Saturday, January 12, 2019

Turmeric Elixir

Recipe by: Jennafer Ashley

Apple vinegar in raw form contains strains of “The Mother”. This strand-like substance contains acetic acid, terrific for fighting “bad” bacteria while adding in “good” bacteria. Turmeric is one of the richest herbs when it comes to fighting inflammation in the body or environmental stressors. Turmeric is commonly used to treat IBS and when combined with cayenne pepper, creates a powerful team of antiseptic and anti-inflammatory benefits to treat gut issues. Raw honey sweetens this shot, and adds minerals and enzymes to calm the digestive system.

Begin by heating filtered water in a saucepan until just steaming. Stir in the raw honey to dissolve and add turmeric, cayenne pepper and apple cider vinegar. Pour the mixture into a pitcher and chill. Drink first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Use the batch within 5 days to reap the benefits

Antioxidant-rich turmeric combines with the probiotic benefits of raw apple cider vinegar for a quick shot that washes away parasites and fights digestive ailments.

Ingredients
  • 4 cups filtered water
  • 1/4 cup raw apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup raw honey
  • 1 t ground turmeric
  • 1/8 t cayenne pepper
Instructions
  • Heat the water in a saucepan, over medium heat, until just steaming. Remove from heat and stir in the honey until dissolved.
  • Stir in the apple cider vinegar, turmeric and cayenne pepper. Pour into a pitcher and refrigerate for 2 hours to chill. Pour 2 ounces into a glass and drink

Is General Motors expanding to China?

Remember when we bailed out GM during the Obama years?

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Lvl5Gan69Wo

Since the bailout, 70% have been built outside the U.S.  11 joint ventures in China.

FactCheck.org denies this, yet when you read through it, it confirms it! https://www.factcheck.org/2012/06/is-gm-becoming-china-motors/  Apparently, the fact that the headquarters are in Michigan is enough for them.

GM is still a U.S.-based multinational auto company, incorporated in Delaware and headquartered in Detroit. In fact, according to the Congressional Budget Office, about 33 percent of the stock in GM is still owned by the U.S. Treasury as a result of a taxpayer-assisted bankruptcy and downsizing in 2009.

But the company sells cars in more than 120 countries and accounted for nearly 12 percent of all car and truck sales worldwide last year (11.9 percent, according to GM’s annual report). It’s also true that China is now the largest market for car sales on earth. Total car sales in China surpassed those in the U.S. in 2009. China retained the lead in 2011, and that lead is expected to grow in the future. (FactCheck)

"Today's announcement by General Motors that they are importing the Envision from China is a slap in the face to U.S. Taxpayers and the men and women who worked so hard to save GM during its darkest time," she said. "General Motors continues to use the slogan, 'Build it where you sell it.' The Company should adhere to their own words and should reconsider this decision and place this product into one of their facilities in the United States." (UAW)

Todd Bol and Little Free Library movement

Todd Bol died recently at 62.  He was the founder of the Little Free Library. They grew out of his pain and grief over the loss of his mother.  There’s not a lot in life that’s free, but at the Free Library, you could get a book for nothing.

Little libary, global concept: Marcellus Free Library ...

There are several Little Free Library boxes in Lakeside, Ohio, where we spend our summer, and I’ve counted at least 3 on my morning walks. They are great for picking up an old novel or even a text book about a  topic you know nothing about. And they are just as good for finding a good home for your summer reading.  But I haven’t seen any around Upper Arlington where we live.  Maybe because we’re so close to public library branches, church libraries, The Ohio State Libraries, Chemical Abstracts library, and Battelle Library.

They’ve only been in existence for a decade, and now there are 75,000 of them around the globe—all 50 states and 88 countries.  You could order one, or the blueprints for one, or build your own.  Some are quite fanciful. It must have been an idea whose time had come.

https://www.philanthropydaily.com/the-legacy-of-todd-bol-and-his-little-free-libraries/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/todd-bol-whose-little-free-library-brought-books-to-the-street-corner-dies-at-62/2018/10/21/7ae2cf64-d53b-11e8-aeb7-ddcad4a0a54e_story.html?utm_term=.a4199a528913

“In recent years, some social entrepreneurs have taken the Little Free Library idea and extended it to other things. In Fayetteville, Arkansas, Jessica McClard in 2016 started the first Little Free Pantry outside the Good Shepard Lutheran Church. She told ABC News that she makes sure to check the pantry every day because “it turns over in about 30 minutes” after the day’s supply of canned food is placed in the pantry.

In Lansing, Michigan, Adriana Flores, who recently got a master’s degree from the Michigan State University School of Social Work, created the E² Box to supply toiletries and feminine hygiene products (tampons, sanitary pads) not covered by government assistance. Why “E Squared?” Because, Flores says, that stands for “empathy and equity.” Right now there is only one E Squared Box, but Flores hopes to create more.”

Home grown dezinformatsiya/дезинформация

“Russian internet trolls worked overtime in 2016 to inject disinformation into American elections. A year later, as news reports now reveal, Democratic operatives, some funded by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, tried out these same tactics to boost Senator Doug Jones in Alabama. Russia’s online dezinformatsiya has gone native, and it will get worse.”  Wall Street Journal, Jan. 12, 2019

Disinformation, fake news, false narratives, conspiracy theories,  obfuscation, propaganda, yellow journalism, and flat out lies have always been a part of the American political process.  Disinformation is more a government embedded plan, but how are we to know our own government doesn’t do the same.  It was the Clinton campaign in 2008 which launched the “Obama birth certificate” story, which then made numerous evolutions through the right wing.  Her campaign also funded the fake dossier about Trump in Russia. None was done without the help of the deep state.

Not sure why WSJ is giving all the credit for our own home grown mischief and tactics to the Russians or even social media and the internet.  After all, we’ve got George Soros and all his many sticky fingers into U.S. non-profits and churches.

Review: Social Media, Weaponized 

“The Kremlin’s “dezinformatsiya” campaign—whether carried out against Ukraine, Estonia, Germany or the U.S.—involves “a bewildering array of narratives designed to distort truth and confuse its enemies,” Mr. Patrikarakos writes. And of course it isn’t just the Kremlin that operates in such a way. “Obfuscation has found its perfect platforms” in the realm of social media, he notes, reaching “audiences to a degree unprecedented in modern history.” The conditions are ripe: “In the postmodern Western world, where academics decry the notion of an ‘objective truth,’ where the lack of trust in institutions is lower than at any other time in living memory, this type of information finds a receptive audience.”” (War in 140 Characters)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/11/26/before-fake-news-there-was-soviet-disinformation/?

Disinformation: Former Spy Chief Reveals Secret Strategies for Undermining Freedom, Attacking Religion, and Promoting Terrorism by [Rychlak, Ronald J., Pacepa, Lt. Gen. Ion Mihai] 

(WND books, 2013)

Go to the Amazon site and “look inside” for an overview of this book.

Coach Tyler’s exercises for thighs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Jqu8ZsyWbA&feature=youtu.be

What a terrible thing to get in my e-mail first thing in the day!

Our legs have more estrogen receptors, he says. This stops fat from burning. Supposedly, after menopause, that decreases—didn’t happen for me!

What I like about his videos is he always explains what NOT to do with toes or back to prevent injury, very important at my age.  This one is only about 8 minutes.

I know YOU don’t need this, but if I don’t put it in my blog, I’ll never find it!

The President isn’t going to Davos, and the Democrats have gone home refusing to budge on our safety

President Donald Trump remains at the White House this weekend, saying he is ready, willing, and able to negotiate the end to the government’s partial shutdown, which  we on the right call the Schumer Shutdown, and the need for border security. Many members of Congress, however, have returned to their home states.

Meanwhile, about 800,000 non-essential government workers didn’t get their paycheck yesterday.  TSA is just part of a security plan—but Democrats think it’s OK for aliens, tourists, job seekers, drug lords and human traffickers to walk across our borders and no one to check their backpacks or suitcases. Also, no one is checking for illnesses like TB.

It’d be me.

Polygraph comes to our language from the Greek polygraphos, meaning “writing much.” Before it was used to refer to a lie-detector the word referred to a voluminous writer.

Merriam Webster Word of the day quiz.

Women of the Word Bible Study at UALC

Women of the Word (WOW) Bible Study

Today starts the Saturday group of WOW and I’m planning to attend.  However, I’m also interested in the new knitting group that will be meeting first and third Saturdays, so after attending today perhaps that will be clarified.  I attended the Saturday group for years, just because the group had some continuity, unlike the others that reassemble, mix and match, each new topic. About 5 years ago I got a little bored with the format (video, workbook, discussion, prayer), so I stopped attending.  It still has the same leader, Mary Jo, so I think it’s time to dip my toe in again; I miss the fellowship.

“Join us as we walk through the 10-week study God of Creation, by Jen Wilkin. Revisit familiar stories and historical figures, challenge your deeper meanings in the text enhanced by small group discussion and prayer. Sessions start the week of Jan. 8. Fee is $16 and includes workbook. Register below:

     Tuesdays, 6:45-8:45 pm, Lytham Road (begins 1/8)

     Thursdays, 9:15-11:15 am, Lytham Road (begins 1/10) nursery available

     Thursdays, 12:30-2:30 pm, Mill Run (begins 1/10)

     Saturdays, 9:15-11:15 am, Lytham Road (begins 1/12)

For women age 18 and older. Friends, neighbors and co-workers are invited. Scholarships are available. Contact Christie Masheter, wow@ualc.org.”

Friday, January 11, 2019

Translation chart

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MeToo strikes in the sciences, too

Francisco José Ayala Pereda seemed to have every award and honor available to people in his field, evolutionary biology,  but in 2018 he became a victim in the MeToo scandal, when four colleagues and a grad student accused him of sexual harassment. I was reading about it in a science publication I received in e-mail.  https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/the-year-in--metoo-65244  He donated $10 million to his university, UC Irvine, with naming rights on buildings and several chairs were named in his honor. The accusations must have been believable, because he’s gone, and the buildings have been renamed.

“I deeply regret that what I have always thought of as the good manners of a European gentleman—to greet women colleagues warmly, with a kiss to both cheeks, to compliment them on their beauty—made colleagues I respect uncomfortable,” Ayala says in a statement, according to the newspaper [LA Times]. “It was never my intent to do so.”

According to Wikipedia:  “He served on the advisory board of the now defunct Campaign to Defend the Constitution, an organization that has lobbied in support the separation of church and state. He has been publicly critical of U.S. restrictions on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. He is also a critic of creationism and intelligent design theories, claiming that they are not only pseudoscience, but also misunderstood from a theological point of view. He suggests that the theory of evolution resolves the problem of evil, thus being a kind of theodicy.  Although Ayala generally does not discuss his religious views, he has stated that "science is compatible with religious faith in a personal, omnipotent and benevolent God." He also briefly served, in 1960, as a Dominican priest. Ayala does not say whether he remains a religious believer, not wanting to be "tagged by one side or the other."

I’m guessing he votes Democrat.

Or at the thrift shop

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Josee Eric walked away from the Democrats—will vote for Trump in 2020

“I was born and raised in California, San Mateo to be exact. I grew up in a Latino household and surrounded by other Latinos. Like in most cases, most people surround themselves with their own race. If I did not fit in with Latinos, where would I fit in? So naturally, I'd try to act and involve myself with other Latinos. As a legal citizen, I thought it was my duty to help them out.

As I've stated, I grew up in California. Not only was I being influenced by Latinos, but by Democrats as well. They always told me that everyone was created equal, they were going to help Latinos, everyone deserves to be here, etc. I never had a chance to do anything I believed was right because if it they found it wrong, I'd be shamed by democrats or within my Latino community. I had to follow the flow.

Fast forward to 2016, when Donald Trump was running for president. I was taught by those surrounding me that Donald Trump was evil and was racist against Mexicans. The mainstream media, such as Univision, misinformed me and made it seem as Jorge Ramos was standing up for us. As a senior in high school, I believed every word. I did not vote simply because I was too lazy, but I would have voted for Hillary Clinton.

When Donald Trump was elected president, my dance teacher, made it seem like a bad thing. She told us, "I know you're all scared, but we will push through this." She's a nice teacher, so I don't want to look down on her or even offend her out of respect; hence, why I'll stop it at that. I started seeing Democrats on TV being violent almost immediately, I saw Democrats assaulting Trump supporters. It was all chaotic.

What made me go Republican? There was a student in my school who I thought of as very smart and supported Donald Trump. I didn't want to lose a friend so I respected his opinion. He told me his reasons for supporting Donald Trump (I won't give his name for personal reasons). . . and they seemed reasonable to me; however, due to being Latino, I knew I was going to get backslash if I were to admit it.

Then, my government teacher made us all do research on both, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump- including both parties. That's where I've realized that most of my views aligned with the Republican side and Donald Trump. Still, I turned the blind eye decided to stick to Hillary Clinton and the democratic side. Time went by and the same government teacher asked the class what we do if the gay community were to start wanting to get married through the Catholic church. I immediately remembered my mom telling me that God created the male and female for a reason. So I raised my hand and told the teacher, "As a Catholic, [I believe]  God created the man and women for a reason. Meaning, chances are God would not approve of that. I have no problem having them get married through the government and stuff, but if they start messing with our tradition, our faith, then I have a problem." (Keep in mind that I've always questioned my faith, but my Mom is Catholic so I'd consider myself Catholic for her sake.)  My friend told me to shut up because I might get my "ass beat" - he said it to look out for me, not to threaten me.

Now, I've been starting to get really pissed off at the left for all the things they've done. What really made me mad, the final straw, the reason for my walk away were: the migrant caravan, Democrats not wanting to fund the wall, acting childish and then calling the president a child, for not knowing how to respect the president.

I'll admit, I didn't support the wall back in 2016, but after my teacher made us do our research, I've come to realize the wall is necessary.
Worst part about the whole thing, Democrats see me as a monster and say I'm against women's rights, against Latinos, against everything the US stands for. The Latinos, they see me as a traitor, even tell me not tell anyone I'm Latino because I'm dead to them and that I'm an embarrassment to Mexico. The few Republicans have to hide the fact that they’re Republicans because they'll get bashed on as well. So much for freedom of speech. Now I have to know who I can open up to as a conservative Latino. I have to be silent. But it's ok, I'll silently vote for Trump 2020.

This is my walk away story.”

Thursday, January 10, 2019

The small print

Image may contain: text that says 'Just once I would like to read a medication label that says: "May cause permanent weight loss, remove wrinkles and increase energy."'

Wisdom according to Joan

“Sanctuary” cities (in clearer language) are hideouts for lawbreakers. These cities are providing “aid and comfort” to people who have broken our laws to enter this country. Aiding and abetting criminals is not a “humanitarian” goal; it is, in itself, another crime. If I provide a place for a burglar (another kind of lawbreaker) to evade capture, I am also arrested and charged with a crime. Why is this not applicable to those local elected representatives who openly help lawbreakers evade the law?”

Joan Shaw Turrentine is blogger and Facebook friend, former teacher and pastor’s wife.  And also,

"The truth about all the political crazy that's creating havoc in DC? It's not about immigration. It's not about Trump. It's not about taxes. It's not about the wall or even abortion. It IS about hanging on to power and keeping a seat on the gravy train that is public office."

I agree with Joan on this, and I add that no one in my lifetime has threatened that power base as much as President Trump. So by deflection he is hated, and those of us who voted for him are reviled and kicked out of our social circles and families.

Dr. Matthew Bunson

Dr. Matthew Bunson has written over 50 books, which includes this list found in Wikipedia.  I plan to look for others.  I heard him on the radio and was fascinated by his story, and that of his parents. He said both his father and brother died of Huntington’s disease (a hereditary brain disease), but never addressed that in the interview.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47usbiHDefg

  • Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire
  • The Encyclopedia of Catholic History
  • The Encyclopedia of Saints
  • All Shall Be Well
  • Papal Wisdom
  • The Pope Encyclopedia
  • Encyclopedia of American Catholic History
  • Angels A-Z, an Encyclopedia
  • Pope Benedict XVI and the Sexual Abuse Crisis (co-author)
  • We Have a Pope! Pope Benedict XVI
  • Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages
  • The Angelic Doctor
  • Apostle of the Exiled: St. Damien of Molokai
  • Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
  • Encyclopedia of Sherlock Holmes
  • The Agatha Christie Encyclopedia

Webinar on decisions of life and death from Catholic Distance University hosted by Dr. Bunson

https://youtu.be/ArVQDob8ZvU

The POLST referred to in the discussion: https://www.cathmed.org/assets/files/LNQ59%20FINAL.pdf

We met with our lawyer this week to update and revise our documents. A lot has changed since 2005 when they were created, including medical advancements. Be informed.

    Wednesday, January 09, 2019

    Sit to Stand Challenge

    This challenge (which I passed) appeared in the Silver Sneakers nenwsletter.  Can you pass?

     https://www.silversneakers.com/blog/find-your-place-the-sit-to-stand-test-for-seniors/

    How many times can you sit and stand from a chair in 30 seconds? In this video, SilverSneakers fitness expert David Jack explains how this quick—but important—test can give you clues about your lower-body strength and endurance.

    You’ll need a regular, sturdy chair with a seat that’s about 17 inches high. Try the test now, then see what your results mean below. If you’re not able to sit and stand on your own power safely, skip the test, but check out the tips below. . . .

    Lutheran potlucks

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    Why the wall matters

    $5 billion is pennies for a government that has squandered many billions on programs that have never worked but which will never die, like Head Start. A wall/fence will also not keep out all the bad guys, and yes, it is a political issue because of Trump hatred. Yes, there are terrorists--I mean, let's be real. Why wouldn't they come in under cover that way--they also come in through Canada and valid visas then melt into the population--but we've got our own, so even that isn't the best reason. And yes there is sex trafficking--but also many of the women who come report they have been sexually assaulted along the way on the journey. Why don't they matter to the #MeToo ladies. The men flooding in are the ones who assault them! Why are they encouraged to make this trip dangling benefits in front of them? And what are the motives of the non-profits and party hacks encouraging this dangerous trip? Is it more federal money and population representation for the sanctuary cities in blue states? We Americans have a right to a secure border--we have interfered in the political and civil issues of virtually every country in the world, yet we can't have a say in our own? Democrats/Progressives/socialists and Marxists who are fighting this are not compassionate, caring or looking out for immigrants. They don't want us to be a country. The so-called wall is just their poster child.

    “The Secure Fence Act of 2006 budgeted $50 billion over 25 years to control America's borders.  Unfortunately, Congress appropriated only $1.4 billion and forgot about the rest.  The foreign aid request above was for one single year.  Two years of the foreign aid budget spent instead on U.S. border security would create the type of physical borders so common in the countries we are generously supporting.

    Fund the world, but not America.”

    https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2019/01/democrats_can_fund_the_world_but_not_the_wall.html

    Tuesday, January 08, 2019

    On the murder of Jasmine Barnes

    Shaun King didn't offer assistance [$100,000] when other black children were murdered. Interracial crime is relatively rare, but it is more often black on white when it does happen. This is one more attempt to disrupt the relations between the races. "Blacks, who make up 13 percent of the U.S. population, committed 85.5 percent of those [631,830] victimizations, or 540,360 felonious assaults on whites, while whites, 61 percent of the population, committed 14.4 percent, or 91,470 felonious assaults on blacks." Bureau of Justice statistics.

    https://www.city-journal.org/jazmine-barnes-murder?

    Silly me.  I always think “hate crime” when someone chooses to murder another person. When children are murdered, according to the Bureau of Justice, it is usually by their parents or care givers or someone who knows them.  And guns are almost never involved.

    Another thrift shop find

    I love "thrifting." This is one of my better finds. We're invited to a Robert Burns (Scottish poet) supper Jan. 25, and although I wasn't looking for a kilt, I found one in the women's section of Volunteers of America store on Henderson Rd. It's probably for a man or boy (rather skinny), and I'm hoping after resetting the buttons several inches, it will fit me. It isn't a Bruce tartan, but close--has some blue. But the price was right: 100% wool, made in Canada, $3.00.  New, these can cost upwards to $1,000 if you have one made to order.

    kilt

    The Patron saint of librarians

    St. Jerome is the patron saint of librarians and archivists.

    "Although St. Jerome has been referred to as the second most voluminous writer (after St. Augustine) in ancient Latin Christianity, reasons for recognition of him as the patron saint of librarians and libraries as well as archivists, translators and encyclopedists emanated from traditional lore. A review of his life and work suggests several reasons for this title. St. Jerome’s personal library was considered to be the most important private collection of the period. He was a great bibliophile, interested in collecting both pagan and Christian books. His learning was considered unequaled during the time he lived since he was an insatiable reader and had a phenomenal memory for what he learned. Finally, his scholarship broke new ground with his translations of the Bible and Biblical commentaries."

    I found this at a blog for Luther College. It was written for the 40th anniversary of their library, but that was 2009, so that library will be 50 years old this year. I was there to attend a Homecoming event in 1956, so I must have been in the old library, because I'm sure I brought my homework along. My boyfriend had to drive from Decorah to Prairie du Chen (about 43 miles) in a borrowed car to pick me up at the train which I’d ridden from Oregon, IL. https://memorypatterns.blogspot.com/2005/11/visiting-luther-college-in-iowa.html

    St. Jerome: Patron Saint of Librarians | Library | Luther College

    When we were in the Holy Land we saw the cave where Jerome worked translating from Hebrew and Greek into Latin--for 30 years!

    The Trump haters

    Michael Rectenwald says that when he began to move away from his Marxist friends, roots and memberships in Marxist groups (did march in one Occupy Wall Street parade) in 2016 by criticizing the social justice people, his former comrades said,  “if they were in power they would take me out and shoot me in the head.” The daggers came out when he posted “His majesty” as a pronoun choice for a student he knew.

    I’ve experienced some very odd, irrational behavior, back stabbing, self righteous comments from people I know are Democrats, but so far it hasn’t come to this.  Susan commented at a Facebook discussion:

    “My next door neighbor asked me who I voted for for president. I told him, "Trump". He told me he'd like for EVERYONE who voted for Trump to be murdered and all Republicans DEAD. I started sleeping in the only room I had with a deadbolt and kept my baseball bat by the door. Couldn't take living that way anymore ( I'm almost 68 years old), sold the place and moved in with extended family in a different state . The "left" has gone bonkers but when it's a next door neighbor saying that, it's a bit too close for me.  And, after what that one newly sworn in representative said about our president I hope and pray constantly for his safety.”

    Monday, January 07, 2019

    Black Lives Matter explained by a former supporter, by Savvy, guest blogger

    Savvy has lived in South Africa where she was a minority, and has bi-racial children, one who appears Caucasian, and one who doesn’t. She was briefly enamored of the BLM movement.  In her journey to Conservatism, she lost family and friends. Sound familiar? Here’s a list of the beliefs she has come to reject.

    Belief 1: “IF YOU DON’T VOTE THE SAME WAY AS ME, YOU’RE A RACIST. IF YOU DISAGREE WITH ME ABOUT ANYTHING TO DO WITH RACISM, YOU’RE A RACIST.”

    I had deep concerns about the racism of both candidates in the last election. If your side looks glossy white to you, while the other side looks like a pile of bird shit, well, get honest with yourself. Are you

    1) using politics as a way to feel superior to other people and then

    2) bragging that you are voting for the love of all humankind?

    How can you say you’re better than Republicans and that you are loving towards all people? Those two attitudes are incompatible with each other. People don’t vote differently than you because they are bad people. It’s just an ad-hominem attack. Focus on ideas, debunk ideas if necessary, but character attacks benefit only you (and not for very long. They are bad for you, too.). Let’s say, for the sake of demonstration, I don’t think micro-aggressions are always valid concerns, 100% of the time. If you think they are, convince me using research, logic, examples of how they are. There is no way to prove I am not a racist to you if you are determined to think it. But if you are going to call me a racist, I challenge you to prove that I am a racist. If you’re going to attack my character, you should be ready to prove it with demonstrable evidence. If not, your argument is thrown out.

    Belief 2: “VIOLENCE IS NOT PREFERRED, BUT PEOPLE CAN’T HELP IT WHEN THEY’VE BEEN IGNORED FOR SO LONG.”

    This is the biggest problem I have with BLM. After every violent riot, BLM advocates share a quote by MLK about violence being the language of the unheard. The way they use this quote is dehumanizing. Minorities are just as capable of self control as all people. Having lower expectations for the black community does not raise them to the same level of equality and empowerment that white people experience. I have also been chronically misunderstood and unheard; I do not use my trauma as an excuse to burn random buildings, riot, or assault people I don't even know. Violence is not a tool to convince anyway; it just puts another person on mute. In contrast, respectful debate changes minds. And, no, setting random buildings on fire because you’re mad at another person is not self defense! It’s just being a part of a mob.

    Belief 3: “IF YOU ARE NOT SURROUNDED BY DIVERSITY, YOU’RE A RACIST.”

    A friend recently told me he was concerned his children would grow up with prejudice because our town is majority white. As the mother of biracial children, this concerned me (My 2 children are ¼ Asian, but one looks lily white and one looks even more Korean than my husband! As the BLM crowd says, one of them “passes for white,” and is “privileged.” Go ahead and throw the family history and heritage out the window to prove a point…). When I was a teenage American living in South Africa, I remember what it felt like when someone said they wanted to hang out with me because they wanted to see what Americans were like. All along, I thought she wanted to be my friend, and then I suddenly had that shock of feeling like an oddity. I never want my children to be used like that at playdates. Passing racism on to your children now looks like selecting your friends because they are black, or just not-white, in the name of diversity instead of liking who they are as a person. If you are a good parent, your kids have good chances of growing up to be decent people who can think through racism for themselves and settle into the belief that every person who has ever been born is equal in the eyes of God.

    Belief 4: “IF YOU ARE WHITE AND YOU SAY NOTHING AFTER A MAJOR EVENT INVOLVING RACE IN THE NEWS, YOU ARE EITHER RACIST OR ALLOWING RACISM.”

    After every shooting or riot, the constant pull is that you *have* to say something on social media denouncing racism. By now, if you are on my friends list and you don’t know if I’m racist or not, you don’t know me at all. Period. Allow people privacy, to be quiet, to grieve, to think, to process the way they do... Furthermore, it is especially difficult to stick your neck and say something when accusations of racism fly around at the slightest wrong step or unexamined attitude. The practice of denouncing racism nowadays appears to be more about signaling that you’re not a Republican.

    Belief 5: “IF YOU ARE WHITE AND YOU ADVOCATE, YOU ARE STILL VALUING YOUR VOICE OVER THE VOICES OF BLACK PEOPLE. LET BLACK PEOPLE SPEAK.”

    This belief is in direct opposition to belief number 5, but nobody cares that the Left is wildly inconsistent. White people are encouraged to take a day of silence or just in general not talk too much, because it’s black peoples’ turn to take the mic. Why can’t we all be vocal? The BLM answer is that whites have had the attention for centuries and their voices are more privileged than black voices, so it’s time to let black people take a turn. But any movement that allows a more free society will never silence your voice or anyone else’s. You were created unique by God, your voice is not the same as all white people, your thoughts matter as an individual, not a representative of your race. Free your voice. I owe credit to my friend for teaching me this bit--Any movement that does not empower your voice is not a movement for freedom. If we really want black people to be equal, we must all see them as being UP to the level of freedom, not move whites DOWN to the level of oppression.

    Belief 6: “ONLY CERTAIN TYPES OF OPPRESSION COUNT AS OPPRESSION. WHITE PEOPLE DON’T SUFFER AS MUCH AS BLACK PEOPLE.”

    Without getting too far into my own personal story, I’ve been diagnosed with PTSD. I’ve gone through EMDR therapy to help my body and soul move out of complex trauma. I do not want to use my story to get ahead in a political debate or prove my point in a way my opponent would look like an asshole for logically refuting me, but so many in the BLM movement (and maaaany other people today) do that with their own stories. They use their wounds as a way to verbally pound someone in a debate, or as excuses to take up actual weapons without the need for self defense. Many people, of every colour, have gone through tremendous suffering and trauma. To you that have, your story of suffering is too precious to use it politically or to one-up others. Guard it and keep it safe from that. If you are tempted to use it that way, focus on what aspect of your heart still needs healing.

    Belief 7:  “SINCE WHITES HAVE A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE TOWARDS BLACK PEOPLE, I AM COMPLICIT AS A MEMBER OF THE WHITE RACE.”

    Differentiation from my family history was a hard-won battle for me in therapy. I sat on that couch and I sorted out who had done what and what I was and was not guilty of. I am not guilty of the sins of my relatives. Why would I then be guilty of the sins of a few more generations up? Why would I even be responsible for apologizing for something my relative did? I am done carrying the shame of other people’s evil. I am not undoing that difficult healing work any time soon. I am also ¼ Native American. Am I also guilty for the sins of any of my Cherokee and Cree ancestors? Or just my white ones? How does that work?

    Belief 8: “NO WHITE MALES NEED APPLY.”

    So often, we hear that to “progress” we need to “move into the future.” Has the past taught us nothing? Do we think people made signs like, “No Irish need apply,” or “Whites only,” because they woke up one morning and decided to be a monster? Or maybe they felt there was a good, logical reason for discriminating? Maybe modern day Leftism is just as deceptive. What I do know is that when I look at little white boys and think that people will assume someday that they have an unredeemable character, I know that is discrimination.

     I know that is wrong. So I’ve walked away.

    (Posted at the WalkAway website, where former Democrats, progressives, Marxists, socialists, and the totally confused or apathetic, share their stories. )

    Border security didn’t begin with President Trump

    Please read "Border Security: Immigration and Enforcement between Ports of Entry," Congressional Research Service, Jan. 6, 2012. Before the dry statistical report (yes, terrorists captured at both the northern and southern border) there is an interesting history about how the immigration laws were created and enforced. You'll see there is nothing in the Trump plan and enforcement that was not listed in this history of illegal immigration (and yes, the correct word is illegal alien) of several administrations. In fact, Obama speeded things up a little. Except. Now there's Trump hatred and progressive insanity, and that changes how the enforcement of law is viewed. This is needed as a club to impeach him.

    Note about the term Illegal Alien: it is critical that the left destabilize their enemies (the American citizens) by trying to change the meaning of words. They decide "illegal alien" which is the term our government uses for people who don't follow our laws of work permits, immigration, and tourism, is RACIST, and if you use that term, you are a racist, and if your ethnicity is European, then you are a white supremacist whose words must be caught in Big Tech analytics so you can be silenced.

    But to continue. . .

    "The first large-scale deployment of the National Guard to the border occurred in 2006-2008, when over 30,000 troops provided engineering, aviation, identification, technical, logistical, and administrative support to CBP as part of “Operation Jump Start.”77 President Obama announced an additional deployment of up to 1,200 National Guard troops to the Southwest border on May 25, 2010, with the National Guard supporting the Border Patrol, by providing intelligence work and drug and human trafficking interdiction.78 The 2010 deployment was originally scheduled to end in June 2011, but the full deployment was extended twice (in June and September 2011) before the Administration announced in December 2011 that the deployment would be reduced to fewer than 300 troops beginning in January 2012."

    "The second key element of DHS’s border enforcement strategy is tactical infrastructure, including roads, lighting, pedestrian fencing, and vehicle barriers. Tactical infrastructure is intended to impede illicit cross-border activity, disrupt and restrict smuggling operations, and establish a substantial probability of apprehending terrorists seeking entry into the United States.80 The former INS installed the first fencing along the U.S.-Mexican border beginning in 1990, eventually covering the 14 miles of the border east of the Pacific Ocean near San Diego.

    Congress expressly authorized the construction and improvement of fencing and other barriers under Section 102(a) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA; P.L. 104-208, Div. C), which also required (pursuant to Section 102(b)) the completion of a triple-layered fence along the original 14 miles near San Diego. The Secure Fence Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-367) amended IIRIRA Section 102(b) with a requirement for double layered fencing along five segments of the Southwest border, totaling about 850 miles.81 IIRIRA was amended again by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, FY2008 (P.L. 110-161). Under that amendment, the law now requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to construct reinforced fencing “along not less than 700 miles of the southwest border where fencing would be most practical and effective and provide for the installation of additional physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors to gain operational control of the southwest border."

    https://fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/R42138.pdf

    Who killed the Golden State?

    Ten million Californians have fled in the last generation. When my family lived there in 1944-45, the Oakies and Arkies were flooding the place--it was the land of opportunity and new beginnings. Now their grandchildren are leaving.

    If you believe charging higher taxes is the answer to poverty, educational system failure, violence, bankrupt pension funds, then California should be a lesson for you. Who killed the golden goose and golden state?

    The hallmark of all liberal thought--self righteousness.

    ". . .one of the landmarks of the new California mentality is denial and self-righteousness that assume it is illiberal to notice that a quarter of the nation’s homeless population sleeps on California streets, or that violent crime is 20 percent higher in California than the national median, or that San Francisco ranks No. 1 in per capita property crime rates of all the nation’s largest cities."

    Coastal California is a lot like feudal Europe--only richer.

    "So there is a separate state of Coastal California, a manor of prosperity. And it is probably the richest urban area in the world, or rather in the history of civilization — drawing on its geostrategic location, long coastline, weather, climate, blue-chip universities, and high-tech industries. Residents have the disposable income and leisure to live the life of aristocrats — and do so if gauged by their lifestyle choices, travel, hired servants, and appurtenances."

    Victor Davis Hanson assesses the sad state. https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/01/california-coastal-elites-poor-immigrants-fleeing-middle-class/

    University departments’ possible name changes

    Michael Rectenwald a professor at NYU suggests in a comment on Facebook some academic department titles to replace those old, tired, worn out ones that have served to make our nation great. I was going to use the word "new," but looking back at things I was writing in the 1990s, they aren't new, just retreads. I was asked to leave a women's studies brown bag luncheon at OSU Main Library in the 90s because I am white.

    "Non-English Literature, UnAmerican Studies, Gender-Changing Studies, Women's-and-the-Men-Who-Think-They're-Women Studies, African American (Affirmative Action) Studies, Political Pseudo-Science, History (and the dead white men who belong there), Foreign Languages (English), Fat (Shaming-Skinny-People) Studies, Religious (Atheism) Studies, etc."

    Then each of those non-white, non-American studies departments can add their own "Diversity and Inclusion" sub-unit and further bloat the administrative staff of universities.  This is usually a two-fer and good for hiring women and minorities to raise the percentage for the department.a

    Sunday, January 06, 2019

    Waving their little flags . . .

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    Drifting along. . .

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    Why Trump and the Deplorables are hated.  They’ve unsettled the deep state and its business as usual.  Now Democrats are hoping to take us back to the good old days of the 19th century and the 1930s.

    Hate crime—not if it’s a black shooter?

    “A 20-year-old man in Texas was arrested Saturday and charged in the death of 7-year-old Jazmine Barnes, who was shot and killed while riding in a car with her family in Houston. Another man is being held in connection with the shooting but has not yet been charged, a lawyer for the girl's family said.

    Eric Black Jr., 20, was charged with capital murder and appeared in court early Sunday morning, wearing handcuffs and an orange jumpsuit. He was ordered held without bail. A prosecutor said Black admitted to driving the car when his passenger opened fire.” CBSNews. 

    No comment by CBS on the media frenzy when one of the children had said it was a white man, but Eric Black Jr., is black.

    Jazmine’s life was brutally snuffed out.  I have always been puzzled why when it is “labeled” a hate crime that somehow makes it more “hateful,” especially when a white killed by a black or a woman killed by a man, doesn’t get that sort of national media attention. It was even being linked to 2 other killings.

    Now it is “just a tragic case of mistaken identity.”  That’s the first thing I thought of when I heard of this happening, because that’s what it is in the TV crime shows.

    “Although witness descriptions of a white man in his forties at the scene prompted hate crime speculation and led civil rights activist Shaun King to offer a substantial reward for the killer or killers, at least one of the suspects currently in custody is African-American.

    Prior to the arrests, Merritt said, “We do believe that it [the murder] was racially motivated in part because our nation at this moment is highly racially charged.”

    Community activist Deric Muhammad linked Jazmine’s murder with another murder of two African-Americans in Houston on Aug. 30, 2017.

    “It’s apparent black people are under attack in this particular part of the city,” Muhammad said.

    The girl’s death sparked an outpouring of concern from around the nation. Retired professional basketball star Shaquille O’Neal and veteran Houston Police Officer Kenneth Miles recently said they would pay for the girl’s funeral. “

    https://www.foxnews.com/us/at-least-one-suspect-in-custody-in-jazmine-barnes-shooting-death-reports-say

    Different standards for Democrat women

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    Christmas decor, one last time

    Image may contain: people sitting, table, living room, plant and indoor   This is NOT my dining room—it’s my neighbor Jan’s.  Each year she does something a little different.  I’m so happy she has shared her ideas with us—she even decorates the chairs. She is a fabulous decorator—even does store windows and others’ homes.

    I’ll finish the season today with Sunday brunch for our church group.  There are 9 of us which is a bit of a squeeze in our small dining room, so I’m using 2 sets of Christmas plates and a blue checked table cloth with blue and white plates I’ve had over 20 years. Our menu: turkey tetrazzini, fresh fruit cups, hot rolls, and perhaps mimosas made with Italian sparkling wine Prosecco (which we received as a gift) if I can figure it out.  Then for dessert, some candies and cookies received as Christmas gifts I’d like to have finished early in the year so I don’t get the munchies while blogging.

    Today is Epiphany, we celebrate the gospel being given to the gentiles.

    And my Christmas dress. If you are an elderly snowflake, close your eyes.

    Christmas 2018

    Saturday, January 05, 2019

    It’s not socialism, Jim

    My Facebook friend (whom I actually know face to face) Jim, an electrician from Cleveland, keeps trying to convince people that socialism is OK because Sweden is a socialist country and look how great they are (they are also among the highest performing and wealthiest in the U.S. ethnic groups).

    “We did have a period in the 1970s and 1980s when we had something that resembled socialism: a big government that taxed and spent heavily. And that’s the period in Swedish history when our economy was going south.”

    Per capita gross domestic product fell. Sweden’s growth fell behind other countries. Inflation increased.
    Even socialistic Swedes complained about the high taxes."

    https://www.dailysignal.com/2019/01/04/sweden-isnt-socialist/?

    Will Atlas Shrug in 2020? Michael Smith guest blogger

    Michael Smith, who admits he voted for Mitt Romney rather than the Democrat for Senate:
    “There is nobody in this country who got rich on their own. Nobody. You built a factory out there - good for you. But I want to be clear. You moved your goods to market on roads the rest of us paid for. You hired workers the rest of us paid to educate. You were safe in your factory because of police forces and fire forces that the rest of us paid for. You didn't have to worry that marauding bands would come and seize everything at your factory... " Senator Elizabeth Warren, 2020 Democrat Presidential Candidate (2011)
    "If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you've got a business – you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen. The Internet didn't get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet." President Barack Obama, Democrat (2012)
    "The President states a simple truth here. Business owners across America do not build their own roads and bridges, sewers and water systems; they do not single-handedly maintain the health of their employees; they do not finance their own court system; and they did not build their own Internet to market and sell their products. The public provides these things, together. The government manages our shared financial resources to make these things happen. That’s the government’s job." George P. Lakoff, cognitive linguist and progressive philosopher (2012)
    The common fallacy in these quotes is that business owners across America did build that - they pay taxes specifically to support the creation and maintenance of roads and bridges, sewers and water systems, they pay for insurance to provide health care for their employees and they do pay for court systems from those very same taxes. The fact that other individual citizens in American are compelled to contribute through coercive taxation is immaterial. These arguments are like the crowing of the Obama administration about the number of "successful signups" for Obamacare and the subsequent fawning coverage by the media - shocker of all shockers - people who were commanded to sign up under penalty of law signed up! Excelsior! The program is so popular it had to be made mandatory.

    Want to see evidence of what happens to coercive participation when it is no longer coercive?
    Just have a look at that right to work laws and the removal of confiscatory union dues has done to union membership.

    It is also notable that government seldom does such work itself, it hires businesses from the private sector to do it. For example, the Hoover Dam, cast as a great accomplishment of progressive government, was actually built by capitalist private contractors - the very independent businesses that progressives love to hate.

    The idea that the individual owes his success to the collective and therefore should pay the collective with his productivity is nothing new. Here's he very same idea that preceded the above statements by over 50 years:
    "The man in Bedroom A, Car No. 1, was a professor of sociology who taught that individual ability is of no consequence, that individual effort is futile, that an individual conscience is a useless luxury, that there is no individual mind or character or achievement, that everything is achieved collectively, and that it's masses that count, not men."  ~ Ayn Rand, "Atlas Shrugged" (1957)
    We now have a House controlled once again by Randian looters - but this time, there are a batch of newbies who eschew the custom of hiding their true motives and desires. The Democrats are going to have a train car load of radical leftists running for president. The next two years is going to be as interesting on the Democrat side as 2015 and 2016 were on the GOP side.

    One wonders if 2020 will be the year Atlas actually shrugs.

    Defending life

    There will be those who believe it's right to reverse a drug overdose (a choice), or that a woman should be able to take male hormones under the delusion she is a gay male while pregnant, but question whether reversing a chemical abortion violates a woman's choice. A doctor actually had to defend this life saving method.

    https://www.lifenews.com/2018/07/20/woman-takes-abortion-pill-to-kill-her-twin-babies-pro-life-doctor-saves-them-before-it-can-take-their-lives/?

    Trump Derangement Syndrome among Democrats

    I received this e-mail from a “friend” of 65 years.  She was writing my cousin and not content with just gossiping, she sent me a copy! I don’t understand what bitterness is behind trying to turn family members against each other. It’s evidence of the corrosive affect Trump Derangement Syndrome has had on an otherwise intelligent, nice person—and it’s definitely out there, destroying friendships, the work place and family relationships.   But it’s all coming from the Democrats--and they've fallen to new lows, as this hate filled e-mail demonstrates. I follow the WalkAway Facebook page which I occasionally re-post here, and it is shocking to read, especially from the gay community and minorities, the kind of hate being directed at them by Democrats because they support Trump.

    This was my transgression (besides voting for Trump—my last choice out of an excellent group of candidates who has accomplished far more than I could have hoped for). I sent her a photo of a dress bought with the gift card from my daughter, and of my “new” $3 dress I bought at the Discovery Shop (cancer resale shop)—I guess I won’t send her the one of my blue and purple Coldwater Creek blouse I bought at Volunteers of America for $6. Don’t want to flaunt my wealth.
      “Cousin Norma has been sending her old classmates and most of her relatives photos of her in dresses! She send new phtos of herself all the time..She does not have enough to do and  too damn much money. She works on herself 24/7 whne she isn't blogging her right wing crap..I feel so sorry for her. I know we change as we get older-I for sure, am not the same girl I was at 18-thak God..But to chance to such self-centered me-me me-that type of change...some say she was always like that maybe she was but it now is unacceptable for friendship... It is all for show...I feel sorry for Joanne and Karen and Julie.. and Norma's Trump shut down the government in a brat fit...and take off on Romney when he gets it! Keep in touch...we need to support each other until this guy is gone...think of it-if he lasts two more year what can he still do! Scares the crap out of us!
    She's scared of what Trump can do in 2 more years?  Like a better economy than I can remember (I made more in TIAA-CREF first quarter than I ever did working), lower unemployment for blacks and minorities in the history of keeping statistics, protecting our borders (although I think Obama was called the Deporter in Chief), speaking up for the unborn, uncovering the muck and evil in the deep state swamp, de-nuking North Korea, outstanding court appointments,  establishing fair trade agreements, lowering our taxes, exposing the hypocrisy and nastiness of the Democrat Party which has now become the Socialist Party, and standing up to the Mueller coup and crowd.

     Economic expansions don't die of old age, Ben Bernanke said, they get murdered, and this won't last.  And she will be dancing in the streets if there is another recession because it will hurt Trump. That's how much Democrats hate.
    “ 

    Jennifer, a veterinarian, warns us

    “After the first week of the Dems controlling the house, if people can't see they are AGAINST Americans and totally for a globalist NWO agenda, you must be blind. That or they just want to be sure Trump doesn't do anymore good because they want control back. They don't care about YOU, they care about controlling the country!

    They call border walls immoral yet they have walls around their own homes and security.

    They don't want to spend $5B for border security despite Border Patrol telling America it works and we need it but then they propose increasing taxpayer money sent to other countries by $12B!

    They want to raise our taxes despite the policy changes that have more Americans working, higher wages, and more jobs created all the time because of lower taxes and trade deals.

    Americans are working again. More people off welfare and more blacks and Hispanics working than ever before. Wages are up. And the Libs want to remove all the policies that made this happen?

    Who is the enemy of the American people? Who is wanting us to send our money to OTHER countries? Who is just fine with allowing people to break our laws on the border and sanctuary cities and treat them better than our own citizens?

    WAKE UP AMERICA! Stop falling for the con and use some common sense. America is working again, and the Dems are against it either because they hate America, they don't want Trump to succeed helping America, or both.

    How Christians contributed to sexual confusion

    New York now has an x plan for birth certifications.  Baby can be male, female or nothing.

    Birth control and abortion are basic tenets of feminism which is rooted in Marxism and anti-western values. Women must give their lives to the state, not to family. American Christian churches began accepting birth control around 1930 after the Anglicans decided it was OK. The result was surging divorce rates, living together without marriage, and same sex marriage, because once marriage no longer includes procreation, it too has lost its value. In a very short time we now have a culture that doesn't even recognize biological sex, let alone God's plan for marriage.

    Are you contributing to early deaths of women?

    Planned Parenthood does about 320,000 abortions a year, more than any other group in America, and its new CEO says she wants to expand abortions across the U.S. If they were really an ethical organization (unfortunately they get our tax money which is then laundered to support Democrats) with the best intentions for women, they would be working to reduce abortions, not increase them. The death rate from all causes, including homicide and suicide, is higher for women who have abortions, and increases with each abortion.

    https://academic.oup.com/eurpub/article/23/4/569/427991

    “Risk of death was more than six times greater among women who had never been pregnant compared with those who only had birth(s). Increased risks of death were 45%, 114% and 191% for 1, 2 and 3 abortions, respectively, compared with no abortions after controlling for other reproductive outcomes and last pregnancy age. Increased risks of death were equal to 44%, 86% and 150% for 1, 2 and 3 natural losses, respectively, compared with none after including statistical controls. Finally, decreased mortality risks were observed for women who had experienced two and three or more births compared with no births. “

    Giving life to another has a protective affect on women.

    Friday, January 04, 2019

    Reading to children

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    Sounds wonderful, but as a mother who read to her children every day, and who took them to the library, and bought them books, I don't believe this. It's good cuddle time, it's enjoyable for parent and child, but not every child enjoys book reading.

    “The commission spent two years poring through thousands of research projects conducted in the previous quarter century, and in 1985 issued its report, Becoming a Nation of Readers. Among its primary findings, two simple declarations rang loud and clear:

    “The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.”1 “It is a practice that should continue throughout the grades.”2 The commission found conclusive evidence to support reading aloud not only in the home but also in the classroom.

    In their wording—“ the single most important activity”—the experts were saying reading aloud was more important than work sheets, homework, book reports, and flash cards. One of the cheapest, simplest, and oldest tools of teaching was being promoted as a better tool than anything else in the home or classroom— and it’s so simple you don’t even need a high school diploma in order to do it.”

    The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease
    (Penguin, 2013, 7th edition)
    .

    Everyone’s a victim, if she feels it (except white males)

    https://www.prageru.com/videos/facts-dont-care-about-your-feelings

    Has someone used the wrong pronoun?  Opened a door for you?

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    Mitt’s 2012 campaign, assessment from a friend

    Those of us who supported Mitt Romney in 2012 are terribly disappointed in his bizarre behavior before he’s even sworn in as a Senator.  We didn’t need one more RINO Never Trumper in DC.

    “Mitt’s campaign was lackluster and lacked sending a message that enticed people.  We went to one of his rallies here and it was pretty much boring—verbatim of all talks he did over and over.  And I was disappointed that there was no explanation why conservatism is priceless.  Now I know.  He’s mostly Democrat.  Flakey.  The two of them need to have head adjustments.  Mitt busy being virtuous.  Sometimes the country needs bombastic.  Sorry Mitt.  You don’t get it.  Waiting to see what he intends to accomplish by his mere appearance in the Washington fray.  You got it.  I’m irritated.  I hope he learns something of value in his journey. “

    Thursday, January 03, 2019

    At the fitness center

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    I haven’t noticed any increase in traffic—must be fewer resolutions to exercise and lose weight this year.

    About a month ago I mentioned a man I was watching who was having a huge struggle using his walker, but who wouldn’t accept help from anyone. It would take him about 5 minutes to get from the door to the rowing machine.  I would watch him each time I’d decide I really didn’t want to walk a mile on the Treadmill, then I’d keep going when I saw how hard he was working to build up his legs

    Then one day I saw him taking a few steps without the walker, and then he stopped using the walker all together.  Another member told me his injury was from a failed surgery to fix something else.  Then this week he was hit and knocked down by a car in the parking lot walking into the building!  He came in and exercised anyway, but we both think the police should have been called.  The woman who hit him used the excuse she wasn’t wearing her hearing aids!

    I met a woman at the fitness center around Thanksgiving who is really pleasant and attractive and in excellent shape.  She’s usually finishing about the time I arrive (which is rather early) and works somewhere nearby. She has 11 dogs, 5 cats, a pot bellied pig, and 4 horses and lives around the Johnstown area.  She says the pig is about 9-10 years old and is rather elderly for a pig.  She showed me his photo on her smart phone.  I haven’t seen photos of her grandchildren, but I know she has at least two.

    Week-end plans?

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    January resolutions

    Image may contain: text that says 'I'm glad | learned about parallelograms instead of how to do taxes. It's really come in handy this parallelogram season' 

    1)  While watching the evening news, I resolve to do one page of 6th grade math a day.  So far, I’ve done 2 pages and have an A+ average. I need to review what is a numerator and denominator—must have covered that in an earlier grade.*

    2)  And on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Lifetime Fitness I’ll do 2 sets of 15 instead of 2 sets of 10. So far, since yesterday was Wednesday I up to date on this one.

    3)  A third resolution was to clean out one drawer a day, but when I started, the first 2 things I removed was my mother’s address book which required great study and a blog, and the second was a letter from my brother in September 2016, and after I came out of my faint, I was too weak to continue.  I may have to change that one a month.

    4) The fourth resolution for January has already been scratched—play my trombone daily.  What was I thinking?

    *image

    Guest blogger Laura on why she left the Democrat party to vote for Trump

    “I was raised in a Catholic family that always voted Democrat. I clearly remember my parents saying the Democrats are for the poor the Republicans are for the rich. I struggled with issues growing up, having a father that abused me physically ,and mentally which sent me in a world win of depression, and other addictions.  Fast forward to when I started voting--of course, I voted Democrat--my Father was an Electrician, and Mom worked full time in retail. I noticed my father leaning towards Republicans at this time, and again I was young, and didn't pay much attention to politics, unlike this day and age. I voted for Clinton twice, and Obama twice; the second time I was weary, but did it anyway. I started to see him divide this country, so that's when I really started to do some homework.

    When Hillary ran, there was no way I was voting for her or Bernie as I do not believe in Socialism, and that's exactly what the Democrats became, and fully acknowledged it. The old Democrats were gone. The party my parents voted for were gone, taken over by horrible people with many skeletons in their closets that went for both sides in my opinion. [I was being] called names because I didn't trust or agree with Hillary when just 10 years before her stances were completely opposite. She basically lied about so much; no way in good conscience could I vote for her.

    Here comes Trump down that elevator. I thought originally he was a joke, but the more I actually listened, I did my own research. I found him to be genuine for his love of our Country. So there it was, I was voting for Trump, had my Trump signs out in my yard! Some of my friends didn't understand and  said that he is racist because they listen to CNN or just follow like sheep. The hardest person was my best friend of 25 years, a gay male. We have been through thick, and thin together and unfortunately to this day his hate for our President is overwhelming, so we just don't talk about politics, and I block him from seeing my Trump posts. It's much easier then him going off on my Facebook about the President.

    I have also researched things about our Border, let me tell you it is much worse then anyone thinks besides little kids being dragged across. There are Cartels bringing them over, and doing horrible things to the women. That's not including the drugs, sex trafficking is a huge issue that no one wants to talk about. We need more Border Security, we need a wall. This is not a joke, it is a mess out there, and some of the Border a 5 year old can jump over.

    My husband is in the National Guard, and was also in the Air Force at 19. He is still in the National Guard at 49 he also opened my eyes to things I had no idea about, like the funding being cut to crap in Obama years, and so much more. I also have a daughter from a previous relationship who is gay, I love her dearly, and originally she hated President Trump with a passion. She's in college, and being gay so of course automatically being "labeled " a liberal. I try, and get her to listen to Brandon [leader of Walkaway], and she actually agreed with him on some things so there is hope for her as long as the college doesn't try to brain wash her, being a gay women you’re automatically suppose to be a liberal apparently. These are the people we need to reach out to, the young who are not educated, and just follow their friends, along with the gay community. I understand their feelings because that's all they hear unless they take the time to really research like I did.

    I changed from a Democrat to Republican on paper for President Donald Trump, and will vote for him again. He is an outsider, kind of what I was all of my life. I love his take no crap attitude that some people find repulsive. I cannot ever see myself voting Democrat again, not with the left liberal agenda and not anyone who agrees with socialism. I am unfortunately in a State that will never vote for our President, but I will, and continue too support him.

    I see these groups of people trying to keep this Country divided. We cannot let that happen--there is so much more to all of us. I will say this, 2020 will not be easy, they didn't see a Trump win coming last time, now they do. They are doing everything they can to divide us, take down conservative pages or just people who aren't conservatives per se, but free thinkers . . . [and a few personal thoughts for people on the Walkaway Facebook page]

    That fish wrapper, Washington Post

    If it were paper, it would be good to wrap the garbage. I glanced at the headlines in my e-mail Washington Post today, and noted 15 of the 20 articles were simply rants against Trump, or supporting those who have dissed him like Nancy Pelosi and Mitt Romney. The others, if I deep dived, would probably have swipes at the President, like the article on China's economy, or dysfunction in Congress which probably blame him. I did see an article about Spectrum (our cable carrier), so I'm not sure if that was about Trump, but I'm sure it can be twisted to fit the narrative.

    The anti-Trump articles bring in vast amounts of money to the MSM, and they are first of all, capitalists trying to survive in an increasing competitive news field. And sometimes capitalism can be very dirty—like yelling hate speech at their competitors or trying to stop their stream of income through online payments.

    Wednesday, January 02, 2019

    A book review in Forreston, 1949

    book club (2) 

    At least I think it was 1949. . . that’s the year the book was published. This book was made into a movie in 1952 starring Cary Grant and Betsy Drake.

    I don’t think I read any of those books she recommended, but I do remember Jimmy Lewis who had a wonderful voice and white blond hair, and Davis Folkerts, a precocious piano player. Davis must have been about 10 years old when he performed for the ladies. He retired as professor of music from Central College in Pella, IA, in 2017 and was still playing the organ at 79. He learned to play the instrument in the sixth grade according to the local paper which covered his retirement 2 years ago.

    I found this clipping inside her address book which seems to be from about 1990-2000. It’s full of names I remember, many who died that decade, according to her notes.  I’m not sure how I inherited either the address book or the clipping inside it.  I’m sure she didn’t put it in there.

    But it’s fun to think of her at 37, giving a book review—I don’t remember her enjoying public speaking--getting out of the house and chatting with ladies of the community may have been an adventure. As I recall, the local library was a volunteer effort, open only a few hours a week, and run by my first grade teacher, Miss Flora.

    Exercise ideas (not goals, not resolutions) for the New Year (just January)

    I’m not a goal setter (I’ve written on this numerous times), but I am a problem solver. So a year ago I used my Silver Sneakers on my insurance plan to join an exercise facility. (I had originally joined one next to Panera’s in 2015 but bursitis ended that.)  Didn’t like the first one I tried on Bethel Rd.  (it has since closed) and have now been at Lifetime Fitness on Henderson about a year.  I ride a stationary bike for three miles, walk on the treadmill for one mile, and three times a week I do resistance exercises using the machines, mainly working my arms.

    “Vigorous stationary bicycling is the best weight-loss exercise among gym activities, according to the “Harvard Heart Letter.” It burns 782 calories per hour in 155-pound people and 932 calories per hour in 185-pound people. Moderate stationary bicycling burns 520 and 622 calories per hour in the same people. Vigorous exercise raises your heart rate to 70 to 90 percent of your maximum heart rate; moderate exercise raises your heart rate to 55 to 70 percent of its maximum. The maximum heart rate is 220 heartbeats per minute minus age. In contrast, walking 4.5 mph, the fastest speed most people can walk without changing their technique and becoming power walkers, burns 372 and 444 calories per hour in 155- and 185-pound people.”

    https://healthyliving.azcentral.com/stationary-bicycle-vs-walking-exercise-9889.html

    I do 3.5 mph three times during the one miler on the treadmill and get to 104 heartrate then drop back to 2.5 mph. When on the stationary bike I also increase the heart rate 3 times in the 3 miles to 104.  On either, it’s about 25 minutes. So I’d have to recalculate the above figures, but it looks like an hour on the bike burns more calories than an hour walking, even at a moderate pace.  Also the bike doesn’t bother my hips or knees.

    My plan for January is to increase the resistance machines to 2 sets of 15.  I’m currently doing 2 sets of 10.  When the instructor showed me last January, she started me on 2 sets of 20—which I knew immediately wasn’t going to work for me.  If you pull or injure something you have 2 sets of nothing as you sit at home eating another slice of toast with cheddar cheese.

    Why Fox is better for News

    Fox News is far more reliable than CNN or MSNBC for this reason—it separates the news programs from the opinion shows, and you are never confused about which you’re watching. I may only watch 10 minutes of the morning chit chat, or 10 minutes of the 6 o’clock news, but I’m never puzzled about whether it’s news or opinion. The other networks not only ridicule and demean Trump, they also belittle his supporters, which doesn’t seem like a good plan to draw in viewers. But they don’t really need to add people who have different viewpoints because Trump has made so much money for them because the haters tune in to get their latest fix of Trump derangement.

    I use a wide variety of sources from print, to digital to YouTube commentary to TV news shows. EWTN nightly news.  Jordan Peterson’s channel. Lionel Nation on YouTube.  I can’t help but see the broadcast media, and Fox always shows what’s going on in the Clinton News Network, etc. Occasionally I even watch or listen to PBS, but it’s a challenge because they don’t even realize the narrowness of their writers and reporters and therefore can’t offer anything right of center. Those other avenues of alternate opinions are being challenged however; the leftist cabal is pressuring them not to carry conservative voices, nor to accept payment methods which would dry up alternate viewpoints very quickly.

    One of the nasty characteristics about a capitalist system (and the news networks depend on investors and advertising) is you need to destroy or block your competition. That use to be by offering a better product, but today it’s done with smears against personalities or owners. Find a few “non-profits” to call them racist or homophobic, and you’re on your way to a clear course to the big money.

    Reading at the fitness center

    I usually take something along to the fitness center to read while I'm on the cycle. A guy stopped and asked me what I was reading. "An article on Marxism," I said. His eyes widened. Then I explained that Michael Rectenwald is a former communist, NYU professor, who has seen the destructiveness and damage in that system. So I was reading his recent article in New English Review which explains why it's no use trying to convince the communist with arguments, evidence or pathos that the equitable price of a workers' paradise cannot be millions of lives. He thinks that like him, they'll just have to "hear the screams" themselves.

    https://www.newenglishreview.org/custpage.cfm?frm=189524&sec_id=189524

    https://www.newenglishreview.org/custpage.cfm?frm=189367&sec_id=189367

    Mitt Romney’s jealous temper tantrum

    It's a shame about Romney (Flake 2.0). He lost to the most narcissistic, race baiting president ever, who made us a weak laughing stock around the world.  Mitt was Mr. Nice Guy. He's now attacking the only Republican who could win against the entrenched leftist culture.  Romney is finally showing some spirit and fight which he didn't have in 2012, but it's 6 years too late

    Remember when Trump was selecting his future cabinet in Trump Tower and Romney was called in.  Not sure what the interview was for, but apparently he didn’t make the cut.  Holds grudges like a woman.

    Homeless in Columbus

    There was an odd juxtaposition of articles in Monday's Columbus Dispatch (December 31, 2018).

    1) Immigrant who is a janitress bought and fixed up a run down home in Linden area and is helping to revitalize the area (photo--really cute home, she's on the porch), "Affordable housing key to revitalized Linden." Like other home owners she is happy to see home values increasing as a result of her determination and hard work.

    2) Terrible homeless problem in Columbus, higher than during the recession and higher than the other parts of Ohio, and there is a need for the new law (January 2, 2019) to prevent evictions or there will be more homelessness. And the writer looks to Homeport to continue providing more affordable housing (government money). "Resolved for 2019: It's time to decrease local homelessness." https://www.dispatch.com/opinion/20181231/editorial-resolved-for-2019-its-time-to-decrease-local-homelessness

    I wrote about this "problem" over a decade ago at my blog, pointing out that Columbus Housing Partnership over 20 years (now 30) had millions and millions in government grants to "solve the housing problem" in Columbus. It created Homeport in 2004. Based on the just the money, there should be no low income person in Columbus without housing. Except. https://collectingmythoughts.blogspot.com/2008/11/cityliving-network-and-homeport-of.html

    Homelessness is just not about affordable housing. It's alcoholism, drug use, poor living skills, chronic illnesses, bad family relationships, mental illness, and the nanny state.

    Tuesday, January 01, 2019

    Dave Barry asks

    “Is there anything good we can say about 2018? Only this: It got us out of 2017. But even that didn’t work out as we hoped.

    As you recall, we, as a nation, spent all of 2017 obsessing over 2016: the election, the Russians, the emails, the Mueller probe, the Russians, the Russians, the Russians. … That was all we heard about, day after soul-crushing day, for the entire year.

    So when 2018 finally dawned, we were desperately hoping for change. It was a new year, a chance for the nation to break out of the endless, pointless barrage of charges and countercharges, to move past the vicious, hate-filled hyperpartisan spew of name-calling and petty point-scoring, to end the 24/7 cycle of media hysteria, to look forward and begin to tackle the many critical issues facing the nation, the most important of which turned out to be …

    … the 2016 election.”

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/magazine/wp/2018/12/30/feature/dave-barrys-year-in-review-2018/?

    In November. . .

    For their part, the Democrats appeal to voters with a three-pronged message:

    Prong One: The Democrats are the party of fairness, diversity and inclusion.

    Prong Two: Anybody who disagrees with the Democrats about anything is Hitler.

    Prong Three: But more racist. [and a few Democrats I know certainly fit this category because believing in borders is obviously racist]

    Meet The Nativity

    A Christmas comedy in 4 parts.  One of the best I’ve seen.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvmh99alpJk&feature=share

    Jesus still changes things.

    Best lines: When boyfriend is asked if he has a gift (for baby Jesus) he says, "I have nothing," and when the step-mother is asked if she wants to hold the baby, she says, "But my hands are dirty."

    On snazzy start up watch companies

    My ongoing discussion with customer service, Kimberly.

    “I have the feeling you kids have never talked to your grandparents.  Wouldn’t we all be saving a lot of time if the company just included instructions that are on the website with the nice packaging?  Just a thought.  I paid $300. That’s $200 more than I ever paid for a watch.

    The least I should get is instructions.  I bought a $10 toaster at WalMart and have instructions in 3 languages.  Happy New Year.”

    Norma

    Advice on plurals, Ohio Farmer 8(3):23, January 15, 1859

    Remember, though box

    in the plural makes boxes

    The plural of ox

    Should be oxen, not oxes.

    And remember, though fleece

    In the plural is fleeces,

    The the plural of goose

    Aren’t gooses nor geeces.

    And remember, though house

    In the plural is houses

    The plural of mouse

    Should be mice, not mouses.

    All of which goes to prove

    That grammar a farce is

    For where is the plural

    of rum and molasses?

    There are many versions of this poem on the internet, and most start with ox and oxen, and some include papoose, man, vine, etc. But this just shows people were having fun with it 160 years ago. I copied it on the back of scrap card when I was writing an article about women writers for this journal for Serials Librarian. It's possible there are more cards, and they are in the dark recesses of my desk.  I had opened a drawer wondering if I needed to make a New Year’s Resolution about cleaning my desk!

    There are also many explanations in Quora on how all these plurals happened, and they don’t seem to agree with each other.

    https://www.quora.com/Why-is-the-word-oxen-used-for-the-plural-of-ox-and-not-oxes

    No automatic alt text available.

    Welcome to Flight #2019

    Pro Flight Simulator 2019 - [Brand New] Edition! - Red Hot ...

    Seen on the Internet--a flight plan for 2019.

    Hello, welcome to Flight #2019. We are prepared to take off into the New Year! Please make sure your Attitude and Blessings are secured and locked in an upright position. All self-destructive devices should be turned off at this time. All negativity, hurt and discouragement should be put away. Should we lose Altitude under pressure, during the flight, reach up and pull down a Prayer. Prayers will automatically be activated by Faith. Once your Faith is activated you can assist other passengers. There will be NO BAGGAGE allowed on this flight. The Captain (GOD) has cleared us for takeoff. Destination GREATNESS.

    Some come to the New Year with great sadness and loss

    A note on Facebook from our friend Sue in California.  We’ve known her in person about 15 years, but knew of her years before that because she’s such a close friend of Bob’s sister, Debbie.  Sue spent a week with us in Lakeside in 2017, and by the end of the week I think she knew half the people in town—she’s just has that kind of super personality.  She and her first husband had 3 sons, and they lost one, Michael, late in 2018. She had to leave her home in California and go to Oregon to live and care for him after he was released (briefly) from the hospital.  We were one of the many friends privileged to have a thank you note from Michael in his handwriting before he lost the use of his hands.

    “Before 2018 ends, I want to make sure I thank all of my family and friends for all your love and support. It has been the most difficult year of my life and for Kevin and Chris as well. Without all of your support it would have been even worse.

    We appreciate all the food baskets, flowers, plants, gift cards, money towards plane tickets, letters and cards that we have received and are still receiving over the last 8 months. Michael loved them too. If you sent them during the brief time he was out of the hospital in October, you received a handwritten thank you card from him. Those were the last notes he ever wrote. Sometime in early November he lost the ability to use his hands to write.

    My beloved coworkers even donated some of their vacation time so I would receive full pay for the month of December.

    Tonight is brutally hard for me to go into 2019 without his midnight phone call. He always called me to say “Happy New Year Mom” and to let me know he was safe. I know he will be saying it, I just won’t be able to hear his voice.

    God bless you all in 2019 and know that in your time of need, I will be there for you as well.❤️❤️❤️”