Finished reading: The Devil Reached Toward the Sky by Garrett M. Graff 📚This is a terrific oral history of Manhattan project from start to finish. There have been a number of so-called “Manhattan” projects over the years, but none of them come close to the level of the original.
Finished reading: Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove 📚. I was scanning the new book shelves at the library and the title grabbed me. It is one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read this year. A funny, exciting story about overcoming differences and friendship.
Finished reading: Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne 📚I enjoyed this “cozy fantasy “, but I don’t think l’ll continue reading the series now. I did appreciate how the author effectively expressed romance and passion without slipping into erotica.
I got tired of all the piles of scrap lumber around the shop, and built a storage cart (from some of the same scraps). I based it on the cart described here . 🔨🪚
Finished reading: Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle 📚. Pretty gory, but a good story.
I came across a meme the other day that rings true for us, “If the house is clean the garden must be dead.”
Finished reading: So Far Gone by Jess Walter 📚Second chances, dysfunctional families, good humor. It was an enjoyable read. I recommend it.
My granddaughter asked me to show her how to use a slide rule. I still remember 50+ years later. Old guy stuff.
We got up early this morning and paddled our kayaks across the Snake River to pick blackberries. We picked a couple of gallons, paddled back, and were home by noon.
Finished reading: The Notebook by Roland Allen 📚. I very much enjoyed this survey of all kinds of note keeping throughout western history. It is one I will be going back to.
I was digging out an old concrete border around a tree in the yard. The cement was probably poured about a century ago. The farm cat who lived here then left their footprints in the cement.
Spouse: Did we get any mail today?
Me: Do you want to buy a Ford or go to the circus?
Spouse: Uh, no.
Me: Then we didn’t get any mail.
Blogging to Baumgartner 5/4/2025
Subject for today’s email to Congressman Michael Baumgartner (R-WA): Your vote against ensuring ICE does not deport U.S. Citizens.
I was appalled by your vote on May 2 in the House Judiciary Committee on an amendment against ensuring ICE does not deport U.S. Citizens. You and your fellow Republican representatives refused to even enter into a debate on the amendment, no doubt because there is no reasonable argument against unlawfully deporting American citizens. You can’t claim that the amendment is an unlikely hypothetical - American citizens, children no less, are being deported. You often write in your weekly newsletter about the importance of civil discussion. Yet in the most important place of all to hold such discussions, the U.S. House, you sit silently doing as you are told. This was an embarrassment to the citizens of eastern Washington.
I would like to have a response from you on your vote in the Judiciary Committee. Do you really believe it is lawful to deport citizens? Or are you just a robot who does what he is ordered to do?
In a separate action I left voicemails with Rep. Baumgartner, Sen. Cantwell and Sen. Murray protesting the proposed cuts to Public Broadcasting.