The King's Arms

 

Talbots

One Way

Local Art

Bernie

Go WATA

Wall of Opinion

Youth Adults

Despite what people have been saying about the No Kings protests having been a “seniors only event,” I actually saw a substantial percentage of young adults participating.

First Amendment

 "The 'No Kings' gatherings wouldn’t have been possible without the First Amendment; a cornerstone of U.S. democracy. It gives us freedom of speech, to peacefully protest, and to gather without fear of government intervention. In this country, everyone is entitled to their beliefs, and to act on them lawfully and without fear of punishment — no matter how 'unpopular' or 'disfavored' those beliefs may be.

But the Trump administration continues to abuse its power to silence and punish people and organizations who express viewpoints it doesn’t like. Despite fearmongering from those who would prefer that the public stay quiet, millions of Americans refused to stay home and instead channeled their courage to show up and speak up for each other. Because the best way to protect our First Amendment rights is to keep using them — and to do so peacefully, knowing the power of nonviolent protest to make repression backfire." -- Ellen Flenniken, ACLU Justice Division

Flag Code

The flag this fellow was displaying at my local No Kings protest presented quite a contrast with the one flying off the back end of a large pickup truck that drove through the crowd. That flag had the familiar stars and stripes, but also with a black-and-white image of our führer superimposed over the stripes. Someone near me, when she saw that, commented about how--in the small town where she grew up--that would have been considered a desecration, which prompted me to look this up in Wikipedia:

"The United States Flag Code outlines certain guidelines for the flag's use, display, and disposal. For example, the flag should never be dipped to any person or thing, unless it is the ensign responding to a salute from a ship of a foreign nation. This tradition may come from the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, where countries were asked to dip their flag to King Edward VII: the American flag bearer did not. Team captain Martin Sheridan is famously quoted as saying, "this flag dips to no earthly king", though the true provenance of this quotation is unclear." 

Bubbles

"Republicans have spent many days trying to marginalize the massive anti-Trump 'No Kings' rallies held across the country over the weekend.

They’ve argued the people involved were extremists and even predicted they would be violent (which turned out not to be true). They’ve claimed the protesters hate America." -- CNN

Tyranny

"The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world." -- The Declaration of Independence 

The Enemy Within

Hate

Beaver Trail

Woodstock Pond Trail

My recent return to York River State Park.

Fire Tower

 

Private Property

 

The High Knob Tower Trail in the George Washington National Forest borders private property in places.

1021

There often comes a moment when you're hiking summit trails when you begin to wonder how much farther you will have to hike to reach the top. This was one of those moments, especially as I began to ponder what possible meaning should be attached to the number "1021." Usually, distances on these signs are indicated in miles. Or, occasionally, I've seen references to feet. Sometimes, though, trail signs will indicate elevation above sea level. So what was I to make of "1021." I still don't have any idea, although I suppose that 1021 feet to the top can't be ruled out entirely. But if that was the case, then why not just say so?  In any case, I just pressed on, mystery in mind.

Trail Signs

 High Knob Tower Trail

George Washington National Forest