Over the next few days, I'll share my annual list of favorite books, music, and movies. Art always sustains and nourishes the soul. But for me, music and storytelling felt especially urgent during this pandemic year. I'll start by sharing some of my favorite books of 2021: pic.twitter.com/Ewo2sIc7WM
Since these are works I have actually listened to, watched, or read, I’m sure I’ve missed some worthy stuff. So if you have your own recommendations to share, I’ll add them to the stack of books and movies I hope to catch up on over the holidays!
Next up are my favorite movies of the year. Each of these films tells a powerful story, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. pic.twitter.com/peFGiaTvby
I've always enjoyed listening to a wide variety of music, so it’s no surprise that I listened to a little bit of everything this year. I hope you find a new artist or song to add to your own playlist. pic.twitter.com/g6kBzAbrZG
Met my match’:
Barack Obama gets upstaged by little girl at vaccination centre, discusses favourite book
Along with Dr Anthony Fauci, White House Chief Medical Advisor,
Barack Obama visited vaccine site at Kimball Elementary School in southeast Washington.
Presents on Time for Christmas,
Gas Prices Falling,
U.S. Economy Massively Outperforming Rest of the World
Dec 22/21 Blog
From the Speaker’s Press Office:
“President Biden and House Democrats are delivering durable economic growth with historic investments in infrastructure, a stronger supply chain, and American workers. Now, ahead of the holiday season,
families are seeing presents arrive on time, gas prices beginning to fall, and a strong outlook for more durable economic growth for the United States even as other countries struggle to find their footing.
Here are the top stories about welcome economic news this holiday:
Santa Tells Joy Reid
‘I Would Love For Our Country To Have Peace, Happiness, Harmony’
“The great Santa shortage of 2021 made it difficult for every kid to meet Saint Nick this year.
Luckily, Santa Larry–a great, old friend of Joy Reid’s–took time out of his very busy schedule to pay us a visit
from his North Pole studio. “
Stephen Miller complains that he and his wife are unable to find necessities for their forthcoming child due to supply chain issues. I think we should all send them Mylar blankets and cheap juice packs. He said those were good enough for the kids he locked up at the border.— ᒪᗩᑎᑕᗴ 🏳️🌈 (@LanceUSA70) December 24, 2021
🐾🐰 Henlo, frens! It’s me, the newest DOTUS. Major introduced me to Poppet earlier, she was a bit confused, thought I might be part wabbit, like her. She pawdmitted it’s because of my ears. Major said I can use them to communicate with satellites. Pawhaha – #Commanderpic.twitter.com/82PlWrPwr1
— The Oval Pawffice® 🇺🇸 DOTUS Fans (@TheOvalPawffice) December 21, 2021
🐾♥️🎄Barking news: I have a new baby sibling, he’s a German Shepherd just like me. His name is #Commander, he’s a puppy and I am pawsitively thrilled to welcome him to the family. This is the best Christmas gift ever, my wish came true. #NewDOTUS! Awooooof! – Major pic.twitter.com/IeVnHTxOjv
— The Oval Pawffice® 🇺🇸 DOTUS Fans (@TheOvalPawffice) December 20, 2021
🐾🐶🎄Henlo, frens! My name is #Commander, I’m Major’s new baby brother and I’m so furry happy to be pawrt of the wonderful Biden family. Major told me that I am now a First Dog too, just like him. Isn’t that pawbulous? Wuuf wuuf! – Commander #DOTUS#FirstPuppypic.twitter.com/tCgT40Oupk
— The Oval Pawffice® 🇺🇸 DOTUS Fans (@TheOvalPawffice) December 20, 2021
“We’ve never had a president come with the First Lady on Christmas Eve,” the administrator of Children's Hospital said (many First Ladies have visited) (Photo: Pool) pic.twitter.com/1ajqRPbG5m
— West Wing Reports (by Paul Brandus) (@WestWingReport) December 24, 2021
Wishing all of my TOD Family good health, laughter, love and joy! Merry Christmas!😘❤️🎄
December 25, 2016, I was in a hospital bed with my first chemo treatment coursing through my veins. My loving family was there with me – telling funny stories & singing Christmas songs. Today I’ll share stories, laugh & sing w/ them again. It’s Very Merry Christmas indeed! 🎄❤️
— THEE Dudette is Vaxxed, Boosted & Masked 😷💛🐝 (@Dudette9t9) December 25, 2021
Merry Christmas from Forever POTUS and Forever FLOTUS🎄❤️
Merry Christmas from our family to yours! Barack and I send our best wishes to you all for a safe, healthy, and joyful holiday season. 🎄🎁💫 pic.twitter.com/S4X6Fux1u1
Merry Christmas, everybody! This year, I got a little help spreading holiday cheer from Sunny. Wishing you all a peaceful and joyful holiday season with the ones you love. pic.twitter.com/qPF6L5GWEW
From our family to yours, Merry Christmas! May your time with loved ones be filled with warmth, comfort, and joy this holiday season. pic.twitter.com/gCPM81l5Pu
At just 28 years old, Patricia Kingori has received tenure at University of Oxford! This means she has become the youngest Black woman to do so. Congrats, Patricia! You are breaking glass ceilings for many young women of color! 👏🏾 https://t.co/2BNoC1bTdx
Rachel Pres Biden announced plans to appoint two new postal governors who will replace two existing conservative members. Only the Board of Governors can fire the post master general.
@RepRajaKrish I'm expecting a vote to fire DeJoy in January when the new board takes charge.
I just received this in a text message. It warmed my heart 💝
Merry Christmas, everybody! This year, I got a little help spreading holiday cheer from Sunny. Wishing you all a peaceful and joyful holiday season with the ones you love. pic.twitter.com/qPF6L5GWEW
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays all my TOD family. Hope the day was spent with family and friends and that you all enjoyed good food and good company… on to a good New Year!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays all my TOD family. Hope the day was spent with family and friends and that you all enjoyed good food and good company… on to a good New Year!
Am going to keep post this song, for our TOD Fam! It’s a lift you up but we can imagine a virtual line dance w/ all our TOD Fam. Go for it in your space! Most important, you gotta shake a leg & your whatevers. Retro for the younger fam? 💃💞
Let’s pata pata into 2022 & beyond w/ the Legendary Miriam Makeba! 💞🎶
Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a mentor, a friend, and a moral compass for me and so many others. A universal spirit, Archbishop Tutu was grounded in the struggle for liberation and justice in his own country, but also concerned with injustice everywhere. pic.twitter.com/qiiwtw8a5B
A Ballerina Who Adds to the ‘Palette of What’s Possible’
Chyrstyn Fentroy was a star at Dance Theater of Harlem before joining Boston Ballet, where she has been promoted to the top rank of principal.
“Fentroy’s ascent may not be surprising, but it’s still news. For a Black woman to become principal dancer at an American ballet company remains a rare feat.”
“I’m also recognizing how important identifying myself as biracial is,” she said. “Two of my mentees were biracial, and we talked about people always putting us in a category that we didn’t know if we identified with.”
“In May, Montana, which has several new statutes narrowing health officials’ powers,
became the first state to prohibit discrimination based on vaccination status.
It applies to any vaccine,
not just shots to protect against the coronavirus.
It means that employers may ask staff members whether they have been immunized against the virus,
but they cannot punish or lay off employees who refuse to disclose their vaccination status or to get the shots.
It makes an exception for nursing homes —
but not for hospitals or clinics.”
= So don’t get sick or go to the hospital in MT or other states with trumpy governors happy to lose their own voters. And don’t birth your baby there. Solved.
Okay, everyone, watch this, and wet your whistles for the trailer to hopefully come soon…
The short film will be released most likely in early 2022… will bring a link ~
This is the latest film from my daughter, making the rounds of film festivals worldwide now, and receiving high reviews, and a few awards… it’s all very exciting, not to be missed!!
Watch, enjoy and share!!
“And a Christmas gift from the New York Science and Nature Film Festival, feedback on my elephant film:”
Good movie recommendation: Don’t LookUp on Netflix. I experienced it the same way Sherrilyn Ifill did. The cast is jam-packed with stellar talent.
Laughed nervously more than once, shook my head in recognition & disgust, laughed some more, and finally in the end just felt sobered by it all. Like watching a climate change-themed Dr. Strangelove. Well done. #DontLookUp@netflixpic.twitter.com/ujICZGDTXX
There’s also a great song by Bon Iver in the end credits.
#DontLookUp is available on @netflix today; listen for our brand-new track "Second Nature"! Honored to contribute to this incredible and important movie with our friend @NicholasBritell.
KWANZAA 2nd day Principle- Kujichagulia-Self Determination…to define…name…ourselves…to determine our own destiny..to speak Truth to Power about who we are…and our History in this country #Project1619… pic.twitter.com/wWJ56EQ1Rc
— PrettyFoot💃🏾 is vaxed-boostered-wears a mask😷 (@PrettyFootWoman) December 27, 2021
Will Donald Trump Get Away With Inciting an Insurrection?
“In his nine months in office, Attorney General Merrick Garland
has done a great deal to restore integrity and evenhanded enforcement of the law to an agency that was badly misused for political reasons under his predecessor. But his place in history will be assessed against the challenges that confronted him. And the overriding test that he and the rest of the government face is the threat to our democracy from people bent on destroying it.
Mr. Garland’s success depends on ensuring that the rule of law endures.
That means dissuading future coup plotters by holding the leaders of the insurrection fully accountable for their attempt to overthrow the government. But he cannot do so without a robust criminal investigation of those at the top, from the people who planned, assisted or funded the attempt to overturn the Electoral College vote to those who organized or encouraged the mob attack on the Capitol.
To begin with, he might focus on Mark Meadows, Steve Bannon, Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman and even Donald Trump — all of whom were involved, in one way or another, in the events leading up to the attack.
Almost a year after the insurrection,
we have yet to see any clear indicators that such an investigation is underway, raising the alarming possibility that this administration may never bring charges against those ultimately responsible for the attack.”
Sketchy Chinese company under investigation is well suited to partner with Donald Trump
Douglas MacMillan, reporter for the Washington Post, talks with Rachel Maddow about the shady background of the Chinese company helping Donald Trump take his new media company public.
V.P. Kamala Harris’s successes overlooked by political media
“Foreign Affairs Analyst David Rothkopf shares his in-depth reporting on the foreign relations work
Vice President Kamala Harris is doing for the President, arguing that her story isn’t getting out.”
“Foreign policy is not done in front of the camera very often.”
Congrats to all the scientists and engineers involved with launching this once-in-a-generation telescope! Proud my administration supported it when the going got tough, and I can't wait to see what it uncovers about the fundamental origins of our universe. https://t.co/5NMByUE8C1
The dubious qualifications
“of former football player Herschel Walker,
a Republican candidate for Senate endorsed by both Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell,
who apparently had good reason to avoid interviews.”
V.P. Kamala Harris Turns Up The Heat On The Senate To Pass Voting Rights
Transcript via CBS’s Face The Nation:
VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS:
“…and I’m talking about what’s not happening in this Capitol in Washington, D.C.,
which is the passing of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act.
We have to- we have to agree- and this is not about saying you should vote for me or you should vote for Democrats. This is about everyone having unfettered access to their right to vote and- and agreeing that this is bigger than one election cycle. This is literally about our standing in the world, it’s about the integrity of our democracy. And I do believe of all the things that are on the headline news tonight, tomorrow, for the next week or months, when our kids look back five- ten years from now, at this moment it will be on our watch that we either stood for and fought for our democracy or not. And that I think that is all at stake right now.”
“Democracy is being killed by the politics of self in the Senate.
There is no policy reason why voting rights legislation has not passed yet.
All 50 Democrats agree on and support the voting rights bills in the Senate.
Vice President Harris was right about the critical importance of voting rights. A couple of Senate Democrats are treating the right to vote as just another issue, and the consequences could be disastrous for the future of US democracy.” (Easley, politicus)
E.O. Wilson,
‘Darwin’s natural heir,’ dies at age 92
The biologist and ant specialist championed biodiversity and conservation.
“Edward O. Wilson, the American biologist and leading authority on ants whose study of tiny insects led to some of the biggest, most provocative scientific ideas of the 20th century—notably that a biological basis to human behavior exists and that preserving biodiversity is key to the planet’s survival—died on December 26 in Burlington, Massachusetts, according to a statement from the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation. He was 92.
Called “one of the foremost naturalists in both science and literature” by the National Geographic Society, which awarded him its Hubbard Medal in 2013, and “Darwin‘s natural heir” by others, Wilson was a soft-spoken Southern gentleman who did his seminal work at Harvard University, yet never forgot his roots in Gulf Coast Alabama. Much of the modern environmental movement owes its scientific underpinnings to him.
“He played the most important role in elevating biodiversity in the public consciousness,” said Thomas Lovejoy, the late ecologist who coined the term “biological diversity.”
“Ed’s elegant writing has contributed in a way that none of the rest of us has.”
Wilson’s contributions were legion.”
“…Later, Wilson and mathematician William Bossert, a Harvard colleague,
helped unlock the secrets of ant communication,
describing their secretion of chemical signals known as pheromones.
Microorganisms, plants, and most animals use such scent signals to relay information.
Some of Wilson’s work sparked a political firestorm.
In the 1970s, his study of social ants, bees, wasps, and termites led him to create the field of sociobiology, which shattered then-popular dogma that babies are born tabula rasa, or with their minds a blank slate to be formed by nurture and learning alone. In The Insect Societies, and more fully in Sociobiology: The New Synthesis, he insisted that genetic traits influence intelligence and play a role in both animal and human behavior, including aggression.”
“He eventually returned to Harvard,
where he served as curator of insects at its Museum of Comparative Zoology for the rest of his life”.
A prolific author who wrote every day, Wilson published more than 20 books. In 1978, eager to answer critics of sociobiology, he expanded on the role of biology in human culture in On Human Nature. The book launched the field of evolutionary psychology and won Wilson the first of two Pulitzer Prizes. His monumental treatise, The Ants, with co-author Bert Hölldobler, became the only book written for scientists to win a Pulitzer. Wilson’s writing was hardly confined to empirical science.”
Wilson added: “I believe that we’re on the edge of a new era, in which value is extended to saving the rest of nature. Knowing it, preserving it, studying it, understanding it, cherishing it, and holding on until we know what the hell we’re doing.”
Wilson added: “I believe that we’re on the edge of a new era, in which value is extended to saving the rest of nature. Knowing it, preserving it, studying it, understanding it, cherishing it, and holding on until we know what the hell we’re doing.”
—–Even in 1996, one of his post-doc students reported that E.O. Wilson produced 40 handwritten pages
every day…imagine.
Dear readers, I know my absence has only made your hearts grow fonder; however, you will not have to wait much longer. Bridgerton Season 2 debuts March 25, 2022, only on Netflix 💐 pic.twitter.com/4awxEAcSCo
What you said J’OB. I never got a Merry Christmas wish posted. We had a very quiet and relaxed and lazy day. Husband got me a new computer so he worked on it allllll day! Gettng everything all set up, connect4ed to the printer, etc. My old one was a Google Chrome and I was never able to print from it. Had to forward to his or find the thing on his computer. I am having a difficult time getting used to this keyboard, but it will come.
Some of you have asked me if getting vaccinated reduces the risk of developing long COVID, and the answer is yes, people who are fully vaccinated (and become infected) appear to have about half the risk of experiencing long-term COVID symptoms.https://t.co/3jZsgzzmTB— Caroline Orr Bueno, Ph.D (@RVAwonk) December 28, 2021
Scientists hold their breath as James Webb Space Telescope deploys with high hopes
“Mat Kaplan, host of Planetary Radio, talks with Aymen Moheyldin about how the James Webb Space Telescope mission is progressing post-launch with features still deploying, and what researchers hope to learn, from the origins of the universe to extraterrestrial life.”
Rosanne Didn’t Radicalize Herself’: After Death On 1/6, Family Seeks Accountability
“Lonna Cave, sister of Rosanne Boyland, who died during the 1/6 attack on the U.S. Capitol,
talks with Ayman Mohyeldin about what compelled her sister to join the mob that attacked the Capitol on January 6th and the political currents that make another attack a very real possibility.”
“I think they were just used as pawns and there is the potential for it to happen again.”
“Who is behind this movement and how do we stop this?”
“The radicalization is happening on a widespread level and at a very alarming rate.” (Lonna Cave)
Regarding playden’s comment about long Covid. My personal experience regarding long Covid and having a breakthrough (in August) and being fully vaccinated (at that time it was 2): Have had no major issues. The one thing I have noticed is that it changed (a little) or altered my taste/likes/dislikes for a few foods. The biggest–and this is REALLY weird–is that I now REALLY REALLY like french fries. Have always liked them, but the bad thing is now I REALLY like them. I use a lot of discipline to not over do. Actually count out a certain number and that is all I allow myself. When I first started feeling like I might be able to eat something solid/real food, I asked my husband to get me a small order of McD’s fries. I ate most of them so guess that was the start. Who knows? As I said, it is weird.
Tea Party Redux:
How the Koch Network Funds and Fuels the Anti-Lockdown Movement
“A new report titled “How The Koch Network Hijacked The War On COVID”
reveals how a right-wing network linked to billionaire Charles Koch has played a key role in fighting public health measures during the pandemic, including mask and vaccine mandates, contact tracing and lockdowns.
The groups include the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC),
the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER),
Donors Trust, the Hoover Institution and Hillsdale College.
We speak about the contents of the report with co-author Walker Bragman,
who says the right-wing network’s attack on public health is designed to
“maintain corporate profit at the expense of human life.”
The Obama Diary 
Merry Christmas Everyone! 🎄
Merry Christmas, Dudette, and all you wonderful TOD family.
Met my match’:
Barack Obama gets upstaged by little girl at vaccination centre, discusses favourite book
Along with Dr Anthony Fauci, White House Chief Medical Advisor,
Barack Obama visited vaccine site at Kimball Elementary School in southeast Washington.
(https://indianexpress.com/article/trending/trending-globally/barack-obama-says-about-green-eggs-and-ham-with-kid-at-vaccination-center-7686606/)
……trending globally.
—Happy Holidays and Happy Christmas to all !!
Presents on Time for Christmas,
Gas Prices Falling,
U.S. Economy Massively Outperforming Rest of the World
Dec 22/21 Blog
From the Speaker’s Press Office:
“President Biden and House Democrats are delivering durable economic growth with historic investments in infrastructure, a stronger supply chain, and American workers. Now, ahead of the holiday season,
families are seeing presents arrive on time, gas prices beginning to fall, and a strong outlook for more durable economic growth for the United States even as other countries struggle to find their footing.
Here are the top stories about welcome economic news this holiday:
(https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/122221-0)
Santa Tells Joy Reid
‘I Would Love For Our Country To Have Peace, Happiness, Harmony’
“The great Santa shortage of 2021 made it difficult for every kid to meet Saint Nick this year.
Luckily, Santa Larry–a great, old friend of Joy Reid’s–took time out of his very busy schedule to pay us a visit
from his North Pole studio. “
That was such a great segment. I love Santa Larry!
Good West Coast Christmas Eve morning Nerdy & TOD family. 🎅🏾🎄🌟
Merry Christmas ggail!
😘❤️
A very Merry Christmas to you sister Dudette 😘🙏🏾💝🎄🌟
LIVE NOW:
President Biden, First Lady to visit children’s hospital – https://www.cbsnews.com/live/
MARRY!!!
omg……well, anyway……
Sending out warmest thoughts and lots of Light all around {{{TOD}}}, stay warm, stay calm, stay safe!
Many blessings for a Merry Christmas!
WMPW
🕊🕯🌟🪔🎄🪔🌟🕯🕊
Merry Christmas Pamela! 😘❤️
Big hugs to you, Dudette! 🌟💕🌟
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, TOD! 🎄🕯
Merry Christmas sjt! 😘❤️
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Merry Christmas …
Merry Christmas Sheila! 😘❤️
Thank you…I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas
I did! Hope you did too!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CX3yFp_lhuk/
😁 Merry Christmas jer! 😘❤️
Beautiful
Merry Christmas everyone. Peace and joy in your lives!
Merry Christmas Nclb! 😘❤️
Wishing all of my TOD Family good health, laughter, love and joy! Merry Christmas!😘❤️🎄
Blessings to you….dudette…
Thanks Dear!
Merry Christmas from Forever POTUS and Forever FLOTUS🎄❤️
Merry Christmas from The White House! 🎄❤️
Good West Coast morning Nerdy & TOD family.
Wishing Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to one and all! 🎄💝🌟
Encouraging News!
Just fire the arse now, before 2022! Enough!
I just received this in a text message. It warmed my heart 💝
Happy Yuletide to one and all !!
—love
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays all my TOD family. Hope the day was spent with family and friends and that you all enjoyed good food and good company… on to a good New Year!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays all my TOD family. Hope the day was spent with family and friends and that you all enjoyed good food and good company… on to a good New Year!
Am going to keep post this song, for our TOD Fam! It’s a lift you up but we can imagine a virtual line dance w/ all our TOD Fam. Go for it in your space! Most important, you gotta shake a leg & your whatevers. Retro for the younger fam? 💃💞
Let’s pata pata into 2022 & beyond w/ the Legendary Miriam Makeba! 💞🎶
Trying again:
Oops, first one posted. No matter shake a leg (or your whatevers💃) into 2022 & it will be awesome! Hey! 😂💞😜💜🎉
🎶🎶🎼🎼💃🏽
It is awesome. Thank you for posting it.
I just read of his passing. Bishop Tutu was a wonderful man. May he rest eternally 🙏🏽💓
A Ballerina Who Adds to the ‘Palette of What’s Possible’
Chyrstyn Fentroy was a star at Dance Theater of Harlem before joining Boston Ballet, where she has been promoted to the top rank of principal.
“Fentroy’s ascent may not be surprising, but it’s still news. For a Black woman to become principal dancer at an American ballet company remains a rare feat.”
“I’m also recognizing how important identifying myself as biracial is,” she said. “Two of my mentees were biracial, and we talked about people always putting us in a category that we didn’t know if we identified with.”
(https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/22/arts/dance/chyrstyn-fentroy-principal-dancer-boston-ballet.html?action=click&module=card&pageType=theWeekenderLink)
—beautiful.
“In May, Montana, which has several new statutes narrowing health officials’ powers,
became the first state to prohibit discrimination based on vaccination status.
It applies to any vaccine,
not just shots to protect against the coronavirus.
It means that employers may ask staff members whether they have been immunized against the virus,
but they cannot punish or lay off employees who refuse to disclose their vaccination status or to get the shots.
It makes an exception for nursing homes —
but not for hospitals or clinics.”
(https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/12/25/covid-public-health-laws-restricted/)
= So don’t get sick or go to the hospital in MT or other states with trumpy governors happy to lose their own voters. And don’t birth your baby there. Solved.
It is very hard for me to put up with our governor. I have friends that are doctors and nurses. Very frustrating for them.
hey Marrilyn….
as them why haven’t the AMA spoken out about this
ask*
Test…….new computer
Okay, everyone, watch this, and wet your whistles for the trailer to hopefully come soon…
The short film will be released most likely in early 2022… will bring a link ~
This is the latest film from my daughter, making the rounds of film festivals worldwide now, and receiving high reviews, and a few awards… it’s all very exciting, not to be missed!!
Watch, enjoy and share!!
“And a Christmas gift from the New York Science and Nature Film Festival, feedback on my elephant film:”
🕊🕯🌟💕🪔💕🌟🕯🕊
First Day of Kwanzaa…
UMOJA-Unity-
Unity in Family, Community, Race
Good movie recommendation: Don’t LookUp on Netflix. I experienced it the same way Sherrilyn Ifill did. The cast is jam-packed with stellar talent.
There’s also a great song by Bon Iver in the end credits.
Full track here:
We watched this the other night. So many underlying issues. I want to watch it several times.
LIVE NOW:
President Biden holds call with governors on COVID-19 response
https://abcnews.go.com/live/video/special-live-3
Will Donald Trump Get Away With Inciting an Insurrection?
“In his nine months in office, Attorney General Merrick Garland
has done a great deal to restore integrity and evenhanded enforcement of the law to an agency that was badly misused for political reasons under his predecessor. But his place in history will be assessed against the challenges that confronted him. And the overriding test that he and the rest of the government face is the threat to our democracy from people bent on destroying it.
Mr. Garland’s success depends on ensuring that the rule of law endures.
That means dissuading future coup plotters by holding the leaders of the insurrection fully accountable for their attempt to overthrow the government. But he cannot do so without a robust criminal investigation of those at the top, from the people who planned, assisted or funded the attempt to overturn the Electoral College vote to those who organized or encouraged the mob attack on the Capitol.
To begin with, he might focus on Mark Meadows, Steve Bannon, Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman and even Donald Trump — all of whom were involved, in one way or another, in the events leading up to the attack.
Almost a year after the insurrection,
we have yet to see any clear indicators that such an investigation is underway, raising the alarming possibility that this administration may never bring charges against those ultimately responsible for the attack.”
Tribe, Ayer, Aftergut: (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/23/opinion/trump-capitol-riot-january-6th.html)
Sketchy Chinese company under investigation is well suited to partner with Donald Trump
Douglas MacMillan, reporter for the Washington Post, talks with Rachel Maddow about the shady background of the Chinese company helping Donald Trump take his new media company public.
time he wound his neck in…sorry for the pic.
Statement by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden
on the Passing of Archbishop Desmond Tutu
(https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/12/26/statement-by-president-joe-biden-and-first-lady-jill-biden-on-the-passing-of-archbishop-desmond-tutu/)
Remarks by President Biden
in Meeting with the Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force
(https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/12/22/remarks-by-president-biden-in-meeting-with-the-supply-chain-disruptions-task-force/)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-NpISbKxFQ)
V.P. Kamala Harris’s successes overlooked by political media
“Foreign Affairs Analyst David Rothkopf shares his in-depth reporting on the foreign relations work
Vice President Kamala Harris is doing for the President, arguing that her story isn’t getting out.”
“Foreign policy is not done in front of the camera very often.”
I love our Nerdy-Sciency President Obama!
Congrats to everyone behind the launch…such a BFD.
2021 was a very busy year for NASA
Federal Prosecutors Looking At Charging Trump With Violating Witness Tampering Law
Easley: (https://www.politicususa.com/2021/12/23/federal-prosecutors-looking-at-charging-trump-with-violating-witness-tampering-law.html)
The dubious qualifications
“of former football player Herschel Walker,
a Republican candidate for Senate endorsed by both Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell,
who apparently had good reason to avoid interviews.”
Here: (https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/is-this-seriously-who-republicans-want-representing-georgia-instead-of-raphael-warnock-129502277945)
V.P. Kamala Harris Turns Up The Heat On The Senate To Pass Voting Rights
Transcript via CBS’s Face The Nation:
VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS:
“…and I’m talking about what’s not happening in this Capitol in Washington, D.C.,
which is the passing of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act.
We have to- we have to agree- and this is not about saying you should vote for me or you should vote for Democrats. This is about everyone having unfettered access to their right to vote and- and agreeing that this is bigger than one election cycle. This is literally about our standing in the world, it’s about the integrity of our democracy. And I do believe of all the things that are on the headline news tonight, tomorrow, for the next week or months, when our kids look back five- ten years from now, at this moment it will be on our watch that we either stood for and fought for our democracy or not. And that I think that is all at stake right now.”
More: (https://www.politicususa.com/2021/12/27/kamala-harris-turns-up-the-heat-on-the-senate-to-pass-voting-rights.html)
“Democracy is being killed by the politics of self in the Senate.
There is no policy reason why voting rights legislation has not passed yet.
All 50 Democrats agree on and support the voting rights bills in the Senate.
Vice President Harris was right about the critical importance of voting rights. A couple of Senate Democrats are treating the right to vote as just another issue, and the consequences could be disastrous for the future of US democracy.” (Easley, politicus)
E.O. WILSON
E.O. Wilson,
‘Darwin’s natural heir,’ dies at age 92
The biologist and ant specialist championed biodiversity and conservation.
“Edward O. Wilson, the American biologist and leading authority on ants whose study of tiny insects led to some of the biggest, most provocative scientific ideas of the 20th century—notably that a biological basis to human behavior exists and that preserving biodiversity is key to the planet’s survival—died on December 26 in Burlington, Massachusetts, according to a statement from the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation. He was 92.
Called “one of the foremost naturalists in both science and literature” by the National Geographic Society, which awarded him its Hubbard Medal in 2013, and “Darwin‘s natural heir” by others, Wilson was a soft-spoken Southern gentleman who did his seminal work at Harvard University, yet never forgot his roots in Gulf Coast Alabama. Much of the modern environmental movement owes its scientific underpinnings to him.
“He played the most important role in elevating biodiversity in the public consciousness,” said Thomas Lovejoy, the late ecologist who coined the term “biological diversity.”
“Ed’s elegant writing has contributed in a way that none of the rest of us has.”
Wilson’s contributions were legion.”
“…Later, Wilson and mathematician William Bossert, a Harvard colleague,
helped unlock the secrets of ant communication,
describing their secretion of chemical signals known as pheromones.
Microorganisms, plants, and most animals use such scent signals to relay information.
Some of Wilson’s work sparked a political firestorm.
In the 1970s, his study of social ants, bees, wasps, and termites led him to create the field of sociobiology, which shattered then-popular dogma that babies are born tabula rasa, or with their minds a blank slate to be formed by nurture and learning alone. In The Insect Societies, and more fully in Sociobiology: The New Synthesis, he insisted that genetic traits influence intelligence and play a role in both animal and human behavior, including aggression.”
“He eventually returned to Harvard,
where he served as curator of insects at its Museum of Comparative Zoology for the rest of his life”.
A prolific author who wrote every day, Wilson published more than 20 books. In 1978, eager to answer critics of sociobiology, he expanded on the role of biology in human culture in On Human Nature. The book launched the field of evolutionary psychology and won Wilson the first of two Pulitzer Prizes. His monumental treatise, The Ants, with co-author Bert Hölldobler, became the only book written for scientists to win a Pulitzer. Wilson’s writing was hardly confined to empirical science.”
Wilson added: “I believe that we’re on the edge of a new era, in which value is extended to saving the rest of nature. Knowing it, preserving it, studying it, understanding it, cherishing it, and holding on until we know what the hell we’re doing.”
Wilson added: “I believe that we’re on the edge of a new era, in which value is extended to saving the rest of nature. Knowing it, preserving it, studying it, understanding it, cherishing it, and holding on until we know what the hell we’re doing.”
—–Even in 1996, one of his post-doc students reported that E.O. Wilson produced 40 handwritten pages
every day…imagine.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/eo-wilson-darwins-natural-heir-dies-at-age-92
Dogs are awesome! 🐶😁
Squeeeeeee! 😃
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🌟💃🏾
Good day / good evening! Hope you all enjoyed your Christmas. Happy New Year, when we get there!
What you said J’OB. I never got a Merry Christmas wish posted. We had a very quiet and relaxed and lazy day. Husband got me a new computer so he worked on it allllll day! Gettng everything all set up, connect4ed to the printer, etc. My old one was a Google Chrome and I was never able to print from it. Had to forward to his or find the thing on his computer. I am having a difficult time getting used to this keyboard, but it will come.
I hope all had a blessed and good Christmas.
And Happy New Year, coming up!
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Scientists hold their breath as James Webb Space Telescope deploys with high hopes
“Mat Kaplan, host of Planetary Radio, talks with Aymen Moheyldin about how the James Webb Space Telescope mission is progressing post-launch with features still deploying, and what researchers hope to learn, from the origins of the universe to extraterrestrial life.”
Rosanne Didn’t Radicalize Herself’: After Death On 1/6, Family Seeks Accountability
“Lonna Cave, sister of Rosanne Boyland, who died during the 1/6 attack on the U.S. Capitol,
talks with Ayman Mohyeldin about what compelled her sister to join the mob that attacked the Capitol on January 6th and the political currents that make another attack a very real possibility.”
“I think they were just used as pawns and there is the potential for it to happen again.”
“Who is behind this movement and how do we stop this?”
“The radicalization is happening on a widespread level and at a very alarming rate.” (Lonna Cave)
—American Radical: podcast with Mohyeldin.
Regarding playden’s comment about long Covid. My personal experience regarding long Covid and having a breakthrough (in August) and being fully vaccinated (at that time it was 2): Have had no major issues. The one thing I have noticed is that it changed (a little) or altered my taste/likes/dislikes for a few foods. The biggest–and this is REALLY weird–is that I now REALLY REALLY like french fries. Have always liked them, but the bad thing is now I REALLY like them. I use a lot of discipline to not over do. Actually count out a certain number and that is all I allow myself. When I first started feeling like I might be able to eat something solid/real food, I asked my husband to get me a small order of McD’s fries. I ate most of them so guess that was the start. Who knows? As I said, it is weird.
Good West Coast Nerdy & TOD family. 2021 is winding down…
LIVE NOW: Opening of second time capsule found during removal of Robert E. Lee statue in Richmond
KOCH
Tea Party Redux:
How the Koch Network Funds and Fuels the Anti-Lockdown Movement
“A new report titled “How The Koch Network Hijacked The War On COVID”
reveals how a right-wing network linked to billionaire Charles Koch has played a key role in fighting public health measures during the pandemic, including mask and vaccine mandates, contact tracing and lockdowns.
The groups include the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC),
the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER),
Donors Trust, the Hoover Institution and Hillsdale College.
We speak about the contents of the report with co-author Walker Bragman,
who says the right-wing network’s attack on public health is designed to
“maintain corporate profit at the expense of human life.”
Thank You:
(https://www.democracynow.org/2021/12/23/koch_hijacked_war_on_covid)
When will Big O & G overlords be gone? What will we do to end their hegemony?
How ironic that all of that atmospheric carbon comes from materials originating from long ago decayed Paleozoic forests.
We know what to do for starters: Leave fossil fuels in the ground. And invest in the BBB.
New post.