Last Hurrahs

 

Back in the 1960’s we were all lined up.

Long winding groups of kids waiting for our

mass shots, or exams, or even the cafeteria.

Positioned here and there for various

reasons I can’t even remember why;

Fire drills and fallout shelters and fear.

Now we sit at the opposite end of things.

Lined up in nursing homes,

at doctor’s offices or urgent care clinics,

or massing along pedestrian trails...

Daytime scenes populated with elderly dross,

All us Baby Boomers that have lost our gloss.

Succeeding generations have long since taken over

the running of society, while we Boomers sit and watch,

complain and grumble, or cheer and hurrah sometimes.

It has been a long, strange trip, and only some

of us made it to this other end. To us I say,

three cheers! And let us crack open one more

bottle of 60’s joy and color and good vibrations...

For old time’s sake!

How to Keep US on Top

To maintain a preeminent space program, the USA can focus on several key areas:

1. Investment in Research and Development: Increasing funding for NASA and other space-related agencies to foster innovation in technology, propulsion systems, and materials science.

2. Public-Private Partnerships: Encouraging collaboration with private companies to leverage their expertise and drive down costs. Initiatives like the Commercial Crew Program have shown success in this area.

3. International Collaboration: Building partnerships with other countries for joint missions, shared technology, and resource pooling can enhance capabilities and strengthen global ties.

4. STEM Education and Workforce Development: Promoting education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to ensure a skilled workforce. This can include scholarships, internships, and outreach programs.

5. Sustained Long-Term Goals: Establishing clear, ambitious goals such as returning to the Moon, manned Mars missions, and deep space exploration to inspire investment and public interest.

6. Public Engagement and Support: Increasing outreach efforts to educate the public on the benefits of space exploration, which can drive support for funding and initiatives.

7. Regulatory Framework: Streamlining regulations to facilitate space exploration while ensuring safety and sustainability.

8. Technology Transfer: Encouraging the application of space technology advancements to other sectors to demonstrate the broader benefits of space investment.

By focusing on these areas, the USA can not only maintain but enhance its leadership in space technology and advancement.

(Just ask an AI how to do it)

The Long Season

 

The trees are weeping down leaves,

sagging and seeping sorrowful greens.

Barren hard ground to feet is unyielding,

wispy grasses to color are clinging.

Overseas the bodies are piling up,

more countries getting drawn into

a never ending conflict of egos and steel.

Lip service to treaties, immune to entreaty.

Here at home, a bifurcated population

rages against itself, house divided hard.

As the election nears, political tactics smear;

Hatreds flare and many are scared.

How much riotous bloodshed will occur

if or when a sore loser emerges?

One can only wait and see – indoors,

entrances locked and phone at the ready.

It remains a tossup if we can get a self-sustaining colony

built on some other world, before we destroy our own!

E Pluribus Unum

 (many thanks to Chat GPT for this gem)

Out of Many, One

In a small town, the annual Harvest Festival buzzed with anticipation. This year, a group of fervent Christian nationalists had commandeered the event, draping the town square in flags and fervent speeches. Their leader, a charismatic preacher named Ezekiel, proclaimed a divine mandate to reclaim the country for their vision of faith.

But amid the celebrations, a quiet resistance simmered. Mara, a local librarian, felt the weight of the community's diversity slipping away. She gathered a group of neighbors—Muslims, Jews, atheists, and progressive Christians—over cups of tea and whispered plans.

On the day of the festival, as Ezekiel took the stage, Mara and her friends set up their own booth, adorned with vibrant banners reading "Unity in Diversity" and "Love is Greater Than Fear." They handed out pamphlets that told stories of their shared humanity, weaving in tales of their cultures and beliefs.

At first, Ezekiel's followers scoffed, but as the day wore on, curious townsfolk began to gather around Mara’s booth. She spoke passionately about the strength found in differences, her voice rising above the raucous chants. The crowd, once loyal to Ezekiel's exclusionary vision, began to waver, drawn in by the warmth of shared stories and laughter.

As the sun dipped low, casting a golden hue over the festival, Mara led the crowd in a simple act—a moment of silence for every person who had felt marginalized. One by one, hands clasped together across differences, creating a human chain that glowed with hope.

Ezekiel, watching from the stage, felt the tide turning. His voice faltered as he saw faces—once eager to follow him—now shining with newfound understanding. The chants quieted, and for the first time, he saw a community stitched together by love rather than fear.

That night, as the stars flickered above, the festival ended not in division, but in a resounding affirmation of togetherness. The seeds of unity had taken root, and in their fertile soil, the specter of Christian nationalism began to wither, outshone by the light of compassion.

E Pluribus Unum - Out of Many, One - the United States of America

Reversal of Linguistic Fortunes

 

In whispers spun from tongues diverse,
Where letters dance in clever verse,
A mirror’s game, a playful twist,
Languages spin, and none are missed.

In English, “stressed” flips to “desserts,”
A sweet escape from heavy hurts.
In Spanish, “sal” becomes “las,”
A sprinkle of salt, a change in class.

French offers “rester” turned to “reset,”
A pause in time, a chance to forget.
In German, “leber” reflects as “rebel,”
A liver’s tale, a revolution’s revel.

Across the globe, in every land,
Words reverse with a sleight of hand.
Italian “ano” to “ona” plays,
A cycle of life in playful ways.

So here we weave a tapestry bright,
Where languages shift in day and night.
In each reversal, a story told,
Of cultures and connections new or old.

Walking Along the Trail

 

Yellowed cottonwood leaves crunch underfoot,

a mild breeze cools off the path ahead...

Squirrels dart across, stop, look, then rush off,

rustling underbrush reveals their secret routes.

I can hear some in the trees making various sounds,

munching or scolding or muttering something.

They are in full-on preparation for winter.

Birds begin to flock, squawk and squabble.

They, too, are getting ready for coming changes.

The scene is peaceful and pleasing,

the best time of year around here,

not at all like down south – facing down

yet another giant hurricane of storms.

My sympathies go to them down there.

But I still want to enjoy this fall beauty here in Iowa.

Because our turn for some nasty weather is coming.

Not if, but when – and how severe we get it. Like

bills, always in the mail headed our way, sooner

or later – and we always hope for the latter.

For now we can enjoy it here, but also prepare for

what surely must come ahead one of these days.

Damn weather!

Victorian versus modern sensibility

 

All of these do-it-yourself stores

offering things like self-service saws.

Reminds one of the Victorian era,

with up to their moment modernity,

stressing individual self-sufficiency.

The British gentleman was expected to dress

fashionably from head to toe, shining,

Yet also to be able to rise to any occasion.

Whether fighting off brigands with cane or pistol,

repairing some coach or other modern conveyance...

A man for all seasons, tough for any reason.

Also living in an era without antibiotics or

adequate food safety, and occupational dangers.

You had to be everything at all times for all occasions.

Even if you only lived to a ripe old age of 45.

Think of Rudyard Kipling’s “IF” poem,

applied to males across the British Empire.

So glad we evolved into a more nuanced world,

one that gives individuals room to be themselves.

We are flawed humans, not supernatural beings.

Some self-improvement can be great, but it is also

good for technology-swamped minds to relax.