Serendipity strikes again

When I had settled on retiring in October, 2000, I thought I might need a hobby, so I began keeping a small notebook in my purse to write in at the Caribou Coffee Shop on Lane Avenue in Upper Arlington where I stopped before going to work at the Veterinary Medicine Library at Ohio State University.  Because of the new millennium, the 2000 motif was everywhere, so my little notebook made in China, was “Year 2000 Tribute Millenium Series.”  As I would go through the paper—usually the Columbus Dispatch or Wall St. Journal, I’d jot down things that interested me—group meetings, movies, book reviews, special events, musical groups, recipes, web sites, conversations overheard—just about anything.  I had never heard of blogs at that time (not sure they existed), but that notebook was the start of my blog.

I had forgotten where I put the notebook, but a few minutes ago I was looking for something in my desk and there it was.  On September 22, 2000, I had jotted down “Almost Famous,” a movie with 4 stars. “Fictional account of Cameron Crowe’s teen years with Rolling Stones," I wrote.  Lennox 24, 4:50. Patrick Fugit (17) plays the 15 year old William Miller.”  Then I added later—“very good, saw 9/22/00.”  I had apparently flipped the notebook over and was writing on the verso of pages I’d filled earlier in the year.

Anyway, to make a short story long, I thought, “I wonder what happened to Patrick Fugit.  I recalled he was a very good actor in that movie.  In fact, the whole movie was good.

Internet search:  Found him.  His latest movie—wait for it—is “Robert the Bruce” which was just released last month in Scotland.

Cast: Jared Harris, Zach McGowan, Emma Kenney, Melora Walters, Talitha Eliana Bateman, Anna Hutchison, Patrick Fugit, Kevin McNally, Gabriel Bateman, Angus Macfadyen, Mhairi Calvey, Diarmaid Murtagh, Shane Coffey, Anthony J. Sharpe, Gianni Capaldi.

 

Patrick in 2000

Patrick in 2019

Happy Birthday, Carol

Happy 82nd birthday to my sister Carol who died in 1996 at 58. We still miss you. Photo is 1989 with her daughter and son. Last year we got to meet her great granddaughter who visited us at Lakeside with her grandparents. What a treat. Carol was the only one of my family with any fashion flair, and loved beautiful clothes, bright colors, stylish purses, shoes and jewelry. As an enterprising teen, she sold Avon products, and was one of the "number please" voices back when our home phone was 59-L. Although her primary career was in nursing with a degree from Goshen College, she did own a dress shop in Bradenton, FL, for large size women.
 
Never a snowflake, after high school graduation in 1955 Carol went into Brethren Volunteer Service and did incredible tasks for one so young, like doing church plant surveys in Denver, helping with clean up after flooding in Pennsylvania, teaching Sunday School and leading worship in Kentucky where she road horseback to services because there were no passable roads, and being a "healthy volunteer patient" aka guinea pig at NIH in Maryland. I wonder if she is one of the results cited in this article.  https://clinicalcenter.nih.gov/about/news/newsletter/2007/oct07/newsletter.html  
She was a survivor of childhood bulbar polio in 1949 and struggled with many health issues, but cared for many as a home health nurse in her last years.

Nunes: There is collusion between Russia and the Democratic Party

Here’s a summary of how we got to yesterday’s circus.

https://youtu.be/LFDnuMAT66U

The DNC, the Clinton campaign, the foreign spy and the Trump haters within the Obama administration and deep state.

Blogger writes about Lakeside and the popsicle vendor

This is a nice blog about Lakeside, and although I noticed the popsicle guy at the Farmer's Market, I didn't stop. Great story.
https://brucestambaugh.com/2019/07/22/theres-always-a-pleasant-surprise-at-lakeside-ohio/

"Derek was 30-years-old. His two nieces, ages seven and 12, live with him. A judge gave him custody of the girls when their mother sadly fell victim to the pandemic opioid crisis. The court decided Derek, their uncle, was the best suitable relative to care for the young girls.

The pair helps Derek make the icy treats, and even suggest the unusual flavors and ingredients. In addition to farmers markets, Derek is hired for special events and wedding receptions.

Derek got the mobile icy pop idea from seeing similar operations in large cities that he visited. He thought, “Why not here?”

Besides his business, Derek works two other jobs to make ends meet."

Soviet anti-American propaganda

is now just standard left wing drivel we hear every day.

“The Soviets had an entire “active measures” department devoted to churning out anti-American dezinformatsiya...

Here are some of the most important of the Soviet Union’s memetic weapons...

✔ There is no truth, only competing agendas.

✔ All Western (and especially American) claims to moral superiority over Communism/Fascism/Islam are vitiated by the West’s history of racism and colonialism.

✔ There are no objective standards by which we may judge one culture to be better than another. Anyone who claims that there are such standards is an evil oppressor.

✔ The prosperity of the West is built on ruthless exploitation of the Third World; therefore Westerners actually deserve to be impoverished and miserable.

✔ Crime is the fault of society, not the individual criminal. Poor criminals are entitled to what they take. Submitting to criminal predation is more virtuous than resisting it.

✔ The poor are victims. Criminals are victims. Only victims are virtuous. Therefore only the poor and criminals are virtuous. (Rich people can borrow some virtue by identifying with poor people and criminals.)

✔ For a virtuous person, violence and war are never justified. It is always better to be a victim than to fight, or even to defend oneself. Oppressed people are allowed to use violence; they are merely reflecting the evil of their oppressors.

✔ When confronted with terror, the only moral course for a Westerner is to apologize for past sins, understand the terrorist’s point of view, and make concessions.

We have become all too familiar with these principles as the years go on and we see them demonstrated by the left time and again.

Most were staples of Soviet propaganda at the same time they were being promoted by “progressives” (read: Marxists and the dupes of Marxists) within the Western intelligentsia...

This worked exactly as expected; their memes seeped into Western popular culture and are repeated endlessly in (for example) the products of Hollywood.

Indeed, the index of Soviet success is that most of us no longer think of these memes as Communist propaganda. It takes a significant amount of digging and rethinking and remembering, even for a lifelong anti-Communist like myself, to realize that there was a time (within the lifetime of my parents) when all of these ideas would have seemed alien, absurd, and repulsive to most people - at best, the beliefs of a nutty left-wing fringe, and at worst instruments of deliberate subversion intended to destroy the American way of life.

The most paranoid and xenophobic conservatives of the Cold War were, painful though this is to admit, the closest to the truth in estimating the magnitude and subtlety of Soviet subversion.”

Moses Lambert

Lillian Boxfish takes a walk

Just finished "Lillian Boxfish takes a walk," by Kathleen Rooney (2017). It's a novel inspired by the life and work of Margaret Fishback who wrote ads for Macy's in mid-20th c. and was a published poet in her own right. I have no idea how old Rooney is (40-ish?), but she awfully good at speaking in the voice of an 85 year old. She's written a lot of books--I might be willing to try another one. Her method of telling Lillian's life story through a walk in Manhattan on New Year's Eve 1984 was fascinating. So if you need some more summer (or book club) reading, I recommend this title.

Guy's Club detour

Bob and Dan (our nephew) rode in a car instead of a boat last Wednesday for Guy's Club.  Had a great perch sandwich.  Joan and I went to the Bluebird and had lunch near the water.

Moon landing

The real "love it or leave it" is in the religion of woke

Amy Wax a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania was invited to speak on racial equality at Bucknell University, a small private school founded by Baptists in the 19th century. The campus religion there is now the Church of Woke, and they are scary fundamentalists. These rituals which are also performed at other colleges followed that announcement, according to Prof. Alexander Riley, in "Woke Totemism," First Things, Aug/Sept. 2019.

• The faculty email list exploded with vituperative attacks on her.
• Her works were characterized in scatological terms.
• The abusive language was justified as the prerogative of marginalized minority groups.
• White supremacy has excluded minorities from discourse in the past was the reason.
• Wax's published writings are the equivalent of a swastika or a burning cross.
• Students who invited her are fascists who could be violent and assault students of color.
• Departments sponsoring her lecture were denounced and one rescinded its contribution due to pressure
• Trauma counseling was suggested for students and faculty harmed by her lecture
• Faculty were encouraged to attend a conference on the state of being white as a grave threat to American democracy.

https://www.firstthings.com/article/2019/08/woke-totemism

And he goes on to explain the emotional, physical and superstitions of Woke Totemism based on Emile Durkeim's description of primitive religions and compares classic totemism with today's rituals of multiculturalism.

The virtuous victim (the members of the cult) may outwardly appear similar to Christ on the Cross, but they lack saving power or the will to do good. And this church will only get more shrill and angry.

Of garage door and paint brushes, bursitis and AC

We’re in Columbus with a long to-do list.  I dug around in my files and got out my physical therapy charts for bursitis exercises from 2014. Managing all the stairs in the house is tricky—but I did find my folding  cane.

The van needs an oil change and a good cleaning of the seal around the rims because the tires are leaking. So I’ll need to make an appointment during my exercise routine.  At 5:30 a.m. I went out to buy milk and orange juice and noticed the roads were being blocked, and then Giant Eagle didn’t open until 6 a.m. so I went to Get Go and got what I needed, and while returning home (in the dark) found still more blocked streets.

When we tried to leave for church we discovered the roads were blocked because of a bicycle race and it was almost impossible to go west, but finally found an area with police directing traffic, but for probably the second time in our lives, we were late to church. I sat in the last row thinking I wouldn’t have to walk (limp) to our usual pew, but was fooled again since it was communion Sunday and I had to walk all the way to the front anyway.  I skipped kneeling—figured I’d never get back up!
Leaving for our SALT group meeting at noon (lunch and Bible study) we discovered that the garage door wouldn’t go down.  This had happened a few weeks ago and our son-in-law fixed it, but he’s at the lake.  Bob called, and he told him what to do.

Our furnace was to be repaired this week, but there were 3 messages on the answering machine that the price for the part had gone up and did we still want to do it?  Of course, you can’t reach them on the week-end. Meanwhile, we can only run the AC either full blast or off, so it’s on until it gets cold and we shut it all down.

But huge tragedy—Bob seems to have left several of his favorite watercolor brushes at the Rhein Center where he was teaching on Thursday, and didn’t notice it until we got to Columbus.  He’s had those brushes over 50 years, they are top quality and would cost a fortune to replace.  We’re hoping they didn’t get mixed into the general supply of brushes purchased at Wal-Mart for the kids’ classes.
One thing worked out.  I had 3 empty honey jars, and on our way home from SALT, we stopped buy Steve’s home, turned in the jars and got 2 jars of honey.

And our daughter just called and said the 20” stove we had sitting on the porch at Lakeside has been sold.  I had a sign tacked to the telephone pole, a man saw the stove, knocked on the door and asked jokingly if this was the Thompson cottage (people we bought from in 1988).  Frank Thompson was a well known figure in Lakeside and taught generations of children how to swim—including the buyer. He’s going to move it in his golf cart.

Support for communism with our tax breaks

"Over the next several weeks, from late July through early August 2019, a little-known pilgrimage of American radicals will take place. The Venceremos Brigade, a group that traces its history to the far-Left activism of the late 1960s, will be making its 50th anniversary trip to Cuba in order to labor in solidarity with that country’s communist government. Though the size, structure, and organization of its activities have changed somewhat over the decades, the Brigade still retains its affinity for Cuba’s authoritarian socialist society and its disdain for U.S. foreign policy. And today, it operates as a project of a multi-million dollar 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization [Alliance for Global Justice] with financial ties across the mainstream center-Left."  https://capitalresearch.org/article/the-venceremos-brigade-fifty-years-of-cuban-solidarity/

It seems there is no end to the misuse of the 501c3 classification of "nonprofit."

“Alliance for Global Justice supports numerous leftist causes with it's 501c3 status and "in recent years it has received grants from numerous labor unions like the AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Teachers, and the SEIU, as well as other 501(c)(3) nonprofits like the Proteus Fund, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and the Tides Foundation."

These organizations/labor unions all support Communism this way.

Recalling the old fans for hot Hoover nights

On Facebook, Dee Grindley recalled how we got those old fans which have been brought out this week because of the heat. We and our guests took some from our shelves for the Elvia show, plus the ushers were passing some out provided by a local hospice.

“I ordered the first fans from J W Cleary Co., Cols., Oh. (Mike Cleary now has 3 cottages in Lakeside) to raise money for the ’Friends Network” for the infrastruction repairs to Hotel Lakeside. We sold them in the beginning for 50 cents ea. Ordered a better quality (one with picture of Hotel) and sold for $1.00 each. Ted led the ”sales force” at the entrance of Hoover. He held the sales record selling more than 500 on a steamy hot Sat. Night when the OSU Band was appearing. After we ceased our fund raising effort, the Association ordered fans in bulk to use . The late Dorothy Knight helped me immensely with this project. It was fun and productive. Each dime earned was sorely needed to help restore the Hotel. Dee Grindley/”

Investments in early childhood nutrition

Recently it's been reported that use of a nutritional supplement in children (pre-natal through 2 years) has had a remarkable affect on their adulthood--intelligence, physical stature, etc.

"The Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama developed a protein-energy supplement (Atole) and a protein-free control supplement (Fresco), which were offered to pregnant women and young children in four villages; two matched villages each. The investigators followed up 1139 (69%) of 1661 traceable participants from an original cohort of 2392 children enrolled in 1969–77."

This isn't the first or last time we'll see women and children in 3rd world and developing countries used as lab specimens. Many studies are never reported because of negative outcomes or poor designs. Birth control pills were developed and tested this way, and God only knows what long term effects that had on African women and later women on welfare who were the original guinea pigs back in the 1960s. Vitamin supplementation and vaccines were other products tested by pharmaceutical companies in developing countries before being marketed to the west.

However, although most moms are not dieticians or scientists, I think we could have figured out in 1969 (when my children were little) that providing one child with protein while depriving the other, one might see a difference in brain, muscle, skeletal, and intelligence development.

I have great respect for the author of this article, but strongly disagree with the casual way the study was done on which the costs are based.

 https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/child-nutrition-increased-global-investment-by-bjorn-lomborg-2019-07

Here is an earlier description from 2018. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(18)30308-5/fulltext

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5001437/

Lakeside 2019, Columbus Zoo Animals and Suzi Rapp

Family night on Wednesday at Lakeside was enjoyable for all--Suzi Rapp from the Columbus Zoo showcased animals and also showed clips from TV shows which feature the work of the zoo personnel, OSU vets, and the animals. Her explanation of the Cheetah conservation work was very interesting. They won't raise a singleton--in their fragile environment with so many predators, it's not worth the investment of the mom's time and energy, so sometimes the zoo receives a rejected baby to raise. Also the Cheetah has a her own yellow Lab to keep her happy and calm(er). She also did an afternoon show.

Photo by Kevin Sibbring, Lakeside president, who went to elementary school with Rapp in Upper Arlington.

Does Omar envision a New Somalia?

In the new nation that Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota seeks to create, the "capitalist system" will be left behind in pursuit of a "fair and just economy" where the federal government guarantees everybody jobs, housing, health care and free abortions.
How can we know this? She has declared it in writing.

https://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/terence-p-jeffrey/omar-end-capitalist-system-guarantee-jobs-housing-medicare-and-abortion?

Democrats endanger lives of illegal immigrants and cheat the legal ones

Based on Census data (ACS) there are about 44.5 million immigrants in the U.S., or about 13.7% of the population. (That number doesn't include foreign born here for other reasons.) Unlike Ilhan Omar, immigrants and children of immigrants are usually among the most patriotic of all Americans--especially if the stories of WWII or the Gulag or the Disappeared have been passed down. By far, immigrants are the most eager to take advantage of our property rights and free markets--something they probably weren't allowed in their country of birth.

Recently, the terms immigrant and "illegal immigrant" have been deliberately morphed although they are very different. Even finding unbiased statistical data is difficult because of slanted meanings of words. But that number gives you an idea why Democrats are rewarding illegal immigrants at the expense of the legal ones waiting and paying high legal fees and the refugees already given numbers to enter (45,000 a year). It's a numbers game for federal money, political power and electoral votes.
They are also putting the illegal immigrants at risk for trafficking, health, employment and education problems, plus 5-10 years down the road they still won't be legal but their children will be causing great stress in families. True refugees are required to apply for a green card to become a permanent resident after one year in the United States. After five years of residency, they become eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship. That is not the case for the catch and release, reward the coyotes system for those who fade into the general population.

Getting to know you better

The "gang of 4" claim to love America and stand for her values (which no one seems to agree on). If they were acquaintances you met through an on-line dating service, that's what they might have said in the promo/ad. You know--"looking for love, quiet walks and talks, sexy, smart and woke."

Then when you had a face to face meeting, they began suggesting your clothing wasn't appropriate for the event, that there was a mustard stain on your outfit, and your hairstyle was sort of redneck. Well, OK, all that's superficial, so you try a second date, new venue more to their liking.
Now they start in on your family, your weight, your church and your level of education. Shouldn't you be eating vegan or gluten free; do you really need dessert? Why do you read the Bible? You live in that ZIP code? You grit your teeth and smile because you know this is the "one" all your friends say is so terrific.

Third date, they suggest that because of the distance between you, maybe they could just leave a few items at your apartment--some clothes, cosmetics, and maybe pet food, but they've never mentioned that the pet isn't a dog, it's a wolf. Maybe you were slow to catch on, maybe you were too lonely and needy, but hey, you're not stupid. You excuse yourself to go to the rest room and never come back to the table.

Bursitis is really slowing me down

The bursitis which reappeared about 2 weeks ago, first on the right, then the left, and now both at the same time, is not subsiding.  I’m sitting on ice gel packs, and doing my exercises, but this morning I only got 2 blocks on my walk (usually 2 miles) and had to return to the cottage.  Then I drove to the wellness center instead of walking there.
https://gethealthyu.com/best-exercises-hip-bursitis/

While I was using the exercycle at the wellness center today I noticed again how tiny and thin the ladies are who go to the yoga classes, especially when compared to the water aerobics class—there’s a lot of glass in the room, so I can see both.

 

The President’s fight with the gang of 4

Ilhan Omar is the only one of the 4 Desperados who can go "home" (the others need to go back to their Democrat controlled districts and clean up those messes many years in the making), but she wouldn't be welcome in Somalia or Kenya, which first gave her refuge. Maybe that's why she is so bitter and ugly about the U.S. Nobody wants her. We've all known people like her--give her a hand and she'll cut it off.

It's not that women can't be devious and evil on their own, however, they also make good tools when misled. "Saikat Chakrabarti [is] the prime mover behind a Tennessee-based PAC called the “Justice Democrats,” whose support was largely responsible for getting Reps. Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley, Ro Khanna, and Pramila Jayapal elected last November. Chakrabarti has now set up shop in the House, ostensibly as AOC’s chief of staff."
https://spectator.org/meet-aocs-brain-saikat-chakrabarti/

The PAC zeros in on young, attractive women who can be coached and taught while also being attractive on TV and in personal appearances. Then they run them against old, tired white do-nothing male Democrats in Democrat districts.

Lakeside 2019, Week 5

Sunday was a wonderful day-- low humidity, sunshine, wonderful worship services at dockside and Hoover,  band concert by the lake, ice cream social, Kids Sail (which Bob helps with) and Danny and Joanie  (our niece and her husband) to keep us company. The weather for the rest of the week looks like hot, with some fallout from Hurricane (or tropical storm) Barry. Programs for week 5 are on gardening (so I won't be attending) and on leadership by General John Borling (ret.).  The LWC program is on the influence of the Wright Brothers' sister, Katherine.

 

Danny and I at the dockside service 

Bob serving communion at Dockside service

 

Enjoying the ice cream social and band concert on hotel lawn

Thoughts on a summer day--Lakeside 2019

I just read on Facebook that one of our nephews is getting married--I'll pencil it in.

Yesterday Bob went to the Farmer's Market--it's an event of Tuesday and Friday mornings at Lakeside.  In June things were sparse, but now the crops are starting to grow.  Anyway, he came home with the most fabulous chocolate chip cookies ever.  So I went back and got rhubarb, beets with leaves, and romaine. Things we need more than cookies.

Bob has finished all his porch reading, so I went down to the Lakeside Women's Club which has a library and selected a Rita Mae Brown, Crazy like a Fox, novel.  She's written a lot--not as much as Mary Higgins Clark, but if he likes her style, it could keep him busy for awhile.  She's in her mid-70s and I just won't tell him she's a lesbian activist and feminist.

Dinner tonight is from the crock pot, but it doesn't seem to be doing well, and may have to take a pass through the oven.  The program at Hoover Auditorium is Texas Tenors.  They are wonderful.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OG_OsZWnRQ  Last night was Three Dog Night, and although I did recognize a few songs (we sat outside a short while in order to protect our hearing), they looked like refugees from North Shore (our local nursing home).  It was a packed house.

Each Saturday afternoon, a local talent sings from the pavilion, and I sat on a park bench for awhile--it's very hot but a great wind blowing.  He was really fabulous--don't know why he isn't on a bigger circuit.  Very few people were listening--just talking and enjoying the afternoon.  But he said his wife is a doctor--jokingly said she supports him.  Hmm. Gave up a career for marriage?

Lakeside 2019, Week 4, Simon & Garfunkel and Mark Twain

Last night's tribute to Simon & Garfunkel by Nic and Alex Chamberlain was delightful. They love that era (although young enough to be the grandsons of many in the audience) and performed it well. We even got up and danced, despite my bursitis. And a super band--especially the pianist with the long blond pony-tail.

Today is the second installment of Organizing 101. I’ll have to put a few things away (like the back of the van) so that we can accommodate our guests, niece Joan and husband Dan.  Tonight is 3 Dog Night, which I’m sure we’ll not attend, or if we do, we’ll sit outside on a bench.  Five years ago Phil came up for that.

The Mark Twain/Rod Serling lecture with Mark Dawidziak TV critic of Cleveland Plain Dealer was outstanding yesterday. I didn’t take American literature in college, nor did I ever watch Twilight Zone, but he managed to pull it all together.  He’s also written a book on the TV show Colombo which will be issued this fall on its 30th anniversary.

Wheelersburg, Ohio, (on the Ohio River) has a championship girls little league softball team, and the family of the pitcher is renting 2 doors down. We sit on the porch and watch a powerhouse pitch like I've never seen--12 years old--as she practices with her dad in the yard. Her older sister already has a college scholarship in the sport, and there are 4 other girls in the family.  A few years ago Bob did a painting of one of the daughters with red hair riding her scooter.

This is how much the left hates Trump

Home Depot co-founder and noted philanthropist, Bernie Marcus:

“I woke up this morning thinking it was going to be another great day. I've been celebrating with friends, family and the community since I turned 90. I've told you about the gracious gift of $117 million that was collected and given in my honor to four charities that mean a lot to me. All that happiness blew up because I said in a newspaper interview that I have supported and will continue to support Donald Trump.

Boom!

Negative stories... vicious threats, without cause, to boycott the company that has enabled my foundation to give billions to support autism, medical research, education, heart and neurological issues like stroke, and to help our veterans. The company that I retired from in 2002 and have not had a business relationship with in almost 20 years. A company that has employed more than a half-million people. The people who work there are affiliated with both political parties or no party at all. They are of all religions and all colors and backgrounds. Why would people want to hurt them?

All because I give my voice and some of my money to our President. Am I in China? Argentina? Russia? That's what it feels like to me.

It saddens me that our country has come to this, where I, as a private citizen, cannot express my feelings. It angers me and it saddens me, but it sure as hell is not going to stop me. If you thought it would, you've got the wrong guy.

In the next ten years, God willing, I will accomplish more to save this world than my critics will do even if they had forty lifetimes.”

Lakeside 2019, Week 4, Dr. Roizen and Dr. Dillon

Dr. Kelly Dillon of Wittenberg University (Springfield, OH)  was our speaker at Lakeside Monday and Tuesday on children and guns, cyberbullying and media literacy. My major question is why Hollywood and TV celebs are so critical of the 2nd amendment when in fact they fuel the violence with their films and shows. Seems awfully hypocritical. It's an industry--not just actors, but screen writers, agents, producers, directors, lighting, costuming, make-up, drivers, camera jockeys, set designers, film editors, it's all in a days job. They all play a role in the violence.  She presented some compelling research done at OSU using edited movies, some with violence some without then following children who were playing with nerf guns and a real gun.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170925132929.htm

In terms of her media lecture, I believe educated people have too much faith in  “knowledge,” and “information.”  Especially parents of adolescents.  They seem to think that if “we have that conversation” with our children about sex, alcohol, drugs, or on-line safety or cyberbullying, then like magic, they will make the right decisions.

Dr. Michael Roizen of the Cleveland Clinic drew a large crowd for an evening lecture.  He went through his slides so quickly I knew I’d have to search the internet for his YouTube and summaries of his books. But I did have a few takeaways to investigate.  He thinks that even at my age, I can make a difference in my genes by actively pursuing the right nutrition, exercise and few modifications.  He is still in favor of  older adults using a multi-vitamin and  baby aspirin. He likes breathing exercises for lowering blood pressure.  Interestingly, he recommends jumping for strengthening bones.  Not sure I’ve seen that before—I’ll have to find an explanation.  Dr. Roizen is a HUGE fan of coffee—like it’s a magic elixir.  Like most people knowledgeable about nutrition, he’s not fond of sugar.

https://www.whenway.com/
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/190624111622.htm

He’s written many books, and there was a table of autographed books for sale.

Are Americans the worst patients in the world?

“Recriminations tend to focus on how Americans pay for health care, and on our hospitals and physicians. Surely if we could just import Singapore’s or Switzerland’s health-care system to our nation, the logic goes, we’d get those countries’ lower costs and better results. Surely, some might add, a program like Medicare for All would help by discouraging high-cost, ineffective treatments.

But lost in these discussions is, well, us. We ought to consider the possibility that if we exported Americans to those other countries, their systems might end up with our costs and outcomes. That although Americans (rightly, in my opinion) love the idea of Medicare for All, they would rebel at its reality. In other words, we need to ask: Could the problem with the American health-care system lie not only with the American system but with American patients?”

Atlantic July 2019. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/07/american-health-care-spending/590623/

Anna Loska Meenan, who lives in the Rockford area and used to be on staff at the Mt. Morris clinic, says:

This excellent article explains why Medicare for All in the US would quickly lead to one of two scenarios: Either the health care system would be immediately bankrupted, or the resulting rationing would lead to riots in the streets. Having been involved in health care, I can confirm that this author speaks the truth, and from conversations with docs who are still seeing patients, I can see that things have only gotten worse since I left medicine 10 years ago.

MSNBC hosts has it wrong

“Kamala Harris supports Born Alive abortions, open borders, a centrally planned socialist economy, free healthcare for illegals, the abolition of private health plans, the Green New Deal, and the Iran Deal.

And the only reason MSNBC thinks Republicans don’t want to vote for her is because she’s Black.”

dk  African American Conservatives

Blast from the past--the fifties

Carol Samsel Hayes sent me a scan of what looks like some old photos of me in elementary school, and my high school freshman class photo. Carol is a cousin by marriage of my cousin and reader of my blog, Gayle. As I recall, we spent a lot of time together summer of 1953 playing cards and going to the pool and getting together with Doree.  Then Carol's family moved--maybe around 1954 to the Chicago area.  We reconnected about 10 years ago on the internet.

I remember that pale pink (lower left) coat with a little black velvet trim on the collar--was considered very stylish then.  I think I'm wearing a tan denim skirt I made for 4-H and "bucks" shoes--mine were a rust color (middle top), and I seem to have Steve Brinker in a head hold and am wearing jeans, so it must have not been a school day since we didn't wear jeans to school in those days.  You can see the old elementary school building which was torn down years ago. It must have been before school in the morning because of the shadows. Then there's a group photo of 7th and 8th grade girls, with Carol and Doree among them.

The power of YET

Joan Shaw Turrentine, retired teacher, pastor’s wife, mother, grandmother, blogger and FaceBook companion writes:

“I was reminded again this morning of the power of "yet." Even at my age, YET sometimes keeps me going. When I retired, I couldn't paint, or play piano, or write meaningful poetry, or read the Bible through yearly, or truly understand "big picture" economic or political issues, or relax enough to see the beauty in the stress of relationships, or turn loose of (and forgive myself for my part in) the stress generated through daily living - YET.

I still can't paint or write or forgive myself or understand those "big issues" like I really want to - YET. But I HAVE learned to add "yet" instead of a period when evaluating my life and accomplishments.

So, advice from this old lady to my young friends: Quit putting periods at the end of your self-evaluating statements/thoughts. When you come to the end of the statement, add "yet" and keep trying.”

Lakeside 2019, Week 4

The daytime lectures this week feature Kelly Dillion of Wittenburg University speaking on “Kids, Guns & the Media,” and “Media Literacy for  all Ages” on Monday and Tuesday.  On Wednesday Mark Dawidziak speaks on “The Twilight Zone,” and on Thursday, “Rod Serling & Mark Twain: moralists in disguise.”

Tuesday evening at Hoover Auditorium will be author, Michael Roizen, MD, Cleveland Clinic, speaking on the 6 + 2 normals.  Here’s a YouTube of one of his lectures. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzSaI73NKaw 

At another lecture, https://www.healthandwealthresearch.com/free-research/how-to-become-a-1-percenter  given this year, he said,

“Consider that 84% of all healthcare costs are due to chronic disease, and 75% of chronic diseases are driven by just six measurable factors:

• Blood pressure

• Body mass index (BMI)

• Fasting blood sugar (or hemoglobin A1C)

• LDL cholesterol

• Smoking (measured by blood cotinine levels)

• Unmanaged stress

These six predictors of chronic disease are controllable in up to 95% of people.”  (+2) See your primary care provider and stay up to date on your immunizations.  So for being 80 and 81, we’re in pretty good shape (but I need to lower my cholesterol).

Today, Sunday afternoon, a woman is speaking for the Heritage Society about how she came back to Marblehead Peninsula to start a business.  On Monday in Chautauqua Hall we’ll have another evening of Porch Stores—this little feature now in the 3rd year has been so popular (and it is nationwide) that it is held in Chautauqua Hall in the Fountain Inn rather than on a porch.  Tuesday at the Women’s Club I plan to attend a program about Mrs. Warren Harding.

Last night a huge crowd showed up to enjoy the Spinners, a black do-wop group, but although we stuck our heads in the door, it was so hot we went over to the Barris’ and chatted with Dan.  Friday’s Cooking with Chef Stacy lecture  in the morning featured how to purchase, chop, treat and store knives, and she did a demo for corn chowder, made with 2 quarters of cream!  We asked, but she said, no, it should be cream—just eat less of it if concerned about calories. I’m not a member of the CLSC discussion group, but Thursday they are doing “A Gentleman in Moscow” by Amor Townes, and our book club did that one, so I may see what that’s about.  On Friday July 12, we’ll have another Organizing 101 on dealing with “stuff.”  The first one was very good.

Carol's high school class reunion

My sister Carol died in 1996.  Recently her high school classmates were in Mt. Morris for a reunion--not sure why 64 is a special year, but perhaps someone was willing to organize it or someone could be in town who rarely visits.  So here is a photo of the group that met for breakfast.  If there was a larger group meeting, I don't know.

How do they do it?

As I returned from my 2 mile lakefront walk this morning, I had heard and seen a lot of dogs.  Two of the cutest were the labs, one black and one chocolate, tied at the bike rack and staring at the restroom door in the pavilion. Anxious for their person to reappear with her/his love, acceptance and snacks.  At the corner of 3rd and Poplar dogs in different houses, opposite corners, felt the need to arouse the household just in case I tried to invade.  Young dogs, old dogs, puppies, pretty, ugly and those in training.

But the ones who puzzle me aren’t the dogs necessarily, but my neighbors. She’s late 70s, and he’s in his 80s.  They bought the house across the street about 5 years ago after many years of renting, and they are delightful, helpful neighbors. She makes the most wonderful peach cobbler. She brings me books to read which she has enjoyed.  However, it is a small house and they have a lot of company.

In addition to their own dog, their guests have at least 3, I think.  Plus all the people, four of whom seem to be teen-agers—their grandchildren plus their friends.  Cars, boats, bikes, floats, towels, etc.

We’ve been alone since 1986. I think that much company and that many dogs (one year they had a chicken, and maybe a pet pig), is something one needs to grow in to gradually. Or God has granted them a measure of patience we don’t have.

As I returned from my 2 mile lakefront walk, the largest dog visiting my neighbors—looks like a cross between a standard poodle and Great Dane—began to bark.  It was about 7 a.m.

Hot and steamy, but a good sail

 

With Tony Gardner

France seeks to end life of disabled man

Pro-life is advocating for your protection at the other end, too. The government of France is trying to kill a disabled man, even though his family takes care of him.

"Euthanasia is illegal in France. However, a 2005 law allows physicians to refrain from using “disproportionate” treatments “with no other effect than maintaining life artificially.”

Lambert, 42, has been a tetraplegic and severely disabled for more than 10 years, after he sustained severe head injuries in a traffic accident in 2008."

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/french-court-orders-severely-disabled-man-be-disconnected-from-food-water

The challenges of being on social media and the internet

I was checking on the biography of the person who had written about and translated Saint Epiphanius of Salamis.  That’s not important since he’d posted for many ancient writers and Christians.  What was interesting was the warning he’d given about anything about himself:

“This page was written in 1999, when this website was new.  It contained my photograph, my email address, and various personal, educational and professional details and so forth.

Little by little, it has grown shorter.  The internet is not so small a place as it was in those days.  A troll was merely a nuisance, not a brutal thug determined to use the compulsive element in social media to drive a vulnerable teenager to suicide, and to jeer at them afterwards on their memorial Facebook page.  A spammer was merely an advertiser, not an internet criminal determined to steal your every shekel, and your identity with it.  Privacy was taken for granted.  None of this is true today.

My email address was the first to go.  That change was forced upon me by the torrent of spam.  I created a form -- which the spammers soon learned to attack -- but this stemmed much of the trouble.

Next to go was my photograph, once I found that the nastier people online sought out personal information in order to use it to inflict pain on their victims.  Professional details went next, for the same reason.

Today I have decided to remove the rest.   It is a wrench, it is true.  But I see no alternative.  If I were to join the internet today, I suspect that I would not use my own name at all, but a pen-name.  Anything else puts you at risk from the criminal element online. 

I myself feel uncomfortable writing online under any name but my own.  Occasionally some forum software prevents me from using my own name; but it is a weird feeling.  But I think it would be absurd for me to attempt to use a pseudonym at this time of day.

All the same, I cannot sensibly allow personal details to remain on the web when I can prevent this. Nor should you.

You can still email me, if you like.  The following link will take you to a form, and this will email me.”

A sad story of our times.  Vicious trolls, angry Christian haters, and just plain nasty people.

Yard sale to benefit pastors and missionaries

Each year Vern and Dianne Hartenburg collect items and sponsor a sale of cottage friendly items to benefit a fund to help young pastors and missionaries enjoy a vacation at Lakeside.  Vern finds items thrown away and refurbishes and renovates them, and charges the most reasonable prices I've ever seen at a sale.  This one, which is usually held over the Memorial Day week-end, was the day after the fourth as the rain date.  When I walked past on my morning walk I noticed a big crowd and went over to look (next to Hoover). The sale opened at 7:30 a.m. at which time the buyers wrote their names on the tag, paid for it, and then claimed it.  I bought a new rack for towels for the guest room. Many people came early and sat on or near the items they wanted. One couple had been there since 5 a.m. waiting to get the wicker couch and chairs painted red.

 

 

 

                                                   This is the item I got for $4.00

The face of HIV is aging

I received a notice in e-mail of a medical seminar on the “Changing faces of HIV” and the photo to advertise this topic was an attractive white blonde woman. False advertising; fake news.  Gay and bisexual men are the population most affected by HIV in the United States. In 2016, gay and bisexual men accounted for 67% of the 40,324 new HIV diagnoses in the United States and 6 dependent areas. (About 2% of the population) Approximately 492,000 sexually active gay and bisexual men are at high risk for HIV.  And most are black and young. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/msm/index.html

Women do contract HIV—usually from men who have sex with men, and most are also black.

What’s is an inkhorn?

I might be ostentatious, but I'm not an "inkhorn." I prefer plain English. In fact, I'd never heard the word inkhorn used this way.

"Picture an ancient scribe, pen in hand, a small ink bottle made from an animal's horn strapped to his belt, ready to record the great events of history. In 14th-century England, such ink bottles were dubbed (not surprisingly) inkhorns. During the Renaissance, learned writers often borrowed words from Latin and Greek, eschewing vulgar English alternatives. But in the 16th century, some scholars argued for the use of native terms over Latinate forms, and a lively intellectual debate over the merits of each began. Those who favored English branded what they considered ostentatious Latinisms "inkhorn terms" after the bottles carried by scholars, and since then we have used inkhorn as an adjective for Latinate or pretentious language." Merriam Webster Word of the Day.

Anglo-Saxon, the language of the Germanic barbarians who invaded the British Isles, was useful for swearing, cursing, naming common things like animals, counting money and time, but for just about everything else, Latin and French words needed to be imported by the Normans (originally were Vikings) when they invaded Britain in the 11th century (which is also the origin of both my maiden and married names). I also don't do a lot of swearing and cursing. In fact, none.

As of January 1, 2019, there were (estimated) 1,052,010.5 words in the English language. (Global Language Monitor) Shakespeare invented about 1700 words, and the KJV Bible changed the language forever. Today the internet accounts for many changes like OMG and BFF.

TV channels refuse to be patriotic

We're enjoying "Salute to America" on Fox on July 4 and the President's great speech about scientific discoveries, brave explorers, civil rights and justice, and his honoring the various branches of the military. Massive crowds standing in the rain. While watching the Marines' tribute, we took a peek at the broadcast channels to see if they were following through with their anti-America threats because they hate the President, and sure enough, got a food processing commercial and 2 game shows. The brave, the strong and the free. And the media all said, not us.

Record low number of Democrats (22%) say they are proud to be American, and it wasn't all that high during the Obama reign, either. "76% of Republicans, who have historically taken much more pride in the country, tick the extreme box. Even when Barack Obama was president, Republicans still managed to come in at 68%." (Market Watch)  That about tells the story of why the country is polarized.

Other than that, they are loyal Americans

"The Left is crystal clear.

They have a new rainbow flag, they want to remove Washington, Jefferson, Betsy Ross and the rest of the founding.

They want to replace the citizenry with new people.

They want to ignore federal law, dissolve the borders of the United States and transfer many elements of sovereignty to global structures.

They want to end constitutional protections such as free speech, religious liberty, due process and any and all constitution limits or common law traditions which don't fit their plan of the day.

They do not respect elections, or democracy, or any splits of power, such as the electoral college, apportionment of districts or separation of powers, unless they win. All other exercises of power are illegitimate.

They want to swap all definitions, holidays, street names, statues, history text books, flags, rules, traditions, religions, borders, people, structures, institutions, moral codes, sexual mores, family structures, civic organizations, decision structures, leaders and primary language, plus they want to libel, destroy and remove the rights of anyone wanting to retain any of those things.

Other than that, they are loyal Americans.”

Jeffrey Varasano

Happy July 4, 2019

Lakeside is a family place. Some cottages are filled with 4 generations this week. We're alone. In fact, I'm alone because Bob is walking in the parade with the Guys Club "drill" team. (They carry hand drills). I'm wearing red, white and blue and my festive hat and I'll be in a blue chair on 2nd street in front of Barbie Moore's house. Wave if you see me.  Updated later with photos of parade.

 

 

 

 

The Democrat Party platform

You don’t have to fund a bad college education

Imagine a country with free speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly without being attacked--unknown through out most of history, and now close to being lost if we can judge from the 25 or so Democrat candidates and Colin Kaepernick's latest antics to stop patriotism by a major corporation. I know you'll be shocked to learn this, but there is a class at a public university where a conservative Christian is on the faculty. Dr. Duke Pesta, University of Wisconsin.

https://youtu.be/mTJTFOyr0fk

• Why are you funding 1) radical ideas at your kids' college, and 2) their debt? Sure, they may return to normal by 25 or 30, but why put up with it?

• Your tuition and fees for your kids have turned the universities into ideological cesspools (paraphrase). Why should the rest of us bail out the bad decisions of university administrations?

• Literature is not read for its own value, but students are required to read Shakespeare or the Bible or 19th century literature through the lens of radical feminism or "queer eye." How can you avoid these radical reeducation camps we call "college," or "higher education?" Maybe a year or two working first? Get a little maturity first? He suggests 20 as the starting age--have some money in the bank and some education from the job. Skin in the game.

• Universities are the church of progressivism, a bubble of Marxism, and professors are the preachers. These evangelists for Marxism have never worked in the real world, in many cases. How much more history do we need to know Marxism is a failure? Academe is a good example of the failure of Marxism/Socialism.

• Hypocrites graduating with mounds of debt; grad students acting as slaves for the tenured faculty. Universities are class based and hierarchical. Even in business schools social justice theory trumps capitalism. Speaker believes college students are graduating in 2019 with the knowledge a high school student may have known in 1970. (I think that's a stretch--more like 1940). 

• He’s really hard on "Common Core" as prep for college because it dumbs everyone down to the lowest common denominator. Sexual indoctrination into transgenderism for very young children. What worked for the Left in college is now transferred to elementary age as young as six. Even in liberal radical Madison, WI, it's too much.

Americans use too much plastic

My kids wore cloth diapers! And a year ago I stopped chewing gum—it’s plastic. Only for a picnic would I use a plastic water bottle.

https://experiencelife.com/article/18-ways-to-live-with-less-plastic/

No point in replacing my Tupperware or plastic storage containers—they are already post market, and at my age, are safer than glass.

Why Andrea walked away from the Democrats

Andrea voted for Obama twice, but didn't like Trump and didn't vote in 2016:

“Meanwhile, I watched the left ... just ... lose it.

I saw a party that once believed in restrictions on abortion go full-on-pro-baby-killing.

A party that used to believe in protecting women's opportunities now forcing women's sports teams to allow men to compete as trans.

A party that used to believe in securing our borders now encouraging people to break the law and bum rush our gates and attack ICE agents.

I saw identitarian social justice warriors emerge as the authoritarian thought police and start terrorizing anyone who challenged them.
I saw people that I used to admire advocate for the kind of political censorship and violence against dissenters that typifies a fascist dictatorship, all the while calling ME a fascist for defending the first amendment!!!

That's when I realized what hateful people the Democrats were becoming. I also began to see what their tax-and-spend policies were really doing to the country, their plan to turn us into a socialist economy, their constant race-baiting, their conspiracy theories, their kowtowing to Islamists, their trying to buy votes and destroy the electoral college ... not to mention the LIES told by the media about the president and conservatives in general... and I decided NO MORE!!!

If this is what liberalism is now, I want no part of it!!! "
from #Walkaway”

Whiney rich people

"There are 585 billionaires in the US. The press is making a huge deal out of Soros saying billionaires are willing to pay more taxes. There were only 19 out of 585 (CNBC was so anxious to play this up they said “almost 20”) , and if they want to pay more they can just write a check to the treasury, or they can spend that cash on homeless shelters, improving schools, or whatever other good deeds they make believe they support. Once again the press is trying to paint a false rhetoric in support of Soros and his far left ideology." Ross Rant, June 27, 2019

I would toss football player Colin Kaepernick into that pile, although he's not a billionaire—only a millionaire. Instead of maligning Betsy Ross, a female seamstress who actually worked with her hands, he could fund homeless shelters or support soup kitchens for those who can't or won't work. He’ll even get a tax deduction.

The church has always been out of step with the culture

The earliest church was seen as too exclusive and a threat to the social order because it would not honor all deities; today Christians are again being seen exclusive and a threat to the social order because we will not honor all identities.  Timothy Keller

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/what-we-need-to-learn-from-early-church/

Democrat debate debacle

"I am on page 520 of the Gorbachev biography, and learning how he tried to change the Soviet Union by undoing the exact policies that I heard espoused last night by the debaters. When Gorbachev was leader, the Soviet Union was collapsing in very similar ways to today’s Venezuela, all because of anti-business, anti-profit motive, central run, heavily regulating government. There was nothing in shops, farm products were rotting in the fields, and people were poor and starving. All as a result of the same policies Warren and the others were saying they would put into effect." From Ross Rant, June 27, Citadel Realty, newsletter.

Friends, relatives and casual readers:  Don't say you weren't warned both by history and by people who have been there. "Free stuff" is not a policy, it's a recipe for disaster. You may not like Trump, but do you love socialism?

“Much like Wednesday night’s debacle of Democrat discourse, the candidates screamed for socialism over a strong economy. They assailed the evil 1 percent. They assured the American people, 71 percent of whom feel we have a pretty good thing going, that they were wrong. Like a bad therapist telling a patient, “You’re only happy because you think you're happy.” Fortune cookies dispense greater wisdom.”  Townhall, https://townhall.com/columnists/paulcurry/2019/06/28/the-democratic-debate-debacle-part-ii-darkness-falls-n2549175

I’m exhausted just reading about this trip

“President Donald Trump arrived back at the White House yesterday evening following his trip to Osaka, Japan, for the G20 Summit as well as a stop in South Korea. While overseas, he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Chinese President Xi Jinping, South Korean President Jae-in and other world leaders. The president also met with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un at the Korean Demilitarized Zone in an impromptu meeting meant to breathe new life into peace negotiations.” [Presidential prayer team notice]

First President to step foot in North Korea. Washington Post writers are tying themselves into pretzels looking for the negatives, and he trolled the reporters with his comment about Putin.

Why are Democrats so inconsistent—power. Michael Smith, guest blogger

How can one justify a city-wide ban on E-cigarettes and fund "safe injection sites" for drugs?

How is it even remotely logical to ban cigarettes and promote legalization of marijuana?

What sense does it make to ban private assistance to feed the homeless and then complain that there isn't enough funding for food programs for them?

How can you argue for free healthcare for illegal non-citizens when American veterans can't get help?

How can you argue that it is discriminatory to refuse to bake a cake for a same sex wedding but forcing a baker to do so against their will is not?

How can you cry about the sanctity of elections and then refuse to put measures in place to validate the eligibility of the voters?

How can you argue that a particular redistricting is unconstitutional and then promote open borders?

How can you argue argue for background checks and restrictions to own a gun and ammunition because "if it can save one child, it is worth it" and then say that abortions should be free without restriction?

How can you argue that school shootings are aberrations when more children are aborted each day in abortion clinics than are killed in all school shootings?

This is your modern Democrat party.

They no longer are required to make sense.

This is all about power and pandering to anyone who will vote to give it to them.

Michael Smith, guest blogger.

Michael Stanley at Lakeside

Last night the program at Hoover was Michael Stanley and friends. ?? No, we'd never heard of him, but he was big in the late 70s and 80s, disbanding his MSB in 1986. He's sure popular around here (Hoover was packed) and he's still working in the Cleveland area on TV and radio. The group had a fabulous pianist, 3 guitars, 2 drummers, and our own wonderful Eddie Caner on violin who grew up in Lakeside. I'm surprised that violin didn't catch on fire he was so hot.

For years the rules at Hoover were no food or drink, but icy bottled water was being sold--perhaps because of the heat. First time I'd seen that. Not sure that's progressive or regressive. It's a huge clean up problem when that starts, and bottled water can't be good for the environment.

Tulsi Gabbard—is she too conservative for Democrats?

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii seems to me to be the only Democrat candidate with brains, biology and charisma. Noticed her on TV interview with Fox a few weeks ago.

She " caught the attention of American voters during Wednesday's first 2020 Democratic presidential primary with her remarks on foreign policy and the military. Here's what to know about the 38-year-old Hawaii lawmaker and military veteran...On foreign policy, Gabbard is opposed to "regime change wars" and wants to pull U.S. troops out of Syria and Afghanistan. Unlike many of her Democratic peers, Gabbard has said she is against impeaching Trump after former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election found "no collusion" between the president and Russia." (FoxNews)

Not much is known about her. Watch for clues. Even if she climbs no higher in this campaign, she's young enough to keep going. She is multiracial and a practicing Hindu. I think that gives her more intersectional points than Kamala Harris or Mayor Pete.

The Democrat platform

Poverty, then and now

"The problem of the poor is not the availability of jobs, for the economy has generated so many new jobs during the past decade that anyone who can't find a job just doesn't want to work. And the problem isn't taxes because most poor folks don't pay taxes, and many actually receive checks from the government in the form of the earned income-tax credit. No, to close the income distribution gap, the next president will have to have the courage to say that the path to upward mobility for the nation's least-well-off begins at the marriage altar." Joseph Perkins, Jan 26, 2000, black columnist for the San Diego Union-Tribune (now retired)

And 19 years after this column and 55 years after the trillions spent on the War on Poverty, politicians don't want to believe it because they need the issue for votes, money and power.

There are 92 major government programs providing cash, food, housing, medical care and social services to poor and low-income people at a cost of $1.1 trillion per year [2017 figures]. But only 4 of those programs have work requirements, and even those have gaping holes. Yet to listen to Democrats running for the highest office in the land and Socialists in government, honest work has no dignity (i.e. doesn't buy votes). Only give a-ways matter. Let me give you free stuff and keep you poor. Vote for me.

https://www.heritage.org/welfare/commentary/encouraging-work-lifts-people-out-poverty-the-green-new-deal-wont-do

Why does the left lie about poverty? Because they can. It's like lies that police shoot blacks and women earn less than men. We don't have a responsible media to call them out, to research it or correct the lies.

This report on the results of welfare reform is from 2016--before Trump was elected. But they were screaming lies then too, just like now. They were probably preparing for a Big Clinton Win and raising taxes for another battle in the 50+ year War on Poverty, our most expensive war in history. Politicians, non-profits, churches, authors and academics all "need" the appearance of poverty so they can make more. The wealthier got richer due to increased regulations and over sight by their friends in government, the poor got more transfers and paid no taxes, and the middle class got screwed.

https://www.heritage.org/welfare/report/did-welfare-reform-increase-extreme-poverty-the-united-states

Since 50% of Americans don't pay federal taxes (they are too "poor" unless you add supplemental sources transferred from others, then they are too well-off to be poor), you can see why Democrats have to shout out "free stuff" and "raise taxes" to the middle class in order to get votes. Thus, they plan to impoverish about 3/4 of the nation so politicians can be the only ones with wealth.