snicholsblog

spirit, humor, movies, politics & unsolicited advice right here in sacramento, california

current events

new york times 100,000 dead front page stirs grief & appreciation for the human spirit

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this snuck up on me. i saw online that the new york times had devoted its full sunday may 24, 2020 front page to a list of names and details of the 100,000 who had died from covid-19. it seemed like a very cool idea. the power of the concept … [Read more...] about new york times 100,000 dead front page stirs grief & appreciation for the human spirit

can we sidestep the polarization trap laid for us by the white house?

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its pretty clear that the white house declaration of churches as essential throwing it to the states to decide when or whether they can reopen was designed to sow conflict between churches and state governments who are not aligned with the federal … [Read more...] about can we sidestep the polarization trap laid for us by the white house?

does the president’s “positive thinking” succeed or fail?

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thoughts about the huffpost piece this morning on the impotence of donald trump’s positive thinking . about a year ago i wrote a piece for general consumption on donald trump and the power of the word.  i acknowledge his ability to use it while … [Read more...] about does the president’s “positive thinking” succeed or fail?

i want your liberty restricted, not mine—this is the american way

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in some ways this is the dirty secret american dream: everybody wants to be free and wants to constrain others. i certainly have come face to face with the fact that i do. i live in sacramento, california, which i believe is one of the few places … [Read more...] about i want your liberty restricted, not mine—this is the american way

if the cosmic democracy didn’t vote for covid-19 then why are there sea lions on my river?

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this morning at least four sea lions are languishing and barking on the pier under the tower bridge in old sacramento on the sacramento river, an inland waterway 86 miles by car (google maps doesn’t have a “travel by boat” option for directions) from … [Read more...] about if the cosmic democracy didn’t vote for covid-19 then why are there sea lions on my river?

would you literally rather die than tell others what you need to feel safe?

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i have to stop lying if i’m going to stay safe in the pandemic. in fact, i have to stop lying if i’m going to stay safe period. the problem is my brain tells me the opposite. at some point in my childhood i came to believe that it was not my … [Read more...] about would you literally rather die than tell others what you need to feel safe?

my approval soars for governor newsom in this unpresidented crisis

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over the course of the shutdown, i have moved from mild approval mixed with irk to super proud of and grateful for our california governor gavin newsom. while donald trump’s approval rating has fallen several points since the beginning of march, … [Read more...] about my approval soars for governor newsom in this unpresidented crisis

joe biden needs to stop pandering and start acting (barring that, sit down & shut up)

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today the washington post energy 202 reported that vice president and putative democratic nominee for president joe biden is “open to expanding his climate plan to win over young voters.” that pretty much tells you everything you need to know about … [Read more...] about joe biden needs to stop pandering and start acting (barring that, sit down & shut up)

endless fortnight: “these will be the biggest two weeks”

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for over a month i have been telling myself, “i only have to get through these two weeks. these are the most important weeks of the pandemic.” it’s always two weeks. no one ever talks about three weeks or a month. in the english language, there used … [Read more...] about endless fortnight: “these will be the biggest two weeks”

truth, who does this belong to? am i energetically taking on other people’s feelings and symptoms in the pandemic?

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i generally feel healthy, strong and vital as long as i don’t eat certain foods that i have found deplete me. yet, since the beginning of the shutdown, even though i’ve miraculously kept from using food to manage my feelings, i have been experiencing … [Read more...] about truth, who does this belong to? am i energetically taking on other people’s feelings and symptoms in the pandemic?

not knowing my future on this holy in between day

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this week alone multiple events i was looking forward to attending months from now got cancelled. in some cases the decisions absolutely had to be made this week due to refund deadlines or other financial considerations. in other cases, it seemed … [Read more...] about not knowing my future on this holy in between day