Category: Uncategorized

The leaning tower of Pisa’s foundation rests on a mixture of clay, sand, and shells, which is particularly soft and uneven, especially on the south side. This soft subsoil could not properly support the tower’s massive weight of approximately 14,500 tons, leading to the tilt that became noticeable during construction in the late 12th century (around the…

Above is a hoary pine tree that overshadows a corner of the cemetery where my mother is buried. Someone, I don’t remember who, said that when the church burned back in the 1920’s many of the wooden markers burned. I wonder if this cedar tree was a survivor of that fire. It’s branches are twisted…

Maybe that is what we, the people, should write as an epitaph to the experiment that is known as the United States–Go in peace. Let another experiment built on facts and grounded in history take its place. Grandiloquent words and phrases cannot provide cover for the lies that this country was built on, especially when…

I recently found out that banana tree sends out underground roots and each year trees grow from those roots. The prior year’s tree’s stump decays into the earth. I was gifted with a banana plant and thought I had killed it by cutting it down. Now, I have three or four trees growing in that…

This rabbit is back. I wonder where its companion is? Being a trad-rabbit somewhere in a burrow with the little rabbits? Going through a cool spell–Blackberry Winter? The berry canes are blooming! “Journalist: What do you think of Western civilization? Gandhi: I think it would be a good idea.” Mark Twain–“There are many humorous things…

Weather forecasts say rain, but rain, not even the hint of rain, comes. I think I have made the mistake of thinking that water is an infinite resource when factually I know it is not. April has been a dry month. My yard looks like the dog days of August have come and stayed. John…

May Day–an English corruption of the French m’aidez which means “help me”. See…I still remember some French from High School and College! Just found out that that someone I lost contact with a long time ago passed away in 2021. I always wanted to know why she went no contact. Something about that time was…

The picture is of a plant named lyreleaf sage. This plant is all over my backyard and I have, in the past, tried to transplant it. I must be doing something wrong! I do believe it died in all the places I’ve transplanted it. Every year, it spreads and spreads. This year, I have learned…

Butterflies are back!!! This one is feasting on an azalea bush. Finally, finished watching Star Trek Discovery. Binged it over a week. I stopped watching it after Season 3 and, back then, I only skimmed Season 3. That season didn’t hold my attention, so, even though, I bought Seasons 4 nd 5, I never watched…

Long, long time ago…I read as much Plato as I could for reasons lost to time. I have now read The Republic. I’d never read it in full…just excerpts here and there. Plato postulated five forms of governing–aristocracy. timocracy, oligarchy, democracy, and tyranny. Plato, being of a certain class, advocated for the governance by an…