Sunday, October 13, 2024
Saturday, October 12, 2024
Friday, October 11, 2024
Column: Elon Musk's courtship with MAGA has driven X into misinformation abyss
Thursday, October 10, 2024
Vote Blue
As many of you know, I live in Massachusetts. My 2024 mail-in ballot arrived on October 7. Mail-in ballots arrived and early in-person voting started even earlier in some states.
Every year, there are reports that some percentage of the eligible electorate did not vote. This always upsets me, just as it upsets me to hear people say that they don’t vote – they feel as though they are not important enough – their vote doesn’t count.
Friends, each and every citizen’s vote matters! Voting is the most precious right, privilege and duty of citizenship. Generations of our fellow Americans have fought and died to secure that right for you and me. And around the world, people are still fighting and dying for that right.
So, be it by mail, by in-person early voting at the city clerk’s office, or in person at the polls on Election Day (Nov. 5), cast your ballot as if our democracy depended upon it. For my friends, my fellow Americans, my brothers and sisters, it does! Our democracy, our country itself, is nothing more nor less than her citizens – you and me. And this year, she needs us more than ever. Donald Trump presents a clear and present danger to our democracy, our national security, to our civil rights – to the very foundation of our nation itself, the Constitution of the United States. It is imperative that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz not merely be elected, but be elected in a landslide.
Finally, remember the adage, “Use it or lose it.” Trump has stated as clearly as he possibly can that, if he is elected this year, we will never vote again.
Be a patriot. Vote!
Wednesday, October 09, 2024
Tuesday, October 08, 2024
Monday, October 07, 2024
What's new?
One of the things that's new, or at least going on, is that I've been experiencing brain fog, fatigue, inability to concentrate and general blahs.
One thing I have meant to mention is that in the summer I got hooked on the video game Royal Match. It's very enjoyable, though it may be contributing to my fuzzy-headedness.
More recently, I've been trying to become more serious about my Catholic practice. St. Thomas the Apostle parish in West Springfield videocasts daily and Sunday Mass on YouTube, so I can attend remotely. Also found not only the Rosary but also a few other devotions. No doubt you've noticed that the Morning Offering has been starting the blog day for a while now. So, that's lovely and, really, a great comfort.
For the fall I bought a pair of houndstooth check slacks [click]. I got the natural. They're a lovely, soft knit material - very comfortable.
In less cheerful news, my knuckles ache. Not all of them - mostly it's the index fingers - and not all the time, but enough. Seems to me it first became noticeable as more than a one off in the summer.
It's probably a good idea to keep a record of such things somewhere. All too often you mention somethin to the doctor and when she asks when it started, you have no idea, which makes you seem rather foolish.
Both Dad and Sis have been poorly lately. Please keep them in your prayers, hold them in the Light, whatever your thing is. It's a great help.
So, what's new with you?
Sunday, October 06, 2024
Saturday, October 05, 2024
Friday, October 04, 2024
Thursday, October 03, 2024
Gripe, Lie...
Predictably, Fox News is griping that Jack Smith's January Sixth brief should not have been released to the public "so close to the election."
Perhaps also predictably, they claim the reason for their objection is a long-standing, unwitten Justice Department rule of avoiding starting an investigation of a politician within some time (sixty days, ninety days, I don't recall) of an election. Needless to say, the "rule" they are invoking does not apply to the situation at hand.
Fox News chronically lies, misrepresents and distorts. The on-air personalities who spew these lies, to say nothing of the hacks who write them, must surely know they are lies. What miserable human beings, making their livings by knowingly, purposely diseminating lies, what's more knowing those lies will frighten and manipulate their viewers. All I can say is, may God have mercy on their souls - if they still havde souls - because I certainly cannot find it in my heart to feel charity towards them!
Wednesday, October 02, 2024
Tuesday, October 01, 2024
Monday, September 30, 2024
Sunday, September 29, 2024
Saturday, September 28, 2024
Pink Canada Mints
The other day, I got a sudden yen for pink Canada mints, something I hadn’t had or even seen in probably fifty years. Google came through, and I was able to order a two pound bag from Amazon.com.
There’s a snapshot memory connected with this particular candy. Mom and I were in an airport waiting area. I must have been ten or under, since it was just the two of us. Everything was gray – the seating, the floor, the walls. Mom had a magazine or a crossword or something in her lap. We were chatting and eating pink Canada mints. No idea where we were or where we were going, just the memory of being in that moment.
Friday, September 27, 2024
Thursday, September 26, 2024
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Monday, September 23, 2024
Sunday, September 22, 2024
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Friday, September 20, 2024
Andy Williams with the Osmond Brothers: "Good Morning Starshine"
As a kid I had a transistor radio. Good grief, but that statement dates me! Do any of you younguns even know what a transistor radio was? The reception and sound quality weren't great, but that wasn't the point. The point was, you could take your music with you wherever you went. And I did, the wrist strap wrapped firmly around my wrist.
...all of which is preface. One day, not long after my illness, I was listening to my beloved transistor when this record came on. I absolutely loved it. Don't recall what comment I made to Mom, but she bought me the cassette issue of the album, _Get Together with Andy Williams_. Eventually wore it out, I played it so much.
Thursday, September 19, 2024
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Not only beautiful, Vincent Van Gogh's "Starry Night"fits models of atmospheric and fluid dynamics
A new study finds that "Starry Night," painted by Dutch Post-Impressionist Vincent Van Gogh in 1889, perfectly fits current models of atmospheric and fluid dynamics.
Study author Dr. Huang Yongxiang said, "It [the painting] reveals a deep and intuitive understanding of natural phenomena. Van Gogh’s precise representation of turbulence might be from studying the movement of clouds and the atmosphere or an innate sense of how to capture the dynamism of the sky.”
I have always loved "Starry Night." This scientific study only serves to deepen my awe at Van Gogh's talent and insight.
Sunday, September 15, 2024
Saturday, September 14, 2024
Friday, September 13, 2024
Thursday, September 12, 2024
Honesty Chez Catreona
Honesty, also called Money Plant or Silver Dollar Plant, is a flowering plant in the cabbage and mustard family native to central and southern Europe. Introduced to England in the late Sixteenth Century, soon after Honesty came to our shores with the Pilgrims.
It thrives in moist, partially shaded locations. In late Spring into Summer, the plant blooms with a profusion of dark pink flowers. At this time of year, the flowers have given way to paper-thin seed pods that take on a silver sheen as they dry.
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Kamala Harris wins debate, Taylor Swift endorses her moments later
Thank you, Madame Vice President, for a first class debate performance. And thank you, Taylor, for a thoughtful and eloquent statement of endorsement.
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Monday, September 09, 2024
Early Autumn
The sweet and melow voice of Jo Stafford with "Early Autumn" from her 1955 album Soft and Sentimental.
Vance for VP? Hell No!
My latest meme. I seem to be drawn to highlight Vance's, er, negative points. Well, that's okay. People with a lot more brain power and talent than I are working on Trump.
As always, feel free to share this one if you think it might help.
Sunday, September 08, 2024
Faith and Justice Matter to Harris and Walz
Amid all the discussion of the Harris-Walz campaign's wide and warm inclusiveness, till now I had heard nothing about faith-based outreach and inclusion. But, unsurprisingly, this well organized, disciplined and focused campaign is on it. At the end of August Sojourners published an article about Rev. Jen Butler, the campaign's faith outreach director. True to form, they got the best.
A veteran of the Obama administration as well as many years of organizing and interfaith discourse, Rev. Butler is a solid addition to the stellar Harris-Walz organization.
Saturday, September 07, 2024
Wildlife Chez Catreona
When they went out yesterday morning, Dad and Sis spotted a large praying mantis on the back bumper of the car. It sat for its portrait before, with a little encouragement from Dad, it flew off into the grass.
You never know what you might see in the wilds of Springfield! I'm not a bug fancier myself, but some readers may find it interesting.
You’ve probably noticed…
You’ve probably noticed, the blog has a fresh, new look, not to mention a new title.
I’ve been struggling for a couple weeks - that felt like a couple eons - to alter the source code for the blog’s template. But, ahem, every time I tried another idea that seemed like it would be the charm, the mess only got worse. Finally, I gave up and set a new Blogger template. And being new, unlike the previous one that was ancient as such things go, this one was fully customizable. Phew!
Can’t think why it took me so long to come around to the completely logical decision to apply a new template, except that I do tend to be change-averse. When I think how much time and angst I could have saved myself by exploring the current Blogger template set! Sometimes I’m not too bright. * igh*
As to the new title: At the time I founded the blog, The Arty Blog seemed appropriate. Now, though, something broader and more inclusive is called for. Life, the Universe and Everything isn’t the most original title. It fits the bill though.
Let me know what you think of all the changes.
September Morn
A sad song and, yes, I know it's a Neil Diamond [click] song. But Engelbert does a beautiful job with it.
Happy Saturday!