Even though I absolutely loved Won’t You Be my Neighbor? (link to my review), the documentary about Fred Rogers, I resisted seeing A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood because the movie poster picture of Tom Hanks brought back bad memories of … [Read more...] about 4 Snouts Up for A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood movie on Prime
Sounds great, How Are we Going to Pay for it? Universal Programs Are the Most Fiscally Prudent Option
A number of candidates for president this year have as their mantra “sounds great, how are we going to pay for it?” It’s the kind of question that seems to make a lot of sense. Whenever we add something to our personal or collective spending plan … [Read more...] about Sounds great, How Are we Going to Pay for it? Universal Programs Are the Most Fiscally Prudent Option
Feeling More Compassionate and Tender about Undecided Dems (no mention of any candidate here)
With the news of low turnout in Iowa caucuses earlier this week driven by fear of making the wrong choice, my heart has finally cracked open for the undecided. I realize now that I have been so sure and fixated on my (not to be named here) … [Read more...] about Feeling More Compassionate and Tender about Undecided Dems (no mention of any candidate here)
Thoughts on Acquittal, Mitt Romney & the Presidential Election Today
Yesterday's acquittal of Donald J Trump showed both why Nancy Pelosi didn't want to do it, and why regular Democrats did. All along, Speaker Pelosi knew it would end this way and that the whole episode could feel like a fool's errand and a … [Read more...] about Thoughts on Acquittal, Mitt Romney & the Presidential Election Today
Spiritual Lessons to Draw from the Iowa Caucus
The Iowa Caucus and the collective (inter)national freakout it has fostered provides, like many of life’s challenges, a great opportunity to do our spiritual work around it. Specifically, we can remember What NOT to do in the middle of … [Read more...] about Spiritual Lessons to Draw from the Iowa Caucus
Well it’s Groundhog Day, Back on the Time Diet
I don't want to let Groundhog Day get too far in the rearview mirror without observing it. First of all, this year Punxsutawny Phil did NOT see his shadow. This is supposed to predict an early spring. Right here in Sacramento … [Read more...] about Well it’s Groundhog Day, Back on the Time Diet
Our Chevy Volt/Electric vehicles/One car families
In 2014 we bought a brand new Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid electric car. We have never looked back. I’m sad they rolled out the last ones in 2019. We have found it to be a great vehicle for a one-car household. How it works is we … [Read more...] about Our Chevy Volt/Electric vehicles/One car families
Our Family Valentine to You: A Slightly Tardy Holiday Letter
In lieu of our 2019-2020 winter holidays letter, the Nichols Magavern family is sending out a Valentine to you. See our (sometimes grainy) pictures), read about our lives and mostly, why we each love Bernie.It's a self mailer so just one page … [Read more...] about Our Family Valentine to You: A Slightly Tardy Holiday Letter
Bernie in Burlington Says it All
I have been wondering for a while why we're hearing so much about South Bend, Indiana and so little about Burlington, Vermont, the home and political birthplace of the next President of the United States Bernard Sanders. This Los Angeles Times … [Read more...] about Bernie in Burlington Says it All
Four Snouts Up for Just Mercy in Theaters Now
(:)(:)(:)(:) for Just Mercy in theaters now (just saw it at the Regal Natomas Cinema). I had read (and blogged about) the wonderful book Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson in July of 2018, The Path Not Taken--Some Part of … [Read more...] about Four Snouts Up for Just Mercy in Theaters Now
Wake Up California, We’re Relevant!!!!
Many Californians suffer from P.I.E.D. or Previously Irrelevant Electoral Dysfunction. In previous years, the California presidential primary had been so late as to be irrelevant. We waited around for Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina … [Read more...] about Wake Up California, We’re Relevant!!!!
Tradition One for Democrats: Unity–Can We Dems Get Smart about Staying Together?
Can we get smart in the Democratic primary about our common welfare? In a spiritual path that I walk, we have traditions that set the guardrails for our behavior with each other and in all aspects of our lives. We joke that the traditions are … [Read more...] about Tradition One for Democrats: Unity–Can We Dems Get Smart about Staying Together?