Solstice 2025

 AI-Free

Every year I say I am going to give up my affection – some might say obsession – for the winter solstice. It appears, however, I just can’t abandon this minor personality disorder. That tiny pinprick of hope at this dark time of the year always draws me back. 

For me, shortly before June 21st, it starts simply as low spirits. Then hour by hour, as the night begins to eat into the days, I descend into a type of melancholy. Not a wholesale breakdown, mind you, just a Nordic glumness. Somehow, it seems to really hit home in earnest right after the day light saving time change. Is it the earlier sunset that dims my mood? Anyway, the encroaching darkness throws its ugly shadow over the northland and the cold dreary gloom seems endless. 

Yet oddly, like a person clinging to a life raft waiting for a ship on the horizon, I strangely look forward to this moment each year. As they say, it is darkest before the dawn.

Our faith in the timeless rhythm of life is rewarded! Suddenly we can feel it creeping up on us as it usually does. Minute by minute we approach that marvelous time of the year when the sun performs its magical slow U turn at the Tropic of Capricorn and starts its trudge up to greet its twin brother, the Tropic of Cancer - and the 6 months of joy to follow!

Somehow this causes me to pity the poor folks that live in those boring and sultry low latitudes. Why, you may ask? Well, have you ever spent the holidays in Las Vegas or Phoenix - or especially Ft Meyers? Think about it: Thanksgiving with turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. On a patio. In 75-degree weather. Absurd! 

Blow up Santas, Christmas songs - with palm trees? Shorts, and flip flops? Pina Colada's instead of Eggnog? Another day at the beach or - curse you! - golf?  

After all which of these say happy holidays. . .

                 
These?

  

Which tree is not like the others?

                       

     

      

Or this?

Well duh, no kidding!

   Sacre bleu!

   (Las Vegas guys?)

 

So I laugh at those effete poseurs' nonsensical celebrations. I say, no pain, no gain - I choose to suffer for my obsession!

REAL Man 

Just like me (sorta)

Lucky us in Minnesota! Is it any wonder that over the millennia people of every race, creed, or religion - especially in northern climes - have tapped this time for a major celebration? The Celts built Stonehenge 5000 years ago to note the exact day of the year when this occurs. The Gaul's, the Germanic people, the Romans, Christians – and many others - all celebrated this annual event in one way or the another. From prancing around a candle-laden tree to drunken parties . . . to the birth of a child. It's all good.

Pederson family Solstice celebrants
    (My uncle Singvald - you can tell by the same powerful torso and musical gift.)

I don't wish to denigrate the summer solstice (smirk) even as depressing as it is. Certainly people also celebrate the long, languid, peak days of June - but not in the same way, of course, nor with the same joyous fervor as we swains of the winter solstice. After all, what do the summer celebrants have to look forward to? Shorter days, leaf raking and then butt-numbing cold? We thinking people know that it is the beginning of the end of the glory of summer. 

June 21st - Oh boy, winter just around the corner!

Ah, but December 21^st - this year at 9:03AM - is the beginning of better days ahead.

So I hope you will join me in embracing these last days of darkness and welcome the greatest day of the year.

“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” — Albert Camus (You tell 'em Albert)

Music - and a story - for the season

Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Eve in Sarajevo

Good King Wenceslas  Mannheim Steam Roller  

Silent Night    Boyz to Men

By Special request, Nate Bargatze: Nativity Story 

Pictures Worth a Thousand Words

If a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words . . .

. . . How Many for 14 Charts?

AI Free

 This was going to be my post last month but I thought it was important to instead swap in that rather dark, gloomy view of America today (Although a little less gloomy after the recent election?) I'm sure you found it either frightening, unbelievable or irritating. Perhaps all three. In any event, hopefully you will find this one light, entertaining yet informative. Or at least one of the three.

Don't be like Rat, read View Askew

If you can’t decide how things are going in the world . . . you’re not the only one. To help with that I chose these 14 charts (all but one) from a series curated and shared by a journalist and podcaster named Derek Thompson. Hopefully you will find some of this information helpful, some surprising and some will confirm your suspicions. Perhaps some are all the above.

First up is one that probably won’t surprise you. 

1) Reading was one of mankind's greatest inventions - right up with there with booze - but I suppose this shouldn't be a surprise. (At least we're not short changing the kids - yet.)

 

2) Therefore, this makes sense. Which 50% are you in?

   

3) Depending on how you think about drinking this is either great or depressing. 50% of 35 and older folks now think drinking is bad; 66% of younger folks think so too. Sell your booze stocks!

4) Not sure what this has to do with anything but it is interesting. Perhaps this confirms something we’ve all heard about with the younger generations - rightly or wrongly. On the other hand, it looks like lot of us are heading in the wrong direction (except us real geezers!)

 

5) Now this is a head scratcher - at least for an old babyboomer.  No wonder we have a demographic problem. Something in the water? (And apparently not alcohol.)

6)  Perhaps more info than you might have expected but I can’t help but note where drinking and relaxing are on this chart. Hmmm

 (For the chart impaired items above 1x line are more time alone in those activities)

7) You may have read that divorces of people that have been married a long time - "gray divorce" - are on the rise. Apparently true but hopefully it’s looking better for the more recently wedded. Experts claim it is because people now are marrying later therefore are higher educated and have higher incomes. The path of love is never smooth - but is apparently helped along by $$$.

8) I know you will believe this – and I really hope none of YOUR money is on the right hand side this chart.

9) This probably shouldn't be a big surprise either and is something I have long suspected. In case you're wondering if you are in the top 10%, you are if your family income is between $160-250,000/year. (If so it probably still doesn't feel like it.)

Clearly the rest of us 90 percenters (actually bottom 70%) are not holding up their end of the deal - and with good reason I guess. 

10) And perhaps this chart is related to the last one - or vice versa? (In any event, not hard to understand why younger generations might be be pissed off.)

This chart courtesy of Barry Ritholtz

11) This explains a lot. Note it's not just the young people that are heading downhill.

Chart courtesy of Barry Ritholtz

12) . . . And here's another one that you will recognize. We really are becoming a country of dummies. (Related, I follow another blog that had a post titled "Are Westerners Turning Back into Medieval Peasants?" Sadly, a lot evidence to support that claim.)

13) This might be hard to believe but is apparently true and another fine mess we’ve gotten ourselves into. Kids may live in a car but are getting chubby? So perhaps the administration was actually trying to solve this in the US - in a backhanded sort of way - by cutting EBT (food stamps) funds for less fortunate chubby people. Plan foiled by those damned Democrats!

 

14) Let’s finish on a positive note. Things are always better than we think they are – but also can always be better.

With any luck this info doesn't occupy brain cells better used on something else. It is also a good idea to keep in mind what Mark Twain said (and was actually quoting British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli): "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." 

But Dear Leader would never lie to you.

In closing . . .

Just a thought, Bobby Jr.
(And that ain't no lie)

Thanks for reading - and have a great Thanksgiving  

"Bare 36 dager til årets beste dag!" (Norwegian)

Chart Topping Music . . .

If a Picture Paints a 1000 Words  Bread

 D-I-V-O-R-C-E   Tammy Wynette  (I don't like C&W music generally but it's great at this kinda a song)

Closing Time   Semisonic (Mpls' own Dan Wilson) 

Past Time to Pay Attention?

 

This seemed like perfect timing after attending yesterday's the "Hate America Riots" as they are called by our Republican friends. (Pictures below)

In January, shortly after the inauguration I had a post expressing my concern for what I felt was going to happen. This is a follow up after 9 months.

Some people today don't believe that the current administration holds any threat to our democracy which, of course, is their right. Others may suspect that it does but choose to ignore it for their own peace of mind which is also understandable. This post in intended to offer some blunt information to help folks of any view make their decisions about our country's path.  (Well, that's the plan anyway.)

For the last 249 years we Americans have been very fortunate. We have survived and thrived in good times and troubled times. We have had good and bad administrations, both Democrat and Republican. For 249 years, we could be confident that no matter which party was in power or how much we agree or disagreed with them, we could always trust in the Constitution and in our elected officials' respect for it.

I fear that we no longer have the luxury of that trust.

BTW I didn't enjoy writing this anymore than you might be reading it.

I hope you can

First, this administration's seemingly scatter-shot policies were indeed what Trump promised. (Who knew he would be the first president to actually do what he promised - unfortunately, I believe.) What is very clear now, in my opinon, is that his actions are not random or unscripted. They are the achievement of many long-time Republican goals which are stated in a plan created by various right-wing organizations, led by the Heritage Foundation, called "Project 2025." I realize this sounds conspiratorial but it is not, nor is it a secret; it has been out in public for a long time. It seems nobody cared because no one - except my son - thought the Project's plans had any chance of being implemented in America. Seeing what's happened in just 9 months, it appears he was right and we were wrong.  

Here are a few specific "highlights" from the Project (Note: Being Constitutional was not a requirement):

- "Unitary Executive"  President totally controls executive without oversight from other branches (Done)

- Dismantle Dept of Education and others (In progress)

- Reducing environmental protections for fossil fuels (In progress)

- Reduce corporate taxes and institute flat tax for individuals (Partially done)

- Cut Medicare and Medicaid (In progress)

- Remove protections for LBGTQ community (In progress)

- End DEI (Done)

- Mass deportation of "illegal" immigrants (In progress)

- Deploying US military for domestic law enforcement (In progress - blue cities only)

- Greatly shrink government employment (In progress - Democrats only when possible)

(To my knowledge, Trump's blackmailing of colleges, the media and private companies; blowing up boats, as well as siccing the DOJ on his “enemies” and beloved tarriffs are his own special plan.)

Project 2025. Huh, it's almost as if they knew Trump was going to win. . .

Before the election, our Peerless Leader claimed he hadn’t read, and didn’t know anything about, Project 2025. Obviously, another lie (along with reducing the price of eggs and ending war in Ukraine.) That said, I suspect Trump is just a puppet in this. Nonetheless, he has hired several thugs people that were contributors to that unsavory document, the most dangerous of which is Russell Vought. In case you haven't heard of him, he is Trump's director of the powerful Office of Management and Budget. He was a key author of Project 2025 and is now responsible for managing (gutting) the government budget for everything (and especially in blue states) - except the military and Homeland Security

Vought has stated his overarching objective is to "align the federal bureaucracy to the will of an elected president." (Note: he means a Republican president, hopefully one as malleable as Trump.) He has often expressed a desire to fundamentally reduce and reshape the federal bureaucracy including reclassifying thousands of merit-based federal civil service workers as political appointees in order to replace them with the president's sycophants. (Doing a great job so far.)

Besides turning the government into a dictatorship, Vought is also a dedicated Christian Evangelical. His mission is to "renew a consensus of America as a nation under God." He wants to "infuse the government and society with elements of Christianity." Obviously meaning a Christian nation where gays, non-whites, and non-Christians know their place. (If you read or watched "A Handmaid's Tale" you have an idea of this Promised Land.) 

Unfortunately, there's much more of the same frightening stuff in their plan to make America "great again." Left unsaid, of course, if the project is completed America would be a one-political party Christian nation.

Sadly, I am sure that there are still some that agree with these goals and support what is happening. So be it. Those folks need to understand, however, the price we will all pay for it. I believe they are terribly misguided and if this corrupt plan is successful, they will surely regret it just like the rest of us. Certainly, many, maybe even most of us will not be directly impacted by this administration (if you don't count losing several Constitutional rights) and especially us older folks. But think about our kids, grandkids and generations to come not to mention those being hurt today. 

As for Mrs. Dear Leader and me, we think it is vicious, unconstitutional, and just plain wrong for America. It would create a country we wouldn't wish to live in.

After the Constitution was signed, Benjamin Franklin, when asked if we had republic or a monarchy, replied “A republic, if you can keep it.” I wonder what would he say today?

Remember, the Germans had these same warnings in 1933.

They did not pay attention. 

On  a positive note, after yesterday I believe more people are paying attention!

My 3rd "America Haters" event Saturday

                     

                           Each one bigger than the last.  

 

                                

 I love these people!

Music for the times

For What it's Worth    Buffalo Springfield

The Times They Are A Changing    Bob Dylan

The Way It Is    Bruce Hornsby

The Definition of Insanity?

 Is Our National Tolerance of Annunciation Tragedies  

Why You Don't Need an Assault Rifle

Like many people, I’ve had some time to think about the Annunciation horror. (Not that I wanted to.) In the brief interim there have been several more school and mass shootings so one might ask, is there any point to talk about this sort of thing anymore? (Although apprently I can't help myself, here’s a link to a very brief excerpt of a post of mine from 2023.) 

April 2023 Excerpt

Seriously, I’m amazed that we still talk about this stuff at all.

But we must. 

Sadly, this national psychosis is nothing new for us (after all we are a notoriously violent people.) The first recorded school shooting in America was 1840 and then one every few years thereafter with one or two kids killed - until 1966 when Charles Whitman killed 18 people at the Univ. Of Texas. There were several more, of course, until the next big one, Columbine High School in 1999 where 16 people died. It wasn’t until the 21st century that the deaths really kicked in. Every year but two has had double digit deaths including Sandy Hook in 2012 with 28 dead, 17 killed in 2018 at a Parkland Fl school, and 22 dead in Uvalde TX in 2022. 

A rational country would have done something about this long before all that. But not here, almost weekly or monthly school shootings are now the norm in the US.

Yes, I know, other countries have mass shootings but school shootings are very rare and typically with far fewer victims e.g. 2000-2022 there were 6 events in France, 5 in Germany, 2 UK . . . and 109 in the US - American Exceptionalism on display! (Apparently, they also have lots of mentally ill folks.) 

By the way, the vast majority of shooters in America are young, white males. Obviously troubled but killers nonetheless.

Why have these horrible occurrences increased in frequency and violence in the past 30 years or so? That’s the question, isn’t it? Much smarter people than me haven’t been able to crack the code but here are some possibilities.

Perhaps it's just a coincidence but starting in the mid-70’s the National Rifle Association (NRA), which had been a sportsman organization, became a powerful anti-gun control lobby ($$$.) Then beginning in the 80’s and through the 2000's, many of the same things occurred that have brought us to this place politically, huge changes socially and economically, an opioid epidemic and, social media helping us retreat to our own little worlds and distrust of anyone outside of them. Not coincidently, we also decided to close most mental institutions (too expensive to treat all those folks?) leaving troubled people to get by on their own.

Then in 2004 the ban on assault weapons that had been in effect for 10 years expired. (It hadn't reduced the number of attacks by much but it did reduce the body count each time.) Perhaps the final push was the Supreme Court Heller decision in 2007 that said the anyone could have guns – without any conditions. Boy, did that open flood gates! (Of course, the NRA and gun owners immediately forgot – or ignored - what noted “liberal’ Justice Scalia said then, that "dangerous and unusual weapons" were not covered by the ruling.) Apparently, most assault rifles are not dangerous or unusual.

We’ve all heard the two main reasons we need guns: 1) to protect ourselves and family and, 2) to defend against tyranny (whatever that means.) I can only say that I would think you could protect our family with a shotgun, handgun, or a hunting rifle. As far as fighting tyranny, is that even germane? Unlike when the Constitution was written, we now have a standing military, the best in the world. If the government comes for your guns it is not going to be a fair fight - and you will not keep them e.g. Google Ruby Ridge or Branch Davidians. (Or, sadly, watch what is going on in DC and other cities today.)

So what about assault weapons and large capacity magazines? It seems to me that the actual reason for owners' “passion” for these weapons - that were solely intended for killing the maximum number of people in war in the shortest time - is some vicarious thrill. It's nothing more than a reckless hobby with dangerous side effects. Not illegal but certainly unnecessary.

Ultimately any hope of controlling any guns is stymied by (an interpretation of) the Second Amendment. Yes, owning an assault-type rifle is a right (a philosophical right based in the 18th century) but should we treat that right like freedom of speech or self-incrimination? Maybe the better question: is it the right thing to do?

Was the late right-wing influencer, Charlie Kirk, correct (somewhat ironically as it turns out) when he said: 'I think it’s worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the second amendment to protect our other God-given rights. That is a prudent deal. It is rational."

So is it rational? Is that philosophical (not God-given) “right” worth accepting the death of innocent children - or a right-wing influencer - as the "price of freedom" to own such an unnecessary, deadly weapon? That is simply a mind numbingly stupid proposition in my opinion. Reality has met a philosophical belief - and reality is losing. It’s time for some reconsideration or recalibration; there is no logical reason to have a hobby with such deadly side effects. 

No, an assault weapon ban is not a cure all, and yes, much else must be done including better mental health care and several other things. But it's a start. 

One way or the other something must be done for the preposterous and pitiful goal of reducing the number of kids killed per shooting by crazed murderers. (I'm ashamed even writing that.)

In any event, I won't be writing about it again.

September, the Gateway . . .

 . . .To Whatever Comes Next

Sep 1^st, Last Day of Minnesota State Fair 

                                                                  

                                                                                                                                 Sept 2nd 

Okay, a bit of an exaggeration but that’s what it seems like.  

Note:

I am not commenting on the horrific tragedy that occurred at Annunciation Church last month at this time. I simply don't wish to think or talk about these seemingly daily occurrences just now, perhaps later. (And BTW, thoughts and prayers are actually worse than nothing.)

How about something pleasant?

On to September, a truly wonderful month in Minnesota. There's still plenty of time and great weather for golf and enjoying the outdoors (though sadly those two are often mutually exclusive.) 

Yet, at least to me, there is also a sort of melancholy tone to this month: the end of the state fair, kids heading back to school and days becoming shorter than nights. Then, the leaves will turn, drift down, stupid pumpkin-spice latte's appear and . . . I don’t know, it’s just hard not to think about the quickening passage of time in September. 

Which reminds me, and I think most everyone of a certain age, that the passage of time seems to speed up as we get older. (Yet another rotten trick by nature.) I won't bother you with the technical reason why but according to experts it is actually true, it does appear to pass more quickly. Also true is that everyone has their own way of dealing with the passing of time.

Some better than others. 

Here's one way that I think you may recognize.

  

In my archive of ideas for posts I rediscovered this brief article from a dozen years ago. (I save a  lot stuff - my how time flies!) It was an item about the difficulties of facing the ravages of time by someone who, IMHO, is one of the most beautiful humans ever, Julie Christie. (And I admit I have always had a crush on her.)

You know, Lara from Doctor Zhivago with the haunting “Lara’s Theme?”  Age 25 in the movie. At the time of the article she had recently turned 73 and it seems that she was none too pleased about this aging thing.  (Mein Gott im Himmel, that means she is now 85!) 

 

Julie at 68

    

She says, and I quote: “I’m tempted every time I look in the mirror, I know what I look like, then I look in the mirror and think, “I don’t know who that is. You want to get your familiar face back and when you see all the lines around your chin, neck, eyes and mouth, and your bloody arms and everything else. . .” 

I know the feeling, sister!  

 

Some might say that is a shallow or foolish way for her to look at it. But we're not her. She has always been "beautiful" and has always known it. It was who she was. Maybe that’s why this is so difficult for her to accept. But what about the rest of us mere mortals? 

We Neanderthals er, I mean men, certainly can't speak for women. I have heard an old saying that "men dress for women and women dress for . . . other women." (If true that tells you something right there.) In any event, it may be gender or it may be cultural - lord knows our society is much harder on women - but ladies are entitled to whatever view they want.

Now men, on the other hand, definitely seem to think about aging in their own unique way. (When they think about anything at all except sex.)

Tom Selleck 27

Don’t get me wrong, no guy enjoys watching the invading army of time take its toll our powerful bodies and smooth but handsome faces any more than women. (Some people say I had a striking resemblance to Tom's brother, Bobo Selleck.* Well, except for the hairy chest. Okay, and the handsome face but otherwise . . .) 

Tom age 80
(What stupid hair)

Somehow, however, I think our outlook is different. That is, men place less importance on our outward attributes and for two reasons:

(And sure, okay, some people have better genes than others - or more money.)

1) Unlike women, nobody really cares what we look like including ourselves (well, MOST of us.) Alternatively, many of us are delusional and still think we really do look like young Tom (beer belly, hairy ears and all.) Whatever. It’s never really been the defining thing for us as guys (well, most of us) and, 

2) We care more about the inside stuff. Inner beauty or deep important thoughts? LMAO, heaven forbid! I mean health as in aches and pains and other unmentionably bad stuff. If all the parts work AND we're still reasonably healthy AND you’re not a complete Quasimodo - let alone Tom Selleck - then, as a guy, the aging process is being kind to you. Note: if you're a guy and don't agree with this that's okay but you're probably just weird. 

Well, that’s my theory (you're free to laugh now.) 

Julie today
25 or 85, you will always be "Lara" to me.

You will be happy to know that Julie is much more comfortable with herself and age now. (I, on the other hand, will continue to see myself as a handsome, young stud - to hell with reality!) 

Epilogue:

In the intervening years, I now have a daughter who has a PhD in Gerontology i.e. ("older adults.") Great timing, huh?! Anyway, I'm sure she frowns on this sort of shallow thinking about aging and appearance, and rightly so - but it's hard to ignore thousands of years of evolution.

Perhaps the main lesson here, as if you need reminding, is to appreciate getting older because there's only one alternative and it is very bad.

I apologize for the detour so back to our lovely autumn.

Tempus fugit - but there is still plenty left to be excited about fall - and life - so enjoy it!

FORE! (Splash)

Happy autumn!

*I stole this from another late great friend who would often introduce himself this way. (What a card, right?)

Music to pass the time . . .

When You're in love With a Beautiful Woman    Dr Hook

Time of My Life   Bill Medley, Jennifer Warnes

Lara's Theme   Maurice Jarre

Quote Du Jour

"Yesterday is but today's memory, and tomorrow is today's dream." Khalil Gibran

Resist