Consequences

Posted on March 5, 2025 by Steve Mahaley

For the MAGA republicans cheering on the destruction of institutions here in the US, a note of what you will have wrought.

I have friends who are retired USAID leaders – friends whose tears I witness as they wonder not just for their colleagues left stranded in countries around the world, but for the human lives that will be wrecked or lost because of your (MAGA republicans’) actions.

Here is from ProPublica: https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-doge-rubio-usaid-musk-death-toll-malaria-polio-tuberculosis

One million children will go untreated for severe malnutrition, up to 166,000 people will die from malaria and 200,000 more children will be paralyzed by polio over the next decade, the memos estimated. The programs were cut anyway.

Just to put this in perspective – MAGA republicans are willing to wreck lives to kill roughly 1.2% of the US budget. 1.2% – that is according to Pew Research.

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Am I ‘woke’?

Posted on February 26, 2025 by Steve Mahaley

It’s strange to me that a past tense form of ‘wake’ could become such a slur.

Am I woke? Have I awakened?

Questions:

  • Is it woke to realize that I know less than scientists about their fields of work, research and study?
  • Is it woke to recognize that humans can and do have very different experiences in their lives, and that those experiences are valid?
  • Is it woke to see with fresh eyes (gratuitous nod lol) the historic context of our nation and its present-day impacts?
  • Is it woke to decry racism?
  • Is it woke to care for those less fortunate?
  • Is it woke to confront my own (white) fragility?
  • Is it woke to see greed and grift for what they are, and to combat them openly and with vigor?
  • Is it woke to care for the environment and to try to do my part to minimize energy and petro-chemical (plastics) use?
  • Is it woke to cry?
  • Is it woke to love?
  • Is it woke to stand with the ‘least of these’?
  • Is it woke to hold two or more things to be true at the same time?
  • Is it woke to move past binary thinking?
  • Is it woke to make room for all kinds of religions, their followers, and the non-religious as well?
  • Is it woke to question?
  • Is it woke to be confident enough in my own gender and sexuality that I leave room for others to love whoever they wish, to feel attracted to whoever they desire, to wed or have families in whatever loving configuration works?

Is that ‘woke’?

If so, then yes. I am. And will continue to seek awakenings as I am made aware and am educated. You cannot un-ring those bells.

Self-portrait, circa 1984. A work, still, in progress.
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Big work coming…

Posted on February 22, 2025 by Steve Mahaley
A bath was given

Big things are about to happen to Babycar. As you can see – all the lights and bumpers are off. The radiator, carburetor, fuel lines and alternator are out.

I treated the fuel tank, which I think will work fine with new lines and clean filters.

The next big work will involve this:

Thank you S for loaning the hoist!

So the engine and transmission will come out, freeing me to go after the bodywork that’s needed.

One last shot for today:

Starting to look empty in there
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