Christianophobia

Prof. George Yancey: "I have been studying Christianophobia — a highly intolerant form of antagonism toward Christians and Christianity — from the perspective of a sociologist for the past few years, and while I do not know if Clinton herself has Christianophobia, I am confident that many people in her political circle do. Those with this type of bigotry tend to be white, highly educated, politically progressive and wealthy — characteristics that probably describe Clinton's team."

 http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2015/march-web-only/what-christianophobia-looks-like-in-america.html

 http://www.christianpost.com/author/george-yancey/

Dr. Elaina George explains how to fix health care

http://drelainageorge.com/a-doctors-prescription-the-fix-for-our-ailing-healthcare-system/

"The stated intention behind Obamacare was to improve the healthcare system. However, it has become apparent that the changes implemented were based on incorrect assumptions: first, that having health insurance equals access to quality affordable healthcare; second, that central planning via government regulations and mandates could be used to control costs; and third, that the behavior of doctors and patients could be controlled by implementing rigid practice guidelines (i.e., value based medicine, care driven by algorithms instead of physician judgement) and increasingly shifting the cost of healthcare to patients leading them to self-ration by pricing them out respectively.

The end result has been an increase in healthcare costs, decreased competition among insurance companies with monopolies in some states, and a decrease in both primary care and specialist physicians. Whether you like Obamacare or not, an honest assessment would conclude that it is simply not sustainable.
There is a solution which would provide a solution for everyone."

Then she lists 14 points, from block grants to states to price transparency to tort reform to expansion of Health Savings Accounts.

Winter has returned

Yesterday it was spring-like with mid-50s and rain. He got to use his new supersize umbrella.  Today it's in the low 30s and dropping, so all the other new Christmas gifts were appropriate--new slim line jeans, new socks and new ski mask.  He says the socks are like walking on clouds.

"Dear Members of Congress" public announcement from Hillary supporters demanding obstruction

Celebrities who gave us 50 years of violence and immorality in films, theater, advertising and literature are now going all squishy and prissy, making a filmed public announcement against Trump, claiming anti-this and anti-that. Islam is not a race, and drug lords don't deserve our protection of an open border and sanctuary cities.  The popular vote majority was all from their territory and not the other 49 states, but even if he'd won the popular vote in California, they would still be just as vicious. They are better than the rubes in fly over country and this is about power. They are losing across the nation in every state house, suburban house and school board. Sorry folks, you lost me in those staged, bloody murder scenes torturing and raping women, blowing up innocents and sweaty sex scenes--all for money. No credibility to get on your high horse now.

http://www.dailywire.com/news/12104/oh-joy-more-actors-film-silly-anti-trump-public-hank-berrien

"The video was created by Humanity for Progress, formerly known as Humanity for Hillary, and directed by Liz Garbus. The featured players, including Sally Field, former The View co-host Rosie Perez, Jeffrey Wright, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, Lea DeLaria, Zoe Kazan and fashion designer Naeem Khan, refer to themselves as speaking for the majority of Americans, reminding their prospective audience that Trump lost the popular vote."

Link rot and content drift

I've been blogging for over 13 years, and link rot and content drift are problems when I go back to search my archives. You may not like pulling books/journals off the shelves of libraries, but you'd like them even less if after you opened them, certain pages had been ripped out or marked over with black ink, you discover that you need the 4th ed. and you're holding the 2nd. I often get comments asking me to check a certain entry because the links don't work. That's just the internet. I referenced a lot of government sites before 2009 and as soon as the new administration came in, they disappeared. There is a "graveyard" somewhere, but I don't search it.

 http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0167475

The inauguration

"President and Mrs. George W. Bush will attend the 58th Presidential Inauguration Ceremony on January 20, 2017, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. They are pleased to be able to witness the peaceful transfer of power - a hallmark of American democracy - and swearing-in of President Trump and Vice President Pence."  From the President's Facebook wall.

Velveteen jeans from Talbot's

If those terrific jeans you got at the resale shop are a little snug, put them on while they're still damp (always wash those bargains) so they can stretch a bit. Loving these velveteen jeans I bought yesterday at Volunteers of America on Henderson Road. Talbot's, $1.50.   I checked on line.  A 5 pocket straight leg fit below waist velveteen pants is about $90 new, on sale $47. I love a bargain.

I think the color is "indigo." I called them navy.

Christmas is over--putting things away

Hand made from 40 years ago, wreath and tree

Birds made by Mom for the kids

Lazzy Bear reading through the x-mas cards

Old table cloth used again--maybe 40 years old?

The tree is back in the attic and the decorations are put away.  I still need to wash the table cloth and pack away and go through the Christmas cards and letters in the cardboard mailbox.  Lazzy Bear is from 1986, and he's holding up well.

It's that time again

Marriage and the Culture Warriors

"We can ask, till we are exhausted from asking, what they mean by “marriage,” if the thing is not rooted in the fundamental biology of the human race, and exactly what justifies any boundaries at all wherewith they suppose they can limit the definition. If man and man, why not man and woman and woman?

Why not plan for and even intend impermanence? Why not plan for and intend what used to be called adultery? Why not two elderly brothers who live together and do not engage in sodomy?

It won’t matter. The aim was never rational coherence, or even a concern for the common good. The aim was power: to get what they wanted, to keep it, and to crush those who would question their right."

 https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2016/12/29/speak-truth-to-power/

Water and feed your brain to make it grow

"If you want to think faster, be more creative and live life to the fullest, you will want to begin by feeding your brain good nutrients. While the brain weighs on average only 2% of our total body weight, it consumes up to 20% of the nutrients we take into our bodies.

Studies have shown these following foods have the maximum beneficial effects of our brains.

• Walnuts and raw almonds are great for the brain and delicious to eat. Substitute almond milk in your breakfast cereal to jump start your brain for the rest of the day.
• Jolly Green Giants - leafy dark green vegetables such as kale, spinach, collards and even romaine lettuce slow the rate of cognitive decline.
• Dark Chocolate - the flavanoids contained in dark chocolate improve circulation which helps speed oxygen to the brain.
• Monosaturated Fats, such as olive oil actually slow down brain aging. Enjoy avocados, another source of monosaturated fats; they improve vascular health and circulation.
• Eat more cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and brussel sprouts. Studies have shown that people who eat a lot of cruciferous vegetables and leafy greens have a slower rate of cognitive decline.
• Indulge in foods rich with Omega 3’s such as salmon, sardines, lentils and flax seed.
• Eat more berries; the more colorful the fruit, the better it is for your body. Enjoy at least one serving of fruit a day.
• Stay hydrated. Dehydration can lead to impaired cognitive function.

From Brain training, 9 easy steps.

Income Mobility in the U.S. from 1996 to 2005, updated in 2014

The degree of mobility in the overall population and movement out of the bottom quintile in this study are similar to the findings of prior research on income mobility.

• There was considerable income mobility of individuals in the U.S. economy during the 1996 through 2005 period as over half of taxpayers moved to a different income quintile over this period.
• Roughly half of taxpayers who began in the bottom income quintile in 1996 moved
• Among those with the very highest incomes in 1996 – the top 1/100 of 1 percent
• only 25 percent remained in this group in 2005. Moreover, the median real income of these taxpayers declined over this period. </
• The degree of mobility among income groups is unchanged from the prior decade (1987 through 1996).
• Economic growth resulted in rising incomes for most taxpayers over the period from 1996 to 2005. Median incomes of all taxpayers increased by 24 percent after adjusting for inflation. The real incomes of two-thirds of all taxpayers increased over this period. In addition, the median incomes of those initially in the lower income groups increased more than the median incomes of those initially in the higher income groups.

Previous research on income mobility over the past several decades has generally found that about half of those in the bottom quintile move to a higher quintile and also that more than half of households move to a different income quintile within about 10 years.

Report of the Department of Treasury, updated 2008 

 http://reason.com/archives/2014/06/04/income-mobility-myths

Begin the new year with good thoughts

 

Good wishes for 2017.  I found this on the Facebook page of Noel McInnis, who went to Mt. Morris High School and also played trombone in the band (as I did).  We had a wonderful beginning for the New Year with an around the world tour in food and new year symbols from sauerkraut balls to noodles, with David and Donna members of our church.  They've recently moved to a mid-20th century ranch from their 2 story 19th century historical home.  Joyce and Bill, our "regular" Friday night date also were guests.

H - Hours of happy times with your dear ones
A - Abundant time for relaxation
P - Prosperity
P - Plenty of love when you need it the most
Y - Youthful excitement at life's simple pleasures

N - Nights of restful slumber
E - Everything you need
W - Wishing you love and light

Y - Years and years of good health
E - Enjoyment and mirth
A - Angels to watch over you
R - Remembrances of happy years

100 of the World's Healthiest Foods--Criteria

This list is found on the web site World’s Healthiest Foods, with more explanation, but this should be easy to remember. http://whfoods.org/foodstoc.php This website has a nice newsletter that offers recipes and answers questions. I don't always read every issue, but usually find something useful.

1. The World's Healthiest Foods are the Most Nutrient Dense

2. The World's Healthiest Foods are Whole Foods

3. The World's Healthiest Foods are Familiar Foods

4. The World's Healthiest Foods are Readily Available

5. The World's Healthiest Foods are Affordable

6. The World's Healthiest Foods Taste Good

It’s good to know that foods that are familiar (or at least to me because it’s what I ate as a child, which means very little processed food) and reasonably priced, and taste good, are also good for me.