Injustice for dummies...

Thank you to World and Science for this tweet, a wake-up call to so many of us...

https://twitter.com/WorldAndScience/status/865160188285911040/video/1

It's called  If 100 people lived on earth.

For example:

9 would live 55-64 years... 8 would live 65+ years.

14 can't read or write.

15 spend $2 per day.  
56 spend $2-10 per day.  
13 spend $10-20 a day.  
9 spend $20-50 a day.
6 spend $50-90 a day.
1 spends more than $90 a day.

1 person controls 50% of all money.

Missing Hillary...

Hillary spoke forcefully and honestly at the graduation speech today at her alma mater, Wellesley College.

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/5/26/1666316/-A-Stunning-Excerpt-Of-Hillary-s-Wellesley-Speech-That-Reminds-America-Of-The-Greatness-We-Lost?_=2017-05-26T10:40:15.371-07:00?detail=emaildkre

Seeing her speak reopens the pain of our loss last November.

It reminds us of the idiot we now call POTUS.

dt on a slippery slope...

Where we are as of May 25, 2017

Thank God there are some adults in the room.

Love this photoshopped image by Old Rant Dump on Twitter @TrumpinTheShark.

Also good to hear that Nate Silver on 538 says dt's numbers are down with his base.

Here's 538's graph of his approval rating, updated daily: https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval-ratings/

See Jim Warren/Poynter, who says:

At the risk of quoting a pollster....

How popular is Trump, really?

Trump's not a popular guy but has a very solid base, correct?
"But the theory isn’t supported by the evidence," writes Nate Silver. "To the contrary, Trump’s base seems to be eroding." (FiveThirtyEight)
"There’s been a considerable decline in the number of Americans who strongly approve of Trump, from a peak of around 30 percent in February to just 21 or 22 percent of the electorate now...far from having unconditional love from his base, Trump has already lost almost a third of his strong support."

Bad, very bad thinking

Germany

Never was a presidential trip abroad watched more closely--and I'm guilty too for watching.

I hope he doesn't misbehave, I kept thinking.  Don't say anything stupid.  But as we all watched:

• he signed deals to sell more armaments to Saudi Arabia, 
• he profaned the Western Wall with his touch, 
• he gave to the Russians the code-level intelligence won by the Israelis, 
• he avoided committing to NATO, and 
• he insulted all Germans.

On the same day my friends arrived from Germany to tour the US, dt said something like "Germans are bad" or "Germany is bad." https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/trumps-alleged-slight-against-germans-generates-confusion-backlash/2017/05/26/0325255a-4219-11e7-b29f-f40ffced2ddb_story.html?utm_term=.9c928e7180fa

During a meeting Thursday with European Union officials in Brussels, Trump allegedly said, “The Germans are bad, very bad,” according to Germany’s Spiegel Online, which cited unnamed sources in the room. He continued, the outlet said, by saying: “See the millions of cars they are selling in the U.S.? Terrible. We will stop this.”

Thank you for reporting on this, WaPO!

But now how to meet with my German friends after this awkward day?

It's just like his approach to drugs from Mexico: we in the USA are not bad for buying cars or drugs--it's the Mexicans and the Germans who are bad for transporting and selling them.

All I can do is apologize and do my best to impeach.

Kathleen's Potlach

Kathleen with Lucky and Nikki

Imagine going over to your friend's house and taking anything that caught your fancy.  Putting it in your car and driving off.

This is what we did today in Oxnard--in memory of and in honor of my friend Kathleen.

It was so sad that she was not in her home.  We felt her presence as we looked at her possessions, her taste in every choice.

But it was good to be sad together.  

Also it was a reminder to get going on all that clutter in the study and the garage.

Jared just joking around..

Jared Corey Kushner aka Cutie Pie

Now we know who the "person of interest" is.

Now we know why he is interesting.

Now we know why Team 45 thought that Trump Tower was bugged.  

T45 found out that their secret overtures to Russians to set up a "back channel" for US-Russian communications was known to the CIA.  The CIA found out by intercepting Sergey Kislyak's communication with his bosses in Moscow.  No need to bug Trump Tower.

Thank you to the Washington Post for documenting these unbelievable events, day by day.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/russian-ambassador-told-moscow-that-kushner-wanted-secret-communications-channel-with-kremlin/2017/05/26/520a14b4-422d-11e7-9869-bac8b446820a_story.html?utm_term=.fc8d36eed0bd&wpisrc=al_alert-COMBO-politics%252Bnation&wpmk=1

Jared Kushner and Russia’s ambassador to Washington discussed the possibility of setting up a secret and secure communications channel between Trump’s transition team and the Kremlin, using Russian diplomatic facilities in an apparent move to shield their pre-inauguration discussions from monitoring, according to U.S. officials briefed on intelligence reports.

Impeach dt now!  I have to order a bumper sticker.

Approval rating drops...

People are wising up.  The core of die-hard supporters is shrinking.

Good to know that 45 isn't going to keep on getting away with everything.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-approval-rating-takes-a-dive-polls-show/

The past few weeks have not been kind to President Trump's poll numbers.

RealClearPolitics average of polls, May 3 - 43.6%
"                  "                               "         May 24 - 40.4%.

Gallup poll, May 23 - 38%

Economist/YouGov poll - 39%

Monmouth poll  -  39%

Pope extends compassion to dt

What would Jesus do?  If dt paid him a visit, that is.

Probably the same thing Pope Francis did.

He was polite, even attempting a joke with Melanie Trump.

He spoke to dt privately--about health care, immigration, and the environment.  He gave dt a copy of his encyclical on the importance of action against climate change.

He probably spoke about peace too--peace vs. war.  As in "Was it right to sell $110 billion worth of armaments to Saudi Arabia?  What do you think they will do with them?  Will more lives be lost?"

Fortunately, Sen. Rand Paul will force a vote in the Senate to approve or disapprove that deal.

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/24/sen-rand-paul-expected-to-force-vote-on-key-portion-of-110-billion-saudi-arms-deal.html

What did dt say afterward his meeting with the Pope?  He marveled at the man in white robes: "He is something."

He didn't try to sell him arms, or a used car either.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/05/24/529812746/he-is-something-trump-visits-pope-francis-at-the-vatican

What did the Pope say afterwards--or perhaps think?

"God forgive him--he knows not what he does."

Shalom and Salaam

Angel of Peace in Donetsk (Ukraine)

Shalom... Salaam... Peace.

The trip of president #45 to Saudi Arabia and Israel has at least a few people talking about peace again.

http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-trump-israel-peace-20170522-story.html

Trump's vitriol against Iran has the Saudis trying to interest Israel in their 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/23/world/middleeast/trump-trip-saudi-arabia-palestinians.html?rref=collection%2Fbyline%2Fben-hubbard&action=click&contentCollection=undefined&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection

For anything to come of this, the Saudis would have to publicly own up to their increasing interest in Israeli products, influence, and military might.

The Israelis would have to agree to a Palestinian state.

Thus the odds are on the side of the status quo.

The Nun whose killing was hushed up

I'm not into murder mysteries, but I plan to watch this one.

The Keepers on Netflix, a six-part series documenting the murder of a nun in Baltimore on Nov. 7, 1969.

https://www.vox.com/2017/5/20/15643380/the-keepers-netflix-sister-cathy-cesnik-murder-mystery-review

It's about a nun teaching in a Catholic girls' high school.  

It's about why she was murdered--to cover up child sexual assault by priests.

It's about the Baltimore police department being controlled by the Roman Catholic Church so that the investigation of the murder goes nowhere.

You can watch all six parts if you have access to Netflix.  If you don't, I don't know how you can see it.  Try a library?

http://people.com/crime/sister-catherine-cesnik-sister-marilyn-talks-baltimore-murder/

See the website for Stop the Silence - at https://stopthesilence.org/

Stop The Silence: Stop Child Sexual Abuse Inc.

May 17 at 4:11am · 

A couple of years back, I posted this. I think it's worth it to post again - let's stop this, together! Stay posted for updates as to how we can!

The reality (no fiction about it) is that about 1/4 or girls or more and about 1/6 of boys (or more) are sexually abused in the U.S. by the time they are 18 years old, with most of the abuse beginning for these child victims at around the age of 7 or 8 years old, and usually lasting over an extended period of time, and getting worse as it does.

Child sexual abuse (CSA) can be disastrous for child victims and adult survivors, and costs our society at large BILLIONS of dollars each year, not to mention the damage to our work force in productive time lost (e.g., due to mental and physical health problems). The aftermath of CSA often is comprised of poor school performance, clinical depression, PTSD, various other psychological disorders, eating disorders, drug and alcohol abuse, promiscuity, prostitution, trafficking, cutting, suicide and homicide and chronic disease. All of these are associated with CSA in the high double digits.

The vast majority (at least 90%) of offenders are known to the child(ren) and have access to them on a regular basis. About 40% of those 90% are family members... It's not just the Catholic Church... It crosses all racial, ethnic, religious boundaries. And there is a generational component to this due to many psychological and related factors.

And we, as a society, remain afraid to learn and talk about this! How can we continue to afford to be afraid, however difficult it may be to talk about?! How can we allow children to continue to suffer? How can we afford the results? CSA has to be prevented. The survivors have to find help and healing.

Talk about it. Join the movement toward the prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse. This is a public health problem of enormous proportions. We have to talk. We have to prevent. We have to heal. We have to end child sexual abuse. Here and throughout the world.

Pamela Pine, PhD, MPH
Founder and CEO
Stop the Silence: Stop Child Sexual Abuse, Inc.
www.stopthesilence.org

Take me as I am...

Pacific Coast near Pt. Mugu, north of Malibu

Spiritual director Elizabeth Nordquist led us in singing this song from the Wild Goose Worship Group, part of the Iona Community on an island off the coast of northwest Scotland.  It was composed by John Bell in 1995.



Take, oh take me as I am.

Summon up what I shall be.

Set your seal upon my heart

And live in me.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO1aWIhdYDY

https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/take-o-take-me-as-i-am

Go, Sally Yates!

Former Acting Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates

What a relief to see strong women standing up to the clowns surrounding 45 and the Republican senators defending him.

I watched the Senate Intelligence Committee subcommittee hearing for a while today.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2017/05/08/sally-yates-demolishes-white-house-defenses/?utm_term=.092e3770e731

Sally:  I told them Mike Flynn was compromised.  They went ahead.

Republicans:  But who leaked what when?

Sally: I was in the White House on Jan. 26, the afternoon before the EO banning travelers from seven countries, but the men I met with didn't mention it or ask for any review.  Perhaps they didn't want input on whether it was Constitutional or not.

Republicans:  But who leaked what when?

Sen. Amy Klobuchar: Is it material for blackmail when an official [Flynn] is caught on tape saying one thing & then lies to the vice president?

Sally and James Clapper: Yes.

Republicans:  But somebody leaked something...

Just when you're feeling safe...

Imagine my horror, while driving peacefully around beautiful Palos Verdes Peninsula, to discover this sign.

I thought I was safe in blue, blue southern California from all things dt.  

No so.  You round a corner, and he's staring you in the face with gold lettering.

I took solace in the goofy bird-in-paradise flowers also there staring at the sign, as if to say, "Yeah, he's about as crazy as we are."

Idolatry 2.0

What's wrong with this crucifix?

Yes, Jesus probably had a moustache and beard, but really--

YHWH, creator and ruler of the universe, as male? In 2017?

Aside from the idiocy and male idolatry, isn't the family resemblance between the two cute? Neither is Asian or African.  

These crosses are imported and sold by George S. Chen Corporation, based in Ontario, CA.

http://www.gscimport.com/30/about-us.htm

George and his employees need to learn that God is not male.  

Please post a message on their Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/gscimportcorp/

Write or call them or send them a tweet at:

2725 E Philadelphia St

Ontario, California

@gscimportcorp

Call 909-773-1788 / 1-800-777-3611

What do you long for?

Retreat organizer Madeline Stewart with retreat leader Elizabeth Nordquist.

"What do you long for and need?

• quiet or conversation?
• rest or activity?
• inspiration or relief?
• solitude or community?
• or maybe just time to reflect and journal?"

With these words, the Reverend Dr. Elizabeth Nordquist invited us women to plan our time this weekend according to the needs we were feeling.

It was the annual women's retreat of St. Augustine by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Santa Monica, being held at the Mary & Joseph Retreat Center at the top of the Palos Verdes Peninsula.  

The theme was "God's Gift to You; Your Gift to God."

Elizabeth read aloud and then brought to life the stories of five biblical women:

• Hannah - 1 Samuel, ch. 1
• Lydia and the anonymous slave girl - Acts 16:11-40
• The bent-over woman - Luke 8: 43-48
• Phoebe - Romans 6: 1-2

She invited us to be like Hannah, who stood in passionate but silent prayer in the house of YHWH at Shiloh, asking for a male child, the necessary key to social status in that day.  

Pastor Elizabeth imagined Hannah holding a tray before God with her assets and her needs: she was barren, but her husband loved her.  Other women made fun of her, but she had deep faith in God.

When she was rebuked by a priest for suspected drunkenness, she called him out: 

"Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation all this time."  The priest repented and blessed her.  

She went home "and her countenance was sad no longer."  She did get that baby.

It reminded me of "But still she persisted"--both Hannah then and Senator Elizabeth Warren in 2017.

Pastor Elizabeth invited us all to go before God with our deepest needs, first drawing a sketch of "the things on our tray" --items in our lives that we could lay before God, whether sources of joy or of pain.

This was just the first night of a powerful weekend together.

Depression spikes today with House vote

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY 2017, WOMEN!

I can't deal with the House of Representatives passing a bill that would hurt women, the poor, people trying to fight addiction, and people with mental health issues.

And the prez lies: "We're going to have great, great health care for all Americans."

1)   Pregnancy, C-section, and post-partum depression are pre-existing conditions.  If you are pregnant and lose your job and have to get a new health insurance plan, your pregnancy will not be covered.

Happy Mothers Day, women.  

"Even a completed pregnancy, with no or minor complications, would result in a premium hike of $17,060 – a 425% increase," reports The Independent, www.independent.co.uk

2)   All mental health issues are fairly long-standing.  They're pre-existing--so no help under this so-called "health plan" for our nation.  We can expect more insane mass murderers.

3)   Being addicted to drugs is another way to not be covered.  No coverage for medical help for addiction if you are addicted and need to change health plans.

4)   Being poor will disqualify some 24 million people from health insurance over the next ten years, thanks to a nearly trillion dollar cut in Medicaid.

http://www.parents.com/news/pregnancy-c-sections-and-postpartum-depression-are-preexisting-conditions-in-new-american/

Depression.  I'm now depressed by hearing this news--I and 200 million other Americans.  Out of the 322 million people in this nation, I estimate that 2/3 are dismayed/disgusted/depressed by this attempt to roll back health care.

So we all have this condition that will not be covered one of us loses a job with health insurance and has to buy a new insurance plan.

It's the era of 45, folks.  Run out and get your meds for depression or anxiety now if you have insurance.  And don't do anything that might cause you to lose your coverage.

Our Bumbling Idiot President

Abraham Lincoln: aghast at dt,
the bull in the china shop of Civil War history

I don't follow dt any more.  I've decided the New York Times and Los Angeles Times and Washington Post can keep an eye on him without my help.

But every few days some tidbit of what 45 has said or done penetrates the walls I have placed around my serenity.

Today it's the remarks he made on May 1 regarding the Civil War.  This NYT headline says it all:

This President Doesn't Go by the (History) Book: Remarks on Civil War Underscore Tenuous Grasp of the Past.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/02/us/politics/civil-war-trump.html?ref=politics&_r=0

Andrew Jackson "really angry" about the Civil War??

Why did the Civil War happen, anyway?

What--Abe Lincoln a Republican?

Frederick Douglass isn't a radical living today?

The sheer ignorance of this bumbling, dumbling fool is dismaying.

Abraham Lincoln is aghast as a ghost.  

President Obama is holding his breath and hoping this fool doesn't start a war with North Korea.