes, jumps up on the bed and tries to get onto my head. It’s his way of telling whether or not I’m dead. by Worriedman

Margaret Atwood – “February” Read on Substack

I hope everybody goes and reads this terrific poem. It’s a joy to read. Every word is right. The focus of the poem shifts from a cat’s butthole to the spectre of widespread famine and the end of civilization. In like, two stanzas. That’s pretty nimble!

I can’t wait for this! Working a happy horse and a warm sunny day –

It’s not February yet. Just a few days though.

Barncat isn’t a black cat. More relentlessly gray.With pretty green eyes.

I am very fond of giant flowers that grow in the house in the dead of winter.

Starlings, in the field across the road.

Sunrise in the Greenhouse

Juice !

Juice loves late ’60s Grateful Dead.

I need to explore the Fen/Zardoz connection

That’s all I have room for – Thanks for dropping by.

Reading News Has Been Pretty Anxiety-Producing, For Me Today.

I’m sure I’m not the only one. Still, I found a couple of items that help with that. And I’m on the lookout for more! We still have the power, even thought it doesn’t feel like it. We the people still have the power, if we stay constructively informed.

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I don’t even recall now what I was reading this morning that linked Transvitae, but here are its resources pages. I am not trans, so I only hope there isn’t anything there are the site that is, let’s say inappropriate. I read around and it seems like a decent place, but I am no expert. Resources are resources, though. We need to know about resources.

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Plus, I’m going to try to draw Number Nine Eight One, and anyone else who has such an urge should do so, also! 🌞 🧑‍🎨

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Pa. supervisor resigns after appearing to mimic Elon Musk’s alleged Nazi salute

Laura Smith resigned from the Towamencin Township Board of Supervisors after a video appeared to show her mimicking Elon Musk’s alleged Nazi salute

By David Chang • Published January 26, 2025 • Updated on January 26, 2025 at 5:32 pm

(There’s a video there, if it’s something you want to see. The still shows a person doing what she appears to be doing, if I am clear.)

A supervisor of a town in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, resigned after a video in which she appeared to mimic Elon Musk’s alleged Nazi salute went viral.

Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, owner of the social media platform X, and Administrator of the Department of Government Efficiency, sparked outrage when he made a gesture that resembled a Nazi salute while addressing a crowd at an inauguration event for President Donald Trump.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) later posted a statement on X saying it seemed like Musk “made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute.”

This is a delicate moment. It’s a new day and yet so many are on edge. Our politics are inflamed, and social media only adds to the anxiety.

It seems that @elonmusk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on…— ADL (@ADL) January 20, 2025

Despite the ADL’s statement, many have still accused Musk of performing the salute. In response, Musk posted a series of Nazi-related puns on X which led to more backlash.

He also sparked more controversy while appearing to reference Germany’s Nazi history while making a virtual appearance at a campaign event for Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party on Saturday.

Amid the controversy surrounding Musk, Laura Smith, a Republican and the Vice Chair of the Towamencin Township Board of Supervisors, posted a video of herself on the social media platform TikTok in which she appeared to mimic Musk’s gesture. (snip)

A Few Comics

that have made me laugh while I’m trying to get a good BP after reading headlines.

Close to Home by John McPherson for January 28, 2025

Close to Home Comic Strip for January 28, 2025

https://www.gocomics.com/closetohome/2025/01/28

Cattitude — Doggonit by Anthony Smith for January 27, 2025

Cattitude — Doggonit Comic Strip for January 27, 2025

(This one was a happy accident as I thought I’d clicked on a different one.)

https://www.gocomics.com/cattitude-doggonit/2025/01/27

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for January 28, 2025

Calvin and Hobbes Comic Strip for January 28, 2025

https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/2025/01/28

Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for January 28, 2025

Arlo and Janis Comic Strip for January 28, 2025

https://www.gocomics.com/arloandjanis/2025/01/28

I Bet Lots of Public Schools Are Supporting Their Classmates and Students

Bridgeport Public Schools Defends Immigrant Students

Arise, indeed!

Dharmageddon (Untouchable Sonnet) | Abhijit Naskar | Azad Earth Army: When The World Cries Blood

Hopeful SFF Literature

Five Hopeful SFF Stories About Believing in Humanity

Snippet:

Though I’ve spent a large part of my early adulthood overthinking and despairing about the state of the world, a part of me continues to remain stubbornly hopeful. Over and over, I’ve looked for evidence that people are inherently good, that we have solved problems in the past and that we will keep doing so (just as we keep creating those problems in the first place). And I believe this because I believe in people; to not do so would be to give in to helplessness, to surrender my life to the whims of the universe, which I simply refuse to do. Part of this capacity for optimism and hope comes from reading the kind of SFF stories that are essentially thought experiments in how things could turn out well. Consider the following examples…

You Are Fabulous!

I just now learned that today is International Compliment Day, and you know I’m here for that-I love giving compliments! Stay As Wonderful As You Are! (Also enjoy this toon, which is funny, but unfortunately on topic. YOU Are Still AWESOME!)

Last Kiss by John Lustig for January 24, 2025

Last Kiss Comic Strip for January 24, 2025

https://www.gocomics.com/lastkiss/2025/01/24

Peace & Justice History for 1/24

Also, in the early 2000’s as my Dem. county party chair, I had the great honor of representing Kansas St. Senator David Haley-a very gracious man!-at a local candidate’s forum as he was running for Secretary of State (he came close but did not prevail. I tried to take the blame, but he would not let me.) KS is a red state, but he ran against the Republicans anyway. At that time, Republicans loved the computerized voting machines with no chits, but Sen. Haley wanted verification. He is author Alex Haley’s nephew.