"Two [NIH] directors, two bureau chiefs, and two top PR officers didn’t send an email to the Forbes’ chief on a Sunday morning because they wanted to correct the record about Fauci’s travel reimbursements.
They sent that email to subliminally send a message: We don’t like Andrzejewski’s oversight work, and we want you to do something about it.
Unfortunately, Forbes folded quickly."
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Why is Dr. Fauci untouchable? The Forbes story
Tuesday, March 15, 2022
The Tulsi and Tucker are treasonous meme
Monday, March 14, 2022
Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox Churches--different but the same
We are two distinct groups of people, Russians and Ukrainians. We’re people of one faith — we’re Christians. But our cultural background makes us different. Because of the impact that Western society has had on Ukraine, people the Western Ukraine, and in general in Ukraine, are open to their whole idea of self entities, identifying themselves as Christians and asking themselves valid question, “Why am I a Christian? Why am I Orthodox? Why am I doing the ritual I’m doing? Why am I living the way I live?”
In the northern part, or the northern neighbor, the Russian Federation, they would often use the teachings of the saints of the church and imply that you are not worthy of anything as a person, as a child of God, to accomplish anything in order to fully and truly approach him with your worthiness. Two distinct approaches to the sanctity of human life." https://religionnews.com/2022/02/25/a-religious-politician-head-of-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-the-usa-slams-patriarch-kirill-putin/
Sunday, March 13, 2022
The history of Russia and Ukraine, as partners and as enemies
https://www.plainnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Why-is-Russia-invading-Ukraine-___-Plain-News-3-9-22-1.pdf
"The Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland joined NATO in 1999; Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia joined in 2004; Albania and Croatia joined in 2009, Montenegro in 2017, and North Macedonia in 2020. NATO reports that Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, and Ukraine are all currently seeking membership. Almost all of these countries were previously a part of either the Soviet Union and/or the Warsaw Pact military alliance. Russia has viewed this NATO expansion to its very borders with much trepidation . . . "
Friday, March 11, 2022
YouTube channels--addictive time wasters
Thursday, March 10, 2022
Older adult ministry at UALC
On December 29, 2021, I wrote a letter to a "ministry" (don't know who read it since there was no personal name) which was no longer on the schedule when our church reopened after the Covid lockdown. For over two decades there had been a Thursday morning Bible study mostly attended by retirees, although there were a few younger adults who attended. There were also attendees from the retirement communities near by, and by members of other churches. I attended only occasionally until the last few years. I could see that it met a lot of needs, especially social and mental stimulation. There was a once a month luncheon after the study with interesting programs, sometimes about social services offered in the community, or volunteer opportunities, or featuring an interesting member of the congregation or artists in conjunction with the visual arts ministry. Here's the letter--there's no "dear pastor" since I didn't have a name:
"I read through the [winter] offerings and am wondering why the Thursday morning study has not been reinstated. Your ears must be burning for all the times members of that group discuss it during Sunday coffee time. It’s one of the longest running ministries that I’m aware of in the church. I retired in 2000, have participated at different times, but it was going strong when I was still employed. I know of no group that was more affected by the church lockdown/closure than this age group. It provided intellectual stimulation, a service opportunity for some, fellowship, occasionally lunch, and friendships. Not everyone in the group is an elder, and some are not members of UALC, so it also does outreach. Many do not use social media (which UALC provides) so it’s a chance to connect—as essential as the smart phones are for the teens. Loss of the Sunday church bulletin has also affected this group more—its reinstatement would mean more than card stock handouts suggesting volunteer opportunities or special needs.
If this older adult group is to be eliminated, perhaps you could announce it."
How Biden has failed us and helped Putin
Ted Cruz says Biden is the best thing that ever happened to Putin. Agreed.
Biden refuses to protect or encourage our own energy sources which could also save Europe; he allows our country to be invaded; he sat and watched as Putin threatened to pounce as soon as weather permitted; he flooded our economy with inflationary dollars using Covid as an excuse; before he took office he warned oil and gas investors he would shut them down; and he hides in his basement terrified of our homegrown global green terrorists.Wednesday, March 09, 2022
Tribute to Dmytro Shtohryn
https://www.ukrweekly.com/uwwp/endowment-in-honor-of-dmytro-shtohryn-established-at-u-of-illinois/
When we lived in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, I was a Slavic Librarian at the University of Illinois where I worked with a number of Ukrainians and other emigres from the Baltics and Russia. One I remember well was Dmytro Shtohryn. I learned a lot about cataloging, librarianship, Ukraine, and WWII from him. He was also kind and generous--a good boss. With all the recent news about Ukraine and Russia I decided to look him up. He died in 2019 at age 95. A life well lived. His obituary mentions Ralph T. Fisher who died in 2015, and he was my boss when I worked in the Russian Language Area Center which is how I ended up being a Slavic Librarian.
Fossil Fuels, our way of life
Joe lies about inflation
- No disastrous exit from Afghanistan leaving billions in military supplies
- No lies about Covid
- No cancelling careers of medical experts who offer alternative therapies
- No soaring gasoline prices
- We'd have even bigger lies from the media who are all covering for Joe
Tuesday, March 08, 2022
When women protested against President Trump
"Some women will be marching today against President Trump.
We know it isn't for the right to vote, because many have that and don't vote;
we know it isn't for higher education because they outnumber men in college;
we know it isn't for protection of Title IX because they believe biological sex doesn't matter and anyone can be a woman even a 6' 300 lb. male wrestler;
we know it isn't for higher salaries because most work for the government in some capacity either as teachers (average hourly wage about $60 according to BLS) or mid-level bureaucrats in local or state or federal government and they are paid more than in the private sector;
we know it isn't for freedom of religion or the right to own a gun because they want people to keep religion private and inside churches and want the 2nd amendment to go away;
we know it isn't for life from womb to tomb because they are pro-abortion and for euthanasia;
we know it isn't to stop hunger because only 25% of Americans are "normal" BMI;
we know it isn't to crash the glass ceiling because women are free to make choices for career track;
we know it isn't to stop international slave trade in women for sex because they want to do battle against 18th century slave trade.
So that only leaves the obvious since for the last 8 years they just went to work and nothing is different today."
Saturday, March 05, 2022
Recent uses of the word predecessor
That’s a similar result to one achieved by Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, in an October 2020 poll by the Pew Research Center, 47%-53%. — Sofi Sinozich, ABC News, 25 Feb. 2022
Portman said Trump agreed to provide lethal aid to Ukraine, that his predecessor, Barack Obama, would not give.
— Sabrina Eaton, Cleveland, 24 Feb. 2022
During a small portion of the Oval Office meeting [with the Finnish president Niinisto] open to reporters, Biden said his predecessor Barack Obama believed the world would be fine if they left matters up to Nordic countries. Niinisto replied we don't usually start wars. [I saw this clip and Biden was so weak and fumbling that his staff immediately rushed him out of the room.] March 4, Reuters, video
Friday, March 04, 2022
Where is Merrick Garland when churches are attacked?
Sen. John Kennedy says the Justice Dept. has not responded to his complaint in 2020 about attacks on churches. More than 80 attacks have occurred since his first letter urging the Justice Department to step in. Is Merrick Garland too busy ferreting out terrorist parents to pay attention to real anti-Christian crimes?
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/mar/2/sen-john-kennedy-urges-merrick-garland-crack-down-/
Francis Fukuyama on Ukraine and the U.S. problems
"FF: I think that many American presidents have a role in bringing us to where we were. I think that we should really begin with the Bucharest summit in 2008 [he leaves out Clinton's role], when Ukraine was first promised a NATO membership [U.S. says no, that's Putin's interpretation]. At the time, I thought that was a big mistake, because we couldn’t actually fulfill that promise. That was under George W. Bush. And I would agree with the criticisms of Obama: I think his refusal to sell weapons to Ukraine and not observing the red line in Syria were bad moves.
But I think that you guys have let Donald Trump off the hook. It’s not just that he was upset about Russiagate [which was all a hoax, but FF apparently believed the Democrats and doesn't know Hillary was behind it]. He has been issuing statements supporting Vladimir Putin from well before he was elected president [he says complimentary things about all international opponents]. Even after the invasion, he talked about Putin being a genius and very savvy. He gave a speech just a few days ago at CPAC where he attacked who as a global tyrant? Justin Trudeau—not a single word about Vladimir Putin. [Yes, we were all alarmed at what was happening in the country closest to the U.S. and Biden said nothing.] He and his followers on the right have a real affinity for strongman leadership [as opposed to the leftist 2-faced Democrats?]. That’s really what is at stake. When you go to Helsinki and you say, “I believe Vladimir Putin more than my own intelligence community,” that’s giving aid and comfort [no, it's the truth--his own intelligence community was part of the deep state]. That’s close to being treasonous, in my view [perhaps FF's favorite theories have been blown up too?].
There is good reason for Putin to think that America is weak under Joe Biden—partly because Trump hasn’t gone away after January 6, and a significant part of the Republican Party believes this lie that the election was stolen. [And Hillary still believes she was elected in 2016.] The country is seriously divided because of the failure of the Republicans to concede the peaceful transfer of power [it was divided long before that--remember when Bush was being called Hitler?]. And so if you’re Putin, you’re thinking that you can rely on your Republican friends to soften any blow. [That's ridiculous, and another lie of the left wing media who can't accept what a joke the Biden-Harris team is.]
Finally, on Biden, yes, I think that he did not do certain things [like helping Putin finance this war by not shutting off his oil]. I was very disappointed when he pulled back on trying to cancel Nord Stream 2. Really, four presidents [don't forget Clinton] have contributed to this image of American weakness and have made mistakes on policy. But where we are right now, I think, is pretty good given, you know, given that legacy.
Thursday, March 03, 2022
Dyscalculia in Adults--difficulty with math
https://www.additudemag.com/dyscalculia-in-adults-symptoms-signs-and-statistics/
- Frequently late, occasionally missing important events altogether
- Finds it difficult to remember names
- Often drives too fast or too slow, or vastly misjudges how long it will take to drive somewhere
- Needs to write down a phone number immediately to remember it
- Gets lost easily; misplaces objects around the house frequently
- Struggles to keep score in games; often loses track of whose turn it is
- Slow to tell time on an analog clock
- Poor memory for anything number-related, like dates or facts
Wednesday, March 02, 2022
Poland is taking in Ukrainian refugees
Tuesday, March 01, 2022
The war against Ukraine by Melissa Mackenzie
"A time of universal deceit... by Melissa Mackenzie
The first casualty of war is the truth -- Hiram Johnson, U.S. Republican Senator from California in 1918
Have we learned nothing? On the heels of multiple deception campaigns by the United States government and media (but I repeat myself), comes a potential world war that is being cheered on by some very, very unserious people.
Caution is being thrown to the wind. This is exceedingly dangerous when nuclear fallout might be the next thing floating through the breeze.
Think that's impossible? Well, a lot of smart people told us that what is currently happening in Ukraine is impossible. Ukraine is winning the propaganda war. How nice. Meanwhile Russia is on its way to Kiev. We are only a couple days into this "military action."
At this writing, Ukraine applied to become a member of NATO. What this is, is an indirect request to have the United States join the war against Russia.
How about a no-fly zone? Again, is anyone considering the full ramifications of doing something like this? What happens when American pilots shoot down a Russian plane?
The United States needs to start production of our own drilling and OUR OWN PIPELINE. But Biden and his minions are not doing that. In fact, the U.S. government just halted drilling. John Kerry was flapping his gums about the climate -- as if that's the main concern and not DEAD Ukrainians.
There are stories coming out that Putin is "crazy." Boloney. Putin is many things: calculating, brutal, murderous, etc. but he is not crazy.
There are rumors floating from guys like Marco Rubio that Putin is sick. Maybe. And if he is, maybe with cancer or something, that makes him more dangerous because he feels like he has some business to finish before he dies.
DON'T FORGET CHINA. In the last few days, she's been harassing Taiwan again. Has anyone considered what a China-Russia alliance looks like for the world?
Anyone?
So please, friends, hold onto your healthy skepticism. Watch warily and realize that much of what you're seeing in the media, on social media, is DESIGNED to make you feel a certain way, adopt a certain position, and to inflame your senses.
What is needed is cool, calculating, heat-lowering rhetoric and actions.
War is evil and we should not enter one, especially a worldwide one, lightly.
Meanwhile, watch your six [watch your back]. While you're looking at the propaganda, what are you not seeing? Today, the House and Senate are trying to pass a bill so that women can abort a baby throughout pregnancy and negating any state and local laws on it. There are lots of news stories afoot that aren't being covered, but are life-changingly important.
Discernment is what is needed now. Wisdom to see not just what we're told to look at but the whole picture.
Russia has a convoy rolling toward Kiev. Is this the "minor incursion" Biden envisioned? Do you trust that Biden knows what's going on?
Remember the lies of the last few years. The same people who promised that masks worked, there was Russian collusion (turns out that it was Hillary), 14 days to stop the spread, etc. are now pushing for World War III in the media.
These people are not to be trusted.
-- Melissa
Monday, February 28, 2022
Sunday, February 27, 2022
What in the world is GERD?
"Nearly everyone has heartburn now and then. But heartburn is also the most common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), so talk to your doctor if:
We've Facetimed a little and she seems beyond those symptoms. Here's some additional signs. She definitely sounds like she has laryngitis.
- Your heartburn happens 2 or more times a week
- Your heartburn gets worse
- Your heartburn happens at night and wakes you from sleep
- You’ve had heartburn now and then, but for several years
- You have difficulty or pain when swallowing
- Your discomfort or pain interferes with your daily activities"
"Chronic heartburn is the most common symptom of GERD. Acid regurgitation (refluxed material into the mouth) is another common symptom. But numerous less common symptoms other than heartburn may be associated with GERD. These may include: Overview: Symptoms of GERD - About GERD
- Belching
- Difficulty or pain when swallowing
- Waterbrash (sudden excess of saliva)
- Dysphagia (the sensation of food sticking in the esophagus)
- Chronic sore throat
- Laryngitis
- Inflammation of the gums
- Erosion of the enamel of the teeth
- Chronic irritation in the throat
- Hoarseness in the morning
- A sour taste
- Bad breath"