Jadwiga McKay

A fitting poem on Poland’s Independence Day, motherland that I love so deeply.

Verses About Poland
By Adam Zagajewski

Translated by Antony Graham
(Postwar Polish Poetry - Third, Expanded Edition)

November 9th in German history:

1918 Fall of the German monarchy

1923 Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch

1938 Kristallnacht

1989 Fall of the Berlin Wall

Interesting observation about Irish politics:

Presidential elections typically have a lower turnout than general elections (parliamentary) ones.

2025 presidential election - 45.8%
2024 general election - 59.7%

Just another day in the United States of Authoritarianism.

Ron Kostar From Frederick II and Catherine II to Hitler and Stalin, plus all of the other meddling, Poland has suffered immensely. At least Germany has mostly reconciled its destructive past. Moscow hasn’t; instead it takes pride in it and keeps the baleful wheels rolling forward.

Stunning Pictish ring unearthed in Burghead excavation led by the University of Aberdeen this past autumn.

My ancient Scottish heart swells.

Photo: National Museums Scotland

Dagmara has met a couple of her music uncles today, and Budzyk got to show off for Uncle Joe.

I’d already been planning to make Makaron z Truskawkami, then Iga Świątek won Wimbledon putting this dish on blast along the way to victory. It’s a delightful summertime treat. I used Latvian farmers cheese and Skyr garnishing it with fresh mint from my little herb garden. Smacznego!

I drove on a stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway yesterday that I’d not been on since before Helene and was hit by the tree loss I saw.

Whipped up Zupa Szczawiowa, often called Green Barszcz. A soup of various monikers as well as preparation methods. This batch had a Latvian touch. I see another heritage soup being conjured in the near future.

After media reports & experts warned for months that drastic & sudden cuts at the Nat Weather Service by Trump could impair their forecasting ability & endanger lives during the storm season, TX officials blame an inaccurate forecast by NWS for the deadly results of the flood.

I don’t think anyone is prepared for what they just did w/ ICE.

This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.

It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.

Weeding out more pro-Russia/antisemitic/pro-murder people from my social media circles.

“Hey, comrade Putin.” -President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva

After years of waiting my Nordica Iris has bloomed. Gorgeous cumulus clouds of white with hot bolts of red orange beards.

Those dudes in Call The Next Witness know how to throw down a set of Rolling Stones tunes.

An incessant crackdown in Belarus hurls dozens of independent journalists into harsh prisons Dozens of journalists in Belarus have been imprisoned in recent years under a crackdown by authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko

Lukashenka continues to subjugate Belarus. Trump is trying to follow his playbook in threatening journalists and restricting journalists’ access among his other attacks on democracy.

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...

So did JD Vance kill Papa Frank with Russian poison, some concoction made by Bobby Jr. or Oz, or was it just the weight of his evil?

Carried out of a school board meeting for saying one word - “cowards.”

roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/04/18/t...

Spring is truly springing here. Greens are growing greener. More perennial blooms are unfurling. The sun’s warmth graces us.

Orbán’s Fidesz has implemented a constitutional amendment to attack LGBTQ+ rights and freedom of assembly rights.

The night creatures have stolen the suet, cage and all, again.

More WTAF messaging from the Trump regime.

Grateful for the abundance of excellent taco trucks around here.

Remember when Trump promised that he was going to protect women “whether the women like it or not” during his 2024 campaign?

As we see, he meant the opposite. He doesn’t care about us and will make us less safe whether we like it or not.

Hoping the cold overnight temps this week will be the last until later this year. I’m hoping to work on my flower gardens this upcoming weekend.

Proud moment. Trolling isn’t my style, but I’ve replied to his tweets from time to time to point out his hypocrisy. I guess the Russian shill didn’t like what I had to say.

Pam Bondi just restored Mel Gibson’s gun rights.

Trump keeps rewarding men who treat women like garbage.

Trump welcomed rapist Conor McGregor to the White House and had his team intervene on behalf of the human trafficking Tate brothers.

(Original photos via AP)

A Study in Radishes - watermelon radish slices and black radish slices on a stunning black plate for a perfect backdrop.

Musskolini poured millions of dollars into the Wisconsin Supreme Court race to buy a Tesla win in court (and help MAGA).

Musskolini bought/rewarded MAGA loyalty with his $1 million dollar giveaways - winner Nicholas Jacobs is a Republican leader in the state.

Musskolini lost.