CONNECTION.

Connection (noun) – a relationship in which a person or thing is linked or associated with something else. We are all connected as human beings – similar anatomy, we share feelings with each other, we understand each other at our cores. We are supposed to understand why someone would do something, right? Why don't we then? Why do we as human beings, beings with complex emotional and rational feelings fail to fill a gap created by one of our own?

A stone placed by a mason to fill a space in a wall sits next to another, tiny stone, not it's same size nor shape – both stones are so different from each other it's night and day. But they still sit alongside each other and form part of a wall which stands strong and forms part of a house. What's so different may yet be so profound...

I know we all have feelings that differ from each other, some feel anger differently than others, granted but it takes understanding to come to a solution. I think we all understand each other once we take some time to get to know each other. Else why would we all pelt stones at a thief? In that minute where people decide to pick up a stone and throw it at a random person carrying something that isn't his, misogyny, they have created a sense of understanding, right? They built a connection, a world existed in that minute where all was peaceful, human beings existed in that minute as a single stone throwing entity, energy transferred amongst everyone, the pleasure of hurting smn else created peace, a connection.

Idk where I'm going with this, it's not sleep deprivation today it's just the continous circulation of thoughts where I'm yet to understand myself, I wonder how thoughts progress as a stone and build a connection with another stone, not the same size nor shape but we still build a wall. It doesn't take two similar people only to form a connection, it can take anyone. Build yours.

Even on the bad days when I'm struggling to go on I can still try my best to keep carrying on

It's tough to push through it to reach for my dreams but I can still keep going what else is there to do?

Sure, I might fail I might end up going backwards but other days, if I'm lucky I'll find just the right words

I can make a difference I can keep moving on Above all else I can still try

#Poetry #TouchTheClouds #Resilience #Hope

The walls

They let me paint the walls, So I called it a home; never mind the bars or the fact that The key was never mine.

They gave me curtains and called it privacy. Let me rearrange the furniture while they locked every door.

The script

They gave me a script shoved words in my mouth and called it a voice.

I performed so well I forgot Who wrote the lines.

They clapped, So I bowed not knowing the curtain was a cage.

Language is the everpresent medium of teaching and learning, the element that infuses every classroom interaction. Yet, how often do we explicitly plan the content, structure, and quality of this critical element?

While we meticulously map out and prepare for the activities we engage our students in, the specific linguistic structures and vocabulary we employ often remains implicit, almost accidental. This raises critical questions: which aspects of our classroom talk truly accelerate literacy – is it sheer volume, vocabulary precision, or syntactic complexity? And how can we become more deliberate and intentional architects of this vital linguistic environment for all students, including those developing multi-dialectalism and multilingualism?

My recent presentation at ResearchED in NYC ventured into this territory, examining the research on how the linguistic environment we curate can influence student literacy achievement.

The Power of Classroom Talk: More Than Just Words

Why this focus on classroom talk? Because literacy isn't built in a vacuum. While foundational skills like decoding and spelling are absolutely critical (and have for all too long been sidelined), the elementary ELA block at large all too often focuses on isolated skills.

Despite elementary schools in the U.S. dedicating significantly more time to ELA than any other subject, reading scores (like those from state ELA tests or the more nationally normed NAEP) often remain stubbornly flat, including here in NYC. This prompts a crucial question: is simply adding more ELA time the answer, or do we need to rethink how we build literacy—both within and beyond ELA?

This is where focusing on content-rich talk across the content areas becomes vital. Subjects like social studies, science, math, and the arts offer fertile ground for developing the academic language and background knowledge that underpin strong literacy. In fact, some research suggests this cross-curricular approach may be more effective for reading comprehension than simply adding more ELA time. For example, a 2020 study by the Fordham Institute found that increased instructional time in social studies—but not additional time in ELA—was associated with improved reading comprehension for elementary students (Tyner & Kabourek, 2020). Notably, the students who benefited most from additional social studies time included girls and those from lower-income and non-English-speaking homes. Tackling the challenge of building a strong foundation begins, fundamentally, with the language we choose to use and explicitly teach across all subjects.

Yet social studies—and other content areas—occupy an increasingly small portion of an elementary student’s learning (more recent RAND paper on this).

The Problem We Face

This focus is critical because many students, particularly in the K-5 grades, can encounter significant hurdles in developing robust literacy and language skills that are essential for academic success. These challenges can be particularly acute for multiidialectal or multilingual learners navigating academic language demands alongside or in addition to their home language(s). Key challenges include:

• Foundational Skills Gaps: Some students do not receive the focused instruction and practice they need in decoding and spelling to become fluent readers and writers.
• Knowledge and Language Gaps: Many students lack consistent and cohesive opportunities to build the background knowledge and language necessary to understand complex topics across different subjects, while building on and connecting to the cultures, schema, and languages they bring.
• Complex Language Exposure: The majority of students need more exposure to, and structured practice with, reading, writing, and talking using the complex language inherent in disciplinary discourse and texts.

What the Research Says: Listening In on Learning

I used the wonderful study by Jeanne Wanzek, Carla Wood, and Christopher Schatschneider, which I have highlighted in this blog before as the anchor for my presentation. Using LENA devices to record classroom instruction, they found:

• Teachers, on average, used relatively few academic or curriculum-specific vocabulary words.
• Crucially, teachers who did use more academic words had students demonstrating higher vocabulary achievement by the end of the school year. This held true even when controlling for the teachers' overall expressive vocabulary and across students with varying incoming abilities.
  • The takeaway: The specific words we choose during instruction have a measurable link to student vocabulary growth, a crucial component of academic success for all learners.

Correlation or Causation? Towards Stronger Links

Correlation, of course, isn't causation. Does using more academic language cause better outcomes, or do teachers with higher-achieving students simply use more academic language? While the Wanzek et al. study is correlational, a growing body of research points towards a causal link between targeted language exposure/instruction and improved outcomes. Here’s just a smattering:

• Conversational Turns: Interventions increasing parent-child conversational turns led to language skill improvements and predicted neurocognitive changes (Romeo et al., 2021).
• Mathematical Language: An RCT using dialogic reading to boost mathematical language positively impacted preschoolers' general math skills (Purpura et al., 2017).
• Classroom Math Talk: Teachers using more mathematical language were found to be more effective at raising student test scores in upper elementary grades (Himmelsbach et al., 2024).
• Content Literacy: A sustained literacy intervention grounded in science and social studies content led to lasting improvements in vocabulary, reading comprehension (across domains), and even math, demonstrating far transfer effects (Kim et al., 2024).
  • The takeaway: The pattern across these studies strongly suggests that actively improving the language environment through intentional instruction yields real results in student learning, with content-rich instruction showing particular promise for multilingual learners

Defining and Developing Academic Language

So, what is this “academic language” we're aiming for? It's the formal, complex, often abstract and decontextualized language common in school, texts, and professional settings (NYSED, Lesaux & Philips Galloway; Philips Galloway et al., 2019). Since this language isn't always prevalent outside school, the classroom becomes the primary place many students will learn it, making our role crucial, especially in fostering academic language development for multilingual learners.

Understanding how language typically develops—and recognizing that multilingual development adds further layers of complexity and potential cognitive benefits—helps us see where to intervene and build bridges for students:

1. Contextualized Interaction: Early conversational turns, rooted in the immediate environment.
2. Oral Storytelling: Moves towards abstraction, requiring inference and schema-building beyond the 'here and now'.
3. Shared Reading: Introduces more decontextualized language—denser vocabulary, complex sentences, formal structures typical of written text (I’ve rounded up a list of studies related to this).
4. Written Language: Characterized by rarer, more abstract words, complex syntax (like nominalizations, passive voice, relative clauses), and formal discourse structures

Our instruction aims to help students navigate this journey towards greater precision and abstraction. Leveraging students' home languages can serve as a powerful bridge along this continuum.

Explicit Teaching Meets Implicit Learning: Achieving “Escape Velocity”

So, how do we teach this complex language effectively?

While explicit teaching of vocabulary or grammar acts as a necessary accelerator, it works best when launching students into an environment rich with coherent and cohesive implicit learning opportunities. This explicit scaffolding is vital for all learners navigating complex academic language, and particularly crucial for multidialectal and multilingual students acquiring these structures in the more formal English used in school. Mark Seidenberg calls this synergy achieving “escape velocity”—where explicit instruction scaffolds and enables students to learn powerfully from the sheer volume of language they encounter through reading, writing, and discussion. Our goal is to engineer this velocity for all learners.

As we’ve also explored on this blog, part of building this velocity is about providing our kids with more texts and more talk—”textual feasts,” as Dr. Tatum calls it.

Putting Research into Practice: Classroom Strategies

How can we intentionally weave denser and more complex academic language into our daily practice, while valuing and leveraging the linguistic diversity of our students? It involves concrete, planned actions:

1. Plan to Amplify Knowledge & Language:

   • Identify core concepts in a unit/text.
   • Pinpoint the essential academic vocabulary used to explain these concepts.
   • Explore morphology and etymology (e.g., using tools like Etymonline) to deepen understanding, including potential cross-linguistic connections.
   • Analyze how these words function in different sentences and contexts.
   • Plan structured opportunities for students to practice reading, writing, and speaking with these words.

2. Leverage Multimodal Text Sets: Immerse students in a topic through various texts (articles, books, videos, images) and modalities. This creates multiple, varied exposures to related concepts and vocabulary.

3. Structured Supplements for Read-Alouds: Don't just read; enhance read-alouds by providing concise definitions, examples, asking stimulating questions that require using target vocabulary, connecting to prior knowledge, and using concept maps (Mosher & Kim,, 2025). Consider incorporating home language previews or connections where appropriate.

1. Explicitly Teach Morphology & Leverage Cross-Linguistic Connections: Build awareness of word parts (prefixes, suffixes, roots) and connections between words across languages. This is especially powerful for multilingual learners; recognizing shared roots and patterns (like transparent/transparente) and using contrastive analysis between languages (like comparing verb forms) can unlock meaning and build metalinguistic awareness. Use a consistent multisyllabic word decoding strategy. Use tools like concept/semantic maps to help visualize connections, including across languages.

1. Structure Reading Instruction (Before, During, After): Be intentional about the purpose of each read:
   • Before: Build background, preview text and vocabulary. Activate or build relevant background knowledge, connecting to diverse student experiences.
   • During (1st Read): Focus on flow and gist, model fluency, check basic comprehension.
   • During (2nd Read): Zoom in on specific words, sentences, author's craft. Practice paraphrasing key details.
   • During (3rd Read): Analyze structure and language more deeply. Ask inferential questions.
   • After: Review, engage with target vocabulary/language, summarize, practice speaking/writing using mentor sentences and target words.
2. Zoom In and Amplify: When revisiting texts, strategically select specific words or sentences to focus on. Use routines (echo/choral reading, dictation, sentence combining, contrastive analysis) to deepen understanding and usage. (See the Zoom In and Amplify Menu resource for ideas).

These routines can often be adapted using contrastive analysis or strategic invitations to use and connect to home language for multilingual learners.

Moving Forward: The Bottom Line

The research is increasingly clear: the language we choose to use and teach matters. By consciously choosing to immerse students in rich, academic language within and across content areas, providing both explicit instruction and ample opportunities for implicit learning through meaningful interaction with texts and topics, we can significantly enhance language development and overall literacy achievement, creating more equitable opportunities for all students, including multidialectal and multilingual learners. It requires intentional planning and a shift towards seeing every teacher as a teacher of language, but the potential payoff for our students is enormous.

To effectively address the challenges and leverage the power of classroom talk, the evidence points towards these key actions:

• Recognize the crucial role academic language plays in student literacy development across all subjects, recognizing its importance most especially for students developing multilingualism
• Understand the interplay between explicit language instruction (the accelerator) and the implicit learning that occurs through rich language exposure (the fuel).
• Actively implement strategies to intentionally increase the quantity and quality of academic language used in classroom instruction and student interactions daily, leveraging students' diverse linguistic resources as assets.

#literacy #education #research #AcademicLanguage #TeacherTalk #ReadingComprehension #Vocabulary #Instruction #ResearchED #MultilingualLearners #ENL #Biliteracy

Who Will Be Held Accountable?

“You will not be judged on your race or your sex. You will be judged on merit—on how good you do your job.” Those were the words of Pete Hegseth in a recent interview. It’s a sentiment meant to project fairness, integrity, and respect for competence. But like so many things in this administration, the words collapse under the weight of reality.

Because if what we just witnessed is what merit looks like, then we need DEIA back immediately—if not sooner.

Let’s be clear about what happened. A classified military operation—sensitive enough to require strict compartmentalization—was the topic of casual banter in a Signal group chat that included a reporter. The fallout? Human lives put at risk, the exposure of sources and methods, and a rupture in our ability to maintain visibility into foreign networks.

And what was the administration’s response? Denial. Evasion. And then the pièce de résistance: a gaslighting attempt to convince the American people that the real issue here is the media’s obsession with what they’ve dubbed a “perfect” two-month streak.

I don’t know if you’ve heard, but this administration thinks the only reason SignalGate is making headlines is because the media needed a new scandal.

This isn’t just a mistake. It’s malpractice. And the American people know the difference.

Let’s revisit what “merit” has looked like under this administration:

TikTok influencers turned policy advisors.

A cable news anchor elevated to Defense leadership.

Tech bros with no government experience handed the reins of entire federal agencies.

A cabinet stacked with billionaires.

And now? A national security crisis brushed off because it interrupts what Trump astonishingly perceives as a good PR run.

We all know that if a junior officer, an enlisted Marine, or even a low-level staffer had pulled a stunt like this, they’d be court-martialed, dishonorably discharged, or imprisoned. But when Pete Hegseth does it? Silence.

The irony is staggering. Hegseth, who never misses a chance to posture about “respecting the warfighter,” has shown nothing but contempt for the standards the military actually lives by. Anyone who’s ever worn the uniform knows the rule: You are responsible for everything your unit does or fails to do. Accountability isn’t optional. It’s the job.

And yet here we are, watching the deflection in real time.

Even as Congress calls for hearings, the Armed Services Committee refuses to act. So now, some lawmakers are proposing shadow hearings—gathering military experts, whistleblowers, and intelligence analysts to break through the noise. Because we owe the public answers. And we owe our warfighters more than empty slogans.

In testimony, officials like Tulsi Gabbard and the current CIA Director repeatedly claimed they “could not recall” key details. The phrase has become a shield—less about memory than legal insulation. But the damage has already been done.

Pete Hegseth should keep the word warfighter out of his mouth. Because he clearly doesn’t respect them enough to model the very accountability he would demand of anyone under his command.

This scandal has lingered not because of media obsession—but because the truth is radioactive. It clings. It stains. And no spin can wash it off.

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A Reckoning, Not a Diversion

The cost of this scandal cannot be measured in headlines or hashtags alone. The cost is in the veteran told he’ll lose housing. The cost is in the shuttered Social Security office. The cost is in the silence of officials who “can’t recall” the details while American lives hang in the balance.

But this is also bigger than SignalGate. It’s about a culture of deflection, one that names phony villains to dodge real accountability. One Congressman put it plainly: “Trump has offered a set of villains that are disingenuous and divisive. We have to offer a more honest explanation.”

Because while Pete Hegseth sells “warfighter” like a campaign bumper sticker, it’s UnitedHealthcare buying out hospitals. It’s billionaires slashing aid. It’s greed gutting government services for a profit.

The American people aren’t asking for perfect leadership. They’re asking for truth. They’re asking for someone to have their back. And they’re smart enough to know when the person screaming “patriot” the loudest is the one putting them at risk.

We owe them more than spin. We owe them the truth.

#ProtectOurWarfighters

Happy April Fools Day to all who celebrate.

I have been neglecting this place, and so much has happened in the meantime that I feel like I should put some of it into words. For posterity sake and such.

But not today, lol. (early April Fools, I guess)

Building a garden bed is one of the most rewarding projects you can take on as a gardener. Not only does it provide you with the perfect environment for growing healthy plants, but it can also help you save time, effort, and even money in the long run. Whether you’re looking to grow flowers, vegetables, or herbs, a well-built garden bed can make a significant difference in the productivity and aesthetic appeal of your garden.

If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and create a garden bed from scratch, here’s a simple, step-by-step guide to help you get started.

Why Build a Garden Bed?

Before we dive into the how-to, let’s explore the benefits of building a raised garden bed:

• Better Soil Control: Raised beds give you full control over the soil quality, making it easier to amend poor soil and create a custom blend of compost, topsoil, and other nutrients.
• Improved Drainage: Because raised beds are elevated, they allow for better water drainage, preventing waterlogging and promoting root health.
• Easier Maintenance: Raised beds are more accessible and require less bending, making them ideal for gardeners with mobility challenges. They also make it easier to control weeds.
• Extended Growing Season: The soil in raised beds warms up faster in the spring and cools down slower in the fall, extending the growing season for many plants.

Step 1: Choose the Right Location

The first step in building a garden bed is selecting the best spot for your garden. A good location is crucial for healthy plant growth, so consider the following factors:

1. Sunlight: Most vegetables and flowering plants need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. Choose a sunny spot for maximum growth.

2. Accessibility: Make sure the garden bed is easy to reach from your house or patio, especially if you plan to water, weed, or harvest regularly.

3. Level Ground: For the best drainage and soil stability, choose a flat or slightly sloped area. If the ground is uneven, you may need to level it first.

Step 2: Decide on the Bed Size

Garden beds come in various sizes, but the ideal dimensions depend on your space and what you plan to grow. Here are some guidelines:

• Width: A typical garden bed width ranges from 3 to 4 feet. This allows you to reach the center of the bed from either side without stepping into the soil. If your bed is wider than 4 feet, it can be challenging to tend to plants in the middle.
• Length: The length can vary depending on your available space. Many gardeners choose to make their beds 6 to 8 feet long, but you can adjust the length to fit your yard or garden layout.
• Height: The height of a raised bed is typically between 6 and 12 inches, although you can go higher for deep-rooted plants or if you want the bed to be more accessible.

Step 3: Gather Your Materials

To build a garden bed, you’ll need the following materials:

1. Wood for the Frame: Cedar, redwood, or untreated pine are excellent choices for raised beds, as they resist rot and are safe for growing food. Avoid pressure-treated wood, as it may contain harmful chemicals. You’ll need enough wood to construct the frame, plus corner supports.

2. Screws or Nails: Use galvanized screws or nails to assemble the bed. Galvanized hardware resists rust and will last longer in outdoor conditions.

3. Landscaping Fabric or Weed Barrier: This helps prevent weeds from growing through the bed. You can also use cardboard or newspaper as an eco-friendly alternative.

4. Soil: Choose a mix of high-quality garden soil, compost, and other organic matter. A common mix is 60% topsoil, 30% compost, and 10% organic matter such as peat moss or vermiculite.

5. Tools: A saw (if you need to cut wood), a drill, a measuring tape, a level, and a hammer or screwdriver.

Step 4: Build the Frame

Now it’s time to construct the actual garden bed. Here’s a step-by-step guide for building the frame:

1. Cut the Wood: If you purchased long planks of wood, you’ll need to cut them to the appropriate lengths. For a 4’x8’ bed, you’ll need:

   • 4 pieces of wood (8 feet long)
   • 4 pieces of wood (4 feet long)

2. For higher beds, you can use taller wood pieces or stack them.

3. Assemble the Frame: Lay out the wood pieces on the ground to form a rectangle or square. Use a drill to make pilot holes at the corners, then secure the wood together with screws or nails. Make sure the corners are square (use a carpenter’s square or check the diagonals are equal lengths to confirm the frame is square).

4. Reinforce the Frame (Optional): If you’re building a larger bed or plan to have a bed that’s higher than 12 inches, you may need to add additional corner supports or cross beams for stability.

Step 5: Prepare the Ground

Before placing the frame, you need to prepare the ground inside the bed:

1. Clear the Area: Remove any grass, weeds, rocks, or debris from the area where your bed will sit.

2. Level the Ground: Use a shovel to level the area, ensuring the bed will sit flat. You can also lightly till the soil to break up any compacted earth.

3. Lay Down Weed Barrier: To prevent weeds from creeping into your bed, lay down a layer of landscaping fabric, cardboard, or newspaper along the bottom. Make sure the material covers the entire surface and extends up the sides slightly.

Step 6: Fill the Bed with Soil

With the frame in place and the ground prepped, it’s time to fill your garden bed with soil.

1. Mix Your Soil: Create a rich soil blend using topsoil, compost, and organic matter. Aim for a mix that drains well but retains moisture.

2. Fill the Bed: Start by filling the bed with your soil mixture, leaving about 1-2 inches from the top to prevent soil from spilling over when you water.

3. Level the Soil: Use a rake to level the soil evenly across the bed.

Step 7: Plant Your Garden

With your bed fully built, you’re ready to start planting! Whether you’re planting flowers, herbs, vegetables, or shrubs, follow the planting instructions for each specific plant to ensure they thrive. Remember to space plants according to their needs and consider companion planting to make the most of your space.

Step 8: Water and Maintain Your Bed

• Water Regularly: Raised beds tend to dry out faster than traditional garden beds, so make sure to water consistently, especially during dry spells.
• Mulch: Add a layer of mulch around your plants to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.
• Fertilize: Depending on your soil mix, you may need to add compost or organic fertilizers to keep your plants healthy and growing strong.

Conclusion

Building a garden bed is a fantastic way to improve the health and productivity of your garden. With a little planning and effort, you can create a raised bed that will yield beautiful flowers or abundant vegetables season after season. By following these steps, you’ll not only have a structured, efficient garden but also a rewarding experience that will enhance your gardening skills.

Happy gardening! 🌿

Vor wenigen Tagen habe ich meine Bewerbung für den Landesvorsitz von BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN Sachsen-Anhalt eingereicht. Die Motivation hinter meiner Kandidatur entspringt vor allem dem Wunsch, bestimmte Themen innerhalb unserer Partei anders und möglicherweise stärker zu fokussieren, als dies bislang der Fall war oder künftig sein könnte. Meine Bewerbung richtet sich dabei nicht als Kritik an den aktuellen Vorstand, sondern versteht sich vielmehr als offenes Angebot an die Mitglieder unseres Landesverbandes, alternative Schwerpunkte und Perspektiven im Vorstand zu setzen.

Die vergangenen zwei Jahre waren verständlicherweise stark von Wahlkämpfen geprägt, und mit der anstehenden Landtagswahl im nächsten Jahr steht bereits die nächste wichtige Herausforderung bevor. Mit Susan Sziborra-Seidlitz, die sich ebenfalls für den Landesvorsitz bewirbt und angekündigt hat, für Listenplatz 1 zu kandidieren, sehe ich die Wahlkampfkompetenz und -fokussierung innerhalb des Landesvorstands optimal repräsentiert. Meine Rolle als möglicher Co-Vorsitzender verstehe ich daher als eine sinnvolle Ergänzung zu Susans Kompetenzen.

Kreisverbände stärken

Ein besonderer Schwerpunkt meiner Arbeit wäre die gezielte Unterstützung und Entwicklung unserer Kreisverbände. Während wir in Städten wie Magdeburg und Halle (Saale) sowie im Harz in den letzten Jahren erfreulicherweise ein starkes Mitgliederwachstum und rege politische Aktivität verzeichnen konnten, sieht die Situation in den ländlichen Regionen Sachsen-Anhalts häufig anders aus. Ich habe persönlich miterlebt, wie der Kreisverband Altmark beinahe aufgelöst wurde, weil sich lange Zeit niemand mehr fand, um für Vorstandsämter zu kandidieren. Nur durch das kurzfristige Engagement meiner heutigen Co-Kreisvorsitzenden Jutta Meinerts und meiner Frau Kati konnte dies abgewendet werden.

Die Ursachen dafür lagen einerseits in einer zu geringen Präsenz des Kreisverbandes vor Ort und andererseits in einem pandemiebedingt weitgehenden Erliegen der Mitgliederaktivitäten. Seitdem wir den Vorstand übernommen haben, setzen wir deshalb gezielt auf Formate, die Begegnung, Austausch und Vernetzung ermöglichen. Gerade mit Blick auf neu eingetretene Mitglieder ist es essenziell, lebendige Gemeinschaften zu schaffen, um langfristig Mitglieder zu binden und aktives politisches Engagement zu fördern – besonders nach dem Ende der „Robert-Manie“.

Zusätzlich zu einem regelmäßigen Veranstaltungsangebot braucht es geeignete Orte für politisches Engagement und Begegnungen. Als Kreisverband verfügen wir bereits über ein Büro in der Hansestadt Salzwedel und sind aktuell Gäste im Wahlkreisbüro unserer Landtagsabgeordneten Dorothea Frederking in der Hansestadt Stendal. Demnächst beziehen wir ein eigenes, zentral gelegenes Büro direkt am Stendaler Marktplatz, um sichtbarer und leichter zugänglich zu sein. Diese Begegnungsorte sind Ressourcen, die wir als Landesverband insgesamt noch viel stärker nutzen und ausbauen müssen, denn einige Kreisverbände haben noch gar keine eigenen Räumlichkeiten.

Begegnungsorte schaffen

Diese Orte sind aber entscheidend, um unseren Mitgliedern, Bündnispartnern und auch der örtlichen Zivilgesellschaft einen echten Mehrwert zu bieten. Als Landesvorsitzender werde ich mich daher intensiv dafür einsetzen, dass jeder Kreisverband mindestens ein eigenes, gut erreichbares und zentral gelegenes Büro bekommt. Demokratie lebt schließlich nicht allein digital, sondern vor allem durch persönlichen Austausch und Begegnungen vor Ort. Dies ist eine wichtige Erkenntnis, die wir gerade in Ostdeutschland noch stärker beherzigen sollten.

Gerade in einer Zeit, in der sich digitale und analoge Lebenswelten gegenüberstehen, braucht es Räume für echte Begegnungen und aktives Engagement. Menschen suchen zunehmend nach konkreten Angeboten in ihren Gemeinden und entscheiden bewusst, wo und wie sie sich engagieren wollen. Für uns als Partei bedeutet dies, Kreisverbandsbüros bewusst zu Begegnungsräumen zu entwickeln – lebendige Orte des Austauschs, der Vernetzung und der politischen Gestaltung.

Wenn diese Orte zusätzlich durch regelmäßige Veranstaltungen belebt werden, schaffen wir natürliche Anreize, sie aktiv und regelmäßig zu besuchen. Als Landesvorsitzender möchte ich deshalb sicherstellen, dass wir nicht nur in digitale Reichweite, sondern ganz gezielt auch in unsere physische Infrastruktur investieren. So entsteht eine nachhaltige Grundlage, um unser politisches Engagement in ganz Sachsen-Anhalt zu stärken und zu verbreitern.

#002125 – 24 de Março de 2025

Procrastinador, gordo, lento, cheio de mazelas e dorzinhas, manias e lacunas, cada vez mais resmungão e até pessimista. E fundamentalmente feliz. Sou o que não queria, insisto no que não desejo, não atinjo aquilo que sonho. E cada vez mais aceito o que sou, o que tenho, onde estou.

Help me.

Help me help me help me… Oh! God, where is this peace? Why am I filled with this loss, frustration and sadness? Am I not a good man? Have I not done well? Made decisions for the benefit of all and not my own selfish want!

Death is in me, death is of me, death is on me… I stink of it. I tire of it.

I welcome it.

No doubt, my God, you are more weary than I, facing the suffering of this family since our beginning. But, I would be remiss if I ignored your omnipotence as compared to my powerless impotence. My weak, pathetic intellect is breaking (broken) under this.

It is not death, after all, that is the problem, it is the living—both the doing of it as well as dealing with those that continue in it.

As the treasure hunter scrapes away those last rocky kernels covering the chest, so my sanity is brushed away to open the vault of my mind only to discover an empty vessel. No riches of strength, wisdom or fortitude. Just piles and piles of promissory notes that one day I would be a spiritual giant, capable of facing these difficult times with gratitude and graciousness.

Her madness is my madness. Where is my strong arm to support her? Make this all better? I have nothing but desperation and anger this morning.

Words of consolation feel meaningless… exciting my lack of faith. Faith! Where have I laid this cloak that served me so well through the storms all these many years? Has the wicked one been so effective in dressing me in my own hubris that I can no longer even recall its fit?

Jehovah is my Shepherd. I will lack nothing. In grassy pastures he makes me lie down; He leads me to well-watered resting-places. He refreshes me. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of his name.  Though I walk in the valley of deep shadow, I fear no harm, For you are with me; Your rod and your staff reassure me. You prepare a table for me before my enemies. You refresh my head with oil; My cup is well-filled. Surely goodness and loyal love will pursue me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of Jehovah for all my days.

My shepherd. My shepherd. My shepherd.

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#essay #death #confession

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Har vi endelig nådd “peak Wee” i offentligheten? Den profilerte podcasteren Wolfgang Wee har denne helga vakt oppsikt ved å slenge ut en påstand om at Zelenskyj har kokainproblemer i en samtale med komiker Erlend Mørch. Mørch er tydelig ukomfortabel, men prøver å vitse det bort. I samme episode argumenterer Wee for at Russland lett kunne tatt Norge i løpet av noen timer, og at han ikke ville ha kjempet mot hvis de invaderte, for han vil ikke bli «kanonføde». I stedet for meningsløse tap av liv burde Norge bare underlegge seg Russland i et slikt scenario.

Summen av hans uttalelser er lett gjenkjennelig russisk propaganda. Wolfgang Wee er jo en fyr som kopierer og beundrer Joe Rogan, som har blitt en fullblods MAGA-influencer. Disse høyrevridde podcast-gutta liker å leke tøffe mannfolk og frie intellektuelle, men deres «frie uortodokse tenkning» ender merkelig nok alltid opp på samme sted. Helst ved fotskammelen til en sterkere mann.

Det tragiske med Wee er at så mange av lytterne hans, særlig unge menn, tror de blir smartere av å høre på podcasten hans. Her sitter jo menn med stor selvtillit som forklarer hverandre ting i timevis. Det må jo være hjerneføde? Men det meste Wee tilbyr er å gjøre livet ditt verre. Særlig om du er en ung mann.

Du kan tape alle pengene dine på kryptovaluta, få spiseforstyrrelser eller mangelsykdommer med Pimp Lotion og andre tvilsomme fitness- og helseguruer, bli putinist med Glenn Diesen eller lære alternative (og helt feilaktige) teorier om historien.

Med Wolfgang Wee får du et alternativt skolepensum som er designet for å gjøre deg fattigere, dummere og mindre sunn. Det er mental junkfood solgt som helsekost. Hvis du kjenner noen som har blitt hekta, så vis dem gjerne dette klippet.

Cuando intentamos meditar, ¿lo estamos haciendo bien? ¿Nuestra postura es correcta? ¿Cuál debe ser nuestra práctica? Como las preguntas son interminables, lo importante es empezar de algún modo. Sin enredos.

Nuestras vidas son muy agitadas. Hacer nuestro trabajo nos exige muchas horas y tenemos responsabilidades también en nuestro hogar. Hemos aprendido a hacer varias cosas al mismo tiempo. Mientras nos enteramos de las noticias, revisamos el correo y contestamos el teléfono, tomamos el desayuno y estamos pendientes de que los niños se preparen para ir a la escuela. Poco tiempo tenemos para la meditación. Mejor dicho, prácticamente ninguno. Podríamos encontrar algún momento de la semana para asistir a un centro espiritual. Quizás iríamos unas cuantas veces, hasta que el destino nos alcance y nuestro asiento de meditación quede vacío. Quizás podríamos ir a un retiro de fin de semana, pero son muchas las cosas que tendríamos que dejar atadas. Queremos hacer deporte, ir al gimnasio, hacer la compra, visitar a nuestros parientes y amigos, llevar a los hijos al cine o a patinar, o simplemente quedarnos en casa.

Shanti es una palabra sánscrita muy hermosa. Si la pronunciamos suavemente, parece que su sonido transmite paz. Y eso significa: paz. Podemos meditar en un templo, en nuestra casa o junto a un árbol. Buda meditó a la sombra de una higuera. Algunos maestros budistas fueron monjes errantes, otros fueron laicos, atendían sus trabajos, sus asuntos de negocios y los de sus familias.

Pacificar nuestra mente. De pie, sentados. Sobre un cojín o en la sencilla postura que nos permite una silla. Como enseñó el gran maestro de meditación Ajahn Chah, “Por supuesto que hay docenas de técnicas de meditación, pero todas ellas se resumen únicamente en esto: dejar que todo sea. Colóquese aquí a un lado, donde hay calma, fuera de la batalla. ¿Por qué no prueba?“.(1)

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(1) Ajahn Chah, No. Editado por Dhamma Garden. Transcrito por el Monasterio Buddhista Abhayagiri (2004). 70.

I’ve been a professional writer for, ooh, quite a while now. It’s gone pretty OK. It’s paid the bills. In that time, my main creative outlet has been taking photographs.

If I’m being the honest, I think the reason I haven’t written much (and shared even less) creative stuff outside of work is a fear of failure. That failure could take many forms, but the most likely is falling into a silent void. Thing is, I know that doesn’t matter.

I’m getting on a bit more now, and I need to put worries like this behind me. Writing is good for me: more so than photography. It makes my brain calm. And I have a few, extremely modest, writing aspirations. Nothing to do with any conventional measure of success — just a few things I’d like to write at some point.

So I’m going to have a really good go at writing and publishing some things: probably here, and also on socials if they’re short enough. And I’m going to try really hard not to second-guess them, or feel self-conscious about them, and then delete them.

I don’t fully know what this will look like yet. To start with, probably a few more daft jokes on Bluesky. After that, maybe some stupid poems and weird short stories. That sounds like plenty for now. Just a bit of routine and confidence-building.

I like taking photos, though. I’m going to keep doing that. It gets me out of the house. But I’m going to put way less thought and time into it. I can get quite over-thinky about it.

Husker dere for noen uker side, da visepresident JD Vance forklarte europeiske ledere at Europeiske land ikke respekterer ytringsfriheten? Nå er enda et student blitt anholdt av maskert politi fordi hun har brukt ytringsfriheten sin i USA.

Den tyrkiske studenten Rumeysa Ozturk er arrestert fordi hun visstnok “støtter Hamas”. Hun har engasjert seg mot krigen på Gaza og kritisert universitetet sitt for å ikke trekke sine investeringer ut av selskaper med bånd til Israel. Ingenting tyder på at hun har gjort noe ulovlig. Hun er arrestert for tankekriminalitet.

Ozturk inngår i en rekke av flere studenter, inkludert protestlederen Mahmoud Khalil, som enten har blitt arrestert eller skremt ut av landet fordi de har engasjert seg politisk mot et pågående folkemord. Dette er åpenbar knebling av ytringsfriheten.

Trump-administrasjonen starter naturligvis med de splittende og upopulære standpunktene (i amerikansk kontekst) når de skal senke temperaturen i det amerikanske samfunnet, og skremme folk til stillhet. Palestina-aktivistene er et lett bytte.

Deretter, når man folk har vent seg til at hvem som helst kan anholdes og fengsles basert på løse påstander om at man har “ulovlige holdninger”, så kan man ekspandere. Akkurat som latin-amerikanere nå vilkårlig kan fengsles og sendes til brutale fengsler i El Salvador bare fordi en ICE-agent synes tatoveringene deres ser litt suspekte ut.

JD Vance er nestkommanderende i et autoritært regime som aktivt angriper ytringsfriheten for å undertrykke politiske motstandere. Han er en fiende av demokrati og rettsstat, og en skamløs hykler. Alle som syntes han “tross alt hadde noen gode poenger” i München kan ta seg en bolle.