Who I am…
I am a lawyer, former mother of teenagers, and a quixotic seeker after and champion of factual truth.
I make the best damn brownies you have ever had that are not regulated by the federal government.
I love movies, Broadway, and intelligent conversation.
I think in song lyrics and movie and television quotes.
I believe in the use of proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar even in text messages. I am willing to debate the use of the Oxford comma, if you know what the Oxford comma is. It also makes me very happy if people use the subjunctive mood when appropriate.
I have been told I intimidate people. I am really just a fluffy-centered teddy bear. Really.
- It's all my fault. No, really. The views expressed in this blog are mine and mine alone and in no way whatsoever represent the views of anyone else, including any past, present, or future employer.
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Words to live by ….
“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8.
“Pray for the dead, fight like hell for the living.” Mary Harris (“Mother Jones”).
“Don’t boo. Vote.” Barack Obama.
“Man’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.” Reinhold Niebuhr.
“No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We’re always one of Us. It’s Them that do the bad things.” Sir Terry Pratchett.
“Damning facts are still facts.” Steven C. Holtzman.
“If you don’t stick to your values when they’re tested, they’re not values — they’re hobbies.” Jon Stewart.
“Darkness never sustains, even though it sometimes seems it will.” Doctor Who.
“Writing is a form of mischief.” Stephen Sondheim.
“An idea is not responsible for the people who believe it.” Don Marquis.
“If you can see your path laid out in front of you step by step, you know it’s not your path. Your own path you make with every step you take. That’s why it’s your path.” Joseph Campbell.
“Truth is our strongest ally, our biggest weapon, and our best defense.” Me.
“Reality has a well-known liberal bias.” Stephen Colbert.
“The opposite of war isn’t peace, it’s creation.” Jonathan Larson.
“We live through times when hate and fear seem stronger.
We rise and fall, and light from dying embers
Remembrances that hope and love last longer.
And love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love;
Cannot be killed or swept aside.”
Lin-Manuel Miranda.“If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution.” Emma Goldman.
“No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” Samuel Beckett.
“I believe that the God who made (among other things) light, and space, and number, and time, and the spiral curve of Fibonacci numbers, must be acknowledged to understand more than I do about why there’s pain in the world.” Teresa Neilsen Hayden.
“No, it’s not fair. You’re in the wrong universe for fair.” John Scalzi.
“Liberals got women the right to vote. Liberals got African-Americans the right to vote. Liberals created Social Security and lifted millions of elderly people out of poverty. Liberals ended segregation. Liberals passed the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act. Liberals created Medicare. Liberals passed the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act. So when you try to hurl that label at my feet, ‘Liberal,’ as if it were something to be ashamed of, something dirty, something to run away from, it won’t work, because I will pick up that label and I will wear it as a badge of honor.” Lawrence O’Donnell
“So keep fightin’ for freedom and justice, beloveds, but don’t you forget to have fun doin’ it. Lord, let your laughter ring forth. Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce. And when you get through kickin’ ass and celebratin’ the sheer joy of a good fight, be sure to tell those who come after how much fun it was.” Molly Ivins.
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Author Archives: Pat Greene
That Alabama hurricane.
I have seen a lot of bloviating, both on line and in the media, about the President and the altered weather map. Yes, the President lied. Yes, the President lied about something important and doubled down. So what? Just another … Continue reading
Thirty-second movie review.
If you love Bruce Springsteen… If you like Bruce Springsteen… If you even tolerate Bruce Springsteen… If you like coming of age stories… If you are moved by compelling stories about immigrants dealing with racism… If you find movies about … Continue reading
A superhero for our age.
I am taking a edx.com course on “Superheroes and Their Impact on Pop Culture.” Part of the “creative track” is to create your own superhero. I have. Her name is Cassandra.* Like her mythical namesake, she sees the future. Unlike … Continue reading
Life’s a thing.
I know I have not been writing in a while. I had actually been working on a third post about the Mueller report — about how totally frightening was the Russian interference in our election, not merely on the social … Continue reading
Mueller Report, II: What sort of investigation, anyway?
I feel compelled to start this post with my usual disclaimer: I am not currently licensed to practice law, and have never practiced criminal law. The analysis of the report is just that, my analysis. Before I start, I need … Continue reading
Pat’s Cranky Corn Chowder.
Okay, ingredients first. The instructions are gonna get rambly. Tough. 4 ears Super Sweet corn, pre-husked so you don’t have to deal with corn silk (or two small bags frozen corn) 3 slices of thick bacon cut into small pieces … Continue reading
Mueller Report, I
I am reading the Mueller Report, so you don’t have to. Not that it’s boring or difficult, but it is nearly 400 pages, not including introductions and appendices. I will be taking this in chunks — consider this my introductory … Continue reading
Existential questions.
How do you know when you’re broken? How do you determine whether this is your psyche demanding a few days (or months) of letting go? Or when you have become a Good German? Or a Soviet comrade? When is it … Continue reading
Voicing my opinions
The Voice finale was Monday, and the winner was crowned Tuesday. Fortunately, the right person won. And by the right person, I mean someone with an angelic voice who was not a) a country singer, b) a hot looking young … Continue reading
In Jeopardy.
Several people have asked me what I think of the current Jeopardy! champion, James Holzhauer. After all, I got run over by the great Ken Jennings, so I should have some perspective, right? I usually compared Jennings to the 1927 Yankees. This … Continue reading
Today’s action for the Resistance
Every Saturday, when I drive past the Planned Parenthood office in Mountain View, there are anti-abortion protesters. Today, given Alabama and Georgia and Ohio and Mississippi, it was just too much. I decided to join them. I went home and … Continue reading
Strategizing.
I am spitballing here (to use a very annoying neologism). It’s one of the ways I cope with the incomprehensible. Given that Roe v.Wade is under attack, we need to figure out what we will do for the women affected. … Continue reading
Pat’s BETTER Damn Brownies.
An update of Pat’s Best Damn Brownie recipe. Recipe first, comments after. 1 cup Guittard semisweet chocolate pieces 1 cup (1 stick) Crisco butter flavored shortening 2 cups white sugar 4 large eggs 3/4 cup + 2 tbsps good cocoa … Continue reading
Letters
Dear Red-Headed Menace, The fact that you are graduating from college next weeks shocks me to the core. How dare you grow up on me!! That said, I am more proud of you than I can say. I hope graduate … Continue reading
Why the MCU movies are so good (no spoilers)
I keep thinking that I have posted this before, but I can’t seem to find it (maybe on Facebook?), so… The reason that the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) movies are so good is the acting. Exhibit 1: Robert Downey, Jr., … Continue reading
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