Cloudy today. We had rain overnight but no thunderstorms. Hopefully the next stretch of days will be sunny and dry. I would like to get out and clear some more of the patio gardens. Until then I have been doing the What-Not room clean up in bits and pieces. I have some light weight yarn but had no idea what to do with it. I thought about finding a hexagon granny pattern and found one this morning. I might start on one later today. I have supper cooking now and it will sit on the stove after it is finished until we want to eat sometime later. 

George Packer has an interesting (and long) article in THE ATLANTIC: America's Zombie Democracy. He describes the strange feeling that things have changed but nothing seems different. However, the institutions of our democratic system have become impotent. Reading this article I remembered reading about Rome in the last two centuries BCE. It was a tumultuous time politically, economically, and socially. By the time Augustus consolidated power the institutions of the Roman Republic remained but were powerless. A person living during his reign would have similarly looked around and breathed a sigh of relief that everything seemed normal and peaceful but also had a feeling of disquiet that the old normal was gone. Are we there yet?

Another long but right on point article is "America The Irrelevant" by John Feffer in FOREIGN POLICY IN FOCUS. Hardly a day goes by when some story doesn't describe some country or international organization doesn't outline steps they are taking to accomplish their goals without the U.S. But I also see signs that people, states, and organizations here in this country are also doing the same. We can't depend on an UNstable, not-a-genius to add anything of benefit to our lives.  Instead he is showing every sign of wanting to f**k everything up.