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Author Archives: Jim deMaine
Orchids! In Skyline Gardens!
(Thanks to Mike Co.) Bletilla striata (Chinese Ground Orchid) is a terrestrial orchid currently growing in profusion in the Olympic Tower garden. Seattle’s mild climate can match the native locales for the orchid: Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Okinawa and many … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening, happiness
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The Swiss Guard’s surprise for the pope: the sound of “Sweet Caroline” fills the Vatican
Thanks to Bob P. During a swearing-in ceremony for 28 new Papal recruits in Vatican City, the musicians of the Swiss Guard surprised everyone with a swingy rendition of the classic Neil Diamond song “Sweet Caroline”. This song was specifically chosen to celebrate Pope Leo XIV, the … Continue reading
Message to the Mayor and City Council
Let’s get that already approved ordinance signed!
Posted in Uncategorized
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The Noble Art of Being Non-Profit
Selfless Institutions That Pay Their Executives Like Royalty Denis Benjamin Thanks to Ed M. Ed note: This article must make one think about what a tax exemptnon-profit really is. I checked with ChatGPT to ask about the incomes in our … Continue reading
Speed Kills
Learning to live at the speed of soul, not the speed of sound… PARKER J. PALMER (thanks to Mary M.)I. Last week, one of our computers went kaflooey, so Saturday morning found us in a nearby store named after the … Continue reading
Posted in Communication, happiness, Kindness
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What is love?
“The essence of love is that what is ours should belong to someone else. Feeling the joy of someone else as joy within ourselves–that is loving.” by Swedenborg in Divine Love and Wisdom
Posted in Essays
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Historical Horses
Commentary by Heather Cox Richardson Ed note: Also, for honorable mention don’t we all remember Champion, Silver, Scout, Topper and more ….. (click here to “trigger” your memory)? Today was the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby, which was launched … Continue reading
Posted in Animals
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If you want something less exciting than the news
Thanks to Diana C.
Posted in Uncategorized
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97 Things From Around The World That Will Make Americans Realize They’re Living In The Stone Age
Thanks to Bob P. for this amazing list. Click here to view!
Posted in Science and Technology
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Civil Liberties in the Age of Trump
Thanks to Dan S. This will be an informative event! Monday May 4th at 7:30 PM in the MBR. Vanessa Torres Hernandez is the Advocacy Director of the ACLU of Washington. She leads the ACLU-W’s development and implementation of legal, policy, … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Government, Immigration, Justice, Law, Social justice
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Population Change
Thanks to Mary Jane F.
Decoding the King: Brits Hear Subtle Rebuke to Trump that Americans Might Miss
Decoding the King: Brits Hear Subtle Rebuke to Trump that Americans Might Miss (thanks to Ann M.) By Michael D. Shear in the NYT Michael D. Shear is the chief U.K. correspondent, and spent the last four days following King Charles … Continue reading
Posted in Communication, Government
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She Didn’t Want to Live With Advanced Dementia. So Why Was She Being Kept Alive?
Ed Note: I encourage you to read this article. Dementia will affect many of us as we age. What are your wishes for care if you are in dementia’s advanced stages? Dr. Hope Wechkin, the Medical Director at Evergreen Hospice … Continue reading
Posted in Dementia, end of life, Health
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Global growth in solar “the largest ever observed for any source”
Thanks to Pam P. On Monday, the International Energy Agency released its analysis of the energy trends of 2025, covering the entire globe. It confirms and extends the primary conclusion of a more limited analysis by the International Renewable Energy Agency: 2025 was the … Continue reading
Posted in Science and Technology
Tagged Energy
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Second Bill of Rights
Thanks to Bob P.
Posted in Advocacy, Social justice
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CDC restores official U.S. immunization schedules to July 2, 2025, versions to comply with March 16 court order
Thanks to Ed M. In compliance with the March 16 federal court ruling in American Academy of Pediatrics v. Kennedy, CDC restored its official child and adolescent immunization schedule and its official adult immunization schedule to the July 2, 2025, versions. These versions reflect the decisions of … Continue reading
Barnes & Noble to open May 6 in downtown Seattle
By Alexis Weisend – Seattle Times business reporter After construction setbacks, a new Barnes & Noble will open May 6 in downtown Seattle. The bookseller giant will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony and book signing event with fantasy author Robin Hobb at … Continue reading
Words
from Now That Makes Sense compiled by Mark Ortman Adlai Stevenson: Man does not live by words alone despite the fact that sometimes he has to eat them George Eliot: Blessed is the man who having nothing to say, abstains … Continue reading
Posted in Communication
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Blog talk tomorrow 11 AM
Just a quick reminder. We’ll have a discussion about this blog tomorrow, Wednesday at 11 AM in the MBR. I hope you’ll be there to give us your ideas for this blog’s future: grow, change or RIP? Would you like … Continue reading
Posted in Communication, Essays
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Who’s Really Running Iran?
In today’s NYT podcast, The Daily, there’s a fascinating discussion about the power dynamics in Iran shifting from a theocracy to a military dictatorship. The incentives in negotiations are now more transactional about power and money in a more pragmatic … Continue reading
Posted in energy, Government, Politics, Religion, War
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Simple Gifts and Hearts of Gold
We hope you’ll consider “Simple Gifts” a heart warming invitation to come to the Hearts of Gold kickoff on Thursday, April 30th at 11 AM in the MBR. This song was sung at the Skyline Strummers February sing-a-long. Please come … Continue reading
Posted in Advocacy, Charity, Gifts, In the Neighborhood
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