Published

9 months ago

December 2, 2025

Alice Rush

The website A Word a Day features “A Thought for Today,” normally from a notable author born on this date.

Here’s one from writer Ann Patchett (pictured), born 2 Dec 1963: The question is whether or not you choose to disturb the world around you, or if you choose to let it go on as if you had never arrived.

Patchett uses the word “disturb” in the sense of interfering with the normal arrangement or functioning of something. And Lord knows there are plenty of things in the world around us that need to be disturbed.

To take the two most obvious examples:

If left to proceed in a business-as-usual manner, we’ll soon live on a planet that is greatly compromised in its ability to support life, and

We Americans will live in an authoritarian state.

Disturb the World Around You

Renewable Energy

It Comes Down to This: What Do You Believe

Published

1 day ago

August 29, 2026

Alice Rush

Sadly, a significant number of U.S. voters believe what House Speaker Mike Johnson says here, i.e., that “God isn’t finished with America yet,” and that “We need people (from the Republican party) of character and integrity,” as if there are any.

But what is that number, roughly?

After living through the first 18 month of Trump’s second term, with all the lies, the incompetence, and the corruption, this number has dwindled to a point that the Republicans are bracing themselves for the worst.

It Comes Down to This: What Do You Believe

Renewable Energy

Republicans Manipulate American’s Ignorance — and it Doesn’t Take Too Much Skill

Published

2 days ago

August 29, 2026

Alice Rush

A reader asks: Can I get the scare tactic for next cycle? I want to get a head start on the memes.

Ha! Exactly.

Republicans are counting on the idea that the average American is so ignorant that he can’t distinguish between the governments of modern-day North Korea and Norway.

This is how far we’ve fallen, and in just a few years.

What’s next?