Some of the times
There are no words,
so let us just sit here in the silence.
Together in the silence we shall be.
Little thoughts by Athey Thompson
Art by Ida Rentoul Outhwaite
Little Monday Thoughts
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Lady Justice Prevailed With a GUILTY Verdict On All Counts
I don’t often write about political issues, but this is big news.
Have you heard?
On May 30th 2024, a jury of citizens in the state of New York convicted a former President of thirty-four felony counts.
There has been a full scale political assault on Lady Justice these past few years, but she’s still standing, proud and resolute.
In my opinion, the true crime is whatever the orange turd did to steal the election from Hilllary Clinton in 2016. He should have never been elected President.
I was a bit worried that the jury wouldn’t understand their task, but they did.
From the New York Times:
Donald J. Trump was convicted on Thursday of falsifying records to cover up a sex scandal that threatened to derail his 2016 presidential campaign, capping an extraordinary trial that tested the resilience of the American justice system and will reverberate into November’s election.
From BBC News, here’s exactly how it happened when the jury returned to the courtroom with a verdict:
The judge walked into the courtroom shortly after 4:00 pm, and said he planned to dismiss the jury for the day in a half hour. Then he left to talk to them.
Passing the time, Mr Trump and his lead attorney, Todd Blanche, huddled together at the defence table laughing. They looked like old friends sharing a good joke – and Mr Trump’s shoulders even shook in a rare display of mirth.
But then, as time passed, the judge still had not returned.
A few minutes later, Justice Merchan arrived in a swoop of black robes, his face inscrutable.
The jury, he said, had a note. And a verdict. They had taken extra time to fill out required paperwork, but they were ready.
The atmosphere shifted. The only noise was the sound of reporters frantically typing.
“All rise,” a court officer said suddenly. “Jury entering”.
One by one, the twelve walked past Trump who rose along with the rest of the courtroom for their entrance.
Justice Merchan, in the same even tone he used throughout the trial, asked the jury to confirm they had a verdict.
They had, the foreperson said.
The first guilty verdict landed – the next 33 added a crushing weight.
Silent and still at the defence table, Trump kept his lips pursed as his lawyers, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove on either side of him, glanced sternly toward the judge.
As each juror verbally confirmed the decision to convict him, Trump turned his head in their direction and followed their faces one by one as they answered.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office charged Trump with 34 counts of falsification of business records. He was guilty on all counts.
Prosecutors said that with Trump’s approval, his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid adult film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 to stay silent just before his 2016 presidential run about an alleged sexual encounter. Trump then was accused of approving a fraudulent scheme to disguise the reimbursement to Cohen as legal expenses.
He pleaded not guilty and has denied having sex with Ms. Daniels.
On Thursday, Trump’s pursed expression remained unchanged after the verdict was read and his attorneys pleaded with the judge for acquittal, claiming Mr Trump’s former fixer had committed perjury with his damning testimony on the stand.
Denied, Justice Merchan said.
Can he still run for president?
Yes. The US Constitution sets out relatively few eligibility requirements for presidential candidates: they must be at least 35, be a “natural born” US citizen and have lived in the US for at least fourteen years. There are no rules blocking candidates with criminal records.
What could Trump’s sentence be?
Trump has been free on bail throughout the trial and this did not change after the verdict was read on Thursday.
The judge will have several factors to consider in sentencing, including Trump’s age. The sentence could involve a fine, probation or supervision, or possibly prison time.
The more pressing matter to discuss is how messed up this country is, how his cult of hatred attracted so many disturbed followers — and how we can make sure this never happens again.
It’s really scary to consider that millions of Americans were being brainwashed by a reality-TV host.
Do they need to be deprogrammed? Can they be deprogrammed?
From Vanity Fair, Steven Hassan, a former Moonie turned cult expert and author of The Cult of Trump, says the process will require not only empathy and individual family involvement but a wholesale change in how social media and information systems separate fact from dangerous fictions. “I would put undue influence or mind control as the number-two most important thing that we address for the planet,” he says. “Because otherwise authoritarianism, using social media, is a threat.”
At the end of the day, Lady Justice might be slightly tattered, but this time she was able to rally and stand for truth. We need more of this.
What I’m Reading: Crow Planet
Because my human family understands the special love I feel for my crow family (I refer to them as my cousins), I was gifted Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom from the Urban Wilderness by Lyanda Lynn Haupt.
These are some of my garden “cousins” who greet me in the morning.
“Grandma, I know you love crows so much, but do you think they’re a little scary?”
Angel Boy asked that question because the crows in their neighborhood seem to know when they’re eating outside in the garden, and perch in the trees and on the garage to patiently wait for fallen morsels.
“I’m not afraid of them because I don’t believe they would ever cause me harm. The crows who visit me at home leave shiny little gifts. These guys simply want to share your dinner.”
I didn’t think it was the right time to tell him that if he tried – he could get them to eat out of his hand — but one day I might.
Crows are considered to be among the most intelligent animals in the world with brains that are similar in size to humans and make up almost two percent of their body mass. They’re known for their ability to solve complex problems, and some say they have the intelligence of a two to seven-year-old child.
Haupt is a Seattle-based author, naturalist, and speaker. “My work explores the beautiful, complicated connections between humans and the wild, natural world.” She has created and directed educational programs for Seattle Audubon, worked in raptor rehabilitation in Vermont, and as a seabird researcher for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the remote tropical Pacific. (Curated from https://www.lyandalynnhaupt.com/)
If you love crows like I do, you will LOVE Crow Planet.
What are YOU reading now?
The Dragonfly
Art + Poetry, two of my faves to join together.
The Dragon-Fly
Today I saw the dragon-fly
Come from the wells where he did lie.
An inner impulse rent the veil
Of his old husk: from head to tail
Came out clear plates of sapphire mail.
He dried his wings: like gauze they grew;
Thro’ crofts and pastures wet with dew
A living flash of light he flew.
--- Alfred Lord Tennyson
Before bats, before birds, before pterosaurs, a dragonfly-like insect was probably the first thing to fly on Earth. Dragonflies are the strongest flyers in the insect world—reaching speeds of up to 30 mph and among the few animals that can hover. (PBS)
Dragonflies undergo “incomplete metamorphosis” which means that they don’t go through a pupal phase like a butterfly. A dragonfly nymph hatches from an egg looking somewhat like a tiny adult, but without wings. The nymphs go through a series of molts, shedding their skin. Each of these molts is called an instar. The nymph comes “from the wells where he did lie” in the final instar before becoming an adult, or imago.
The nymph must shed its exoskeleton to reveal a new, winged body. A split forms dorsally on the thorax just above the wing pads and somehow the imago must pump fluid into the wings so they will expand and harden.
Nature is AMAZING.
May’s Full Flower Moon
The Flower Moon reminds us that the most beautiful blossoms have deep roots — as this lunation is receiving a motivating push from subterranean planet Pluto, which could catalyze some deep emotional excavation.
To honor this beautiful full moon, which the Lakota call “Moon Of The Green Leaves”, here are some of my favorite flower photos…
All photos by Enchanted Seashells
(Some content curated from Bustle)
Honest Review: Zoflora Concentrated Disinfectant
I’m always on the hunt for the best cleaning products and I was truly excited when I learned about Zoflora from my British DIL.
If it can disinfect and successfully clean up after my two feral grandkids, that’s all the recommendation I need!
I don’t know the reasons why, but the UK often has better products (and TV shows) than we do here in the States and this popular cleanser is one of them, proudly claiming to have been made in Yorkshire since 1922.
I’ve always cleaned with Lysol and PineSol because that’s what my mom used and while they definitely do the job, I’m pleased with Zoflora’s results, plus it’s a nice change from the piney medicinal smell.
Here’s an interesting fact: Zoflora was originally developed to kill germs and eliminate odors in public spaces like dance halls and cinemas.
The fragrance is a beautiful arrangement of exquisite rose and rich violet, with layers of white musk, precious woods and hints of green citrus.
My DIL’s mom brings her a couple bottles when she visits because we thought it wasn’t available here, but I found some at Walmart online and quickly placed an order which should arrive this week.
It’ll be enough to last a while because it’s concentrated. In a spray bottle, dilute one capful of Zoflora to 400 ml/ 13.5 ounces of water. Generally, dilute one part Zoflora in forty parts water for larger cleaning jobs.
If you have pets, be extra careful using this product. Always ensure pets are excluded from the area when using Zoflora, don’t let your furry family onto newly treated floors or surfaces until they are completely dry. FYI: Zoflora products are not suitable for use in aquariums, vivaria, or other housing where reptiles are kept.
Zoflora Concentrated Disinfectant, a multipurpose disinfectant:
- Zoflora kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses such as E-Coli, Salmonella and Influenza
- Zoflora contains patented odour elimination technology, and our fragrances are tested to last at least 24 hours, leaving your home beautifully fragrant
- Zoflora disinfectant can be used on floors, baths, tiles, taps, worktops, drains, dishcloths, toilets & potties. Safe for use on hard surface pet areas.
- Zoflora is a concentrated disinfectant that can be used neat or diluted in water. 500ml of Zoflora makes almost 20L of full-strength disinfectant.
- Our fragrances are crafted by expert perfumers with premium ingredients to bring luxurious scents to your home.
- https://www.zoflora.co.uk/
Since it seems as if the rains are over and we’re back to normally dry SoCal weather, it’s time to wash the windows, screens, and tracks — and initiate other heavy spring cleaning projects inside and out. I can’t wait to pull on my rubber gloves and begin scrubbing (said no one ever except me haha!).
**This is an honest review. I did not receive any product or compensation from the company. I have used Zoflora myself and wanted to share my positive experiences.
Forest | For Rest
This is so cool! I love word play like this and it’s also a simply authentic, profound observation.
Forest = for rest.
Do You Wonder, Too?
Forest is Mother
The ultimate mother...
Be my mother, I said to the trees, in the language of trees, which can’t be transcribed, and they shook their hair back, and they bent low with their many arms, and they looked into my eyes as only trees can look into the eyes of a person, they touched me with the rain on their fingers till I was all droplets, till I was a mist, and they said they would. (Emily Berry, Canopy: Stranger, Baby)
Happy Mother’s Day!
Is “Of Course” The New “You’re Welcome”?
Of course!
I’ve become obsessed with observing how often people say “of course” in response to “thank you” or any other expression of appreciation. Have you noticed it, too?
For example, I was at the market and said thank you to the person who bagged my groceries. He said, “Of course.”
Later, a neighbor gave me a cool puzzle for the grandkids. I texted “thank you.” She responded, “of course”.
Someone else helped me find a particular section of rugs in TJ Maxx and when I told her I appreciated the help, she responded, “of course.”
This all happened in the same day because it seems as if no one says “you’re welcome” EVER –just “of course.”
Is it rude? Is it polite?
OF COURSE I did a little research…
Here’s the query: Is it rude to reply “of course”?
‘Of course’ by itself means obvious, expected. So when someone says ‘of course’ instead of ‘you’re welcome’, the feeling is “it’s obvious that I would do that because I want to do that’. It seems to be a friendly communication, BUT IS IT?
In fact, it’s a big search on Quora…
Why do millennials often say “of course” instead of saying “you’re welcome” when you thank them?
You can respond to someone who says “of course!” after you thank them by expressing your gratitude again or by acknowledging their kindness. For example, you could say “Thank you again, I really appreciate it” or “You’re so kind, thank you.” This shows that you value their response and appreciate their willingness to help.
What about people who respond “no problem” in response to “thank you”?
I like this following points of view:
“You’re welcome,” is the correct short answer. “Of course” implies entitlement. Even the currently popular, “No problem,” implies imposition.
Both of those answers imply “It’s all about me, not you.” I think it’s another sign, indicative of more and more egregious narcissistic behavior creeping into our society on a daily basis.
Regardless of the following ways to respond to “thank you” and you can call me old-fashioned, but I’m going to stick with “you’re welcome.” That’s the only one that feels right to me.
Do you say “no problem” or “of course” or are you like me and reply with a simple “you’re welcome”?
rachelsenglish.comhttps://rachelsenglish.com › youre-welcome
Enchanted Seashells | Princess Rosebud 