One more sign

March for our Lives signs

Show us what democracy looks like

This is what democracy looks like: the New York March for our Lives heading down Sixth Avenue from Central Park.

I must admit, the march wasn't my first priority today -- going to Central Park for a last chance to catch the winter birds at their feeders was. I haven't been there since October; I had to work almost every weekend between Thanksgiving and New Year's and then I went to Antarctica. And since I've been back, the weather has been mostly too gray for bird photography.

But today was beautiful. Sunny, not too cold, great light. I woke up early, eager to take brilliant photos of what I was sure would be unusually cooperative birds. The rally/march started on Central Park West, and I could easily go there once I was done with the birds.

And then I got an email, followed by a text from my manager. You know those server issues we're having? That we were going to fix in two weeks? Turns out we did it last night and we need you to test this morning!

So instead of titmice and goldfinches, here's a photo taken from our company cafeteria of a very different source of comfort and inspiration.

More signs of the times

Signs for science

The signs at the march were wonderful -- some of the ones I couldn't get clear pictures of:

   Newton, not Putin

   Got Plague? No? Thank a scientist!

   Unicorn Frappuccinos are magic. Everything else is science

It was a reminder that there are thousands of smart, funny, passionate people out there, and maybe we're not all doomed.

And even if we are, this is definitely the team I want to be on when we go down fighting.

March for Science

I had to work today, so couldn't march, but when I went out to grab some pizza for lunch I walked over to Broadway to take a look. The info online had said the march would go from 62nd Street down Broadway to 52nd Street, but despite the rainy weather the crowd extended in both directions as far as I could see from 51st Street -- at least 20 blocks long and maybe more.

Crime: Je suis Pitbull

This woman's sign was French only, but I give her bonus points for the tear sliding softly down the face of that heart-tuggingly appealing little white dog.

Manifestation

That's French for demonstration -- not that I could remember that, when I was actually standing in the middle of one. I had been sitting on a shady bench in the garden of the Chateau Ramezay, an 18th century building that's now a museum, when I became aware that something more than the usual crowd sounds were coming over the garden wall from Place Jacques-Cartier on the other side. I walked out through the garden gate and found myself in a very crowded but reasonably calm protest.

At first I thought it was charming that so many of the protesters brought their dogs; it gave a mellow, Sunday afternoon picnic vibe to the proceedings. Then I got close enough to read some of the signs and realized that it was a protest about dogs, specifically pit bulls, and the dogs were there to serve as character witnesses for the breed.

Which they did, admirably. The dogs were all laid back and well behaved, and many of them dressed up for the occasion -- you so rarely see a dog who can pull off a purple taffeta skirt, as this one did so beautifully.

But my favorite touch was that all of the protest signs were bilingual. They really wanted to make sure everyone got the message.

V is for ...?

Here's a picture of the protesters handing out copies of the Bill of Rights. I'm just guessing, but I don't think they were affiliated with the various flavors of Tea, and were most likely responding to the recent revelations leaked by Mr. Snowden.

During my long wait at O'Hare, I overheard a woman talking about the recent leaks with her son-in-law. She went on and on about how the NSA could listen to all her phone conversations if they wanted to. "I'm not a criminal. If you have nothing to hide, it shouldn't bother you."

If you have nothing to hide. Is it possible for an argument to be any more simultaneously smug and stupid? I've never been charged with a crime, but I still think fair trials by a jury of one's peers and prohibitions against unreasonable searches and seizures are fine, fine ideas, and I am furious when I think those rights are being trampled upon.

And who doesn't have a long list of things they want to hide? Things that might cost you a marriage, or a job, or a just good night's sleep? And would you really be okay with the government knowing what you pray your spouse or your employer will never find out?