Friday, June 30, 2017

Whip-poor-wills

One of the few birds I can reasonably imitate is the whip-poor-willl.  I heard that bird on early summer nights when I was growing up.  The calls seemed to be coming from what we then called the Upper Road, now on the maps as Station Street.  When I heard it in the Forties and Fifties, the Upper Road was dirt, and most of the residents of Towamensing Township were farmers.

The latest issue of the Pennsylvania Game News featured an article entitled “Where Went the Whip-poor-will?”  The Pennsylvania Game Commission has partnered with the College of William and Mary and the Virginia Commonwealth University to survey the whip-poor-will and find out why it is in decline.  It is in decline.  It is now considered a “vulnerable” species.


I just realized that our grandson, who is spending two weeks with us, may never hear that lonesome call.  My imitation of that call will in no way match the experience of the actual bird calling at twilight.  

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Bona Fide Connections

Our grandson is visiting from California  He’s eleven.  He drove across the country with us.  On the way back here we saw 188 pronghorn antelope (he counted them), Independence Rock, Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands, and a strange tourist trap called the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota.

The Supreme Court ruling on Trump’s travel ban said that people with bona fide connections to the U.S. had to be allowed to travel to the U.S.


Under the revised guidelines put out by the Trump Administration, grandchildren are not considered to have a bona fide connection.

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

The Pennsylvania Legislature

Our legislators must rank among the worst in the nation.  They need to balance the budget but evidently any tax increase is off the table.  Instead they look at expanding gambling, selling liquor stores, selling medical marijuana growing licenses, borrowing money, increasing cigarette taxes, and other gimmicks and one-time fixes.

Severance tax on fracking gas..  Don’t mention it.

A graduated income tax.  Ain’t gonna happen.

A smaller legislature with fewer perks.  Don’t think so.


I know.  Let’s blame Governor Wolf.

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Woman shoots toward inattentive husband

Recent feedback tells me my posts are too depressing.  So here is something positive.  Mercedes Rosario of Allentown was jailed recently for shooting a pistol into the wall in the direction of her husband.  He was inattentive.  He wouldn’t listen to her.


According to the article in the Times-News, her preliminary hearing is tomorrow.  If Ms. Rosario eventually is tried before an all-woman jury, I’m betting she gets off.

Monday, June 26, 2017

Losing my country

The Founding Fathers were not a trusting group.  They certainly didn’t trust the people.  Only one-half of one of the three branches was elected directly by the voters, and those voters were almost all white property-owning men.

The saving grace of the Fathers was that they also didn’t trust themselves.  They feared concentrated power.  The Constitution sets up three branches with checks and balances, different term lengths, different methods of selection.

I wonder what they would think of the current situation.  What would they think of the Senate refusal to vote on Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court?  Or dark money?  Or the closed door secret Trumpcare bill writing?  Or a completely politicized Supreme Court?  

I know we have gone through dark times.  The Alien and Sedition Act attempted to punish speech.  The U.S. has broken every treaty made with Indian tribes.  Thousands of black men were lynched in the South between the 1880s and the 1940s.  The Red Scare of World War I and the McCarthy period in the Fifties were travesties. 

Nonetheless, even in our darkest periods, there were politicians and institutions that resisted.  Who resists now?  The Senate?  The House?  State legislatures?  The Supreme Court?

There are pockets of resistance.  Some of the press.  A few of the states.  Nonetheless, as a student of political science, I don’t think we have been this close to losing our democratic institutions and our way of life since the Civil War.  Even during the Civil War the North was defending the Constitution.  


Now that Constitution is under attack nationwide.  What makes it even worse is that the people who would bring it down (Trump, McConnell, Ryan, the NRA, the Koch Brothers) pretend they are defending it.  

Sunday, June 25, 2017

Muslims, Mormons, Christians

I’m listening to a Great Courses series on the history of Western Civilization.  The professor keeps making the point that the Dark Ages is a misnomer.  He notes that it was a period of progress in agriculture, and both Latin and some literacy survived.

Nonetheless, when I think of the period between say, 500 CE and 1300 CE, I think of a pre-enlightenment era.  There is a reason we talk about the “Enlightenment,” a period when scientific methods and rational thought came to the fore.

Now we have Erdogon of Turkey, a Muslim fundamentalist, who has halted the teaching of evolution to ninth graders in Turkey.  He says it is too complicated a subject for students of that age. 

Now we have the Mormons, who cut the microphone of a 13-year-old girl who revealed to her congregation that she was gay during a portion of the service devoted to member statements.  When she said someday she hoped to be married and have a family, that was too much.

And we have approximately 50 U.S. Republican Senators, determined to cut aid to Planned Parenthood because it provides women with abortions as part of its medical services.  


We may be headed for a new Dark Ages.

Saturday, June 24, 2017

E.U.-Japan Trade Deal

The European Union and Japan, representing one-fourth of the world’s economy, are close to finalizing a trade deal.  The deal will remove structural barriers to trade and give both parties better access to industries like cars and machinery.  The deal also reaffirms both parties' commitment to the Paris climate accord.

The U.S., being made great again, is on the sidelines.  One lesson from history is how quickly great nations can go into decline.  We are about to see a reaffirmation of that lesson.


P.S.:  We arrived back from CA last evening.  The drive through Ohio was brutal thanks to tropical storm Cindy.  I was planning to post last night but fell asleep at the keyboard.

Thursday, June 22, 2017

I blame Mike Pence

We were heading east on old U.S. 6 near South Bend when all of a sudden a sign appeared:  "Road Closed Ahead."  No detour signs.  No numbered roads.  Just a twisting maze of two lane blacktops running through farms and woodlands.

We ended up in Michigan driving east for about 20 miles until we saw a sign for the Indiana Turnpike.

Here's something else.  Where I-80 East crosses the Indiana Turnpike there is no interchange.

I will never again criticize the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.  We are staying about 15 miles west of the Ohio border near Angola.  I can't wait to get to Ohio.

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

George McGovern Museum

Just outside of Mitchell, South Dakota, the home of the World Famous Corn Palace, we saw a sign for the George McGovern museum.  McGovern was born in Mitchell.  Unfortunately we are on a rather tight schedule and we were not able to stop in.  In 1972 I gave just about every free hour I had to McGovern's campaign, and I look back on that as something in which I can take pride.

We are now in a Day's Inn in Waterloo, Iowa.  Trump is appearing about 30 miles to the south giving one of his speeches to fire up his base.  I wonder how many of those supporters will be proud of what they did 40 years from now.  

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

The Georgia election

I knew that Democratic candidate wasn't going to win.  He seemed opportunistic, he was too young, he was way over-hyped, but worst of all, he had one of those trendy beards which made him look like a doofus.

Today we saw Mt. Rushmore and the Badlands.  I spotted a guy with a Trump shirt in the museum.  I came very close to saying, "You're never going to seem him up there," but all the people around us seemed to be having such a good time.  I thought why spoil it and get into a shouting match, so I kept my mouth shut.

Finally, if you are ever in Murdo, South Dakota, the pizza restaurant puts cinnamon in the crust edge and serves icing with the pizza.  The idea is that you put the icing on the crust, you also have dessert.  I am not kidding.

Monday, June 19, 2017

Summit County Courthouse

We stopped in Coalville, Utah, to eat Subway sandwiches at a picnic table on the courthouse lawn.  First of all, the Summit County Courthouse is a wonderful building, but what impressed me was when I went inside to use the restroom.  There was no guard, no metal detector, no wanding while I raised my arms.

Instead there was art from local artists on the walls.  One office had a sign outside in the hallway near the front door that said "Information" with a helpful woman to dispense it.   I felt welcomed and left Coalville, Utah, with a warm feeling for the town.

The Carbon County, Pennsylvania, Courthouse, located in a town that lives on tourism, might take a lesson.

Sunday, June 18, 2017

Nobel prize winners

Here's an interesting factoid.  In 2016 all six of American Nobel laureates in science and economics were immigrants.  Forty percent of the American Nobel laureates in chemistry, medicine, and physics in this century have been immigrants.  Keeping out immigrants is not such a smart idea.  Someone needs to tell Trump.

On another note, we are in Wells, Nevada, at a Motel Six.  Our 11-year-old had no problem getting on the internet with his I-Pad Air.  I, on the other hand, had to go to the motel's front office for help.  Every evening it is an adventure.  Will I be able to connect?  Will I be able to post?   

Sticks and stones...

Yesterday in Massachusetts Michelle Carter, 20 years old, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for the death of her social media friend Conrad Roy III after he committed suicide.  Ms. Carter urged him to kill himself.  She could get 20 years.

Mr. Roy had threatened to kill himself a number of times, and he had rigged his truck so he could sit in the cab and breathe in the exhaust.

The verdict breaks new legal ground, and in my view is a major error.  "He told me to rob the bank" strikes me as a really weak rationale for a crime.  ACLU agrees with me, and the verdict will be appealed.

On another note, today we visited the Oroville Olive Festival.  Oroville, you may remember, was evacuated earlier this year when the dam on the Feather River threatened to give way.  The spillway is now being repaired.

Saturday, June 17, 2017

New Cuba Policy

The Trump administration announced a new policy toward Cuba.  The administration is demanding a number of changes in Cuba, including the holding of free and fair elections.

What chutzpah!  This from a political party that has dozens of Representatives elected as a result of gerrymandering, that has pushed for voter suppression laws in state after state, and that has a president who received about three million fewer votes than his opponent.  Free and fair elections indeed.

Friday, June 16, 2017

BYU stands firm against Coke

The Mormons have a health code, known as the Word of Wisdom.  This code forbids the use of "hot drinks," which some Mormons think not only includes tea and coffee, but caffeine as well.  On the other hand, the Word of Wisdom makes no mention of caffeine as such, nor does it mention ice cream or Dr. Pepper.

Earlier this year the LDS Business College in Salt Lake City began selling Coke products with caffeine, and Mitt Romney has been seen drinking a diet Coke.

But not at BYU.  The College, located in Provo, Utah, will continue to prohibit caffeinated drinks on campus.

I have no idea what LDS members think about hot chocolate.

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Trump calls for unity

After the Congressman was shot this morning, President Trump called for unity, urged people to pray, and said the world was concerned.

It doesn't work.  He can't call for unity and make it sound believable.  This is a man who thrives on division and demonizes groups he doesn't like.  He can't call for us to pray without sounding like a hypocrite.  He can't depend on the rest of the world to have any sympathy when he has insulted most of the rest of the world.

He should do us all a favor and shut up.  The hatreds that have been released in this country come right back to his door.


Bears Ears National Monument

We were in Utah today when we read about Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's recommendation that Bears Ears National Monument be limited to "objects of historical interest."  The Salt Lake City Tribune, which is a very good newspaper, noted that 90% of the public comments were in favor of retaining the Monument, and a majority of Utah residents also favored keeping it as set up by President Obama.

Indian tribes have been working on this project for many years.  Along comes Secretary Zinke, and he wants to cut out a major portion of the monument.  I suppose I should be happy that at least he wants to retain some of it.  Of course, Trump could decide to eliminate the entire monument, and given his absolute hatred of Obama and everything Obama did, it wouldn't surprise me.  It would disgust me.

Monday, June 12, 2017

Don't have a baby in Texas

"Maternity Crisis," an article by Mattie Quinn in the May 2017 issue of Governing Magazine, states that "Texas is the most dangerous place in America to have a baby."  

From 2011 to 2014 more than 600 Texas women died from complications around childbirth.  If Texas were a country it would have the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed world.

Texas has a high rate of undocumented immigrants, and they don't qualify for Medicaid benefits.  Texas was also one of 19 states that chose not to participate in the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.  Finally, the big jump in in maternal deaths began the year after Texas began shutting down Planned Parenthood clinics.  

Coincidence?

Sunday, June 11, 2017

Liquor store clerk in Cozad

We stopped at a liquor store in Cozad, Nebraska, for some cold diet coke.  First of all, it is really strange to be in a liquor store that sells diet coke.  And beer.  And Nebraska red wine, which we bought because we were curious.  The clerk/owner told us he had lived in the L.A. area for seven years, but he got tired of big city living and moved back to Cozad.

Now he thinks Cozad may be too big.  Cozad has about a thousand people.  It was also the birthplace of the famous American artist Robert Henri, usually given the pronunciation "Robare Onree."  In Cozad, where people knew him, it's pronounced "Robert Henrye."

Saturday, June 10, 2017

Johnie's Tap Room, est. 1953

Johnie's Tap Room, located in Stuart, Iowa, is an interesting place.  Tonight I learned that Skeeter is no longer welcome, Bill can no longer come in because he was fighting, and Fred once tried to break in   so he isn't welcome either.

I also heard an argument about Uber.  The guy in the Iowa shirt said it would never work in Stuart, but the woman with him said she would pay $20 for someone to drive her home.  Stuart has a population of about 800.

Here's another fact about Stuart.  It is home to Los Altos, a really good authentic Mexican restaurant, where margaritas are half off on a Saturday night.

I went for a whole day without reading a newspaper, seeing television news, or hearing anything about politics.

On the other hand, I can see huge windmills turning.  Iowa gets about 30% of its electricity from wind.

Tomorrow, Nebraska.

Friday, June 9, 2017

Coal mine opens

President Trump took credit yesterday for a coal mine opening in Somerset County.  He said this was proof that ending environmental protections is bringing back jobs, approximately 100 in number.

There are two problems with this:
First, plans for reopening the mine were decided last August, according to company officials.  Secondly, Governor Wolf announced that this project had received a grant, subsidized by Pennsylvania taxpayers, of $3,000,000.

Yesterday Yahoo announced the layoff of over 2000 workers.  Maybe they can get a job mining coal.


Thursday, June 8, 2017

Carbon County loses population

According to "Rural Perspectives," a publication of The Center for Rural Pennsylvania, 39 counties in the state lost population between 2010 and 2016.  Carbon lost 2.5% of its population.  Schuylkill was even worse, losing 3.2%  Allegheny (Pittsburgh) barely increased, but Philly and surrounding counties all grew.

That means that the urban and suburban areas should be getting more representatives in the state legislature.  Given the behavior and ideology of many of the more rural representatives, I can't wait.

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Visit from a strong bear

We have a suet feeder and a tubular thistle seed feeder behind our house.   I should say "had."  This morning the suet feeder, which was tied to a tree with a bungie cord, was mangled and the suet was gone.  The whole tube feeder was gone; as Linda said, "food to go."

While I like the idea that a bear was behind our house, it does annoy me that he or she took the whole feeder.

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Six Dead in Orlando Shooting

This shooting made page 13 in today’s New York Times.  The shooter killed himself after killing five warehouse workers.  

I had decided not to post anything about Trump, but here he is, claiming his travel ban will make us safer, while at the same time sucking up to the N.R.A., supporting its opposition to any kind of reasonable regulations on weaponry.  

Imagine what he would be tweeting if the Orlando shooter had been a Syrian.  


Monday, June 5, 2017

Pipelines leak: Not if, but when

The DAPL pipeline, the one the Standing Rock Sioux (and some of us in Carbon County) were protesting, will go into full operation on Thursday.  Already there were three minor leaks.  

Last winter another Dakota pipeline leaked a large amount of oil which was not detected by the supposedly accurate sensors (a farmer found the leak and reported it).  As a resident who is well within the “blast zone” of the PennEast/UGI pipeline, I am not reassured by the record of pipeline safety.

These pipelines are so unnecessary.  If our country pushed renewable energy and gave the type of subsidies now available to oil and coal, we could end our reliance on fossil fuels within a few years.


I want to thank my friend Tom for the information on the leaks in the DAPl pipeline.

Sunday, June 4, 2017

Jihad against pipelines

About 40 people showed up at Sen. Toomey’s office on Cedar Crest Boulevard in Allentown this evening to protest Trump’s action on the Paris Accords on climate.  We held signs, chanted, got wet in the rain, and listened to pep talks.

We also learned about Trump’s appointees to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the agency that never met a pipeline it didn’t like.  FERC has been unable to approve new pipelines because it lacks a quorum.  Trump has now appointed two new members, subject to Senate approval. 

One of the appointees was on the Pennsylvania PUC.  In the past he has accused pipeline opponents of waging “jihad” against new gas pipelines.  Really?  Jihad?  Like ISIS?  

The other appointee was Mitch McConnell’s energy advisor.  This one is a “flat earther" who denies that the climate is warming. 


I have a feeling that if these guys are confirmed, and they will be because the Republicans control the Senate, the PennEast UGI pipeline will be approved.

Saturday, June 3, 2017

Macron for President

Tomorrow at 6 p.m. Linda and I will be picketing in front of Sen. Toomey’s office on Cedar Crest Boulevard in Allentown.  We understand there is a 14 passenger bus leaving from Jim Thorpe as well.


My sign will say “Sen. Toomey:  Trump’s base is not your base.  Speak up.”  Linda’s sign will say “Macron for President.”

About 50 women a month

That’s how many women are shot to death by current or former intimate partners.   Some of those women had obtained court protection orders, which have little effect against guns.  Now 23 states, including such conservative states as Tennessee and North Dakota, have passed laws to disarm domestic abusers.

From 2009 to 2016, we have had 422 people killed in 156 mass shootings, many of which involved family members, including children.

Congress has not enacted any legislation to prevent such shootings.  Because of the N.R.A. it won’t.


The number of people killed by immigrant terrorists from the Muslim countries targeted by Trump’s travel ban comes is zero.

Thursday, June 1, 2017

Feeling better

I watched a portion of an interview with Gov. Jerry Brown of California.  He will be working with China along with governors of other states to maintain policies to reduce our carbon footprint.  He pointed out that Trump is a transient figure.

It occurs to me that Trump may think the Paris agreement is actually with Paris, since in his statement he said he represents Pittsburgh, not Paris.  Incidentally, as the climate goes haywire, Pittsburgh is affected as well.


Also, I saw the movie “Baywatch.”  That cheered me up quite a bit.