I didn’t understand everything I read, but some lines stood out to me. For instance,in “Troubadours,” Phillips writes:

Life itself being a ramble of mystery, pattern, accident, and surprise, we took heart in knowing whatever road we were on must be the right one-or anyway, we believed it was, and belief still counts. We pressed forward. We weren’t afraid. Nor unafraid.

And in “Like So,” he writes:

From attention to adoration
is a smallish distance–

and yet no arrow, no boat
with sail

can cross it

like the mind’s insistence.

I should read the whole book again, slower. Will see!

Trump gutted defending-democracy media including Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Removing pro-democracy media is an authoritarian move. Eventually he will silence any American citizen criticizing him.

Our democracy is in grave danger. The Democrat party is no longer capable of defending our democracy. In fact, the Democrat leaders, starting with Chuck Schumer, have already caved into Trump.

The Republican party is dead. The Democrat party is too damn weak. The Supreme Court is under his control. The people must speak out and stand up to defend our democracy.

Today was the season finale. I couldn’t believe it was over. Since it was the last day, I didn’t want to teach. I snowboarded in the backside and then watched pond skimming. Five of my co-instructors joined the contest. Four of them were snowboard instructors. It was such a fun event. I didn’t participate because I had never done it before and I didn’t want to embarrass myself.

After enjoying a veggie bacon cheeseburger with fries for the last time for lunch, I felt sleepy. Again, I passed the lesson on to other instructors. I went carving some more in the backside. Around 3:00 pm, I called it the day. I returned my uniform and said goodbye to my wonderful co-instructors.

I must admit. I was getting a bit sentimental. Even though this was my first season as a snowboard instructor and I only got to know other instructors for a couple of months, I found a little bonding with them. We shared the same passion. None of us was here for the money. We weren’t paid enough. We were here because we loved skiing and snowboarding and we wanted to welcome more people into these winter sports.

Trump has always wanted to dismantle our fair elections even though he had won a landslide in 2024.

He installed election deniers throughout his regime to remove the guardrails protecting voting and voters. He fired Ellen Weintraub, Chairman of the FEC. He wants to take control of the US Postal Service so he can ban mailing ballots. He fired hundreds of agents in the CISA, which monitored foreign interference in our elections.

With the help of Republicans in Congress, he wants the pass the SAVE Act, which requires proof of citizenship to register to vote. A passport or a birth certificate with a matching legal name is required to vote. An estimate of 69 million women with their married name does not match their birth certificate; therefore, they can’t vote without a passport.

As Trump removes every safety measure, no one will be able to secure and defend our election results. That’s how democracy dies.

I can listen to Oscar Peterson playing piano all day. In fact, I have been immersed into his 1969 recording of Motions & Emotions. The entire album is perfect for relaxation. My personal favorite is the bossa-nova “Wave” with the string section backing up Peterson’s sensational solos. “Sunny” is another tasteful Latin flavor. “By the Time I Get too Phoenix” is a late-night beauty. The orchestra and the slow vibe pull me right in. It is just a lovely album.

Yesterday afternoon, the weather was beautiful. As I was walking out of the library during my lunch break, an Asian girl stopped me. She asked me, “Did you vote for Trump?” That was a bold question to ask a stranger. I wanted to say, “Fuck no,” but I replied, “Hell no” instead.

She showed me the back of her binder and explained that she was getting signatures to get a Democrat candidate on the ballot for General Assembly. After I added my signature, I asked her, “What motivate you to do this?” She answered, “Democracy.” I thanked her for doing what she did and I encouraged her to fight for our democracy. Many Asians worried about their pocketbooks that they didn’t care about democracy. She nodded and also choked up.

We thanked each other and parted way.

With Ignacio Berroa supplying the bolero rhythm, bassist Charlie Haden and pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba crafted a late-night Latin jazz album. “Nocturnal” finds the trio locking into a soothing vibe. Tenor Saxophonist Joe Lovano contributes a sensational solo on “Moonlight (Claro de Luna).” Haden’s bass is just so damn hypnotizing on “Nightfall.” I have been enjoying the album on the road, especially when driving by myself in the dark.

This Netflix Special was my first time watching Andrew Schulz. Like Ronny Chieng in his recent special, Schulz shared details of his IVF experience with his wife. Schulz digged deeper into the details than Chieng and he found dark-yet-hilarious nuances in his story. This guy is real good. I’ll definitely check out more of his specials.

Bret Stephens opines in the New York Times:

Democracy may die in darkness. It may die in despotism. Under Trump, it’s just as liable to die in dumbness.

Let’s smartened up and defend our democracy.

Michael Patrick Lynch writes for Psychology Today:

Democracy depends on citizens being informed. People need accurate information about climate change, for example, in order to know how to survive its effects. They need to know which country invaded Ukraine in order to figure out which side to support and why. And they need to know what The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is really doing in order to know whether to be frightened by its actions.

That much is obvious. Democracy suffers whenever a government actively deceives its citizens or just prevents them from having access to accurate information.

Unfortunately the Orange Toad flooded the US with lies after lies.