Monthly Archives: November 2024

No, democracy isn’t dead

by Steve Iskeep in Substack My mailbox this week included a note with the subject line, “Democracy Without America.” The writer was sharing a link to an article with a slightly less stark headline, given its punctuation: “Democracy without America?” … Continue reading

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The history of Veteran’s Day

notes from Heather Cox Richardson In 1918, at the end of four years of World War I’s devastation, leaders negotiated for the guns in Europe to fall silent once and for all on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day … Continue reading

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A finale?

Thanks to Mike C.

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“Never Words” that should not be used by clinicians

Ed note: How should we talk to each other when there is serious life-threatening illness. This article is for clinicians, but how about talking to a fellow resident or loved one? What is your approach? Please comment. A new article in Mayo Clinic … Continue reading

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Borowitz — “What Happens Now?”

Nixon’s landslide victory in 1972 made him appear invulnerable. He wasn’t. (Cindy Yamanaka/MediaNews Group/The Riverside Press-Enterprise via Getty Images) Maybe you’ve been asking yourself: 1. “How could Donald Trump have won 51 percent of the popular vote?” 2. “How hard … Continue reading

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A dose of delight

Thanks to Mary M.

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Don’t take it so hard

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Why Does No One Understand the Real Reason Trump Won?

It wasn’t the economy. It wasn’t inflation, or anything else. It was how people perceive those things, which points to one overpowering answer. Michael Tomasky in the New Republic (thanks to Bob P.) I’ve had a lot of conversations since … Continue reading

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Despair is self-fulfilling

My Manifesto for Despairing Democrat By Nicholas Kristof in the NYT (thanks to Mary Jane F.) So what do we do now? For those who think as I do, the election feels devastating. My country has elected a felon whose former … Continue reading

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What should Trump’s opponents do next?

by David French in the NYT (thanks to Put B.) There is no mystery about what happened Tuesday night. Unlike 2016, when the anticipation of Hillary Clinton’s victory turned into the shock of defeat, every smart analyst I know not … Continue reading

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Everything is waiting for you

Thanks to Pam P. Ed note: For many, this is a time of learning–learning how to cope with loss. Please send in your thoughts, poems, and anything you think might help.

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One minute of serenity

Thanks to Mary M.

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Prolonged Grief Disorder

Thanks to Doug T.

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The all-female mobile health team working against the odds in Afghanistan

From the International Rescue Committee in August 2022 (after the Taliban took over in 2021) Despite countless hurdles, all-women teams of medical doctors are braving long distances and treacherous terrain to bring health care to the remotest villages in Afghanistan, … Continue reading

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Voting for the Light

The religious imagineer (thanks to Mary Jane F.) Pablo Picasso, La Minotauromachie (1935). Picasso’s turbulent etching from the eve of the Spanish Civil War seems a timely image of my own country in this harrowing election season. The monstrous beast towers over … Continue reading

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Personhood

Thanks to Mary Jane F.

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“Turkeys, I’ll take care of them”

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How fragile are we?

Thanks to Ed M. Massive and sweeping change will come and it will come swiftly. Whether or not it is healing and conclusive depends  on us…. The end of our country has loomed many times before. American is not as … Continue reading

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It’s Time to Shop for Medicare, and 2025 Brings Big Changes

By Mark Miller in the NYT Americans on Medicare will see big, and welcome, changes next year. The program’s prescription drug insurance will be much stronger — and easier to understand — as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act of … Continue reading

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Charlie Chaplin’s greatest speech

Thanks to Pam P. But before that comes this scene.  I’m looking at Putin.

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The will of the people

“Fellow-citizens,” Lincoln reminded his colleagues, “we cannot escape history. We…will be remembered in spite of ourselves.”   Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson I’m home tonight to stay for a bit, after being on the road for thirteen months and traveling through … Continue reading

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An Idaho health department isn’t allowed to give COVID-19 vaccines anymore. Experts say it’s a first

By  DEVI SHASTRI AP News (Thanks to Ed M.) A regional public health department in Idaho is no longer providing COVID-19 vaccines to residents in six counties after a narrow decision by its board. Southwest District Health appears to be the first in … Continue reading

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This Is Not the End of America

By McKay Coppins in The Atlantic (thanks to Alice W.) Everything about the staging of Kamala Harris’s “closing argument” rally Tuesday night on the White House Ellipse seemed designed to frame the upcoming election as a referendum on democracy. Flanked by … Continue reading

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Go-go times, then Slow-go times, then …..

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Kamala meets Kamala on SNL

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