Pacem, Libertatem, Justitiam
June 10, 2018 Volume 10 Number 40
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INSIDE: A Mistake For Which We Are Correcting; World Headlines At A Glance; From Olya – Happy World Ocean Day; Rusty’s Uncle Seamus; For Your Consideration; Our Science Section, Unabridged; Praise; Censure; Travel; The Green Beat; Health; Community, Home & Lifestyle; Best of the Net; Masha & the Bear; Northstar General Store; All Creatures Great & Small; You Guys Think We Make This Stuff Up; About Us
This is what Americans look like, not Donald Trump. (James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington)
A MISTAKE FOR WHICH WE ARE CORRECTING
Hi again, gang, from the shores of The Salish Sea: I don’t know about you, but headlines like this make me very nervous. In Battle Of Tweets, Canada’s Trudeau Dismisses Trump Critique
First, it bothers me that Prime Minister Trudeau would engage in a “battle of tweets”. Part of that has to do with a general dislike of tweeting in the first place. The very word sounds silly to me and it makes me think it must have been coined by someone who has never heard birds before. That in itself has implications I’m more than a little reluctant to pursue. Where I live, only birds tweet. Human beings who tweet are assumed to either be under close supervision or in need of same.
Second, to respond to accusations as absurd as those made is to lend them legitimacy when they have none. Sometimes even acknowledging rudeness does the same thing. One thing I’ve always admired about Prime Minister Trudeau is his ability to totally dismiss something that does not belong in his world. He is treated the world over with respect and deservedly so. All that Trump does when he attacks Mr. Trudeau is make himself look foolish.
It also, however, keeps him in the news and Trump’s obsessive need for that suggests that his mom and dad were too busy making money and becoming rich, powerful and famous to love him enough. Same thing happened to a lot of people who became rich, famous and anti-social.
We didn’t break Donald Trump so we cannot fix him. We can, however, recognize him for who and what he is and be honest enough with at least ourselves to treat him appropriately. I hope, in the process, that the International Community recognizes that this poor tortured soul does not speak for America no more than any demagogue ever truly has.
Donald Trump is a mistake for which we are correcting. He’s a personal reminder to me that while God does not make junk, She occasionally designs some beautiful bad examples.
That’s it for this week, gang. Take care, stay well and God Bless. Rusty
Merritt Scott “Rusty” Miller is a journalist, author, editor and photographer who lives in Seattle, Washington. For comments, please go here.rrThat’s it for this week, folks. Take care, stay well and God Bless. Rusty
THE PAST WEEK’S WORLD HEADLINES AT A GLANCE
FROM OLYA
HAPPY WORLD OCEAN DAY
Rusty, Happy World Ocean Day:
I’ve always wonder how oceans sound. Maybe I will find out one day. Reading Richard Branson’s article today Why do I care about protecting the ocean was very moving. While plastic waste has reached the most remote parts of Antarctica, the only I can do in household is to limit plastic waste and recycle.
For example as easy as my glass bottle for water serves better now instead of plastic one or going to a shop with own bag and saying ‘no’ when sellers offer a polyethylene one. Also hopefully new technology will substitute a plastic for more degradables like in Ukraine, where they now try to do plastic bags from potato starch, as I learned recently from a talk with a producer of a polyethylene in Dnipro. But according to him, it is still a long way before big manufacturers will use something different as plastic is so easy for them.
Another quite promising solution is seaweed. This year could see a breakthrough in fighting plastic if this bioplastic solution becomes widely introduced. Here is a quite interesting recent article Seaweed, Indonesia’s answer to the global plastic crisis
The European Union’s 2020 target of 10 % of market plastics being bioplastics seems quite feasible and even more daring goals can be placed ahead like UK’s intention to ban all sales of single-use plastic, including plastic straws and cotton swabs, next year.
Can we do without these little convenience things? My guess is, easily, considering we never really needed them in first place and now definitely don’t have the luxury to ignore the plastic problem any longer.
And in the end enjoy reading: 5 Ocean Success Stories To Chase Away The Blues
Cheers, 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. For comments, please go here.
RUSTY’S INFAMOUS UNCLE SEAMUS
I find it rather remarkable that the same people who would not recognize God if they shared a seat on a crosstown bus with the Divine are the same ones who kill and die in the name of the one true Diety…theirs.
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
President Trump Says He Has The ‘Absolute Right’ To Pardon Himself
OUR SCIENCE SECTION, UNABRIDGED
Good question, even though we may not like the answer. Volcanoes in Guatemala and Elsewhere Have Killed 25 and Cost Millions. Should We Expect More?
Rock on little dude. This is so cool. Rover Finds 2 New Life Clues On Mars
Sigh. Scientists Have No Idea When Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano Will Stop Erupting
Earth
Tomorrow’s Cities: How Barcelona Shushed Noise-Makers With Sensors
When Did Humans Learn To Count?
The Secrets Of Night-Shining Clouds
Outer Space
Balloons That Could Replace Satellites
These Distant Moons May Harbor Life
Dunes On Pluto? Yes, But Made Of Methane Ice
Technology
GM Settles Self-Driving Legal Action With California Biker
When Scientists Become Storytellers
The Forgotten Green Housing Option: Accessory Dwelling Units
PRAISE
Libraries Are Bridging The Summer Gap For Hungry Kids
India’s Disabled Dancers Rocking The Bhangra
Lena Waithe, The First Black Woman To Win An Emmy For Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series
A Growing Drive To Get Homelessness To Zero
CENSURE
Qatar Airways Boss In ‘Heartfelt Apology’ For Sexist Remark
Supreme Court Rules For Baker Who Wouldn’t Make Cake For Gay Couple
Endangered Animals Found On Sale In Chinese Supermarket
Russian Cossacks To Report Kissing Same-Sex World Cup Fans To Police, Media Says
TRAVEL
What Are The World’s Healthiest Places?
Which Cruise Food To Avoid — And Which Foods To Splurge On
The Odd Philosophy Icelanders Live By
THE GREEN BEAT
Pope Warns Energy Bosses Of Global Destruction Without Fuel Shift
The Forgotten Green Housing Option: Accessory Dwelling Units
Gas-Guzzling Cities, State Blow Past Deadline For Electric Vehicles
What Should We Do About Straws?
A Pipeline Controversy Explained: Is Washington Now In The Tar Sands Crosshairs?
The Forgotten Green Housing Option: Accessory Dwelling Units
Talking Housing Affordability: Getting From “Me” To “We”
HEALTH
Burning Health Questions? Email Time’s Health Editors
Why Mister Rogers’ Message Of Love Is Good For Your Health
These 5 Tips From Dietitians Will Make It Easier To Eat Healthy
How To Start Working Out In The Morning
This Is How Long It Takes A Hot Car To Reach Dangerous Temperatures
These 5 Tips From Dietitians Will Make It Easier To Eat Healthy
A Diet That Makes You Happy And Calm
Can You See Better Than Your Dog, Cat Or Goldfish?
Most Women With Breast Cancer Can Skip Chemo, New Study Says
Ten Smartest Lessons About Life, Money And Careers We Heard In Graduation Speeches This Year
Is It Possible To Eat Too Much Fruit?
Seasonal Depression Can Happen In The Summer, Too
COMMUNITY, HOME AND LIFESTYLE
Infographic: Why Normal People Can’t Afford A House
Does Your Voice Affect Your Income?
Kate Spade: How The Fashion Designer Shaped The Catwalk – And High Street
Your Starbucks Coffee Just Got More Expensive. Here’s Why
The True Cost Of Being A Wedding Guest
The Money-Making Whisperers On Youtube
How To Improve Underrepresentation Of Elected Officials Of Color In The US
This Couple Found A Way To Save Tens Of Thousands Of Dollars A Year When They Retire
A Factory-Made Answer For A Housing Squeeze
BEST OF THE NET
Let NASA Take You On A Virtual Trip To Exoplanets
Map: Every Coal Plant In The World Since 2000
MASHA AND THE BEAR
DAILY 10 QUESTION TRIVIA QUIZ: This one is from Daily Email Trivia and delivered to me in mine. There is also an opportunity, the site, to take more quizzes on a wide range of subjects and to engage interactively and competitively.
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ALL CREATURES, GREAT AND SMALL
I should think this would be obvious. Sharks’ 6th Sense Tuned To Catching Prey
And if I know our governor and our mayor, they’ll be leading the charge on this one. Endangered Species May Need ‘Sanctuary Cities,’ Too
Despite the punny headline, we agree. David Suzuki: Don’t Water Down Marine Protection
FOLKS WE FOLLOW
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s June 2018 newsletter is now online. Bird watchers delight, as always.
YOU GUYS THINK WE MAKE THIS STUFF UP
Small Asteroid Zipped Through Earth’s Atmosphere
Chinese Firm Vice-President Loses Job After Eating Pangolin On Holiday
US Police Arrest Soldier After Stolen Armoured Vehicle Chase
ABOUT US: The Northstar Journal reaches an international readership of strong, intelligent, proactively compassionate people like you, who are out there helping make this a better world. We are proud to serve them as an information resource in that regard. If you would like to help us help them, please go here. No contribution too large or too small. If you would like to sponsor an edition or contribute in some other way, please contact us at minstrel312@aol.com Thank you and see you next week. RM/OB
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