It’s fun to observe. For instance, my local grocery store sells all their bakery pies for 3.14 (which is a bargain on some of them.) I like to buy 3, and then put them in the store’s breakroom. I started that several years ago; they said someone would eat them if they were in there, so I did it, and brought home an apple pie. Now I do it each year, because it’s fun to observe with pie. I bet everyone knows someone who’d like some pie today!
If you work with people who enjoy math, and especially if you work with learners of math, well, have a great time today! It’s Friday, it’s Pi Day, and a fine day to play with pi and with the rest of math, too!
with the Worriedman farm/garden posts. I apologize, but the weather is warming, Ollie can go out, and we like to play in the backyard, which also runs off stress for both of us. So I did that yesterday, and plan to do it some more later on today, but here’s a nice post right quick:
Amongst the flowers I am alone with my pot of wine drinking by myself; then lifting my cup I asked the moon to drink with me – by Worriedman
I considered rewriting this – I was going to call it Alone and Smoking Under The Moon – After a Poem By Li Po (Amongst the flowers I am alone with my pot, smoking by myself; then, lifting my pipe I asked the moon to smoke with me -) I didn’t though. Li Po was a badass. His life would make a good novel.
On the way out to feed the horse – if Hopper has painted Ohio barns.
Barncat came down from the hayloft.
Amos !
Huck demonstrates his boundary issues.
That’s all I have room for – thanks for dropping by!
My branch of thoughts is frail tonight As one lone-wind-whipped weed. Little I care if a rain drop laughs Or cries; I cannot heed
Such trifles now as a twinkling star, Or catch a night-bird’s tune. My whole life is you, to-night, And you, a cool distant moon.
With a few soft words to nurture my heart And brighter beams following love’s cool shower Who knows but this frail wind-whipped weed Might bear you a gorgeous flower!
This poem is in the public domain. Published in Poem-a-Day on February 2, 2025, by the Academy of American Poets.
The world is on fire and none of us can do much to stop it on our own, but we can each do a little to stop it, and those actions add up to a massive resistance.
Red state residents recognize the shock and awe doctrine that we are all seeing from the first few days of the Trump administration. It’s something we have a lot of experience working with. Our nervous systems are already familiar with the constant attacks on democracy — the constant need to keep up with our lawmakers and pushback on our lawmakers.
I live in Missouri. I have lived under the tyranny of a GOP supermajority for two decades.
It’s not easy, but I have learned to make calls and post and write and then get outside. Do the work and take a break.
My emboldened lawmakers do whatever they want. They will not honor the will of the people and they need constant pushback from the people. We have been fighting in this way for over two decades.
The only way to stop them is through constant resistance. Because screw them and their authoritarian instincts. We didn’t elect Kings and I won’t have a boot on my neck and I won’t stand for one on my neighbor’s neck.
We can’t be shocked into silence.
My testimony against SJR 54, Jefferson City, MO. 2/4/25.
Yesterday, I drove to the Missouri Capitol to testify against something that has already been resolved. Abortion.
I thought I would share my testimony to the committee. This was my one thing yesterday. This was my act of defiance and resistance.
Here is my testimony:
Hello. My name is Jess Piper and I am here to testify against HJR 54. This resolution is an attempt to overturn the will of Missouri voters.
The Republicans who are behind this fake resolution claim to represent rural people. They don’t and I am here to set that record straight.
I am a rural mom to five and grandmother to four. I live in Northwest Missouri and I am angry about the overreach of the Missouri GOP. I am here to testify on the disrespect – the absolute disdain – shown to every Missouri voter by some of the folks in this room.
Amendment 3 passed in Missouri. There is no reason why I had to drive eight hours round trip to testify against an abortion restriction. Why can’t you just accept the will of your constituents?
I collected signatures for Amendment 3 in some of the most rural areas of this state. Brookfield is a town of 4,000 and when I pulled up to set up my table and gather signatures, there were folks in the parking lot waiting. A woman signed her name and then texted her Bible group to remind them to come sign the amendment.
Ever heard of Marceline? The town has a population of 2,000. A woman I met in Marceline chored her animals and farm – and then came to sign the amendment in overalls and mucks.
She knew what she was signing, and I am here to give her voice. It’s hard to get your chores done and make it all the way to Jeff City to testify against legislation and your own lawmakers who won’t honor your vote or your voice.
I bet many of you know where Maryville is. We were able to get a few hundred signatures in that town. Maryville is a “huge urban space” in the middle of cornfields, population 11k. They even have a Starbucks. I sat at that coffee shop for hours one afternoon to get signatures. When I was about to pack up, a man named Gordon came in to add his name to the petition.
Gordon is 86 years old. He uses a walker and drove all the way to town and proudly signed his name to a petition to make sure his great-granddaughters would not suffer under the tyranny of an abortion ban.
I am here to remind you that lawmakers who would overturn the will of Missourians should remember they serve the folks who sent them here, and many of those folks voted to approve abortion rights in this state.
Those people include the Bible group from Brookfield and the farmer from Marceline and the great-grandfather from Maryville.
I am also here to express my disgust with the Missouri GOP. You claim to be the party of “small government” but that is a lie. You want to control books, curriculum, teachers, children’s private parts, and every uterus in the state. You overreach into the lives of Missouri citizens each day.
You can’t be the party of “small government” when your members act like tyrants. Do better.
It’s as easy as that.
Well, it wasn’t that easy — I had to drive all day to speak for 3 minutes, but it was worth every mile. They were forced to listen to someone they have tried to disenfranchise. They were forced to see my face and listen to my scathing review of their tenure. They couldn’t escape me or the dozens who testified against the resolution to ban abortion…again.
I know how hard every day is, but do one thing today.
Share an article with friends and then call your Congressional Rep to demand they hold the line with Musk. Call your Senators and demand they do the same. Call you AG and demand they stand with the American people on the biggest data breach in American history — sue Elon for stealing the data of the people of their state.
And then go outside if you can.
Don’t be paralyzed in front of the television or your phone. Doomscrolling without action will make you crazy and exhaust you. That’s the point of shock and awe.
Do one thing. And then rest.
Rinse. Repeat.
~Jess
P.S. I am so thankful for the Abortion Action group and the Missouri ACLU who planned the resistance event at the Capitol. There were so many Missourians there to oppose SJR 54, that we filled the hearing room and an overflow room. The hearing went on for several hours with testimony opposing the resolution.
My country, ’tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Would I could sing; Its land of Pilgrim’s pride Also where lynched men died With such upon her tide, Freedom can’t reign.
My native country, thee The world pronounce you free Thy name I love; But when the lynchers rise To slaughter human lives Thou closest up thine eyes, Thy God’s above.
Let Negroes smell the breeze So they can sing with ease Sweet freedom’s song; Let justice reign supreme, Let men be what they seem Break up that lyncher’s screen, Lay down all wrong.
Our fathers’ God, to Thee, Author of liberty, To Thee we sing; How can our land be bright? Can lynching be a light? Protect us by thy might, Great God our king!
This poem is in the public domain. Published in Poem-a-Day on February 1, 2025, by the Academy of American Poets.
As always, click the title to get more about the poet and their work.Today’s background is especially poignant, and work the click.
(I’m running slightly “behind” for the day; yesterday was eventful at home, then I was up a little later watching some of the local coverage of the plane crash in DC. So, I’m takin’ my time today, and what gets done, gets done. Anyway, I’m still enjoying this toon, and I hope you do, too! -A.)
Scottie's Playtime 