It's June 4 - it has finally started to warm up a little. We're still riding in vests and arm warmers, I am continuing to wear flannel pants in the house at night, but it's warmer. I guess May is no longer part of spring. We've been riding, which is good for the soul.
The peonies bloomed, the Fried Egg variety is having a year. They are very exuberant.
The pink and the burgundy plants are not producing much this year. Peonies are good for here, in the fall we cut them down to the ground, and then it snows on them. No harm, no foul.
The iris are growing by the lake, some of them are in the lake.
This is an interesting boat, we have not seen one like this at the boat launch.
WAPO has an op-ed up on the subject of how the current administration is killing this country. In addition to Palantir creating a database of everything, like China has done, they're doing away with science. Billions of dollars in grants have been cancelled. One of the most stunning cancels was for an HIV vaccine. The reason given was this: Researchers were told that the Department of Health and Human Services instead wanted “to go with currently available approaches to eliminate HIV.” There is no cure for HIV. There really are no available approaches for poor countries. This condemns many millions to develop AIDS, and grants for PEPFAR are on the chopping block. There is an article here.
A neuroscientist who came to the US from Lebanon, got a PhD, started a lab, won a Nobel in 2021 has had his funding cut. He lamented his fate and the fate of science in general in this country on Bluesky, and within hours received an offer from China to build him his own lab, with guaranteed funding for 20 years. Europe is also trolling our de-funded scientists, making offers to bring them to the EU. Think of the intellectual capital that is sprouting feet and leaving. This is damage that can not be undone for decades. We are so doomed.
I could go on, but it's too depressing.
Doctors applying to emigrate to Canada is up 750%
ReplyDeletehttps://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/05/29/nx-s1-5414345/american-doctors-look-to-relocate-to-canada-to-avoid-the-trump-administration
I follow an ER doc on twitter who lives and works on PEI. They are actively recruiting from the US.
DeleteOther countries are stepping up and science will go on. Can't stop that. It could be a good thing since this country has been so entangled with red tape ,committees and preferential allowances . This nation is taking a far back seat to the rest of the world and it will continue for a long time. Even after the orange years ,the waves of Orange repercussions will continue. No longer lucky to be an american. I urge the youth to get the hell out.
ReplyDeleteI've got a daughter coming home to visit. She worked in Kabul for a few years, and then spent the following years traveling before settling down. I am worried that she will find herself detained by ICE when her plane lands. They hold people for weeks.
DeleteWhen will the insanity stop? When will republicans get a grip and realize how bad this all is?
ReplyDeleteI totally agree about the damage to science. We've taken it for granted that the USA would always be the world leader in STEM, and it's no longer the case. Trump pays lip service to the dangers posed by China but he's completely ceding scientific R&D to them.
ReplyDeleteAll the better to turn this country into a repressive theocracy which is their goal. Bring back the dominance of white christian men, the submission and subjugation of women and people of color and the other gendered. Force everyone to live by their religious restraints, their version of 'morality'. We know where this leads.
ReplyDeleteWe Canadians will take the scientists, and the doctors, and the professors that IQ45 and his ilk don't want. All kidding aside is is horrifying to watch what is happening in the States.
ReplyDeleteOn the lighter side, those peonies that look like fried eggs are stunning! I've never seen them and now I want one.
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