Better Angels Nationwide

And the wellsprings of creativity

Happy July 4th, whatever it means to you and however you celebrate!

I remember the Bicentennial, I was ten going on eleven years old, and there was a great deal of hoopla about a “Bicentennial.” I had to ask what it was. Two hundred years, lad, I was informed, since the Declaration of Independence! Declaration, I understood. Independence too, these words I knew. And Bi means two, Centennial refers to 100 years, and ah, I got it!

There was a lot of pride and celebration that summer, and also a lot of rancor and trepidation. 1976, middle of the Cold War, and the recent Watergate scandal still resembled scandal, compared to other things. Innocent times, comparatively.

Last night we watched Raise Hell: The Life & Times Of Molly Ivins, and my, was that inspiring. Used to read her syndicated columns, always loved her writing, but I knew little about her life. Now I know more, and, well, learning more about Molly Ivins at this moment, that’s kind of perfect, really.

Ivins, through the course of her life, used and found her own voice, when she was a lone voice in the wilderness, and when she was the most famous political newspaper columnist in ever. Unafraid and funny, with a true moral compass which she followed everywhere, she was one of a kind, and a great citizen.

So, here we are, July the 4th, 2026, and I won’t make any effort to try and summarize that! I will, however, remember and appreciate Molly Ivins’ suggestion to all who strive for justice and fairness and decency, to have some fun while doing it. Berkeley Cat Records fully subscribes to this policy.

Oh! And In Another Life went live in a bevy of streaming services, just this morning.

All best,

Eric Din
Berkeley Cat Records