Illegitimi non carborundum

As this is written, we are less than twelve hours from having survived the meteorological winter of 2021 -- 2022. I think we'll make it!! Then we can March right into Spring! [heh, heh!]

Irish soda bread

Photo by J. Harrington

Now that we’re entering March, it’s time to begin baking Irish soda bread. We’ll do a loaf this week or early next and then another before we get to St. Patrick’s Day.

Today’s title seems to fit the increasing turmoil in the world. It’s been getting me down and then there’s the recent release of IPCC report: Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. I find it, at least the Summary Report for Policymakers, to be fundamentally incomprehensible. I believe I’m qualified to make such an assessment since, at one time in my career, a part of my job responsibility was to prepare an occasional “one pager for the governor.” If I had tried using language such as that coming from the Working Groups, I would have been unemployed in a hurry. I know of no policymaker who would try to understand what’s being asserted in the report as written. The Guardian’s article today, IPCC issues ‘bleakest warning yet’ on impacts of climate breakdown, should receive a creative nonfiction award for its interpretation of the IPCC report.

If we combine the IPCC writing, or even The Guardian’s version, with the finding that "According to the U.S. Department of Education, 54% of U.S. adults 16-74 years old - about 130 million people - lack proficiency in literacy, reading below the equivalent of a sixth-grade level.” it’s no wonder we’re not doing nearly enough to respond to the increasingly dire climate assessments.

On the other hand, a possible beneficial outcome of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could be an accelerated effort by the European Union to wean themselves of fossil fuels from Russia, a major source. Plus, if we get really lucky, real Americans, actual patriots, will be disgusted enough by the many Republicans supporting Putin over Biden that there may be a real Blue Wave come November, enough to neutralize DINOs like Manchin and Sinema with real, progressive Democrats not bought and paid for by corporations. Let’s cross our fingers and "Illegitimi non carborundum.”

Dear March—Come in—(1320)

Emily Dickinson - 1830-1886

Dear March—Come in—
How glad I am—
I hoped for you before—
Put down your Hat—
You must have walked—
How out of Breath you are—
Dear March, how are you, and the Rest—
Did you leave Nature well—
Oh March, Come right upstairs with me—
I have so much to tell—

I got your Letter, and the Birds—
The Maples never knew that you were coming—
I declare - how Red their Faces grew—
But March, forgive me—
And all those Hills you left for me to Hue—
There was no Purple suitable—
You took it all with you—

Who knocks? That April—
Lock the Door—
I will not be pursued—
He stayed away a Year to call
When I am occupied—
But trifles look so trivial 
As soon as you have come

That blame is just as dear as Praise
And Praise as mere as Blame—

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