2025 Miscellany #2 — signs of spring

zebra swallowtail 30 March Vinton Co.

Are you talking to me? [Tim Misny]

abandoned factory, classic lettering

A new guardian expanding his presence of humour.

Japanese cherry trees Brookside Park Cleveland

The morning sun melted off a little overnight snow.

 

Saturday, late March, Athens O

Chubu University presented a gift of 175 cherry trees in 1979 to honor the years of Ohio University. In 2004 they gave an additional 25.

They were in bloom and people came to see, and some Japanese picnicked as in the old country.

Above the opposite bank is the former Lunatic Asylum.

Banner promoting talk therapy, strung up over Court Street.

pedestrians on Court & Union

The only drop box allowed in each county.  This is outside the court house on Court Street.

on tiny East State steps from Court Street

Jefferson Hall game room

Blonde squirrel on College Green

Blonde girl outside College Green

Fascism in the colleges

Frank Borzage, Oscar winning director twice, was almost the only American who was filming anti-nazi dramas before 1942; of course such activity was not appreciated by some. Only for a short time, roughly 1942 to 1946 was it safe to speak ill of fascism in America. Now we have a fascist party, which enjoys doing fascist things; but does not like to be called fascist. They like to call Democracy fascism, they follow the way of Goebbels as Orwell described.

film: The Mortal Storm 1940
Hol, leader Hitler Youth: Tell us the difference between Aryan and non-Aryan blood.
Prof. Roth: Science has found no difference.
Hol: Do you hear that? It's a direct contradiction to our leader's principle of racial purity! It's an impudent defense of racial degeneration, and it's a lie!
Prof. Roth: I've given you the facts. Scientific truth is scientific truth! Unchangeable and eternal! It cannot be altered to suit the policies of the hour, or the clamor of immature hoodlums!

Something to consider with the Ohio legislature's Senate Bill 1 which gives fascists control of public university classrooms. Most of the ire pro and con is over "DEI", diversity, equity, and inclusion. This is national. Equity was a Roman legal concept. Is fairness towards all people to be promoted, or denied? Or only those that traditionally been favored? But it goes far beyond that.

One matter is the Orwellian, and Republican speak term "intellectual diversity". Accepted scientific, and historical truth must be allowed to be vigorously challenged. Any crackpot, or propagandist is to be allowed to blather. Beyond that, any professor, or instructor can be reported by the politically motivated, or disgruntled. Certain topics and ideas will be coerced to silence, or the attack is on. Academic freedom is to be destroyed. Beyond that the university must invite outside speakers of these anti-academic ideas to campus.

Another matter is a crackdown on faculty. Exacting and detailed syllabuses will be on school's websites. Every instructor is suspect. It is McCarthyism. Strikes are forbidden. Any rights had can be taken away by newly empowered trustees. Labor is to be kept trampled. Job security is up to the whims of these newly empowered commandants.

Another odd thing is a mandatory course on American political documents, and capitalism. Those are two different things, not one thing. Will teachers and students be allowed to challenge capitalism? or will they be indoctrinated with it? Reading of Adam Smith will be required. Will it be 'taught' in the manner of true believers?

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postscriptum 28 March 2025: governor signed the bill, we await legal challenge, but Ohio Republicans are not interested in such legalities.

Diktats of an evil idiot

He is a genius in doing evil, and a complete idiot in all other thought. Trump is evil. He is both insane and stupid. He has always been a malignant narcissist, a psychopath. Now he has dementia, perhaps with secondary syphilis (as his hero Al Capone). He observes no law, he sees himself as the law. He and his nazi cult followers have a  perverse glee of destruction. They are also sycophants who not only obey his every caprice, but think of added measures. One idiot Congress critter wants her leader's birthday to be celebrated by law.

He may not finish his term, and Vance is a bought man. Vance is like Agnew he insults those that would be critical of his partei's action. He has attacked the press, Catholicism, Western Europe, and Canada; while he praises fascists. He has negative charisma. Ohio is such a southern state that any repuke can win office, and Ohio is filthy with them.  Musk is similar but with power.

The party of Lincoln has been extinct. The Republican Party used to have Lincoln Day Dinners. Lincoln has not been popular in the Republican Party of the south. Orange Caligula has unconstitutionally forbade the penny, i wonder if the five dollar bill will be changed. The Republican party is a fascist party, it is also a criminal cult. Reagan made the commandment, you shall not criticise a fellow Republican. They act in unison, now more than ever. They have continuously found horrible and criminal people. Trump has found the worst. They are combination psychopaths and idiots as himself. F.D. Roosevelt spoke of economic royalists, today they are called oligarchs, these are the real support of the regime.

Elon Musk (an illegal immigrant) is the richest man in the world. He is also a psychopath with awkward social interactions. With his money he spent on Trump, he has made himself a co-president. He is a nazi, and a greedy one. He has taken power to achieve more riches (government contracts, and to spike competitors). The partei's apparatus has accepted this. They have threatened anyone who criticises Musk. Part of the battle is the definition of terms. What we see is Republican speak. It is not to cut waste, if it was accountants would be sent in, and not computer programmers with police powers, and armed thugs. They demand everyone use their mendacities as de jure. Republican speak is the current use of Orwellian terms introduced in 1984, e.g. Democracy is Fascism & Fascism is Democracy; fraud & corruption are all government actions i/the partei does not like.

The American people have been made fools. They are gullible. This brainwashing has also been continuous. The key element has been hatred, racial primarily. This has been the formula for electoral success. There are people, who believe they are moral and good religious people, that will not admit Caligula has done anything wrong, and some will lie about how great he is.  They are lying to themselves and others.  He is evil.  In addition, the American people are whiny and selfish.  The powers that be instructed people to blame Democrats for everything. Now, they will be reminded for the umpteenth time how worthless the Repukes are. Trumpsters could not stop bitching about the price of eggs under Biden.  Now they are higher. True the most rabid trumpsters exhibit cognitive dissonance so that their reality they alter to stay in line with their idiocy. Now the others will finally notice when they are screwed (with prices and other things), they will turn temporarily against the repukes. 

 Evangelical Christianity, as everyone knows, is founded upon hate, as the Christianity of Christ was founded upon love. — H. L. Mencken

Republican voters, by and large, have no empathy, no sympathy, no respect for justice, no class consciousness. But when they get a splinter in their ass, they wail. There are good people, and they really stand out in the crowd. But the American people are more ripe for fascism than the Italians and Germans ever were. Right now, it looks like the United States has given up democracy for Lent.

And about the idiocies: about the first spectacular idiocy  was  one in geography, fun with maps:

Lesson 1. The name "Gulf of Mexico" (Spanish: golfo de México; French: golphe du Mexique, later golfe du Mexique) first appeared on a world map in 1550.

Now, what then happened. Most of the American internet (services?) almost immediately obeyed Caligula, and used his appellation of  'Gulf of America' [sic]. The Associated Press did not, and he denied journalistic access to the White House, in a childish pique. Trumple-thin-skin gorges itself with petty displays of retribution.

Other fixations are on paper straws. It is against them. Donnie Dipshit is a racist. I am not sure whether behind every NFL endzone, this season, there is painted on the turf  "STOP RACISM". Idiot-in-chief invited himself to the game, and forbade those painful words to appear.

In the District of Columbia there is a performing arts center, the Kennedy Center. It decided to make itself its dictator. Most artists, notably those with talent, do not like Tangerine Mussolini.

A lot of the world recoils at his aggressive insanity. Canada is having a national election in less than 30 days. The chief issue will be who should deal with Orange Caligula. Caligula has repeatedly, and grievously insulted and threatened Canada. The Canadians will not be moved, and they can be witty. Mike Myers has appeared with Premier Carney wearing this hockey jersey: 

Trump is also demanding Greenland, and has sent idiots, and now will be sending more to demand acceptance of Anschluss. The Greenlanders are defiant and mocking him.

at the right side is Greenland's flag

I have not seen how Panama is reacting in such a manner. For he demands the Canal Zone.

It also demands the Gaza Strip, and cheer leads the genocide happening there. He sees it as away to sell property, and to get money from construction.

The betrayal of Ukraine is beyond disgusting. He is doing  whatever Putin demands, and Putin enjoys humiliating him. Donnie the buffoon expects to be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. Does he not realise, the voters are not American Republicans? Does he not know most of the world hates him?

2025 Miscellany #1

We had a hard winter this year. Meteorlogically, it was not extreme but colder than usual; politically, culturally, and nationally — it was a disaster. On another point, did not foto much; but a red cardinal in the snow is always picture worthy. This is my first foto miscellany post of the year.

At Akron's skate park, next to the Fulton Aeroport, is a spot to sometimes see arctic migrants. There was a small flock of horned larks going back and forth a few feet off the ground. Some stencil spray paint art identified the location — Akron Ohio with airship airdock..

This more involved an skillful artwork was there too.

A couple buildings in Cleveland's old Newburgh neighbourhood had their name stones high above ground level.

Polish National Home with an error on '2'.

part of an auto body repair sign

The Canadian government is educating trumpsters, the sign is next to an interstate highway in downtown Cleveland.

Remembering St. Brigid

 

St. Brigid is one of the three patron saints of Ireland. She died 1500 years ago, and she is the theme of this year's parade in Cleveland O., and perhaps elsewhere.

St. Brigid's Cross is traditionally woven from straw or rushes. There are several designs, the one supra is most seen in displays.

One of the yearly regular units are the unicycles from Newbury's St. Helen.

The first vehicle to be called a bicycle is now called a penny farthing, or high wheel. In England during the later part of the 19thC they were popular until the modern bicycle replaced them. The funny nickname referred to the different sized wheels. A penny used to be a large sized coin, and a farthing was quite small.

There were eleven (i think) high school bands to march. It is a long parade, and two hours after it starts, some are still waiting to start. So there is down time a plenty.

Groups in costume are welcomed additions to the parade, here some members of the Empire's 501st Legion.

The Chinese come festive, two of the Kwan Family lion dancers.

dragon dancers

Krazy Kops' prisoners mingle with Geneva's Grape Princesses. Instant class portraits happen often on Superior Avenue.

In costume to promote gathering aluminum cans for burn patients.

Posing with Greyhounds #14

Darth Vader wishes he had a greyhound. Karma was willing to allow him to pretend. The Force is strong with her.

When some people see a greyhound approaching.

Aengus and Karma go nose to nose.

Buckeye Santa likes dogs.

Chinese mascots like greyhounds.

 

the kakosphere

 “Now is the winter of our discontent” — Richard III. act I, scene i, line 1.

The kakosphere is the basest layer of socio-political life. The term kakosphere derives from the Greek words κακά (poop) and σφαίρα (sphere). In the current season it has expanded on the planet by some 350 millions, and is threatening to engulf further territory. It has settled onto the central portion of the northern American continent from ocean to ocean. A very large kakosphere has been in existence on the vast northern lands that join Europe with Asia.

The catalyst here is a certain orange-hued malignant psychopath. Unlike standard psychopaths, this abomination is well below average mental capability. Its success has been due to its ability to infect susceptible human organisms. This transmission stems ultimately from supernatural evil.

In a particular branch of philosophy, theology, especially classical Christian thought, posits the Devil is the father of all lies. This agent of societal destruction has been documented as history's most incessant and prodigious liar. The vast majority of these falsities are readily apparent, and many obviously ridiculous and ludicrous. Now, the lies of the Devil serve to corrupt humanity. This demonic catspaw's foremost facility is to gather the corrupt, and corrupt those that are corruptible. This pestilence already has raged across the planetary surface. Those individuals whose senses are even mildly acute recognise this contagion to be a colossal calamity.

It has acquired a predilection for global expanse. It has demonstrated inclinations to alter maps. At first it was to produce false evidentiary nonsense on a specific climate condition then current at the moment. Now this canker of civilisation threatens the world's political conditions that allow life to exist and evolve on Earth.

When it voiced its lust for land expansion, most people found the words empty, comical, and absurd. It wants Greenland, Canada, the Panama Canal, and now the Gaza strip. The first two by absorption, if possible; the third by surrender, the fourth is in progress by genocide, or as the term now in use 'ethnic cleansing'. This process was begun by the serial prime minister of the Israeli state. But it was telegraphed by the orange felon-in-chief's son-in-law, in the not so distant past. After the massacres, there will follow deportations to complete the depopulation of Palestinians.

Beyond the danger to foreign lands, there is an evisceration of the American domestic government. In this, it is aided by the most auspiciously avaricious man in this world, who also covets Mars. This forked freak of a chimera (Caligula, and the illegal immigrant) has eviscerated the government, the same government that Americans have crowed about for generations as being superior to any in the world. United States of America can not be considered a force for good in the world, it is a danger, it is a menace.

And what has it done to Americans on a daily basis? The worst behaviours are encouraged. People have been given permission to be beasts. And they proselytise. Coarse, loutish, brutish, criminal, anti-social, misogynisyic, racist, xenophobic, bigoted, thuggish, fascist behaviours are allowed, acceptable, and admired.

When this sarcoma wielded power for a past term, it was slightly hindered. Patriotic individuals of some courage stood in resistance and condemnation. Now it seems the situation has been gamed to permit atrocity unchecked. Last time it allowed a viral plague to kill hundreds of thousands in the US. It wants medical prevention halted, and arrested. It has dismissed the laws of the land, and those willing to be lawful; in substitution it has placed miscreants, competent and incompetent in their stead.

Before the remnants of the law can react, it has placed criminals, and kleptocrats in office. Previously the major press entities have co-operated in protection, dissemination, and circulation of insipid, fascist propaganda favorable to the régime. It shows no signs of rehabilitation.

Illegal police activities have commenced. Those that are engaging in treasonous, political, and grand fiscal crime are free to act. What this government is installing are forces to impose fear, and exercise  retribution, and punishment. We are in the first days of a nascent dictatorship. And no remorse, nor admission of guilt by the idiots who complicitly voted for the catastrophe. — Ω ☨

Republicans versus Christians

"1) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the sermon given at the National Prayer Service on January 21st, 2025, at the National Cathedral was a display of political activism; and
(2) the House of Representatives condemns the Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde’s distorted message." [click here for link]

Free speech, religious speech, Christian belief are being attacked, and an attempt to silence and suppress them is underway. Some twenty trump worshiping congressmen are co-sponsors of this resolution. Deplorables voted in by deplorables.

At a time when so many men are cowards, or worse, it is good that some women are willing to be brave. Bishop Mariann Budde acted in the spirit of Jesus. She spoke for those in danger to the individual most responsible in creating the danger.

Shakespeare knew human character. Here Richard is sly enough to be tricky with syllogism. Anne here comes to the correct comparison, she went beyond to-day's Bishop Budde.

Lady Anne: No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity.
Richard: But I know none, and therefore am no beast. Richard III (I.ii.71-2)

Trump is merciless. Moses spoke to faro, and faro was hardened to be more hardened.

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foto: New York Times

praise, orations, & lessons

I watched President's Carter state funeral, and was struck by a number of things. The song, 'Imagine', was performed. Reading Wikipedia, i was informed that it was also done at Mrs. Carter's funeral. The Carters, in travelling the world, had heard it many times in several countries. The melody is pleasant, it is a wistful song. Now the first line, 'Imagine there's no heaven', is problematic to people who play a rigidly, pious role.

foto from Wikipedia, in Central Park New York City

I remember a mass, in which the priest said he did not allow the song 'My way' used at a man's funeral. It was non-Christian. The way of Jesus was not the purview of the song. Imagine is to create a vision that exists only in the mind; it is a conjecture. The song speaks to an ideal state of community of all people having no quarrel or objection with all the people, a sort of utopia. Utopia is no place.

Now, the last episode of the third season of WKRP, a preacher wanted to be the censor for a radio station. This was April 1981. The actor, Richard Paul, was cast because of his resemblance to Jerry Falwell. Falwell, presented himself as jolly and polite while being pompous and deceptive. He created an organization similar to the goals of the teevee episode. Falwell was on teevee himself a lot during the 1980s. Ted Koppel of ABC had him on many nights, and allowed him to hold forth.

What was the problem. The actor said, "…sounds like communism…", and "…typical of the kind of secular liberal humanist point of view that gluts our airwaves". Two knee jerk responses that are catch-alls. Everything that they disapprove of is 'communism', and 'communism' is one hundred percent the enemy. This sort of political, and social view demands to have absolute censorship over all people, and all thought. The dreamers, who imagine in the song, want a better world with better people; they may strive thought, but they know it is not reachable. Those who would prohibit them, work actively to have that power.

Now, while living then, born again evangelicals were new terms to me. They were Baptist Protestants. Both Carter, and Falwell were in these categories, and they were southerners. Jimmy Carter ran for president in 1976, and in 1980. In 1976, those groups voted for Carter. In 1980, those groups voted against him, and he lost. What changed? President Biden gave a short, and pointed eulogy, "A white Southern Baptist who led us on civil rights". Biden praised Carter for his "character and faith". He alluded to the words of the Prophet Micah, which a previous eulogist directly quoted, "what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?".

Biden also said, "...We have an obligation...to stand up to what my dad used to say is the greatest sin of all: The abuse of power...". President Biden, as did others, were allowing the world evidence. Evidence to be heard, and to compare, the good use of power which Jimmy Carter used. That comparison also would be a lesson to the next president; but that portion of the attempt is in vain. Perhaps others would do so. There the message was sent out into the world.