As a general rule of democracy: Don't vote for people whose political ideology is dictated by their religion -- and who think yours should be too.

New Stonekettle Calendar: Sandhill Crane Collection

Available here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1626791131/sandhill-crane-collection-calendar-2024

As a basic rule of democracy: Don't vote for people to run your democracy who loudly do not believe in democracy.

Corollary: If you elect a businessman to run your country like a business, then you're going to get the business. And you're going to get it good and hard.

New 2024 Calendar: Ruby Throated Hummingbird collection

Now available on my store:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1625758413/hummingbird-collection-calendar-2024

I've finally managed to put together a calendar printing process that produces a high quality product people can actually afford

I'll be generating a variety of 2024 calendar collections featuring my work in the next few days.

First up: The Great Blue Heron Collection. Twelve unique, high quality images captured by yours truly.

Available in two sizes on my store here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1625211983/great-blue-heron-calendar-2024

There is also a selection of new prints, puzzles, and mousepads up on the store as well.

As a general rule of democracy: Never vote for anyone who writes "love letters" to murderous dictators.

The House just voted 311 to 114 to expel George Santos.

This sets the very dangerous precedent of holding elected officials accountable for their unethical behavior.

If you're in Washington DC today and you get a moment, stop by the Vietnam War Memorial on the National Mall.

There are more than 58,000 names on that wall, about 20,000 of which died so Richard Nixon could be president. THAT was the price we paid for Henry Kissinger's Nobel Peace Prize.

New essay up on Stonekettle Station

Michigan Autumn: November in Pictures.

https://www.stonekettle.com/2023/11/the-month-in-pictures-michigan-autumn.html

Henry Kissinger is dead

I wrote the following seven years ago, as Donald Trump rose to power on the very fear men like Kissinger promoted as a national strategy.

The Latter Days of a Better Nation
https://www.stonekettle.com/.../the-latter-days-of-better...

Rereading it today, I wouldn't change a word.

As a general rule of democracy: Never vote for anyone who talks about themselves in the third person.

Got a new lens.

Happy Turkey Day

I'll be damned, Nixon and Trump were right.

It really is legal if the president does it.

New Essay up on Stonekettle Station: Ludi Circenses

The Republican debate, or what the Romans called Chariot Races. And pickled egg farts.

https://www.stonekettle.com/2023/11/ludi-circenses.html

I wish they'd run the GOP debate like one of those Hollywood Red Carpet deals. You know, before the debate, the candidates arrive in limos, decked out in loaner designer clothes, to flashbulbs and shouted questions from the paparazzi.

I'm not much on fashion, but I'd be madly interested in Vogue and Glamor's critique of Ron DeSantis' high heels.

I dunno, maybe Republicans should have spent less time raging about which bathroom people use and more time fixing the fucking roads.

It election day in a number of states.

Show up. Do your duty to civilization. You want a better nation? Be a better citizen. This is where it starts.