Margie Power

Seven million marchers -- and neither the NY Times nor the Washington Post talks about it on their cover page this morning.

I'm haunted by a song from The Man of La Mancha that was popular when I was a teen. "... To fight for the right without question or pause, To be willing to march into Hell for a heavenly cause..." We need to summon the resolve that doesn't ask for a guarantee of success before committing.

OK, I'm getting into the rhythm of opening 5calls.org every morning and making calls on one issue. My senators and my rep are all Democrats and generally vote exactly as I'd ask them to, but they need to know we're concerned and watching.

I am outraged at the effects of the tariffs on everybody! But it hits me pretty hard. I lost my home in the Eaton Fire. If the tariffs remain, the price jump just for Canadian timber will inflate rebuilding costs. Even with a good insurance settlement, I'm concerned about the price of rebuilding.

In addition to pro-democracy activities like putting some monthly donations on autopilot, I need to feed my soul. I've decided to visit every state park here in CA, which will be a multi-year project. I don't want to just check boxes; I want to enjoy them. Anybody want to follow along?

Notice that the worst African-American, Elon Musk, is white? And an immigrant?

Our company had a client years ago who put three frat brothers in key positions they weren't qualified for. This was in aerospace -- actual rocket science -- and the ensuing chaos was as expected. The only benefit is that years later, I'm shocked but not at all surprised.

I keep hearing Hillary Clinton's voice from 2016: "America is great because America is good." I am just so embarrassed in the eyes of the world.

Library people! I'm already maxed in volunteer work, activism, and donations. I'm looking for what else I can do without redlining, and it sounds like using the library more helps its stats. Is it useful if I pledge to take out ten books a week, the max, and quickly return what I know I won't read?

Here's my great idea for a happy life: get half a dog. I share my Shepsky with a young cousin my son's age. I'm retired but I travel. He's in film, so he can get a last-minute call to be on set for 12-hour days. We trade back and forth as required, and Ladybird loves both parents and both homes.

@americanredcross.bsky.social Welcome! I'm a disaster volunteer from SoCal and I've been waiting to see you here in addition to The Other Place.

@pkrugman.bsky.social Could you do a column on why Owners' Equivalent Rent is included in inflation? Every other component is something real people experience. OER is paid by exactly no one, and it doubles the influence of shelter cost on inflation calculations.