franjohns.bsky.social
@franjohns.bsky.social
This was the view from my hotel window not that long ago. Oh for a chance to return, and learn . . .
Viktor Orbán Points the Way
Show-&-Tell from the Hungarian Autocrat to the United States of America
open.substack.com
July 11, 2025 at 7:30 PM
I'm attending Activate America's event, “Organizer 101 Training” - sign up now to join me! #ActivateAmerica www.mobilize.us/activateamer...
Organizer 101 Training · Activate America
### Ready to Level Up Your Impact? Join Our Organizer 101 Training! ### You’ve marched. You’ve donated. You’ve made calls. Now it’s time to organize. Activate America’s Organizer 101 is a fast-paced...
www.mobilize.us
July 4, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Abby Reyes' new book, 'Truth Demands' is an exploration of grief alongside a gripping geopolitical story. More about in on my Substack, The Optimistic Eye, c'mon over.
April 30, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Will I Outlive My New iPhone?

CONTEMPLATING LONGTERM PAYMENT PLANS CAN BE GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH. BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE THESE LITTLE VICTORIES This (above) is a selfie with my new iPhone 16e. I was going for an Edvard Munch ‘The Scream’ effect, which is how I feel about the thing. I was actually…
Will I Outlive My New iPhone?
CONTEMPLATING LONGTERM PAYMENT PLANS CAN BE GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH. BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE THESE LITTLE VICTORIES This (above) is a selfie with my new iPhone 16e. I was going for an Edvard Munch ‘The Scream’ effect, which is how I feel about the thing. I was actually very happy with my elderly iPhone 11, but oh, the horror of having a device that’s several models out of date.
franjohns.net
April 25, 2025 at 9:25 PM
KAKISTOCRACY: Government By the Worst

THE OLD WORD IS A DESCRIPTIVE TERM WHOSE TIME HAS COME At a recent San Francisco People's March (Author photo) (This is an exception to my policy of avoiding politics on this website, posted here just because this good Webster's Dictionary word deserves our…
KAKISTOCRACY: Government By the Worst
THE OLD WORD IS A DESCRIPTIVE TERM WHOSE TIME HAS COME At a recent San Francisco People's March (Author photo) (This is an exception to my policy of avoiding politics on this website, posted here just because this good Webster's Dictionary word deserves our attention at the very least. Regularly my political observations are on Substack, weekly, @ The Optimistic Eye…
franjohns.net
April 18, 2025 at 7:46 PM
The Drama of Geezer Traveling

LITTLE OLD LADY, TRAVELING ALONE! OH THE HORROR!! ITA Airlines flight tracker (Author photo) Blood was beginning to drip across the marble tile. What can I say? After a trip to Sicily with a short stop in Rome, I had made it without incident from my hotel to Rome…
The Drama of Geezer Traveling
LITTLE OLD LADY, TRAVELING ALONE! OH THE HORROR!! ITA Airlines flight tracker (Author photo) Blood was beginning to drip across the marble tile. What can I say? After a trip to Sicily with a short stop in Rome, I had made it without incident from my hotel to Rome Airport FCO Fiumicino well ahead of 7 AM for a 9:10 AM flight home.
franjohns.net
April 9, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Aging into the Zero Percentile

THIS IS HOW IT FEELS TO BE THE OLDEST PERSON ALIVE?? Photo by Harli Marten on Unsplash It is right there on the website: 100% of the people in the world are younger than I am; 0% are older. The French Institute for Demographic Studies told me this. I found it more…
Aging into the Zero Percentile
THIS IS HOW IT FEELS TO BE THE OLDEST PERSON ALIVE?? Photo by Harli Marten on Unsplash It is right there on the website: 100% of the people in the world are younger than I am; 0% are older. The French Institute for Demographic Studies told me this. I found it more than a little disconcerting. But could I argue with INED, a public research institute specializing in population studies, working in partnership with national and international academic and research communities?
franjohns.net
April 2, 2025 at 6:43 PM
The Good Death: A Demonstration

SHE MODELED, FOR THE LIVING, HOW TO DIE WELL Photo by Rafael Hoyos Weht on Unsplash I’ve just finished an obituary of sorts for my friend Laurie, who died yesterday afternoon, slipping quietly into an ever-deeper sleep with those she loved best beside her. We should…
The Good Death: A Demonstration
SHE MODELED, FOR THE LIVING, HOW TO DIE WELL Photo by Rafael Hoyos Weht on Unsplash I’ve just finished an obituary of sorts for my friend Laurie, who died yesterday afternoon, slipping quietly into an ever-deeper sleep with those she loved best beside her. We should all, eventually, be so lucky. The way you know you’re dead, in today’s senior living communities, is that your picture goes up on the hall table.
franjohns.net
March 26, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Ten Steps to a Guaranteed Good Day

BEFORE WE FORGET WHAT GOOD DAYS USED TO FEEL LIKE . . . Photo by Catalin Pop on Unsplash This piece was written in early 2022, when good days uninterrupted by bad news were easier to come by. When it resurfaced recently, thanks to a Medium.com friend adding it to…
Ten Steps to a Guaranteed Good Day
BEFORE WE FORGET WHAT GOOD DAYS USED TO FEEL LIKE . . . Photo by Catalin Pop on Unsplash This piece was written in early 2022, when good days uninterrupted by bad news were easier to come by. When it resurfaced recently, thanks to a Medium.com friend adding it to a list of “Favorites,” I thought I’d reprint it (with slight additions & comments) here.
franjohns.net
March 19, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Music for Healing and a Helping Hand

"THIS IS WHAT WE DO. THIS IS WHO WE ARE" Conductor Outwater & Pianist Ohlsson taking a bow (Author photo) “When we are living in cruel times,” the maestro said, “music heals.” Symphony conductor Edwin Outwater was speaking to an audience of several thousand*…
Music for Healing and a Helping Hand
"THIS IS WHAT WE DO. THIS IS WHO WE ARE" Conductor Outwater & Pianist Ohlsson taking a bow (Author photo) “When we are living in cruel times,” the maestro said, “music heals.” Symphony conductor Edwin Outwater was speaking to an audience of several thousand* who, appalled by the cruelties being inflicted by our government on innocent people everywhere, had come for a few hours of healing, and the hopefulness that helping others can bring.
franjohns.net
March 11, 2025 at 1:34 AM
open.substack.com/pub/franjohn...
One fine time in the midst of cruel times.
Music for Healing -- and a Helping Hand
"This is what we do. This is who we are."
open.substack.com
March 10, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Naps, today, are mandatory

WHEREVER YOU ARE, YOU NEED DEFENSE AGAINST THE CARES OF THE WORLD (Author photo) Naps are good. Ask my friend outside the California Street Trader Joe’s, whose paintings I often buy though admittedly do not…

https://franjohns.net/2025/03/02/naps-today-are-mandatory/
March 2, 2025 at 10:32 PM
This is all I can say about the Trump/Vance embarrassment: franmorelandjohns.substack.com/p/friends-an...
Friends and Allies
Decency, democracy and truth are worth defending. Together we can.
franmorelandjohns.substack.com
March 2, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Bot-Bomber is Coming for You

AND GOOD LUCK WITH GETTING IT TO BUTT OUT Photo by Alex Knight on Unsplash “Sheesh. What do u recommend? Talk tomorrow!” I knew exactly what the text meant. It was late at night. A friend and I needed to…

https://franjohns.net/2025/02/18/bot-bomber-is-coming-for-you/
February 19, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Not enough his un-vetted minions grabbed our data while shredding democracy & ignoring human suffering everywhere 😪. Our president can bully allies & rename bodies of water at will? Hitler's voice (yes, I'm that old, heard it on the radio) in my head I lament the dictator who took over on Day 1.
February 10, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Can meanness defeat kindness? I'm not so sure. open.substack.com/pub/franmore...
Birthright Citizenship for Whom?
Shock and Awe meets the U.S. Constitution
open.substack.com
January 24, 2025 at 8:31 PM
open.substack.com/pub/franmore...

Some thoughts on January 20th posted by Bluesky’s least techie user . . .
There's No Time for Despair
Kindness has to stand up to cruelty. And to selfishness in all its glory.
open.substack.com
January 21, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Welcome to today's thought from The Optimistic Eye - my weekly Substack post (You're always welcome!)

open.substack.com/pub/franjohn...
Finding Help Amid the Flames
Ordinary people & extraordinary firefighters are keeping L.A. hope alive
open.substack.com
January 18, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Venturing onto Substack, despite being way too old to learn new digital tricks. Hope to come up with a few words worth sharing on Fridays to follow. You're invited! franmorelandjohns.substack.com/p/shining-a-...
Shining a little light . . .
A journey out of despair. C'mon along
franmorelandjohns.substack.com
December 13, 2024 at 9:27 PM
Spooky afternoon in San Francisco #WelcomeRaindrops
December 12, 2024 at 10:23 PM
Hi, BlueSky. Just deleted X, happily here. Mini-bio: Born in Brazil, raised in VA, permanently San Francisco. At 90+ still walk my city 2-3 miles a day. Lifelong newspaper/ magazine writer, activist for repro rights & end-of-life choice, believer in justice, democracy & the power of love.
November 21, 2024 at 4:39 AM