Republicans want the perfect bill--there's no such thing

Big beautiful bill. Republicans demand the perfect; Democrats demand that anything Trump must be hated.

 
Donald J. Trump has had the most successful presidency that I can remember (closed the border using current law, lowered the crime rate, raised incomes, negotiated the tariffs sending stock market soaring, worked with Israel for the successful bombing of Iran's nuclear development stores thus fulfilling the work of 15 years [under 2 other Democrat presidents, btw], got NATO to increase their share, brought warring African countries to the table, put roadblocks against racist policies in universities, defied stupid DEI and climate policies), yet there are Republicans who are pouting because their favorite piece isn't in the puzzle. So they can screw up the biggest tax cut for the middle class, in an attempt to help their state, but hurt the rest of us. Or just because they too hate Trump's success. So much for patriotism. Like VDH observes, they won't harvest at 70% success and wait until the hail destroys the entire crop.

Republicans Who Voted Against Big Beautiful Bill Revealed

Final performance for VBS

Don't you just love seeing the kiddoes after a week or two of VBS? I don't recall the exact numbers, but I think the pastor said ca. 650 kids and maybe 250 volunteer teens and adults. But we had some performances in church today with many decked out in their VBS Psalm 23 (theme) t-shirts. I wish I'd pulled out my camera. Our service is still on the move so we're worshiping back at a local school. The little ones did some songs for us, and when they were finished we saw the boys jump off the stage and the girls walk carefully down the steps. Some things don't change. Tonight the church is having a dinner in the park (we're too tired to go--birthday party for a friend) to pray for the local, national and world events. This is a good week to do that! https://www.ualc.org/visit

The latest Democrat bad idea for NYC mayor

Zohran Mamdani is such a hypocrite--but what else could a communist be?

He's whiter and far more rich than I am, yet he preaches envy, and hate toward whites who are ethnically European, immigrants who fled socialism and succeeded with capitalism. He makes Tik Tok videos to be consumed by a generation who can't read, understand history or figure out biology, and he was voted in by rich, white liberals still feeling cheated by the Harris and Biden dog and pony show. Democrats have a lot on their plate, and they'd better stop the TDS hate and get busy tending business in their own party.

"You Don't Mess with the Zohan is a 2008 American satirical action comedy film with Adam Sandler. It's the story of an Israeli super soldier and counter-terrorist commando who fakes his own death to pursue his dream of becoming a hairstylist in the United States while contending with a crooked businessman, a superhuman terrorist arch-rival, and the grudge of a certain taxi driver." from Wikipedia.

Wearables and JFKjr

I'm no expert on data collection, privacy, or health, but I think this is the dumbest idea ever to come out of the Trump Administration. Every American should be required to measure their health with a wearable? Or maybe, it means you can't take the Democrat out of a Kennedy even if he's a Republican appointed cabinet member. I have no problem with wearables if people choose them, but I've seen a lot of very unhealthy people with terrible eating and exercise habits that own them, and they either keep them in a drawer, or never look at them. They may have an addiction, a family tendency or an underlying problem, but looking at graphs and numbers to change behavior hasn't made them healthy.

I never took a college course in nutrition, but I know that a dessert of fresh fruit is healthier for me than a slice of "death by chocolate" cake at a restaurant. I've seen the "science" on eggs, coffee, cholesterol, etc. come and go. I know the trend to take a shot at 60 to make up for overeating as a teen/young adult is not going to end well for health care costs. I learned as a pre-schooler that I should be outside in the sunshine even when I didn't know about vitamin D and I still prefer not to get sweaty.

I know that I have 2 implanted devices (not called wearables, but I'm wearing them) right now and I really don't know anything about the data being collected and where it is going. Meanwhile my cell phone tells me I haven't walked enough this week. With AI already in our lives, I just don't like this government intrusion after our experience with the required, "good for you" so "do it or else" covid vaccine.

I also like Casey Means, think she's done good things, but she's invested in a "wearables" company (Levels) and she's also been nominated for Surgeon General. If it smells fishy when it's Pelosi or Warren, it also smells of fish for Kennedy and Means.

RFK Jr.'s Public Health Plan? Get Every American to Buy a Wearable Device | PCMag

Casey Means MD

Casey Means, Levels Health, on maximizing human potential - Levels

Ingredient List and Nutrition Facts for zero calorie Propel

I like to stay hydrated, but don't drink a lot of water, energy drinks or soda pop. This year I began using Propel, which I cut by half with water, or plain tea or juice. I use "immune support" because the energy drinks have caffeine. 

Information from Foodzilla:  "To give you a better understanding of Propel's composition, here is a typical ingredient list and nutrition facts for a Propel beverage: Ingredient List: 

Water, Citric Acid, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Natural Flavor, Potassium Sorbate (Preserves Freshness), Potassium Citrate, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Sucralose (derived from sugar same as Splenda, 600x sweeter than sugar), Sodium Citrate, Acesulfame Potassium, synthetic 200x sweeter than sugar) Calcium Disodium EDTA (Preserves Freshness), Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Vitamin E Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6).

From advertisement: 

Immune Support: Propel Immune Support helps support a healthy immune system with 100% of the recommended Daily Value of Vitamin C per bottle and an excellent source of Zinc.

Zero Calories and Zero Sugar: Created by the makers of Gatorade, Propel is a zero calorie, zero sugar, fitness water made to replenish and rehydrate active lifestyles.​

Electrolyte Hydration: Made with Gatorade Electrolytes, Propel helps you hydrate and enjoy your best workout with zero sugar.

Vitamin Enhanced Water: Propel is the original zero calorie electrolyte water that offers a variety of flavors and is an excellent source of vitamins B3, B5, B6, Vitamin C and Zinc.

Nutrition Facts (per 1 bottle (591 ml) serving):

Calories: 10
Total Fat: 0g
Sodium: 270mg
Potassium: 70mg
Total Carbohydrates: 0g
Protein: 0g"

So in other words, it's water with a vitamin pill and artificial flavor and artificial sugar.

The "tea" I use isn't really tea, but Celestial Seasonings herbal supplement, Vitamin C Shine, which contains "natural flavors."  What Do Natural Flavors Mean on the Ingredients List?

While studies are mixed, a 2022 study in the Journal of Physical Education, Health and Sport suggests that coconut water rehydrates as well as traditional sports drinks. These study authors also point out that coconut water has antioxidants, which traditional sports drinks typically lack. The antioxidants might be able to help with minimizing stress at the cellular level from intense exercise. (This is an Indonesian journal--not sure of its quality.)

What are New Yorkers thinking?

New York City mayoral Socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani won in Tuesday’s Democratic primary and promised government run grocery stores and free city buses. Woot. What a campaign. Wait 4 hours like the BMV or SS office to "buy" food paid for by raising taxes on millionaires and ride in filthy buses instead of a private cab or uber. They probably won't allow bicycles because it would be competition. Competition brings down prices. Government run anything raises prices. But it sure sells to stupid voters. All 8% of them (I heard, haven't verified it.)

I met a friend for coffee at McDonald's today--60 cents for seniors. It was hot, free refills, served within a minute, the store was clean, and the employees were paid far above the so-called minimum wage that Democrats like to moan about--probably $15/hour with free tuition at the university. Good stores will close if Mamdani is hired by New Yorkers, and then where will the illegals go?

Trump's other peace deals--in Africa

Trump did another peace deal while we were watching Iran's nuclear storage bombing on Saturday evening. It's not the two I was watching (South Sudan and Ethiopia Civil wars), but still worthy of note. The media really don't care about those black lives.

"President Donald J. Trump has brokered a peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, marking a significant diplomatic achievement in Africa. This deal aims to end one of the continent’s deadliest and longest-running conflicts, characterized by violent bloodshed and instability.Trump announced the breakthrough on his social media platform, Truth Social, crediting the efforts of Secretary of State Marco Rubio in facilitating the treaty.

The agreement represents a potential turning point for regional stability and peace in Central Africa.

This development has also drawn international attention, with Pakistan reportedly nominating Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for his diplomatic efforts, although this nomination is separate from the Congo-Rwanda deal.

Notably, India has disputed Trump’s claims of involvement in resolving the India-Pakistan conflict, asserting that bilateral talks were conducted directly between the two nations." 

(Trump brokers peace in Africa, AI generated, June 24)

The Iran Israel conflict 2025

 It's hot, hot, hot east of the Mississippi. We're home and unpacked and laundered after a week in Lakeside. We have 2 TVs going--one of Midsomer Murders (I have no idea which series--there are 25) and one of the crisis in Iran. Praying for the people to take back their government. I want no more forever wars, but this one had gone on almost 50 years. None of their allies seems to come to Iran's aid.

Summer School of Faith, 2025

2025 Summer School of Faith: Ancient Faith and Modern Wisdom--How Neglected Doctrines Provide Guidance and Hope for Today 

These were the first words uttered by Jesus Christ, as recorded in the earliest gospel written.: 

"This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark, Chapter 1:15) 

REPENT WHAT? BELIEVE WHAT? HOPE FOR WHAT? FIND OUT.

 

June 10th--Genesis: “In the beginning …” a Subversive Revelation 

June 17th--Genesis and Original Sin: its History, Theology and Implications for Today 

June 24th-- Genesis and Evolution – Compatible? 

July 1st-- Secular Narratives of the Fall Present in Today’s Culture July 8th--The Council of Nicaea and the Development of Doctrine

I've followed Charles Craigmile for years, but the current teaching is very difficult to find.  I'm dropping the schedule right here, so I can find it! This is the link for June 10, 2025.

https://youtu.be/ww-iFb6v8-8?si=AW6KP35kOc4HWo8X

2025: #1 Ancient Faith and Modern Wisdom---Genesis: "In the Beginning. . . "a Subversive Revelation

On June 21 around 8:50 p.m. . . .

The secrecy and deception needed for this attack on Iran's nuclear facilities against a country that has promised to wipe out the USA is stunning. Even our Democrat presidents had their spies and enemies within (and Biden had a bevy), but they have tried so hard to destroy Trump. No one leaked! Democrats/Socialists/Communists have put all their effort into creating cells and chaos with the infiltration and bussing-in our enemies. Once Trump stopped that within weeks, they moved to plan B of creating riots and stupid "insurrections" beyond anything seen on Jan. 6. Trump held his ground, did his deals, worked for peace, gave it a chance, and then took aim. The man is amazing. ALL the middle east is safer now, our Democrats have been dealt another blow in their plan to destroy the Constitution and Democracy. But be vigilant. They are the party of KKK and Jim Crow. They know how to gaslight and confuse the innocent.

Kagan, Sotomayor and Jackson

When I see these three in a story or decision it crosses my mind that the 19th amendment (guarantees American women the right to vote) might have been a mistake. Women achieved so much through the struggle and protests and then let it all go to waste after 1920.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/justice-sotomayor-says-supreme-court-just-countered-decades-of-precedent/ar-AA1GYqeA?

Every Liberal Supreme Court Justice Sits Out Decision in Rare Move - Newsweek

A day for the Democratic appointees on SCOTUS — but what does it mean?

Justices Sotomayor and Jackson slam idea that U.S. is ‘colorblind’ in affirmative action dissents

Balance and the Figure 8

 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2802825/  This is for walking.  We don't usually walk in a straight line in doing daily activities. Practice figure 8.

Easy Exercise to Improve Balance In Seniors | ELDERGYM®

25 Balance-Building Exercises to Keep Seniors Active and Steady

Hand exercises for flexibility

https://youtu.be/00RV5TCPCIU?si=-tkQ7nSZi7UbSC9G

After years of demonizing Trump, Dems call for calm

This is rich. After trying to destroy Trump financially, politically and by assassination before his second term and organizing thousands of protest rallies and violent protests for June 14 with the help of some of our richest oligarchs, while calling him a Nazi, White Supremacist and "king," Democrats are shocked and amazed that violence has gotten out of hand and Trump must do something about it!

https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/minnesota-shootings-manhunt-06-15-25?

CLG News June 15: "Minnesota Democrat and husband killed, another pol and his wife injured after madman posing as cop shoots them in 'politically motivated attack' --Authorities are now searching for Vance Luther Boelter, who was appointed by Gov. Tim Walz to serve a four-year stint on the Governor's Workforce Development Board, in connection with the shooting, police source said. | 14 June 2025 | A Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband were killed, and another politician and his wife seriously hurt, in a "politically motivated assassination" after a madman who had "No Kings" flyers and posed as a police officer turned up at their homes overnight and opened fire, authorities said. Former Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were gunned down in their Brooklyn Park home around 2 a.m., while Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were injured in a similar shooting at their home just five miles away, authorities said. The killer is still on the loose despite exchanging gunfire with officers who responded to Hortman’s home and briefly cornered him inside -- though he left behind a "manifesto" listing the names of other politicians and a stack of papers stating "No Kings" in reference to the nationwide anti-Trump protests."

• 
  

Why the National Guard?

Here's how it works. The local police deal with and arrest the rioters. The national guard surrounds and protects the federal property. If the governors (of California, Minnesota and Oregon) behave as they did in 2020, Trump knows the chaos will continue and it's his responsibility to call on the guard to relieve the local police to do their job. Newsom should have done it,  but is running for president; he's not doing a good PR stunt. The burning cars and foreign flags being flown should be on every GOP poster and ad. They are now tracking the money and much of it comes from NGOs who have been receiving USAID grants. Democrat appointed judges will probably try to be president-lite, but I don't want my tax money going to burn down buildings I've already paid for.

https://www.theblaze.com/news/rooftop-korean-tony-moon-la-riots?

DOJ slams Newsom's 'crass political stunt' over Trump's call-up of National Guard amid LA anti-ICE riots

National Guard to protect ICE agents as they make arrests in LA – NBC Los Angeles

The firing of the first Librarian, Carla Hayden

I just found out that Trump fired Carla Hayden the Librarian of Congress in May. In her bio she's always called the first woman and first black to ever hold that position. I was thinking she was also the first librarian to ever hold that position. It was never considered important enough to have an actual librarian in that position. Well, since it's always been a political position, she was also appointed by Obama, was a Democrat and is 72 years old. That she's a Democrat is not odd, since probably 95% of librarians are very liberal and routinely support the far left issues. ALA is an advocacy group, but not for children, or reading or education. Trump didn't fire her during his first term, so I'm guessing she's said some unflattering things about him and his policies. You have freedom of speech to speak ill of the boss, and he has the freedom to choose someone else for the job. It's a titular position and someone else is doing the actual work. In the past it's been a position for a scholar, not a real librarian.

"On Friday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt accused Hayden of putting "inappropriate books for children" in the library, which receives a copy of every book that is copyrighted in the United States each year. She also claimed the librarian had done "quite concerning things ... in the pursuit of DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), and "did not fit the needs of the American people." "
(Newsweek)

However, if Ms. Leavitt said this, it isn't accurate. Works are protected automatically, without copyright notice or registration. If LC received a copy of every book that is copyrighted in the U.S. there wouldn't be a building large enough to hold them.

"Copyright protectable works receive instant and automatic copyright protection at the time that they are created. U.S. law today does not require placing a notice of copyright on the work or registering the work with the U.S. Copyright Office. The law provides some important benefits if you do use the notice or register the work, but you are the copyright owner even without these formalities." (Copyright quick guide, Columbia University Libraries) If I write a letter to my friend or draw a horse on a postcard, you don't have a right to use it.

 
Perhaps she meant Ms. Hayden was putting in the Library of Congress children's material that couldn't be read aloud in front of Congress because it was disgusting and salacious?

The LA riots of 2025--mostly peaceful?

Watching TV news of the LA riots I see how desperately Los Angelas wants to keep its illegal immigrants, it's obvious they are very important to its economy. Follow the money. Payout to the protesters vandalizing and threatening ICE is nothing compared to all the gardeners, maids, babysitters, janitors, construction workers, trafficked sex workers and enforcers who work very hard for Angelinos to keep their freedom, It's a fraction of the cost American workers would charge. It's always about the money.

"DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, "It is sickening that Governor [Gavin] Newsom and Mayor [Karen] Bass continue to protect violent criminal illegal aliens at the expense of the safety of American citizens and communities. This cold-blooded killer is who the rioters are trying to protect over U.S. citizens."

She added, "The brave men and women of ICE put their lives on the line every day to arrest violent criminals like this and protect the lives of American citizens."  https://www.theblaze.com/news/murderers-rapists-gang-members-ice-busts-12-of-la-s-worst-illegal-alien-criminals-amid-riots?

Although the rioters are flying the Mexican flag, ICE is removing from LA jails a Vietnamese (murder), Filipino (sex crimes), Ecuadorian (drug charges in FL), Peruvian (robbery) Honduran (drugs), Indonesian (drugs) as well as various Mexican nationals. California has protected these illegals who are also charged with other crimes from ICE in the past, and now the piper has to be paid. I'm sure some may be more than happy to go home. Now the rioters, who may be citizens who voted for Candidate Newsom and Out of town mayor Bass, should receive a trial and jail time for assaulting police, vandalism and looting.

Title IX, Marissa Rothenberger and softball

In July 2019 we sat on our porch at Lakeside and watched a sample of championship softball (a women's sport--until recently). I wrote in my blog: "Wheelersburg, Ohio, (on the Ohio River) has a championship girls little league softball team, and the family of the pitcher is renting 2 doors down. We sit on the porch and watch a powerhouse pitch like I've never seen--12 years old--as she practices with her dad in the yard. Her older sister already has a college scholarship in the sport, and there are 4 other girls in the family."
So, I had a week or two of following not just these girls, the sport, but the towns and counties in the U.S. who build their local culture around this sport. And now? Well, as powerful as those young girls were, they now have to compete for those scholarships and honors against males. Call them transwomen, if you wish, but there is no such being on this planet. Men don't transition into women. It's a fantasy. Marissa Rothenberger, is a boy and is playing on a girls' team and of course it's in Tampon Tim's state, Minnesota.

https://www.totalprosports.com/ncaa/transgender-pitcher-destroyed-females-high-school-softball-championship-lawsuit/?

https://www.scripps.org/news_items/7637-common-sports-injuries-in-women-causes-and-prevention?

This is what actual, real slavery in the 21st century looks like

Two Eritrean teen-agers in 2019 telling their story to a journalist: 

"Thousands of migrants were held in hangars around the town. In Bani Walid, Even and Saeed (15 and 16) found out that the sponsors of their boat had sold them to an Eritrean trafficker known as Knife, who worked for a local Libyan kingpin. Knife is said to have been granted asylum in Canada, where he now owns a barber shop. In Libya he made a living from torturing migrants in order to extract money from their families. ‘Every morning you’re on a phone calling your family. You tell them: I’m dying, send me the money,’ Even told me. His mother sold her jewelry to pay the ransom of $4500. He calculated that since leaving Eritrea three years earlier, he had shelled out $11,500 to people smugglers and traffickers."

Libya’s refugees and detention centres – Martin Plaut

Democrat prospects

I remember way back when Obama came into view and Rahm Emanuel appeared. I probably said (in my blog) some not so nice things about him and his brothers. He's had a lot of government jobs including mayor of Chicago and Obama's enforcer. Now based on all the other possible stars, like AOC and Jazzy Crockett, that light up his party, I think he looks darn good. His name Emanuel means "God with us" and was adopted by his father to honor an uncle who died in 1933. Although it's possible he's too old (65), too white, and too Jewish to meet Democrat standards.

The Trump vs Musk fight

Yesterday was tumultuous for Republicans and gleeful for Democrats who 2 minutes ago hated Musk for turning Twitter into an advocate for free speech and tackling the waste, fraud and abuse in the federal financial system. That really hurt the corrupt NGOs, the DEI crowd, the child abusing educators and their unions and the Climate gangsters sucking the federal teat for their existence. That's where Dems have their power.

 
Republicans loved Musk's help and even his joyful silliness, but his complaints about the BBB made no sense to Trump's base, those who had followed Trump during his campaign. Trump has been delivering on his promises to the voters. It was a plus, sure, but all candidates say they will stop waste. Why not have the smartest man in the world tackle it? No one I know who voted for Trump thinks Musk affected the outcome in November. If money talked, Kamala would be president and Beyonce would be secretary of state.

 
Now the fight is getting personal. Truly, I felt like a 5 year old watching a divorce of my parents--hopeless and helpless--tugging at their knees saying, "Please stop!". Or being asked to take sides in a girls' middle school clique fight when you like them all. The smartest man in the world was spitting in the eye of the most powerful man in the world, one who values loyalty almost more than anything else,
When I saw that "good-bye" in the oval office a few days ago and Trump gave him that odd gift, I was watching Musk's face and it was obvious he was not happy. He's on the autism spectrum (I've heard) and it's hard to know. I thought he might break his teeth from clenching. Trump looked the same--everything's great until it isn't.

Today I was reading Acts 25. It's all about massive power and wealth (Festus, Drusilla, Agrippa and Bernice) coming up against the gospel preached on the world stage by the greatest missionary for Jesus Christ. Wow. What a battle. No one in this week's cat fight can compare to that, but we know God was in charge then and still is.

A shocker came through the mail slot today

Our retirees group had talked about it, but still, it was a shock. I'm still going to carefully examine a check I received from the U.S. Treasury today with no letter of explanation. Teachers in Ohio in the public pension system do not get Social Security, whether earned or spousal benefit, and a new law changed that. It ended the "windfall" and "offset" provisions.

(CBS News) "The Social Security Administration (SSA) has processed over 2.5 million retroactive payments for teachers, firefighters, police officers and others with public pensions who were previously locked out of retirement benefits, the agency said last week.

Signed into law by President Biden in January 2025, the Social Security Fairness Act requires the agency to adjust benefits for 3.2 million people, including future and past benefits. Social Security has completed 90% of its caseload, according to its May 27 update. "

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.

"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/

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

https://youtu.be/P1GfS4vo12g?si=Ke8AJeQ5HJoN7PsV

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.

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.

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.

Books Within Books

Books Within Books - Printed_MatterPrinted_Matter

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

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."

What to know about leaked audio from Joe Biden, Robert Hur interview

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.

How Costco Makes Money

7 Ways to Shop at Costco Without a Membership (2025)

13 Things You Need to Know Before Buying A Costco Membership

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.

Trump Administration To Be Gifted A Luxury Boeing 747-8 From The Qatari Royal Family

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.

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

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.

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

Fact Sheet: U.S.-UK Reach Historic Trade Deal – The White House

India Pakistan War Breaking News 5 Pakistani Jets Down, Over 50 Drones Hit: What Happened On Thursday Night (May 8-9)? | Times Now

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.

America --home of the brave victim?

 https://www.city-journal.org/article/small-business-administration-federal-contracts-race-discrimination-essays?

"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.

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

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

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.

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. 

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/?

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.

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?

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.

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

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.

A blog is useful for checking things like this.  I found it in my blog for October 25, 2008.

"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."

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). 

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.

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."

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. 

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.

Etymology of "paschal" by etymonline

paschal etymology online, origin and meaning

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."

  The Sudan Conflict, 2 Years On | Human Rights Watch

Sudan Two Years Later: One of the World’s Deadliest Conflicts Rages On | Amnesty International USA

Sudan's civil war has raged for two years, and the end is nowhere in sight  NBC

South Sudan: Why and when did it split from Sudan? - World History Edu

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.

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.”

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]

By using the BSSN (Biden Social Security Number) which gave illegals access to many services, they were also stealing our right to vote by cancelling it. The theft of our citizenship rights is what Democrat protestors are calling "democracy,." Thanks to Doge, Democrats will have to reexamine what democracy means--and it starts with a close look at the Bill of Rights. They should also start condemning the vandalism of Teslas and the rioting on college campuses.

https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2025/04/11/trump-deputies-cancel-illegal-migrants-social-security-numbers/?

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.

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?

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.”

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