Our country of laws

I quote from a blog that impresses me with the way it is written and its clarity: http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com

------ the most bizarre part of the NSA scandal all along: the President got caught red-handed violating an extremely clear law -- he admitted to engaging in the very behavior which that law says is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine -- and yet official Washington (the political and pundit classes) simply decided to pretend that wasn't the case.

The Justice Department lawyers who approved this illegal program, the political officials who ordered it, and the journalists who defended it (and have enabled this presidency) are all part of the same circle, and the very suggestion that any of this is actually criminal -- even though it is all being done in violation of the crystal clear criminal law -- is just too unpleasant, too unruly, too disruptive to admit. "The question of the president's possible criminal acts has long been the pig in the parlor that polite people in Congress refused to acknowledge."

Brave Judge Anna Diggs Taylor has read the law correctly but the president doesn't agree with her as it puts him in a terrible position.

Tamolitch Pool

There is a place where the McKenzie River was buried for three miles by a lava flow. It surfaces in this turquoise pool and then the river flows again. We hiked the 2.1 miles up the river trail today from the upper end of Trail Bridge Reservoir to the Tamolitch Pool. At the beginning the trail was in a deep forest of old growth, cool with a mossy floor. The day got warmer as we climbed to the pool where we ate our lunch. There were a few other hikers on the trail and some intrepid bikers.

Our Amazing Friend

Hazel Peck is 95 years old and going strong. She is a thinker, a learner, a walker, a reader, and an all-together interesting person. Oh, let me add she is a knitter beyond comparison, producing beautiful garments in no time at all. We feel fortunate to know her and are inspired by her.

For the Mayor's Art Show

This is my watercolor that I did this morning. Linn laughed and laughed.

Linn in the tropics

The exspa room is a wonder of green plants giving off oxygen to revive the faint of heart. I need something like that.

Here's a disturbing report in the New York Times today:

OVER 3,400 IRAQIS KILLED IN JULY

By EDWARD WONG and DAMIEN CAVE
Published: August 15, 2006
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Aug. 15 — More Iraqi civilians were killed in July than in apparently any other month of the war, according to Iraqi Health Ministry and morgue statistics, despite a security plan begun by the new government in June.

China and the Dalai Lama

China says they will fight the Dalai Lama to the death. The Dalai Lama doesn't fight. So what is China going to do? I ask you.

New bike tires

My bike had a flat tire. Linn helped me walk it over to the shop for new tires. I have had this bike for a long time and the rubber showed signs of deterioration. Now I'm set with my bike wheels again. Only my other bike----the one I can fold up and pack in the trunk of the car----has a flat. I wonder what is going on with these flats.

Party for volunteers

A barbecue in Alton Baker Park for the city volunteers was a good celebration with a clown, bubbles and balloons for the kids, raffle prizes, speeches by the mayor and city manager. There was lots of food with hamburgers, buns, potato salad, green salad, beans, chips, relishes, drinks and ice cream. And then there was music. Since I volunteer at the library we were invited to attend.

Lively place on Saturdays

Market on the Park blocks has food, people, music, crafts and wonderful organic produce plus some surprising sights like a parrot on a person's shoulder. I like the fresh corn and look forward to when it is in season and plentiful.

Doing a little laundry

Two medium loads today and then on Sunday I'll do the sheets. Laundry is a pleasant job.

The morning moon

About 5:30 am this morning there was lovely moon from our deck.

Geese at Alton Baker Park

Another peaceful spot

Tranquility

Sometimes words are superfluous.

Sudoku

Linn is a sudoku fan. He saves those he has done and keeps track of his times.

Riotus Summer

Earth follows in her cycles intimating that fall will come. Even the richest most powerful men are insignificant in the wider cosmos. How amazing it is to be alive, to be conscious, to be a player on the earth and to realize that love and compassion are fundamental to human beings. Yesterday I saw the documentary DVD on 'Tibet: The Cry of the Snow Lion'. I think the Dalai Lama must be the wisest man on earth as he has a way of stopping wars, living in peace and remaining strong.

This breaks my heart

Friday Art Walk

The first Friday of the month in Eugene some art galleries stay open in the evening for the public to tour. Some serve food and wine. There is music.

Old Skinner cabin

This is Eugene Skinner's cabin he lived in when he came to the area. Originally it had no windows and his family managed to stay warm in it.

It's a stretch

Transport for a party to picnic at Skinner Butte Park, not celebrities, perhaps someone won a raffle for it.

Out of the past

This photo is from about 35 years ago taken of our children at the beach in Aquaba on the Red Sea in Jordan. Jane is about 16, Sarah would be 8 and Dan 5. Our dog is Buja. We had to leave him in Jordan when we left which made us very sad. Aquaba was a wonderful seaside resort at that time. I wonder how it has changed.