
January 24, 2021
Volume 13 Number 11
Reader-Supported Please go here. Thank you very much.
Inside: Congratulations, President Biden; America’s New Administration: A Ukraine Perspective; Community, American Culture & Lifestyle; Beyond Our Pale; Economics; History; Health, Covid-19; Home & Family; Garden & Kitchen; Our World and Beyond; Earth; Climate & Climate Change; Ecology; Space; Technology; Funzone: Travel; Best of the Net; Movie of the Week; Masha & the Bear, All Creatures Great & Small; Strange But True; About Us

CONGRATULATIONS, PRESIDENT BIDEN
Rusty Miller, Editor
Hi again, from the shores of the Salish Sea. Despite a good track record with analyzing politics for other publishers, I’ve assiduously avoiding discussing them in an international publication reaching readers in 20 other nations besides the ones in which Olya and I actually live.
There have been several good reasons for that. Politics is about people and people are about events of significance not only to themselves but to the rest of the planet. There are things going on where each of you live which are often more important than what happens in America’s White House or its 50+ state and territorial capitols.
But when one nation whose 400,000 Covic-19 fatalities comprise 25 percent of the world’s estimated 2,000,000 deaths, examination of the causes why is vital. We did that and have concluded that America’s previous chief executive – but NOT the party to which he belongs – is responsible. What little actually did get done in these regards was done in spite of that previous chief executive and we are profoundly grateful to Dr. Fauci for persisting in spite of the deriding and ridicule he faced from a man who bloody well should have known better.
As I’ve pointed out in previous columns, I do not like the idea of heroes because it plays into the dynamic of winners and losers. That is competition at a time when cooperation is so desperately needed. And each and every one of us ~ regardless of where we live ~ is capable of doing that.
I congratulate Joseph Biden and Kamala Harris and tender them my full support.
Rusty
Merritt Scott “Rusty” Miller aka “Mishka” is an author, photojournalist and editor. A Northern California native, he has lived in Oregon and Washington State and resides now in South Seattle, Washington. For comments, please go here
photo credit: theintercept.com
AMERICA’S NEW ADMINISTRATION: A UKRAINE PERSPECTIVE
Olya Bereza, Associate Editor
Hi Rusty:
This week, the 45th President of the United States of America, Republican Mr. Donald Trump, left the White House and Democrat Joseph R. Biden took his place. So it is interesting to look at this from a Ukrainian perspective. Here in my country, I was among the 75 percent who voted for the current president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and largely because he emphasized peace for Ukraine.
Trump was controversial in his own country but from my own experience in Europe, where his impact was of course not as great, the attitudes toward him seemed more positive than negative.
Mr. Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, didn’t repeat the mistake of his predecessor, Petro Poroshenko and didn’t support any of the nominees for American president during their elections. I think it was a wise step for further relations between the two countries. Trump when he first entered the position was aware of Ukrainian elites openly supporting his opponent so understandably the relationships between the two previous presidents were more official than friendly, though Mr. Trump did continue to support Ukraine both financially and military.
Then followed the presidential elections in Ukraine and that was democratic and these were free from foreign influence. Mr. Zelensky came to the office and discovered that it was not that easy to find peace without support. Maybe he expected a little bit more attention from Mr. Trump in the peacemaking process, wanting America to enter the side of Ukraine on peace talks. For Zelensky it was a difficult task as he also has to face the opposition to the peacekeeping process from nationalistic groups as that described in this article How Donald Trump Is Making It Harder to End the War in Ukraine so he did need a strong message from the western ally to make it clear whether the country stands if the USA supports those peace talks.
Prior to Trump, the Obama administration did leave an ambiguous legacy in Ukraine. In your country, you recently experienced the events at Capitol Hill so now probably you can understand better the feelings of some of the ordinary Ukrainians during the historical events of 2013-2014, when the Revolution of Dignity took place.
Again people in Ukraine have polar opinions on that revolution and wonder, for instance, if the presence of Victoria Nuland, former American Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs was necessary during those protests. While Ukraine did depend too much on Russia before the change in power and perhaps for the nation’s independence, it was needed to regain more neutral status. But after the Revolution with the swing of a pendulum to the West, it will probably take some time to achieve the right balance.
Talking about expectations of President Joe Biden, Ukrainian politicians and activists will be waiting to see how America’s new president stands on peace in the region. As Mr. Biden stood at the roots of The Minsk Agreements, Minsk peace agreements, there is a hope he will support Mr. Zelensky in the implementation of those accords. Poroshenko, Biden discuss Minsk implementation, EU-Ukraine summit
Also, listening to Mr. Biden’s inauguration address, one of the challenges he pointed out is white supremacy. That is a question very actual at the moment too and perhaps in a way, it is also an aspect of finding peace and unity in Ukraine. Prejudice of any kind does not unify a nation. Recognizing the sanctity of all human life does. For those interested in this problem in this part of the world the articles to read TIME: Like, Share, Recruit: How a White-Supremacist Militia Uses FaceBook to Radicalize and Train New Members. Harper’s Magazine:
Letter from Kyiv: The Armies of the Right
So yes, hope is always there that nations will find a way to coexist in partnership based on mutual interest. The last thing I myself want for Ukraine is the eternal war as it was recently shown in a Netflix film called “Outside the Wire”. So cheers for a reason to prevail.
Olya
Northstar columnist and associate editor Olya Bereza was born in the former Soviet Union and now lives in Ukraine. Fluent in Russian, Ukrainian, and English, she is a degreed psychologist with a background in international marketing and personnel management. She travels Europe in conjunction with a family IT business and is proactively involved in protecting the forests of the Carpathian Mountains. For comments, please go here.
AMERICAN COMMUNITY, CULTURE & LIFESTYLE
Biden Administration Promises To Clean Up Mine Land And Create Jobs In Appalachia. Here Are Some Steps It Can Take.
Biden In Speech Says ‘Without Unity There Is No Peace.’
Biden Signs Executive Actions On COVID, Climate Change, Immigration And More
Biden Takes Oath, Inherits Confluence Of Crises.
Harris Sworn In As 1st Black, South Asian Woman VP.
Yesterday Reminded Me What Hope Feels Like
Artist’s Lace-Like Paper Cut Artworks Are Made With Recycled Newspapers
Dairy Farms Modeling Resilient Food Systems
Kentucky Schools Face Challenges Transitioning To Online Teaching During A Pandemic
BEYOND OUR PALE
Australia Unlikely To Fully Reopen Border In 2021, Says Top Official
Julie Payette: Canada Governor General Quits Amid Bullying Claims
Cooperative Chocolate: A Colombian Village’s Quest For Peace
Does North Korea’s Kim Jong-Un Have A Nuclear Surprise For President Biden?
Kremlin Foe Navalny Jailed For 30 Days; Allies Plan Protests
Why Navalny Is A Thorn In The Kremlin’s Side
ECONOMICS
5 Mental Tricks That Will Make You Better At Money, According To Neuroscientists
Bicycling Contributed $1.5 Billion To America’s Oregon State Economy
Russia Sees Lowest Foreign Investment Since 1994
UK Borrowing Hits Highest December Level On Record
HISTORY
Gordon Parks’ Photos Of 20th-Century Black Americans Are More Relevant Than Ever
Smithsonian Scholars Reflect On Baseball Legend Hank Aaron’s Legacy
How The Rugged F4F Wildcat Held The Line During World War II
In Mexico, Archaeologists Reveal A Story Of Cannibalism And Conquest
The Speech And Bible From George Washington’s First Inauguration Made History Many Times Over
Archaeologists Unearth Egyptian Queen’s Tomb, 13-Foot ‘Book Of The Dead’ Scroll
Inscription Offers Earliest Evidence Of Christianity In Israel’s Jezreel Valley
The Best Board Games Of The Ancient World
Dinosaur Unearthed In Argentina Could Be Largest Land Animal Ever
HEALTH
Blind Man Regains Sight After Receiving 1st Artificial Cornea Implant By Israel’s Corneat
Even Light Activities Like Walking And Housework Can Improve Your Health
How Your Outlook Affects Your Lifespan
In Winter During COVID-19, You Want The Goldilocks Humidity
Is Oatmeal Healthy? Here’s What The Experts Say
COVID 19
Amazon Offers Biden Administration Help With Vaccination Efforts
Biden Calls On All Americans To Wear Masks In Public For 100 Days
Coronavirus Obituaries: Remembering Those We’ve Lost
Here’s What President Biden Can Do About The COVID-19 Pandemic
We Need Better Face Masks—And Origami Might Help
HOME & FAMILY
21 Ways To Help Someone You Love Through Grief
A Shipping Container House That Makes Sense
Neighbors Replace Parking Spaces With Small And Beautiful ‘Loft Houses’
The Importance Of Gratitude In Marriage
This Free Noise Cancelling App Works On Both Ends Of Calls And Video Conferences
GARDEN & KITCHEN
Cooking Is One Of The Most Rewarding Things You Can Do Right Now
Could Indoor Vertical Farms Be The Future Of Livestock Feed?
People Are Eating Less Meat And Doing More Home Cooking
Start Sowing Early To Extend Your Growing Season
The Modern Farmer Guide To Buying Seeds
Chawanmushi (Japanese Steamed Egg Custard)
Chinese Steamed Custard With Pork And Mushrooms
Oyakodon (Japanese Chicken And Egg Rice Bowl)
OUR WORLD AND BEYOND
Here’s What SpaceX’s Massive New Floating Spaceport Look Like Up Close
3-D Reconstruction Of Fossil Reveals Secret Sex Life Of Dinosaurs
“Spider Stars” Tear Apart Other Stars
10 Incredible Animals That Live In Antarctica
EARTH
A Lesson From The Top Of The World
The Portable City
Why Planting Trees Is One Of The Most Effective Forms Of Climate Action
Will An Iceberg Twice The Size Of NYC Break Off Antarctica This Year?
SPACE
6 Space Missions To Look Forward To In 2021
China’s Huge FAST Telescope To Open To International Observers
China Is Sending A Mission To Study The Sun
What To Expect From Mars In 2021
CLIMATE AND CLIMATE CHANGE
4 Ways To Grab The Reins On Climate Change
Biden Is Sworn In As US President, Promising Climate Action
Biden Moves To Rejoin Paris Climate Agreement
Biden-Harris Administration Can Rebuild Democracy And Climate Action – Anne L Kelly, Ceres
Exclusive: Japan Uses ‘Environmental’ Fund To Finance Vietnamese Coal Plant
Gas Is Over: EU Bank Chief Signals Phaseout Of Fossil Fuel Finance
Germany’s Conservative CDU Picks Coal Industry Supporter Armin Laschet As Leader
Inner Mongolia Pursues Coal-Led Recovery, Defying Beijing’s Climate Goals
Keystone XL Cancellation: ‘Wake-Up Call’ For Canada To Address Oil And Gas Blind Spot
New Campaign Wants Moms To Join The Climate Fight
Rich Nations Accused Of Inflating Climate Adaptation Finance Figures
Success For Cascadia’s Climate Activists
ECOLOGY
Earth Day Live Series: Environmental Literacy And Civics: Education To Change The World on Tuesday, January 26th, noon EST.
New Study Finds Tiny Polyester Fibers Throughout The Arctic Ocean
Two Big Wins For The Thin Green Line, And A Promising 2021
TECHNOLOGY
New Electric Car Battery Charges In Just Five Minutes
Tesla Is Hiring An Employee To Defend Elon Musk On Social Media
These 3-D Printed Robot Fish Sync And Swim
This Is The World’s First Home Hydrogen Battery
BEST OF THE NET
Gomer Pyle, USMC – The Impossible Dream – YouTube
TRAVEL
What Is The True Cost Of Car Ownership?
15 Awe-Inspiring National Forests In The United States
MEDIA OF THE WEEK: THE DEVIL AND JONATHAN SMITH – Mark has been tricked into selling his soul in order to save a little girl’s life. But the Devil has another agenda: acquiring Jonathan’s soul. “Highway to Heaven” was the last television series starring legendary actor Michael Landon (“Bonanza,” “Little House on the Prairie”).
WRATH OF THE TESTAMENT: A super power no longer, a resource hungry and repressive America faces a Latin American armada rampaging its west coast and a strong, silent and powerful Canada manning the North Wall. The fires of rebellion burn in the Pacific Northwest and it is into this crucible and forge that the cybernetic patrol boat Testament and her crew of three men and three women are thrust. Individuals of duty and conscience both, when they join the other side, all Hell breaks loose. A rollicking adventure for anyone who loves the sea, a good yarn and characters who spring to life even as Testament herself leaps the waves. For a $4.00 Kindle Book adventure you will remember for a lifetime, please go here. http://www.amazon.com/Wrath-USS-Testament-tale-rebellion-ebook/dp/B004DNWL6G
ROCKY THE ROCKET: Associate editor Olya Bereza is also the children’s novelist Holley Dovetail. This is one of several of short novels for the young and the young at heart. To preview and/or purchase on amazon.com, please go here. https://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Rocket-Holley-Dovetail-ebook/dp/B071XYRDB5
RAINBOW RISING: This is another of Olya Bereza’s works for kids. This little fairy-tale short story dedicated to a pet-friend gone chasing the rainbow. For kids their first lost and challenge in life is letting go of their pet friends that once became part of their world. This little story will help in times they have to say good-bye without falling into despair. Yep, go here. http://litnet.com/en/book/rainbow-rising-b187572
ALL CREATURES GREAT & SMALL
Presidential pets? Totally cool. What Champ And Major Can Teach Us
Mountain Gorillas Are Friendly With Some Neighbors Somehow I think it would not be good to be on their bad side, eh?
We actually have these in my neighborhood so cool! The 9 Best Chicken Coops Of 2021
SHORTS
Butterfly Wings Captured In Slow Motion Footage
Pikas Are Adapting To Climate Change
Wolverine Captured On Yellowstone Trail Cameras For The First Time
ABOUT US:
The Northstar Journal is a general interest international online weekly magazine physically located at 5351 S. Wallace Street, Seattle, WA 98178. We are also on FaceBook and Nextdoor.com. If you enjoyed this edition and would like to contribute to the next, please go here. To contact us directly, –