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So glad you have signed up to receive the For Random Learning Comes Newsletter! This is the one hundred and twelfth edition.
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This weekend I'm getting off to an early start, getting the newsletter out on a Friday. I have just one poem to share, called White. It is about the selection of Tim Walz as VP running mate for Kamala Harris's presidential bid.
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Most Democrats seem to have jumped on board enthusiastically, but some understandably yearn, for that future day, when there will be two people with brown skin on the ticket, or perhaps two women.
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Tim Walz is the white male governor of Minnesota, and is in his early sixties. So not exactly, as Trump might say derisively, "A DEI pick" (DEI=diversity, equity and inclusion, all good things, in my book.) I almost wrote DEA--Drug Enforcement Agency--which of course is something entirely different.
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A lot of people were surprised when Walz rose to the top of the pile, but so far I can't help but like him. I'm hoping the country has the same impression. But as the pundits keep telling us, VP's don't make much difference in elections. After all, not much became of Kamala, right?:)
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Anyway, I'll retreat from the politics for now, and let you know that I was mostly busy with family stuff this week, so not much to report on other writings.
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I did add about two thousand to my word count (now 47,815.) I spent some time and journal-space figuring out my plot holes so far, which number about twenty!! And those are the ones that I can see. At least I will not be at a loss on what to write!
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One place I am waiting to hear from is an excruciatingly eternal poetry chapbook competition (going on 9 months now). Another is JaxbyJax, the local literary festival, where I just recently submitted a short story. If it is picked I will have the opportunity, as I did last year, to read it aloud. We'll see.
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I do have some poems out for the ACPapa lit journal (Chris Bodor's work--Hi, Chris if you're reading!), which I submitted very early. It is not due to publish until the end of the year. I don't expect to hear about that anytime soon.
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I also went to another poetry event last weekend, at Happy Medium and enjoyed the poets' work and the community very much.
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Hope your summer is going great. The hurricane we had two weeks ago was a wash, or at least a wash-out. Much water but not much wind or other damage. A few hours cleanup was all that was needed (thanks, hon.) Of course our flowering plants have long since used up all that moisture and are shriveling at me again. All except the weeds of course, which are doing nicely.
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Hope Bermuda fares as well, with Ernesto. Fingers crossed, that everyone out there stays safe at least till late November, when hurricane season is finally past.
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If you know of anyone else who might be interested in receiving this newsletter, please forward it and send them to my website, linked in the logo above, to sign up!
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Stay safe if you're in the path of any hurricanes or other rotten summer weather. Till next time!
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So Close and Yet So Far
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This essay discusses the Semiquincentennial celebration and compares it with Fourths of Years gone by.
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Drawing
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A poem on redistricting, the drawing of new districts to serve the ruling party's political purposes, with the blessing of the Supreme Court and with enthusiasm unchecked by either the people's will nor the State's Constitutional provisions.
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Attempt
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A poem describing the swirling emotions on and offline provoked by the attempted assassination of President Trump at the dinner for the press. Caveat: I do not doubt the attempt on his life was real. P.S. The photo is an attempt at beauty.
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Approaching May 1st, 2026, Anniversary of The Great Fire, Jacksonville, FL
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A poem about a very dry spring in Florida which calls to mind the terrible fire which consumed Jacksonville early in the 20th century.
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Smiles
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This poem analyzes the loss of reputation of the US in the eyes of its closest allies, and the attitude it projects, about that loss.
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