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1. At least the weather has been nice lately - in the low 50s, 60s, and 70s. Nice breeze. Cool enough for a light jacket. Was able to take a few long walks. One up to the WTC, and another to the South Street Seaport. Played tourist yesterday and took photos.

Here's the Anne Frank Tree - "a white chestnut tree, a clone grown from an original tree outside the hiding place of Anne Frank and her family in Amsterdam, 188 Keizersgracht. Anne wrote about her view from the annex window: “As long as this exists, how can I be sad?” and referred to the chestnut three three times in her diary. This tree in Liberty Park is the eleventh clone of the tree in the United States planted by the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect. The date, June 12th, also marks what would have been Anne’s 88th birthday, sharing a birth year with Martin Luther King. Jr and Audrey Hepburn."



2. I can't seem to draw at the moment - which is putting a cramp in my painting project. I keep trying and its not fitting what is in my head. I'm frustrated. It's like I lost the ability or something - all of a sudden. I think I may be too much in my head or too self-conscious. I draw best when I'm not trying to make it fit something, or not worried about it. Art is hard when others eyes are upon you, or rather you feel their critical eyes upon you. It's easier when you or rather I forget they exist.

3. Buffy and Angel Fandom Bits

Started rewatch of Buffy S4 and Angel S1 - I watch an episode of one every other day, skipping episodes I don't want to re-watch, such as the Angel episode "I Fall To Pieces" (I saw that one twice, and that was one too many times, I don't need to watch it again. Angel S1 has some horrible episodes.)

Saw Fear Itself and The Harsh Light of Day - and both hold up really well. Read more... )

In the Dark and Room with a View are a mixed bag. I like Room better. Which surprised me. Read more... )

Also been listening to podcasts. It's the current trend/fad - actors doing podcasts. (Not the famous ones, the struggling ones, who are also doing conventions to make ends meet - which is a reminder of how tough a profession acting truly is - to make a living in. There are more actors than there are gigs, apparently.)

Of the podcasts - I'd say Juliet Landau's
Re-Vamped is the best.
She's a good interviewer and very funny. She doesn't take herself too seriously, which is more than I can say for a lot of podcasters. Read more... )

Landau's podcasts are informative though - about the process, how the series was made, backstage tid-bits, auditions, etc. She also, being a theater geek and theater actress - delves heavily into the theater and the film backgrounds of her guests. If you are interested in the nitty gritty behind the scenes stuff - they are worth checking out. (I found out for example that the actress who portrayed Sheila in School Hard, went on to produce two award-winning documentaries, one about a cult, and one about sexual allegations against a hip-hop record producer. Also, apparently Drusilla and Spike were Seinfield fans, and watched all the episodes more than once.)

5. The First Responder Memorial Statue at Liberty Park at the World Trade Center. (it's also where we're supposed to meet in case of a fire or evacuation of the building at Crazy Workplace. I figured that out today - when I looked up the Anne Frank Tree - because I didn't know where Liberty Park was until I looked it up.)



Here's another photo for the road, before I go to bed..

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It was a lovely day, the sky bright as a robin's egg, so I took a long walk to the local art festival or Artmeggadon - which allegedly had over 400 artists participating. Read more... )

But I found it a bit crowded in places, and often hard to see the art, so chose not to walk any further into the fair, and zig-zagged back home taking in the scant offerings on the way. It being Brooklyn, I saw a variety of landscapes on the walk - from multi-family homes that one might well see in the wealthy suburbs of Connecticut or Mass, with their broad porches, arched roofs, and well manicured lawns - to the brick multi-storied pre-war apartment buildings, and old school shops. Upon two walls were painstakingly painted murals, telling their own stories of the people who lived here, with songs in their hearts.

As I neared my own block, I chose to snap a few photos of the sunflowers growing in wild abandon in front of stone and mortar house that dated well back to the 1950s and the pre-war apartment building next door.



Television this weekend

* Great British Baking Show - up to Episode 13

* The Newsreader on Prime - it only has season 1, and it's leaving in four days, after that you can only see it and the next season on AMC. S3 has aired in Australia but isn't available yet on streaming. It takes place in yesteryear - the yesteryear in question, 1986. And focuses on a National News/Local News broadcast station in Melbourne, Australia during 1986. It stars Sam Reid (Lestate in Interview with a Vampire), Anna Torv (Fringe), and Robert Taylor (Longmire). I finished S1. The later seasons aren't available on streaming (outside of AMC). But S1 kind of stands by itself, and wraps up neatly on its own. I didn't really need to see anything after it? It doesn't really require more episodes, although there is obviously more story there. It's a workplace serial. Also discusses homosexuality and bisexuality through a 1980s lens - which is painful at times, but accurate and informative - it's good to see how far we've come, I think.

* Call the Midwife - this is a partial re-watch continuation. I can't remember when I stopped watching the show? I think it was somewhere around S6 or S7? Since I vaguely remember the episodes I'm watching now.
But not well enough to skip ahead. It's a comforting series that takes place in the 1950s-60s in London - Great Britain. It's on Netflix, so it's just streaming from one episode to the next. I'd originally watched it on PBS several years ago.

*Angel the Series - started my re-watch. It's better than I remembered and holds up better than expected. Things I didn't realize? Read more... )

****

Question a Day Meme - End of September

22. Are you good at managing your time, or would you love to be better organized?

Yes. Perhaps too good - work wise. I've had to be - because of deadlines, and I get anxious. So, I don't procrastinate on big things, and get them done quickly. Also, I don't over-schedule myself.

23. Do you know how to perform the ‘Heimlich manoeuvre’?

No. I used to, ages ago. But I don't now.

24. Have you ever seen a comet in the sky?

No.

25. ‘Rotomontade’ is a bragging speech or rant. When was the last time you had a really good rant about something?

My rants tend to be more kvetching not bragging? I don't tend to brag? Bravado is not a skill of mine.

26. Have you ever been fruit-picking? What kind of fruit did you pick, and what did you do with them?

Yes. Strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Blueberries as a child. We made pies with them and put them over cereal and ice cream. Also muffins and cake with the blueberries. I can't remember if we picked apples.

27. Do you know how to change a tyre/tire on a car? Have you ever had to do it?

No. And no.

28. Have you ever eaten caviar?

Yes. It's salty, but I'm not really a fan? Expensive but not worth the price or the bother.
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So, the building inspector testing the walls for lead, didn't show up. As a result, he's coming tomorrow, and the super is going to take responsibility for giving him access and protecting the apartment.

He apparently skipped over my apartment and another one - which he was supposed to do in the morning.

See? I knew that was going to happen. Hence the reason, I was aggravated.
If people did their jobs, life would be lovely.

ETA: The medication that the doctor requested from the pharmacy is out of stock - they have to order it, it should be in sometime on Thursday or next week. Sigh.

ETA2: Finished Iron Heart, and the ending doesn't quite work? Or make sense? And felt rushed? I'm not sure it's a cliff-hanger? Since it more or less tells us what happened. spoilers ) I didn't like the ending, nor do I think it works, and the writers didn't build up to it well. The series like most of Marvel's recent efforts is busy - with a lot of bits that aren't needed or are there to look cool but add little to the story. I don't think they know how to pull in the younger demographic so keep throwing things at a wall to see what sticks?

ETA3: And got into a frustrating and kind of pointless argument with an online fanboard about a dumb show I watch. It's always dumb television series that I get into pointless debates about. The smart, clever and critically acclaimed shows don't tend to have this problem. (Buffy kind of fell between the two, so yes, I got into dumb debates about it too. As did Game of Thrones for that matter. But usually it's the subpar cult series that run forever. This one has been running since 1963 with no end in sight. It's on its 63rd season. It's officially the longest running scripted television show in the US, I think it beats Doctor Who - since it has more episodes and no long gaps between seasons. That's not necessarily a good thing? Although similar to Doctor Who - it also brings people back from the dead and recasts characters, except without a scientific or logical explanation. Doctor Who at least tries to provide one, this one doesn't bother.)

never debate/discuss with online soap fans on a spoiler board about a whodunnit in a soap opera - it rarely ends well )

Now that I've mocked myself and them ruthlessly for attempting this tomfoolery, I feel much better, thank you very much.

All in all a fruitful day. Tomorrow I get to go back to work and be aggravated in an even more fruitful manner, plus get paid for it.

September Question a Day Meme

1. It’s National Tofu Day – do you like Tofu?

No. Soy tends to make me ill in large quantities.

2. Festa do Vinho, the Wine Festival, this festival transforms the Island of Madeira into a vibrant showcase of its cultural heritage. Have you ever used Madeira wine in a recipe?

Yes. Not recently, but yes. Also had it.

I think in spaghetti sauce. Also in cake.

Sigh, now I want spaghetti and meatballs with Madeira sauce and I can't have it. Oh well, at least I don't have any in the house.

***

I think I'm going to have the shrimp I bought yesterday with salad. That might take the blood sugar down?

***

On Friday, I stopped by this darling little floral shop called Zuzu's Petals - which called out to me from across the street. (Only people of a certain age will get the reference, because we all saw the movie a million times by the time we reached the age of 30, but they rarely show it now - you kind of have to hunt for it? And it has competition from remake's and rip-offs. Let's face it some types of films they made better in the 20th Century, and leave it at that?)



And wandered around for a bit looking at things, including their backyard garden and floral arrangements. They had dried flowers and fresh ones, wanting to be arranged or bought individually.
flower arrangements )
And a little backyard garden:
backyard garden )

I bought a little paint brush holder at the shop (it's actually for air plants, but I'm using it for paint brushes):

paint brush holder )

That was on Friday. I didn't do much today outside of a doctor's appointment, vacuuming, shower, and dropping off some meds that I can no longer take at the pharmacy.
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On Friday, instead of going into the city to see the Jane Austen exhibit, I decided to go tour the The Old Stone House Museum. I was in the general vicinity so it seemed like a good timing. It's not easy to get to from where I live, since it is located in the middle of Gowanus, and just a touch west of Park Slope, in the middle of the R line in Brooklyn.

Turns out that the Old Stone House had an art exhibit on the second floor. They do revolving contemporary art exhibitions. The House isn't refurbished to look like it did back in the day - instead, it has an interactive Revolutionary and Colonial Historical exhibit on the first floor, and on the second revolving art exhibitions, while outside various gardens, and space for theatrical performances, playing fields, and musical performances, also hearth cooking.

The Old Stone House dates back to 1699 and was commissioned by Dutch settlers who took the land from the Marechkawick and Lenape.



history of the Old Stone House )

And was the site of one of the biggest battles of the American Revolutionary War - known as the Battle of Brooklyn. The Americans lost a pivotal battle at the Old Stone House, and proceeded to occupy Manhattan and Brooklyn for the next 7 years. Also, during this time, it should be noted that there were more slaves working and living at the Old Stone House than free people. The Dutch settlers, from the Netherlands, owned and brought slaves.

Little markup of the Old Stone House during the Battle of Brooklyn:



Gardens:

Farm Garden:
farm garden )
South Dutch Garden and Potting Shed:
south dutch garden and potting shed )

And on the second floor of the house was an intriguing little art exhibit, which for once, I took pictures of. I normally don't - but there was no one up there and no one seemed to mind.

The Exhibition is a collective series of works around a general theme "Nothing is Fixed".

"Nothing is Fixed reflects the tumultuous Trump presidency and the destabilization of societal norms, echoing James Baldwin’s words:

“Nothing is fixed, forever, and forever, and forever. It is not fixed. The earth is always shifting, the light is always changing, the sea does not cease to grind down rock. What you have, you hold. What you don’t have, you can’t hold.”(Nothing Personal, 1964)

Just as the natural world constantly shifts, so too can our political and social systems evolve—sometimes for the worse, but also for the better. This exhibition examines the tension between a moment of deep division and uncertainty, and with an underlying optimism that change is inevitable and can lead to growth, healing, and progress. By confronting the instability of our current moment, the work suggests that while nothing is static, the direction of change remains in our collective hands."

art from Nothing is Fixed Exhibition )

So, I've managed to see one museum that I've never visited before, just have about 159 to go? I know I've seen at least 7 others.
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Lovely day, almost spoiled by annoying request by super. I have to stay home all day on Tuesday, in order for the building inspector to do a 10-15 lead paint test in my apartment.

This is the aggravating text thread from super, who is Polish, and fluent in Russian but not really English. (Honestly, I feel at times that I'm living in a foreign country when I'm in NYC.)
it may be humorous...in an absurdist theater sort of way. )

I basically gave up. I don't know why I'm annoyed that I have to stay home on Tuesday - when I do that on a lot of weekends? Although I could use the time to clean out my fridge or closet?

***

I took a lovely long walk after I got my hair done, with lots of photos to share. But too many for one post? Maybe I'll split them up among various posts.

And accomplished a lot - usually when I intend on going shopping, I can't find a thing? This round, I didn't really intend on finding all that much - and scored.

Sixteen Mills Bakery had been highly recommended to me by various folks, but alas, it's on Union and 3rd Avenue, which is a ways and not convenient to get to from my home. Read more... )

Afterwards, I headed up to 4th Avenue and walked towards The Old Stone House Museum and Washington Park - I'd never been, and saw that it was on the way back to the subway on 4th Avenue. But, you have to walk halfway up to fifth avenue to get to it, since Washington playing fields and park is in front of it. (This is a fake grass field for kids to play soccer and various sports on - it leads up to the Old Stone House Museum, with its gardens.) This is another post - because I went inside, took photos, and outside and took photos. And there's no room for it in this one. Also I have to go to bed - because I got a Dental appointment tomorrow morning. (I also went to a flower store - got a container for paint brushes, and a shoe store - got shoes, and home.) Show those in another post as well. It was a total of 2-3 miles altogether.

So, to be continued?

Here's a photo from my walk.

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Work was irritating me. It was overcast, cool, and spitting rain outside, and I felt I deserved a cookie and a decafe cappucino, with unsweetened Almond-Milk. Plus it was a short walk - so exercise. (I can always justify buying a cookie with the exercise required to obtain said cookie.) The financial district is not good for my budget.

Make that two gluten-free freshly baked cookies from Insominia Cookies. Apparently they also deliver. And you can get the cookies with ice cream. I just got the cookies. They have a wide variety of regular cookies...apparently they only know how to bake gluten-free chocolate chip? (They had five different vegan cookies. )

I'm just grateful for the cookies. It's very hard to find fresh baked gluten free cookies. Okay, maybe not that hard? I've found four places to date in the financial district. And one near me at home. Still on the hunt for a croissant, but that may be impossible.

So far, Printemps is ahead by a nudge (although it's pricey), with Insomina a close second. Meredith's (the cheapest) is behind both, and I think I'd put Natural Way fourth. Haven't tried Funny Face yet - it also has one gluten-free type of cookie - chocolate chip. Natural Way at least branches out with Oatmeal Raisin. You'd think there would be more oatmeal cookies (which was my father's favorite cookie) but you'd be wrong. I used to make them with chocolate chips, because I don't like raisins that much. (Towards the end of his life, my father would eat any cookie. He couldn't drink, he couldn't smoke, so he ate cookies. Any cookie. Even imaginary cookies. No other desert would do, just, well cookies. Mother called him the cookie monster.)

***

Oh, and last weekend, I finished another watercolor of a woman that I saw repeatedly on the subway. I added a kid to it. Mainly because I'm considering putting the watercolors together to tell the story of a little girl visiting her mother in the hospital and all the people she meets and sees on the subway that help her along the way. It may or may not happen. We'll see if I can do enough viable and presentable paintings first, then I'll write the little story, put together a sample photo book of them, and pitch the idea to Arts in Transit. I like the paintings, but alas, art like beauty and humor is in the eye of the beholder - so I'm not sure other folks will. Everybody is a critic, and my art leans more towards impressionistic than realism?

woman I saw on the subway - watercolor )

Off to make dinner.
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Well, the mammogram wasn't painful at all, uncomfortable yes - I had to contort my body, also a lot faster than the last one. (I can't decide if opting not to do the enhanced digital imaging helped in that regard or not? Or maybe it was the technician? I liked this technician better than the one I had for the last three times I did it.) It took maybe fifteen minutes. While the last one took a thirty minutes.

Afterwards I tried to go to Duman but alas it wasn't open yet. (I also couldn't remember where it was. I knew it was on Court, but thought it was closer to the grocery store - in reality it was five blocks north of the Union Grocery Store. I did not go to that grocery store, instead I walked a good ten blocks to the Health Food Store across from Carroll Park, and bought a bunch of gluten free items that I've not found elsewhere - Read more... )

It's a good thing I didn't try to meet Wales for brunch - since I got out of there by 9:25, and was done with my errands by 10:30, and home by 11.

I decided, after a quick snack, to take a walk, sat for a bit in a garden:
garden )

And then went to Hamilton's for lunch. Since it was a lovely day, in the upper-70s, with a nice breeze, I chose to sit outside under the blue domed canopy on the side street, listening to an audiobook via my ipods (which I'd gotten dirt cheap for $24 on Amazon some time ago). food good, service was lacking )



After that, I walked off the meal by wandering towards Greenwood Cemetery - I wanted a small water bottle but the eateries only served teas and coffee.
I did however find Uncle Frankie's Pizza, which serves gluten free crust. It's brick over pizza with gluten free crust - and you can get it to go. Definitely going back there. I may drag Wales there at some point.

I almost wished I'd gone there today, but I wanted a burger, fries, and an iced tea, and to sit outside in the shade, listening to an audio book, while I watched people.

Uncle Frankie's as you can see below (well not everyone, but those who can) doesn't quite provide that - all they provide is an uncomfortable picnic table.



Then off I went to GreenWood Cemetery - but didn't take that long a walk, because I ended up getting a blister on my right ankle, from wearing sneakers with no socks. I'd done it before. Hadn't gotten any blisters. Even wore them to work and back, no blisters. I have no idea why I got blisters on that foot today. It hurt for a bit, then didn't. So I managed to make it home. Then it hurt again. I have a band-aid on it now and am nursing it.
Greenwood Cemetery )

Did however manage to take some photos of flowers on the way to the cemetery, which I'll leave you with while I continue to nurse my blister.
All in all, I clocked over 12,000 steps today and approximately 5.5 miles. Read more... )

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Battled a sinus headache from hell today - I blame the barometric pressure, which couldn't make up its mind - did it want to rain or not rain? Apparently not rain. Also, while the air quality was much better today - the humidity was at 77% and it felt like walking through a sauna, so still hard to breath? (Air Quality dropped down from the semi-dangerous and smokey 138 to 100 (pesky Canadian Wildfires ) horrible in upstate NY as well - at least I have the water to dissipate it a bit. )

Mother got to see Mt. Rainer and sent photos. I managed to download one and posted it to FB (private) - so hopefully you can see it? I really wish DW would let me upload photos from my computer or phone, but alas, no. Maybe I should join Pillowfort just to upload photos from? Instagram is useless in this regard. (Actually Instagram annoys me - it appears to be little more than a marketing and advertising outlet for people. Everyone uses it to market or promote themselves?)



Mother is enjoying her vacation from her island visiting relatives. The relatives she's visiting are her closest blood relations, and the ones she talks to incessantly on the phone.

She called me - gave me an update on what she was doing and everyone else was doing, then said goodbye and hung up.

***

I slept better the last two nights, then I had on Thursday, so feel a bit more rested. Also working on the blood sugar - discovered certain things make it go high (grains of any type, and anything high in sugar content), while other things don't (veggies, eggs, fruit, seafood, fish, nuts, seeds). My digestive system seems to be happier when my blood sugar is higher - which is annoying.

I'm kind of frustrated. But maybe I can make it work? I do not want to take insulin or shots of any kind - I have issues with "needles" - it's why I don't sew. Me and needles are unmixy things.

***

Due to sinus headache from hell - which lasted for four hours - I just watched television. Reading was out of the question. Did manage to work on my novel a bit.

Read something online recently - that learning to control emotions was important, also it was important to remember that what other people do, think, or say is not as important as what you do, think or say. True to an extent. Except to the degree in which it can directly affect one's own life?

Television shows watched today?

Untamed - a limited mystery series on Netflix, not many episodes, maybe four or five if that. I spun through it pretty quickly, and still managed to take a walk, pick up groceries, listen to an audio book, talk to mother, go through my mail, clean up a bit of clutter, fix breakfast and lunch, and watch some of a Billy Joel documentary.

It's a bit on the dark side, and I felt a tad rushed in places. But overall compelling and good. Scratched an itch. I'm in the mood for dark gritty mysteries solved by PI's or cops, and kind of twisty like a thriller in cool locals right now. I may start watching Big Sky Country on Hulu or Paradise. If you have any limited series or mystery series recs - that fit this type of format, gritty detective mystery arc, not serial killer, that takes place over a series of episodes (kind of like the old Prime Suspect or Long Mire or Dark Winds...) - rec away.

I'd liked this - it stars Eric Bana and Sam Neill, and is about a Federal law enforcement agent assigned to Yosemite Park, who is solving the case of a young woman who fell from El Capitan. There are other mysteries entangled with it, that may or may not be directly involved with her death. It's character driven, and kind of gritty, with great scenery. Yosemite is beautiful.

Billy Joel Documentary - got rec'd to me by four people, including a close friend. So decided to give it a whirl. It's good. But long. So will watch in snippets dragging it out. I'm learning stuff I did not know about Billy Joel - such as - he was in four different bands before he began truly writing his own music. One was a heavy metal band called Attila, which broke up when he had an affair with his band mate's wife, then was homeless, and tried to commit suicide twice, almost succeeded. The doc starts out, with him stating that he discovered that one learns best by failure, and recovery. Failing and trying again. He may have a point.

***

Off to make dinner. Headache is blissfully gone along with sinus issues. Most likely because I took a generic form of Excedrin, and an Allegra. The combination of the two - nipped it in the bud. Difference between sinus headache and migraine? I can get rid of a sinus headache, also if I don't get rid of it - it will become a vertigo headache, which is never good.
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Sleep deprived, due to waking up in the middle of the night and being unable to get back to sleep - it was a sinus headache that woke me. But, I did take a walk at lunch to Printemps Department Store.

And discovered a lovely little French Bakery inside that has gluten-free baked items.

I got a Haitian Chocolate Brownie, a Caribbean chocolate and sea salt cookie, and an iced tea. It's pricey, so this won't happen daily.



And here are some other pictures from inside the store:

a display of just matches or match boxes )

upstairs bar and shopping area )

inside the shopping area - looking at displays )

It's such a lovely store in the art deco bank building.

I truly love this work location, best work location that I've had in my life time.

I waited until I got home to enjoy my haitian chocolate brownie - which was like a flourless chocolate cake, with whipped cream and raspberries. Had the cookie at work. This keeps blood sugar down.

***

While I love the location, Crazy Workplace can drive me crazy. I keep having Who's on First, What's on Second discussions - even trying to provide an example gave me a headache.
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My leg wasn't killing me today - no sciatic nerve. Knees were a bit on the sore side, but the sciatica had improved. Also it was a lovely day, low eighties (twenties C), a cool breeze, and low humidity. So I took a long walk at lunch - to check out the Freedom Tower and Memorial Park.

I'm thinking of going back at another time - maybe after work? When I've more time to explore. I want to check out the shops, and the Mercer Labs Museum of Art and Technology which is huge and contains immersive art exhibits.

New York Pass on Mercer Labs

It is however pricey. About $42-53 per visit.

NYC is basically a city of museums. I'm considering checking out all the museums in NYC over the course of two years. It has about 170. Still not as much as LA which has 800. I don't see myself making a trip back to LA any time soon - it's an impossible city to visit without a car. And my extended family all live closer to or in the surrounding suburbs of San Francisco.

Gill & Marc Wildlife Wonders sculpture exhibit in the Financial District of NYC was on display. I'd already seen one group of sculptures north of the Freedom Tower, now I saw the ones leading to it.
Britain has chimpanzees, and we have hippos and octopus.
photos of Wildlife Wonders Exhibit )

Then I wandered over to the Occulus and the murals across the street from it.
the Occulus and the murals across the street )

Then off to look at the Freedom Tower and the Memorial Fountains, which are where the World Trade Center once stood. The whole area was constructed by Silverstein in cooperation with the Port Authority.

Read more... )

Finally, The St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center- it was rebuilt along with the Freedom Tower.

"Welcome to Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center in New York City. We are a community of faith resurrected within the rebuilt World Trade Center, more than twenty years after the horrific day of 9/11. The rebuilt church stands strong to the fullness of Orthodox Christian faith, and is a Shrine for the Nation, a place for remembrance and reflection."

I didn't go inside - I only had ten minutes to get back to the office. But I may come back at another time - and check it out. There's two churches, I'd like to check out the interiors of at some point - Trinity and St. Nicholas.
picture of the church/shrine from the outside )

And finally a parting shot of the Freedom Tower and the surrounding buildings and park from in front of St. Nicholas Church.


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Disclaimer: As always, good news is often in the eye of the beholder and mileage may vary on the below. Hopefully you'll find something to make you smile.

1. Only about a quarter of medical schools include training on how to discuss safe gun storage and firearm injury prevention with patients. Scrubs Addressing the Firearm Epidemic is working to change that — and ensure that future doctors play a role in preventing gun violence.

https://www.thetrace.org/2025/07/medical-school-gun-violence-prevention/

2. Great land protection story from the Port Townsend Leader about the exciting recent purchase of 81 acres of forest and wetlands by our friends at the Northwest Watershed Institute (NWI)! The land will be permanently protected and stewarded as part of NWI's 500-acre Tarboo Wildlife Preserve in the Quilcene area. Jefferson Land Trust is proud to have played a facilitation role in this project by working with the U.S. Navy to secure matching funds through the Navy’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program. The Navy’s funding purchased a restrictive easement on the land that prevents development (but does not grant any rights to the military for use of the property).

https://www.ptleader.com/stories/northwest-watershed-institute-purchases-forest-for-addition-to-tarboo-wildlife-preserve,215813

3.Senator Chris Van Hollen’s amendment in the Senate Appropriations Committee to "retain, preserve and compile" any records related to Jeffrey Epstein passed unanimously. On that note, the Epstein files are proving to be a real thorn in Trump’s shoe, and I’m here for it.

https://www.ksby.com/politics/senate-committee-unanimously-approves-amendment-that-would-preserve-jeffrey-epstein-files

[The fight over the Epstein files and release of the client list is amusing, partly because it's one of the many platforms that the Doofus ran on, and right now, his base, Magna is furious at him. Over on Twitter, Stephen King got into trouble with his fans - for stating that the Epstein Client List was about as real as the Tooth Fantasy and Santa Claus. ]

4.L.A. Mayor Karen Bass has signed an executive order to provide cash cards worth several hundred dollars—funded by philanthropy—to undocumented immigrants who miss work due to fear of ICE raids.

https://mayor.lacity.gov/news/mayor-bass-issues-executive-directive-support-immigrant-communities

5.US District Court Judge Nina Wang has fined two of Mike Lindell's attorneys $3,000 apiece for their error-riddled AI-generated legal brief. Lindell, of My Pillow, lost the defamation case and is on the hook for $2.3M in damages.

[Yeah, don't use AI to write things folks. It's a computer code created by IT - and IT can't write that well, and some can't write to save their lives.]

https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5389852-mypillow-ceo-mike-lindells-attorneys-fined-for-inaccurate-ai-generated-brief/

6. Poland generated more power from clean energy sources than coal for the first time in June.

https://www.ft.com/content/ae920241-597e-49d9-a4b9-bfdfa9deabb6?accessToken=zwAGOQFSub4YkdOukgJBWX5J2dOkub_fqd6rtg.MEUCIC7wxgJShKjVR3u717YcwKFA3kRvRTs4yUanM49uZ5ZYAiEAiv7r4PrLesRguLHgvVlrgsCiItG8QsBG5GNgqjqgj5A&sharetype=gift&token=4a8b6641-d698-4252-8c2f-e667b96f2351&ref=climativity.com

7.Michael Jordan opened his fourth free clinic for people who are uninsured or underserved in North Carolina, his home state.

https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nba/michael-jordan-opens-another-free-health-clinic-native-north-carolina-2050274?sh_kit=7a2950363f4b90b1881ae76c68d24551846eea9063b67a6a14e9fa39bc419e40

8.NEW ORLEANS FINANCIAL COLLAB GETS $1M GRANT TO INVEST IN LOCAL START-UPS
The Financial Wellness Collaborative received the $1 million grant to help small businesses manage their financial health and scale-up.

https://www.blackenterprise.com/new-orleans-financial-collaborative-grant-invest/

9.Mexico sent water rescue teams and firefighters to help in Texas after the holiday weekend floods.

https://www.newsweek.com/mexico-sends-help-texas-floods-2095878

10.A new Gallup poll taken over the month of June shows Trump support on “handling the immigration issue” now stands at 35% with 62% opposing.

https://news.gallup.com/poll/692522/surge-concern-immigration-abated.aspx
the rest of the 44 beneath the cut - the science stuff is towards the end of the list. )

And just in case you found zip in that list to smile about? Here's a photo of flowers.


Boat Walk

Jul. 11th, 2025 08:52 pm
shadowkat: (Default)
This is for the sailors and would be sailors out there ([personal profile] threemeninaboat ).

It was a pretty day today, warm with a nice breeze, so I decided to take a long walk. Original plan was to walk to the Freedom Tower and 1 World Trade to see the "Walk of Heroes" virtual exhibit, but I decided that it will be crowded and not nearly enough time. Also it was 83F/23C, and humid. So instead, I chose to walk up the pier and check out the boats. This was after checking out the smorgasbord and open air market of vendors in Bowling Green aka Immigrants Park. They had all sorts of foods on display, only one that was clearly gluten-free, and a lot of expensive cut crystals and stones. I just grabbed a bunch of maps from the tourist information booth, high tailed it back upstairs, deposited them in my back pack, then went back downstairs for my walk up the pier. Breaking Bad (my boss) was out of the office today, as was practically everyone else - so no one noticed, not that they would anyhow. And I did manage to make it back by 1:15 pm, Chilled Matcha Latte in tote.

I managed to make it all the way up to Pier 16, where the Seaport Boat Museum was located.



This was after I wandered about on a wooden deck with plenty of grass, overlooking the harbor and the city.
Deck and tall buildings )

And took a picture of one of the tall boats from the deck:

tall clipper ship )

Then wandered a bit further up the roof top deck to take a photo of the Brooklyn Bridge, and a few smaller boats.

Brooklyn Bridge and smaller boats )

Here's a picture of another tall boat, and the mall at Pier 17 behind it:




Here's a broader picture of the big tall boat and the museum:



I told threemeninaboat a while back that the Tall Clipper Ship gave cruises, but in reality its part of the Seaport Boat Museum. NYC is basically a huge city on a bunch of islands, surrounded by bridges, tunnels, rivers, bays, ocean and boats. It's one of the things I love most about NYC. There's always the slight scent of ocean in the air or water.
And being near the sea is oddly freeing in a way. Perhaps because I've always loved the water? I find it calming.

It was a calming walk - and by the time I returned to my work place, I was sweating and more than ready for air conditioning - because it was also just a touch balmy.
shadowkat: (Default)
Confusing day at work, and the muggy weather plus sleep issues is making me irritable? Also, people, sigh, can be annoyingly headache inducing, can't they?

Anyhow, grumble, grumble...I'm grateful for my mother (who continues to be lovely), Gregory's Coffee - it has great Matcha Lattes, and Decaf Cappucinos, and is no more than five minutes from my desk - plus I can pre-order, and get discounted deals. I'm also grateful for flowers. Trees. And New York City.

Plus? Very grateful for the lovely folks who provided the good news items below, and continue to do so - basically, I'm grateful for the American Resistance and it's Global Allies, thank the universe you exist.

Disclaimer: As always, good news like humor and beauty is more often than not in the eye of the beholder and your mileage may vary on this.

I only share them, because they give me hope and make me feel better - and I hope they do the same for anyone else who may stumble upon this journal entry. If I can bring a smile or a tear of hope to someone...today? Than I'll feel I accomplished my aim or at the very least attempted it. All I can do is try.

Good News from the American Resistance & It's Global Allies

1. More than 600 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employees, scientists, and academics signed a declaration of dissent from the agency’s policies under the Trump administration, warning that they “undermine the EPA mission of protecting human health and the environment.”

https://www.standupforscience.net/epa-declaration

[Gotta give the poor federal agency employees credit? They keep fighting and speaking out against the evil new administration.]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/30/epa-employees-declaration-dissent-trump?emci=4eedb4a7-9958-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&emdi=66805beb-ef58-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&ceid=24376453

2. I think this one is a repeat? But just in case, it's not, here we go again: The Miccosukee Tribe is partnering with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation to safeguard lands as part of a ‘moral obligation.’

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/15/miccosukee-tribe-florida-wildlife-corridor-foundation?sh_kit=7a2950363f4b90b1881ae76c68d24551846eea9063b67a6a14e9fa39bc419e40

Now, as the Trump administration continues its wholesale slashing of federal funding from conservation projects, the Miccosukee Tribe is stepping up to fulfill what it sees as a “moral obligation” to return the favor.

The tribe is looking to buy and protect environmentally significant lands, including some that once provided refuge, in a groundbreaking partnership agreement with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation. The corridor is an ambitious project to connect 18m acres (7.3m hectares) of state and privately owned wilderness into a contiguous, safe habitat for scores of imperilled and roaming species, including black bears, Key deer and Florida panthers.

3. A coalition of 20 states has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for sharing personal health data with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/CA%20v.%20HHS%2C%20Complaint%207.1.25.pdf

4.Key West City commissioners voted 6-1 to void the 287(g) agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

https://www.keywestislandnews.com/2025/06/key-west-city-commission-voids-agreement-with-ice-and-reaffirms-its-status-as-a-welcoming-city/

[Apparently Key West is not in agreement with the Governor of Florida?]

5.Tesla’s new delivery numbers are in, and they’re worse than expected.

https://gizmodo.com/teslas-numbers-are-in-and-theyre-not-good-2000623670?emci=4eedb4a7-9958-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&emdi=66805beb-ef58-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&ceid=24376453

6.E. Jean Carroll says she plans to give away the millions Donald Trump was ordered to pay her—just to annoy him. [This is the woman who won the defamation case and civil sexual assault case against him - when he claimed she lied when she said he raped her - and went on to vilify her in the media.]

https://www.thedailybeast.com/e-jean-carroll-reveals-why-shell-give-away-her-80m-from-trump-to-p-him-off/?emci=4eedb4a7-9958-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&emdi=66805beb-ef58-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&ceid=24376453

7. Terminated NIH grants are being reinstated almost entirely in blue states. [These are the science and research grants that the Trump Administration attempted to terminate.]

https://www.statnews.com/2025/07/03/nih-cuts-grant-restoration-complicated-by-limits-to-court-order-trump-dei-restrictions/?emci=4eedb4a7-9958-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&emdi=66805beb-ef58-
f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&ceid=24376453

8.A federal judge in Washington ruled that the Trump administration can’t categorically deny asylum claims from people crossing the southern border.

https://archive.ph/7gw1e

9.A government ban on Hungary’s annual Pride parade backfired when more than 100,000 people marched through the Hungarian capital, far more than have taken part in previous such events.

https://archive.ph/kzI5C#selection-4467.0-4467.195

[The internet makes authoritarianism kind of difficult to enforce.]

10.Tuesday’s election of Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre to fill a vacant seat on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors put Democrats back in control of San Diego’s most powerful governmental agency.

https://voiceofsandiego.org/2025/07/02/aguirres-win-puts-democrats-in-charge-at-pivotal-time/?emci=4eedb4a7-9958-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&emdi=66805beb-ef58-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&ceid=24376453

11.An iPhone app called ICEBlock is alerting users to nearby ICE sightings. Its designer said he wanted to do something to help in the face of what he sees (correctly) as rising fascism.

[Technology also makes authoritarianism more difficult to enforce - than many sci-fi writers apparently realized. I'm looking at you, Philip K. Dick.]

https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/30/tech/iceblock-app-trump-immigration-crackdown?emci=4eedb4a7-9958-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&emdi=66805beb-ef58-f011-8f7c-6045bdfe8e9c&ceid=24376453

12.Catholic bishops from Asia, Africa and Latin America penned a first-ever joint ecological appeal ahead of the next U.N. climate conference in November.

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2025/07/01/climate-justice-bishops-asia-africa-latin-america-251045

13.Singer Angélique Kidjo became the first African performer to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqx2g5znggpo

14.A Tennessee man pardoned by Trump for taking part in the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6 is back behind bars, for life, convicted of plotting to kill the law enforcement officers who had investigated his case.

https://archive.ph/dXNaQ#selection-517.23-517.112

15. Thanks to Mayor Brandon Scott’s focus on violence intervention programs, Baltimore has seen a nearly 23 percent drop in murders from this time last year.

https://archive.ph/3ajyY

16. Six months into congestion pricing in New York City traffic is down and business is up. Also, the revenue generated by the program is funding critical transit upgrades that will benefit millions of New Yorkers.

https://www.threads.com/@govkathyhochul/post/DLu_bqUxRJO?xmt=AQF0ZAWwIBQtTEin6rbwpHCXtAp3OGNzp92OIOiamSxIgQ

[That's actually true - the funds are going to various state of new repair, climate resilancy projects, and critical improvements across the MTA. And the financial district is pleasant to walk around.]

the rest of the 37 items )

And here's a few flowers...life is always better with flowers.


shadowkat: (Default)
A little Good News from the American Resistance and it's Global Allies.

It's been a stressful "news" week for some of us, so I think we deserve it? Honestly, our media is annoyingly negative at times, isn't it?

Disclaimer: As always, mileage may vary on the good news listed below, and good news along with everything else is often in the eye of the beholder.

To the tune of ... All I Really Need is a Little Good News

1. The Miccosukee Tribe partners with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation to protect environmentally significant lands.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/15/miccosukee-tribe-florida-wildlife-corridor-foundation

2.A coalition of civil rights groups plan “Good Trouble Lives On” demonstrations on July 17 honoring John Lewis’s legacy and opposing authoritarian rule.

https://www.citizen.org/news/good-trouble-lives-on-national-day-of-action-builds-on-momentum-against-authoritarianism-fight-for-civil-rights/

3.Citing “irreparable deprivation of…First Amendment rights”, a federal appeals court upholds a previous ruling that Louisiana public schools will no longer display the 10 Commandments in classrooms.

https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/federal-appeals-court-rules-against-louisiana-law-requiring-public-schools-to-display-ten-commandments-in-every-classroom

4 - 8 are basically courts striking down Federal actions that are considered unlawful )

9.The U.S. Navy will no longer perform research testing on cats or dogs
[I didn't know they were doing it? At least they stopped.]

https://www.military.com/daily-news

10.In honor of pride month, elected officials host a “Love Is Love” concert at Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., to oppose the administration’s agenda to change the venue’s programming. [That's kind of ballsy, considering how Trump took over the Kennedy Center.]

https://www.npr.org/2025/06/23/nx-s1-5442561/kennedy-center-pride

11. DE, MD, and NJ join a multi-state lawsuit against the presidential administration over its plan to redistribute firearm devices previously seized by the government due to their dangerous nature.

https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/maryland-new-jersey-delaware-federal-firearm-case-gun/?intcid=CNR-01-0623

12. ID: A federal court extends a temporary restraining order preventing local law enforcement from arresting or detaining anyone based on their immigration status.

https://www.acluidaho.org/en/press-releases/judge-extends-block-on-anti-immigrant-law-in-idaho-preventing-enforcement-statewide

13.Japanese researchers, led by Prof. Hiromi Sakai, at Nara Medical University have developed a universal artificial blood—a hemoglobin-based oxygen‑carrier encapsulated in a protective shell, derived from expired donor blood.

Read more... )

14. VA’s election for lieutenant governor demonstrates how ranked-choice voting can strengthen voters’ voices in our electoral system.

https://fairvote.org/virginia-elections-show-value-of-ranked-choice-voting/

15. ME extends ranked-choice voting to gubernatorial and state legislative elections.

https://www.pressherald.com/2025/06/18/ranked-choice-voting-expansion-in-maine-sent-to-gov-mills/

16. Maryland's 2026 budget includes bills that will increase green energy, lower prescription drug costs, and prevent federal immigration enforcement actions at sensitive locations.

https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/maryland-new-laws-2026-budget-taxes/

17.Communities across the U.S.—from Port Arthur and Austin, TX to Lake County, IL and Boston, MA—celebrated Juneteenth, commemorating the end of U.S. slavery.

[We even had signs celebrating it in my apartment building, and workplace takes it off as a State Holiday.]

https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/port-arthur-s-juneteenth-sunrise-service-20383530.php

https://www.lakecountystar.com/news/article/lake-county-sheriff-celebrates-juneteenth-baldwin-20391414.php

https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/6/20/24451593/jaylen-brown-boston-celtics-community-741-performance-dorchester-boys-and-girls-club

18.Conservative advocates for AI guardrails won, revealing the influence of a segment of the GOP that has come to distrust Big Tech. They want states to remain free to protect citizens against potential big tech harms, whether from AI, social media or emerging technologies. [Keep in mind that conservatives traditionally are State rights advocates and do not want big government. AI would annoy most conservatives - more so than liberals, actually.]

https://www.mississippifreepress.org/how-a-gop-rift-over-tech-regulation-doomed-a-ban-on-state-ai-laws-in-trumps-tax-bill/

19.Chris Kluwe is running for the state legislature in California.

https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2025-06-18/huntington-beach-activist-chris-kluwe-planning-state-assembly-district-72-run

[More and more social justice activists are running for elected positions.]

20. Flutes for Fido: Volunteers play music to soothe shelter animals. A 12-year-old keyboard player founded a nonprofit that recruits other musicians to give live performances in animal shelters.

https://apnews.com/article/animal-shelters-music-therapy-dogs-cats-badd87be4e39500e77c9230ad28ab9d4
the rest of the thirty behind the cut )

Hopefully you all found something in that list that cheered you? If not? Here's a flower:


shadowkat: (Default)
Yes, it's time again for the weekly good news report bringing hope and sanity to all or at least attempting to do so? Seriously, the media (in all its forms (Social media in particular) makes it difficult at times). I've inserted a filter for my own mental and emotional health (it's manual, since the automatic ones elude me).

As always, good news is often in the eye of the beholder, and mileage may vary on this.

1.The Senate Parliamentarian had blocked some even worse provisions
Read more... )

2. The sell of Public Lands and the ban on state regulation of AI were both removed from the Bill by the Senate - there was a lot of push back, and the Senate removed them by majority vote.
Read more... )

3. California Gov. Gavin Newsom filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Fox News, accusing host Jesse Watters of defamation by falsely claiming that Newsom lied about a phone call with President Donald Trump during the dispute over the use of the National Guard in Los Angeles. A demand letter from Newsom's lawyers says if Fox News doesn't "issue a formal retraction and on-air apology," the lawsuit will proceed. Read more... )

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/gavin-newsom-targets-fox-news-787-million-lawsuit-rcna215522

4.A carbon-negative concrete made from seawater and bacteria just outperformed cement in strength tests

Read more... )

https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxU78tkZBbdOCYup4qav0DavcF1FfwbrVZ?app=desktop

5.The largest 100% supportive housing development in LA opened! 600 San Pedro is a 17-story mixed-use building with 302 units, all designed for people in interim housing transitioning to permanent housing. Read more... )

https://ktla.com/news/local-news/biggest-homeless-housing-facility-in-los-angeles-opens/

6.A new Colorado law includes requirements that dozens of cities provide multilingual ballots during local elections, bridging a major gap in access for voting in those races.

https://boltsmag.org/colorado-language-protections-in-voting-rights-act/

7.The British government plans to extend a ban on bottom trawling to around 30,000 square kilometers across 41 marine protected areas.

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/uk-seeks-extend-ban-bottom-trawling-fishing-english-seas-2025-06-08/

8.Kendrick Lamar quietly funds college tuition for 25 Black students from Compton—identities revealed after four years. During a UCLA graduation ceremony, a student emotionally shares: “I wouldn’t be here without a scholarship from an anonymous donor… now I know it was Kendrick Lamar.” Media later uncovers he secretly funded full tuition for 25 students from Compton, where he grew up. The beauty in this is he did it w/o broadcasting across social media. Someone else shared the blessings he gave.

9.In a historic first, a Southern Ute Tribe member was elected to chair the Colorado water policy board.

https://coloradosun.com/2025/05/28/southern-ute-tribal-leader-colorado-water-board-historic-first/

10.Kseniia Petrova, the Russian scientist who spent four months in detention after failing to declare scientific samples she was carrying into the country, was freed on bail from federal custody by a magistrate judge in Boston.

https://archive.ph/FeSOQ

12. The FDA just approved a long-lasting injection to prevent HIV.

https://www.wired.com/story/fda-finally-approves-lenacapavir-preventive-hiv-treatment-gilead/?utm_brand=wired&utm_mailing=WIR_Daily_062125_PAID&bxid=5bd670ae2ddf9c619438d7ca&cndid=25074173&hasha=a22cdf50ee78026aeb03bece73c2433c&hashc=7a2950363f4b90b1881ae76c68d24551846eea9063b67a6a14e9fa39bc419e40&esrc=OIDC_SELECT_ACCOUNT_PAGE

the rest of the 30 items )

There's more, but I got tired and want to do other things.

So how about a picture of flowers from yesterday's walk?

shadowkat: (Default)
I read this week in some psychology posting that it was more than okay not to be okay at the moment. In fact feeling awful right now, with a sense of dread - means you are most likely a caring empathetic human being and struggling with human failings. If this is the case? Than I'm clearly a caring empathetic human being - because I've been feeling kind of awful for several months now?

What helps? Watching comfort shows, avoiding dingbats, avoiding bad news (as much as possible), trying to eat healthy, and focus on the positive.

As always, good news is often in the eye of the beholder - so mileage may vary on it?

our fight appears to be mainly in the courts... )

***

The below isn't necessarily good news, but it is a necessary explanation of a recent Supreme Court ruling, since a lot of folks think it trumps or undoes some of the good news above, it doesn't. It may reframe it or change it, but it doesn't undo it. Trump didn't necessarily win, nor do the Republicans, also this issue has been hanging around for a while now. And it may just bite the Republicans in the ass down the road.

While it is entertaining to watch amateur lawyers debate what the recent Supreme Court decision on Birth Nationals and Injunctions is, it's also annoying - so below is an actual lawyer, who specializes in legislative, Constitutional and Administrative Law - has to say about it (and no, it's not me):

WHAT TODAY'S SUPREME COURT DECISION ON UNIVERSAL INJUNCTIONS AND BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP MEANS by Anne P. Mitchell

First, and most importantly, it does NOT UNDO BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP! And really that was never what it was about, as I've said before. (In fact here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16sATn6TcJ/)

This was *always* a universal injunction case dressed up in birthright citizenship clothing. It was and is about universal injunctions. And that is on what the Supreme Court just issued its opinion.

In the case, Massachusetts issued a universal injunction (applies to everyone similarly situated) against the birthright citizenship executive order; the Supreme Court is saying the injunction should have only applied to the plaintiffs in the case.

Here is what the Supreme Court *actually* said:
Read more... )

Sigh, here's a pretty picture of flowers..


shadowkat: (Default)
The temperature dropped outside. It's now in the 70s. As Breaking Bad put it - night and day outside today.

At work, I ran into a neighbor in the lobby of my building (it's all Crazy Org).

He saw me, first. Told me this was his last day - he was retiring. (I honestly thought he was retired. He is definitely older than me.) We pass all the time in the laundry room and elevator - he lives across the hall from me with his family. He has a dog, and a neurodivergent son, who I think has either Touretts or Ausbergers?

Apparently he was a legal investigator for one of the agencies in Crazy Org since roughly 1993. I was somewhat envious - it sounded more interesting than editing legal documents and financial analysis and negotiations. I'm admittedly bored and frustrated at the moment. It's making me cranky? Well that and struggling with sleep, lingering chest congestion, and brain fog.

Below is a photo of Crazy Org today, standing tall against a gray sky.



It was bound to happen - that I'd run into a neighbor as they are retiring, considering Crazy Org employs over 75,000 New Yorkers.

I took a walk at lunch - it was mild, pleasant even, and overcast - also the last day of school in New York, apparently, so not that many tourists wandering about mucking up the works. Or many bikes for that matter.

And I saw a wild turkey in Battery City Park. Breaking Bad and I decided that the turkey probably escaped from Staten Island via the Ferry. [ETA: Where the turkey came from was/is a joke. We've no clue. We were just joking that it escaped a farm in Staten Island and came by ferry. (Which didn't happen). And since the photo is horrible - no I did not approach the wild turkey.]

bad photo of a turkey )

Other than that the day was slow. So slow, I worked on my novel, played with spreadsheets, and played on my phone. Art History Major is off to see her family in Ohio.

***

Some good news?

The Senate Parliamentarian managed to take a hatchet to the Big Shitty Bill. Apparently you can't just add everything you like to a reconciliation bill which is meant to balance the government's budget. It's basically an accounting bill - that gets quickly passed because it's needed to balance a budget. They tried to add a bunch of stuff that had zip to do with that to the bill, which is in violation of the Senate's rules.

Parliamentarian removes medicaid cuts from Reconciliation Big Beautiful Bill

Violations Continue to Mount on Big Beautiful Bill

As one commentator aptly put it - adding the things the Republicans did to the Bill would be akin to balancing your household budget and adding a fancy new car for yourself.

For those who have raised valid concern following the Parliamentarian rulings knocking out some of the worst aspects of the GOP’s budget bill, Thune has reiterated no overruling.

***

R.I.P Bill Moyers

"Legendary journalist Bill Moyers has died at age 91. Moyers was the former White House press secretary under President Lyndon B. Johnson, and leaves behind a distinguished legacy in American journalism. Over five decades, he became known for his in-depth interviews and thoughtful documentaries on programs such as Bill Moyers Journal and Now with Bill Moyers. A champion of public broadcasting, Moyers received more than 30 Emmy Awards, nine Peabody Awards, and the National Humanities Medal for his contributions to civic discourse. Rest in peace, Bill."


shadowkat: (Default)
[Hopefully to drag me out of my apathy, if not the brain fog.]

The Good News Report....and as always, good news is often in the eye of the beholder.

1.Appeals Court blocks Louisiana law forcing Ten Commandments displays in classrooms. Separation of church and state is the law of the land. Shoving Christianity in kids' faces through their public schools is still, for now, illegal.

NBC News

Honestly, it's not as if the idiotic Republicans are following the commandments anyhow, why are they insisting on wasting money fighting for them to be taught in public schools?

2. A fundraiser organized to protest Colorado’s 568-day backlog for processing sexual assault forensic exams resulted in a $6,000 award to the state this week to urge faster action.

Denver Post

3. Washington D.C. residents honor Juneteenth with a Jubilee and Freedom Walk on the very path where enslaved people once escaped to freedom.

Washington Post

4.Barrington, Rhode Island : Members of the Town Council vote unanimously to adopt a resolution declaring it a sanctuary town for transgender people and all members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community.

East Bay Rhode Island

5.New York, NY: More than 75% of the city’s municipal vehicles—about 21,500—are now green (hybrid, electric, or running on renewable biofuel).

https://gothamist.com/news/some-positive-climate-news-for-once-nycs-vehicle-fleet-is-75-green

6.Communities in Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Charlotte, San Diego, Boston, Houston, San Antonio, Minneapolis, Worcester, MA, and other cities show up publicly in support of their neighbors facing unjust ICE raids, detainment, and deportation.

7.Four top lawyers leave the Paul Weiss law firm to start their own firm in protest of its leader’s deals to dodge an executive order that would have limited its business.

https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/more-partners-leave-paul-weiss-join-new-law-firm-2025-06-09/

8.Dementia prevalence among older adults was significantly lower among individuals born more recently (1944-1948) compared to those born earlier (1919-1923), with a more pronounced decline in women, a new study conducted in the US, Europe, and England showed. - SOURCE: This study was led by Xiaoxue Dou, Centre for the Business and Economics of Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2834750#google_vignette

9.Dan Mancina, a blind skateboarder, creates the world’s first adaptive skatepark in Detroit, Michigan.

https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/adaptive-skatepark-dan-mancina

10.The EU will provide emergency funds to pro-democracy media outlet Radio Free Europe after the U.S. president cut its grants.

https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/05/20/eu-to-provide-55mln-in-emergency-funds-to-help-keep-radio-free-europe-afloat

the rest of the 49 )

Good night and Good Luck, and in case you didn't find anything good enough to make you smile above?

Here's a picture of some flowers on my walk today to the grocery store.

shadowkat: (Default)
Today, I wandered through the Urban Farm at the foot of Manhattan, in Battery Park. I also sat in the park on a chair on the grass beneath the trees, watching children play. It was a beautiful day, with a slight haze, most likely from the Canadian Wild Fires in the North.




It was a frustrating day, so I needed a break from it. As tempting as it is to regale you all with the details? I'll refrain.

Some bad news? Dochawk, you may or may not remember him from the ATPO_BTVS and ATS Fan Discussion Board? His two female cousins were victims of the flame-thrower attack in Boulder, Colorado. Read more... )

I'm trying to ignore the news for the most part - but keep stumbling upon it, whether I want to or not. Thank you, information age.

Been comforting myself by watching and listening to James Marsters Q&A's on youtube. I have a serious crush on that actor. I have crushes on several actors. Cillian Murphy is another one, so too is Hugh Jackman, Robert Downy Jr, David Tennant, Claudia Black, also Juliet Landau, Helen Mirren, Emma Thompson, Viola Davis, Angela Basset, Jonathon Groff....I am notorious for actor crushes.

Marsters said something interesting in regards to a question about Whedon and separating art from the artist. Read more... )

Been rewatching Buffy as a comfort show - and it still holds up, and rather well at that. I just saw I Only Have Eyes for You - it's an episode that airs late in S2. I'd forgotten most of it. And forgot how good it is. The first few times I'd seen it - I hadn't thought much of it, but now, it resonates in a different way? The writers are commenting on multiple things - and it subverts various tropes. It's actually surprising the network let them do it - back in the 90s.
spoilers for those who never saw it, is there anyone? )

***

I didn't sleep well last night. Ached. And I ache now. Digestive issues, I think? Although did many things in the hopes of counter-acting them. My failing was giving in and having ice cream (Malawi Coffee and Rose Almond both Indian flavors and locally made). I did everything else right - baked salmon with zuccini and summer squash, and lots of water.

Oh well, it is what it is. Hopefully I can get the restless legs to calm down enough to sleep.

Here's a nice photo to round out this long rambling post.



shadowkat: (Peanuts Me)
Half watching the West End Revival of Kiss Me Kate on Great Performances, and it's not very good. The one on National Theater Streaming is far better. Although the singer performing Lois Lane/Bianca is wonderful. And I like the intergrated casting. The difficulty with Kiss Me Kate is the misogynistic source material, and some of the Cole Porter songs do not date well, while others work quite well. Although the performances are quite good in places. And the guy who did the dance sequence for Too Darn Hot was a showstopper.

Yes, I am theater geek or a theater buff. Ask me about theater, and I can go on and on and on at length, with an almost encyclopedic knowledge. Same is true about television and film.

I fell in love with the theater in the fifth grade - when two tall black boys in a mostly white grade school in the 1970s put together a play as an alternative to playing baseball at recess. It was cold, and we had access to the gym. The play was Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (actually twelve dwarves, we had a lot of folks involved). I was cast as one of the dwarves. I was a tall dwarf, but not that tall - since I was after all only eleven or twelve at the time. My first theater role was a dwarf. To understand how amusing that is? You need to know I was taller than everyone but the two kids directing the play. I think one of their names was DJ or TJ, can't remember. They were wonderful. Kind, smart, and a nice barrier against bullying. No one dared bully or tease me when they were present.

Read more... )

Sorry for the tangent. Long way of explaining why I enjoy listening to actor podcasts.

Speaking of?

Schmactors is back - basically it's two character actors (James Marsters and his buddy, Mark Devine) from theater, television, voice, and film discussing you guessed it, theater, film, television and everything in between.

I have a fondness for character actors, I seldom love the leads. It's a problem, since it's hard to find anything that they are in. I think the reason is - that I was a character actor. I'm always crushing on actors that seem to only get a few roles, and everything else is hard to find.
I started watching Buffy because of Anthony Head, who I followed there from his previous role on VR5. I'd fallen in love with him - in the stage musical Chess, when he briefly took over his brother's role in the London run of the musical way back in 1988. I'd seen him perform it live - three rows from the stage, or maybe four rows. He blew me away when he sang Pity the Child in that run, and I was in love. (I took a course in London for two months - where we read plays, wrote reviews on the stage productions that we saw performed, and discussed them in detail.)

At any rate, it's getting late...so here's a picture that I painted of people I've seen on the subway, from memory, proof that the subway is perfectly safe. They are. Don't believe the idiots who say otherwise, they clearly don't live in New York.

[Note it won't last forever, because FB is quirky about its links.]

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