Longer Step: Ideas for Justice and Sustainability

  We always have to stop and think, and avoid knee-jerk reactions. The Left (the space where I reside) is upset that the Supreme Court terminated Affirmative Action. But California did the same, decades ago, and has found ways to ensure that its public universities' student mix "almost perfectly matches the state's diversity:" 47% are Hispanic,, 21% White, 4% Black... And, while I don't support the Court's decision, I do understand it. Giving preference to any minority group is a form of discrimination against other groups, and, in general, discrimination should be unlawful. Personally, I'm fine with giving special treatment to all groups that have been systematically downtrodden, by our bad policies, for centuries. It's a way to try to right a wrong. But, the law generally frowns on that. But this ruling, in the hands of Red states, will have the effect (whether it's done intentionally or not) of reducing the number of minority students in their u

 Sometimes we need to remember that not everything that we think we know is correct. Sometimes, huge numbers of people are supremely confident that they know something, but in fact they are flat wrong. So it is with the humble black walnut tree. Birds or squirrels or wood elves have been planting black walnuts all over our yard. An impressive feat, considering I've been unable to find such a tree within 200' of us. Why am I looking? Let me count the ways.  1. If you grow one for a few decades, the trunk's wood is worth thousands to woodworkers.  2. If you can get some of the ripe nuts (the squirrels are better and more persistent at it than we, sadly), they are really great, especially in ice cream ;) .  3. The mature black walnut tree is a great shade tree, and shade on your house can save you $1000s in eletricity cost over the decades, and help save the planet too (through less electricity use). 4. But today, for me, I need unripe green walnuts in order to make Nocino (no