June 7

We did have a nice day yesterday with moderate temperatures and a modest bit of rain we hardly noticed until it was over. I didn't have to water yesterday. We have errands so my reading will be a bit sporadic today. I don't think I will have to water today but I will check later. Ground the dried herbs yesterday as well.

 The surprising announcement yesterday was the "merger" of the PGA and LIV golf associations. One of the commentators this morning wondered if it was really a merger and not a multi billion dollar buyout. I am somewhat amused by the reactions to it. The PGA's moral out rage over the various alleged sins of the Saudi government which is the financial power behind LIV is revealed as a response to an economic threat to its monopoly. But it should remind all of us that sport, any sport, at this level is all about business. It isn't about morals; it isn't about roles models. It is all about, as Rupert Murdoch said in regard to the fall out from the defamation suits, it is all about "the green."

This little story on Al Jazeera raises a question: is the new mural in the Indian parliament building simply a piece of art depicting an heroic era of Indian history or is it a statement of India's future aims? China has been vigorous about pushing itself into areas they claim are their "traditional" territory. Russia is pushing into Ukraine claiming that Ukraine isn't really a "sovereign" country but simply an errant Russian territory. Israel's hard religious right parties  have always touted a goal of reestablishing "Greater Israel" which takes in a very much larger part of the eastern Mediterranean. It isn't beyond belief that India might like to follow that line.

I have thought for some time that in another few years we won't really have a public school system in this country--at least not in the sense that we have been used to for several generations. This article is one indication why? For the last 30 years or so Americans have become more and more dissatisfied with the education system. We have complained about the costs and the results. No one likes to pay taxes and most public systems are supported by property taxes which are especially hated. The efforts to use lotteries to raise revenue. I don't know how often over those same 30 years I and people I worked with have wondered what the schools are teaching the kids because they seem to be abysmally ignorant of basic history, English usage, math and other basic subjects. Charter schools have sprung up like mushrooms after a rain storm. They siphon off both tax dollars that used to support the public system and the most affluent and most promising children. Public education becomes increasing a poverty program. And nobody likes poverty programs either. Combine loss of revenue with the loss of confidence in the education industry (and it has become an industry) and it is a recipe for a system collapse.