Complacent about nuclear weapons?
Health Setback
Health Setback
In October 2023, Loretta was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease while trying to renew her driver’s license. That was when the test was extra tricky, and it gave her fits. Since then, the test has been fixed, and we have started to adjust to our new circumstances. Spontaneously, we have become closer and more affectionate as we begin spending more time and activities together.
In October 2023, Loretta was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease while trying to renew her driver’s license. That was when the test was extra tricky, and it gave her fits. Since then, the test has been fixed, and we have started to adjust to our new circumstances. Spontaneously, we have become closer and more affectionate as we begin spending more time and activities together.
Loretta says, “Laughter is the best medicine.”
Loretta says, “Laughter is the best medicine.”
Gaza Madness
Gaza Madness
Last year, we contributed to the United Nations High Commission on Refugees UNHCR in an effort to support the citizens of Gaza. This year, we learned that the relevant organization is UNRWA, the Relief Works Agency for Palestine. In response to Israeli complaints, the US has cut off funding for UNRWA and persuaded European countries to follow suit. The Europeans have restored their funding, but the US has not. The Israelis have targeted UNRWA shelters, schools, hospitals, and have killed over 250 UNRWA workers. Now they have passed legislation to ban UNRWA. This would prevent the extremely limited aid entering Gaza from being distributed. IDF have targeted the Gaza police who were protecting aid from being looted. When looting occurs, the Israelis say this shows that there isn’t any point in allowing aid in, blaming the Palestinians for hunger they created. Another time, the IDF opened fire on Gaza refugees unloading aid trucks. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gantz, but the US continues to supply bombs.
Last year, we contributed to the United Nations High Commission on Refugees UNHCR in an effort to support the citizens of Gaza. This year, we learned that the relevant organization is UNRWA, the Relief Works Agency for Palestine. In response to Israeli complaints, the US has cut off funding for UNRWA and persuaded European countries to follow suit. The Europeans have restored their funding, but the US has not. The Israelis have targeted UNRWA shelters, schools, hospitals, and have killed over 250 UNRWA workers. Now they have passed legislation to ban UNRWA. This would prevent the extremely limited aid entering Gaza from being distributed. IDF have targeted the Gaza police who were protecting aid from being looted. When looting occurs, the Israelis say this shows that there isn’t any point in allowing aid in, blaming the Palestinians for hunger they created. Another time, the IDF opened fire on Gaza refugees unloading aid trucks. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gantz, but the US continues to supply bombs.
Please support UNRWA and a ceasefire, and consider advocating the release of Marwan Barghouti, “the Palestinian Mandela”.
Please support UNRWA and a ceasefire, and consider advocating the release of Marwan Barghouti, “the Palestinian Mandela”.
High Cost of Housing
High Cost of Housing
Our house is worth five times what we paid for it. That makes us potential NIMBYs like our city councilwoman Traci Park, a key opposition figure to homeless housing in her district. She has stopped the Venice Dell supportive housing project after ten years of planning. Dick is asking why housing is so expensive. Almost half the population is stressed to pay the cost of shelter, and high cost is a significant cause of homelessness. Everybody needs a roof. Cheaper housing would be better than what we have now. Houses are typically the biggest family asset, and protecting that asset is an understandable concern for owners, but it causes suffering.
Our house is worth five times what we paid for it. That makes us potential NIMBYs like our city councilwoman Traci Park, a key opposition figure to homeless housing in her district. She has stopped the Venice Dell supportive housing project after ten years of planning. Dick is asking why housing is so expensive. Almost half the population is stressed to pay the cost of shelter, and high cost is a significant cause of homelessness. Everybody needs a roof. Cheaper housing would be better than what we have now. Houses are typically the biggest family asset, and protecting that asset is an understandable concern for owners, but it causes suffering.
Besides the stress of paying 30-50% of one’s income for rent or mortgage, there’s the mistake of building back where it doesn’t make sense. After floods or fires, property owners vow to rebuild rather than admit defeat. They are protecting their biggest asset, the land underneath their ruined home. Insurance companies are beginning to withdraw from these bad bargains; we haven’t figured out how to help owners extract themselves from their “stranded asset”.
Besides the stress of paying 30-50% of one’s income for rent or mortgage, there’s the mistake of building back where it doesn’t make sense. After floods or fires, property owners vow to rebuild rather than admit defeat. They are protecting their biggest asset, the land underneath their ruined home. Insurance companies are beginning to withdraw from these bad bargains; we haven’t figured out how to help owners extract themselves from their “stranded asset”.
After we solve this one, there’s still universal healthcare to consider ☺
After we solve this one, there’s still universal healthcare to consider ☺
Visualizing Climate Change
Visualizing Climate Change
We’ve been having extra high tides in the past few months. The California Coastal Commission has started a project to collect photos of high water in order to educate the public about global warming. The pictures can help people visualize what rising sea waters would look like in their communities. Dick is very interested in scientific visualization. Excellent books by Edward Tufte show the value of lean and efficient graphic methods. Using king tides to illustrate global warming is legitimate even though tides are not the same thing, if you agree that global warming is happening and that global warming will cause sea levels to rise.
We’ve been having extra high tides in the past few months. The California Coastal Commission has started a project to collect photos of high water in order to educate the public about global warming. The pictures can help people visualize what rising sea waters would look like in their communities. Dick is very interested in scientific visualization. Excellent books by Edward Tufte show the value of lean and efficient graphic methods. Using king tides to illustrate global warming is legitimate even though tides are not the same thing, if you agree that global warming is happening and that global warming will cause sea levels to rise.
Recommendation
Recommendation
• The Museum of Contemporary Art is showing “Open” by Olafur Eliasson, at the Geffen Contemporary near the Japanese American National Museum at the corner of Alameda and Temple, until July 6. His art is elegant, mathematical and visually exciting. His studio is one of the most consequential with a staff of 50.
• The Museum of Contemporary Art is showing “Open” by Olafur Eliasson, at the Geffen Contemporary near the Japanese American National Museum at the corner of Alameda and Temple, until July 6. His art is elegant, mathematical and visually exciting. His studio is one of the most consequential with a staff of 50.
• President Trump: even when trade is unfair, both sides tend to benefit.
• President Trump: even when trade is unfair, both sides tend to benefit.
We hope all will be safe, lucky, prosperous and happy in the coming year.
We hope all will be safe, lucky, prosperous and happy in the coming year.
☮ ☯ 🇺🇳
Peace & Love! Let’s make 2025 a year of peace, growth and resistance!
Peace & Love! Let’s make 2025 a year of peace, growth and resistance!
