BY JOE GENCO
–The dictator playbook begins with targeting the immigrants. Soon after comes finding a reason for war. We are on that slippery slope. https://medium.com/…/welcome-to-the-dictator-playbook-51760…
–Here’s a differing, and more reasonable view from the National Review. http://www.nationalreview.com/…/donald-trump-refugee-execut…
–Meanwhile, Jay Burney went to Buffalo Niagara Airport to cover a protest in support of immigrants. He even asks why Buffalo is not a sanctuary city. http://www.dailypublic.com/…/greenwatch-sunday-morning-tele…
–As President Trump tries to reshape our government, one Executive order at a time, a few things have become apparent in a bigly way: 1) Much of the orders are symbolic. 2) It’s going to take way longer (a 100 day plan? 200? Maybe more? 3) What about the tax cuts? https://www.yahoo.com/…/tensions-simmer-below-surface-trump…
–Visited with the folks from Beforest Sunday. We talked about permaculture and trees and edible landscapes. I also tasted a persimmon for the first time. You can learn more here. I will harvest more wild food this year. There is food around us. Eat it. Hey, that gives me an idea for a Weird Al song.: https://www.facebook.com/WNY-Permaculture-1098493876841295/…
–Here’s a proposal for a single-payer health system in New York. It seems like a good idea, but my employer would be exempted and the insurance companies would assuredly rally against it because it would threaten their profit margins. I am also suspicious of union backing. http://www.dailypublic.com/a…/01252017/how-replace-obamacare
–A Fed Ex driver in Iowa City, apparently while working, intervened at a flag burning protest. Fed Ex has tweeted his job status is unchanged. I defend the First Amendment rights of those flag burners, but I still admire the citizen who took action. http://www.press-citizen.com/…/fedex-issues-state…/97150692/
–A boy who grew up in India came here and was lost until he went to the grocery and saw tortillas as flatbreads. He’s been cooking southern food ever since, but the influences of his homeland have begun to creep into his work. http://www.npr.org/…/mississippi-masala-how-a-native-of-ind…
–Since George Narby bailed on his private practice, I’ve used Dr. Daniel Trock and Highgate Medical as my personal physician. Now I got a letter saying Trock is bailing. Should I stay with Highgate? Anyone have a recommendation?
–Admire those birds on your feeder. Now look again and realize they are dinosaurs. Really. http://www.capecodtimes.com/…/hard-to-believe-theyre-dinosa…
–Hey, say a prayer for my best childhood friend. I fantasize one day, he will be healthy enough I can punch him in the face again.
–Interesting to find this jazz infused Tiny Desk Concert from Bad Bad not Good, a fun band more pop/hip hop. http://www.npr.org/…/510575…/badbadnotgood-tiny-desk-concert
—There are actual mermaids in Charlotte, N.C. http://siouxcityjournal.com/…/article_18456318-9818-50d0-a2…
–A Canadian ice fisherman caught a record-breaking burbot on Lake Simcoe. Somehow it makes me remember Ken Sprenger. http://siouxcityjournal.com/…/article_18456318-9818-50d0-a2…
–A family of lynx on an Alaskan hillside. https://www.adn.com/…/pack-of-lynx-spotted-in-rare-sightin…/
–Boyd Curiosity: The peacock is a sort of pheasant.
–The silliness that is the NFL loser teams best players competing with none of the Super Bowl participants, included Richie Incognito winning a footrace against Jarvis Landry, who was wearing a sumo suit. Yeah, it’s a slow sports day. When does spring training start? http://www.newyorkupstate.com/…/buffalo_bills_richie_incogn…
Definitely stay with Highgate – best practice around (from an insider). They have another office too