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