1/26/2024

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

I ate a tea salad at My Burma yesterday & I am still stoked. The tasty, fermented tea leaves featured prominently in the dish are loaded with caffeine.

It’s only 6:36, still dark out & I’ve got too much to tell you!

            I visited My Burma to host a job applicant & sell him on the idea of coming to UCD. I hesitated to go there because I have no idea about the politics of the owners, but they are close to our building, great food & fast! I was happy that the guy who took our order knew about the junta, but one of our servers didn’t so I gave her my one-page handout & encouraged her to get informed.

            It’s too bad that Laos will be in charge of ASEAN this year removing all hope that its 5-point-plan-for-peace will be enacted. Conflict resolution will have to come from elsewhere.

            I’m sorry to see that Rupert Murdoch’s minions are teasing you about 'speaking a different language' and listening to a barrel of beer at the brewery yesterday. I garble my words all the time, so I’m not too worried about your gaffe.

            When you saw Sen Tammy Baldwin, did she ask you about Whitewater’s request for $$ for an immigrant liaison position? My family’s little hamlet of 15,000 has 800 new neighbors that are living in terrible conditions (a family in a 10’x10’ shed in below zero temps). I’m sure the schools are overwhelmed. The police chief & city manager wrote you in Dec about the situation. They are desperate to have some translators! Please help them.

            On to climate change. Thanks for pausing new LNG export projects. The Gulf of Mexico is already stressed, it doesn’t need a dozen more gas export terminals!

            I am off to meet some LAUSD teachers tomorrow so won’t be writing.

            BYBS,