07 September 2025

Farflung correspondents:

Watch this, if you feel you can hear the truth, which is that we are pretty much fucked. at least for the short term.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tCGNvQf6Ro

Here's who this guy is:

Jeffrey David Sachs (born November 5, 1954, Oak Park, Michigan) is a notable American economist and public policy expert. He currently serves as a University Professor and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University—a rank that reflects his distinguished academic standing. Previously, he directed Columbia's Earth Institute from 2002 to 2016 WikipediaUN Office for Partnerships.

Education and Academic Career

He earned his BA, MA, and PhD in Economics from Harvard University, studying under advisor Martin Feldstein Wikipedia.
Sachs began his faculty career at Harvard, rapidly becoming a tenured professor, and later served as director of major development-focused institutes there Wikipedia.

Work & Contributions

Sachs is deeply involved in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He served as Special Adviser to UN Secretaries-General from Kofi Annan to António Guterres (2001–2018), and now leads the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network WikipediaUN Office for PartnershipsEncyclopedia Britannica.
He co-founded the Millennium Promise Alliance and directed the UN Millennium Project (2002–2006) focused on helping countries meet the MDGs WikipediaEncyclopedia Britannica.

Key Projects & Initiatives

Sachs launched the Millennium Villages Project, supporting sustainable development in rural African communities through integrated interventions in health, agriculture, and education WikipediaVanity FairCondé Nast Traveler. While ambitious, the project has drawn both praise and critical scrutiny over its methodology and impacts Wikipedia+1Vanity FairCondé Nast Traveler.

Publications & Influence

A bestselling author, his influential works include The End of Poverty, Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet, The Price of Civilization, The Age of Sustainable Development, A New Foreign Policy, and The Ages of Globalization WikipediaEncyclopedia Britannica.
He also founded the World Happiness Report and regularly authors global commentary in Project Syndicate publications Wikipedia.

Recognition & Awards

Named among Time's 100 Most Influential People and received high-profile honors including India's Padma Bhushan, the Blue Planet Prize, and the Tang Prize in Sustainable Development WikipediaEncyclopedia Britannicacdrf-en.cdrf.org.cnColumbia SPS.

Views & Contemporary Commentary

Sachs has increasingly engaged in global geo-political discourse, expressing views on the Russia–Ukraine conflict, NATO, and international diplomacy—all of which have sparked debate WikipediaThe New Yorker.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he served as chair of The Lancet's COVID-19 Commission, exploring both natural and laboratory-origin hypotheses—drawing both attention and controversy WikipediaThe New Yorker.

Summary Snapshot: Jeffrey D. Sachs

Attribute	Details
Name	Jeffrey David Sachs
Born	November 5, 1954, Oak Park, Michigan, U.S.
Education	BA, MA, PhD in Economics (Harvard University)
Positions	Professor & Director at Columbia University; former Earth Institute Director
UN Roles	Special Adviser to multiple UN Secretaries-General; President of UN SDSN
Key Projects	Millennium Villages Project, UN Millennium Project, World Happiness Report
Publications	The End of Poverty, The Age of Sustainable Development, and more
Awards	Time's 100 Most Influential, Blue Planet Prize, Padma Bhushan, Tang Prize in SD
Contemporary Focus	Sustainability, global development, geopolitical commentary, pandemic analysis

Jeffrey Sachs is a globally influential economist, committed to ending extreme poverty and advancing sustainable development, with a wide-ranging impact from policy design to thought leadership.

02 September 2025

Trump really is a f*ing moron

Read this. Nothing you don't already know, but jeepers, to see it all lain out like this.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-ignorant-moron_n_68af882fe4b0d635adb3ace1

29 August 2025

Zelenskyy and Brit former Foreign Sec. tell it like it is

Watch especially from about 12:00 in, where Sir Malcolm Rifkind, former UK Foreign Secretary, lays out the brutal truth about our foolish and incredibly stupid would be dictator. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz7Jq7U56gM Love when he says "He's got form!" & "He learns from nothing from his own previous experience because he is surrounded by sycophants!"

Would that we had as plain spoken and brilliant politicians even in the Democratic Party in our country. There are a few, but only a very few. We need much better than this if we are to save our country.

28 August 2025

Whaaa?

"Recent polling has shown Trump's approval ratings falling since his return to the White House, though voters view his second term somewhat more positively than his first." --The Guardian

Ask yourself: how is that even possible?

27 August 2025

A huge job, and no guarantee of success

If we ever get our republic back on an even keel, we will have to examine very carefully the absolutely stupendous corruption that Trump has managed to get away with, and craft ironclad legislation to make it impossible for such an evil, corrupt person ever again to do what he has done. This is almost as important a mission as restoring democracy and the Constitutional protections of checks and balances and fundamental rights, which this regime has seen fit to shit all over. Clearly some kind of Constitutional reform to prevent a one party state and corrupt executive, legislative, and judicial branches all at the same time will be necessary, as well as actually undoing some of the dreadful structures of law that these horrible people have put into place. And in saying that, I am referring it to the six corrupt justices on the Supreme Court as much as anyone.

In the meantime, there is no guarantee whatsoever that our republic will even survive his malicious terrorism as such, so our job is to resist fascism, whatever the cost. We will never be able restore the status quo ante, but we can never give up on trying to undo this damage, and move beyond it to some future where we can again of creating a better America for our progeny. At the moment that wish seems forlorn indeed.

If I believed in a personal God, I would say, pray for our country, because we're gonna need it.

26 August 2025

What might happen if Trump were to die in office?

Just a thought. If the rampant speculation that Trump's health really is seriously bad and that his dying in office is relatively likely turns out to be true, isn't there a pretty good chance that 1) the cult of personality tied to Trump will collapse, with Vance unable to keep MAGAts together; 2) the oligarchs who think they can control MAGA will splinter among themselves; and 3) the courts, especially the Supreme Court, and Republicans in Congress (especially the Senate) may no longer fear the regime if the Emperor dies.

Virus-free.www.avast.com

Historical Constitutional Perspective

Must watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U86_a_cgEkw&list=TLPQMjYwODIwMjXOZjINag-X6w&index=3

.............

El pueblo unido jamás será vencido.

The People united will never be defeated.

DO NOT CAPITULATE! DO NOT BE SILENCED! RESIST!
IMPEACH and REMOVE.

Pope's comments on Trump and Trumpism

Worth a listen. Pope Leo XIV comments in a sermon on his relationship with our would be dictator. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YJC5Zju3b4&list=TLPQMjYwODIwMjXOZjINag-X6w&index=2

Not politicized, but unusually specific about the necessity of taking what you preach seriously.

.............

El pueblo unido jamás será vencido.

The People united will never be defeated.

DO NOT CAPITULATE! DO NOT BE SILENCED! RESIST!
IMPEACH and REMOVE.

26 July 2025

No prespident can survive proof of child rape

You know, as David Cay Johnston has said, if there really is evidence of statutory rape (which is being credibly alleged), even Trump cannot survive that. If there is anything in his past that can completely undo him and force him to resign or even be removed involuntarily, this is it. Personally, I think the constitutional issues, out and out fascism on the streets, and corruption are just as, if not more important. But: whatever it takes.

17 July 2025

What Epstein was REALLY up to

It's interesting that all the focus is on Trump and his alleged betrayal of the QAnoner base with the Epstein matter, because of apparent trafficking in underaged girls. But however horrible, and no doubt his Achilles' heel, the sex trafficking wasn't Epstein's real business. Read the background information and what Ron Wyden's coming up with. What Michael Wolf says Epstein told him. Epstein was a world class elite money launderer. The way he put it to Wolf: it's a reverse Ponzi scheme. Instead of dealing with money that appears to exist but doesn't, he dealt in money that very much did exist but appeared not to.

16 July 2025

Met Opera Live in HD - recommendation

Friends

I know that most of you don't know each other.... Atlanta; Santa Rosa, CA; Silver Springs, Maryland; Milwaukie, Oregon. Although two of you are friends I met at Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio 1970-1975: David Goldsmith (Maryland) and David Studhalter (Oregon), David S having taught me love of Mozart (and also, how to drive a stick-shift car, VW). Ted Ricketts and I were classmates at Antioch Junior High School and Antioch High School, Antioch, CA back in the Pleistocene Era. Ted has gone on from being trumpet player extraordinaire to be composer of music for Disney. And his wife, Sherilyn Draper, see details for both: https://symphonypopsmusic.com/about/

In case you are not familiar with Met Opera Live in HD: I have been going for years (in Atlanta, and now, Sebastopol, CA) and absolutely love - and recommend - it.

I was fortunate to attend the Met Opera in NYC one time long ago (La Traviata, Giuseppe Verdi AKA Joe Green

). I was lucky to be able to be able to visit NYC often when I was living in Boston/Cambridge 1983-1992, as it was an easy train ride from South Station in Boston to NYC Penn Station - so could see many wonderful things, including Metropolitan Opera, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Blue Note club in Greenwich Village (Dizzy Gillespie, Stanley Turrentine, Dexter Gordon, Paquito d'Rivera, the bIilliant, lost-too-soon Noel Pointer, jazz violinist Noel Pointer Noel Pointer - Night Song 1977 , The Cloisters, Ellis Island, Lower East Side (Tenement Museum, NOT to be missed https://www.tenement.org/ ), Central Park and so on. It was great to see La Traviata live at the Met, but in that venue, you have a static view of the stage - likely at a distance, due to the cost of tickets.

Immigration Museum NYC | Tenement Museum

The Tenement Museum shares stories of the immigrant and migrant experience through guided tours of two historic ...

Noel Pointer - Night Song 1977

The fantastic thing about The Met Live in HD - aside from the fact that you can see a performance for something around only $25 and no need to fly to NYC$$$$, is the way these performances are filmed. As I learned long ago when I first started watching them, filming is done via ~1000 robotic cameras (I learned at that time, might be different now). So, with Met Live in HD, you see the action on stage from many different angles, and distances. Some shots are panoramic, so you see the entire stage; then there might be a duet or a scene you can see with close-up shots of just the key performers.... e.g., La Boheme, perhaps a scene of Mimi in final scenes, dying of consumption (i.e., tuberculosis). Of course, given that this is Italian opera, the requisite tragic death scene is there. Amazingly, although Mimi is in the death throes of consumption, she can still belt it out from her deathbed.

Roberto Alagna, Angela Gheorghiu - La Boheme - Sono andati?

(LOVE Roberto Alagna! Very sexy guy, in my opinion. Stupid Angela dumped him for some reason.)

There are "summer encores" playing these months and then the regular season will start up. Being a retired person, I always prefer to go to the Wednesday afternoon performance, a repeat of the main Saturday performance, as it tends to be less crowded. I can almost never find anyone to go with me, but it doesn't matter because wherever you get a seat you are surrounded by fellow opera lovers.... many little old ladies with "blue hair," and numerous young (or old) gay guys, both groups comprising major fans. And I could always chat with whomever was sitting next to me, comparing notes, commenting, praising, whatever.... because we are all there for the same reason.

For you all in ATL... I always went to the Hollywood Regal 24 on Buford Highway... no parking hassles. https://www.regmovies.com/movies/met-summer-encore-la-traviata-2025-ho00018713 But there are others in ATL. I just looked it up via "University of Google," but see that maybe it closed. But there are other options .... Google.

Live in HD Summer Encores

Well, that's it for today. Over and out.

Jean

_________________

Jean Clare Smith, MD, MPH

2233 Versaro Drive

Santa Rosa, CA 95403-8662

Res: 1.707.852.5120

Cell: 1.470.303.5869

07 July 2025

Subscribe to my substack por favor : the latest on post Trump Contitutional Reform

Farflung correspondents,

If you have not already subscribed to my substack, perhaps it is because you are relieved to be free of my pedantic polemics restating the obvious, but if perchance you actually like to read my perorative musings, please consider subscribing (free!). You will then receive them via e mail.

https://davidstudhalter.substack.com/p/chemerinsky-is-right-time-to-start

David

06 July 2025

US values for sale to highest bidder?

It sure seems that Trump is more interested in profiting from arms sales than in providing a democratic country undergoing illegal warfare against civilians with the weapons it needs to defend innocent civilians from the attacks of an aggressor nation. I thought the US was supposed to be committed to defending democracy in the world. Guess not.

Re: New cantata video

David

Lovely!!

My favorite has always been

Bach - Cantata Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme BWV 140 - Van Veldhoven | Netherlands Bach Society

Bach - Cantata Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme BWV 140 - Van Veldhoven |...

but this one you sent is fabulous. I'll have to break out of my mold and look for a good Bach cantatas CD.

Thanks for sending.

Jean (your friend from Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio, many many years ago -- 1970)

_________________

Jean Clare Smith, MD, MPH

2233 Versaro Drive

Santa Rosa, CA 95403-8662

Res: 1.707.852.5120

Cell: 1.470.303.5869

On Sunday, July 6, 2025 at 11:29:19 AM PDT, Jim and Judy <seubert.jim@comcast.net> wrote:

Thanks, David. It was wonderful.

Judy

From: David Studhalter <oldionus@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 5, 2025 11:45 AM
Cc: F Johnson <fhoozit@gmail.com>; Brown, Bob <hirschmann.brown@gmail.com>; Brad Fenton <bfenton43@gmail.com>; Belle Cole <bellecole@comcast.net>; guy hicks <guyhicksjr@gmail.com>; Nancy Studhalter <nestudhalter@gmail.com>; Robt Pine <K6RMP@yahoo.com>; Sally Schubert <sallyschubert3@gmail.com>; Seth Osburn <sethosburn@adelphia.net>; Sydnee Singer <srsinger@aol.com>; Chauncey Canfield <chauncey.canfield@gmail.com>; David Studhalter <zubos.gyromantic@blogger.com>; David Studhalter <ds@gyromantic.com>; Richard Mechtly <rtvmech_2015@yahoo.com>; Sara <sarahdara629@aol.com>; Margaret Bloomfield <Margaret.Bloomfield@gmail.com>; Jean Barganz <jbarganz@aol.com>; Paul Emerzian <pwemerzian@frontier.com>; Boyd Osgood <bosgood.bsn@gmail.com>; Eustacia (Jo) Su <PekinDuck@comcast.net>; Mike Hatheway <mhath2018@gmail.com>; Lewis Waner <Lew_Waner@yahoo.com>; Tim Prindiville <jtimp0@att.net>; Don Strick (piano gp) <donstrick4@msn.com>; Jim & Judy Seubert <seubert.jim@comcast.net>; Mark Jacobi <mjacobi36@hotmail.com>; Meena Nachiappan <mnachiappan@armijogarcialaw.com>; James Beals <james.beals@gmail.com>; Jean Clare Smith, MD <jean316@bellsouth.net>; Cutrell, Doug <onlydoug@gmail.com>; Stanley Hoff <stanhoff@gmail.com>; Sheila O'Brien <sobrien572@gmail.com>; William Koseluk <klavierguy@gmail.com>; Nick Fontana <njfontanapiano@gmail.com>; Marny Elicker <marionpierce26@gmail.com>; Jae (Jack) Perry Hines <jaehines@hotmail.com>; Gary Hewitt <tresbullish@yahoo.com>; Matthew Slick <lucydog4@hotmail.com>; Steve Ware <steve@campanella.net>; Viktors Berstis <viktors@berstis.com>; Chong Kee Tan <tanchongkee@gmail.com>; Christopher Schindler <Chris24@teleport.com>; Kristy Moore <kandbmanagement@comcast.net>; Philip Mandel <phmand@gmail.com>
Subject: New cantata video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6Xg8kh7Ybw&list=PPSV

New Bach Stiftung video of one of my very favorite of Bach's cantatas, BWV 176, Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes.

RE: New cantata video

Thanks, David. It was wonderful.

Judy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6Xg8kh7Ybw&list=PPSV

New Bach Stiftung video of one of my very favorite of Bach's cantatas, BWV 176, Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes.

Re: New cantata video

Nice, with all period instruments. Not only the baroque flutes, but baroque oboes, baroque trumpet, and baroque bassoon as well. And I thought the oboe was hard enough to play with keys!

On Sat, Jul 5, 2025 at 11:45 AM David Studhalter <oldionus@gmail.com> wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6Xg8kh7Ybw&list=PPSV

New Bach Stiftung video of one of my very favorite of Bach's cantatas, BWV 176, Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes.

05 July 2025

New cantata video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6Xg8kh7Ybw&list=PPSV

New Bach Stiftung video of one of my very favorite of Bach's cantatas, BWV 176, Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes.

04 July 2025

Heather Cox Richardson's capsule video on the Declaration of Independence

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkFxD-CMlZM&pp=ygU3dGhlIGRlY2xhcmF0aW9uIG9mIGluZGVwZW5kZW5jZSBoZWF0aGVyIGNveCByaWNoYXJkc29uIA%3D%3D

03 July 2025

Fwd: Social Security Applauds Passage of Legislation Providing Historic Tax Relief for Seniors

Follow up, for anyone who was as shocked as I was. DON'T CLICK ON ANYTHING in this email. ChatGPT says although the email server it comes from is used by government to distribute information, this is almost certainly fake propaganda, put out by someone trying to pose as the social security admin. Which begs the question... how did they get my e-mail address? And that makes me think: DOGE and data mining... the Surveillance State may have made stolen SSA information available to bad actors. This is really, really creepy.

If you are motivated to do something about this, as I am, here's ChatGPT's suggestion:

1. Report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

The FTC handles scam, fraud, and deceptive email reports — including impersonation of government agencies.

Go to: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/
Click "Report Now"
Choose "Email" as the type of contact
Describe the email, sender address, and link behavior (e.g., that it claims to be from SSA, praises partisan legislation, and links to a private non-SSA domain like Granicus)
You can paste the email contents or upload a screenshot, if you have one

2. Report to the Social Security Administration's Fraud Team

The SSA has its own reporting system for impersonation or scam emails:

Go to: https://oig.ssa.gov/report/
Click "Submit a Report"
Choose "Scam Email or Letter"
Fill out the form describing the misleading message

You can reference that it claimed to come from SSA but included political content and redirected to subscriberhelp.granicus.com, a non-government domain.

3. Forward the Email to Government Phishing Monitors

Forward the original email (with headers intact, if possible) to:

phishing@ssa.gov
spam@uce.gov (FTC's spam monitoring inbox)

✍️ Sample Report Description (you can paste this into any form)

I received an email claiming to be from the Social Security Administration. It included overtly political language praising "Trump's One Big Ugly Bill," which is not appropriate for a government agency. In fine print it stated that the email was not produced at taxpayer expense, and when I clicked "Help," it redirected to a private third-party site, subscriberhelp.granicus.com. This appears to be a propaganda or scam email misusing the appearance of official government communication. Please investigate and take appropriate action.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: David Studhalter <oldionus@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Jul 3, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Subject: Fwd: Social Security Applauds Passage of Legislation Providing Historic Tax Relief for Seniors
To:

See below; I am forwarding the official e-mail I received from the Social Security Administration. I am speechless that this absolute crap, based on hideous and ridiculous lies, is being promulgated by an agency of the US government which is required by all norms and I'm pretty sure regulations to be politically neutral. If you agree with me that this is outrageous and shocking, please consider complaining to your Congressional and Senate representatives, as I will be doing.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Social Security Administration <subscription.service@subscriptions.ssa.gov>
Date: Thu, Jul 3, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Subject: Social Security Applauds Passage of Legislation Providing Historic Tax Relief for Seniors
To: <oldionus@gmail.com>

The bill ensures that nearly 90% of Social Security beneficiaries will no longer pay federal income taxes on their benefits.

Social Security Applauds Passage of Legislation Providing Historic Tax Relief for Seniors

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is celebrating the passage of the One Big, Beautiful Bill, a landmark piece of legislation that delivers long-awaited tax relief to millions of older Americans.

The bill ensures that nearly 90% of Social Security beneficiaries will no longer pay federal income taxes on their benefits, providing meaningful and immediate relief to seniors who have spent a lifetime contributing to our nation's economy.

"This is a historic step forward for America's seniors," said Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano. "For nearly 90 years, Social Security has been a cornerstone of economic security for older Americans. By significantly reducing the tax burden on benefits, this legislation reaffirms President Trump's promise to protect Social Security and helps ensure that seniors can better enjoy the retirement they've earned."

The new law includes a provision that eliminates federal income taxes on Social Security benefits for most beneficiaries, providing relief to individuals and couples. Additionally, it provides an enhanced deduction for taxpayers aged 65 and older, ensuring that retirees can keep more of what they have earned.

Social Security remains committed to providing timely, accurate information to the public and will continue working closely with federal partners to ensure beneficiaries understand how this legislation may affect them.