8/05/2021

My Dear Friends & POTUS, JRB,

            Class went well yesterday. At least, I think so. Most of the students participated. They all had interesting strategies for the problem we solved. Many made insightful comments about the videos we watched of kids doing math. I enjoyed 3 hours of intense activity where I did not have to think about all of the challenges that you deal with all day, every day. I don’t know how you do it.

            Thanks for taking the lead on repealing the 1991 & 2001 war power acts. It seems that Deputy Sec. of State, Wendy Sherman (WRS), did a good job of fielding questions about this at the Senate hearing this week. I hope you know, by now, that I believe WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER, so I am in favor of eliminating all legislation that makes it legal to use violence as a means for problem solving.

            WRS is everywhere these days! According to Reuters, she just had a conversation with the NUG of Burma letting them know we are supporting them & seeking ways to help them with their CV outbreak. She also stopped by Mongolia to check in. She tweeted her enthusiasm for the delivery of over 1m CV vaccines to Ethiopia. We are lucky to have such an energetic person championing our cause around the world.

            The vocab word for the day is “pyrocummulus.” It’s a new word for clouds that happen when the hot air & ash from a fire meet with water particles. Some call it “flammagenitus.” These clouds can create thunderstorms which can ignite new fires. They also can create rain which can help put out fires. I wish I did not have to learn these new words from the TV news about the River Fire, burning near the Sierra Friends Center, & the Dixie Fire that has now become one of the worst in CA history. I’m apprehensive about the next few months of fire season. I wish there were something you could do to help, but I don’t know what that is.

            BYBS,