What a rich legacy

Trump eliminated NPS free-free days on Dr. MLK, Jr. Day and Juneteenth but added one for his birthday.

Giving Tuesday post. Are you a frequent national park visitor? If so, please consider donating to an organization that serves the community near a national park. Many of these towns find social services hard to come by. I just sent the Family Crisis Center of the Big Bend a donation: fccbb.org

“The National Parks Conservation Association warned that national parks will lose up to $1 million in fee revenue for every day the shutdown lasts, and communities outside of the parks could lose up to $80 million in spending from tourists.”

Did a Brooklyn Couple Kill a Neighbor’s Trees for a Better View in Maine? “Stephen Antonson, a Brooklyn home furnishings artisan, and his wife, Kathleen Hackett, an interior design writer, are fighting accusations that they poisoned trees on the waterfront property of their 95-year-old neighbor...”

Do you have a photo of an interpretive sign you think is at risk for elimination by the Trump administration? If so, please submit it to the Save Our Signs project.

Gateway towns to public lands are feeling the pinch as Trump’s policies scare international visitors away. “The downturn at Utah’s parks is part of a broader travel trend this summer. It appears to be driven by a dip in international tourism….”

"For Border Patrol to arrest two firefighters battling a growing wildfire shows once again that President Trump’s immigration crackdown has never been about the dangerous, hardened, criminal murderers he rants about. It’s about keeping America white and free of immigrants from south of the border."

The National Park Service has bipartisan support, and yet, the Trump administration has made all these budget cuts and intends to cut even more next year.

NPS employee who hung a transgender pride flag on El Capitan is fired.

An ode to an everyday object

University of Virginia President Resigns Under Pressure From Trump Administration

In Joyful Speech, Mamdani Vows to Work for ‘Each and Every New Yorker’

"The Army estimates the cost at $25 million to $45 million. But it could be higher because [of]... the cost of cleanup and police.... [I]t comes as the administration seeks to slash funding for education, health and public assistance."

“While the park is enjoyed by millions of visitors each year, NPS encourages them to stay out of the water…. In 2015, the D.C. Department of Energy and the Environment (DEE) found bacteria levels over 2,420 times the most probable number of colonies in 100 milliliters.”

“How can I challenge my students to ask hard questions, to follow the research wherever it goes, when I am worried about what might happen to me if I do that? And how can I follow the rules when even university administrators are not always sure of how to interpret them?”

Top-level gaslighting

Great news for South Korea! Hey, U.S... hint, hint.

I opened an account at Hoosier Hills Credit Union. I mentioned to the account manager that I was avoiding corporate banks because they only care about profit. When she heard this, her eyes lit up. She said she used to work for a bank, and credit unions treat their workers so much better, too.

"Thousands of Israelis gathered on Wednesday outside the Parliament building in Jerusalem to call for a renewed cease-fire deal in Gaza and to protest political moves by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu..."

"The student government association president said three of her five instructors had been dismissed.... A senior had wondered whether the university, a sanctum for Native American students shaped by tradition and tragedy, would remain open long enough for him to receive his degree.

One last set of photos from my day trip to the Hoosier National Forest. Isn't this little church twee? There's so much history preserved here. Thank you to the *federal employees* who make it possible for us to enjoy. Grateful. Sending all my support.

Hickory Ridge fire tower in the Charles Deam Wilderness area of the Hoosier National Forest was built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It was an intense experience climbing it during a wind advisory.

Scenic View Restaurant is locally and family-owned. Paying with cash on Economic Blackout Day so the credit card companies don’t get a cut. Come to think of it, I may use cash more often.

I'm prepared never to book anything on Airbnb ever again.

I hadn’t been planning to do Dry January again this year, but seeing as we’re almost halfway through the month, I might as well. It’s not my goal to stop drinking altogether, but if I can remain mindful of how often I do it, I’ll call it a win.

My periodic reminder to bank with credit unions and avoid profit-driven banks

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I came back from the dentist. I was informed my insurance company no longer pays for the x-rays they've become accustomed to doing, which provides a better view and is more comfortable for the patient. The company now pays for only the older kind, which is neither as effective nor as comfortable.

The slow exit from academia consists of many tiny steps. More grant writing training tomorrow morning, this one delivered by staff at the public library. Support your local public library. They sustain their communities in more ways than we know.

Eating well on a budget I love my still-new pot. It can fit an entire head of shredded cabbage. Cabbage is so cheap, but it tastes like a million bucks. Two-thirds of this mass will go in the freezer, and the remaining will be eaten over a week.

Please read this essay from a physician about how opaque insurance company practices compromise the doctor-patient relationship and, therefore, compromise patient care.

The slow exit from academia consists of many tiny steps. I’m attending an NEH grant writing webinar this afternoon as part of my volunteer job. Excited to learn more skills!

Bird flu H5N1 outbreak in cattle and Canada infection worry scientists

Buying more than I need to get free shipping explains almost all of my problems. 😂

Eating well on a budget Preparing my favorite vegetable. A little olive oil and a little salt in the pan. Then I serve this over brown rice with a double serving of the crunchy chili crisp for a bit of extra protein.

A lot of folks are giving up in advance. Capitulating before a single skirmish. Well, not this old warrior. I’ve seen much worse from the U.S. government in my day. I’m concerned for our country, but not a bit scared of these miscreants. I’m ready to do my part. Who’s with me?

Today is Transgender Day Of Remembrance. Let's remember those of us whose lights have been snuffed out too early. And let's honor them and all that they were.

Random thought about returning to school in my 50s: I hope my professor can tell I’m not using ChatGPT to write my papers.