Memory Hub News

Posted on July 31, 2024 by Jim deMaine

There’s a beehive of activity only a few blocks from Skyline–at the Memory Hub. Please click for the latest News!

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Psilocybin Therapy in Palliative Care | An EOLWA Update 

Posted on July 30, 2024 by Jim deMaine

The landscape of psychedelic-assisted therapies, particularly psilocybin, is undergoing significant transformation, especially in the context of palliative care. End of Life Washington (EOLWA) has advocated for the inclusion of psilocybin as a therapeutic treatment for seriously ill patients. Research and experiences emphasize the relief it can offer in alleviating distress and suffering[1].

Psilocybin is a psychoactive substance found in certain mushrooms and has been used for generations by indigenous communities across the globe to enhance perception, cognition, emotion, and spirituality[2].   The current public interest in and research into psilocybin rests on the shoulders of thousands of years of indigenous cultural use and practice, bringing with it inequities and ethical questions. Indigenous leaders are asking for a larger role in decisions, training, and applications for psilocybin as they are being excluded from spaces that are utilizing their knowledge.  (continued)

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Democracy–all at once

Posted on July 29, 2024 by Jim deMaine

by Heather Cox Richardson

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Feeling grumpy?

Posted on July 28, 2024 by Jim deMaine
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Great Words of Wisdom

Posted on July 28, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mary Jane F.

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David Brooks critique–“Making Peace With the Kamala Harris Nomination”

Posted on July 27, 2024 by Jim deMaine

By David Brook Opinion Columnist in the NYT

At the beginning of 2019 I wrote a column enthusiastically arguing that Kamala Harris was the Democratic Party’s strongest candidate to take on Donald Trump. My core argument was pretty simple: If Democrats hoped to defeat him, they needed the toughest gladiator they could get, and Harris filled that bill.

Her campaign memoir from that year features a string of scenes in which she trounced powerful men. People who watched her as a prosecutor and a rising political star have testified to her skills in the art of confrontation. In the column, I quoted something that Gary Delagnes, the former head of San Francisco’s police union, told Politico: “She’s an intelligent person. She is a — let’s see, I better pick this word carefully: ruthless.”

Looking back, that column was not wrong, but it was limited. We’ve seen a lot more of Harris in the ensuing years. Today, as she seemingly cruises to the Democratic nomination, I find myself experiencing a dizzying range of emotions. Some moments, I share the jolt of enthusiasm many are feeling. Other moments, I think the Democrats are suffering from a mass hypnotic delusion, nominating a candidate who is seriously flawed. In order to make sense of this mishmash of thoughts, I thought I’d put together a report card of her strengths and weaknesses.

Toughness: A. Harris still has it. In the rallies and events she has done since her ascension, Harris has been dominating, poised and exuberant. She prosecutes Trump with smiling self-confidence and an undertone of utter contempt. If playful aggression is a thing, she projects it.

Leadership and management skills: C. Harris’s ability to get pretty much the entire party behind her in just a few days after Joe Biden dropped out is tremendously impressive. On the other hand, from her time as the San Francisco district attorney straight through her time as vice president, Harris has earned a reputation for degrading underlings and burning through staff. Biden has a coterie of people who have been with him for decades, but Harris has no such group. The Substack newsletter Open the Books ran the numbers and calculated that as of March 31 over 90 percent of the staff she had at the beginning of her vice-presidential term had left. (continued)

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Ukraine’s bookstores are thriving, but a top printing plant took a deadly hit

Posted on July 27, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Pam P.

KHARKIV, Ukraine — After a Russian missile strike in May, one of Ukraine’s largest book-printing plants looked like a massacre.

Seven employees were dead, with more than 20 wounded, their blood on the walls that had not blown apart. And under a caved-in roof lay tens of thousands of charred books and printing machinery in smoldering heaps.

“Most of the books were ours,” says Artem Litvinets, editor-in-chief of Vivat, a major Ukrainian publishing house. “The attack felt methodical and deliberate, like cultural genocide.”

The Russian missile attack in May on Factor Druk printing house, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, caused casualties and left the roof caved in and books and machinery charred.

The Russian missile attack in May on Factor Druk printing house, in Kharkiv, Ukraine, caused casualties, tore through the roof and left books and machinery charred.

Laurel Chor for NPR

About 80% of Ukraine’s books are printed in Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city, which is just 20 miles from its northeastern border with Russia. Publishing has thrived even as Kharkiv has been under constant attack since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. (Continued)

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Cats and JD Vance

Posted on July 27, 2024 by Jim deMaine

As editor not sure which cat-egory I should file this story about JD Vance in my cat-elog. The cat-calls he’s receiving seem to cat-ch him by surprise. He must be having cat-fits.

Posted in Animals, Politics, Satire | 2 Comments

JD, Beware of this!

Posted on July 26, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mary Jane F.

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Recycled bottle tops and tables made from shuttlecocks – the greenest Olympics?

Posted on July 26, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Ciaran Varley and Dave Lockwood, BBC Sport journalists, Published23 July 2024

Thanks to Pam P.

The organising committee of Paris 2024 has vowed to make it the greenest Games in Olympic history, with half the carbon footprint of London 2012 and Rio 2016.

London 2012 had an estimated carbon footprint of 3.3m tonnes, while Rio 2016 had a total estimated footprint of 3.6m tonnes of carbon.

The 2024 Games will be held in the same city where world leaders met in 2015 to sign a number of commitments to prevent global temperatures rising by more than 1.5C and there will be lots of attention on sustainability efforts.

From tables made out of shuttlecocks to plant-based menus, Paris 2024 have announced a number of initiatives that they claim will help them reach their targets.

In an exclusive interview, Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), told BBC Sport that sustainability is an issue “very close” to his heart.

Bach said that climate change represents an “extremely serious threat, not only for sport, but for all our lives,” adding, “this is why, with our Olympic agenda reforms, we undertook to tackle these issues by focusing on reducing our footprint.”

Existing stadiums, not new buildings (continued)

Inside the new aquatic centre built for Paris 2024 Olympics.
Image caption,The 5,000m2 roof of the new aquatic centre will be covered with solar panels
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Starting now!

Posted on July 25, 2024 by Jim deMaine
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Hope, hate, heal and grow

Posted on July 25, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mary Jane F.

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Just One Question for Trump and Vance: What Is Wrong With You People?

Posted on July 25, 2024 by Jim deMaine

By Thomas L. Friedman Opinion Columnist in the NYT (thanks to Diana C.)

Ever since President Biden’s Sunday announcement that he would not seek re-election, clearly because of age, I keep thinking about Donald Trump’s and JD Vance’s contemptuous reactions to one of the most difficult personal decisions a president has ever made, and what it says about their character.

“The Democrats pick a candidate, Crooked Joe Biden, he loses the Debate badly, then panics, and makes mistake after mistake, is told he can’t win, and decide they will pick another candidate, probably Harris,” Trump wrote on social media on Monday. He later added: “It’s not over! Tomorrow Crooked Joe Biden’s going to wake up and forget that he dropped out of the race today!”

Not to be out-lowballed by his boss, Vance wrote on social media: “Joe Biden has been the worst President in my lifetime and Kamala Harris has been right there with him every step of the way.”

All they had to say was: “President Biden served his country for five decades and at this moment we thank him for that service. Tomorrow our campaign begins against his replacement. Bring her on.”

I can guarantee you that is what Biden would have said if the shoe were on the other foot. Because he is not a bully.

Biden’s good character shone through on Wednesday night in his dignified, country-before-self address at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. As I watched and listened, I remembered a lunch I had with him in May 2022 in the dining room next to the Oval Office. After we were done and he was walking me past the Resolute Desk, I mentioned to him a reading-literacy project that my wife, Ann, was working on that she thought might interest Dr. Jill Biden. The president got totally excited about the idea and said, “Let’s call your wife. What’s her number?”

He then took a cellphone out of his pocket, dialed it and handed it to me.

“Honey,” I said, “I’ve got someone here who wants to talk to you.”

“I’m in a meeting,” Ann replied. “I can’t talk now.”

“No, no, you’re going to want to talk to him. It’s the president.”

Then I handed the phone back to Biden, who engaged her in a conversation about reading and how much his wife was passionate about that subject, too.

Look, I’ve been to the rodeo — this is what smart politicians do. But there is one difference with Joe Biden that I observed over the years: It’s how much he authentically enjoyed it, how much he enjoyed talking to people outside his bubble and giving them a chance to say, “I got to meet the president. He talked to me!”

That sort of kindness came naturally to him. It brought him joy. And I have no doubt that Trump’s and Vance’s venomous first reactions to Biden’s resignation came naturally to them too.

I’m sure it brought them joy. But it sure left me wondering: What is wrong with you people?

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Nation’s Cats Lash Out at J.D. Vance in Million Meow March

Posted on July 24, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Pam P.

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Infuriated by J.D. Vance’s disparagement of childless cat owners, the nation’s cats are planning a mass protest at his next campaign appearance, the felines revealed on Wednesday.

In a statement announcing what they are calling the Million Meow March, the cats wrote, “J.D. Vance apparently thinks he will reap political rewards by attacking cat owners. Instead, he has become the Kristi Noem of whisker world.”

“He may think that cat owners suck,” the statement continued. “But you know what really sucks? ‘Hillbilly Elegy.’ We couldn’t get through the first ten minutes, and we cats can look at almost anything for hours.”

The cat controversy was just the latest headache for Vance, who has also struggled to explain why he demonizes childlessness but opposes IVF.

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Are offshore wind turbines in Washington’s future?

Posted on July 24, 2024 by Jim deMaine

If voters decide in November to keep the cap-and-invest program, the state has plans that could bring the technology to its coastal waters.

by John Stang in Crosscut/ July 23, 2024

White tubines sit on yellow platforms.

In an August 2016 photo, three wind turbines from Deepwater Wind stand in the water off Block Island, R.I., the nation’s first offshore wind farm. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Washington is considering dipping its toes in the world of offshore wind turbines. By 2026, the state will likely decide whether to take a plunge.

But that depends on whether Washington voters decide to retain the state’s cap-and-invest program, which raises money from carbon-producing companies to invest in green energy and pollution mitigation. 

An offshore turbine is a windmill-like turbine that looks and operates like the ones found on land – only much bigger. 

Most offshore turbines are along the coasts of Europe and East Asia. The United States has two commercial-sized offshore wind turbine farms capable of producing a total of 42 megawatts, compared to the worldwide production 64,300 megawatts. (continued)

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Self Check-Out

Posted on July 24, 2024 by Jim deMaine
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Promises

Posted on July 23, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Mary Jane F.

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What Kamala Harris Believes (WSJ Opinion)

Posted on July 23, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Ed note: Peeking out from my bubble, I read the WSJ today. There is an opinion piece blaming Barack Obama for orchestrating the exit of President Biden from the race. The editorial below outlines the criticisms of both Biden and Kamala. It’s important to know what the WSJ is saying. To me, it shows their considerable concern–which may be good news!

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Heather Cox Richardson comments about Kamala Harris

Posted on July 23, 2024 by Jim deMaine
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How’s it going?

Posted on July 23, 2024 by Jim deMaine
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West Coast Seafood Watch Guide

Posted on July 22, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Kate B. and Mel B.

As you see such menu choices as Chilean Sea Bass or Orange Roughy, please consider this very important guide — CLICK HERE

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A new report found that renewables will officially surpass coal in energy production next year

Posted on July 22, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Pam P.

Global electricity demand is rising at its fastest rate in two decades, but solar is on course to meet half of demand growth, says the IEA.

Global electricity demand is forecast to grow by around 4% in 2024, up from 2.5% in 2023, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) newly released “Electricity Mid-Year Update” report. This would represent the highest annual growth rate since 2007, except for rebounds after the global financial crisis and the pandemic. The increase in global electricity consumption is set to continue into 2025, with growth at around 4% again, according to the report.  

Renewables are also set to expand rapidly this year and next, with their share of global electricity supply forecast to rise from 30% in 2023 to 35% in 2025. The amount of electricity generated by renewables worldwide in 2025 is forecast to eclipse the amount generated by coal for the first time. Solar alone is expected to meet roughly half of the growth in global electricity demand in 2024 and 2025 – with solar and wind combined meeting as much as 75% of growth. 

Despite the rapid renewables increase, global power generation from coal is unlikely to drop this year due to demand growth, especially in China and India, according to the report. As a result, CO2 emissions from the global power sector are plateauing, with a slight increase in 2024 followed by a decline in 2025. However, there are still unknowns: Chinese hydropower production recovered strongly in the first half of 2024 from its 2023 low. If this upward trend continues in H2 2024, it could curb coal-fired power generation and result in a slight decline in global power sector emissions this year. 

Power demand in India is expected to surge by a whopping 8% this year, thanks to strong economic activity and intense heatwaves. China is also set to see more than 6% demand growth because of robust activity in the services industries and various industrial sectors, including clean energy manufacturing. 

Multiple regions faced intense heatwaves in H2 2024, which elevated air conditioning demand and strained electricity systems. 

After declining in 2023 amid mild weather, electricity demand in the US is forecast to rebound in 2024 by 3% amid steady economic growth, rising demand for cooling, and an expanding data center sector. (The IEA’s report highlights a wide range of uncertainties concerning the electricity demand of data centers, including the pace of deployment, the diverse and expanding uses of AI, and the potential for energy efficiency improvements.)

The EU will see a more modest recovery in electricity demand, with growth forecast at 1.7%, following two consecutive years of contraction amid the impacts of the energy crisis. 

London-based renewables thinktank Ember’s insight director, Dave Jones, said in response to the IEA’s “Electricity Mid-Year Update” report:

We’re heading fast toward an electric future, with so much of the rise in energy demand coming from electricity. Renewable electricity has a dual role – not only to replace coal and gas power plants – but also to meet this rise in electricity demand. Therefore, we need to be building renewables at double speed, to make power sector emissions fall as fast as they need to.

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Comments from the future

Posted on July 22, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Pam P.

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Restoring Faith in Vaccines

Posted on July 22, 2024 by Jim deMaine

Thanks to Ed M.

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Biden Drops Out of Race, Scrambling the Campaign for the White House

Posted on July 21, 2024 by Jim deMaine

By Peter Baker

Peter Baker has covered the past five presidents and written multiple books about the presidency.

  • July 21, 2024, 1:56 p.m. ET

President Biden abandoned his campaign for a second term under intense pressure from fellow Democrats on Sunday, upending the race for the White House in a dramatic last-minute bid to find a new candidate who can stop former President Donald J. Trump from returning to the White House.

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” he said in a letter posted on social media. “And while it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”

Mr. Biden, who evidently plans to serve out his term through January even as he pulls out as a candidate, said he would “speak to the nation later this week in more detail about my decision” and expressed thanks to Vice President Kamala Harris “for being an extraordinary partner in all this work.” But he did not immediately endorse her and said nothing about how the Democratic Party should proceed to pick a new nominee.

One person informed about the matter said the president had told his senior staff at 1:45 p.m. that he had changed his mind, an announcement that surprised many aides who had been told as recently as Saturday night that his campaign was still full speed ahead. It was not immediately clear whether he wrote the letter himself or had help, nor did his aides know when or how he might address the nation.

The president’s decision set the stage for an intense, abbreviated scramble to build a new Democratic ticket, the first time in generations that a nomination will be settled at a convention rather than through primaries. Although he did not endorse Ms. Harris, she starts the truncated process in the strongest position, but could face challenges from other Democrats.

While Mr. Biden has six more months in office, the transition of the campaign to whomever is chosen will amount to a momentous generational change of leadership of the Democratic Party. The eventual nominee will have just over 75 days after next month’s convention to consolidate support from Democrats, establish themselves as a credible national leader and prosecute the case against the Republican former president. (continued)

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