Ever wondered how Vermont acquired its name? All you have to do is hop on Interstate 89 somewhere in New Hampshire and head north until you cross the Connecticut River. Once on the other side of this aquatic border, look left and right. You’ll think you’re surrounded by humongous green mountains of humongous heads of broccoli, or as the French would say, montagnes vertes, i.e., ver-mont.
From July through October the US 89 corridor is the weekly route I enjoy to ferry a cornucopia of fresh vegetables donated by fellow community garden partners to the Vermont HQ of Willing Hands, an Upper Valley non-profit.
Once there drivers promptly distribute the veggies to over eighty area food shelves and social service organizations serving the needs of those suffering food insecurity.
But there are more perks for the weekly ride than just performing this hunger mitigating mitzvah - it’s drinking in the stunning visuals along the journey.
Aside from mountains of a certain green vegetable, Vermont’s countryside is dotted by sprawling farms. The grain silo of each adds just the right touch for a souvenir picture postcard.
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Silos are essential for farm storage. Mega fortified varieties are also essential. Those secure nuclear tipped ICBM missiles. But silos are the bane of journalists whose days are diligently spent working to develop an informed citizenry and leadership. Sadly, social media has become ‘the preferred way’ so many get their news, selecting only those infomercial silos which pipe in what folks want to hear, i.e., echo chambers … and nothing more for balance. No wonder we have major conceptual divisions in our republic.
A glimpse into this divide can easily be spotted on the street, at the gym, on public transportation, or even while driving (!) There are so many folks in the info receiving mode while multi-task using a variety of plugged-in earpiece accessories.
My first encounter with this phenomenon was on a Haifa to Tel Aviv southbound train. A portly plugged-in young man had just sort of waddled onboard accompanied by his backpack and arms laden with shopping bags.
I watched him eye the crowded car until he spotted a mere sliver of daylight between a seated group of happily conversing older women.
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Continuing in his own piped in auditory realm and undeterred by their friendly engagement, without a word he wedged himself and his baggage between the women. All they could manage was taking a deep breath to slim themselves down a bit and countenance a WTF expression.
This episode was a window into the current norm creating digitally assisted, customized personal space in the common era and common area. But beyond the impact of this practice, and the occasional collision of distracted walkers, what’s the impact of this intellectual curiosity black hole being embraced by our elected leaders and their handpicked advisors?
If unsure, I will recommend a NYT Bestseller, Andy Borowitz’s Profiles in Ignorance: How America's Politicians Got Dumb and Dumber.
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Paraphrasing Amazon's review, " .... the book aims to make us both laugh and cry: laugh at the idiotic antics of several public figures, and cry at the cataclysms these icons of ignorance have caused.
But most importantly, the book delivers a call to action and a cause for optimism: History doesn't move in a straight line, and we can change the course if we act now,"
That's the good news for all regardless of how you get it.
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