Hey, it’s Saturday morning – the sun will come out, the temperature should climb to near 60, and it’s dry….I am HAPPY!
Now, coffee, and then a quick start on The Ramblings.

Excited about Zoom – Actually two differing Zoom sessions. First is the ‘Brothers Zoom’ (NOT to be confused with ‘Brothers Grim’), where under the expert guidance of athlete sis-in-law Jolene we’re doing 45-minutes or so of demanding stretching and exercises. I am emphasizing the ‘stressful’ portion since we’re using floor exercises, stretch-belts, and a pair of 10Lb weights. Sweat is part of this twice a week event.

Then, this coming Tuesday I’ll Zoom to connect for a class with Empower U. That evening it’ll be National Security Affairs Professor Stephen Knott, who holds this post at the United States Naval War College. He will present material from his book Alexander Hamilton and the Persistence of Myth; Secret and Sanctioned. We’ll examine the impact of Alexander Hamilton on the founding of the United States. I do know that Hamilton fighting alongside Washington became appalled by the inefficiency of the government under the Articles of Confederation and by the reluctance of the states to contribute to the war effort; now I look forward to Knott’s insights. Should be one fine session!

On the subject of learning. During an earlier session I shared a question which must have prompted something. A week ago, totally unexpected, I received from the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University a book; 50 Core American Documents. It’s almost a study guide and I love it. Actually, I love learning!   

If you want your very own copy text me and I’ll organize

Title IX – On occasion I receive differing historical input from a Brazilian lady, Marina Amaral. She shared a photo of this mosaic of Roman women playing sports and exercising. It’s an amazing floor mosaic from a Villa Romana del Casale in Sicili from early in the 4th century.

Now that women are losing the ability to have their own venue to excel (as we believed was guaranteed in Title IX), I thought it appropriate to show just how it’s taken 1600 years to come to the conclusion that women must be subservient to men. Hence, on day one of our newly installed ‘progressive’ administration it was not Covid that took center stage. Covid can now only be considered a faux pandemic since it was immediately put on hold; No, the most critical piece of business that first day was an Executive Order granting males full access to women’s private spaces and sports.

Side by Side – The other day picking up Vili after school I took special note of the marble bench placed under the flag pole. It honors Lieutenants John Leahr and Herb Heilbrun. Both grew up in our neighborhood, in 1928 both attended this school and were in the same 3rd grade class, both became pilots in WWII, (one flying bombers, the other covered the bombers flying a Tuskegee Red Tail P51 – they flew Side by Side); one was White the other Black. [as an aside, I’ve had the privilege meeting and talking with both of these men, these two fast friends were out-and-out heroes]

We live in a multi-racial part of the city and the Block parties and socials fun events have always had everyone interacting. Fast forward, our kids and then the Cincinnati grand-kids attended this same (now) Montessori focused Public School. During the time that our kids went there our kids mixed, studied, played, and hung together. They made friends, black and white, as kids do. Color played no part. Finally, and similarly throughout our nation, it seemed to be that the end of any vestiges of the Jim Crow era had finally come.

What I am seeing now is a change that started a few decades ago, and it’s frightening. We’re watching ‘silos’ of isolation and thereby segregation being formed – Black Americans wanting separate dorms and their own graduations as example. Our neighborhood views itself as absolutely “Progressive”, yet what I see is property upon property Virtue Signaling as they form one little separatist island after another complete with yard placards filled with glowing platitudes. I suspect that the idea is that without these signs one cannot move about or feel safe.

Now it’s the raising of the ugly head of ‘Identity Politics’ which has similarly emerged. Whatever spin is put on, this it’s racism, pure and simple. As a ‘lifelong liberal’ Smith College staff member Jody Shaw, a Whistleblower said; “This is the essence of critical race theory. In order to make “progress” in “combating racism,” everyone is reduced to a stick figure.” All of this dark bigotry and racism has crept into Schools, government, and corporate America all under the guise of preventing racism – such malarkey.

Taking it even a step further, Thursday the ‘Equality Act’ passed the House, and the detail in it is frightening – you should read sections of it.

” You can be sure anything that comes out of D.C. does the opposite of its name.” Christopher Bedford, The Federalist, February 25, 2021

Someone smarter than me has noted that; “slowly we inch to the abyss”.

Fini – Wednesday Dinah is celebrating her Birthday. It would appear that later today we’ll be at a proper outdoors venue to celebrate as a family.

This month 20 years ago, February 2001, Al Gore made an amazing prediction. He stated flat out that by 2021 we would all be dead due to Global Warming. Whoops, sorry Al, still here.

Once we pass and burden future generations with another $1.9-trillion debt, ostensibly required to fight the hardships and needs of Covid-19, remember that merely 9% is focused on dealing with Covid-19. Really think that this bill, the COVID-19 relief bill, is all about Covid-19 assistance? It might be a good time to give your Representative some serious input. Here is a portion of the Bill’s text.

This morning it is the 348th day since the 15-day shutdown to “Flatten the curve” began. To celebrate this ‘near’ anniversary, last evening Marcia and I went out for some craft beer and Lenten-based Fish & Chips. It was our “Friday-F-the-Mask night” at the local pub; seems like a few others had the same idea.

Now that another birthday came and went I am treading new turf; ‘entering a new era’ so to say. To some I am now a “wise elder sage”, while to others I am now merely a “tottering old fool”. Personally I think it is a little of both.

Make it great week people, keep the peace, be happy, stay safe, and be healthy!

Dirk