As Sir Edmond Burke once observed, this country’s founders were always ready to “snuff out the approach of tyranny with every tainted brief.” And yet, it seems we are now resigned to live subject to the vast, multi-layered, and robust surveillance infrastructure that is the envy of every totalitarian regime? We can no longer trust the companies that build and manage our internet infrastructure, the companies that create and sell us our hardware and software, or the companies that host our data. And, our integrity challenged government is hell-bent on betraying every trust.
Now, more than ever, we need ethical stewards. It is time to purge those executive, legislative, and judicial bodies that have become infested with the kind of self-serving parasites that can only thrive in the decay products of democracy. Since our constitution has apparently been reconstituted by these “representatives” to serve as their own bureaucratic toilet paper, I think we should respond by recommissioning the old style, mechanical voting machines. Sure, the paper based audit trail has clear value. But the imagery, the ability to pull the handle and flush, now that’s priceless! — Robert H. Kalk

These hummingbird favorites are easy to plant and they will animate your garden in the most delightful way.

Agastache: Quickly becoming a summer favorite, this perennial has fragrant foliage and spiky flowers of pink, purple, blue, red and orange.

Hollyhock: Plant these and you’ll have sensational spires of flowers. A classic cottage garden plant that’s very easy to grow.

Alstroemeria: A favorite cut flower because they last so long. Lots of colors and plants of different sizes. Leave some for the hummingbirds!

Milkweed: Colorful and easy to grow. Yellow and orange/red are most popular. You’ll get lots of butterfly visitors, too.

Lion’s tail: Tall spikes of orange flowers appear on this shrubby perennial. Easy to grow.

Salvia: Lots of choices — all with colorful flowers. Many with richly fragrant foliage.

Pyrostegia: You’ll have cascades of orange flowers blooming fall through winter. Sometimes called flame vine.

Abutilon: Flowering maples produce beautiful bells of red, yellow, white, salmon and pink. They tolerate some shade.

Butterfly bush: Spectacular spikes of purple, pink, white and lavender. Cut back after blooming to get more blossoms. Of course butterflies love this shrub too. Plant the new dwarf forms if you have a small space.

Hibiscus: A favorite shrub in San Diego. Gorgeous, shiny, evergreen foliage and stunning flowers in warm weather. ‘Tradewinds’ is a new dwarf shrub reaching only 3 feet in height.

Lantana: So many colors, so many forms—from low, trailing types to small rounded shrubs. So easy to grow, too. Cut it back every winter to keep it clean and tidy.

Lavender: Take your pick; they’re all good. Fernleaf, Spanish and French lavenders bloom almost year-round.

Leucophyllum: Texas ranger, an evergreen shrub, has gorgeous silver foliage and violet or magenta flowers. If it begins to look a little rangy, cut it almost to the ground.

Rosemary: Bulletproof plants that trail, mound or grow upright, depending on the variety. You must let them bloom if you want hummingbird visits.

Trumpet vine: Included here are blood-red, vanilla, and royal trumpet vines—three different species of distictis. All have glorious trumpet flowers on beautiful, rich green foliage.

Consider the Source

Dear Folks,
When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it. — Author Unknown
I was going to write a long Romantic poem about being Law-abiding but I thought I would simply suggest you get outside this spring and be thankful the laws of Ma Nature are so well balanced.
Peace,
Jim
            ROMANTIC
Definitions: (1) responsive to an imaginative or emotional appeal of what is heroic, adventurous, mysterious, or idealized; (2) loving and affectionate; (3) conducive to or suitable for a loving relationship
Derivation: Originally, a “romance” was a long narrative in verse or prose, written in one of the Romance dialects about the adventures of knights and other chivalric heroes.
            LAW‑ABIDING
Definition: obeying the law; respecting to the law
Quotes:
Only outer peace can be had through law. The way to inner peace is through love. — Peace Pilgrim [born Mildred Lisette Norman] (1908-1981) Steps Toward Inner Peace

Mere obedience to the law does not measure the greatness of a nation. . . . The true test is the extent to which the individuals composing the nation can be trusted to obey self‑imposed law. — Lord John Fletcher Moulton (1844-1921) English Barrister and Judge

Comment: Laws, rules, and regulations have been made to state the obvious, like the protection of the innocent, and also because some will take unfair advantage when the opportunity is available. When that happens, society makes a law.
On the other hand, straying from the (unfair) law may be necessity, thus civil disobedience.
Questions: What should be allowed? How much freedom should be given? The level the individual can cope with or the level the society can deal with? How can we be sure something like nuclear material or the idea of freedom can be handled safely and responsibly? – only time, trust, and common sense are safeguards.
Note: We can learn from history and hope for positive possibilities.
Symbol: the Archpriestess (tarot)
Consider the Source

 

Dear Folks,
Regard your neighbor’s gain as your won gain, and your neighbors loss as your won loss. — Taoism, T’ai Shang Kan Ying P’ien
It is known: A Wholehearted dedication to the things that really matter does give a person a transcendently Placid temperament. We are all still battered with the vicissitudes of life, but it is possible to be in life and above it at the same time.
Peace,
Jim
            PLACID
Definitions: (1) possessing a gentle, quiet spirit; showing an undisturbed or equable demeanor; mild mannered; (2) peace of mind; serene; unruffled; calm; tranquil
Derivation: Latin, “to please”
            WHOLEHEARTED
Definition: showing devoted commitment, earnest enthusiasm, directed determination, or sincere and energetic focus
Consider the Source

Dear Folks,
The Fruits of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance — Paul of Tarsus (c. 5-67) The Bible, Galatians 5:22
As the seasons change from the harsh days of winter to the Gentle days of spring, we have a physical reminder to approach life and others in an Affable manner.
Peace,
Jim
            GENTLE

Definitions: (1) refined or polite; (2) generous; kind; (3) serene; patient; (4) mild; moderate
Synonyms: meek, pacific, peaceful, placid, quiet, soft
Balancing Qualities: determined, strong
Saying: Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re (Latin): “Gently in manner, strongly in deed”
Comment: We associate gentleness with the sense of touch; but even though we cannot physically touch most people, we can touch their hearts with the kindness of a smile, touch their minds with an encouraging word, or touch their funny bones with a sense of humor.
Symbol: the unicorn {Gentleness and Longevity} (Chinese)
            AFFABLE
Definitions: (1) easy to approach and talk to; courteous; (2) having effortless manners; gracious; (3) having a kindly countenance; benign
Synonyms: accessible, civil, complaisant, friendly, mild, polite, urbane
Consider the Source

Consider the Source

Quite often, men of the world refer to believers as troublemakers; as Ahab called Elijah a “troubler of Israel” (1 Kings 18:16-18). Interestingly, Jesus might appear more of a troublemaker than a peacemaker, as people could not agree about him. Jesus explains, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword,” (Matthew 10:34).
Dr. Ron Susek, in his book Firestorm, shares the difference between a peacekeeper and a peacemaker. Dr. Susek explains, “Peacekeepers tend to be passive, preferring to avoid conflict…. On the other hand, peacemakers tackle conflict head on, determined to bring peace based upon truth, mutual understanding, and forgiveness…. While peacekeepers try to sweep things under the rug, peacemakers try to sweep issues out the door.”
As we hear more and more about the World Court from the United Nations, we find a prophecy of the Lord coming as the ultimate judge in Psalm 96:10-13. We are also told he will lift the curse upon creation in Romans 8:18-23. that Jesus Christ will preside over a world court in John 5:22. We are consoled by the words of Abraham: “Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25). Is this is the new world order men so desperately desire?
We are told there will be a perfect peace and harmony between heaven and earth (Isaiah 11 and 12). The blessings from peace and harmony flow through the believer’s life.

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Marc Gopin of George Mason University explores what makes peacemakers tick in Bridges Across an Impossible Divide. The book emanates from the “Unusual Pairs” film project, a series of videos that focuses on Israeli and Palestinian partners in the quest for peace.
The narrative unfolds in the words of the peacemakers themselves as they search for common ground with their adversaries. No well-known politicians are featured – these are truly unsung heroes. Gabriel Meyer, son of the late Rabbi Marshall Meyer, and his partner, Ihab Balha, are among the pairs. Meyer describes the difficulties that they encountered during the 2006 Lebanon war; Balha writes, “Peace is not a simple word, an easy word.”

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A new book that tells a story set in war-torn Iraq sends a straightforward message applicable to everyday Americans: Get to know your neighbors.
Greg Barrett, who worked in The Charlotte Observer’s Rock Hill bureau in the early 1990s, recently spoke at Covenant Presbyterian Church, where he told the story of his book “The Gospel of Rutba.”
The book recounts the story of a small group of American Christian peacemakers rescued by Iraqi Muslims after their vehicle crashed in 2003. Four years later, Barrett returned to Iraq with the peacemakers as they thanked the Iraqi good Samaritans.

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