Obnoxious Activists

You probably saw the recent video of protesters following Kyrsten Sinema D AZ into the ladies room to rant about infrastructure and immigration reform.  

I suspect most fair-minded people find this type of harassing behavior to be both  obnoxious and ultimately counter-productive.  These In-your-face tactics have been used before, and are touted as an effective way to get wider media attention.  But not all attention is positive.   

There seems to be a renewed strategy to harass and intimidate public figures.  We've all seen video clips of deranged people disrupting school board meetings over issues such as mask mandates and teaching history of racism.  These are not intelligent debates.  They seem to think that The First Amendment gives them the right to squelch opposing opinions.

 I have no quarrel with protesters waving signs and  chanting on public property (except roadways),  but I decry those zealots who think their cause trumps my right to peace and quiet, or those who think their so called free speech obviates my right to access public buildings or roadways.  This includes peaceful sit-ins, marches and other demonstrations that impede other movements of others.  Go to one of the many public parks, fer chrisakes.

  

Rabbit Rabbit

 It's supposed to give you good luck if the first utterance of the first day of a new month is "Rabbit rabbit".  (Of course this superstition originated at a time when your word processing app would not flag this phrase as a potential duplicated word error.)   You may have a soft spot in your heart for small furry rodents but I have nothing but animosity for those hosta nibbling marigold destroyers.  They have literally gnawed their way through my garden this season.  

In other news...

Voting rights is a big issue these days.  In Massachusetts, the Democratic heavy legislature is considering expanding voting access, including same-day registration.  I am a fan of voting rights, but I am also a fan of free and fair elections.  The country is torn by division on voting rights.  If I were Emperor,  my rule on voting rights would go something like this:  1.  Since only citizens can vote in national elections, proof of citizenship must be shown at the time of registration, and proof of identity would be required at the physical polling places.  Proof of residency is not proof of eligibility. Automatic voter registration would be banned.   All ballots and election materials will be printed in English, since all naturalized citizens would be required to read and understand English.

Brady is back.   The so-called GOAT and his fellow turncoat Gronkowski will be playing the Patriots on Sunday night.  The hype around the confrontation between Brady and Pats coach Belichick has reached fever pitch.  Brady and Gronk are dead to me. I will watch the game, hoping that the new young quarterback Mac Jones has an awesome night.   I decry the current  adulation of individual personalities in sports rather than recognizing and promoting team efforts.   

Fall is here.   The tomato plants have been chopped down, the basil's gone by, the garden is looking sad and tired. The two experimental cannabis plants are bent under the weight of ripening buds. I have begun harvesting some of the most mature limbs, which have split from the main stalk.  There is a rather labor intensive process for drying and "curing" the buds.  I am really unsure about what I will do with the end product. I haven't smoked a joint since the "Abby Road" album, back in the early 70's.  Maybe edibles? Stay tuned.