Virginia Referendum

I don't think yesterday's referendum in Virginia was as much a victory for the country as a whole as it may have been for Democrats. Yes, gerrymandering is bad. But so, too, is totalitarianism. A democracy can still function with gerrymandering.  Poorly, to be sure. It cannot when ruled by a tyrant. 

Spring Fashions

Quilt

This past week, Williamsburg rolled out a 500-foot quilt celebrating the nation's 250th year of independence.

Tandem

A very pleasant day to visit Colonial Williamsburg. Sun shining. Temps reasonable. All in all, a very enjoyable spring day.

Drive-By

Youth Movement

No Kings protestors are getting younger and younger.

Vote Yes

I think it is important that voters understand the limits this referendum proposal would set for redrawing congressional districts. I’ve added the italicized bits to emphasize what I believe are the sensible limits. Yes, it’s partisan gerrymandering, but only for a limited time and, importantly, in response to the same GOP gerrymandering in other states.

"The proposed amendment would give the General Assembly the authority to redraw one or more of Virginia's congressional districts before 2031 in limited circumstances. In the event that another state redraws its own congressional districts before 2031, without being ordered by a court to do so, the General Assembly would then be able to redraw Virginia's congressional districts. The General Assembly's power to do so would continue until October 31, 2030, and the Virginia Redistricting Commission would reassume the responsibility of drawing the congressional districts in 2031.

The proposed district map has been approved by the General Assembly and would take effect only if the constitutional amendment is approved by the voters.

A "yes" vote would allow the General Assembly to redraw Virginia's congressional districts, since other states have done so, in addition to giving effect to the proposed district map in time for the 2026 Congressional elections, and return the responsibility of drawing the congressional districts in 2031 to the Virginia Redistricting Commission." -- Virginia Department of Elections

Kool-Aid

 

Yass

Resist, Persist, Fight for Justice

ALT+RIGHT+DEL

Speak Up, Speak Out

No Kings protest in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Organize

Organize: to form into a coherent unity or functioning whole : INTEGRATE.

No Kings III

Just back from the #NoKings protest here in the cradle of our democracy. Lots of energy! Lots of talk about the current referendum, people encouraging people to #VoteYes.

I'm as committed to ending gerrymandering as anyone else, but I will still vote yes in Virginia's referendum. If I were to vote no and Democrats were to lose the midterms, I would forever regret that decision. #NoKings #VirginiaRedistricting

Crim Dell

"The Crim Dell bridge is a wooden bridge on the College of William & Mary’s campus in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States, and is considered one of the College's most visually appealing elements. Crim Dell is the pond that the bridge crosses, but the bridge is commonly referred to as Crim Dell." -- Wikipedia

Fire Tower

Trail Signs

 High Knob Tower Trail

George Washington National Forest

Deadfall

Hightop Mountain Trail

Shenandoah National Park

 

Monuments

I guess you probably already know that our mountains in Virginia are old. I mean, REALLY old, to the tune of millions and millions of years old. That's why I felt like I was walking back in time the minute I set foot on the Hightop Mountain Trail, which is part of the 2100+ mile Appalachian Trail . It's filled with--as I'm told Nathaniel Hawthorne once put it--"earth's undecaying monuments." 

Huge boulders stacked one on top of another suddenly made me feel very, VERY small and in awe of the unimaginably powerful forces that put them there.

Afternoon Garden

According to the National Trust for Historic Preservatio, the Afternoon Garden, complete with its Venetian poles  was Fletcher Steele's first landscape project at the Naumkeag estate in the Berkshires. The  boxwood hedges were shaped to resemble an Oriental rug.