Simon, Simon, Simon -- Good morning, Congratulations on Birthday #3, and thank you. Thank you for everything you've done...for us, our community, our city, our nation, and the world. It's been an honor and a pleasure getting to know you so well.
A bit off topic, and yet related, I feel....I just watched President Obama's eulogy for Reverend Jackson and posted it on Twitter (and will on BlueSky too) with this note.
"Friends, if there's one thing you do today, please watch. To remember Rev. Jackson, to remember when we had a POTUS who actually was this beautiful Obama, and to hope we live long enough to see another."
He and Bill both made me tear up. I haven't watched Joe yet. We had some stellar presidents in our lifetime. My first vote was for Jimmy Carter in 76, so he, Bill, Obama, and Joe have my heart. While I was watching, I was thinking how much I'd like to be in that room with all of them!
Simon, the amount of work you do – all of it stellar – is simply astounding! By any reasonable arithmetic, it adds up to far more than the 168 hours per week that each of us are theoretically allotted. I am so grateful for what you are doing, and for the opportunity to be a member of this community, trying to contribute in my own modest way.
What you have built and continue to build is astounding.
Beautifully said, Arctic. It may start to become a bit cliche these day but community is what it's all about and thank God we have this beautiful Hopium community...the family... and Simon.
I’ve been hoping for Hopium merch for a long time. On this, Hopium’s 3rd anniversary, I’ve decided to explore producing Hopium T-shirts, with everything over costs going to Hopium, unless Simon says not to. I would not be offended.
I am thinking of a shirt with Hopium: Hope With a Plan and the website or one with Hopium: Proud, Plucky Patriots and the website.
Thank you, Simon, for starting, building and maintaining this amazing community. It’s an oasis of sanity in these crazy times. I tell my friends you are my guru, I share your posts when others are despondent, I come here daily for support.
Yes, I appreciate Hopium for all of those reasons, too. I find myself quoting Simon all the time!
And I think Hopium is why I seem to be the optimist among my IRL friends. That isn’t my natural tendency, but clearly optimism and getting involved with this work are skills that can grow, or habits, or something.
Thank you Simon, and happy birthday to Hopium! Thanks to everyone else here, too, for the knowledge that we are in this together.
Simon it has been my honor to be along for this ride! (Perhaps we’re a posse of proud plucky patriots!) Your vision and commitment, and this community, has given me purpose and direction in this moment. I’m eternally grateful.
Thanks for starting this project Simon. This is extremely effective, in my view. I've only been here since sometime in Summer 2024 when I discovered substack and this site.
I couldn't find any "Stand for Science" demonstrations in my area. I'm finishing up my postcards today.
Fellow Hopium-ites, indulge me. I’d like to send out a big hug to everyone in our plucky community with a double hug for Simon. This is the most inspired, hard working political enterprise online, and I thank everyone for sharing ideas and stories here. Happy 3rd Birthday to a really special hope-filled prophecy come to life.
Simon, thank you for your encouraging words every day. It's easy to give up hope against the relentless onslaught of the illegal and immoral acts perpetrated against us citizens by this regime. At age 71 I couldn't possibly imagine worrying every day about my rights and the services our government provides to the taxpayers. I couldn't make the Stand Up for Science demonstration in my area but have donated to them. Still calling and emailing my rep and senators.
Congratulations on turning three! As a North Carolina Democrat and volunteer, I'm deeply grateful for what you and this community have done for the North Carolina Democratic Party and Anderson Clayton.
Thanks partly to you, we have an effective, smart, tough, and often joyous Democratic Party here. Of course, it's not all wine and roses, but as someone who works with a large volunteer group dedicated to growing county Democratic parties and flipping the NC General Assembly BLUE, we know the difference it has made. It shows up everywhere!
As a little side note, several of us (unrelated to Team Up NC) recently organized an event in the Triangle for Jamie Ager, a fourth generation sustainable meat farmer in Western North Carolina (NC-11) running for US Congress. He won the Democratic primary last week with nearly 65 percent of the vote. His name is really getting out there (though he's already well known and well liked in Western NC.) But 250 people attended our event. Farmers and chefs and cheesemakers and bakers donated amazing produce and finished dishes. We have great hope that NC 11 is flippable -- MAGA Rep. Chuck Edwards hasn't helped Western NC recover from Hurricane Helene. It's races like this -- the right Democrat for that district running -- that give me hope we'll have a Democratic House in 2027! This is a gift link from the NYT that references this race. https://tinyurl.com/hdb9ed66
What a wonderful story! Thanks for sharing.(My sister-in-law from Durham is visiting us this weekend. She’s very active in her precinct.). And of course, everyone loves Anderson Clayton!
Simon - I feel that you are my direct pipeline to the political establishment, and really appreciate you reading our comments so assiduously, I love the self-reports and responses/likes (political dopamine!). I also appreciated how last year we in the commentariat were able to nudge you to be more enthusiastic about Hands Off, NoKings, and other mass demonstrations. You listen! And your call for “More Flags” took off. We listen!
👏
Simon, Simon, Simon -- Good morning, Congratulations on Birthday #3, and thank you. Thank you for everything you've done...for us, our community, our city, our nation, and the world. It's been an honor and a pleasure getting to know you so well.
A bit off topic, and yet related, I feel....I just watched President Obama's eulogy for Reverend Jackson and posted it on Twitter (and will on BlueSky too) with this note.
"Friends, if there's one thing you do today, please watch. To remember Rev. Jackson, to remember when we had a POTUS who actually was this beautiful Obama, and to hope we live long enough to see another."
https://youtu.be/vvrxJ1dTnXE?si=2BLtg8gHGNFpl685
I remember!
He and Bill both made me tear up. I haven't watched Joe yet. We had some stellar presidents in our lifetime. My first vote was for Jimmy Carter in 76, so he, Bill, Obama, and Joe have my heart. While I was watching, I was thinking how much I'd like to be in that room with all of them!
Simon, the amount of work you do – all of it stellar – is simply astounding! By any reasonable arithmetic, it adds up to far more than the 168 hours per week that each of us are theoretically allotted. I am so grateful for what you are doing, and for the opportunity to be a member of this community, trying to contribute in my own modest way.
What you have built and continue to build is astounding.
Congrats and Happy Birthday!
Beautifully said, Arctic. It may start to become a bit cliche these day but community is what it's all about and thank God we have this beautiful Hopium community...the family... and Simon.
I’ve been hoping for Hopium merch for a long time. On this, Hopium’s 3rd anniversary, I’ve decided to explore producing Hopium T-shirts, with everything over costs going to Hopium, unless Simon says not to. I would not be offended.
I am thinking of a shirt with Hopium: Hope With a Plan and the website or one with Hopium: Proud, Plucky Patriots and the website.
So, which one? Both? Better ideas?
Simon, what say you?
I love my ‘lemon nation’ long sleeve black tee ($40). Just sayin’
You might have a look at Teepublic for making, selling, and shipping those
Thank you, Simon, for starting, building and maintaining this amazing community. It’s an oasis of sanity in these crazy times. I tell my friends you are my guru, I share your posts when others are despondent, I come here daily for support.
"oasis of sanity" Terrific!
Yes, I appreciate Hopium for all of those reasons, too. I find myself quoting Simon all the time!
And I think Hopium is why I seem to be the optimist among my IRL friends. That isn’t my natural tendency, but clearly optimism and getting involved with this work are skills that can grow, or habits, or something.
Thank you Simon, and happy birthday to Hopium! Thanks to everyone else here, too, for the knowledge that we are in this together.
Jenny - I find myself talking my friends down from the ceiling all the time. Simon's optimism and positivity and focus have deeply affected me too!
Have called my reps every day this past week. Off to Democratic Caucus and assembly this morning.
Thank you, Jytte! Thank you for your inspiration.
Simon it has been my honor to be along for this ride! (Perhaps we’re a posse of proud plucky patriots!) Your vision and commitment, and this community, has given me purpose and direction in this moment. I’m eternally grateful.
A persistent posse if you will
Precisely!
I was fighting some gloom last night, so it’s good to wake up to this message. Happy Birthday Hopium!
Thanks for starting this project Simon. This is extremely effective, in my view. I've only been here since sometime in Summer 2024 when I discovered substack and this site.
I couldn't find any "Stand for Science" demonstrations in my area. I'm finishing up my postcards today.
Hopium has been my choice for the past few years. You are now my North Star. Thank you Simon!
Fellow Hopium-ites, indulge me. I’d like to send out a big hug to everyone in our plucky community with a double hug for Simon. This is the most inspired, hard working political enterprise online, and I thank everyone for sharing ideas and stories here. Happy 3rd Birthday to a really special hope-filled prophecy come to life.
Simon, thank you for your encouraging words every day. It's easy to give up hope against the relentless onslaught of the illegal and immoral acts perpetrated against us citizens by this regime. At age 71 I couldn't possibly imagine worrying every day about my rights and the services our government provides to the taxpayers. I couldn't make the Stand Up for Science demonstration in my area but have donated to them. Still calling and emailing my rep and senators.
Congratulations on turning three! As a North Carolina Democrat and volunteer, I'm deeply grateful for what you and this community have done for the North Carolina Democratic Party and Anderson Clayton.
Thanks partly to you, we have an effective, smart, tough, and often joyous Democratic Party here. Of course, it's not all wine and roses, but as someone who works with a large volunteer group dedicated to growing county Democratic parties and flipping the NC General Assembly BLUE, we know the difference it has made. It shows up everywhere!
As a little side note, several of us (unrelated to Team Up NC) recently organized an event in the Triangle for Jamie Ager, a fourth generation sustainable meat farmer in Western North Carolina (NC-11) running for US Congress. He won the Democratic primary last week with nearly 65 percent of the vote. His name is really getting out there (though he's already well known and well liked in Western NC.) But 250 people attended our event. Farmers and chefs and cheesemakers and bakers donated amazing produce and finished dishes. We have great hope that NC 11 is flippable -- MAGA Rep. Chuck Edwards hasn't helped Western NC recover from Hurricane Helene. It's races like this -- the right Democrat for that district running -- that give me hope we'll have a Democratic House in 2027! This is a gift link from the NYT that references this race. https://tinyurl.com/hdb9ed66
What a wonderful story! Thanks for sharing.(My sister-in-law from Durham is visiting us this weekend. She’s very active in her precinct.). And of course, everyone loves Anderson Clayton!
we live in Trinity Park in Durham -- and love Durham!
GO, ANDERSON! I love her smiling face!
Simon - I feel that you are my direct pipeline to the political establishment, and really appreciate you reading our comments so assiduously, I love the self-reports and responses/likes (political dopamine!). I also appreciated how last year we in the commentariat were able to nudge you to be more enthusiastic about Hands Off, NoKings, and other mass demonstrations. You listen! And your call for “More Flags” took off. We listen!
Congratulations and THANK YOU, Simon, for your work to keep us informed and providing hope in these most challenging times!
Simon - congrats on turning three and THANK YOU. You’re and inspiration to us all.