Open Thread March 25, 2022

The night before last,as I was checking email before heading to bed, I found an email that said mu order had been delivered at 7:45 pm. I went to the porch, as=nd there were some grocery bags – but it was far from my full order. All it was was Gatorade and carbonated beverages and nowhere near all of those – and what was left also included substitutions. Needless to say, that did not leave me oin the best of moods, but I did manage to sleep anyway. Today I shall be on the phone with them – trying not to scream. Later: Well, they must not be prepared for screaming – or else they are prepared, and their preparation consists of having customers fill out a refund request on line. So that’s done. But it took a good part of the day. Also, I looked through April cartoons, and there are a bunch that need to be made.  But thatwill have to wait until next week.  Today, I really need to make sure my car startts, and if not, get a jump and let it run, because I will need it badly Monday.

Cartoon 25 0325Cartoon.jpg

Short Takes –

Colorado Public Radio – Black and brown riders say Colorado’s stop sign bill would keep them safer from cars and police
Quote – That encounter was years ago, but it’s still on top of Alpian’s mind. It’s a key reason why he supports a bill in the Colorado Legislature that would allow cyclists to roll through stop signs at empty intersections and treat stoplights like stop signs. Bill sponsors and cycling advocates say the proposed legislation to allow what’s often referred to as “Idaho stops” — named after the first state to enact the law — would help cyclists limit the amount of time they spend at intersections. Statistics show those are the most dangerous places to be on a bike. Data from states with such laws, including Idaho and Delaware, suggest the change helps reduce crashes.
Click through for an improvement I never thought about. I biked a lot as a teen, and yes, there are places and situations where a cyclist would be safer without the need to conform to a law meant for motorized vehicles. Keeping cyclists safer would also lessen the likelihood of a motorist accidently causing harm. It would even beneft police by lightening their workload slightly. I hope it doesn’t get shot down because it helps black and brown people most. That is less likely here than in some states, but, sadly, not impossible.

The Conversation – How fairy tales shape fighting spirit: Ukraine’s children hear bedtime stories of underdog heroes, while Russian children hear tales of magical success
Quote – Folklore is important for understanding people’s cultural narratives – story lines that describe something unique to the culture’s history and its people. They help to define a cultural identity and, in subtle ways, shape future choices…. Most adults don’t walk around thinking about the fairy tales they heard as children. However, these early stories, experienced through the magnifying glass of childhood emotions, shape our understanding about the world. They determine the repertoire of our actions, especially in times of crisis.
Click through for article. Yes, this is something I don’t think gets enough attention. I have also heard it said (more accurately, read about) western European fary/folk tales giving boys the idea that they are entitled to a princess. Some of them of course mature out of that. But you only have to look around to see what happens to those who don’t

Women’s Histpry – Foreign Affairs – Revenge of the Patriarchs: Why Autocrats Fear Women
Quote – Generally, movements seeking to topple autocratic regimes or win national independence are more likely to prevail when they mobilize large numbers of people; shift the loyalties of at least some the regime’s pillars of support; use creative tactics, such as rolling strikes, in addition to street protests; and maintain discipline and resilience in the face of state repression and countermobilization by the regime’s supporters. Large-scale participation by women helps movements achieve all these things.
Click through for article. This is not the kind of women’s history we like to see – but, unlike Republicans, we do not put our heads into the sand because truth makes us uncomfortable. (Also while we’re on the subject of women, RIP Madeline Albright.)

Food For Thought (Pat B):