Author Archives: Monica

Shout Out to Bill Maher/Wild Animal Markets and Big AG

Posted on May 23, 2020

Bill Maher speaks out about wild animal markets, trafficking in wild animals, and our system of raising and slaughtering animals for food: “Big AG”.  He says what I have been waiting to hear from someone whose voice can be heard … Continue reading →

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American Entitlement: Does the Jury Acquit?

Posted on April 29, 2020

Americans: Who are We and How do We Define Ourselves? Hints from the movies:  The Devil and Daniel Webster, 1941 Synopsis: A farmer sells his soul for seven years of good luck, good crops, and the money and power that … Continue reading →

Posted in Defining America, Movies | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Earth Day 2020

Posted on April 22, 2020

(See photo copyright and usage license information below.) After We Are Gone Will rivers wander ancient routes, nurturing hills and valleys of their youth? Will flowers extend scented tendrils at the sound of bees buzzing? Will the land bless its … Continue reading →

Posted in ecology, global warming, loss, Nature, Poems, uncharted territory | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Noticing Global Warming, Before We Knew What It Was

Posted on April 15, 2020

Marie Dressler, as Carlotta in Dinner at Eight (1934), reminiscing about her past life as a super-star of the New York stage, and why she can’t return to live in the city: No, everything’s changed. I couldn’t stand it here.  … Continue reading →

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Returning to One

Posted on April 12, 2020

Returning to One Knowing from the inside out — the black bear’s dreams during winter’s quiet — the feel of face tucked to living fur — the movements while sleeping the warmth of life slow-breathing the rise and fall of … Continue reading →

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Sheltering in Place with Good Grace

Posted on April 6, 2020

Hello WordPress community, The last two posts do not simply highlight two great leaders.  These posts are meant to suggest what great leadership has in common: a firm grip on reality; a devotion to decency as the underpinning of civilization; … Continue reading →

Posted in community, leadership, politics, uncharted territory | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Leadership, John F. Kennedy-style

Posted on March 31, 2020

Kennedy’s civil rights address to the nation, June 11, 1963 (Time indicators follow quotes.) John F. Kennedy began this address to the nation on June 11, 1963, by describing what had just occurred at the University of Alabama.  Pursuant to … Continue reading →

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Leadership, Andrew Cuomo – style

Posted on March 29, 2020

Some recent quotes from New York governor Andrew Cuomo on combatting the coronavirus outbreak (among other things): [In response to federal government statements and action]:  No one is held harmless from reality.  Being angry is a luxury.  We don’t have … Continue reading →

Posted in politics, uncharted territory | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Nostalgic for Neanderthals

Posted on March 16, 2020

And speaking of evolution, I wax evermore nostalgic for Neanderthals.  Anthropologists confirm that Neanderthals buried their dead with tender care and were probably not the brutes we thought they were.  (Is it a human survival trait to think anyone different … Continue reading →

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What’s Our IQ?

Posted on March 6, 2020

Intelligence            Decades ago I read a definition of intelligence that surprised and befuddled me.  “Intelligence is the ability to adapt.”*  I couldn’t accept this definition.  Wasn’t intelligence the ability to acquire and use information?  As I aged and grew … Continue reading →

Posted in earth, ecology, Nature, politics, science | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments