A point of clarification - I've seen some memes going around, and I'd like to address them.
Yes, your child can pray at school. There is nothing stopping them.
What they CANNOT do is force other students to pray with them, or follow the tenets of their religion. Teachers and schools cannot force one religion on students in a public school. Everyone should be fine with that, unless you're okay with your child being taught to speak in tongues, handle venomous snakes, being told they must never dance, drink, smoke, or wear a zipper.

A timely reminder, courtesy of Jef Rouner on FB: 2 of 4

Republicans don't care about truth, law, rules, compassion, community, democracy, or anything like that.

They don't suffer from cognitive dissonance, and hypocrisy is only a tool to use against Democrats. Republicans will say one thing and a moment later say the opposite - because it serves their purpose to do so. Whatever works to push their agenda. Whatever will help them in that moment.

Power and control are what they want, and they will stop at nothing to get it.

I came across something I wrote some years back, and I think it is relevant to the "Man or Bear?" conversation. So, a thread, but first some observations:

When a woman is in an abusive relationship, what's the first thing people say?

"Why doesn't she just leave?" And I'd like to point out, first of all, that this puts the onus to fix things on the woman. Again.

She's being abused, and fears for her life, but it's on HER to fix it.

Why?

When I was eight, we had two child molesters on our block. When we moved, that number dropped to one.

I don't know about the one left behind, but the one who lived with us never spent a second in jail.

Thankfully, he's dead now. 2. I was bullied all through school. A rare disorder I didn't yet know I had made high school extremely difficult.

So did the two guys who threw stuff down the stairwell at me everyday.

And so did the creep who thought he was a stud, and blocked me in the aisles every day.

Roses from today, a thread:

When I was a child, my parents taught me to be against racism (I was lucky).

When I was a young adult, I wasn't racist.

Middle-aged, I was still learning.

At 64, I have realized that although I thought my entire life that I wasn't racist, this American culture bakes it in. I have never been willingly, intentionally, or knowingly racist.

But even after 64 years, I keep finding bits and shreds and pieces of racist garbage in my brain. Assumptions. Unintentional (but still hurtful) micro-aggressions.

I'm trying to weed it all out...

Thirty-odd years ago, I was cleaning a barbecue grill. I was in a lot of pain. Didn't know why.

The pain suddenly let up, but I felt like I was going to die.

Called 911, and sat on my front porch with my head almost down on the next step... When the paramedics got there, they took my blood pressure, and immediately almost threw me into the ambulance.

Rushed downtown - wrong hospital. Went to the right hospital, couldn't find the emergency OR. Finally found it. They slapped the anesthesia mask on me, and yelled...

Storm to our south made for a lovely sunset tonight. :)

@wxdam @mcclureWX @JeffLast @NDilbeck_Wx @wxdam @mcclureWX @JeffLast @NDilbeck_Wx How it started...

#WX

@PatinkinMandy Saw your video earlier today, and really enjoyed it. But that's not what I'm writing to you about...

Something has been weighing on my mind, and seeing your name again today reminded me of it. If you don't read this thread, I understand, but I need to say it. Many years ago, when I was fifteen, I met Ted Bundy at Lake Sammamish State Park, in Seattle. I was one of the lucky ones - I didn't go with him. Something kept me from getting into that car, and I'm very glad about that.

But there's more to it than that.

Leu Gardens today... A single yellow Ginkgo Tree leaf

I have lived in this condo and this neighborhood for about 19 years now.

I have never seen either of these in my area, in all that time, and with all the walks I've taken.

Today, I saw both... I have seen Zebra Swallowtails twice before - saw several at a place south of here a few years ago.

Once at Orlando Wetlands. Briefly.

Today, I saw this one at my corner park.

Gobsmacked - in a good way. :)

This was posted by my friend @itscsesq elsewhere, and he gave me permission to share... (Dave is a lawyer who worked at the State Dept.):
-
If you are confused about the dispute between AG Barr and US Attorney for the Southern District of NY Geoffrey Berman, here is an explainer: Normally, a President (and, therefore, the AG) can remove a US Attorney at will. However, this case has peculiar circumstances. If you recall, at the start of the Trump Administration, names for nominees would be announced, but no nomination would show up in the Senate.

Sunset photos will be really late tonight (obviously...) ;)

But I think they're worth it. I almost didn't get out there, but really happy that I did.

An unedited preview: Panorama from tonight:

@wxdam @mcclureWX @JeffLast

This is a perfect springboard for what I was about to say anyway, so here goes:

In every presidential primary, I have tried to choose the BEST candidate out there. Period.

In 2007, I was torn between Obama and Hillary.
In 2016, it was Hillary by a LOT over anyone else....

https://twitter.com/matthewjdowd/status/1193251373808324610

In 2019, my choice is Kamala Harris.

I keep hearing (white) people say "Why can't you just choose the BEST candidate? Why does it have to be about gender or race (when they really mean don't choose anyone who isn't white and male)?"

And there is the crux of the issue for me...

Got to thinking about something. I know I'll lose followers for saying this, but so be it. That's life.

I was thinking about the dynamics between Warren and Harris. Not just last night, but overall. Warren has "borrowed" Kamala's plans, and without attribution. She's "copied off her paper" several times. Kamala says something, then Warren waits a few days and says the same thing - and the media gives Warren the credit for it. Even though Kamala said or did it first.

I attended a rally for Hillary Clinton in Tampa in 2016. We waited in lines in pouring rain for her, and then waited even longer inside. Why?

Because she was at Pulse, paying tribute to those who lost their lives.

We didn't mind, and I didn't see ANYONE leave. Hillary missed some rallies in Wisconsin, because she was showing solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.

We showed our solidarity with them and her, by waiting the extra time it took for her to get to our rally. We were wet, and tired, and bored... but we STAYED. She's worth it!

Me: No sunset tonight.

Don't Be This Person: Oh, so it's going to be light outside for another 24 hours? Wow! Me: I don't know this person, but this thread is a really great read.

Don't Be This Person: Random Annoying Factoid About Person Who Wrote Thread That Has Nothing To Do With The Point.

Dear Men:

NO.

You hear that?

NO.

No to what, you ask? It doesn't matter right now. What matters is that you need to be able to hear the word "NO" and say "Okay" and accept it. LOUDER FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T SEEM TO HEAR THIS:

NO!!

Grow up and accept that you can't get a "YES" every damned time you want one!!

Women have the right to say "No" and still feel safe.

Learn it, teach it to your sons, to your fathers, to your uncles, cousins, brothers....

I wrote the following two years ago, and I stand by it - even more so, now: This is directed at anyone who feels that their beliefs supersede the rights of others, or who believes that their own personal moral stances and choices entitle them to commit violence - in word or deed - against those with whom they disagree.

I hijacked a bus today.

Well, sort of.

You probably think I'm kidding.... I'm not. I went to Lake Eola for a bit today, but wasn't really feeling it - so I wandered off to some nearby parks.

I knew what time the last bus was. I knew where I had to be, and at what time.

So I was EARLY. Last bus and all, right?