Thursday Ramble: Flawed Politicians

George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, were visionary - but flawed men. They wrote and signed their names to "All Men Are Created Equal," while no women were involved, and many of the men were slave owners. History tells us that many of them struggled with this, but economics and politics brought compromise that left many people without any rights, and others as property to be bought and sold.  

George Washington's will freed many of his slaves upon the death of his wife Martha. She wrote to a friend that she feared that some of the slaves knew this fact, and might try to hasten their freedom. She granted most of them freedom before her death (most of whom then stayed on as underpaid sharecroppers.) 

Thomas Jefferson had a long running relationship and children with one of his slaves. He was in debt, and could not free his slaves as his creditors had a lien on everything that he owned, including the human being that that was the mother of his children. 

Franklin Roosevelt spent the time before he died with his mistress, not his wife. 

When we think of the flaws of today's political leaders, we should look at the past. Look at the flaws of those before.  And know that We The People have been down this road before, and We have found our way. And if we focus on what we have in common, not on what divides us, we will stand together into the future. The authority of the governed is granted by the people, not be hereditary, or god given authority. 

My World of Wonders: July 8, 2026

Where have I been this week? The outlet mall at National Harbor to buy a pair of slip on walking shoes. The grocery store and Trader Joe's. The Farmers Market. The treadmill, both the indoor and outdoor pools. The Grill for first Friday with our LGBTQ+ neighbors. The library, the swamp for a nice walk, the supermarket, the pool. 

Where am I going? Indiana to visit my sister and my nephews. A solo trip. 

Who have a talked to this week? Mathew, Ana, Susan, Raf, Marcell, David, Erik, my Sweet Bear, 

What have I been up to in the kitchen? Gazpacho,  potato salad, coleslaw, cheeseburgers, hot-dogs, roast beef, roast potatoes, sauteed mushrooms, salads, 

What did I finish reading? Human-ish, a book about anthropomorphism. It was very good.  An interesting fact, more people in the USA die in hurricanes with female names, than hurricanes with male names. Why? Because they assume a storm with a female name can't be that bad and don't prepare or evacuate in the same way they do for a storm with a male name. Gender stereotypes carry over to storms. 

What am I working on? An article for a conference in October I am speaking at on the issues of health care decision making. 

What is on the easel? An 11 by 14 inch blank. I should do something with that. 

Travel Tuesday: Vienna

For Vienna I have to start with the hotel, MAXX by Steigenberger. Most hotel rooms in Europe are small, many are tiny with barely enough room to move about. This room was large, very large and very comfortable. It is three or four stops on the underground train out from the city center, and a five minute walk from the U-bahn station.    

 

Monday Moods: Memories

I was out at Mt Vernon for a long walk recently, and this split rail fence reminded me of the place my family lived when I was growing up. The farm, about 60 miles north of Detroit was an old homestead. Before my grandfather bought it had been in the same family since the area was settled and logged out. Around the edges of the field, the edges of the farm, there were remnants of split rail fences. The original concept of a split rail fence was split trees, stacked in a zig-zag pattern. The fences could be built or repaired with few tools, an axe, a wedge and heavy hammer to split the rails, then just stack them. There were no fasceners involved, just gravity to hold them together. They could be moved as the needs of the famer changed. They would contain most livestock. As a kid we would find small sections of these fences around the farm and neighboring farms. 

There were also remnants of stump fences. The area had been old growth forest when it was divided up, the trees were cut and sent off to build cities, ships, and provide fuel for heat; leaving behind the stumps, many of them massive. The tree stumps, with a large dense tangle of roots, would be cut loose and dragged out by teams of horses, mules or oxen, and stood on edge to make a dense fence. This was labor intensive, but the end product was a very effective fence for keeping in livestock, and lasted for a century or more. 

I was nearly the last generation to see these remnants of the past, changes in farming have eliminated nearly all of the fence rows, farm fields now run right up to the side of the road, 60 years ago there was a 20-30 foot border of trees and weeds, and fence remnants between the road and the start of the planting.  

At the time the farm was home. For a few years after I moved away, I kind of thought of it as home. But I no longer do. It is where I spent my childhood. I have no real connection to the place. I have no family there. It is a lifetime ago. In the fresh light that distance and time provide, I can see the flaws and difficulties of the place. I am glad I left.  And yet, I am glad I saw things that few people have seen outside of photos, paintings, and historical recreations. 

The Sunday Five: Baking Life

 1: Have you ever watched the BBC show "Bake Off" or as it is known in the USA the "Great British Baking Show"? 

2: What was the first thing that you "baked?" 

3: Where either of your parents good at baking? 

4: What would be your "showstopper" bake? 

5: Given a choice, do you buy sweet or savory? 

My Answers: 

1: Have you ever watched the "Bake Off" as it is known in the USA the "Great British Baking Show"? Yes several seasons of it. 

2: What was the first thing that you "baked?" Either chocolate chip cookies or apple pie. 

3: Where either of your parents good at baking? My mother was good, my father never tried. 

4: What would be your "showstopper" bake? Bread. 

5: Given a choice, do you buy sweet or savory? Savory. 

Please share your answers in the comments. 

The Saturday Morning Post: The 4th of July

250 Years Ago Today a Fundamental Agreement was reached in a room full of anarchists to declare independence, and form a new country. A creative and bold move. A risky move to be certain. 

"We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately."
Benjamin Franklin 

Be bold in your creative endeavours. Think about what you need to say, and say it boldly. Take risks, do what is fundamentally right. 

Foodie Friday: Just ask

I didn't do a lot of research before this spring's grand adventure to find what was to be seen in the places we were going to be. Sweet Bear did, he bought advance timed entry tickets for several places, especially in Vienna. While in Vienna I did a couple of quick searches on my phone, including one for markets. I love exploring markets. And sure enough the major city market was one U-Bahn stop before the hotel. I don't remember what we had explored that day, but Sweet Bear looked exhausted, so I asked may I, get off and walk the market while you go onto the hotel to rest, I will be along in an hour or so for a nap before dinner.  He agreed. The Hotel in Vienna was really nice. 

The market was a mixture of new pavilions and older open sided stalls. In one of the newer pavilions was this wonderful organic fruit and veggie shop.  I went into look around, and asked "may I" pointing to the camera, "yes - thank you for asking" was the fast answer. 

The open stalls had a wide variety of fresh local produce and fruits. Again it made me wish I had a kitchen to play in. 

I was talking with one of my prefered vendors at the King Street Farmers Market last weekend, about cheese - his cheese man had a disk fusion in his neck and hopes to be back at the market this weekend, he and his cheese were missed. I bought a large block of 8-year aged cheddar. I mentioned the great markets in France, Italy, Germany, Austria. I really like the refrigerated trucks with the side that opens up to a display/ sales counter. He said, "yes, they know how to live." I assured him that the markets he is a part of are our version, and I am so grateful that I live near such a great market (there has been an active market in Alexandria for about 300 years.) Market life is not easy. The farmers/vendors are up early, often driving long distances in all kinds of weather.  My grandparents and my father were vendors in the Eastern Market in Detroit for about 30 years.