Marlene Dotterer's Blog, page 5

Pardon My Moment of Despair

I’m awake in the dark night and this time, it’s fear that’s keeping me up. I feel foolish admitting it, but I am sick with worry about our future. The new administration and the extreme politicians that have been given control of our country are wasting no time in implementing their plans to destroy us. We will soon have no good schools for our children, no health care, no way for our daughters to prevent unwanted sex, no way to protect themselves from pregnancy, no way to save themselves whe...

Week 10: Amy Siskind Lists Subtle Changes Toward Tyranny

Here’s your link for the most recent list of subtle changes taking place in our world, right before our eyes.

I am reminded of “Shock and Awe.” Only this time it’s being used against us. These lists are frequent and they are long. We are being lambasted daily, indeed hourly, with changes that in many cases, offer real threat to our existence. It is impossible to remember them all. It is impossible to maintain the outrage each one deserves.

Please don’t mock me by saying I’m a timid old woman...

Here’s a Good Description of a Workable Food System

Let me repost this blog for your reading pleasure. Chew on this idea: https://medium.com/@cnative100/vegetarian-diets-are-not-going-to-save-the-planet-4f50d0c1f8cf#.r6ef0ib8i

I think there’s a bit of unnecessary snarkiness in the article, but the idea is exactly right, if you couple it with Pollan’s mantra: “Eat real food. Mostly plants. Not too much.”

A side benefit of this kind of food system is reduced diabetes, reduced heart disease, reduced obesity, reduced cancer, and reduced other auto...

So It Begins

The first announcement by the new press secretary begins the official pull-the-wool-over-their-eyes of the new administration: http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/wh-spokesman-gave-alternative-facts-inauguration-crowd-n710466. It’s pretty sad that it had to be about a silly, unimportant non-issue. The size of the inauguration crowd? That’s your first official lie? Seriously?

Please note: lies are now called “alternative facts.”

From now on, news will be what Trump says it is. Facts are only...

Seeking Solace

May we always help each other…

Barataria - The work of Erik Hare

Today is the big day. An new era full of uncertainty starts with the inauguration of Donald Trump.

God save the Republic.

I firmly believe it is critical to take the long view on this, since we are about to settle in for what is likely to be a tumultuous four years. We will have to pick our battles, declare victory where we can, and always keep our eyes on the prize. For this reason, and to keep our sanity, the wisdom of the anc...

The Election, Lao Tzu, a Cup of Water

Thanks to Ursula Le Guin for this much-needed wisdom. Partake as often as necessary. – Marlene

Book View Cafe Blog –

Source: The Election, Lao Tzu, a Cup of Water

Baby Food Facts

Here’s a summary of a report from The Rudd Centerfor Food Policy & Obesity at the University of Connecticut. The report’s title isBaby Food FACTS: Nutrition and marketing of baby and toddler foods and drinks.

It’s interesting reading. The takeaway: Babies don’t need baby food (especially “toddler drinks”), but most companies are providing nutritious food in their products. EXCEPT for snacks and those toddler drink products.

Don’t waste your money on something that will hurt your baby’s health...

Real-Time Sinking of Titanic

You have to see this. It’s 2 hours 40 minutes long, so I’ll have to do it in stages, but the first few minutes sent chills all over me.

Trump, the GOP, and the Fall — Whatever

Original photo by Gage Skidmore, used under Creative Commons license. Click on photo to see original.At this point there is no doubt that Donald Trump is the single worst major party presidential candidate in living memory, almost certainly the worst since the Civil War, and arguably the worst in the history of this nation. Heis…

via Trump, the GOP, and the Fall — Whatever

A Very Cool BBC Story about Thomas Andrews

This is so cool: The woman Who Won the Heart of Titanic’s Thomas Andrews.
(Source – BBC News)

It’s an interview with Helen Barbour’s youngest daughter (from her second marriage after Thomas A. died). I hope I can watch the interview on Thursday. I love the letter she mentions written by Thomas after he proposed to Helen. She didn’t say ‘yes’ right away!

When I was writing Shipbuilder, I really enjoyed researching his relationship with Helen. They were both such characters!

Thomas Andrews, Man...