Assume Corruption

Our American experiment in Democracy seems to have failed.  The founding parents assumed that wise and honorable men (white landed males) would control the levers of power.  Even through the Civil War and the depredations of the late 19th century Robber Barons, things held together.  Richard Nixon was unable to subvert our system. 

But with the coming into power of a second DJT term, the wheels are off.  Toadies in Congress and the Supreme Court do nothing to exercise their lawful obligations to be checks and balances.  Along with a feckless Department of Justice that no longer heeds its requirement to be an independent agency, there is no resource in our system of government that can reign in the current administration.  

The result is a president unfettered by law, Constitutional, International, or otherwise.  That he would pardon one convicted former president of a Central American country, all the while violently attacking another while confiscating their oil makes a lie of his interest in protecting the U.S. from South American drugs.  

When/if we have an opportunity to redress this situation, it will not be by reestablishing "norms" of governance.  Laws will have to be enacted that codify unambiguously the limits of power and the forceful and redundant means of enforcement.  

Never again will SCOTUS or DOJ be allowed to subvert our Constitutional rights and protections.  Their behavior forces us to assume corruption and greed will be the prevalent motivation and that institutional guardrails will have to become fortress walls.  No longer can we rely on "men" of good will to uphold our way of life as the current group has abdicated all respect and honor.  They will long be remembered as cowards who sold their country for a handful* of silver.   

________________

* Federal Reserve data indicates that as of Q1 2024, the top 1% of households in the United States held 30.5% of the country's wealth, while the bottom 50% held 2.5%.

Exceptions

White rabbit, white rabbit, white rabbit!*

Now that I've got that detail taken care of, I can wish everyone a happy New Year.  

There are, of course, exceptions.  People who are particularly hard to extend a loving kindness metta to.  

Moving on to more positive thoughts, I can vouch for this recipe:  cacio e pepe from research published last year in Nature.  Two thirds cups of cheese to a scant teaspoon of cornstarch turns out to be the optimum ratio.  

Here's a toast to a better 2026... 

_______________

*  Spoken and typed before even the title of this piece :-)

100 Days

Periodically at Garuda (my tai chi class), our instructor would announce 100 days of training.  The idea was not to resolve to do something forever more, but rather, to do a push for about 3 months and then see if the habit sticks.  

Seems like today will be a good time to commit to 100 days of tai chi and see if my old muscle memory is still there.  Definitely feels better than trying to come up with a New Year's resolution. 

I'll have to give it a go and then dust off my old videos to correct myself.  Good thing I captured those videos of me when my form was pretty good.  Wish I'd recorded tai wu sequences and the kata.  I'll see if I can remember them and if so, will take videos.  

Stepping Over Stones
From May 2012

A Brief Respite

Having survived a couple holiday dinners (one out at M'Tucci's, the other at our place), the main events were visits out (open house at Deb & Nat's, Christmas Eve dinner at Debbie's).  Then followed the Jane and Tommy take-out / eat-in evening.  Now, finally, we've had a couple days to ourselves to recoup.  

Today's effort is a batch of baguettes.  With 520 ml of water in 700 g of flour, it's a wet, sticky dough.  But after 3 risings, it's stretchy and alive.  

Now for shaping before the final rise.   

And finally, baking.  First above a pan of boiling water, then finishing in dry heat until golden brown and delicious. 

Now I just have to keep my hands off them until they're cool enough to slice for tonight's charcuterie board. 

The Feasting

The feasting continues with Jane and Tommy visiting last night for Rudy's take-out.   

It will take some doing to get this season's weight gain off.  Definitely been eating too well.  

Meanwhile (my favorite transition word), it rained last night.  Blessed moisture from the sky!  Not enough to be measurable, but definitely enough to wet the world.  

This morning saw a heavy cloud cover, perfect for hiding indoors by a fire, even if it's a natural gas fireplace.  The air has that damp coldness to it that penetrates the bones deeper than the thermometer would have you guess.  The forecast is for more of the same tomorrow, perhaps with gusty winds, and then a very cold Monday morning.  Nature's Notebook observations will require extra layers. 

Boxing Day

The day after Christmas was surprisingly busy despite a slow start: 

• Laundry
• Quick trip to the grocers
• Kitchen cleanup
• Appending one missing photo to the "England - Part 1" book 
• Peanut butter cookies (including another dash to the grocers for shortening)
• Picking up a big take-out order at Rudy's
• Dinner with Jane and Tommy
• Kitchen cleanup, redux

Cottage with Thatched Roof
South of Combe House, near Sidmouth

The weather continues with record-breaking warmth, although the forecast is for much colder in the next few days.  There may be snow in the mountains, but I doubt if we'll get rain down here in the North Valley.  

I may need to take extra steps to protect some of the bonsai that are in smaller pots.  Otherwise the garden only needs minimal care and twice weekly watering.  

The Goldfinches are using the Bodhisattva fountain heavily, especially in the mornings, probably because it does not freeze up.  Niger and the other seed mix for the House Finches aren't disappearing as fast as the unhulled sunflower was.  

Spotted a greyish shorthair on the back wall as it made its way westward into the neighborhood.  With Fluffy gone, our backyard is a cat-free zone.  The universal "Pst, pst, pst" attracted its attention, but it eventually moved on.  

Holiday Wishes

Joyful Tidings to All Most!  There are definitely more than a few people on my naughty list.  Travel Schlepp is not one of them, despite his Christmas Sweater. 

Cheers to the Naughty List!

The holiday countdown continues:  open house at Deb and Nat's place this afternoon, then Christmas Eve dinner at Debbie's.  Tomorrow is a day of rest <whew!>, but there's still laundry and one more batch of Glen's Merry Mix to concoct. 

Friday we'll have Jane and Tommy over for Rudy's BBQ here.  That leaves the deck cleared until Nature's Notebook on Monday, the last set of observations for the year.  

As we swing into 2026, Ric and Marlene will join us for dinner on the 2nd, while Kent and Ric come over on the 6th for an afternoon of gaming.  

Ta ta for now!