April 15

 Nice sunny day today. We just finished our grocery errands. I might go out and sweep on the patio later. Asiatic lilies are pushing up in one of the containers but not in the other yet. But everything else is still dormant or dead. Stores are putting out their annual plants. We are a month away from our average last frost date so I am restraining myself on planting anything. Besides I still have dead plants to clear. I left them over winter as ground cover.

Stray thought and pet peeve--the over use of "unprecedented." We seem to be in the Age of Unprecedented. We have never had a criminal trial of a former President but it is unprecedented in the narrow view of our own national history. We came close at least once but Warren Harding died before the full story of the corruption in his administration came out. Several cabinet secretaries and their aids did face trial, and at least one was convicted and served time. March was the tenth month in a row in which the temperature set record average high. That is unprecedented. Other environmental extremes also are coming at an unprecedented pace. We also have two candidates for President who will, which ever one wins, be the oldest person sworn in. And one of them, the incumbent, is already the oldest person to take the oath of office.

Second stray thought and pet peeve--the use of the term "loan" in the discussion of foreign aid to Israel or Ukraine. Aid is a gift to a country or person with which or whom you have a friendly relationship. A loan is a commercial transaction in which the lender provides funds to a borrower in hopes of gaining a monetary profit. Both sides in this "transaction" should follow Shakespeare's advice in Hamlet: neither a borrower nor a lender be. By the way--given the level of destruction in Ukraine how soon do you think they would able to clear any loans?

California has just cancelled the salmon fishing season for the second year in a row and has asked for a federal fisheries disaster declaration. (Story on the Weather Channel.)

Most of the "news" this morning concerned the unprecedented trial of Donald J. Trump and the fallout (real and potential) from Iran's "unprecedented " attack on Israel's home territory. The trial at the moment involves the housekeeping details of what evidence can be entered and under what conditions, and jury selection. Concerning Iran the speculation is on whether the revenge Iran tried to exact for the Israeli attack on their consulate, though Israel denies the site was a real diplomatic office and that the people they killed were "plotting." Already one of Netanyahu's cabinet members is frothing at the mouth for the obliteration of Iran. Israel promises revenge at a time of their choosing. One of the pundits worried that Iran's activities could push the Israeli government into a wider conflict in the area. Well, Israel doesn't need prodding--they will do what they do. And who says that conflict isn't already area wide and deepening?

Stray thought--saw a headline declaring "Michael Cohen is an admitted liar but he is the star witness in Trump's trial." So?? In the trial that went against the Trump Organization the judge found the admitted liar was more credible than the head of the company, a.k.a. Donald Trump. So another jury will get to decide which liar is more believable.

I don't like to wear t-shirts with logos and legends on them but I just saw a t-shirt I wouldn't mind having. The legend on it read: I googled my symptoms and just need Trump in jail.