"About 4.5 million persons sustain animal bites in the US per year, about 750,000 of which require medical attention. Bites are a combination of laceration, crush, avulsion, and puncture injuries and can cause abscess, cellulitis, and lymphangitis.[17] Most dog bite injuries are soft tissue injuries, fractures, sprains, strains, or crush; less than 1% are skull fractures and damage to intrathoracic, abdominal, pelvic, or intracranial cavities. Dog bites account for 60% to 90%, and cat bites 5% to 20% of bites receiving care. Results from a retrospective study of dog and cat bites in California found dog bites highest in boys younger than 10 and cats highest in women older than 80, mainly occurring in residences and during the summer.[18]" StatPearls, Animal bites, 2025 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430852/
Thursday, June 05, 2025
Dog bite month, not just a week
Dog Bite week used to be in April, but now it gets a whole month. June. The 2025 National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign by the United States Postal Service (USPS) takes place throughout the month of June 2025. The theme for the 2025 campaign is "Secure Your Dog, Keep Deliveries on Track". When I was the Vet Med librarian at Ohio State I kept a huge file on this topic--injuries and hospitalizations and deaths. My motto: All Dogs Will Bite. And it's primarily a male problem. Male dogs owned by young men biting young boys.
Wednesday, June 04, 2025
Baby snacks
I decided I needed a pot of flowers to last at least 2 weeks for a spot of color--we got a hanging pot from a school sale last summer that lasted several months. But enough about my brown thumb. While I was browsing at Marc's grocery, a mommy with a 6 month old ( I'm guessing) in the cart was also looking. Just the cutest and smiling with 2 teeth so I smiled back. I wondered if I should tell mommy that her sweety was eating the flowers while she was distracted. I didn't. Some mom's just don't want advice, and others don't care about herbicides and bugs.
Tuesday, June 03, 2025
Existential threat
I have never used the word "existential" except to quote someone else. I don't have any idea what it means when others use it. So, I looked it up and here's what Britannica Editor said: It's used 3 ways,
"existential threat
existential questions
existential crisis
The first phrase, existential threat, is used in texts or discussions about politics, usually politics in the Middle East. In this context, existential is being used literally. An existential threat is a threat to a people’s existence or survival.
The second phrase, existential questions, references Existentialism, a 20th century philosophy concerned with questions about how and whether life has meaning, and why we exist. (For more information, look up Existentialism or the philosopher, Jean-Paul Sartre.)
The third phrase, existential crisis, is also a reference to Existentialism, but it is often used in a humorous or sarcastic way, to suggest that the person or people being described spend too much thinking about themselves and the meaning of their lives.
In sum, existential can be a reference to survival, or to the meaning of our lives, or used to poke fun at others who might take themselves a bit too seriously."
Hmm. I probably still won't use the word. But I will say, it is overused and overrated.
"existential threat
existential questions
existential crisis
The first phrase, existential threat, is used in texts or discussions about politics, usually politics in the Middle East. In this context, existential is being used literally. An existential threat is a threat to a people’s existence or survival.
The second phrase, existential questions, references Existentialism, a 20th century philosophy concerned with questions about how and whether life has meaning, and why we exist. (For more information, look up Existentialism or the philosopher, Jean-Paul Sartre.)
The third phrase, existential crisis, is also a reference to Existentialism, but it is often used in a humorous or sarcastic way, to suggest that the person or people being described spend too much thinking about themselves and the meaning of their lives.
In sum, existential can be a reference to survival, or to the meaning of our lives, or used to poke fun at others who might take themselves a bit too seriously."
Hmm. I probably still won't use the word. But I will say, it is overused and overrated.
Saturday, May 31, 2025
Memories of remodeling
I've enjoyed the Facebook photos of Keith Fernandes, a friend of our children, spending his vacation remodeling his bathroom. The work clothes and the exhausted look brought back the memories of our first home in Champaign, IL. Sometimes I say "we" remodeled it, however I don't saw, hammer, plumb or sweat because I watched my mother do that and swore I'd never do it. Bob did it all. One night (1962) there was a trip to the ER because something fell on his head. Then there was a truck borrowed from a construction site to haul away debris thrown out a 2nd floor window and the ex-con he hired to help with the heavy wall board and studs. Bob made the mistake of paying him in cash the first day and he didn't come back the second day. This was all done to make it into a working duplex. We lived downstairs and rented the upstairs. It is the only way to make money buying a house--rent it to someone else. When we bought a second house in a nicer area of town we rented out both units and that paid the mortgages on both houses. Years later after we'd sold it on land contract and moved to Columbus, a bank error was found and we were returned some money.
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
A re-run (no pun) about men competing against women
I wrote this Dec. 9, 2023, thus the reference to Harris and Biden. It's appropriate today because of what is going on in California (AB Hernandez of Jurupa Valley--a boy, posing as a girl). The nation is waking up to Woke, and it's about 90-10 against the trans movement. It's not about human rights, it's a political agenda.
"When the United States House of Representatives voted to pass the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act on Thursday, every Democrat lawmaker present — 203 in total — voted against protecting women's sports. CNN reported to its readers that Republicans had passed an anti-trans bill. Yet, most Americans support the values and benefits organized sports can provide all children even if they don't go on to compete for college scholarships or the Olympic gold. Most Americans don't want the 50 year old protection and encouragement for girls destroyed to assuage the angst and ignorance of a political group. So, are we really divided as a country, or is the Democrat Party lying about caring about women?
We have a Democrat vice president chosen because of her sex; the newest Supreme Court justice chosen because of her sex; and at least 3 unbelievably naive college presidents hired because of their sex (all 3 who testified evasively about hate on their campus for Jews this week). But putting 6 ft boys on a volley ball team against 5.5 ft girls and in their locker room risking assault--then it's OK for men to take away women's rights. It's the Democrat way.
If you are a registered Democrat, leave now. Flee the plantation. Throw away your crutches. Escape from the poor house. Break out of prison. Beat down the doors of that insane asylum."
"When the United States House of Representatives voted to pass the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act on Thursday, every Democrat lawmaker present — 203 in total — voted against protecting women's sports. CNN reported to its readers that Republicans had passed an anti-trans bill. Yet, most Americans support the values and benefits organized sports can provide all children even if they don't go on to compete for college scholarships or the Olympic gold. Most Americans don't want the 50 year old protection and encouragement for girls destroyed to assuage the angst and ignorance of a political group. So, are we really divided as a country, or is the Democrat Party lying about caring about women?
We have a Democrat vice president chosen because of her sex; the newest Supreme Court justice chosen because of her sex; and at least 3 unbelievably naive college presidents hired because of their sex (all 3 who testified evasively about hate on their campus for Jews this week). But putting 6 ft boys on a volley ball team against 5.5 ft girls and in their locker room risking assault--then it's OK for men to take away women's rights. It's the Democrat way.
If you are a registered Democrat, leave now. Flee the plantation. Throw away your crutches. Escape from the poor house. Break out of prison. Beat down the doors of that insane asylum."
Bud Light became the poster child of bad business
Recently I watched a book interview with Anson Frericks on C-Span Book TV, "Last call for Bud Light." It was excellent and I learned a lot about corporations, marketing, capitalism, and particularly ESG, DEI, and other European trends that affect our businesses in a global economy.
Tips about memory for the elderly, the senior citizens and old farts
I was about 50 when I began to notice it. More and more I was hearing people (my age and older) comment about their memory, recall, and old times. It would bring to mind my grandmother. Here's my advice.
1. If you can't remember a word, face or event, DO NOT SAY to yourself or others some version of "I can't remember." Do not make an angry or silly face or slap your head (it causes wrinkles). You're reinforcing the idea, setting it in cement. Pause, breathe and continue. If it was gossip, it's just as well.
2. DO NOT SAY to yourself or others, "Oh, this is so frustrating!" That will probably signal to your body that it should be alarmed and raise your blood pressure or start a headache.
Instead.
1. If you are writing, just make a small line to be filled in later. When the word or topic comes back (and it usually will), you've provided the context and you can continue.
2. If you are talking, move on to the next word, sentence or topic. The person you're talking to is probably also forgetful or distracted and may not notice unless you make it a big issue. If it was gossip or criticism, it's just as well because no one wants to hear it anyway.
Ascension Day is tomorrow or Sunday, June 1, depending on the tradition you follow. Think of that thought or idea as Jesus ascending into the clouds (or if you aren't religious, maybe THE cloud for computer storage), but soon the Helper, the Comforter, the Paraclete or the Caller-to-mind will descend, and you'll be filled with joy and peace.
1. If you can't remember a word, face or event, DO NOT SAY to yourself or others some version of "I can't remember." Do not make an angry or silly face or slap your head (it causes wrinkles). You're reinforcing the idea, setting it in cement. Pause, breathe and continue. If it was gossip, it's just as well.
2. DO NOT SAY to yourself or others, "Oh, this is so frustrating!" That will probably signal to your body that it should be alarmed and raise your blood pressure or start a headache.
Instead.
1. If you are writing, just make a small line to be filled in later. When the word or topic comes back (and it usually will), you've provided the context and you can continue.
2. If you are talking, move on to the next word, sentence or topic. The person you're talking to is probably also forgetful or distracted and may not notice unless you make it a big issue. If it was gossip or criticism, it's just as well because no one wants to hear it anyway.
Ascension Day is tomorrow or Sunday, June 1, depending on the tradition you follow. Think of that thought or idea as Jesus ascending into the clouds (or if you aren't religious, maybe THE cloud for computer storage), but soon the Helper, the Comforter, the Paraclete or the Caller-to-mind will descend, and you'll be filled with joy and peace.
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Keeping in touch with the class of 1957
I was talking to my brother in Illinois the other day while sitting in our driveway soaking up the beautiful weather. One of the advantages of our high-tech communication--cell phones. He mentioned that he and a few of his class members of 1959 had gathered recently--maybe 10 of them. A few women from my high school class (1957) also met the week before for coffee. An e-mail had gone out discussing some 1950s memories of the "campus" in our hometown. It wasn't our high school campus, but the old college campus that our parents attended until it closed a year after a disastrous fire in 1930. It's still called the "campus." One memory popped up of one of our more unusual classmates, Neal Johnston, who marched to a different drummer, and died in 2010. Here's his obituary from my class blog. MMHS1957: Neal Johnston, class member, dies May 24
My parents met on a "blind" date, but my Dad did change his school plans after that so he could attend Mt. Morris College after he and Mom met. Today is her birthday.
Friday, May 23, 2025
Sell or donate your old books?
I'll never do that again!
It seems we are always cleaning out books, but the shelves are always full. Books are like rabbits!! So this time I decided to try "Half Price Books" on Bethel Rd. instead of donating to the library, the VOA or the cancer shop. I think I got about $.25 a pound. I'd already checked the internet and knew what resale was going for--I sort of figured middle. My rare and unusual weren't prime--they definitely had been loved, and I'd bought them used maybe 10-15 years ago. Still, a vol 1 no. 1 of Atlantic. That was hard to give up (I collect first issues but no one else I know does). But I had looked up my Wenger genealogy volume from 1977, and it was going for $130 in even poor condition. I'm a descendant of Hans, not Chrisitan (both arrived in the colonies in 17th century) but it was still interesting if you are Mennonite or Brethren. He said, "Well, we don't have much market for genealogy. " But I'm sure they have "pickers" who do resale. So, it's back to the library next time. I'd rather donate for a good cause and get nothing. I had some massive, really interesting architecture books too, but I already knew they would not be worth much--even checking the internet they were only about $8. I had to make one trip to the car for each! We'll probably take our art books with us to Lakeside and donate to Rhein Center for classes.Speaking of books, yesterday I found several articles about Books Within Books. It seems in many books when printing became profitable and affordable, many old and medieval Jewish manuscripts in Hebrew were used in the bindings, and now they are being "liberated" for their content and even Biblical stories. I plan to write on it soon. The databases were just created in the last 10 or 15 years.
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Rural Free Delivery
Until today, I didn't know the postal service had a podcast. Very interesting. How Rural Free Delivery Changed America | Mailin’ It! - The Official USPS Podcast
Saturday, May 17, 2025
The Hur interview with Biden has been leaked
Dr. Anna Loska Meenan reports: "The audio just dropped last night during Laura Ingraham’s show, and she played some of it. I had 2 reactions: sadness and anger. I was sad because Joe sounded so much like my mother did during the worst of her dementia, the way he drifted into imagined stories, and I wondered how people who supposedly loved him could put him through everything he was going through. Then I got angry, because this man who frequently couldn’t put a coherent sentence together was in charge of our country, and everyone around him knew he was not competent and covered for him anyway, telling those of us who saw it that we were right-wing conspiracy nuts who watched Fox News too much, and all along Fox was reporting the truth. They raided Trump’s home and arrested and prosecuted him for keeping documents he was legally entitled to have in secure storage, while declining to prosecute Biden for keeping documents he was not entitled to have in boxes in his garage, just because they claimed he was too mentally impaired to stand trial."
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Do you shop at Costco?
Maybe you always knew this, but I didn't. Probably because I don't subscribe to a lot of things or buy in bulk. Costco makes its money from memberships fees, not from selling merchandise. It's like going to the movies (sort of). We spent about $8.15 on the early show last week, and the popcorn was $11 for a small bag (we said no to that). Or joining a health food co-op. You pay a membership fee and get food for less, but the owners may be making the money from your membership. Or maybe gift cards? Many people never use them, but the company has the cash. I'll have to think about it. They make their profit just by letting you in the door.
Here's my take on the Qatar plane dust up
1. Democrats need an issue. Any issue. It's nowhere near what Biden accepted from Ukraine with Hunter's selling influence. We've even got him on tape. Now we've paid billions.
2. But put it in practical, easy to understand terms. Let's say your rich neighbor invites you to a back yard BBQ and says, casual clothes. But when you get there, the other neighbors knew the dress code and you didn't. The hostess takes pity on you and gives you something to wear from their closet, so you don't look like a loser.Monday, May 12, 2025
New outfits for Mothers' Day
On Mothers' Day we had a lovely worship service and Sunday School at a neighborhood school (UALC is being remodeled) and then went to The Avenue in Dublin, OH, for dinner. So much traffic! Not only was half the country calling their mothers, but the rest were on the road. Dinner was delightful. Then back home to open a present . . . it was a bit snug, so my son-in-law and I went shopping! I also had a Christmas gift card with me, and there were Spring sales, so I bought a summer dress, too. And here I am wearing the package ribbons.
Sunday, May 11, 2025
ABCs of Corruption
Norma's ABCs of Democrat Corruption from January 20, 2023
I think I posted this, but can't find it, so here it is maybe again.
Abortion
Border
CIA censorship and collusion
Diversity Inclusion and Equity
Education, Department of
FBI
Green New Deal
Homeland Security, Department of
Interference, Election
Justice, Department of
Kerry, John
Laptop, Hunter Biden’s
Mail in Ballots
National Security Council, Biden’s
Open Society Foundation—George Soros’ grants
Perkins Coie
Questions, Biden answering
Russia, Russia, Russia
Surveillance
Transagenda
Ukraine—VP Joe Biden leveraged $1 billion in aid
Vaccine mandates
Woke
Xi Jingping
YouTube, Google, Facebook, Twitter collusion with gov't
Zuckerberg
I think I posted this, but can't find it, so here it is maybe again.
Abortion
Border
CIA censorship and collusion
Diversity Inclusion and Equity
Education, Department of
FBI
Green New Deal
Homeland Security, Department of
Interference, Election
Justice, Department of
Kerry, John
Laptop, Hunter Biden’s
Mail in Ballots
National Security Council, Biden’s
Open Society Foundation—George Soros’ grants
Perkins Coie
Questions, Biden answering
Russia, Russia, Russia
Surveillance
Transagenda
Ukraine—VP Joe Biden leveraged $1 billion in aid
Vaccine mandates
Woke
Xi Jingping
YouTube, Google, Facebook, Twitter collusion with gov't
Zuckerberg
Saturday, May 10, 2025
So many fish stories
There are so many fish stories in the Bible. This morning, I was looking for some details about the fish that figures in the miracles in the book of Tobit. I came across again the wisdom the father Tobit gives to his son Tobias as he sets out for the journey with the angel Raphael (although he doesn't know he's an angel).
"Revere the Lord all your days, my son, and refuse to sin or to transgress his commandments. Live uprightly all the days of your life, and do not walk in the ways of wrongdoing; for those who act in accordance with truth will prosper in all their activities. To all those who practice righteousness give alms from your possessions, and do not let your eye begrudge the gift when you make it. Do not turn your face away from anyone who is poor, and the face of God will not be turned away from you. If you have many possessions, make your gift from them in proportion; if few, do not be afraid to give according to the little you have. So you will be laying up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity. For almsgiving delivers from death and keeps you from going into the Darkness. Indeed, almsgiving, for all who practice it, is an excellent offering in the presence of the Most High." Tobit 4:5-11
Because Tobit, who is blind, thinks he is dying (there is a prayer about that), this advice to his son Tobias is followed by instructions on marriage, treatment of others and seeking advice. We readers know that his future daughter-in-law, Sarah, who is depressed and wants to die, is also praying.
Great story.
Friday, May 09, 2025
The first American Pope, Leo XIV
Yesterday May 8 was a BIG day. UK and US celebrated the 80th anniversary of VE day (Victory in Europe) with a trade deal and the world has a new Pope, Leo XIV. Many are claiming victory, many on the fringes are rioting just because . . . and experts everywhere are left stunned and speechless. President Trump had been floating a tease about a "deal" but I think this unexpected appointment took some of the glitter off his big announcement. And this all happened on the day India and Pakistan conflict of many decades got much worse. India is now the country with the most population--over 1.4 billion.
I watched 2 interviews with his older brothers. Their shock was awesome. He will always be their "little brother." It seems from a small boy he'd wanted to be a priest. Since he's been in Peru for 40 years and is also a citizen there, I'm not sure how "American" he is by this time. Missing the 80s, 90s and the first quarter of the century means he's missed a lot of the chaos and disruption in our culture.
And also I found out 2025 is a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church. This jubilee was announced by Pope John Paul II at the end of the 2000 Great Jubilee and is celebrated from Christmas Eve (24 December) 2024 to Epiphany (6 January) 2026, lasting a total of 379 days.
The theme for the 2025 Jubilee is "Pilgrims of Hope."
Leo XIV is the new Pope - Vatican News
I watched 2 interviews with his older brothers. Their shock was awesome. He will always be their "little brother." It seems from a small boy he'd wanted to be a priest. Since he's been in Peru for 40 years and is also a citizen there, I'm not sure how "American" he is by this time. Missing the 80s, 90s and the first quarter of the century means he's missed a lot of the chaos and disruption in our culture.
And also I found out 2025 is a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church. This jubilee was announced by Pope John Paul II at the end of the 2000 Great Jubilee and is celebrated from Christmas Eve (24 December) 2024 to Epiphany (6 January) 2026, lasting a total of 379 days.
The theme for the 2025 Jubilee is "Pilgrims of Hope."
Leo XIV is the new Pope - Vatican News
Wednesday, May 07, 2025
China is not the biggest threat
This is my personal opinion, but China is not our greatest enemy. Radical, fundamentalist Islam is. And although Islamists kill each other in the millions with no thought of even their own people, and they are not united in one country or one theology, they hate Jews and Christians as much as they hate other Muslims. We see it now on our "elite" campuses. Infiltration. We see it in our Congress. Virtue signaling. They have a love fest with the Communists, Socialists and Progressives among us. Bad news. Obama and Biden were the worst of our leadership in being sucked into their plans, ignoring their nuclear threats, but it starts in the universities. Obama seemed full of spite and Biden full of B.S.
Democrats are losing their party, but some are loyalists. They are going against everything they used to say they supported in their 20th century campaigns. Patriotism, working class, merit, hard work, family, Christian values. Of course they were soft even then, so environmentalism became global warming became climate change. The Civil Rights movement was stolen from blacks and became feminism, gay rights, and then trans anything even animals. Even Transtifa.
Democrats are losing their party, but some are loyalists. They are going against everything they used to say they supported in their 20th century campaigns. Patriotism, working class, merit, hard work, family, Christian values. Of course they were soft even then, so environmentalism became global warming became climate change. The Civil Rights movement was stolen from blacks and became feminism, gay rights, and then trans anything even animals. Even Transtifa.
Friday, May 02, 2025
America --home of the brave victim?
"The Supreme Court’s 2023 Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard decision ruled that racial preferences in university admissions are unconstitutional. Since that decision, universities have used applicants’ personal essays about discrimination as a backdoor way to continue racial favoritism."
How to turn the application process into a fiction writing class.
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
100 days, what we've learned about Democrats
It's been a hundred days and we've learned a lot about Democrats. They want
no borders
funding for foreign wars
gangs controlling our streets
schools run for labor unions not students
waste, fraud and grift
foreign funding and control of our universities
vandalism of property if they disagree with owner
hiring, training and firing based on race and ethnicity
mutilation of minor children
abortion up to and beyond birth
county and municipal judges to make federal decisions
private planes for their own oligarchs
citizens' rights and privileges for green card holders and illegals
21st century sex slavery and labor slavery
flow of disinformation from legacy media
add what I've forgotten
no borders
funding for foreign wars
gangs controlling our streets
schools run for labor unions not students
waste, fraud and grift
foreign funding and control of our universities
vandalism of property if they disagree with owner
hiring, training and firing based on race and ethnicity
mutilation of minor children
abortion up to and beyond birth
county and municipal judges to make federal decisions
private planes for their own oligarchs
citizens' rights and privileges for green card holders and illegals
21st century sex slavery and labor slavery
flow of disinformation from legacy media
add what I've forgotten
Church council meeting Sunday April 27
After 9 am church service and Sunday School at Windermere school we drove across the river to have lunch with our Mill Run brothers and sisters and had a congregational meeting. Church Council | UALC
Pep talk on how long the remodeling is taking. I think we only have the school two more Sundays. Elected new members and had Q & A.
Where the money went--about 20% to missions. 620454_e830e5a3ebad4a179e53c71d7c5cc867.pdf
Monday, April 28, 2025
100 days, President Donald J. Trump
The 100 days thing was started by FDR. The President who kept the country in a Depression for 7 more years until WWII bailed us out with massive infusions of blood and treasure. Now every president seems to run that race. But now I think it's more about the mid-terms.
Democrats have nothing to run on except their hatred and loathing of Donald Trump, so they've got the impeachment papers ready, and probably the knives, guns and poison too plus the plans to tweak their vote steal. But the lives he's saved in 100 days on the border issue is worth the pain of the tariffs and Lawfare (and he'd solve that too if the Dems would just not get hysterical).This term I'm all about slavery, the big issue of the 19th century. The importing of labor and sex workers plus the trade in goods manufactured by people in developing countries working at slave wages means we're right back in it. The slave trade today is much larger than it was in the 18th century. Some estimate 50 million. Now it's supported by our politicians, our consumers and even some of our churches, just as in the 1850s. In other words, it's us.
Now it's not just labor for cotton and agricultural crops but for cheap baubles and bangles. For pharmaceuticals. For cars. Even for high fashion. Biden brought in millions of illegals--and our government approved it and we the people are both paying in the deaths from drug trafficking, but in our own moral depravity in the trafficking of slaves which are much more renewable than drugs.
This article underestimates the number in the USA and our own culpability, but it's a quick read. It's from Harvard which takes too much money from some of the corporations and the government which have led to the problems. https://petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2018/06/27/the-intersection-of-human-trafficking-and-immigration/?
Megyn Kelly media
Although I have about 15 podcasts in my pod "library" there are just a few I try to catch each week--Megyn Kelly, All-In, and Dr. David Anders of EWTN. My second string is PBD, Tucker and Triggernometry. Then Joe Rogan and Zuby. Megyn Kelly is starting a new platform. I hope it doesn't spoil her brand. It's called MK Media. The programs, scheduled to launch in April and May, will be called Next Up with Mark Halperin, The Nerve with Maureen Callahan, and Spot On with Link Lauren. I'd never seen Mark until I began watching Newsmax where he was on a morning panel. He's OK, a little dry, but then we have enough of the footloose and shouters. The other two I don't know at all.
For me, of course, a podcast must be conservative, pro-life and a voice that doesn't hurt my ears. I've got to be honest--most women lose it in the voice department. Upspeak (uptalk), mumbling and vocal fry (low growl) will make me push another app or walk out of the room without my phone. Ladies: please don't try to sound like a wounded bear asking questions.
For me, of course, a podcast must be conservative, pro-life and a voice that doesn't hurt my ears. I've got to be honest--most women lose it in the voice department. Upspeak (uptalk), mumbling and vocal fry (low growl) will make me push another app or walk out of the room without my phone. Ladies: please don't try to sound like a wounded bear asking questions.
Settling in with a good movie
It was a quiet Sunday evening, I'd finished my book club reading for the month, I didn't want more politics, so I clicked on Spark TV and got a Candlelight Media film which are similar to Hallmark--romantic, family friendly and no bodice ripping or smash mouth kissing. It was a charming film about a travel blogger and a travel package marketer who meet by accident while on location on a beautiful pacific island. I got to see some great scenery, and we had visited the four places (if the islands were Hawaii) that are featured in the romance--Turkey (Cappadocia), Scotland, and Finland which included dog sleds and aurora borealis.
I continued to poke around the internet and found a 10 year old blog of a novice screen writer who had an unpleasant experience with the Brough family and felt they saw their business as an LDS mission. I know nothing about legal contracts for screenwriters and found nothing evangelistic in the story line unless you think decency, honor and truth telling offensive.
So today I looked up the company. It's based in Utah, so I suspected the "team" are Morman/LDS, and from the surname (Brough), they all seem to be related. They also seem to own Spark TV. Here's a list of current or upcoming films: https://www.candlelightmedia.com/all-movies
I continued to poke around the internet and found a 10 year old blog of a novice screen writer who had an unpleasant experience with the Brough family and felt they saw their business as an LDS mission. I know nothing about legal contracts for screenwriters and found nothing evangelistic in the story line unless you think decency, honor and truth telling offensive.
Trailer for Passport to Love (2024), https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29270596/?
Sunday, April 27, 2025
Thirteen minutes off
We noticed out bedroom clock was 13 minutes fast. It has all sorts of buttons we've never used in its 20 years (although actually we don't know how old it is) like snooze and alarm. We've never set the alarm. However, we suspect the problem. The cleaning ladies were here on Friday morning. and as they go through the house something is usually reset or unplugged or put back where we can't find it. They also make little folded designs in the Kleenex and toilet paper. I've tried resetting the clock and Bob did too to no avail. I'll have to work on it after church, but for now it's 13 minutes fast and the minute button refuses to move. I still haven't found a clock to replace my office clock that died some months ago.
Saturday, April 26, 2025
What's for lunch?
Our semi-homemade dinner, Saturday, April 26: Chicken alfredo (chicken was rotisserie from Kroger's and sauce was Ragu and the pasta was made by Barilla; fresh green beans, baked butternut squash; Romaine lettuce salad with sliced tomatoes, peas, olives, cukes, Betty's dressing; fresh pineapple with white grapes. So far so good. Cheryl's cookies, yummy; buttercream-frosted cutout cookie, wow, you should read the label on those! Red 3, Yellow 5, Yellow 5 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, blue 1, blue 1 Lake, blue 2, blue 2 Lake, Red 40, Red 40 Lake.
FYI: "Dyes are water-soluble colorants, whereas lakes are formed from the combination of water-soluble dyes and insoluble materials. While both are used for coloring food, dyes are more suitable for products with high water content, while lakes are more suitable for products with fat or oil."
Finding out what "Lake" is and what is the insoluble material is difficult. It's not a dye. Lakes are produced by coloring an aluminum salt (this is not elemental aluminum) substrate using FD&C dyes. They are oil-dispersible and can be mixed with oils and fats. Maybe you know what that means, but I don't. Must be a super duper secret recipe.
The FD&C Act has a provision for some substances within the definition of a food additive if they are GRAS for their intended uses. Such a provision does not apply to color additives. . . During fiscal year 2022, FDA certified batches representing a total of 28.1 million pounds of color additives, much of it for food uses.
What's on your plate?
FYI: "Dyes are water-soluble colorants, whereas lakes are formed from the combination of water-soluble dyes and insoluble materials. While both are used for coloring food, dyes are more suitable for products with high water content, while lakes are more suitable for products with fat or oil."
Finding out what "Lake" is and what is the insoluble material is difficult. It's not a dye. Lakes are produced by coloring an aluminum salt (this is not elemental aluminum) substrate using FD&C dyes. They are oil-dispersible and can be mixed with oils and fats. Maybe you know what that means, but I don't. Must be a super duper secret recipe.
The FD&C Act has a provision for some substances within the definition of a food additive if they are GRAS for their intended uses. Such a provision does not apply to color additives. . . During fiscal year 2022, FDA certified batches representing a total of 28.1 million pounds of color additives, much of it for food uses.
What's on your plate?
Friday, April 25, 2025
Trump's really bad idea
Sometimes President Trump's former life as a Democrat seeps through. Give 'em money. And that idea he floated of a $5,000 gift from the federal government to new moms is one of those times. Let's ignore that it would cover 2 weeks of day care or that it's ripe for fraud. The low birth rate is also cultural, religious, social and biological. No cost estimate on that.
The sperm count for instance. It's dropping all over the world, not just the USA! That was reported even when I was working in a medical library, but then with some concern in 2017 and again in 2022, when a report cited in Smithsonian said the average sperm concentrations have dropped from 104 to 49 million per milliliter. Now you can still make babies, but the chances are reduced and it should be cause for alarm.
And how about children being taught the last 20-30 years from K-12 that their country is racist, homophobic and evil? Is that supposed to make them want to repopulate the earth? Will that make them proud to be a member of the human race? The feminist movement encouraged women to look down on motherhood. Women were to be valued for how much money they can earn and what they pay in taxes to the government.
And what about women? We've (as a group) have been pumped full of a collection of hormones since the early 1960s, and the early versions were so experimental that God only knows what they did to the delicate organs and systems that are needed to produce a healthy child. Who knows what was passed along to the following generations. Those of us who have been pregnant carry the cells of those children and they carry ours forever through fetal microchimerism when their cells pass through the placenta into our bodies and vice versa. Those fetal cells may even transfer to the next pregnancy or even from grandmother to grandchild. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8762399/ What about all those other foreign materials we had in our bodies--like birth control pills or rings, patches and injections--all created to stop procreation?
I think we'll be seeing new research on environmental toxins and their effect on fertility--things we ingest in our food and water--for both men and women.
It's not the money, it's the mind. Since the 70s we were brainwashed to think of people as a "bomb" to destroy the earth. More recently white, heterosexual males are discriminated against and made to apologize for being guys and thought of as an enemy, or whose masculinity is frail enough to be simply a thought or feeling to become whatever a trans-activist group decides. It's not good for the future or the nation. Any nation.
The sperm count for instance. It's dropping all over the world, not just the USA! That was reported even when I was working in a medical library, but then with some concern in 2017 and again in 2022, when a report cited in Smithsonian said the average sperm concentrations have dropped from 104 to 49 million per milliliter. Now you can still make babies, but the chances are reduced and it should be cause for alarm.
And how about children being taught the last 20-30 years from K-12 that their country is racist, homophobic and evil? Is that supposed to make them want to repopulate the earth? Will that make them proud to be a member of the human race? The feminist movement encouraged women to look down on motherhood. Women were to be valued for how much money they can earn and what they pay in taxes to the government.
And what about women? We've (as a group) have been pumped full of a collection of hormones since the early 1960s, and the early versions were so experimental that God only knows what they did to the delicate organs and systems that are needed to produce a healthy child. Who knows what was passed along to the following generations. Those of us who have been pregnant carry the cells of those children and they carry ours forever through fetal microchimerism when their cells pass through the placenta into our bodies and vice versa. Those fetal cells may even transfer to the next pregnancy or even from grandmother to grandchild. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8762399/ What about all those other foreign materials we had in our bodies--like birth control pills or rings, patches and injections--all created to stop procreation?
I think we'll be seeing new research on environmental toxins and their effect on fertility--things we ingest in our food and water--for both men and women.
It's not the money, it's the mind. Since the 70s we were brainwashed to think of people as a "bomb" to destroy the earth. More recently white, heterosexual males are discriminated against and made to apologize for being guys and thought of as an enemy, or whose masculinity is frail enough to be simply a thought or feeling to become whatever a trans-activist group decides. It's not good for the future or the nation. Any nation.
Thursday, April 24, 2025
Representative Ayanna Pressley of the Squad
Big earrings and eyelashes congress person, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., didn't scream due process when Biden imported non-citizens to steal our voting rights, and who were also violent criminals, and she didn't warn you that you could be kidnapped and deported when Barack Obama became known as the deporter in chief.* What's up with the squad lady? She's the liar in chief, spreading fear and hatred to ignorant people.
* "Border apprehensions and removals increased in FY 2016 compared to the prior year, DHS reported. In FY 2016, DHS carried out 530,250 apprehensions and 344,354 removals, compared to 462,388 apprehensions and 333,341 removals a year earlier. Despite the increase, these numbers were far lower than the peak of enforcement operations at the beginning of the Obama years, after he inherited a robust enforcement regime from his predecessors. These numbers dipped as new enforcement priorities were put in place, before rebounding slightly at the end of the Obama presidency."
So even if playing loosey goosey with the numbers, the base of the Democrat party didn't cry "no due process" when Obama removed illegals.
Article: The Obama Record on Deportations: Deporte.. | migrationpolicy.org
* "Border apprehensions and removals increased in FY 2016 compared to the prior year, DHS reported. In FY 2016, DHS carried out 530,250 apprehensions and 344,354 removals, compared to 462,388 apprehensions and 333,341 removals a year earlier. Despite the increase, these numbers were far lower than the peak of enforcement operations at the beginning of the Obama years, after he inherited a robust enforcement regime from his predecessors. These numbers dipped as new enforcement priorities were put in place, before rebounding slightly at the end of the Obama presidency."
So even if playing loosey goosey with the numbers, the base of the Democrat party didn't cry "no due process" when Obama removed illegals.
Article: The Obama Record on Deportations: Deporte.. | migrationpolicy.org
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Our funny Easter afternoon
We had a funny thing happen on Sunday after our Easter lunch. Our daughter had found a website for unclaimed funds in Ohio and found my name about 12 times. When I saw it was PNC bank I said I'd bought stock in a small savings and loan in our neighborhood in the 1970s, it had been sold several times, and finally was bought by PNC. The recession in 2008 happened and I started getting 10 cent dividend checks which I ignored. About 15 years ago I went to a branch of PNC and said I wanted to sell my stock, but I had to have something that verified I had owned the stock and they said they didn't have my address! Of course I'd been getting ten cent checks at my address. So, from these uncashed checks the state now owes me $2.94! She filled out the paper work and sent it (probably took 30 minutes). Then she decided to check our deceased son Phil's name and she found one entry for Pay Pal for $10. When she filled out the claim, it was much more complicated because my husband is his beneficiary. We had to look up his SS number and the name, address, birthday and also the marriage date and birthday of his former wife (required)! I don't keep that information lying around, so my daughter messaged his former wife. Meanwhile I found my genealogy book and I did have it, so we messaged her back saying forget the first message. Then she messaged us and we said Happy Easter! That probably took an hour. So, in a way, he was with us on Easter--the sort of humor Phil would love.
"National City Corp., Ohio's biggest bank, acquired Buckeye Federal Savings and Loan of Columbus in 1991 which had a small branch in the Tremont Shopping Center close to our home. This week it agreed to be bought by PNC Financial Services Group for more than $5 billion. I had opened a savings account at Buckeye Federal because it was convenient (within walking distance). When depositors were allowed to buy stock, I did--maybe 10 shares. I think until it was bought by National City, I used my dividends to buy more stock. This was my first adventure into investing, and I know exactly where the money came from and the sad, sad story of where it has gone (subprime mortgages). My last dividend check was thirty-two cents, less than the stamp to mail it."
A blog is useful for checking things like this. I found it in my blog for October 25, 2008.
Monday, April 21, 2025
Scary Christian writer?
I was surprised to hear a Christian writer I respect say that Trump's first 100 days were the scariest he's experienced -- referring to tariffs and Doge (I think was his reasoning).
Scarier than 9/11?
Scarier than the enormous increase in medical costs and how we were lied to about Obamacare and Covid 19?
Scarier than 4 years of not knowing if the president could do anything more difficult than ordering his favorite ice cream?
Scarier than the U.S. being last place in first world countries in education despite 108% (inflation adjusted) increase in spending recently--despite we were first before the Dept. of Education was created?
Scarier than setting learning back 2 years for all the children in public schools and knowing they have to enter the work world and compete with China with that deficit?
Scarier than the huge violations of our rights during the Covid shutdown, including freedom of religion when churches were closed?
Scarier than mandatory vaccines and the growing increase in physical harm being revealed especially among the young?
Scarier than millions of illegals flooding our borders and at least 2 million getting social security cards so they can vote?
Scarier than Americans thinking USAID was about "aid" and not about agency for international development (aka foreign influence and control)?
Scarier than having Democrats create and use Lawfare to destroy the Republican candidate?
Scarier than knowing Democrats set Trump up for assassination because who else hated him that much and were terrified that he would uncover their crimes?
Scarier than what's been uncovered by Doge--payoffs to the media, grants frittering away American billions on foolish and dangerous political agendas harmful to our nation?
Scarier than a proxy war in Ukraine and a religious war in the Middle East?
Scarier than finding out how unfair the tariff system has been for at least 40 years and Donald Trump has been telling us that the whole time and no one listened?
Scarier than the ugly face of anti-Semitism that we see on Democrat controlled college campuses, especially the elite Ivy League
Scarier than how the Democrat media yawned at the bombing of Jewish governor Josh Shapiro's home, but are excited about socialists AOC and Bernie fund raising? And how Democrats passed Josh Shapiro over for Tim Walz for vice president?
And I could go on, but that Christian writer needs to dig deeper. The only perfect guy with no faults rose from the dead.
Really?
Scarier than 9/11?
Scarier than Biden's bugout in Afghanistan?
Scarier than the enormous increase in medical costs and how we were lied to about Obamacare and Covid 19?
Scarier than 4 years of not knowing if the president could do anything more difficult than ordering his favorite ice cream?
Scarier than the U.S. being last place in first world countries in education despite 108% (inflation adjusted) increase in spending recently--despite we were first before the Dept. of Education was created?
Scarier than setting learning back 2 years for all the children in public schools and knowing they have to enter the work world and compete with China with that deficit?
Scarier than the huge violations of our rights during the Covid shutdown, including freedom of religion when churches were closed?
Scarier than mandatory vaccines and the growing increase in physical harm being revealed especially among the young?
Scarier than millions of illegals flooding our borders and at least 2 million getting social security cards so they can vote?
Scarier than Americans thinking USAID was about "aid" and not about agency for international development (aka foreign influence and control)?
Scarier than having Democrats create and use Lawfare to destroy the Republican candidate?
Scarier than knowing Democrats set Trump up for assassination because who else hated him that much and were terrified that he would uncover their crimes?
Scarier than what's been uncovered by Doge--payoffs to the media, grants frittering away American billions on foolish and dangerous political agendas harmful to our nation?
Scarier than a proxy war in Ukraine and a religious war in the Middle East?
Scarier than finding out how unfair the tariff system has been for at least 40 years and Donald Trump has been telling us that the whole time and no one listened?
Scarier than the ugly face of anti-Semitism that we see on Democrat controlled college campuses, especially the elite Ivy League
Scarier than how the Democrat media yawned at the bombing of Jewish governor Josh Shapiro's home, but are excited about socialists AOC and Bernie fund raising? And how Democrats passed Josh Shapiro over for Tim Walz for vice president?
And I could go on, but that Christian writer needs to dig deeper. The only perfect guy with no faults rose from the dead.
Sunday, April 20, 2025
Paschal lamb
Most of my adult life I've heard the word paschal at Easter, and I've read it and heard it and knew it was connected to Easter, but it didn't sound like Latin or Greek or German like many English words, so I decided to look it up this morning before we left for church (early service 8:15 at Windermere School because our building still isn't ready!).
"The word "paschal" comes from the Latin word "paschalis," which in turn comes from the Greek word "paskha," meaning "Passover." The Greek word "paskha" is derived from the Hebrew word "pesakh," which means "to pass over." "
That makes sense. It sounds like Passover and I know that word, so that will help. Still, it's a bit vague. Let's look at a different etymological entry.
paschal(adj.)
"of or pertaining to Passover or Easter," early 15c., from Old French paschal (12c.) and directly from Late Latin paschalis, from pascha "Passover, Easter," from Greek pascha "Passover," from Aramaic (Semitic) pasha "pass over," corresponding to Hebrew pesah, from pasah "he passed over" (see Passover). Pasche was an early Middle English term for "Easter" (see Easter), and the older Dutch form of the word, Paas, was retained in New York."
Passover
"annual Jewish feast instituted to commemorate the escape from Egypt, 1530, coined by Tyndale from verbal phrase pass over, to translate Hebrew ha-pesah "Passover," from pesah (see paschal), in reference to the Lord "passing over" the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when he killed the first-born of the Egyptians (Exodus xii). By extension including the following seven days during which the Israelites were permitted to eat only unleavened bread.
Pasch
"Easter," also "Passover," early 12c., Pasche, Paske; see paschal. Now archaic. Pasch-egg "Easter egg" is from 1570s.
"The word "paschal" comes from the Latin word "paschalis," which in turn comes from the Greek word "paskha," meaning "Passover." The Greek word "paskha" is derived from the Hebrew word "pesakh," which means "to pass over." "
That makes sense. It sounds like Passover and I know that word, so that will help. Still, it's a bit vague. Let's look at a different etymological entry.
paschal(adj.)
"of or pertaining to Passover or Easter," early 15c., from Old French paschal (12c.) and directly from Late Latin paschalis, from pascha "Passover, Easter," from Greek pascha "Passover," from Aramaic (Semitic) pasha "pass over," corresponding to Hebrew pesah, from pasah "he passed over" (see Passover). Pasche was an early Middle English term for "Easter" (see Easter), and the older Dutch form of the word, Paas, was retained in New York."
So now we're back to Aramaic and we've got some Dutch. I do remember Paas being a brand name for the dye we had for coloring eggs. And a few more helpful tips from that website, etymonline.com to tie it all together and I hope I remember this next Easter.
"annual Jewish feast instituted to commemorate the escape from Egypt, 1530, coined by Tyndale from verbal phrase pass over, to translate Hebrew ha-pesah "Passover," from pesah (see paschal), in reference to the Lord "passing over" the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when he killed the first-born of the Egyptians (Exodus xii). By extension including the following seven days during which the Israelites were permitted to eat only unleavened bread.
Pasch
"Easter," also "Passover," early 12c., Pasche, Paske; see paschal. Now archaic. Pasch-egg "Easter egg" is from 1570s.
Saturday, April 19, 2025
I asked how long the Civil War in Sudan had been going on--two years
"On the morning of April 15, 2023, residents of Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, faced the shock of fighting breaking out in their city, which rapidly spread to other parts of the country. Two years on, Sudan’s conflict, which pits the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and a multitude of armed groups and militias allied to these forces, has ravaged the country. The lives of tens of millions have been shattered, while tens of thousands of civilians have died."
Friday, April 18, 2025
Is the federal workforce in danger? Are the cuts necessary?
A few weeks ago I read (I think it was Pew) that there are 3+ million federal employees and in another article I read that 79,000+ had been laid off or fired. I'm math challenged but with Prof. Google's help that's 2.6% of the federal workforce. Am I figuring that right? I realize that if it's your job, it's 100%, but in the big picture, that's not huge. If it's your coffee shop next to a building that is empty, you might go out of business.
Many are taking early retirement and many were probationary, and unfortunately Biden added a huge number of unnecessary administrative staff to the employment numbers in a few short years of his administration. Federal workers increased 6% during the Biden administration according to Government Executive. It was one of his campaign promises.
Even 2 billion in our money cut from Harvard is not a big deal when you know that its endowment investment is $53.2 billion. That should allow enough for a few DEI courses and anti-America classes not on our dime. Plus Harvard still has all the money (full tuition) from all the foreign governments that have planted their "students" there. I think the terms are fair.
Even 2 billion in our money cut from Harvard is not a big deal when you know that its endowment investment is $53.2 billion. That should allow enough for a few DEI courses and anti-America classes not on our dime. Plus Harvard still has all the money (full tuition) from all the foreign governments that have planted their "students" there. I think the terms are fair.
Monday, April 14, 2025
What Ken Blackwell wants in a President
Ken Blackwell is well known in Ohio (mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio (1979–1980), the Ohio State Treasurer (1994–1999), and Ohio Secretary of State (1999–2007). On Facebook he recorded a conversation he had with a friend on another platform.
"So I get into it with a friend on another platform who keeps spewing the same propaganda as if anyone who voted for Trump lost their minds and rely on him like God to make our lives better. He also accused me of being willing to sidestep democracy to get the things I want. I may have lost a friend, because my correction was as follows:
“You folks and your propaganda are nauseating. You think it’s about making my life better? It’s all about me?
You know what I wanted out of Trump?
The same damn thing I wanted out of Obama, Biden, Bush, Big Bush and Clinton.
Those those things are the following
- Transparency
- A secure border
- Honesty
- Common sense leadership
- Doing exactly what you campaigned on
- A strong military
- An end to political indoctrination in our schools
- Respect for personal freedom
- And someone who would think about America first before giving everything to the world while his own people suffer.
Not one of them came through. Each one of them failed. Most didn’t even try. They just faked it well enough that you are still pining for their pipe dream. But guess who did come through? As flawed as he is as a person, it was freaking Trump. A man I was never a fan of personally but respect because he does the hell what he says he’s going to do or tries.
That’s what I voted for. Not some polished fake politician who pretends to be an angel but is doing the devils work as we are distracted by their platitudes and symbolic gestures that get us absolutely no where.
No one is side stepping democracy, genius. By the way, we don’t live in a democracy. We live in a constitutional republic.
But let’s go with your twisted idea of democracy.
Was it democracy when Biden coerced Big Tech into silencing millions of Americans for their opinions and thoughts?
Was it democracy when that old man lied to you and told you he didn’t know about his sons dealings and that the laptop didn’t exist? Because for many that may have changed their vote in the 2020 election if they knew then candidate Biden was compromised.
Was it democracy when he got 51 intelligence agents who we are supposed to trust, to go along with the lie and call it Russian disinformation?
Was it democracy to force people to choose between feeding their damn family and a damn shot in the arm that is causing damage to a lot of people?
Was it democracy when Biden flew in hundreds of thousands of migrants in the middle of the night without telling us and also opened the borders? Did we the American people have a say in that? No the heck we didn’t.
Was it democracy when if we question elections or vaccines that we get silenced and are forced to self sensor just to survive?
It that’s your democracy? You can keep that crap bro, respectfully.
Trump is no God or saint but it’s a damn shame it took a flawed man to do right by the American people. He’s showing you how corrupt your government truly is and I’m here for it. No regrets whatsoever.”
You know what I wanted out of Trump?
The same damn thing I wanted out of Obama, Biden, Bush, Big Bush and Clinton.
Those those things are the following
- Transparency
- A secure border
- Honesty
- Common sense leadership
- Doing exactly what you campaigned on
- A strong military
- An end to political indoctrination in our schools
- Respect for personal freedom
- And someone who would think about America first before giving everything to the world while his own people suffer.
Not one of them came through. Each one of them failed. Most didn’t even try. They just faked it well enough that you are still pining for their pipe dream. But guess who did come through? As flawed as he is as a person, it was freaking Trump. A man I was never a fan of personally but respect because he does the hell what he says he’s going to do or tries.
That’s what I voted for. Not some polished fake politician who pretends to be an angel but is doing the devils work as we are distracted by their platitudes and symbolic gestures that get us absolutely no where.
No one is side stepping democracy, genius. By the way, we don’t live in a democracy. We live in a constitutional republic.
But let’s go with your twisted idea of democracy.
Was it democracy when Biden coerced Big Tech into silencing millions of Americans for their opinions and thoughts?
Was it democracy when that old man lied to you and told you he didn’t know about his sons dealings and that the laptop didn’t exist? Because for many that may have changed their vote in the 2020 election if they knew then candidate Biden was compromised.
Was it democracy when he got 51 intelligence agents who we are supposed to trust, to go along with the lie and call it Russian disinformation?
Was it democracy to force people to choose between feeding their damn family and a damn shot in the arm that is causing damage to a lot of people?
Was it democracy when Biden flew in hundreds of thousands of migrants in the middle of the night without telling us and also opened the borders? Did we the American people have a say in that? No the heck we didn’t.
Was it democracy when if we question elections or vaccines that we get silenced and are forced to self sensor just to survive?
It that’s your democracy? You can keep that crap bro, respectfully.
Trump is no God or saint but it’s a damn shame it took a flawed man to do right by the American people. He’s showing you how corrupt your government truly is and I’m here for it. No regrets whatsoever.”
Saturday, April 12, 2025
Social Security Numbers given by Biden
“President Trump promised mass deportations, and by removing the monetary incentive for illegal aliens to come and stay, we will encourage them to self-deport,” White House spokeswoman Elizabeth Huston said in a statement. [NYT quote]
Friday, April 11, 2025
Christians who defend slavery
On February 20, 2025, "the Trump administration officially designated eight Latin American cartels, including six from Mexico, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) for their major roles in drug smuggling and human trafficking into the United States." 72%, of those trafficked for sex in the U.S. are immigrants. Most of them are here illegally.
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/how-us-military-action-against-drug-cartels-in-mexico-could-unfold/?
I'm concerned that Trump haters, many of whom are Democrat Christians, don't seem to understand the seriousness of this. Particularly the sex trafficking of women and children, as well as labor trafficking. Let's call it by a less sanitized name: slavery. Drugs are not a renewable, sustainable enterprise--slavery is. Once they sneak (or openly transport with open borders as in the Biden administration) them in, the victims and their families have to repay exorbitant prices to the cartels/smugglers. There are always more dues to pay. Some Christians are looking the other way just as they were in the 1850s-1860s or during the Jim Crow era. They waste their time with ever expanding and lucrative DEI contracts while ignoring the slavery right in front of them.
Ten or fifteen years ago there were many articles, documentaries, and meetings about this cancer. More than today. It's as though we Christians were all talk and no walk, a common failing. Now that someone is actually getting tough there's more virtue signaling, hand wringing and Lawfare.
I'm concerned that Trump haters, many of whom are Democrat Christians, don't seem to understand the seriousness of this. Particularly the sex trafficking of women and children, as well as labor trafficking. Let's call it by a less sanitized name: slavery. Drugs are not a renewable, sustainable enterprise--slavery is. Once they sneak (or openly transport with open borders as in the Biden administration) them in, the victims and their families have to repay exorbitant prices to the cartels/smugglers. There are always more dues to pay. Some Christians are looking the other way just as they were in the 1850s-1860s or during the Jim Crow era. They waste their time with ever expanding and lucrative DEI contracts while ignoring the slavery right in front of them.
Ten or fifteen years ago there were many articles, documentaries, and meetings about this cancer. More than today. It's as though we Christians were all talk and no walk, a common failing. Now that someone is actually getting tough there's more virtue signaling, hand wringing and Lawfare.
https://www.heritage.org/border-security/commentary/fighting-human-trafficking-and-battling-bidens-open-border?
https://www.foxnews.com/us/illegal-smuggling-coyotes-now-advertising-canada-border-amid-trump-migrant-crackdown-report?
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Surviving the tariff negotiations
A lot of the fallout for me from yesterday's tariff negotiations has been watching the leftist media, Dem politicians and some RINOS and no-names fall flat on their predictions. It has been a quagmire of "but he said on Monday," and "he's created chaos." I watched about 3 hours in the afternoon and thought I should stop and take a nap while the stock market soared. I've never been to an open market in Haiti, but I have been to garage sales and even the Memorial Day sale at Lakeside. I know wheeling and dealing, mind changing, watching for new merch to show up, and haggling with someone sitting on a chair that's for sale but not sold. We were watching the Art of the Deal (his 1987 book).
3. Maximize the options
“I never get too attached to one deal or one approach…I keep a lot of balls in the air, because most deals fall out, no matter how promising they seem at first.”
5. Use your leverage
“The worst thing you can possibly do in a deal is seem desperate to make it. That makes the other guy smell blood, and then you’re dead.”
8. Fight back
“In most cases I’m very easy to get along with. I’m very good to people who are good to me. But when people treat me badly or unfairly or try to take advantage of me, my general attitude, all my life, has been to fight back very hard.”
11. Have fun [this is the one that drives leftists bonkers--they never see the humor in what he says or does]
“Money was never a big motivation for me, except as a way to keep score. The real excitement is playing the game.”
3. Maximize the options
“I never get too attached to one deal or one approach…I keep a lot of balls in the air, because most deals fall out, no matter how promising they seem at first.”
5. Use your leverage
“The worst thing you can possibly do in a deal is seem desperate to make it. That makes the other guy smell blood, and then you’re dead.”
8. Fight back
“In most cases I’m very easy to get along with. I’m very good to people who are good to me. But when people treat me badly or unfairly or try to take advantage of me, my general attitude, all my life, has been to fight back very hard.”
11. Have fun [this is the one that drives leftists bonkers--they never see the humor in what he says or does]
“Money was never a big motivation for me, except as a way to keep score. The real excitement is playing the game.”
Wednesday, April 09, 2025
Remember what they've put us through--Trump's first term
From Thomas DeVore FB post.
For the last 4+ years, the Democrats went scorched earth. Good thing almost 80 million of us have memories longer than a hamster.
We remember the women’s march (vagina hats
and all) the day after the inauguration.
We remember the 4 years of attacks and impeachments.
We remember “not our president” and the “Resistance…”
We remember Maxine Walters telling followers to harass us in restaurants.
We remember the Presidents spokesperson being kicked out a restaurant.
We remember hundreds of Trump supporters physically attacked.
We remember Trump supporters getting Doxed, and fired from jobs.
We remember riots, and looting.
We remember “a comedian” holding up the President’s severed head.
We remember a play in Central park paid with public funding, showing the killing of President Trump.
We remember Robert de Niro yelling “F" Trump” at the Tony’s and getting a standing ovation.
We remember Nancy Pelosi tearing up the State of the Union Address.
We remember the total in the tank move on the mainstream media.
We remember the non-stop and live fact checking on our President and his supporters.
We remember non-stop in your face lies and open cover-ups from the media.
We remember the President and his staff being spied on.
We remember five House members being shot on a ballfield.
We remember every so-called comedy show turn into nothing but Trump hate fest.
We remember 95% negative coverage in the news.
We remember the state governors asking and getting everything they ask for and then blaming Trump for their problems.
We remember a Trump top aid verbally assaulted in two DC restaurants.
We remember people banging on the Supreme Court doors.
We remember that we were called every name in the book for supporting President Trump.
We remember that Hollywood said they would leave after Trump was elected but they stayed.
We remember being called Nazis
We remember being called Deplorables
We remember being called Fascists
We remember trying to put our President in prison.
We remember trying to bankrupt our President.
And yes, we remember trying to assassinate our President twice.
The Democrats having been on the attack for over 4 long years do not get a free pass with me
For the last 4+ years, the Democrats went scorched earth. Good thing almost 80 million of us have memories longer than a hamster.
We remember the women’s march (vagina hats
and all) the day after the inauguration.We remember the 4 years of attacks and impeachments.
We remember “not our president” and the “Resistance…”
We remember Maxine Walters telling followers to harass us in restaurants.
We remember the Presidents spokesperson being kicked out a restaurant.
We remember hundreds of Trump supporters physically attacked.
We remember Trump supporters getting Doxed, and fired from jobs.
We remember riots, and looting.
We remember “a comedian” holding up the President’s severed head.
We remember a play in Central park paid with public funding, showing the killing of President Trump.
We remember Robert de Niro yelling “F" Trump” at the Tony’s and getting a standing ovation.
We remember Nancy Pelosi tearing up the State of the Union Address.
We remember the total in the tank move on the mainstream media.
We remember the non-stop and live fact checking on our President and his supporters.
We remember non-stop in your face lies and open cover-ups from the media.
We remember the President and his staff being spied on.
We remember five House members being shot on a ballfield.
We remember every so-called comedy show turn into nothing but Trump hate fest.
We remember 95% negative coverage in the news.
We remember the state governors asking and getting everything they ask for and then blaming Trump for their problems.
We remember a Trump top aid verbally assaulted in two DC restaurants.
We remember people banging on the Supreme Court doors.
We remember that we were called every name in the book for supporting President Trump.
We remember that Hollywood said they would leave after Trump was elected but they stayed.
We remember being called Nazis
We remember being called Deplorables
We remember being called Fascists
We remember trying to put our President in prison.
We remember trying to bankrupt our President.
And yes, we remember trying to assassinate our President twice.
The Democrats having been on the attack for over 4 long years do not get a free pass with me
Tuesday, April 08, 2025
Are you ready to retire?
I retired 25 years ago (Oct. 2025), and I've lived through a number of down turns in the stock market, which now is my income. Dot com bubble hit just as I was planning what I'd do with all that time. Remember that one? It was during the Clinton years, although he wasn't responsible for the bubble or the burst. I was just learning how to read the WSJ and follow the stocks! Checking daily could make one faint. For those of you about to retire, here's a reminder.
"The dot-com bubble (or dot-com boom) was a stock market bubble that ballooned during the late-1990s and peaked on Friday, March 10, 2000. This period of market growth coincided with the widespread adoption of the World Wide Web and the Internet, resulting in a dispensation of available venture capital and the rapid growth of valuations in new dot-com startups. Between 1995 and its peak in March 2000, investments in the NASDAQ composite stock market index rose by 800%, only to fall 78% from its peak by October 2002, giving up all its gains during the bubble."Repeat. Giving up all its gains during the bubble.
If you sold anything since April 2 and the tariff announcements because you were listening to the legacy media, aka the "sky is falling and it's Trump's fault" media, then you're just not ready to retire yet.
If you sold anything since April 2 and the tariff announcements because you were listening to the legacy media, aka the "sky is falling and it's Trump's fault" media, then you're just not ready to retire yet.
Wednesday, April 02, 2025
Institute of Museum and Library Services and Doge
Lots of outrage against Doge for cutting the IMLS budget--a small federal agency with some money for grants to museums and libraries. The cuts were to DC staff it seems who cut the checks, so it's not clear in the article how many were coming to work or if there is another agency to pick up the obligations. I quickly scanned the Wired article and saw nothing essential, but did notice California could lose $54,000 to 5 Indian tribes for children's books. By the time all that sifts through the layers of bureaucracy, it's not a lot of money for the kids books. Guess how much Dolly Parton has contributed to help needy children with books to read: $240,000,000!
Libraries and museums are primarily funded by state and local taxes, and I would not call IMLS a "key" funding source, which articles I've read have claimed. It was created in 1996 in a Republican initiative when Clinton was president and Laura Bush (who was a librarian) was a big supporter. It was created with a merger of several agencies, probably to reduce duplication.
https://www.wired.com/story/institute-museum-library-services-layoffs/
There are thousands of small or unorganized collections of memorabilia or "culturally significant" objects through out the country--some connected to a local public institution, like a library, some not. I'm sure IMLS was a source of grant money if the person or group that started it died off. To my knowledge IMLS doesn't fund our Museum of Catholic Art and History in Columbus. https://www.catholicmuseum.org/about-us/ For years a retired priest collected "stuff" as small Catholic churches in Ohio were closed, and it was stored in an old school building. It now has its own home in an unused Catholic building. I've never been there but the website looks great. As far as I know it runs on donations and gifts from benefactors and volunteers. Another one I know about because I attended a program about it at Lakeside is a collection of a black family from Toledo. These are microcosms of our culture. I think they should be supported at the local level--not the federal. Our own Ohio History Connection may have been a recipient of such grants--I never looked in to it, but the people of Ohio need to support that and not depend on Mississippi and Arkansas.
Libraries and museums are primarily funded by state and local taxes, and I would not call IMLS a "key" funding source, which articles I've read have claimed. It was created in 1996 in a Republican initiative when Clinton was president and Laura Bush (who was a librarian) was a big supporter. It was created with a merger of several agencies, probably to reduce duplication.
https://www.wired.com/story/institute-museum-library-services-layoffs/
Tuesday, April 01, 2025
Are we shocked by Biden's criminal behavior?
4.8 million noncitizens have been given Social Security numbers since fiscal year 2021 and Doge.com has identified 20 million deceased individuals marked alive in the Social Security database according to Elon Musk. They were looking for fraud and theft and instead found the Democrat Party attempting to take over the country by importing desperate people and gangsters. Musk was shocked. I wasn't.
Saturday, March 29, 2025
My idea on how to save the Democrat Party
I have an idea about how to save the Democrat party. It's not original--I thought of it watching Kristi Noem's commercials. She's the former Governor of South Dakota and current Secretary of Homeland Security. Have a handsome, credible Democrat (someone as likeable as Harold Ford, Jr.) invite all the Communists and Socialists to leave the Democrat Party. That's it. Run the commercial on all Networks several times a day. Ford could be nice and not threaten to put them in a prison for thugs, even if they deserve it. They could either join the celebs who've gone to Ireland or Mexico, or they could start their own party and be open about who they are. That would leave the liberals to develop some ideas that don't include destroying the country or using all the Soviet style show trials.
Almond flour pastry
On the 26th I wrote about the low glycemic index of almond flour. Although I bought finely ground for my experiment, it's like eating bran. I guess you need the finely ground without the testa or skin. This sticks to your teeth for hours.
California is the largest grower of almonds which were developed in Asia and have been harvested since antiquity. In California, the shaker machine to knock the almonds off the trees is followed by a picker-upper machine that collects the fallen fruits. You would think an agricultural crop this ancient could find a better word than "picker-upper."
California is the largest grower of almonds which were developed in Asia and have been harvested since antiquity. In California, the shaker machine to knock the almonds off the trees is followed by a picker-upper machine that collects the fallen fruits. You would think an agricultural crop this ancient could find a better word than "picker-upper."
Thursday, March 27, 2025
Signal chat-gate--adding a leftist editor by mistake
Recently I was added by mistake to a chat group of relatives discussing the next family reunion. Except I wasn't part of the clan, nor could I figure out how or why I was added. Not all names are readable, and some people use nicknames, or a collection of letters. I finally figured out the person was the wife of a step cousin, and I'd never met her. Probably she added contacts to her phone from her husband's phone and to my knowledge he and I had only met once years ago and I never saw him again. It may have been at the wedding that made us shirt tail cousins. My name has probably been shared through "reply all" to set up the next reunion.
Someone asks, if you realize you've been mistakenly added to a chat group, when would you mention it. Especially if it involved a sensitive matter, like war. Yes, let's put the responsibility on the Editor Jeffrey Goldberg of Atlantic. Would he be ethical enough to delete himself from the group, or would he use it against the man he hates? Obviously, he'll side with hate. He didn't speak out to my knowledge or object to having a man with dementia running the war effort in the last administration, and every enemy of the U.S. saw that daily on the TV. In fact, two wars were started and thousands have died because Biden showed the world what was wrong with him.
Someone asks, if you realize you've been mistakenly added to a chat group, when would you mention it. Especially if it involved a sensitive matter, like war. Yes, let's put the responsibility on the Editor Jeffrey Goldberg of Atlantic. Would he be ethical enough to delete himself from the group, or would he use it against the man he hates? Obviously, he'll side with hate. He didn't speak out to my knowledge or object to having a man with dementia running the war effort in the last administration, and every enemy of the U.S. saw that daily on the TV. In fact, two wars were started and thousands have died because Biden showed the world what was wrong with him.
Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society at The Ohio State University
Here in Columbus, Ohio, at The Ohio State University we now have the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society. The new center was funded as part of a $24 million allocation for intellectual diversity centers in Ohio Senate Bill 117. I sincerely hope it can balance the DEI ideology with intellectual diversity. Today the Columbus Dispatch (Democrat controlled) contained an article about the first event on March 25. The co-sponsors were The Center for Ethics and Human Values, the Institute for Democratic Engagement and Accountability and the John Glenn College of Public Affairs. Four other Ohio universities have these centers, but I'm not sure they all have the Chase name.
The article states that confidence in higher education in America has slumped in recent years. It's my personal opinion that the Obama and Biden administrations (12 years) has contributed to this,
"A Gallup poll published in July 2024 found that Americans are nearly equally divided on their confidence levels in higher education. Those who have a lot of confidence in higher education, about 36%, just barely outweigh those who have some confidence (32%) and those with little or no confidence (32%) in higher education. That is in stark contrast to when Gallup first measured confidence in higher education in 2015, when 57% had a great deal or quite a lot of confidence and only 10% had little or none."
And one of those reasons for the falling confidence was not in the article but in the advertisement that popped up in the middle of the digital version. Maybe the Dispatch and Ohio State had no control over the LGBTQ ad for transition and affirmative care to change the physical appearance of those with gender dysphoria at Cleveland's University Hospital. I scrolled through it and in the small print it said it's for over 18 (that's still high school), but I'm sure that is a soft landing and there are many "farm clubs" contributing to its customer base. Another reason for low confidence is the funding all universities accept to "educate" foreign students. We're seeing that play out now with Trump trying to deport a professional trouble maker.
The Johns Hopkins president was concerned about the "drift to authoritarianism" and a number of students led a protest and wanted OSU President Carter to join them.
And we're off to the races to turn this Center to the Left. That's what has happened to so many foundations and NGO's funded by conservatives and patriots.
The article states that confidence in higher education in America has slumped in recent years. It's my personal opinion that the Obama and Biden administrations (12 years) has contributed to this,
"A Gallup poll published in July 2024 found that Americans are nearly equally divided on their confidence levels in higher education. Those who have a lot of confidence in higher education, about 36%, just barely outweigh those who have some confidence (32%) and those with little or no confidence (32%) in higher education. That is in stark contrast to when Gallup first measured confidence in higher education in 2015, when 57% had a great deal or quite a lot of confidence and only 10% had little or none."
And one of those reasons for the falling confidence was not in the article but in the advertisement that popped up in the middle of the digital version. Maybe the Dispatch and Ohio State had no control over the LGBTQ ad for transition and affirmative care to change the physical appearance of those with gender dysphoria at Cleveland's University Hospital. I scrolled through it and in the small print it said it's for over 18 (that's still high school), but I'm sure that is a soft landing and there are many "farm clubs" contributing to its customer base. Another reason for low confidence is the funding all universities accept to "educate" foreign students. We're seeing that play out now with Trump trying to deport a professional trouble maker.
The Johns Hopkins president was concerned about the "drift to authoritarianism" and a number of students led a protest and wanted OSU President Carter to join them.
And we're off to the races to turn this Center to the Left. That's what has happened to so many foundations and NGO's funded by conservatives and patriots.
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
I used to blog about Lily and her treatment
I loved reading this story about Lily and Lily's Garden. She's now 23, and I blogged about her childhood cancer and her relapse years ago because I met her grandparents and aunt when I began blogging in 2003.
https://issuu.com/vanderbilt-ingram/docs/vicc_momentum_winter_2025/s/66101244?
Collecting My Thoughts: Lily’s Leukemia battle
Collecting My Thoughts: Larisa’s report on Lily’s Leukemia
Collecting My Thoughts: Update from Larisa on Lily’s leukemia
Collecting My Thoughts: An update on Lily, Leukemia survivor, from her mother
Collecting My Thoughts: Childhood cancer--a grandmother's guest blog
Who was the first president of the United States?
Have you ever listened to the spring break interviews on civics or history? Jesse Watters on Fox has a side kick named Johnny, and I think that's how he started when he worked with Bill O'Reilly. He asks the questions of the man on the street, or on the beach. They would be hilarious if they weren't so scary. My hope is they ask a thousand intelligent students before they find dumb and dumber ones to show on TV. If they don't know who the first president of the U.S.* was or what country we defeated in the Revolutionary War, why should they understand what a tariff is? Or what Elon Musk is doing to keep their future safe? It's so scary to think the Democrats will recruit them to vote but refuse to educate them.
*Before we were the United States we had a Continental Congress and it had a President, Peyton Randolph, so technically you could call him first. But there were others, even though the office was very different then. The 14 Men Who Were President Before George Washington. Other sources say there were 6 and since some served more than once they don't get counted twice.
Almond flour pie crusts and other recipies
Easy Low Carb Diabetic Almond Flour Crust - The Naked Diabetic
"Extra Fine Ground Almond Flour – This type of almond flour works best for recipes calling for sifting. When you want a more packed crust, always choose the finest grind available. Extra Finely ground almond flour is ideal for pie crusts and crusts that you want to cover the sides of a pie plate. The finest grinds also work better in cake and bar recipes,."
20 Best Low Carb Almond flour recipes for diabetics
"Living with diabetes doesn’t mean giving up delicious foods. With the right ingredients and recipes, you can still enjoy mouthwatering meals while managing your blood sugar levels. Almond flour is one such diabetic-friendly ingredient. In this article, we’ll explore 20 of my favourite almond flour recipes all crafted with diabetes management in mind. . .
Almond flour or almond meal and ground almonds, is rich in healthy fats, protein, essential nutrients and fibre. Unlike refined white all purpose flour, almond flour has a lower glycemic index, meaning it doesn’t cause spikes in blood sugar levels. Making almond flour a great option for those watching their carbohydrate intake."
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
The lonely letter c
I did it again. I was looking at a dictionary and my eyes found the page no one ever reads--the list of how to pronounce English. There were 10 selections for "a" (although it didn't list Aaron) and none for "c" which has no sound of its own. It showed K and S and sh (-cion). It's why English has about a million words--the sun never set on the Union Jack. And this was an American list--probably if the editors had tossed in Canada, India, Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand and Australia they would have needed a few pages for "a"; but still nothing for "c".
Ashley Mason and sleep routines
After I experienced sleep/back problems yesterday I opened the podcast by Peter Attia and it was advice about sleep hygiene. "In this episode, Ashley Mason provides a masterclass on cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), detailing techniques like time in bed restriction, stimulus control, and cognitive restructuring to improve sleep. She explains how to manage racing thoughts and anxiety, optimize sleep environments, and use practical tools like sleep diaries to track progress. She also offers detailed guidance on sleep hygiene, explores the impact of temperature regulation, blue light exposure, and bedtime routines." We learned a lot and refreshed our memories on things we knew but weren't doing,
The Peter Attia Drive: #341 - Overcoming insomnia: improving sleep hygiene and treating disordered sleep with cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia | Ashley Mason, Ph.D.
One thing she mentioned was don't listen to podcasts in bed--oops! (or watch TV or read a book or read e-mail) Last night we stayed up until 11 and finished watching Chip and Joanna redecorate a hotel before going to bed.
One thing she mentioned was don't listen to podcasts in bed--oops! (or watch TV or read a book or read e-mail) Last night we stayed up until 11 and finished watching Chip and Joanna redecorate a hotel before going to bed.
Monday, March 24, 2025
Apricot pastry bites
I think it's been about 10 years since I "gave up" anything for Lent, but this year I did think I could be sugar free. About 2 weeks after Ash Wednesday I was sort of hankering for something sweet, and a friend brought over a wonderful pie. I resisted (mostly, except for a sliver). But then I made a pastry bite--I like pies more than cookies or cake. I made the crust, cut it out with grandma's pastry cutter, and after baking it, I put a dollop of "Simply Fruit" jam on it. Tasted pretty good. Next time I'll make the crust thicker and maybe larger (comes in a set of 3) because I make a flaky crust, and it was hard to handle. Notice from the photo I had to eat a few to make sure they were OK. Apricot.
Harold Ford, Jr. on Fox News
Although I've never met him, I just love Harold Ford, Jr. He seems to be the only Democrat who has common sense, compassion and calmness. He's never said he likes Trump, but he did say he's the most powerful president of his lifetime. He is an African American who is one of the "liberals" on the Fox panel at 5 p.m., The Five. He now lives in New York but for years was a representative from Tennessee, as was his father. But I noticed today as he was interviewed about Schumer that reasonable Democrats do sound like fence sitters or maybe passive aggressive. What do you think? Do you like him too?
Happy Birthday, Dad
Happy Birthday to my dad--he would be 112 today, died in 2002. I don't have a lot of mushy, gushy remembrances like some of my FBF or blogging friends, but I do laugh at some of the stories I remember. He was really sappy with the grandchildren, but with his own kids--well, there was that thing called the Great Depression and WWII and trying to get his life back on track, and put all that behind him. My favorite story is the day he went to the court house to get his birth record for Social Security and was told he was registered as "baby boy." (I've seen the ledger book in calligraphic handwriting of 1913.) When asked could anyone vouch for his identity, he said, "Yes, my mother and father." We all got a good laugh, but Grandma sure wasn't happy about it. She'd had his name picked out a long time, and the doctor just forgot to register it (born at home).
Saturday, March 22, 2025
Visiting the National Archives on-line
I stopped at the National Archives site today just because I looked at one of the pdf records from the JFK files. But from there I got lost in all the interesting stuff in the Archives, and stopped to look at the military records, something I'd done about 15 years ago when I was doing genealogy. I'm not going to register (well, I did for just one newsletter) to be a citizen volunteer or get a login so I can answer other's questions, but it was interesting to read through "how can I find out about my uncle's WWII service" or something like that. I clicked on it because I had made similar inquiries years ago. And when someone reported she couldn't get a form to work, some helpful non-employee responded it was probably Trump's Doge program. Yikes, get real. Government forms fail all the time, and even years ago it might take weeks to get a reply--but when you do, those government archivists really know their stuff. Then I looked around at the educational programs for schools. I saw a lot of material on women and minorities just in case some media source has told you falsely that's all been scrubbed. If the writer has insulted or demeaned a group intentionally, I suppose it could have been removed.
You could spend years poking around the National Archives. It's an exciting place to visit on-line--or maybe it's just fun for retired librarians.
You could spend years poking around the National Archives. It's an exciting place to visit on-line--or maybe it's just fun for retired librarians.
Friday, March 21, 2025
Do Democrats have any plan but to destroy Trump?
"Fight, fight, fight." Donald Trump said after being almost assassinated in Butler, PA. So now the Dems think that's the magic. Yell fight, fight. That's the trick. Put on matching t-shirts paid for by Soros, cover your faces like the KKK and yell. But the only thing they know how to fight is Donald Trump. They don't fight the drug cartels, they don't fight the human trafficking, they don't fight Big Pharm or Big Farm. They don't know how to fight entrenched bureaucracy, they don't know how to fight for better food, or how to not kill the next generation. What kind of a fight are Democrats offering? Only chaos, my dear.
Thursday, March 20, 2025
The War in Ukraine
Perhaps there will be a cease fire in Ukraine. Perhaps the killing will pause or stop. For now. But there's over a thousand years of enmity, hate and killing, and then the more deadly 20th century, to tell us it won't last. Please find a history book written before the 21st century and read it. Be prepared.
My Ukrainian supervisor at the University of Illinois Library in the mid-60s told me he'd gone to high school in 4 countries, but his family hadn't moved.
My Ukrainian supervisor at the University of Illinois Library in the mid-60s told me he'd gone to high school in 4 countries, but his family hadn't moved.
We are blessed to be a blessing
Buffalo Grove, IL : "Tesla car owners, dealerships and charging stations have been targeted nationwide by protesters and vandals because of CEO Elon Musk's involvement with the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which aims to slash wasteful spending and fraud within the federal government."
Shocking. This story was about a suburban woman. The Left used to admire electric cars and tackling government waste and fraud. Obama and Clinton lauded it. Now we know that was all scripted by Soros and others who were drinking from the Government corruption hose. Our own citizens are having their brains warped and wounded by Trump Derangement Syndrome. They now hate what Democrats used to stand for.
I still want care for the environment. We forgot that in the "Green New Deal." Reduce waste and clean up after yourself. If we had a cabinet member for that we could all breath fresh air and not look at trash along every intersection. I want fair tariffs and honest government workers, and grants that go for worthwhile research instead of building academic empires. How did we end up with so much graft? The lower and mid-income in our country are the biggest, most generous (in percentage) and the two biggest corporate giants, Buffett and Musk , are the most generous in amounts. Rich or ordinary--we have been blessed to be a blessing. Let's get back to that value system.
Shocking. This story was about a suburban woman. The Left used to admire electric cars and tackling government waste and fraud. Obama and Clinton lauded it. Now we know that was all scripted by Soros and others who were drinking from the Government corruption hose. Our own citizens are having their brains warped and wounded by Trump Derangement Syndrome. They now hate what Democrats used to stand for.
I still want care for the environment. We forgot that in the "Green New Deal." Reduce waste and clean up after yourself. If we had a cabinet member for that we could all breath fresh air and not look at trash along every intersection. I want fair tariffs and honest government workers, and grants that go for worthwhile research instead of building academic empires. How did we end up with so much graft? The lower and mid-income in our country are the biggest, most generous (in percentage) and the two biggest corporate giants, Buffett and Musk , are the most generous in amounts. Rich or ordinary--we have been blessed to be a blessing. Let's get back to that value system.
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Do Democrats know what their party supports?
Democrats have decided to support
Anti-Semitism
Hamas
Terrorism by South American gangs
Open borders
Property destruction
Anti-women in sports and safe spaces
Racist DEI policies
Bloated and corrupt government departments
Late term abortion
Rogue judges
Mutilation of children
Anti-Semitism
Hamas
Terrorism by South American gangs
Open borders
Property destruction
Anti-women in sports and safe spaces
Racist DEI policies
Bloated and corrupt government departments
Late term abortion
Rogue judges
Mutilation of children
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Sirach or Ben Sira--it's all interesting and inspiring
Today's reading was in Sirach 10. I just love this book of the Bible, because as a Protestant, I'd never heard it or read it until a few years ago--probably didn't know it existed. The Catholic, Orthodox, Syriac and African canons have it, so well over half of all Christians have an opportunity to hear or read its wisdom, at least in a church service during certain seasons or festivals. It's like the book of Proverbs, but much more in depth and more topics. Chapter 10 concerns governments and rulers. So true for today and regardless of your political leanings, it can comfort you. God is in control. See verse 4.
Chapter 10
A wise magistrate educates his people,
and the rule of an intelligent person is well ordered.
2 As the people’s judge is, so are his officials;
as the ruler of the city is, so are all its inhabitants.
3 An undisciplined king ruins his people,
but a city becomes fit to live in through the understanding of its rulers.
4 The government of the earth is in the hand of the Lord,
and over it he will raise up the right leader for the time.
5 Human success is in the hand of the Lord,
and it is he who confers honor upon the lawgiver. [a]
The book of Ben Sira was collected around 130 B.C and was used by Greek speaking Jews, and the early Christians. Jesus himself probably knew this book. However, in 1896 the Hebrew manuscripts from 180 B.C. were found by 2 British sisters. (see The sisters of Sinai by Janet Soskice which our book club read). That's what got me really interested. Since joining Academia.edu web site I've found hundreds of scholarly papers on this fascinating book.
https://www.bensira.org/introduction.html
https://www.bensira.org/introduction.html
Monday, March 17, 2025
Dax--Nigerian Canadian rapper
"To be a man" is what is called country-adjacent cross over music and the singer is Dax, a Nigerian-Canadian rapper. https://youtu.be/tHxip2x-PLc?si=sJp5Rlfbn-cDEUH0 Now, it's not something I would ordinarily listen to, but I had put a link to some popular 1950s music in an earlier post, and a song about abortion from a guy's point of view by Dax came up. At first I thought it was an ad, but it was listed along with the others like Frank Sinatra and Elvis! It was definitely NOT a 50s popular song, so I don't know how it got on this play list. Maybe it's a new way to market YouTube singles? It worked, because I then looked Dax up and played a few of his songs/poems. This is not his most recent, and he seems to be a very hard worker and loves to experiment with his style. I think this one is very good.
Sports drinks compared
Now with MAHA and Bobby Kennedy Jr rattling our cages, what are you doing about guzzling water and sports drinks? The microplastics have been an issue for a while; microplastics are smaller than a sesame seed and nanoplastics are even smaller, small enough to enter the body’s cells. Look at the drink aisles in the grocery stores that look like a painter's pallet. I'm not sure anyone is paying attention--plastics + dyes.
I'm not athletic, don't sweat unless it's 90 degrees, but I am a "senior" (aka elderly) and when people get older they lose the protection of feeling thirsty, even if they need liquid. So, I've been looking--plastic free, dye free, sugar free with electrolytes. They are all expensive, in my mind, compared to water, and most come in plastic bottles.
Here's what I'm drinking today. Sugar free, clear (watermelon, berry flavors) Propel. I move it to a glass quart bottle and drink it in a wine glass! The watermelon flavor is mild; the berry is a little sharp, so I water it down. I compared it to Zero Gatorade. For sodium, G is 160 and P is 210; for potassium G is 45 and P is 70; for Vit. C, G is zero and P is 25. There are numerous vitamins and minerals but those are the biggies. You can buy packets of the electrolyte mix and avoid plastic all together. Here's some additional sources from Medline Plus with additional links: https://medlineplus.gov/fluidandelectrolytebalance.html?
I'm not athletic, don't sweat unless it's 90 degrees, but I am a "senior" (aka elderly) and when people get older they lose the protection of feeling thirsty, even if they need liquid. So, I've been looking--plastic free, dye free, sugar free with electrolytes. They are all expensive, in my mind, compared to water, and most come in plastic bottles.
Here's what I'm drinking today. Sugar free, clear (watermelon, berry flavors) Propel. I move it to a glass quart bottle and drink it in a wine glass! The watermelon flavor is mild; the berry is a little sharp, so I water it down. I compared it to Zero Gatorade. For sodium, G is 160 and P is 210; for potassium G is 45 and P is 70; for Vit. C, G is zero and P is 25. There are numerous vitamins and minerals but those are the biggies. You can buy packets of the electrolyte mix and avoid plastic all together. Here's some additional sources from Medline Plus with additional links: https://medlineplus.gov/fluidandelectrolytebalance.html?
Sunday, March 16, 2025
Democrats look for purpose
As I watch the Democrats go crazy over tariffs, closed borders, the fight to clean up government graft and greed, negotiations for peace, and how they rail about Trump's care for the "little people" I'm reminded of something I heard, but didn't catch who said it. Paraphrase: Trump (and MAGA) is the Democrat our parents (i.e. citizens of the 30s and 40s) voted for. Rich, connected and powerful person who cares about the little guy. A true patriot. [clarification--I personally do not see FDR that way, but my parents did]. Democrats are now the wealthy party, the snobs, looking down at the blue collar family, soldiers, farmers, police --and it's awfully hard to give back what you've stolen.
And Dems are almost as hateful toward JD Vance who pulled himself out of a difficult, low income situation in the rust belt of America that the corporations had abandoned for greener profits abroad. There's a fentanyl pipeline from Mexico to Southern Ohio. The Ohio Trump wants to restore to its former glory. The Northwest Territory that invented the Bill of Rights. Life is hard right now for Democrats with no one to look up to, but movie stars and leftist academics. Their big hope seems to be to abort the next generation and finance a proxy war.
I was listening to the "All-In" podcast yesterday. Three of the four venture capitalists who gather to discuss politics, technology, culture, finances and poke fun at each other are immigrants. Some started really poor, were picked on at school, had difficult family situations, etc. Do you know they learned as teen-agers with really grubby jobs the importance of compound interest? They began investing their tiny wages as teen-agers! I didn't have a retirement account until I was in my mid-forties!!! Although they didn't start out as Republicans, they all support Trump now.
My hope for Trump is that he not try to pay back the Democrats for their crimes against him personally. Retribution and revenge are not good policies in the long run even if deserved. We've seen Democrats use non-profits and political office to get around free speech, and Lawfare to destroy justice. It's not pretty especially when it works.
And Dems are almost as hateful toward JD Vance who pulled himself out of a difficult, low income situation in the rust belt of America that the corporations had abandoned for greener profits abroad. There's a fentanyl pipeline from Mexico to Southern Ohio. The Ohio Trump wants to restore to its former glory. The Northwest Territory that invented the Bill of Rights. Life is hard right now for Democrats with no one to look up to, but movie stars and leftist academics. Their big hope seems to be to abort the next generation and finance a proxy war.
I was listening to the "All-In" podcast yesterday. Three of the four venture capitalists who gather to discuss politics, technology, culture, finances and poke fun at each other are immigrants. Some started really poor, were picked on at school, had difficult family situations, etc. Do you know they learned as teen-agers with really grubby jobs the importance of compound interest? They began investing their tiny wages as teen-agers! I didn't have a retirement account until I was in my mid-forties!!! Although they didn't start out as Republicans, they all support Trump now.
David Sacks, one of the four, is now less active. He's now in the Trump administration David O. Sacks: Silicon Valley Visionary Blazing New Trails - History Tools as cryptocurrency czar.
My hope for Trump is that he not try to pay back the Democrats for their crimes against him personally. Retribution and revenge are not good policies in the long run even if deserved. We've seen Democrats use non-profits and political office to get around free speech, and Lawfare to destroy justice. It's not pretty especially when it works.
The war that never was--Argentina and Chile
First let me say I know more about northern Ilinois (Ogle and Lee counties) where I haven't lived since I was 17 than all of South America, especially Argentina. I know well the statue and history of Blackhawk on the Rock River but knew nothing about the statue of Christ in the Andes mountains except what I'd seen in a few tourist brochures. Until today.
Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (on the border with Chile and Argentina) was the topic in my reading in Magnificat for today. It is commemorated on March 13 for celebrating the war that didn't happened between Chile and Argentina in 1904. Although Chile and Argentina have the same ethnicity, language and religion, greed and self interest have no boundaries, and the two countries had been squabbling about some very rich territory in the mountains between them back into the 19th century. History will report the resolution in different ways, but this account credited some Catholic women who organized for peace. Women suffer greatly in wars. Led by Señora Angela de Oliveira Cézar de Costa they got the bishops and Pope involved and the other leaders to talk, and so the issue was brought to arbitration and negotiation led by a third country, Great Britain. Three Christian nations and a disputed region.
The war never happened and the statue on the highest pass on the border celebrates that. There are two plaques on the base of the 60 ft tall statue. "He is our peace who has made us one" and "Sooner shall these mountains crumble into dust than Argentinians and Chileans break the peace sworn at the feet of Christ the Redeemer." (Magnificat, March 2025, p. 206-210, by Anthony Esolen) also, https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/dailystory/permalink/christ-of-the-andes-stands-for-peace
The war never happened and the statue on the highest pass on the border celebrates that. There are two plaques on the base of the 60 ft tall statue. "He is our peace who has made us one" and "Sooner shall these mountains crumble into dust than Argentinians and Chileans break the peace sworn at the feet of Christ the Redeemer." (Magnificat, March 2025, p. 206-210, by Anthony Esolen) also, https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/dailystory/permalink/christ-of-the-andes-stands-for-peace
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