I'm excited because my absentee ballot arrived today so I can fill it out and bring it to the Elections Office before I have to go out of town for my surgery. This reminder to US citizens to make and follow through on their plan to vote is brought to you in conjunction with Linda's One-Liner Wednesdays. Join us! Find out more here:

Wishing the Smith College campus community - and Smtih alums everywhere - a joyous Mountain Day! Join us for Linda's One-Liner Wednesdays! Find out more here:

I don't like having AI butting in with suggestions while I'm typing and I really don't want to waste the energy it takes to run it, so I disable it as much as possible. I disabled Gemini from my main Gmail inbox. A casualty of that is that I also lost spell check. Mind you, spell check was there long before AI started butting in, but now it appears that you can only have spell check if Gemini is turned on.

A memorial organ recital in memory of Jonathan Biggers, featuring his former students, will be Saturday, September 19 at 4 PM at United Presbyterian Church of Binghamton, sponsored by the church and the Binghamton Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. This bonus One-Liner Wednesday brought to you as part of Linda's One-Liner Wednesdays. Join us! Find out more here:

Binghamton area folks are cordially invited to a fun and FREE community sing-along on Sunday, September 20, 2026 at 2 PM at the Phelps Mansion Museum, offered by the Madrigal Choir of Binghamton as a kick-off to their '26-'27 season celebrating American music! Join us for Linda's One-Liner Wednesdays! Find out more here:

Vote for Democracy #59

Wordpress helpfully reminded me that Top of JC's Mind was born 13 years ago yesterday. It doesn't seem quite possible that I've kept the blog going that long, despite an avalanche of personal and world churn. My thanks to everyone who has read or commented over this time, especially those who are helping buoy me in my current health/brain challenges. I can't guarantee another 13 years but I can hope for it...

The reason I haven't been posting much lately is that I am getting ready to have surgery for Chiari malformation in late October. There is a lot to do to get prepared, including a bunch of tests, which, along with the rest of my medical team visits has been taking up a lot of time and my limited brainpower. I also was trying to keep some fraction of my volunteering and online advocacy going but now push has come to shove, as they say, and I am setting almost everything aside for now to concentrate on my health.

Solar and batteries matter, but they’re not the only reasons for the steep decline in gas-fired electricity.

YouTube video by Robert Reich

“Please tell your own story. This is the most important thing we can do for each other: to know each other through stories, and I hope so much that whoever you are, listening right now, you are able to do what you love, to be also the unique person you are.”~~~ Gloria Steinem, from an interview for Netflix's Famous Last Words, released after her death was announced last week Join us for Linda's One-Liner Wednesdays! Find out more here:

Despite nearly 1.3 million deaths and counting, there is still not a national memorial for the pandemic. Our informal memorial in the middle of the Mojave Desert is one small way to remember those we’...

Sign the SUFS Petition to demand Congress pass emergency legislation to stop Hegseth from stealing NIH research budgets to build bombs instead.

This year, President Donald Trump said that ExxonMobil and Chevron made “too much money” on rising crude oil prices due to the Iran war. For once, we agree with him.

When Dolly Parton was asked about her ultimate goal in life, she answered:“Just to be happy, to be as productive as I can be, make as many people happy as I can, make as much money as I can, so I can do for more people. And I just want the freedom to work, and everybody else can have the money.”

I have quite a few problems involving sleep - or the lack thereof. I often have trouble getting to sleep, staying asleep, waking up early and not being able to get back to sleep, not feeling rested after sleep. I've tried various things to help, all the sleep hygiene sorts of things, physician directed melatonin and medications, etc. but nothing seems to work long-term.

Midnight Mousers, an anthology of noir stories featuring cats, including one from my writer-friend Devon Ellington, is now available through Amazon and coming soon from bookshop.org. Join us for Linda's One-Liner Wednesdays! Find out more here:

Health data appears to be most affected by administration’s attempt to wipe findings that don’t align with its priorities, tracker shows

Republicans win the White House, enact trickle-down tax cuts, and collapse the economy.Feel like we've been here before?

When I was a child, my dad was bald. I didn't think anything of it. It was just Dad - or as his first grandchild named him, Paco, which is how he is known here at Top of JC's Mind. Tucked in a corner of the large mirror over the dresser in my parents' room was a card that read, "God made just so many perfect heads.

YouTube video by The Daily Show

Prominent Republicans and others have falsely claimed this week that the shots are linked, despite years of data showing they are safe.

The extension of the National Guard deployment in Washington, D.C. until January 2029 will cost roughly $1.4 billion, according to a Defense Department estimate provided to Congress.

The drought in London, England is so severe that there was a dust devil over the weekend in Greenwich Park in an area that is usually covered in grass. Join us for Linda's One-Liner Wednesdays! Find out more here:

Learn more here.

A new American Meteorological Society report paints a grim picture of the global climate.

Earthjustice has defended bison in court for decades, and today we need your help to keep up the fight.

When B retired, we had planned to travel more. More trips to London to see the UK branch of the family. More mid-week getaways to the Finger Lakes or New England, avoiding the busier weekends and high seasons, now that B didn't have to work Monday through Friday. Visits to friends and relatives. We have been doing more travelling, but not in the way we had anticipated.

Chronic reactivation of distinct herpesviruses and anelloviruses occur during acute and long COVID-19, and track with disease severity, inflammation and outcomes, revealing immune signatures with prog...

When I saw the specialized neurosurgeon last week, after posting here for positive vibes, they asked what my three most troublesome symptoms are and I answered, "Brain fog, fatigue, and balance problems;" they told me that surgery for Chiari malformation should help all three, so I will have that, probably in late October. This update is brought to you as part of Linda's One-Liner Wednesdays series. Join us! Find out more here:

Nationwide actions seek to counter view that talking about climate crisis distracts from affordability messaging

Tomorrow (Thursday), I will have an initial consultation with a specialized neurosurgeon in Rhode Island who may be able to address some of my health issues and would appreciate any prayers or good vibes you feel moved to offer. ❤ Join us for Linda's One-Liner Wednesdays! Find out more here:

The Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division recently changed its name to the Energy and Natural Resources Division and added “unleashing American energy” to its mission.

I live in the Southern Tier of New York State and, like many places on earth, we've had weather weirding going on as a result of climate change, caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels. (Yes, even in Stream of Consciousness, I need to make sure I am clear on the science I present on my blog!) This summer, we've had lots of big temperature swings.

The latest evidence that gas is bad for your health.

This is a small part of a mural currently being installed at Sugar Lips Ice Cream Shop in Johnson City, NY, USA. Join us for Linda's One-Liner Wednesdays! Find out more here:

Sometimes, I remember what I used to know and be able to do. Sometimes, I can't. The brain fog from the cerebellar ectopia is perhaps being made worse by my decline in kidney function. Or maybe by the summer weather. Hard to say. It's scary, though, especially because it's been going on for over two years now. There is hope for untangling all the underlying factors and treating them - or, at least, some of them - but probably no guarantee of getting back all my lost functionality.

Just proving that I made it through the reading event at the Broome County (NY) Arts Council last night. Things went well with poems, a short story in translation, music, paintings, and a film, all represented. Thanks to Connie, Ann, and all the BCAC staff for making the America 250 exhibition and event possible. Thanks also to fellow poet Samantha Terrell who sent me this photo that her husband took while I was reading.

Binghamton NY area folks are invited to an event celebrating the Broome County Arts Council's America 250 project tomorrow, July 16, at 6:30 PM, in which I will be participating. This friendly invitation is part of Linda's One-Liner Wednesdays series. Join us! Find out more here: