Today here in Berkeley Springs, we see intermittent clouds and sun. It has not been hot here yet this summer, so we haven't even turned on the air conditioning.
"I'm the best President America and the world has ever seen," Donald Trump said.
"I don't wanna to brag but no other president can do some of these things I'm doing.
The things I'm doing, nobody else was gonna do it except me. Everybody knows this and that's why
I'm the best president ever. You just have to love me or love me more."
During his State of the Union address, he declared that the U.S. was in a booming "golden age" under his leadership, claiming that no other president has ever achieved what he has. Donald Trump often blows his own trumpet, saying he has done so much not just for America, but for the whole world.
And has any other president in history ever said publicly, "I am the greatest?" Not so far as we know. Some folks may agree with Donald Trump's self-assessment, though it's hardly an objective judgment. Trump places himself in the same league as Washington and Lincoln or even actually above them. He does not suffer from low self-esteem. Certainly Trump is one of the most quirky, unpredictable, and memorable of presidents. There has never been a president quite like him nor would we ever want to see another. One Donald Trump is almost too much. Just to calm our nerves, let's envision a world when Trump only appears in the rearview mirror,
Muhammad Ali was an American professional boxer, widely known by the nickname "the Greatest". Both by his contemporaries and by history, Muhammed Ali has truly been considered perhaps the greatest boxer of all time. I once had a chance to interview him in person, though his wife just answered for him, as by then he could no longer speak. But there is hardly a consensus on Donald Trump's greatness, as there was on Muhammed Ali's.
If this is what the new US passport will look like, I'll now be staying home.
The Supreme Court, made up of ordinary human beings just like you and me, has decided that Hawaii, which because of its Pacific Island location, could easily prevent new firearms from entering the state, must instead allow them to enter as per the NRA's "right to bear arms." What about the right of folks not to be shot? Other modern nations have lower murder rates in part because firearms are restricted, though for Canada, the US is much too close for comfort. Likewise, the guns used in Mexico and points south, all come from our country, providing good business for gun manufacturers.
Daily Beast, Poll Shows Americans Are Not Buying White House’s
Trump Health Claims
Voters simply don't believe that Trump, now age 80,
is really in such excellent health. They see his swollen ankles,
bruised hand, closed eyes, and conclude otherwise.
Wash. Post, Cow named Melania appears at the Great American State Fair
She's actually kind of cute.
And here is Archie, a new red wolf pup at the West Virginia sanctuary, probably never goig to be released into the wild.
Instead of a canine pet, how about having a pet duck? Ducks can be friendly, bonding deeply with humans they first meet at a young age.
..
But they also like having duck companions, so it's best to raise 2 or 3 ducks together.
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WorldView Magazine, How Peace Corps Survived 65 Years
As a forrmer volunteer myself, I highly recommend this article. The Peace Corps is still sending out volunteers. I first joined at age 62. Now at age 88, I'm almost ready to sign up once again.
JFK's vision lives on.
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Here is message just received from Nely, a friend in Honduras:
Buen día Barbara, gracias a Dios estamos bien, Oliver está de vacaciones en la escuela y está recibiendo clases de natación y yo a partir del 1 de julio también estaré de vacaciones, Gustavo sigue con sus clases y asesorías, claro que revisaremos su blog, le enviamos un fuerte abrazo. Con cariño y aprecio Nely, Gustavo y Oliver.
Nely sent photos of the family and of their son, who just celebrated a birthday. Her message above appears in all-caps on my screen, but, of course, that's now she wrote it. (The blog dieties did that.)
