SOS FLORIDA

Nobody with a sane perspective of reality can deny that the Republican Party has become a cesspool of nefarious qualities like white supremacy, Christian nationalism, homophobia, antisemitism, QAnon conspiracy theories and unbridled greed amongst other character deficiencies mixed together looking for a leader that will allow unbridled greed to properly use the other nefarious "qualities" to maintain itself in the leading role.

Florida’s sane people are in a deep quagmire. We not only have Donald Trump as resident of the State, but worst yet, we have Ron DeSantis as governor. DeSantis working in conjunction with an inept Democratic Party, (sometimes the Dems are so inept that it makes it difficult not to believe they are working in conjunction), has been able to convey the image that Florida is going to be in the Republican camp for a long haul. All because while DeSantis is busy implementing Fascism many of the Democratic leaders are more concerned about “encroaching socialism.”

Should Diablo Canyon ever be considered "baseload"? Or: Karma is a nuclear reactor...or two.

The California Energy Commission has made it clear that their reason for advocating keeping the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Station open an extra five years (or perhaps 20 extra years) has to do with rare, short-lived, peak load periods that can last from mere moments to perhaps a few hours and, very rarely, for a day or so.

The best solutions for these temporary fluctuations in power requirements are those solutions which can ramp up and down quickly. Nuclear power is not one of them.

"Baseload power refers to the minimum amount of electric power needed to be supplied to the electrical grid at any given time...Baseload power must be supplied by constant and reliable sources of electricity."
-- Source: https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Baseload_power

As I write this (late January, 2023), more than half of Pakistan is without electricity -- approximately 220 million people. It's the third time in as many years that a widespread blackout has hit that country.

Ohio’s Pre-Budget Training

Details about event

Thursday, January 26, 12noon-1pm, this on-line event requires advance registration

Budgets are Moral Documents

The Governor will introduce his budget proposal in a few weeks followed by five months of legislative committees, amendments, and votes. As people of faith, we have an opportunity to strengthen this public conversation about Ohio’s priorities and our future. Budget policy can change lives and strengthen Ohio.

Through our budget policies, we can help folks find economic stability, improve our schools, clean up our parks and rivers, and much more.

During our conversations on January 26, we will share the following.

• Our budget priorities for 2023

• Likely hot-button issues

• Historical context

• Why your voice is needed

We will hold the same conversation twice — once at 12noon and once at 7pm. Please join us for whichever time fits your schedule.

RSVP for this event by using this link.

Hosted by Hunger Network in Ohio. 

Disarming, and Empowering, Lost Souls

I had a passing moment of wonder the other day – as I read about the latest . . . you know, mass shootings.

Troubled souls with guns. Big problem.

My thought was simply this: What if . . .? And then I lapsed into uncertainty. What if    . . . violence were not the simplistic and obvious – and only – solution to so many problems? Violence presents itself, in our imaginations (and in our games, in our movies, in our defense budget), as consequence-free, instantaneous and, for God’s sake, necessary. It’s the essence – it’s the definition – of empowerment.

And then the headlines scream about crazy guys grabbing hold of that empowerment to escape their personal cages, their crises on the moment: Yeah, it’s the fault of . . . whoever, and then another dozen people are dead.

Busting Myths - A city versus its neighborhoods: Columbus, Ohio

Harvey J Graff

The city with no identity, no history, no leadership, and no expertise adds to its uniqueness—and lack of distinction—by its assault on most of its residents in most of it “neighborhoods.” Unlike most cities, Columbus seldom refers to itself as a “city of neighborhoods.” That is a clue to follow through the decaying broken streets and sidewalks, full of trash, zoning violations, and limited mass public transit. (See the Columbus Free Press website for my relevant essays.)

In my University District, fraternities that actively harm the area “adopt the area.”  That means paying a small fee to the for-profit/eering city departments to post a metal sign that further defaces the physical environment. “Area,” of course, is never defined. Where is the department of neighborhood protective services, like children or animals?

The sad slogan is “making Columbus beautiful.” Its parallel is city councilor-led very occasional “beautification” events of a few hours of individuals picking up trash. This substitutes for both funding and managing reliable recycling, trash collection, and inspection for violations. In others, slogans not public services.

ColumbusMediaInsiderPoliticalOutsider: How You Can Help Your Child, Grandchild Choose A College

Young woman

Let us free our minds from the noise of media and politics and turn our attention to discussing the biggest decision a high school senior will make: Where to go to college.

May of you have children and grandchildren who are in their final semester of high school, ready to take the next step.

 I offer you tips from the perspective of the grandfather of a high school senior, the holder of three college degrees including a doctorate, a retired college professor with more than three decades in that catbird seat, and a careful observer of the what and what not of higher education.

First and foremost is cost. One must total up the cost of classes and books, room and board and incidentals per year and subtract any scholarships and grants. Assume that it will go up 5 percent a year while the student aid stays the same, thus the cost increases annually. Will the university provide an on-campus job to help the student earn her keep?

Tell Biden to prohibit nuclear weapons

People protesting outside White House

Ask President Biden to Sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.  Sign the letter here. 

A NEW DAY IS DAWNING

Yesterday (1/19/23) I was reading the New York Times (arguably America’s most prestigious newspaper) and couldn’t find a single article about Peru while able to find several many about Ukraine. It surprised me because it was widely announced that there was going to be a march in Peru starting from different points in the interior of the country joined by a general strike to be called by the La Central General de Trabajadores del Peru (a conglomerate of different labor unions as it is our AFL-CIO). 

The march was going to conclude in Lima, the nation’s capital. The Peruvian government set up roadblocks in many of the different roads leading to the city trying to prevent entry to the city to no avail. The Miami Herald reported on it in today’s (1/20/23) Page 8. Gee, I get the feeling that some people don’t want us to know about the trials and tribulations that white supremacists, and its elitists cohort are going through.

Pizza and Petitions

Details about event

Tuesday, January 24, 7-8:30pm
Donatos, 2800 E. Main St., Bexley
Sign the petition to end qualified immunity!

Guns and Drugs Don’t Mix, So What Might Happen When an Angry, Bullied, Drugged-up Male in America Accesses an Automatic Weapon?

“The establishment media ignores the scientific evidence linking psychiatric medications and violent behavior because psychiatry is the religion of the mainstream media, and it has chosen to not mention the dangers of psychiatrically prescribed drugs.” -- Peter R. Breggin, MD (www.breggin.org)

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