So I can't see what will be happening in Ukraine by the time you read this.  It could be serious:  it could be the first military invasion of a European nation since World War II.  I ask myself how we got to this point of renewed authoritarianism in Russia -- as well as in Turkey, North Korea, and other places where the thugs don't even pretend not to be thugs.  In part it is because we good guys in the US and the UK allowed Donald Trump and Boris Johnson to signal that Hitler-like hatred again was okay. Read More 

Recognition of women's contributions to American history is so long overdue that I guess I should be grateful for anything.  Yet I wonder who made the decisions about the new images of women on quarters (presumably the Treasury Department, which authorizes coinage), and why they don't ask the opinions of historians specializing in women's history.  At least they didn't ask me, although the reference desk at the Library of Congress has given my name to other inquiring institutions. Read More 

January 6th always will have another meaning now, beyond the traditions of Epiphany.  I was pleased to join about a hundred people – maybe two hundred – in front of the Sam Gibbons Federal Courthouse on that date.  Hubby and I adored Sam and his Martha, and I'm sure they would have approved of this vigil.  It was scheduled for sundown, and after holding signs and waving flags at the edge of the streets, we lit electric candles and sang "America the Beautiful" and other love songs to our country.  Read More 

As always, it's important to notice what didn't happen:  the predicted pile-ups of undelivered gifts didn't happen.  The Post Office delivered 99% of its packages on time, while privately owned FedEx was nearly as efficient, at 97%. Read More