Dimensionally Barrett

Snyder points out that what’s happening in the United States is part of a larger trend and we are seeing where there is push-back against what is happening here. But the trend remains; the shifting of power balances to the right, to the so-called “strong men”. However, we see cases where liberalism is winning and support of leaders who stand up to the current occupant of the White House is growing. That said, what of people in the U.S. itself? To be sure, the incumbent did not win by a landslide and indeed, does not have a mandate. However, that has not stopped the onslaught of his executive orders and he has been directly empowered by the Legislature, either explicitly or tacitly, by silent complicity.  As I write, USAID has been dismantled, the Department of Education is being disassembled, the Center for Disease Control has seen valuable information scrubbed from its site and heavy firings so that a response to the measles outbre...

It's been a lovely time. Leaving is bittersweet, of course; however, the next leg of this journey takes me back to New Jersey and Pennsylvania, where I'll be spending long overdue family time!  In the meantime, returning to old haunts, some changed beyond recognition, has been fun. Much has happened in the world since I've been back, but over the course of the next few entries, I'm likely going to spend more time on art, gardens, literature, and reminiscences shared and unshared. I restricted myself to well-trod paths (in some cases, literally; there's the Alewife Footpath, and the lovely stroll into Harvard Square from my dear friend Graziella's house, which will henceforth and ever be called Venti. I could sing Graziella's praises all day; she's not just a gracious host, but a woman of innate strength, deep introspection, and a huge heart. She and Joyce, another of the inestimable heart-sisters in my life are a team of love and fun that can raise the s...

Shwedagon is Yangon's landmark. The largest pagoda and the focal point of the devout, equivalent to Boudhanath in Kathmandu. But we'll hold off on interior shots. What catches my eye in any ancient/modern dichotomy is the play of opposites; the ravages of decay against the pristine maintenance on certain structures, chaos where infrastructure hasn't been modernized against order in street layouts, and in places like Yangon, verdant greenery from which emerge various types, sizes and conditions of architecture. There's not much to add to these photos, except that the common thread is that these are all in proximity to Shwedagon. There are some Shwedagon photos already in the gallery, but I want to provide a separate post for the pagoda since it's such a center of worship and gathering. Let's start with a little black and white, shall we? Now for a little color. In some cases, I've saturated the image to render a less monochromatic photograph....