HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH, GAZA CITY As we move through Easter Week together I am moved by the witness of the late Pope who prayed and worked for peace in the Middle East. As reported by CBC News: On Monday night, following the news of the death of Pope Francis, Father Gabriel Romanelli's cellphone in... Continue Reading →
That’s the way it is — Wednesday April 16, 2025
AKA What happens when grown-ups leave the room A reader recently directed me to Oregon’s Bay Area on Facebook, a most interesting connection. While I had another project in development I thought this marvellous summary of what’s happening in the US deserved my, and your attention today. I am reminded of CBS News anchor Walter... Continue Reading →
Red Alert — Changes at the National Security Agency are concerning, and dangerous
Reprinted from Olivia of Troye on Substack Ignore this story at your own risk While Trump's tariffs hammer the economy and dominate the headlines, rightfully capturing attention as Americans watch their 401ks drop, something perilous quietly unfolded in the shadows. A significant shift in the national security apparatus occurred that barely made a blip. It... Continue Reading →
Democracy is not a spectator sport — Advice to Americans from one Canadian
[Ken Gray] Today, I have joined the ranks of the disheartened. FAKE NEWS, though I am stymied by the number and severity of the many horror stories I discover daily. With so many different fronts on which to report, attacks on the leadership of the National Security Agency, potential threats to peaceful protest, the destruction... Continue Reading →
The long con — Worse than any Netflix series
Reposted from James B. Greenberg on Substack The confidence game doesn’t begin with a lie. It begins with a story—one so emotionally resonant it feels like truth. It offers meaning, identifies villains, flatters the audience, and—when fully deployed—quietly opens the vault. Donald Trump’s political rise is not just a break from convention. It’s a textbook... Continue Reading →
Penguins marching in April
[As reported by CBC News in Canada] An uninhabited Antarctic outpost populated by penguins “One of the smallest economies in the world. An Arctic archipelago with more polar bears than people. To quote Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, it really does appear that "nowhere on Earth is safe" from U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs.”... Continue Reading →
Can this tide turn?
From Rawstory.com Seventy days after his return to the Oval Office, Donald Trump is finding his second presidential term honeymoon collapsing as the administration officials make embarrassing mistakes, key allies turn on him and more Republicans are publicly balking at some policies. According to a report from Jonathan Lemire at The Atlantic, the president is... Continue Reading →
Putting feet to prayer — Anne Lamott on the “American Spring”
From Anne Lamott on Facebook(Some of us are still there . . .) [Anne Lamott] “Now is the time for all good people to come to the aid of their country, even medium-good people with bad feet and attitudes, like me. Now. This week. Some of you voted enthusiastically for Donald Trump and still believe... Continue Reading →
Let’s chat together — The meme-stream today
In a fit of adaptive ethical enthusiasm regarding Mark Zukerberg’s collusion with Donald Trump, our family decided to move our FamChat conversation from FB Messenger to a new platform, unknown to me at the time, Signal. We felt good about our decision. It worked well. So take that Zuck: We will communicate another way. Well... Continue Reading →
Addressing political cowardice — Senator Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders on the US Senate floorMarch 25, 2025LONG . . . but worth the time and effort Here is his fiery speech, word for word:Mr. President,In the last couple of weeks, I've had the opportunity to travel in many parts of our country. And I have been able to talk to folks in Nebraska,... Continue Reading →