The SATs

 Emi Nietfeld had a disastrous adolescence.  Her two parents had mental health problems, she took psychiatric drugs, and she attended a number of  different schools, including a locked facility.  She learned about a SAT prep book, however, and studied and studied.  She thought she hadn’t done well, but when she sent in her scores, she was actually recruited and accepted by Harvard.  She also received financial aid.

Needless to say, she is a big fan of standardized tests.  She points out that they really do level the playing field, and she says it is one of the reasons so many schools are again requiring applicants to submit their test scores.  

She’s written a book about her experiences.  It’s entitled “Acceptance” and it has received favorable reviews.

Warehouses in Kidder Township

Many residents of Kidder Township in the northern part of Carbon County are upset by large truck terminals, a.k.a. distribution centers, which have been built or have been approved by the Kidder Township Board of Supervisors.  The terminals are huge, ugly, noisy, environmentally destructive, and completely inappropriate for an area that has recreation as its main source of revenue.  I’ve been to a number of township meetings to oppose the warehouses, and I’ve attended a fundraiser to fight them.

There are two main reasons these distribution centers are being constructed in addition to the greed of the landowners and investors.  One is that under Pennsylvania law, every municipality must zone for every use.  There are some exceptions; for example the tiny borough of Weissport cannot physically host an airport.  However, if there is space in the municipality, the land use plan must permit that use.  When I was on the Towamensing Township Planning Commission, I was surprised to learn that the township, traditionally rural and agricultural, had to provide space for heavy industry.  It’s on the zoning map.  Nobody wanted it, but it is state law.

The second reason the truck terminals are being built is because people no longer go to stores to buy things.  They order goods on line.  My message to people is simple:  Don’t buy goods on-line.  You have agency.  You have power.  Don’t patronize Amazon or its ilk.  Make it your policy not to order things on-line unless you really like truck terminals. 

A decline of courage

In an opinion piece today on the enemies of liberal democracy, David Brooks quoted Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.  In a commencement address at Harvard, Solzhenitsyn said “A decline in courage may be the most striking feature that an outside observer notices in the West today.”

Most Republican Senators in Washington know that Trump is unfit to be president.  Certainly McConnell knows that.  Lindsey Graham knows that.  Marco Rubio knows that.  Ted Cruz or J.D. Vance might not know, but there must be others.  Yet of all those Republican Senators, I only know of two who have publicly announced they will not vote for Trump–Murkowski and Romney.  

It doesn’t even take courage.  Nobody is going to poison a Senator or put a Senator in the gulag.  The worst that can happen might be a lost election.  

Do Democrats practice voter suppression?

If Ralph Nader had not run in 2000 Al Gore would have been elected President.  If Jill Stein had not run in 2016 Hillary Clinton would have been elected president.  I understand the anger Democrats feel at 3rd party candidates who help elect Republicans.  I can even understand why Democrats might wish to support weak Republican candidates in primaries to make it easier to beat them in November, as they recently did in Ohio.

Nonetheless, it is wrong.  If Robert Kennedy , Jr., runs and takes votes away from Biden, that is not the fault of democracy  It is the fault of voters who vote for an idiot.  In a democracy you don’t suppress the votes of your opponents; you convince voters not to make stupid mistakes.  Voter suppression is wrong, even if done for a supposedly good cause.

By the way, my wife, whose hero is Nancy Pelosi, completely disagrees with this post and thinks I am naive.

Chicken feed

Chick-fil-A is dropping its policy of serving only chickens that had no antibiotics in their feed.  It will now serve chicken treated with animal antibiotics.  The reason is because it is difficult to find chickens in the U.S. that are antibiotic-free.  

Feeding antibiotics to chickens helps them grow faster.  It also means that people who eat chickens treated with antibiotics might not respond to the antibiotics used to to treat bacterial infections.

Readers may be pleased to note that none of my 15 chickens are fed mash with antibiotics, although as they roam around they do sometimes eat bugs and worms.

The Anthropocene

Last week the International Geology Commission voted 12-4 that we should not name the present geological age the “Anthropocene Era.”  That name has been proposed for the human disturbance in the earth’s geology.  Humans have been messing with the planet to the point that we have changed the geology.

Some people have tried to put an actual year on the label change.  One suggestion is 1952 when plutonium residue fell from tests of the H-Bomb.  The present era, currently labeled the Holocene, began about 11,000 years ago, a very short period in geological history.  Most of the geologists felt that name should continue.

I am all in favor of labeling the present age the Anthropocene.  When you can see changes in the surface of the earth from space, when you can see the Amazon rain forests or the Canadian pine forests burning, when you can see the Aral Sea drying up, or the Antarctic ice cap melting, or plastic floating on the ocean in state-sized mats, we have changed the planet, we continue to change the planet, and none of it is improving.  I cannot think of a single species in all of geological time that wreaked planetary destruction as much as the one that is supposed to be the pinnacle of the evolutionary process. 

Cryptocurrency superpacs

Interestingly, when I typed in the title of tonight’s post, it autocorrected to “superbad.”  The computer is wise.

Crypto superpacs, with $83 million in the bank, have targeted John Tester and Sherrod Brown for defeat.  The crypto industry has already used its money to win primary elections in Alabama and Texas for potential House members who are pro-crypto.  The industry is pushing for favorable regulations.

I don’t understand the fascination with crypto currency.  It seems to be used almost exclusively by crooks and young guys who hope to strike it rich.  In the meantime it is a drain on the electrical grid and a major contributor to greenhouse gases.  China has banned it.  Here it is buying its way into power.

"There is no separation of church and state"

That is a direct quote from Mark Robinson, Republican candidate for governor of North Carolina.  He considers “transgenderism,” and “homosexuality” as “filth.”  Here is a quote as reported in the New York Times.  “People talk about the separation of church and state.  I’m trying to find that phrase somewhere in our Constitution.  Trying to find it somewhere in our Declaration of Independence.  Trying to find it in the writings of any patriot anywhere and I cannot.  And I cannot because it does not exist.  There is no separation of church and state.”

Roughly 35% of North Carolina voters are Evangelicals.  Robinson has the full support of Trump.  Robinson made his reputation speaking at pro-gun rallies.  He calls the Parkland school shooting survivors who want gun control “spoiled, angry, know it all children.”

And to save you from looking it up, the very first two clauses of the very first Amendment of the Bill of Rights state that there shall be no establishment of religion and no prohibiting the free exercise thereof.  I would say that certainly implies “separation” even if that word is not specifically mentioned.  I would also say the word “idiot” is implied from Mr. Robinson’s remarks, although I couldn’t find it specifically mentioned.

Info for this post is from the New York Times, (March 19, 2024), p. A9.

News from the British Isles

No, it is not about the royal family.  I have never understood the American fascination with English royalty.  Didn’t we fight a revolution to get rid of that silliness?

What I wanted to call attention to is that no portion of Great Britain is led by a white male.  Michelle O’Neill became the first minister of Northern Ireland last month.  Humza Yousaf, the first minister of Scotland, is of Pakistani descent.  The Prime Minister of England is Rishi Sunak of Indian origin.  And as of this week the government of Wales is under the leadership of Vaughan Gething, who was born in Zambia.  He is 50 years old.

In late breaking news, the U.S. is facing an election between two really old white guys, one of whom is talking about a “bloodbath” if he loses.

Trump signs

This afternoon I returned from a two-day trip to Maryland’s eastern shore.  I had lunch yesterday in the Philadelphia suburb of Media, drove through a portion of Delaware, meandered through the rural Maryland towns of Sassafras, Galena, Locust Grove, and Kennedyville, spent some time in Chesterton, stayed in Grasonville, and had breakfast this morning Centreville.  

I didn’t see a Trump sign until I left the Turnpike at the Mahoning Interchange and drove home.

Racial voting gap grows

In 2013 the Supreme Court struck down major portions of the Voting Rights Act.  The majority said the Act was no longer needed; the days of discrimination were over.

A study by the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan think tank focused on voting rights, found that the gap in Black and White voters has grown by 11 percentage points in counties that were covered by the Act.  The Center, which relied on one billion voter files between 2023 and 2022, found that had the decision not occurred, the gap would have grown by 6%.

Since 2012 at least 62 elections for Senate, governor and president in states with counties covered by the VRA were decided by under 5%.  

We have got to change the Supreme Court.  We have got to elect enough Democrats to make those changes.

Information for this post was taken in part from Nick Corasaniti, “Racial Gap in Voter Turnout Is Wider,” New York Times, (Mar. 3, 2024), p. 19.

I will not be posting tomorrow.  I’ll be In Maryland on the Eastern Shore checking out Washington College and its environmental program. 

No longer a "progressive" Democrat

I’m still a Democrat, but I think people who want me to learn their pronouns are rude and tiresome.  If I am introduced to someone, I probably won’t remember his or her name ten minutes later.  Now you also want me to remember various pronouns?

And I don’t call people LatinX.  It sounds like they have been captured by Elon Musk’s media empire.  Spanish, like French, is a “gendered” language.  I’m old school on Spanish.

Why would Biden need to apologize about calling someone an “illegal alien”?  Yes, I’m familiar with the idea that a person can’t be “illegal.”  I’m also familiar with the idea that sovereignty means a nation is in control of its borders, and forgetting the “correct” label for people who jump the line is not the most important issue here.

Let’s focus on important stuff.  Biden may not be the ideal candidate, but he is what we got.  Anyone who is having trouble deciding between Biden and Trump at this point in American history is somehow not thinking straight.  Trump needs to be crushed in the November election.  If Trump does win, pronouns, language issues, and “issues” of that ilk will seem minor indeed.  Let’s focus, people.

Social Justice/Social Order

Two Penn State profs, John Iceland and Eric Silver, along with co-author Elana Redstone, recently published Why We Disagree About Inequality.  

They note that individuals who are concerned with “social justice” worry about the plight of vulnerable individuals and want to free them from oppression.  “Social order” people put more emphasis on societal cohesion and stability.  Both groups may want a good society, but the emphasis differs on how to get there.  

The authors note that with polarization, each side sees the other as evil.  Social justice people think the social order people are selfish and uncaring, and their ideas will lead to a police state and repression.  Social order people think the social justice people are naive or unrealistic, and their ideas will lead to chaos and disorder.

The book discusses four issues in this framework:  racial inequality income inequality gender inequality, and immigration.

And no, I have not read it.  I read a review in the latest Penn State Alumni magazine.

Plant hardiness zone map change

The USDA divides the U.S.into zones of plant hardiness.  Obviously the southern part of Florida and Texas have far longer growing seasons than my part of Pennsylvania, which has longer growing seasons than Vermont.

My friend Tom, who makes his living farming, just sent me a note that the USDA has changed this area from Zone 6a to 6b.  Our lowest average temperature is now -5 to 0 degrees.  Our average lowest temperature had been between -5 and -10.  This year we did not have a temperature zero or below the entire winter.  

Of course, even if I could convince a Trump follower that climate change was real, she would say something like “We’ve always had climate change” and dismiss the whole idea of human agency.  

Vice President Aaron Rogers?

When I heard that Robert Kennedy, Jr., was thinking about picking Aaron Rogers as his V.P, it seemed odd.  If he wanted to pick a football player to run with him, why not a smart one like Patrick Mahomes, or Russell Wilson, or either of the Kelce Brothers?  Then it hit me.  You would have to be really dumb to run with Kennedy.

And who popped up?  Aaron Rogers. 

Congratulations to Panther Valley school students

The Panther Valley School District, comprised of Coaldale, Nesquehoning, Summit Hill, and Lansford, was a party to a successful lawsuit that said the Pennsylvania method of funding schools was unconstitutional.  Districts with low property values have been losing out.

You would expect the legislators who represent the people of the Panther Valley School district–Sen. Argall in the State Senate and Rep. Doyle Heffley in the State House–would be leading the charge to reform the property tax system of funding, especially since they’ve been talking about it for over a decade.  You’d be wrong.  

Nonetheless, and in spite of the lack of funding, Panther Valley High School students this week won the Carbon County Quiz Bowl, beating all the other high schools in the County.  Along with that came the victory of Brenda Banks, who won the first ever PIAA girls state wrestling tournament in her class.  Ms. Banks was honored with fire truck parades in Nesquehoning, Lansford, Summit Hill, and Coaldale.  

I don’t live in the Panther Valley School district, but for some reason I feel proud.

Info for this post came from articles in the  Mar. 15 issue of the Times News by Jarrad Hades and Patrick Matsinko. 

If inflation is down, why is my grocery bill so high?

Rogé Karma explained this in an essay in the April issue of The Atlantic.  I certainly have noticed an amazing increase in my grocery bill.  Karma explained that when economists measure inflation they refer to an index of goods and services the typical household buys annually.  Since the average household spends about 1/3 of the annual income on housing (mortgage or rent), that determines 1/3 of the index.  If big ticket items like refrigerators or TVs go up in price we can postpone the purchase.  And since we don’t buy big ticket items often, we may not even remember how much we paid the last time.

What we buy at the supermarket is only around 10% of our budget, but it is something we buy almost every week.  When food prices rise (and they have risen quickly), we notice it immediately, and we notice it again and again.

Thus, the Administration or the Federal Reserve Board can talk about inflation being bought under control, but as long as those food prices remain high, it all sounds very hollow.  Once the food prices are higher, a drop in the inflation rate doesn’t mean much.  If you compare your current grocery bill to last year’s bill, an inflation rate that has dropped to 1% doesn’t matter.  The grocery bill won’t return to last year’s level.  And you think the economy is bad even if employment is high and wages are going up.  Karma says workers think they deserve the increase in wages, but it feels like that increase is unfairly taken away.  Therefore, the economy sucks.  Chances are you will blame the Administration.

Evidence of Climate Change

Today on the 13 of March, I was bitten by a mosquito.  (I felt it, saw it, and killed it.)  My next door neighbor found a tick behind her dog’s ear.  The daffodils are blooming.  The crocuses have already bloomed.  

I often wonder if the people who deny climate change ever go outside.  It is March 13.  Officially still winter.

On another topic, I want to thank the two readers who sent in the name of the billionaire who gave $6 million in support of vouchers for private schools in Texas.  His name is Jeff Yass, and he has a large investment in the Chinese parent company of Tik Tok.  What is wrong with these tech guys?

Tomorrow:  Why people aren’t impressed with the decline in the inflation rate.

Who is this Texas billionaire?

An article on Texas Republicans said Greg Abbott, Republican Governor of Texas, is campaigning statewide for private school vouchers.  A number of Republican legislators opposed spending public money on private schools.  Abbot backed their primary opponents.  

The article said that Abbott has been receiving help from national supporters of voucher programs, “...including a $6 million contribution from a Pennsylvania billionaire, the largest in Texas history.

Does anyone know who this guy is?  Or how to find out?  

I found this in J. David Goodman, “Moderate Republicans Feel the Wrath of Texas Voters; Democrats Pick a Cruz Challenger,” New York Times (Mar. 8 2024), p. A 15.

A major difference between Biden and Trump supporters

Obviously I could name a whole bunch of differences, but one that is not often noted is the ability to criticize their candidates.  I hear Biden supporters often complain about Biden.  He’s too old.  He hasn’t taken the border crisis seriously enough.  He has been too easy on Netanyahu.  He wants to extend the warrantless surveillance program.  His Afghanistan pullout was a disaster.  We do it all the time.  We’ll still vote for him, but we recognize flaws, and we aren’t afraid to point them out.

Now tell me when is the last time you heard a Trump supporter say anything negative about Trump?  Do they criticize his tax cheating?  Or his gaffes?  Or his claim of immunity?  Or his lies about losing the election?  Or his Covid policy?  Or his sucking up to Putin?  I could go on, of course, but you understand.  They will not criticize anything.  There is something sick about that.   

Biden's mental acuity

According to a poll published earlier this month more than 60% of Americans have doubts about Biden’s mental acuity.  This is not surprising, since Biden:

claimed you could cure Covid by sticking a light up your butt,

said windmills cause cancer,

used a Sharpie to change the path of a hurricane,

autographed Bibles,

saluted a North Korean general,

talked about airplanes in the Revolutionary War,

stared into the sun during an eclipse,

called his wife Mercedes,

Oh, wait...