7/3/2025

 Thursday, July 3, 2025

D+

1849 French forces enter Rome to restore Pope Pius IX to power, providing a major obstacle to Italian unification

1863 Battle of Gettysburg, the largest battle ever fought on the American continent, ended in a major victory for the Union during the Civil War

1890 King Leopold II gave Congo, previously a private possession, to Belgium 

1930 US Veterans Administration was created

1942 Adolf Hitler visited Field Marshal Von Bock's headquarters in Ukraine

1988 US Vincennes in Strait of Hormoez shot an Iran Airbus A300, killing 290

In bed at 9:45, up at 5:40, from a dream in Japan, shopping and looking for a condo.  65 °, high of 78°, sunny.

Health, physical condition.  I'm thinking this morning of the question I put to Dr. Chatt before my PMR was diagnosed: "Can I expect to live like this for the rest of my life?" only getting ever worse, never better?  More everyday pain, more instabiltiy, more immobility, more incapacity? I probably know the answer to this question.  BP = 160/88

This is my knockoff drawing of a self(?) portrain by Picasso.  I did most of it with watercolor pencils, some with colored pencils, and a bit with a graphite pencil.  I'm pleased with it.

Call from Debbie M. re John having a possible stroke.

Blue Blue Day by Don Gibson, Aug., 1957

It's been a blue blue day I feel like runnin' away I feel like runnin' away from it all

My love has been untrue she's found somebody new it's been a blue blue day for me

Well I feel like crying dying what can I do

I feel like praying saying I'm glad we're through

It's been a blue blue day I feel like runnin' away I feel like runnin' away from the blues

Yes how can I make believe that I don't sit and grieve it's been a blue blue day for me

I can't pretend and say that I don't love her anyway it's been a blue blue day for me

Well I feel like crying...

I feel like runnin' away from the blues  

Hakkim Jeffries marathon minute and Matthew 25.   In his 8 hour and 32 minute "fuck you" speech to the Republicans before they voted on Trump's One Big Beautiful Budget Bill, he liberally cited Matthew 25:

“Matthew, the 25th chapter, verses 35 and 40,” he began. “I think it’s important that at this time, in this moment in this debate, before I leave the floor of the House of Representatives, that this scripture be entered into the Congressional Record.”

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me in — a stranger, and you invited me in — E pluribus unum. Out of many, one,” he continued with a bit of an ad lib and then some paraphrasing.

“I needed clothes, and you clothed me. I was sick. I had medical problems. Maybe I needed Medicare or Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act or the Children’s Health Insurance Program or Planned Parenthood,” he said. Notably, Planned Parenthood, specifically, is known for aborting children made in the image of God.

When did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison, and go to visit you? And of course, the reply from Jesus, truly, I tell you, whatever you did, whatever you did, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. That’s what we should be doing here in the United States House of Representatives.

“Our job is to stand up for the poor, the sick and the afflicted, the least, the lost and the left behind, everyday Americans,” he said, the irony completely lost on him that his party continually places their own needs — and the needs of criminal illegal aliens —  ahead of the American people who need help.

“That’s what Matthew teaches us, and that’s not what’s happening in this one big, ugly bill,” he claimed. “That’s not consistent with what my faith teaches me.” 

It's not just the New Testament that teaches us to care for others, especially those in need.  The teaching is thoroughly Jewish in origin.

 “When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not wrong him. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Leviticus 19:33-34)

 “Do not harden your heart or shut your hand against your needy brother” (Deuteronomy 15:7). 

  “You shall not reap the corner of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger” (Exodus 23:22

“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother.”  Deuteronomy 15:7

“If your brother becomes poor, and his hand loses strength with you, you shall support him."   Leviticus 25:35

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  I am the Lord.”  (Leviticus 19:18).