Book Group
xxxSelection for January 3 discussion:
xxxThe next gathering of the LWVBCC book group will be at the home of Judy Scully at 10:00 a.m. Monday, January 3. You are welcome to take part in the discussion even if you have not yet read the book. Just give Judy a call if you plan to attend: 269-677-2528.
Alarm bells sound clearly in the title of the excellent and very recent book to be discussed: Justice on the Brink: The Death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Rise of Amy Coney Barrett, and Twelve Months That Transformed the Supreme Court, by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Linda Greenhouse.
xxxGreenhouse’s concerns also are evident in her article in the opinion section of December 30, 2021 edition of the New York Times: “Do We Have the Supreme Court We Deserve?” (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/30/opinion/supreme-court-republican.html).
xxxOther books read in 2021:
Like so many other activities we normally enjoy, LWVBCC book discussions yielded to Covid-19 for much of the year. The books selected for May and September are recent ones: Children Under Fire by John Woodrow Cox, and How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X Kendi. The liveliest discussion of the year, though, was of a less recent book: Gloria Steinem’s reflections on her life as a social activist: My Life on the Road, published in 2016.
xxxIf you haven’t yet read these titles, LWVBCC members who enjoyed the book group discussions would recommend that you put them at the top of your list for 2022. -- Marilyn Klawiter
Energy and the Environment
xxxWhat a year this has been! You no doubt have your own story -- and maybe even stories -- to tell of wonderful weather experiences and disturbing events, as well. Here at home, rain was the big story this past Spring -- wind the big story more recently. Trees down, homes or cars smashed, some trees actually pulled out of the ground with massive root balls exposed.
xxxSnow in California kept one of my sons and his family hunkered down in Tahoe, unable to get to their own home in time to fly to THIS home for the holidays.
xxxI'm super happy CA is now getting rain and snow but do miss that family!
xxxA relative who lives near Anchorage was experiencing big snow and super cold temps10 days ago, and yesterday was able to walk her dog in 60 deg. plus weather.
xxxA niece in Australia has gone from volunteering to help feed firefighters to wondering when - oh, when! - she will be able to fly back to the US of A to spend time with us -- this due to one of the other big stories of the year: that unwelcome virus.
xxxIf you're able, support environmental groups whether for "routine" matters or when there are critical, unexpected events wherever in the world it matters to you.
xxxWishing you a wonderful 2022 free of big, bad weather happenings. -- Chris Zilke