Sharon 🤦🏾‍♀️ Persists

Writer of non-fiction narrative | history, literature, design, art, politics, economics, genealogy, food, gardening and hiking/walking

Countries I’ve lived in: United States (native), Switzerland, Belgium
Associations:

Historical subjects I’m interested in: WWII, 19th-century African-Americans
Things I can’t live without: Non-fiction books, ancestry.com, Decaf coffee, iPad, cats, historical documentaries, WNYC, old photographs, dark chocolate

Last Notes

2025-08-22 13:04:44 UTC

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This passage in this piece really stood out for me: “The statistics are brutal. Fascist takeovers prevented after winning power democratically: zero. Average length of fascist rule once established: 31 years. Fascist regimes removed by voting: zero. Fascist regimes removed by asking nicely: zero. Most were removed by war or military coups, and tens of millions died in the process.” Ugh.

2025-02-01 19:46:50 UTC

My friend and hiking pal who works at the SEC just texted me that all Black History Month events at the SEC have been canceled. She also told me that her division's hiking club has been disbanded, because it's considered as "DEI". I once joined one of their hikes, which was made up of European-, Asian- and Black American employees. This is insanity. It is wrong. It is cruel. It is fascism. #hiking #fascism

2025-01-24 15:46:02 UTC

Firstly, I think it’s bad that Sen. Fetterman of PA appears to be supporting Hegseth. But, secondly, I wish I could tell all those wavering Republicans to dig deep and then ask themselves this one question: “What would Vietaman vet, former POW Senator John McCain do???” Look, I’m a “nobody” when it comes to Congress, and am just ranting here on social media. None of these people will ever see this rant. But I wish John McCain would haunt their dreams and ambush their consciences. #hegseth

2024-12-10 20:25:07 UTC

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Right-wing, trickledown economics, combined with unfettered capitalism (i.e., steep drop in taxes on the wealthy, eliminating Glass-Steagall Act, unregulated capital markets), clamp down on unions, new tax on Social Security benefits-- to pay for tax cuts on wealthy--, reduction of nutrition supports for women/children, Head Start funding reductions, assault weapon ban allowed to expire, opioid addiction, gun violence/mass shootings tolerated, no universal healthcare...)

2024-08-29 20:54:34 UTC

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I liked it a lot. But the review by Nolan Kelly of The Brooklyn Rail, is deeply critical of it, accusing the filmmaker of idealizing a dirty job and of being beholden to philanthropic benefactors (The Nippon Foundation) who hired him to make essentially a PR film for The Tokyo Toilet Project, which they manage. I think the criticism is overly harsh. I liked its message and neorealist style.

2024-08-29 20:17:43 UTC

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Yes, yes! Looks very similar to the meal I had in Takayama. I agree that the eel liver was too bitter for my taste. These photos are great.
If you ever get the chance, by the way, check out the 2023 Wim Wenders film, “Perfect Days”. It follows the daily routine of a man in Tokyo who has a very humble job. But, there are some fun restaurant and food scenes. It stars Koji Yakusho, who won a Cannes award for his performance.
https://brooklynrail.org/2023/12/film/Wim-Wenderss-Perfect-Days/

2024-08-29 17:47:12 UTC

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Me too. I loved Takayama. It’s where I went to my first ever eel restaurant — everything on the menu had eel in it. From fried eel bones as snacks to go with beer to eel liver broth (not kidding) to my favorite, grilled eel with a savory BBQ sauce and rice. Hope you get there some day.