Bricks and Musings Bricks & Musings 2025
 General Spouting Off
by Jevic, The Tarheel Writer

Just gotta get up on my little soapbox every once in awhile. Feel free to comment. jevic@tarheelwriter.com Thanks!


The Tarheel Writer - On the Web since 24 February 2003. Celebrating 23 Years on the Internet!

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16 October 2025 (58 degrees on the lake with the first frost of the season forecast for tomorrow)
    In a sign of the times, the Boy Scouts of America, uh, ahem, Scouting America (what a stupid name!) now offers merit badges in Animation, Chess, Dentistry, Game Design, Geocaching, Graphic Arts, Nuclear Science, Programming, Robotics and more.
    I'm sure those additions will mesh right in with Camping, Swimming, Cooking, Dog Care, Backpacking, Astronomy and Small Boat Sailing. I realize the organization is just trying to remain relavant to today's youth all the while trying to deal with sexually abusive leaders. Perhaps they should talk to the Catholic Church for some ideas.
    It does do my heart good to see some familiar merit badges on the required list for Eagle including Cycling, Lifesaving, Personal Fitness and Swimming.
    In my book, 'Hunter at Sea,' the main character is an Eagle Scout and relys on the Astronomy Merit Badge to help him navigate a damaged sailboat.
    I guess I just miss the old BSA with the comradery, friendships and its competitions along with camping, campfires, campfire songs and, yeah, even the ghost stories.

6 October 2025 (54 on top of the mountain with a beautiful day forecasted)
    As the Supreme Court begins its new term in October 2025, it is scheduled to hear several cases with significant implications for ongoing cultural debates in the U.S.. The issues include LGBTQ+ rights, religion, racial discrimination, abortion access, and gun control.
    The Supreme Court is set to hear several cases concerning LGBTQ+ rights, with a focus on transgender individuals and restrictions on "conversion therapy".
    Chiles v. Salazar: The Court will hear arguments regarding a Colorado law that bans "conversion therapy" for minors. A Christian therapist is challenging the ban on First Amendment free speech grounds. Similar bans exist in over two dozen states, and the decision could affect their future.
    West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox: These consolidated cases challenge state laws that ban transgender athletes from competing on female sports teams. The plaintiffs argue that these bans violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title IX.
    Even though there is a conserative majority on the court, I am going to hold out hope that 'conversion therapy' is struck down. As for the transgender sports thing, I can see valid arguments on both sides. I have nothing against transgendered people. More power to them! I personally have not talked with a transgendered athlete and reserve my stance on this until I do.
    SPECIAL NOTE: It was 1998 on this day that Matthew Shepard was attacked, tied to a fence and left for dead. He suffered in the hospital for days. Remember Matthew today and support his foundation.

21 September 2025 (74 with a forecast high of 87 and in despirate need of rain)
    Taking Jimmy Kimmel off the air was an act of censorship by the Trump administration and the removal was in violation of the First Amendment. Simple. Anybody calls it different is just plain wrong. (My very strong personal opinion)
    Charlie Kirk, while his killing is very wrong, does not erase the fact that he was a racist. He was aligned with the MAGA conservative movement. He was homophobic. His killing, while reprehensible, does not do away with these facts. He should not be celebrated.
    Just the opinion of this supporter of the First Amendment.

19 June 2025 (75 with a forcasted heat index of 100 here on the lake)
    It is in the news today that Trump will shut down the national LGBTQ youth suidicde lifeline in 30 days. WHAT THE FUCK!?! Yeah, no more option 3 which was a pilot program started in 2022 in a contract with The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ people. Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black call the decision devasting adding that suicide prevention is about people not politics.
    Just when I thought Trump could do no more harm to the gay community, there comes this bullshit. It's time to rattle a few chains and let your congressman know that this is wrong.

18 June 2025 (82 and windy on the lake)
    Not too happy with the supreme court over their decision to back the Tennessee law against Transgender Youth, but since the orange menace loaded the court up with conservatives, I'm not surprisd. Bad decision fellows!

17 June 2025 (84 with cloudy skies and a chance of a thunderstorm on the lake)
    With so much political bullshit going on these days, I've decided the revive my Bricks & Musings age. The Orange Menace is out of control!




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