Ellis Nelson's Blog, page 2
April 10, 2025
A Stitch in Time
Life in this Mad World
I’m one of those people who believe that forewarned is forearmed. That anxiety and worry is often set aside if we have a plan. In fact, the mere act of planning involves us in a positive process that assures that we are not frozen in a time of crisis. But I’ve also come to understand that my way of seeing the world is not necessarily the only way. There are some of us right now who are already tuning out, going to ground. Some can’t stand to think about next steps. For those of you of that ilk, we part ways here. Reading on is not for the faint-hearted.
OK, let’s talk about what happens if Trump enacts the Insurrection Act.
Last weekend the Hands Off! protests brought an estimated 5 million Americans (approximately 2% of the population) flooding into the streets protesting a whole host of violations to fundamental rights, the destruction of the government, infrastructure, the obliteration of the economy, and many other things. These were peaceful protests and remarkable feats.
A looming deadline of April 20th is approaching when a joint report from the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security is due concerning the safety on the southern border. They are tasked to specifically address whether the Insurrection Act of 1807 should be invoked. Note that April 20th is Easter AND Hitler’s birthday. The next nationwide day of protest is the day before (April 19th). Some think that if Trump gets the recommendation to invoke this act, he will likely do it either on or about this date. This would allow him to use the military at the border and potentially in blue “sanctuary” cities. While the Insurrection Act has been used at times by Presidents, its use is reviewed by the courts only in retrospect.
photo: AramiFeraxa
THE FALSE FLAG EVENT:
What may be even more concerning is that with mass demonstrations becoming more and more popular, Trump may choose to create a false flag crisis that conveniently leads to martial law. This could be easily done if he calls up groups like the Alt-Right, Neo-Nazis, Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, right wing militias, and others. Some believe that Trump is just waiting to deploy these troops against peaceful demonstrators in order to provoke a violent clash that would lead to a call for martial law to reestablish order. After Charlottesville and January 6th, it’s hard to dismiss the idea. Many people seem to think Trump has waited this long to invoke the act because he needed to have his people in key positions to get the job done. His cabinet was seated, and his minions are now in place.
THE PLAYBOOK:
Of course, causing the violence that requires the full use of martial law ultimately is how democracy falls. It doesn’t happen in one day, but it does happen quickly. There is a playbook by which totalitarian rulers have historically accomplished this goal and if we are going to stop America falling, we have to recognize the pattern.
CREATE THE SITUATION & MANIPULATE THE POPULACE:
As the initial violence kicks off, it’s likely that we will see other escalations to follow. Simple crowd control at an event or two would hardly get Americans behind the idea of giving up freedoms (and that’s what this administration is after). So, we should expect things like “terrorist” bombings, targeted assassinations, and other high-profile acts of violence that shock us. All of these events would be used to manipulate the public to call for law and order. The media will then be flooded with images of rioting, cities burning, all kinds of out-of-control behavior, much- if not all of this, will be orchestrated by the right. If done correctly by the playbook, Trump will appear to be a hero answering the growing cries of citizens to reestablish order. Trump will be only too happy to step in and assume total control. He has no plan to ever cede that control back.
photo: Martin Falbisoner
At this point, Trump can now mobilize and order troops into major American cities where his opposition is the greatest. These people are vilified as the enemy and are rebranded seditionists, traitors, and the woke mob. Good Americans are now asked to grab their guns and defend ‘Merica. Trump uses the militias that have been reformed after being freed from the Jan. 6th incarcerations. That way any military professionals who balk at using force against their own people can be sidestepped. Now citizens (largely from the right) have been cast into roles of helping the police or keeping order.
ELIMINATE OPPOSITION:
What follows next is likely to be the arrest of high-profile opposition. We should expect that journalists, Democratic officials, activists, academics, and anyone who has publicly taken on Trump or his policies publicly to be arrested. The media will cover all aspects of this round up of those people now made criminal under this administration. Democratic governors may become a special target because removing them removes all resistance at a state level. This would allow Trump the freedom to do what he wants in each and every state. To solidify control, military and law enforcement are then made to take loyalty oaths.
As the cities are locked down, the military and National Guard might be used to establish firm control. Curfews, lockdowns, and checkpoints would be created to maintain order. Militarized presence on the streets defines a new normal. Highways to Canada and Mexico are strictly patrolled by Trumpian forces. Red states are especially enthusiastic to answer the call to man checkpoints and identify traitors, seditionists, and anyone they deem a threat to Trump. Recall the move to open Guantanamo Bay, the 106 ICE detention centers, and various for-profit prisons to retain illegals? That “system” is now used to house the thousands of American citizens deemed traitorous under the Insurrection Act. And still there isn’t enough room. Texas comes through with “open air” jails (tent cities) scattered throughout the state.
photo: Jesse Collins
CONTROL THE MESSAGING:
While all this is under way, the press comes under increasing pressure. The administration needs total control of the messaging to silence dissent. We should expect to see journalists and media heads threatened with legal action, blackmailing, and pressure to comply. The social media that Trump controls (X, Truth Social, etc.) will become increasingly loud in an attempt to drown out any contrary opinions. Some social media will go dark. Some media will cave to the pressure. We enter the police state where monitoring of everyone’s communication becomes routine. Trump exploits his friendships with tech giants to conduct surveillance on all Americans to root out dissent. Arrests are made when people express non-Trumpian ideas. Incentives are created to have Americans report on each other’s behavior.
CLOSE THE BORDERS:
Borders close. No one, especially anyone who opposes the dictator is leaving. Passports are revoked. No-fly lists are created and enforced. Apprehensions at the borders and airports are commonplace. ICE and DHS arrest political enemies. Many are lost or have disappeared.
END FREE ELECTIONS:
The 2026 election is postponed due to national security concerns. This is a pretext to do away with democratic elections forever. By 2028, the first rigged American election (similar to a Russian election) takes place. The 250-year American democratic experiment has died. Americans live under totalitarian rule.
Although I’ve laid this out as a linear plan, it’s likely that many events would be overlapping, and other parts may occur even earlier than I outline. Some steps may be invisible to us, at least for a while. Might it not happen at all? Of course! But remember, they have a plan in Project 2025 and Trump and his bunch have been making remarkable progress checking off all those tasks that he supposedly knew nothing about. Well, Ellis- this just sounds crazy! Yeah, I know!! But this is the same bunch that engineered Jan. 6th. Who thought that would happen? Who thought Trump would be elected? Who thought all the insurrectionists from Jan. 6th would be pardoned? Let’s not say- who thought they’d end democracy?
I am indebted to Angela Woodward and others for their keen insight and understanding of these times we live in.
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An article about the Insurrection Act, Wargaming a What-if, the likelihood it might happen, what we might be able to do:
The Project 2025 Tracker: https://www.project2025.observer/
April 1, 2025
APRIL 5: National Day of Protest
“This is a nationwide mobilization to stop the most brazen power grab in modern history.,” according to the organizers. “Trump, Musk, and their billionaire cronies are orchestrating an all-out assault on our government, our economy, and our basic rights—enabled by Congress every step of the way.”
Things are moving fast and gaining momentum. A recent article in the Times Weekly, reported that 2,085 events protesting the Trump administration happened nationwide in Feb. 2025. More than 500 events were scheduled during the recent congressional recess that became notable for the Republicans who refused to meet their constituents and the lively interaction that resulted from those Congressmen and women who actually showed up.
April 5th is a day of what organizers hope will be the biggest single day of protest since DJT took office. More than 1000 events are planned across the US and in multiple foreign countries. That’s what happens when you turn on your friends, become a bully, and threaten democracy worldwide. In Washington DC, Maryland congressman Jamie Raskin will headline the event along with multiple other speakers scheduled.
The crisis is here. Up close and personal, and it’s time to act. Fascism is on the march in the US. The last I saw, 14 countries had travel advisories out warning their citizens about traveling to the US. Social media is full of every-day-Americans warning citizens of other countries, “don’t come here, we’re not safe.” Not safe to travel, not safe to work, not safe to study abroad, not safe to do research. We are busy stripping human rights away, allowing the consolidation of power, building concentration camps, eliminating protective social systems, and gutting economies. And make no mistake about it, there is a level of cruelty that underlies all of this. When some Americans see photos of the El Salvadoran prison that the Trump administration has funded which looks remarkably like Holocaust pictures, they react with glee. Humanity and empathy have been surrendered at the feet of the anointed savior, DJT.
Another milestone passed this week. We have known since the election that people are leaving the country. Although it’s too early to assess the brain drain occurring as a result of those fleeing (and the effects of not receiving the necessary infusion of academic minds from other nations who normally would have come to the US), three professors from Yale jumped ship. One of them, Jason Stanley, is considered an expert on fascism (I’ll be talking about his book soon). If a leading expert on fascism thinks it’s getting too dangerous and is leaving the US for Canada, what does that say about the current state of the country?
Links are below to find an event near you. You should also consider joining a rapid respond team in your area to help protect immigrants, your neighbors, and yourself. They teach basic rights in the face of the continued assault by ICE. Once upon a time in America, immigration was an activity done without a paramilitary organization armed to the teeth, sidestepping the rule of law. Those days may be gone forever.
What to Know About the April 5 Anti-Trump Protest in DC
About — Hands Off! FIND AN EVENT HERE
Join a Hands Off! Mobilization Event Near You. RSVP Now! – Progressive Democrats of America
Project 2025 Tracker (for a real shock!)
To find my books:
BOOKS
March 13, 2025
THIS IS CANADA!
(from the song)
This Is Canada
Maple Syrup ‘N Log Cabins, Eh
Kick Your Ass All Hockey Season, Eh
Mounties Be Ridin’ Horses, Eh
Yeah, This Is Canada
Furry Woodland Critters In Our Zone
We Got The Best Weed Ever Grown
We Got The Best Bacon Ever Known
This Is Canada
The adventure starts. Four days on the road from Denver with two senior cats who made traveling rough. But then, they weren’t consulted about the trial escape made necessary after Trump was elected. Total shock about that election led to a plan that was whittled down to leaving for just three months to the great white north. Here, we’ll avoid the 24-hour news cycle and do a bit of local travel. Read some books, take an online class.
We’re about six miles north of the border and about an hour east of Vancouver in a rural area that grows blueberries, hops, brussel sprouts, and where neighbors sell eggs to each other at prices Americans would go crazy over right now. Bird flu has not ravaged small Canadian poultry farms.
Canada has always been a nation known for its friendliness, its niceness. They were (and should be) our closest ally. In a way, we’re like cousins—sharing a continent, history, and values. I remember 9/11 when flights were grounded in Canada and how Canadians took people into their homes. I remember how recently Canadian firefighters helped with the LA fires. There are countless other times, Canadians have had our backs and we’ve done the same. But the times are changing.
“Elbows up!,” Canada cries in a hockey phrase that means defend yourself. Immigration to Canada is difficult and has become more difficult recently. Canadians are cracking down just like a lot of the rest of the world. Americans can still cross the border to travel in Canada, but residency is altogether a different thing. You can come as a student, with a Canadian job (a company here would have to sponsor you), or a relative in Canada could sponsor you. Even after my son attended a four-year university and obtained his degree, he found it virtually impossible to remain in Canada (and that was a decade ago BEFORE the new restrictions involving quotas). The only way for me to feasibly immigrate to Canada would have to involve a sponsorship where my son would immigrate first (by first obtaining a Canadian job), and that would open a grandparents’ option. I bring this up because there has been interest from people in how to leave the US and Canada does feel like the easy answer. I wish it were.
Canada feels a lot like the US but there are differences. We’re saved from the language issue we faced in Belgium when we lived there. But products contain French directions and ingredients. Packages are in grams and kg. The sizes and choice of items are different. 3% milk (it’s a choice here)? Spreadable butter seems exotic and difficult to find. We haven’t found a breakfast sausage that suits yet. There’s a mixture of pork and ground beef widely available. That’s not commonly found in the US, but we did see meat mixtures in Europe. Many American products are on the shelves but we’re trying to buy Canadian (since we are ashamed of the deranged orange one). Canadian products are increasingly being marked by a red maple symbol in the store and there is an active movement among Canadians to buy Canadian. Every time we go shopping; I experience sticker shock. The exchange rate means that I have to discount everything by about 30% just to accommodate for the currency difference. Still, things feel more expensive.
Yesterday, we filled up the gas in the car for the first time on this side of the border. My husband got out to pump it. An attendant came out to do full service and my husband was stunned. When was the last time you didn’t pump your own gas?
Driving around we notice many American chain stores and restaurants but there are uniquely Canadian ones, too. At this point, we’ve only explored a small mall and there aren’t any significant differences to report. London Drugs was the biggest “drug” store I’ve ever been in. It resembles a small department store. You can buy furniture and TVs there.
We have settled into the day-to-day necessities and will be turning more towards travel. I hope to post more about what we see and experience. But at the same time, this away from home time is a time of preparation for what’s to come. I’m trying to fill in some gaps in education that I think are necessary. I’m finishing up a course on the Constitution, a book on fascism, and a dive into class war is upcoming. All heavy topics-but that’s where we are.
February 20, 2025
The Apothecary Rose
By Candace M. Robb
A Medieval Mystery:
Owen Archer was Captain of Archers before an act of betrayal lost him an eye and his enthusiasm for battle. He finds himself singled out by the powerful Archbishop of York who has a singular mission for Owen. The Archbishop has just learned that his wayward ward has died in mysterious circumstances at the abbey in York. He needs someone he can trust to investigate and report on what happened there. Owen reluctantly agrees but soon finds himself overwhelmed by the goings on at the abbey, a nearby apothecary, and a city of colorful characters. This professional soldier often feels out of his depth negotiating not one but two murders and a cadre of slippery suspects.
The book has the feel of a Cadfael story because the apothecary plays a central role in the story and so does the Church. There are lots of fascinating details about the medicines, gardens, and how the guild oversees the running of apothecaries at this time. Owen also must understand and work within the politics of the church hierarchy as he investigates the murders. Thrown into the mix, is an examination of the role of women- how the Church viewed them and what society allowed at the time (some aspects might surprise).
This was an enjoyable, light read. There is a romantic attraction that runs through the novel (not my thing). I loved the setting, the Church politics, and the apothecary details. The mystery was well developed and came to a satisfying conclusion. This is book 1 of 15. The problem is that I’m not enamored with Owen Archer, so I won’t be reading the rest of the series. But that’s a matter of personal taste and many have loved this series.
Join me next time when I’ll be coming to you from Canada! Remember MARCH AND APRIL WILL BE TURBULENT!! Buckle up. Make time for self-care.
To find my books:
BOOKS
February 6, 2025
IMMINENT
Inside the Pentagon’s Hunt for UFOs by Luis Elizondo
“For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who disbelieve, no amount of proof is sufficient.”
Given the reaction of the American public to some of the recent disclosure information concerning UAPs, I’m prone to agree with Ignatius. Where are YOU people?? Testimony out of Congress shouted, WE ARE NOT ALONE! No reaction….none????
Luis Elizondo was the former head of DOD’s Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP). He is an Army veteran with wide experience rising to top levels of government in the intelligence arena with high security clearances. He has testified before Congress as an expert on UAPs (unidentified anomalous phenomena).
Imminent is his recent book on the UAPs. Partially a work of biography and partially a historical look at what we have come to understand about the UAPs, this is an important book by a government insider. Elizondo was privy to highly classified programs within the government and military/industrial complex that have serious implications for national security and our understanding of the universe itself.
After being recruited into a highly classified program with a mission to study these phenomena, Elizondo learned that certain parts of the government (and defense contractors) work to block access to what his team needed. Nevertheless, what they had led to some disturbing conclusions. Since at least WWII, the government (including some Presidents), have known that unidentified vehicles have been in flying in US airspace. These craft operate in ways that defy conventional physics. Elizondo’s team identified five distinct performance characteristics (observables) associated with UAPS.
Hypersonic velocity: UAPs routinely reach Mach 17 and above, no sonic booms associated with the speed (the USAF SR-71 can reach Mach 5 at high altitude; X-15, some missiles, Space Shuttle can exceed Mach 5 at high altitude only)Instantaneous acceleration: UAPS can accelerate to 13,000 mph or faster and can stop on a dime. Also typical are tight, high speed turns impossible for known conventional aircraft. Instantaneous acceleration is associated with high g-forces. UAPs seem to possess the ability to withstand g-forces as high as several thousand g’s. (Structural failure on the F-16 occurs at approximately 17g’s.)Low observability: Contrary to known technology that leaves a signature, UAPs leave virtually few or no observable signature. UAPs tend to be silent, with no sonic booms, no contrails, no heat ablation, no atmospheric ionization.Transmedium travel: UAPS can operate equally well in space, air, and water environments. UAPs can move from one medium to another with no degradation in performance. (Example) Craft have been observed to operate first in air and then enter water without slowing down or creating waves. And vice versa. No propulsion system/lift mechanism (defying gravity): UAPs have no wings, propellers, rotors. There are no control surfaces or means of maneuvering the vehicle.Another component to UAPs are the biological effects of encountering these objects. There are military and intelligence members who have been injured and are receiving compensation due to these injuries. Some of the injuries associated with a UAP encounters entail radiation burns, internal organ damage, eye problems, psychological issues, and time anomalies (which may also be fundamental to understanding the phenomena).
About halfway through the book, Elizondo describes a theory that Hal Puthoff and others developed that account for all of the observables. With this theoretical technology, space and time could be warped locally creating a bubble around a craft. The craft then is immune from gravity (no wings required). Faster than light travel becomes possible. The pilot’s body does not feel excessive g-forces. In essence, two realities exist at the same time. It also explains why UAP photos tend to be blurry. This is because every photo shows the barrier layer. Elizondo explains in detail how the theory accounts for the features commonly reported with UAP phenomena and why the craft vary so much.
The book does suffer from a confusing timeline as Elizondo hops between his own life and some of the UAP historical happenings. For those who scoffed at Roswell, scoff no more. There is also a survey of famous cases and not so famous cases. Yes, the government has crash retrieval programs and yes, we have biologicals. There is evidence of reverse engineering of off-planet technology. Within the government, this is known as the Legacy Program. Consisting of government and contractor personnel, the program focused on retrieving and reverse-engineering crashed vehicles not made by humans. Materials in the possession of these contractors became the possession of the contractors to the point that the government has no record of them. Sounds like something from the X-files but it’s apparently very real and sinister at that.
Three videos released from the Navy would eventually change the world (TikTac/FLIR 2004, Go Fast 2015, GIMBAL 2015). Elizondo and his team, had for years, faced difficulty in obtaining materials related to the UAPs. Certain parts of the government wouldn’t talk or release data. The Air Force was notorious in this regard but so were other agencies and contractors. In 2014, the Navy was preparing the USS Roosevelt for deployment in the Persian Gulf. In practice exercises in the Atlantic, aircrews reported 22 separate encounters with UAPs which were seen with eyes and sensors abroad aircraft. When reports of this came in, Elizondo remembered a similar 2004 case of the Nimitz/Princeton where UAPs engaged in similar behavior. The incidents were becoming so numerous that pilots were scared, and safety threats loomed. The Navy was looking for answers. Certain reports and films of events were sent through channels to see what operators of secret programs were endangering their crews. Turns out there weren’t any.
At a certain point, Elizondo felt the tide turn against his efforts to take his team’s findings to the Secretary of Defense. He made the decision to leave government to help disclose the truth about UAPs directly to the American public. Chris Mellon, a friend to the ATTIP efforts, and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence released the now declassified Navy videos to the world. Elizondo went on to work with the History Channel on the Unidentified series and has worked with Congress on educating the American public. He, along with eyewitnesses have testified before Congress.
The UAP Disclosure Act was passed in Dec. 2023. The most notable part of the legislation concerns funding for UAP programs. No longer can Legacy Programs be funded without government approval by appropriate committee. Congress finally has oversight of all UAP matters. It also directs that the National Archives be the receiving agency for all documents concerning UAPs, technologies of unknown origin, and nonhuman intelligence. And any UAP documents not previously disclosed must be disclosed within 25 years, unless there are national security reasons that prevent such disclosure.
This is a paradigm altering book. A top government intelligence insider has no doubt that American airspace is routinely penetrated. His opinion is that UAPs are not human phenomena and that this is a security threat. He has been instrumental in bringing forward competent, professional witnesses who have testified before Congress twice at this point. Legislation has been enacted as a result. Why people continue to act as if the world is the same is incredible. So, if you see a UAP, what should you do? Read the book (and stay away from the blue lights…).
To find my books:
BOOKS
January 21, 2025
Hey-It’s Me!
This is from a recent interview I did with Awesome Gang.
Interview With Author Ellis Nelson
(and me as an AI rock star)
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Ellis Nelson has served as an Air Force officer, government contractor, and teacher. She writes for children and young adults largely under the newly emerging category of visionary fiction. Having returned from living abroad in Europe, she now calls Colorado home. Ellis has four books currently published.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called, Down the Treacle Well. It is an Alice in Wonderland retelling. The inspiration for the story started with reading a biography about Lewis Carroll. I found we had several things in common besides both of us writing for children. I was so fascinated by him, I decided he really needed to feature in his own story and so, I took him back to Wonderland to engage with the world he created. It was a blast!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am not a regular fixed routine type of writer. I don’t have a daily practice of it. I do like to gather inspirational items around me that connect to the place or characters I’m writing about. During the phase of writing Down the Treacle Well, my office was filled with Alice in Wonderland memorabilia and photos of Lewis Carroll. When I wrote Into the Land of Snows, I had photos of the Himalayas and ritual objects connected to Buddhist practice.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I like fast moving plots with lots of adventure. So, at the top of my list are writers like Michael Crichton, Dan Brown, and Preston/Child. I have always loved reading and read about as much non-fiction as fiction. I think it’s great to strive for a balanced diet in what we read just like in what we eat. So, I do read widely looking for ideas across many interests and genres. If you read one of my books and I haven’t exposed you to something new or taught you something, I feel that I’ve failed.
What are you working on now?
I’m trying something entirely new. I’m writing my first novel for adults that will explore what it feels like to be alive at a time of massive social and political change.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My best method has probably been my website where I’ve written a blog for the last dozen years or so. I have international followers and lively engagement there. I write about a wide variety of topics and ideas.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Persistence helps and so does trying new things.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Find your superpower and lean into that.
What are you reading now?
I’m reading a book by an intelligence operative who recently testified before Congress about UAPs. The book is Imminent: (Inside the Pentagon’s Hunt for UFOs) by Luis Elizondo.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m currently circulating two novels for young adults looking for a publisher. Recently, I’ve started work on the adult novel I described above.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
That is a tough question. I very rarely re-read a book. So, my best guess is that I would grab the next 3 or 4 books off my to-be-read list.
Ellis Nelson’s Social Media Links
January 14, 2025
A Dark & Dangerous Turn
(photo: Jordan Henry)
Perhaps the shock of the election has worn off. But I sense that many of us are looking at the change in leadership with fear and apprehension. There are only a few days left before we find out what happens now. The second Trump administration is set to come storming into office and even if they only manage half of what’s on the agenda, the US will be a very different place indeed.
The People’s March on Washington will take place this weekend (Jan. 18th). It will bring together many groups to protest the inauguration. This includes a partnership with Abortion Access Now, Climate Action Campaign, Ben and Jerry’s, The Frontline, Feminist, National Women’s Law Center, National Organization for Women, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Popular Democracy Action, Reproductive Freedom for All, Sierra Club, Time to Act, Women’s March, and the Women’s March Network. An intentional group of speakers has been chosen to inspire, energize, and unite the movement. Resources will be made available to sustain long-term resistance and to participate in training that will help people develop critical skills to protect yourself and your community. A crowd of 50,000 is expected.
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. (Edmund Burke)
But if you haven’t already committed to this event or some other local happening, what can you do?
I learned too late that I could have requested inauguration tickets and then stayed home. Damn! I missed that window.
I think finding an answer to what can you do will require you to look inside yourself to see where you want to draw the line, because a line will (eventually) be drawn. What will it take to awaken in each one of us a spirit of resistance? When we feel isolated and powerless, we tend to stay frozen. We have all been through a ton of demoralizing and depressing events that have left us exhausted. It was natural to seek a down-time to rest and restore but— that time is over. Look into your soul and decide which side of history you want to be on.
I won’t be in DC. But I will do what I can, where I am. On inauguration day, when the country turns down this dark and dangerous path, I will announce to the world that I’m not OK with it. I am not a supporter of MAGA-land. A place that stomps on freedoms, targets individuals and groups, rewards tyrants, ignores the environmental crisis, attacks friendly nations, and all the rest of it.
My house will be draped in black mourning bunting again. The flag will fly upside down indicating the nation is under severe duress. It is a form of protest and protected speech. I will also wear black on Monday. I’ve mentioned before that I live in a red county with red neighbors. So, there is a risk of being targeted now or in the future. That’s where I’m making my stand. If I can’t do this one easy thing to show that Donald J. Trump does not have a mandate, how will I ever stand up to what’s coming? By doing this, I’m signaling to parts of the wider community who also don’t support what’s happening that they are not alone. They too can stand up and protest.
Let me know if you are going to a protest event or if you’ve created your own unique way to resist. Be aware that 2025 is a year where we will see massive protests in the streets. Fascism won’t surrender easily. We are in historic times.
Trump’s Inauguration to Be Met With ‘People’s March’ Protest (Rolling Stone)
January 7, 2025
ERUPTION
by Michael Crichton & James Patterson
Recently I discovered that one of my favorite authors had left behind an unpublished book. Michael Crichton died suddenly in 2008, and I’ve missed his scientific and historical thrillers. I really looked forward to diving into what would probably be his last book. The problem is that Crichton left behind the idea for the book, and I haven’t been able to determine if he wrote any of the actual book. His widow entrusted James Patterson to write/complete the novel.
Eruption is a present-day novel set in Hawaii where the world’s largest volcano is set to erupt. The main character is the lead volcanologist, John MacGregor, who heads a team of scientists who will guide residents through the natural disaster. Much of the novel involves how these scientists work and how the local politics of Hawaii function. The impending eruption has long been forecasted, and it’s not deemed cataclysmic until MacGregor learns that the US Army has stashed a secret project deep in the side of the volcano. Now the stakes are dire for the entire planet.
The idea is solid and apparently Crichton gathered notes and research for the project for years. The problem is that this book doesn’t read like the fast-paced thrillers Michael Crichton was known for. The first eighty percent of the book is a slow slog watching bureaucrats maneuver for the impending disaster. Things do pick up in the last twenty percent of the book, which is where all the action occurs. It’s a shame the reader must wait that long. Parts of the novel seem ludicrous. The way the different levels of government and agencies work together (or fail to) suggests the writer has little understanding of these entities. The history of the secret project feels implausible at best. When the army shows up, an army General declares martial law which is illegal. The characters themselves aren’t interesting people. There were times when I found the dialogue overstated and grating. There’s a B-rated movie kind of feel to the whole thing. I can’t speak to the validity of the science represented. There are some interesting ideas presented. One review I read by someone claiming to know a lot about earth science/volcanos regards the book as highly flawed.
Obviously, I wanted a great book and found a mediocre one. Maybe if you’re a Patterson fan, this will be more to your taste. I haven’t read any James Patterson books and don’t feel inclined towards the themes he takes up.
To find my books:
BOOKS
December 19, 2024
A Christmas of Books:
Did you know JRR Tolkien wrote Father Christmas (Santa) letters to his children every year? The video below, shows some of the letters and illustrations from a new book about it.
Happy Holidays!
Below are a couple of videos of book-themed holiday trees. The first has adult books and the second has kid’s books. There are more on my YouTube channel.
Finally, INTO THE LAND OF SNOWS is on sale this month. $.99 Kindle and $9.99 Print.
December 3, 2024
Special Deal: Into the Land of Snows (Dec. only)
Deep discount: $.99 Kindle Edition/ $9.99 Print Copy
Sixteen-year-old Blake travels to Base Camp on Mt. Everest to spend time with his physician father. When a deadly avalanche occurs, Dad is forced to rethink things and sends Blake away. Now accompanied by a Sherpa guide, and in possession of a mysterious camera, Blake undertakes a journey that will challenge everything he believes. In the magical Himalayas, he will be forever changed by what he experiences.
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:
“Into the Land of Snows is a eminently readable YA novel that moves quickly and adeptly through many mystical twists and turns. A very fast and enjoyable read! I recommend it highly to YA audiences, but to adults as well.”
“Into the Land of Snows takes the reader into a world so different, so beautifully challenging in its vision of life that the reader is drawn-in completely. So strong is the vision presented in this book it may even change the being within you.”
“Well-written with engaging and believable characters, this story has it all: adventure, mystery, magic, and wisdom.”
“Yes, this is a “YA” novel, but to call it a cross-over, or even transcendent, would not be an exaggeration.”
“A great YA novel–enough to challenge YA readers to understand and perhaps learn more, and smart enough to engage adult readers as well.”
“The journey that you will be taken on is an exciting, fast-paced adventure that will have you gasping for breath in some parts and reading with your mouth wide open in amazement only to find yourself laughing a few pages later.”
“If you are someone that believes there is more to this world than what you can presently see, hear, taste, smell, feel or touch, this is a story that will affirm that for you. If you are somewhat of a skeptic, this book may soften some of those sharp edges. If you are the parent of a young adult I would highly recommend you both read this book. You will find you have something to talk about!”
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