I retired over14 years ago, though I've continued to work on and off since then. Mostly I'm just cruising, making the most of what time I have remaining.
Although my time is nearly up, I still care deeply about the kind of world I'll be leaving to those who follow me and, to that end, I am devoted to seeing the forces of repression and authoritarianism are at least held at bay, if not crushed out of existence.
I write about things that interest me and, as an eclectic soul, my interests run the gamut from science to spirituality, governance to economics, art and engineering. I'm hopeful one day my children will read what I've left behind.
I see the speed with which the Supreme Court has accepted Jack Smith’s request for a hearing on the issue of Presidential Immunity in the January 6 prosecution of Trump as a golden opportunity to cement their “supremacy”, and create a modicum of good will at the same time. It’s kind of a Marbury v. Madison moment for not only the court, but for the entire judicial system.
Maybe they’ll cave, but I think the odds of their taking the opportunity to make a major consequential decision that will inure to the benefit of the judicial system (and the nation) are high.
After I posted the foregoing to Threads, a friend offered his opinion that Clarence Thomas would side with Trump, adding “for starters”. I responded as follows:
Actually, no, I don’t. I suspect he might. There’s lots of evidence to suggest he would do that, but there are long-term, historical reasons why this is a deeply historical opportunity for the court to strengthen the ruling of Marbury v. Madison. If you’re not familiar with the ruling, Britannica explains:
“Marbury v. Madison is important because it established the power of judicial review for the U.S. Supreme Court and lower federal courts with respect to the Constitution and eventually for parallel state courts with respect to state constitutions.“
I may be wrong – perhaps crazy – but what remaining legal spidey sense I have (it’s been over 47 years since I graduated law school) tells me this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to further cement the court’s power to be the final say in matters of constitutionality.
It doesn’t have to be unanimous, though I believe there are powerful and important reasons for the court to rule en banc.
If they pass up this opportunity to strengthen the position (and power) of the court to rule on the constitutionality of both legislative and executive acts, as well as make a decision that seems – prima facie – in line with our country’s stated objectives for existing, I would be surprised. Not necessarily shocked, as they are dominated by RWNJs. However, I think they could write a decision that could conceivably be as momentous as that of Marbury v. Madison. Furthermore, from a political perspective, I think such a decision would serve to blunt some of the criticism certain members of the court have been receiving, though it should in no way negate the egregious performances of those who have accepted bribes from wealthy patrons. That should NEVER go away!
Five years ago many of the women on my wife Linda’s side (they’re a large majority) gathered at the studio of famous photographer Toyo Miyatake, now run by his grandson, for some group photos. While wandering around playing the role of 8th wheel as her immediate family posed for pics, I came across a photo montage Mr. Miyatake had taken at George Takei’s wedding to Brad Altman. I took a photo of it as its rarity was obvious and I had my Apple tricorder, er, iPhone with me.
A year and a half later we went to the Ricardo Montalbán theater* in Hollywood to see (and hear) “Uncle George” discuss his new book “They Called Us Enemy” about life in the Japanese internment camps during WWII. Linda’s parents and older sister were imprisoned for two years in Colorado (Amache).
As we were in line, slowly climbing the stairs to purchase the book and have it autographed, Brad came up behind us and introduced himself. He graciously – nay, enthusiastically – agreed to pose for us. I didn’t get to meet Brad’s husband, but Linda did … and I got this photo of them.
*I didn’t get the Khanection with the theater at the time. I was focused on the connection between his experience and that of Linda’s family.
This photo and its caption were posted by a friend on FB. I both commented on it and shared it with my FB friends, saying: “This is a Mom kitchen to me. I never knew my paternal grandparents and my maternal grandparents lived with us. Our kitchen wasn’t precisely like this, but it was similar. We had a ‘breakfast nook’ that was partially built-in and, if memory serves, it was turquoise and pink, which was all the rage in the 50s. My strongest memory is of eating breakfast and listening to my mother’s favorite radio show, Don McNeill’s Breakfast Club, which originated in Chicago, where both my parents were born and raised.”
I actually grew up in three different places. Panorama City from a year and a half old until I was seven. Then Palms (West L.A.) for a year, then North Hollywood on the border of Sun Valley until I left home. Although I frequently noted my disappointment my family issues couldn’t be resolved in a half hour like Donna Reed’s did, I really had a great childhood, all things considered. I consider myself luck; some may say privileged … and they’d get no argument from me. Hardly wealthy, yet reasonably comfortable.
When I first ended up at Rocketdyne (it was serendipity, not a conscious move) I was gobsmacked knowing I was working on the Space Shuttle Main Engine program, with bonafide rocket scientists and engineers. It was 1987, almost exactly one year since Challenger exploded and I was working on the FMEA/CIL (Failure Modes and Effects Analysis/Critical Items List) in anticipation of the shuttle’s return to flight. There were frequent dead times while I waited for an engineer/scientist to bring me their work so I could input it into the format we were using to present the information.
I was just going through a folder I found stashed away that’s chock full of some of the things I created back then while I was bored. Keep in mind we only had dot matrix printers and early IBM PCs. I’m pretty sure we were using IBM XTs running Intel 8088 processors. Anyway, here’s one of the things I put together to assuage my boredom back then.
So, I think I owe it to at least some of my friends to report on the results of all this doctor shit I’ve been doing. Here ’tis.
I have been dealing with an autoimmune skin condition known as Granuloma Annulare (GA) for at least a year and a half, more likely two years. I have been treating it with phototherapy for the past five months and it seems to be somewhat efficacious. Just when I thought the raised, sometimes itchy, sometimes painful lesions were the best it had to offer, a new “side-effect”, possibly a “companion” condition began to emerge about a month or so ago. I’m now experiencing joint swelling, stiffness, and pain in my knees, my ankles, my wrists and occasionally, at least one elbow. Did I mention my fingers?
I can’t definitively make a correlation between the GA and the joint pains which, by the way, generally appear and disappear fairly suddenly.
So Kaiser wanted me to see my GP for possible referral to a rheumatologist. That’s what I was up to yesterday at the Simi Valley office. Stay tuned.
Today I went to see my cardiologist, now a routine part of my overall health regimen given he implanted a pacemaker in me six months ago and he likes to keep track of his work. Pacemaker’s working as expected. Heart is working on its own more than I expected.
Saturday I’m having my first echocardiogram and I’m giddy with excitement and anticipation. Hope I don’t embarrass myself.
Bottom line, I have issues (who doesn’t at 76?) but I’m still enjoying life, especially as my girls are really beginning to spread their wings. I’m hoping the future holds a few more years of “adulting” in store for me.
Just finished reading Fani Willis’s response to Jim Jordan’s ill-conceived attempt to bully her into backing off of her RICO J6 investigation/prosecution. She flames him at least a half dozen times while refuting every position he asserted in his previous demand letter sent to her on August 24.
While it was an eminently enjoyable read given the disgust I feel, and the disdain I have, for the congressman, Fani’s (or her staff’s) approach is readable and succinct. If you ignore the numerous citations—which I would only research if I was intent on answering her letter, which I’m not—the points made are clear, concise, and to-the-point. That she occasionally takes him to the woodshed is a lagniappe.
Don’t take my word for it, read it yourself. Feel free to download it. I’m also including the original letter sent by Jordan to DA Willis for your reading pleasure (see below).
I came across this poem a couple of years ago and shared it on Facebook. It just came back as one of my “memories” and I was a bit stunned to realize I had completely forgotten about it. I’ve thought about (and written about on occasion) death, though it was always kind of philosophical; musings on mortality if you will.
However, given the health issues I’ve experienced in the past nearly nine months, I’ve begun thinking seriously about the inevitable. The other day I made my oldest daughter my legacy contact for everything Apple and I have a lot more to get done in the next few months. I also told my wife I thought this poem would be nice to read if there’s any kind of memorial service conducted after my death. I’m also including the introductory comments from the person who originally shared it.
Since it is an optional reading in the Reform Jewish liturgy recited before the Mourner’s Kaddish, and I was raised as a Conservative Jew, I’d never encountered it. I find it breathtaking. Hope it resonates.
”Every once in a while, a poem or song is so well constructed, so clearly conveys the authors meaning and is so precisely expressive that it becomes something of an anthem. The poem below, Epitaph, was written by Merrit Malloy and as one of those poems, has become a staple of funeral and memorial services…for good reason.”
Epitaph – By Merrit Malloy
When I die Give what’s left of me away To children And old men that wait to die.
And if you need to cry, Cry for your brother Walking the street beside you. And when you need me, Put your arms Around anyone And give them What you need to give to me.
I want to leave you something, Something better Than words Or sounds.
Look for me In the people I’ve known Or loved, And if you cannot give me away, At least let me live on in your eyes And not your mind.
You can love me most By letting Hands touch hands, By letting bodies touch bodies, And by letting go Of children That need to be free.
Love doesn’t die, People do. So, when all that’s left of me Is love, Give me away. I’ll see you at home In the earth.
Perfect hurriquake lunch. Hoffy all-beef, natural casing hot dog, Francisco seeded bun, Gulden’s spicy brown mustard, Hormel chili (no beans), Trader Joe’s Mexican cheese blend, and freshly chopped onion.
Capitalism served its purpose bringing us out of feudalism. Now it’s become nothing more than a generalized Ponzi scheme and an industrialized version/analogy of legacy admissions. It’s high time we socialized the value we, the workers create. #SupportWorkers
I’ve finally recovered from my almost year-long downward spiral of both physical and emotional uncertainty and difficulty. My pacemaker is working as it should, the incision has healed completely, and I’ve pretty much recovered from the shock of being disqualified from what would have been somewhat of a dream job. The amount of prospective income lost from the incident would have made a huge difference in my and my family’s life. C’est la vie!
I’ve been keeping my FB friends up-to-date on my weekly activities regarding my physical/emotional recovery with short check-ins from either my return to golf or my return to the gym. Below are those posts for all but the last week of July.
The First Hole at Simi Hill G.C.
July 2 – Steve and I both hit some balls today, then putted for a while. For someone who’s barely touched a club since last August, I’m heartened by what I was able to do today. I don’t think I’ll be able to play a full round though, until later this year; maybe not until next year.
July 9 – I hit the ball a little better today. Not as far as I’d like, but mostly straight – which is very important. I once played the second hole (a par 5) with only a pitching wedge. I almost bogeyed it. I didn’t hit anything below my eight iron today.
Looking Out Toward The 10th Hole & The Practice Green
July 16 – Continuing to improve, but must remain patient. The last 10 months have really taken a toll on me – physically, mentally, and emotionally. I shared a large bucket of balls with Steve and his son, Jake. I’m beginning to recall swing thoughts and each week I’m hitting the ball better and more consistently. I’m sure I would benefit greatly from a few lessons, but I can’t afford them now. I’m beginning to look for work again.
July 17 – I went to the gym and actually worked out for the first time in nearly seven months, since my heart started acting up. It’s been four and a half months since pacemaker implant surgery, and my energy level continues to improve. I also sent my resume and a list of my writing/editing/proofreading experience to a headhunter who specializes in lawyers who want to change careers, accompanied with an introductory email. It’s a longshot but, as they say, nothing ventured, nothing gained. I’m ready for my next incarnation.
Systems Savvy 