There's been a lot of fretting about the current bunch of SCOTUS rulings. I found the comment of David Brooks on the PBS NewsHour to be quite appealing. He suggested that since Universities are now blocked from basing admissions on race through affirmative action, they could admit students on the basis of household income. That would favor not only poor Black students, but students of all minorities.
There are several work arounds as aptly noted by Jennifer Rubin. I am more worried about the horrendous Colorado graphic designer “case”, a totally hypothetical situation and based in part on a vicious lie. To allow such a decision to be lauded as a win for freedom of speech is truly vile. I suppose refusing to serve blacks at a lunch counter in Little Rock could be likewise defended. Worse lies ahead.
Robert, after hearing you describe your rigorous and lengthy process of writing the newsletter at Friday’s gathering of Bostonian readers, I am thrilled that you and your Managing Editor are taking time off from writing and instead are seeing beloved friends, and taking in the wonders of our world. That’s the best medicine there is. Your caring of this community in these turbulent times is an ongoing masterwork of tikun olam for which I am deeply grateful.
Please enjoy your very much deserved and earned evening off with your family. You are one of our rocks and we want you to have as much R&R as you need.
Have no clue about the location of your photo and that's a good thingl You need your private time.
Enjoy and Happy Fourth of July!! May our belief in the beginnings of our country's history and how it has evolved carry us through this incredibly bumpy time.
Wishing you, Robert Hubbell and your Editor, family and friends, and this community a wonderful July 4th holiday.
Also, as Joyce Vance has recommended -- when appropriate, of course -- remind everyone to Register to Vote if they have not, or to update Voting Registration.
For the next 16 months I will lie awake thinking about voting. About how to encourage voting.
Yesterday, I decided to start at the beginning. To think like an 18 year old. That's quite a stretch for this old guy. But I asked myself: "what if I wanted to register to vote right now?"
In the great state of Massachusetts it's super easy! You know, that state that paid for billboards in Florida and elsewhere welcoming citizens of kinds?
In MA, an 18 year old can register to vote online using a driver's license. Done. A 16 year old can register if they will be 18 at the time of the election. Easy peasy! Now, to search for young people who are not registered yet. And then get them to show up on November 5, 2024.
The Supreme Court is certainly providing motivation for the greatest voter turnout in American history. And here is a nugget to chew on. The Census Bureau tracks who votes. This chart is fascinating. In it we may see glimmers of hope.
But speaking of ticks. Very few this year in MA. Last year at this time, I was scratching several bites and/or dosing with anti-biotics. Just one or two nibbles this year. I think they are drowning!
Enjoy your down time Robert. You deserve a day off and much more for all you do to keep us informed and stepping is back from the edge! I so appreciate the positive contributions that you and Jill make.
Edith Wharton’s The Mount in Lenox Massachusetts
Correct! You win the internet today!
Byeongdoo Moon's metal sculpture, a stag with antlers growing into limbs and leaves, gleams at the Mount.
I didn't know where this is, but I really want to go there. She is one of my favorite writers! And the deer - so beautiful!
Dang! I wondered if it might be the De Cordova.
Me too! That was my first thought! A new exhibit as I had not seen it there during a recent visit.
It’s been many years since we’ve been there, though we lived in Lexington a long time. We left New England almost 20 years ago. Nice museum!
That was my guess too!
There's been a lot of fretting about the current bunch of SCOTUS rulings. I found the comment of David Brooks on the PBS NewsHour to be quite appealing. He suggested that since Universities are now blocked from basing admissions on race through affirmative action, they could admit students on the basis of household income. That would favor not only poor Black students, but students of all minorities.
There are several work arounds as aptly noted by Jennifer Rubin. I am more worried about the horrendous Colorado graphic designer “case”, a totally hypothetical situation and based in part on a vicious lie. To allow such a decision to be lauded as a win for freedom of speech is truly vile. I suppose refusing to serve blacks at a lunch counter in Little Rock could be likewise defended. Worse lies ahead.
In your last sentence, the word “lies” does double duty!
Great work-around!
Robert, after hearing you describe your rigorous and lengthy process of writing the newsletter at Friday’s gathering of Bostonian readers, I am thrilled that you and your Managing Editor are taking time off from writing and instead are seeing beloved friends, and taking in the wonders of our world. That’s the best medicine there is. Your caring of this community in these turbulent times is an ongoing masterwork of tikun olam for which I am deeply grateful.
Please enjoy your very much deserved and earned evening off with your family. You are one of our rocks and we want you to have as much R&R as you need.
Have no clue about the location of your photo and that's a good thingl You need your private time.
Enjoy and Happy Fourth of July!! May our belief in the beginnings of our country's history and how it has evolved carry us through this incredibly bumpy time.
I don't know where this statue is, but it's beautiful and invokes nature in its
never ending cycle to life.
God bless America! 248 yrs
old. Long may her democracy
live and thrive for ALL her people.
Happy 4th Robert. Enjoy the time with your family.
I'm proud of you for having the sense to rest. There could be no better celebration of 247 years!
Good for you. Following your lead. Happy Fourth of July 😊🎉
Wishing you, Robert Hubbell and your Editor, family and friends, and this community a wonderful July 4th holiday.
Also, as Joyce Vance has recommended -- when appropriate, of course -- remind everyone to Register to Vote if they have not, or to update Voting Registration.
Onward!
For the next 16 months I will lie awake thinking about voting. About how to encourage voting.
Yesterday, I decided to start at the beginning. To think like an 18 year old. That's quite a stretch for this old guy. But I asked myself: "what if I wanted to register to vote right now?"
In the great state of Massachusetts it's super easy! You know, that state that paid for billboards in Florida and elsewhere welcoming citizens of kinds?
In MA, an 18 year old can register to vote online using a driver's license. Done. A 16 year old can register if they will be 18 at the time of the election. Easy peasy! Now, to search for young people who are not registered yet. And then get them to show up on November 5, 2024.
The Supreme Court is certainly providing motivation for the greatest voter turnout in American history. And here is a nugget to chew on. The Census Bureau tracks who votes. This chart is fascinating. In it we may see glimmers of hope.
https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/cps/tables/time-series/voting-historical-time-series/hst_vote02.xlsx
Great link! Thanks. Of interest: the following are voting percentages by educational attainment:
Less than 9th grade: 13.0
9 - 12 no diploma 22.3
High school diploma 37.0
Some college 50.1
College graduate 61.9
RBH. Back away from the black screen, dammit!
Have a great July 4!
Better you should enjoy your vacation and get some rest. You've given us plenty to think about.
Thanks so much for your words of wisdom and keeping us sane. Have a wonderful holiday. We will rest for the battles ahead.
I'm not seeing any ticks so I don't think it could be in Maine, BUT it is lovely, wherever it is.
😇
It's in MA.
But speaking of ticks. Very few this year in MA. Last year at this time, I was scratching several bites and/or dosing with anti-biotics. Just one or two nibbles this year. I think they are drowning!
We should be so lucky.
We will need to push the dems to act on fixing the court. 2024!
July 4: Remember why we are in this fight - and rededicate yourself to the principles in the Declaration.
Enjoy your down time Robert. You deserve a day off and much more for all you do to keep us informed and stepping is back from the edge! I so appreciate the positive contributions that you and Jill make.
Dear Robert, our rabbi, our teacher
We awake each morn yearning your wisdom
Speaking truth to every false preacher
Pumping fresh blood into our weary vascular system
And yet, you too are human and vulnerable
Deserving of care and respite
Know that we have your back when the intolerable
Your strength and resolve doth test it.
thanks for you kind and supportive words.