Claire Oliphant

@claireoliphant.com

144 Followers 258 Following

I weave my fascination with #science and #mathematics into my #stainedglass art. web: claireoliphant.com IG: glassoliphant

I spent a couple hours last night, and a couple more today, reviewing countless photos from the massive protests around the country on Friday. Few people grasp the size, spread, and significance of these protests led by high school and college students. Legacy media can't adequately cover these events (even if they wanted to) so I'm going to give it a shot. To see spontaneous and organic protests organized by young people is to behold collective joy. I've reviewed thousands of images and videos. You don't see a single student scrolling their phone. They are living in the present and exuberant. They link arms, hug, and support each other. Some of the walkouts were organized by the senior class; other times by freshmen. These young people are forming their identities and have made the decision to become active subjects in the American story. They appear determined to turn a new chapter. A few of the signs adopt familiar messaging from previous protests like NoKings. Other signs are direct communiques to the adults who are supposed to be protecting them. One of the more popular signs read: "We're skipping our lessons today to teach you one." Another sign said, "My immigrant parents work harder than your president." Signs featured curses that aren't permitted at home or school. I noticed the boys who climbed the highest light poles and edifices proudly waved Mexican flags. The physical liberation of their bodies against artificial constraints betrays their spiritual and moral development. I pause on the images to reflect and zoom in on their expressions, homemade signs, and take in the camaraderie. These kids and young adults are making history and they're more aware of that than anyone else.
Dear friends, Today, federal forces deployed heavy waves of chemical munitions, impacting a peaceful daytime protest where the vast majority of those present violated no laws, made no threat, and posed no danger to federal forces. To those who continue to work for ICE: Resign. To those who control this facility: Leave. Through your use of violence and the trampling of the Constitution, you have lost all legitimacy and replaced it with shame. To those who continue to make these sickening decisions, go home, look in a mirror, and ask yourselves why you have gassed children. Ask yourselves why you continue to work for an agency responsible for murders on American streets. No one is forcing you to lie to yourself, even as your bosses continue to lie to the American people.
Astute observers of Congress are saying, “Hubbell has gone off the deep end. Most of those concessions cannot be included in the funding bill.” That is true. But that does not mean that Democrats cannot demand those additional reforms as a condition of funding DHS. If Republicans won’t agree to those measures—and many more—then defund DHS, permanently. It was created after the 9/11 terror attacks and has outlived its usefulness in a democracy governed by the Constitution and the rule of law.
For starters, Democrats should drastically cut the obscene increase in ICE’s budget. Every ICE officer who skipped the security clearances and received the shortened 47-day training should be fired and forced to reapply. Kristi Noem should be fired. The lawyers who drafted a memo saying that ICE could break into homes without a judicial warrant should be fired. Investigations into the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti should be referred to an independent special counsel. The state of Minnesota should be given complete access to all evidence relating to the killings.
Glamour shot of a freshly out of the oven 6" Basque cheesecake standing about as tall as the diameter. It will settle to 3.5" or so once cool. Deep gold and brown across the top surrounded by parchment paper. Looks like a flower of desserty goodness.
Stained glass in early dawn in a Penrose tiling derivative pattern. Shades of purple and gold glass with a bit of iridescence reflecting lampllight.
Blue mixing bowl full of freshly harvested 1-2" fuzzy kiwi fruit sitting on a blond wood bench, teal carpet in the background
4 1.5" berry shortcakes on a decorative plate. Two have strawberries, one has raspberries, and one has Oregon native blackcaps (black raspberry)
Still from Strange New Worlds ep Charades showing Nurse Chapel, Dr. M'Benga, and Spock with human ears
Picture of a stained glass piece I made which is hanging in a window. The piece is a study in circles and is roughly 3-feet in diameter.
Bookmatched cherry box lid with purple heart inlay. The bookmatched grain forms a heart shape in the center.
Ad for a 5 bedroom kit home for $483, along with other styles
Popular Homecraft Magazines from 1930, 32, and 36