10/16/2022

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

Did you know that you get your best coverage from the Idaho State Journal? Whenever you go on a trip, I can always find a good picture of you there. Today’s is of you & Tina Kotek on your way into the Baskin Robbins. I am jealous that you can eat double dip chocolate chip ice cream in a waffle cone. The amount of carbs & caffeine in that would throw me way off. My special treat last night was peanut butter on a seed cracker.

            The MLB Division Playoffs diverted us for several hours yesterday. The mound at T-Mobile Park had some kind of magic because 18 pitchers kept the game scoreless for 18 innings until J. Pena finally broke the spell after 382 minutes killing the Mariners’ hopes upsetting the Astros. Then the Padres upset the Dodgers, but I pooped out before they “knocked out 111-win juggernaut.” (headline by CBS Sports)

            I am excited about a couple of women I just learned about who are serving our country admirably. Dr. Laurie Leshin was written up in the CSM & is working to end gender disparities at the Jet Propulsion Lab. She’s doing all she can to reach out to young folk & sharing her enthusiasm for finding water on Mars. The WP had a long article on Jennifer Abruzzo who is now running the Nat’l Labor Relations Board. I love her approach of being “pro-worker” rather than “pro-union.” I always caution beginning teachers that the AFT is there to work for them, but, like all democracies, the representatives can lose track of what their constituents want, so the teachers need to participate.

            Speaking of participation, the students of Burma have started a campaign inviting students from all over the globe to join them in protest against the junta. It reminds me of the fight against apartheid that swept campuses in the 80s. Desmond Tutu traveled around speaking. Students at Dartmouth got behind it & eventually the board divested. Perhaps something like that can happen with this campaign.

            BYBS,