The grass is green again. So is spring here yet?

 

The grass is now becoming green again, though not the same blades that had already turned brown. Rather, these new blades of green grass are shooting up between the old dead ones. And many trees are starting to flower once again. Spring promises a fresh start, a renewal--such a beautiful hopeful season! 

            Among spring's many flowering trees, probably cherry trees are the most popular. 

A friend living in Alexandria, Virginia, told me in a phone call that a fox has been climbing up on her roof. She doesn't really care as long as it stays up there, but a neighbor wants to shoot it, which she opposes as it is not doing any damage, just minding its own business. 

In early March, Robins                   will start building nests. Everything is blooming and buzzing. 

                                        Woodpeckers are also building new nests 

                                                An eagle has just laid an egg. 

While it is hopeful to see so many birds out building nests,

       NY Times, Around the world, birds have been declining at accelerating rates. 


The first day of spring (Astronomical Spring) in the Northern Hemisphere is the Vernal Equinox, which falls on March 20, 2026, at 10:46 AM EDT, marking the moment the sun is directly over the earth's equator, bringing nearly equal day and night and the start of warmer weather. But, for meteorologists, spring always begins on March 1st.
                                   
Whatever the definition, spring is on its way.

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The number one food stamp buy is soda, which is not really a food at all and should not be allowed. Probably soda maunfacturers lobbied hard to have soda included in the food stamp program. 

Measles is back again.

Wash. Post, As measles cases climb, these 9 diseases threaten comebacks

When it comes to infectious diseases, measles is “the canary in the coal mine,” one expert said.

 Measles and other childhood illnesses had nearly been eradicated until RFK Jr. came on the  scene. Now these illnesses are coming back, in large part due to his pernicious influence. 

Boycotting the measles vaccine under RFK Jr.'s leadership also has led to parental failures to have children vaccinated for other contagious diseases like whooping cough, diptheria, tetanus, and polio, leading to a resurgence of all these harmful, sometimes fatal, childhood illnesses.

RFK Jr. has claimed that a 2005 influenza vaccine triggered his own spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological voice disorder causing his now strained, raspy speech. So he has often warned against vaccines, though has been forced to tone down his remarks lately, especially since illness and deaths have been occurring among unvaccinated children.  

The National Library of Medicine warns that measles can be trasmmitted several days both before and after the rash appears. The NLM also declares: "Vaccines are the most effective public health measures against infectious diseases. Measles, a highly contagious acute viral respiratory infection, is a major cause of mortality and morbidity, particularly among children younger than five. It can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, diarrhea, dehydration, ear infections, and irreversible vision loss."  

The measles vaccine, part of the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine for children, is highly effective, according to the CDC. Two doses of the vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles, probably for a lifetime — and even one dose is 93% effective.

Severe cases of measles require hospitalization. Based on historical data, the CDC has estimated that approximately 1 in 4 of cases of measles in the US result in hospitalization, and 1 in 1000 cases result in a death. If that is your child, it doesn't matter what the odds are, so if you want to prevent your child's illness or death, get them the MMR vaccine. 

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In U.S. history, "Camelot" refers to the glamorous, idealistic, yet brief presidency of John F. Kennedy (JFK), a term popularized by his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, after his 1963 assassination to evoke the legendary noble court of King Arthur, symbolizing youth, hope, and chivalry in a golden, but tragically cut-short, era.

JFK's daughter Caroline. now 68. the former US ambassador to Japan, is still carrying the 

Kennedy family torch, 

          Here was President John F. Kennedy with daughter Caroline. 

And here was his brother Robert.

I shook hands with RFK Jr.'s father Robert years ago in Sacramento, California, when he was campagning there for president, just one day before his assassination. 

RFK seemed like a fairly reasonable guy whom I had planned to vote for after brother John had been assassinated. While his father and uncle, both Democrats, were killed, RFK Jr. has survived, crossing-over now to support Donald Trump and Republicans. In my opinion, he has added nothing positive to the Kennedy family legacy.

Donald Trump claims to still enjoy a great deal of "silent support" from Americans, something not discoverable by ordinary measures. How then does he know if the usual measures don't show it?  

Trump Complains About ‘Fake Polls’ Showing Approval Rating Is Underwater at Angel Families Ceremony

Donald Trump has often touted his substantial "silent support" and routinely calls out "fake polls." 

We'll have to see how other Republicans do at the midterms, since Trump's name won;t be on the ballot. 

(If Republicans don't actually do well, Trump will then allege "fraud.") 

Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

In December 2025, the White House announced its decision to change the name of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts to the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. The change was voted on unanimously by the Kennedy Center board of trustees, handpicked by Trump himself, according to reports.  A spokesperson for the Washington, D.C. building said the name change “honors Trump’s work at the center since taking over early in his second term.”

Since so many performers have refused to appear at the newly re-named center, it is being closed for at least 2 years, reportedly for "renovations." 

Trump often wears a red "Gulf of America" hat to promote his new name for the Gulf

of Mexico.

DOJ Removes Accusations Against Trump From Epstein Files

DOJ Withheld Epstein Files Including Allegations That Trump Sexually Abused a Minor, Report Claims

New reporting from NPR alleges that the Department of Justice withheld 50 pages of FBI interviews and notes related to allegations that a woman made against the president.

Best for Trump to just remove that reference. 

 Donald Trump has aimed highly personal attacks at the Supreme Court justices who voted 

to strike down his signature economic policy, namely, global tariffs imposed under an emergency powers law. Then he slapped 15% on tariffs anyway in defiance of the Court's order. What can be done if the president deliberately defies a Supreme Court order? Just lock him up and throw away the key? 

‘Nobel prize for fiction’: Trump’s State of the Union provokes polarized reaction

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to

                                Donald Trump always manages to keep himself in the headlines.

Democrats Irk Trump By Busting Out Laughing at His Boast He ‘Ended Eight Wars’

The boast was made during Trump's State of the Union address to Congress, where he spoke 

for almost 2 hours. There were constant objections by lawmakers throughout his long speech. 

“This is the golden age of America,” the 79-year-old president proclaimed during 

his State of the Union address, “We’re winning so much that we really don’t know 

what to do about it.”

Wash. Post, 

Trump administration’s third-country deportation policy unlawful, judge finds

Will that actually stop him? Probably not.

Federal judge rules Trump admin may not remove people to third countries 

without due process

CBS News

A federal judge in Boston ruled on February 25, 2026, that the Trump administration's 

policy

of rapidly deporting migrants to third countries without giving them a chance to 

object to safety risks is invalid and violates due process. This ruling is expected to be

appealed to the Supreme Court.

Trump says Muslim lawmakers should be sent 'back from where they came' after 

State of the Union clash.

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     Gallup reports: About 6 in 10 U.S. adults, 57%, favor the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Trunp is 

unlikely 

to advocate that, but he still supports Netatnyahu, 

100%. 

Wash. Post, 

Journalists slain at record level in 2025, majority by Israel, watchdog says

As of early 2026, American sympathies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict show 41% 

sympathizing more with Palestinians and 36% with Israelis, according to Gallup News.

Unfortunately, Donald Trump's alliance with Netanyahu has allowed Trump to keep 

funnelling money to Israel to protect the prime minister from arrest, despite ample evidence 

against him. 

Here's what Google says: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is accused of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three corruption cases involving exchanging political favors

 for gifts, positive media coverage, and regulatory benefits from wealthy supporters, which he denies,

 echoing Trump by calling it a "witch hunt". Additionally, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has

 sought arrest warrants against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes, including using starvation as a 

weapon and intentionally targeting civilians during the conflict in Gaza. 

Previously on these pages, 

I've called out both Trump and Netanyahu as untrustworthy "birds of a feather." 

Amnesty International has issued this urgent action against Israel

On December 27, 2024, Israeli forces raided Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit

 Lahia, Gaza, and arbitrarily detained its director, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, a respected 

pediatrician providing care amid bombardment and shortages at the last major hospital in 

northern Gaza. He has now been detained for over a year without charge or trial under 

Israel’s abusive Unlawful Combatants’ Law, and a lawyer reports he has been subjected to 

torture and other ill-treatment in detention.

We urge members to send messages of solidarity to Dr. Abu Safiya and his

 family. Your support shows that he is not alone and that we are continuing to take action on

 behalf of his human rights.

A new Gallup poll shows how Americans' sympathies have shifted in the

 Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Now 57% of Americans favor an independent Palestinian state. 

===========================

POLITICO: Trump’s next tariff fight: Keeping the money

After Trump’s Supreme Court tariff defeat, administration officials are devising legal strategies 

to let the president keep some — or maybe even most — of the revenue. 

Express, Mike Johnson warns: Midterms could spark 'end of Trump presidency'

Wash. Post, 

IRS broke law ‘approximately 42,695 times’ in giving DHS data, judge says

Upstate NY native pardoned by Trump after mom donates $1M to MAGA 

Americans Leaving the U.S. in Record Numbers Under Trump

I've often lived abroad myself and also speak Spanish, so I've even considered leaving

now myself. 

But just recently in my late 80's, I've also bought a house in rural West Virginia where I am  

living with my son and his dog. My daughters and grandkids, as well, all live in this country.

 So it would hard for me to pull up stakes once again. Therefore, I'll just have to tough it out

 like all other Americans, hoping to survive to the end of Trump's presidency, living long 

enough to see him gone, gone, gone, so I can die in peace.

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Wash. Post, Family of Nancy Guthrie offers $1 million reward as hope of recovery 

dims

                        

Nancy Guthrie's family has offered a substantial reward for her recovery.

Neighbors have left flowers not knowing whether Nancy is still alive.

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Now on to Mexico where I have many friends. The State Department reports that the country is now quite unstable, urging Americans not to travel there. 

Romantic tryst led to Mexican cartel leader's capture, death

The cartel leader's death has almost sparked a civil war in Mexico, risking many civilian lives. People there are afraid to even leave their homes right now. 

The demand for illicit drugs in the US is what is fueling this crisis.

Mexico’s Most Wanted Drug Boss Dead After Trump Threats

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  About half of Russia's federal budget goes to the fight in Ukraine, still ongoing.

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I had started this blog's predecessor https://honduraspeacecorps.blogspot.com at the 

beginning of 

2009, over 17 years ago, after I had been sending out a Letter from Honduras while serving 

in the Peace 

Corps in that country. Readers begged me to please continue, especially to report on my

 annual volunteer 

humanitarian visits to that country, which is how that first blog began, followed by https://honduraspeacecorps2.blogspot.com

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Complicated merger negotiations have been underway between Paramount, Warner Brothers, and Netflix. 

     
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                         American Girl dolls come in many varieties. 

And how about some American Boy dolls now as their brothers?