Having spent much of today in bed after radiation treatment for skin cancer and getting new glasses (adapt), I am not feeling suicidal but am grateful that in these times I can sleep AND afford new glasses, as well as the skin cancer treatment.
“If” - My all-time favourite! Discovered it in 5th grade and was given the opportunity to read it to the class at “P.S. 27”, located at 35 Mineral Springs Road, Buffalo, New York 14210 - Current Condition: Demolished. 😟
If Rudyard Kipling had been blessed with the gift of prophecy about American politics, he would have penned "If's" third line as, "If you can meet with Trump and his Disaster"
Now their crime is attacking the left flank for — gasp — winning elections and governing with conspicuous competence. They feel shown up and suddenly show some signs that they might have spines, but only for hostility towards other Democrats.
I re-read my post to see where I indicated or implied it was at epidemic proportions and I cannot find that. I would hope that the sensibility of addressing a problem BEFORE it becomes an epidemic is self-evident enough.
Thought you would know by now, this is the last place to speculate...or make assumptions. Turns out there was a 3 yuan bill. The People's Bank of China issued a 3 yuan note in 1953. It was officially withdrawn from circulation and exchange in 1964, and surviving examples are now highly valuable collector's items.
Well, if you want to load up the truck and move to Tennessee, you at least won't have the fortune cookie problem. Our senior senator, Marsha Blackburn (powered by Satan), is vacating her seat to run for governor. One of her recent campaign ads shows her sitting in a Chinese restaurant (actually, a vintage soda shop tricked out to look like a Chinese restaurant). Before her is an entire plate of fortune cookies, which she crumbles as we hear her promise to "hunt down every Chinese communist" in our state and keep them from buying all our real estate. I have pointed out that buying up real estate sounds more like an entrepreneurial capitalist thing than a communist thing, and in any case Chinese buyers are definitely not driving up real estate prices around here. I suspect the real purpose of the ad was to demonstrate that Marsha was capable of doing two tasks at once. But if you don't like feeling manipulated by fortune cookies, after the first week of January, Tennessee is the place you'll want to be.
I had heard something about that ad. It sounds very peculiar. Is she pretending that the Chinese communists are sending messages in the cookies? What on earth is the message supposed to be other than that things could get messy? Is there some dog whistle going on there that I am not attuned to recognize? I will now attempt to hunt it down just out of curiosity!
Yeah, everybody's trying to figure out where that came from and what it meant. Racism and xenophobia are always productive ways to appeal to MAGA in Tennessee. But you'd expect the targets to be Kurds, Somalis, and Central Americans, of which Tennessee has tons. Chinese? Not so many. My hunch is that some political consultant thought the Chinese would make a good target, since Republicans are trying to link Democrats to communism, and China is nominally communist. Marsha isn't burning more than 10 watts on her best day, so she's not well-positioned to evaluate strategies. Even a lot of Republicans on the Trump train here saw that ad and went, "WT actual F?"
Sounds plausible. Either that or, given the principle that if they're accusing Ds of it, they're doing it (or about to do it), she's secretly lining up a big real estate deal with the Chinese government!
Do take Dad's tools when he has passed but be sure to leave your mother a hammer, a flat head and a Phillips head screwdriver, etc. She needs and is capable of making a few repairs herself. I took a giant heavy duty hammer and a mallet that I treasure.
I always think of pliers as my most important kitchen tool. The older I get, the more difficult it is to open cans and other food containers, even some cardboard boxes.
A few days ago, when the rubber thingie I use for opening jars and bottles didn't do the trick (and in fact kept leaving rubber crumbs all over the counter), and the metal so-called jar opener just pinched my hand, I resorted to pliers without avail. This was a plastic cap on a plastic orange juice jug, so the usual tricks of heating the cap, knocking it on a corner, etc., were pointless. My husband was still in bed, but when he got up, I said, "If you can get the orange juice open, you can pour for both of us." He came upstairs a few minutes later holding a much larger pair of plumber's pliers, saying it had still been a struggle, but he had finally succeeded. I'll keep that in mind, but the next oj jug opened easily with the rubber stuff, thank goodness.
That is an absolutely great drill, is it not? I love the old tools that often have the wood worn smooth and darkened by the hands that used them. In this case there's also the simplicity of being able to actually use it even where there is no electricity or no extension cord.
That won't get us out no matter how it turns out. Endurance is key. It's going to get worse and I suspect involve a significant amount of bloodshed. The thing is to keep going - it's what Madison & Jefferson got most wrong when they wanted to do away with a standing army. Evil never rests so we can't either. I just signed up to be a volunteer voter registrar and am hoping that will introduce me to people who are having trouble getting the paperwork they'll need to vote so that I can direct them to help. You have to stay informed, vigilant, and seek opportunities for real action. It won't get better unless we act to make it that way. Voting is only a start and a minimum - there's so much else that needs done.
Yes, literal bloodshed. Read history, that's how it works. We're not going to be different because people don't think it's important enough to learn its lessons.
The people couldn't put up an effective defense against the US military, the National Guard, and the ICE animals. If voting fails, a coup is probably our only hope.
Getting sentimental in your advancing age, are you? Your persona, your professional "being" is determined intellectual honesty; some would say intellectual combativeness. "Being liked" would dilute it; "being respected" defines it.
When I was about five, I used father’s to drill some holes in one of my Playskool wooden blocks. I didn’t understand why my mother was upset. They were my blocks!
We don't just like you, Gene, we ♥️ you.
(And I mean that in as non-creepy, non-stalkerish was as possible 😁).
I imagine a bit of skeeviness is acceptable...
Me too, Gene!
Having spent much of today in bed after radiation treatment for skin cancer and getting new glasses (adapt), I am not feeling suicidal but am grateful that in these times I can sleep AND afford new glasses, as well as the skin cancer treatment.
❤️🩹♥️
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
--- From "If," by the extraordinarily gifted and deeply controversial Rudyard Kipling
“If” - My all-time favourite! Discovered it in 5th grade and was given the opportunity to read it to the class at “P.S. 27”, located at 35 Mineral Springs Road, Buffalo, New York 14210 - Current Condition: Demolished. 😟
If Rudyard Kipling had been blessed with the gift of prophecy about American politics, he would have penned "If's" third line as, "If you can meet with Trump and his Disaster"
"The Democrats are doing it by being wimps."
That was their crime.
Now their crime is attacking the left flank for — gasp — winning elections and governing with conspicuous competence. They feel shown up and suddenly show some signs that they might have spines, but only for hostility towards other Democrats.
I see less of this sort of thing in practice than I see people complaining about it as if it is at epidemic proportions.
I re-read my post to see where I indicated or implied it was at epidemic proportions and I cannot find that. I would hope that the sensibility of addressing a problem BEFORE it becomes an epidemic is self-evident enough.
Circular firing squad.
The fortune cookie is as authentically Chinese as ¥3 bill.
Thought you would know by now, this is the last place to speculate...or make assumptions. Turns out there was a 3 yuan bill. The People's Bank of China issued a 3 yuan note in 1953. It was officially withdrawn from circulation and exchange in 1964, and surviving examples are now highly valuable collector's items.
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/photos/chine/5eb03ebeb06109.06344644-270.jpg
This factoid is no doubt being met with a great yuan.
yuan 😂😂. NICE❣️😂😂
I even checked before posting because I knew someone would check. Didn’t do a deep dive into historical notes.
Well, if you want to load up the truck and move to Tennessee, you at least won't have the fortune cookie problem. Our senior senator, Marsha Blackburn (powered by Satan), is vacating her seat to run for governor. One of her recent campaign ads shows her sitting in a Chinese restaurant (actually, a vintage soda shop tricked out to look like a Chinese restaurant). Before her is an entire plate of fortune cookies, which she crumbles as we hear her promise to "hunt down every Chinese communist" in our state and keep them from buying all our real estate. I have pointed out that buying up real estate sounds more like an entrepreneurial capitalist thing than a communist thing, and in any case Chinese buyers are definitely not driving up real estate prices around here. I suspect the real purpose of the ad was to demonstrate that Marsha was capable of doing two tasks at once. But if you don't like feeling manipulated by fortune cookies, after the first week of January, Tennessee is the place you'll want to be.
I had heard something about that ad. It sounds very peculiar. Is she pretending that the Chinese communists are sending messages in the cookies? What on earth is the message supposed to be other than that things could get messy? Is there some dog whistle going on there that I am not attuned to recognize? I will now attempt to hunt it down just out of curiosity!
Yeah, everybody's trying to figure out where that came from and what it meant. Racism and xenophobia are always productive ways to appeal to MAGA in Tennessee. But you'd expect the targets to be Kurds, Somalis, and Central Americans, of which Tennessee has tons. Chinese? Not so many. My hunch is that some political consultant thought the Chinese would make a good target, since Republicans are trying to link Democrats to communism, and China is nominally communist. Marsha isn't burning more than 10 watts on her best day, so she's not well-positioned to evaluate strategies. Even a lot of Republicans on the Trump train here saw that ad and went, "WT actual F?"
Sounds plausible. Either that or, given the principle that if they're accusing Ds of it, they're doing it (or about to do it), she's secretly lining up a big real estate deal with the Chinese government!
That is a very plausible theory. Marsha is all about enriching herself.
Do take Dad's tools when he has passed but be sure to leave your mother a hammer, a flat head and a Phillips head screwdriver, etc. She needs and is capable of making a few repairs herself. I took a giant heavy duty hammer and a mallet that I treasure.
and a wrench, the kind that has a screw to make it open wider or narrower. I found that to be very useful in my single days.
And pliers.
I always think of pliers as my most important kitchen tool. The older I get, the more difficult it is to open cans and other food containers, even some cardboard boxes.
A few days ago, when the rubber thingie I use for opening jars and bottles didn't do the trick (and in fact kept leaving rubber crumbs all over the counter), and the metal so-called jar opener just pinched my hand, I resorted to pliers without avail. This was a plastic cap on a plastic orange juice jug, so the usual tricks of heating the cap, knocking it on a corner, etc., were pointless. My husband was still in bed, but when he got up, I said, "If you can get the orange juice open, you can pour for both of us." He came upstairs a few minutes later holding a much larger pair of plumber's pliers, saying it had still been a struggle, but he had finally succeeded. I'll keep that in mind, but the next oj jug opened easily with the rubber stuff, thank goodness.
Yep, that rubber thingy is invaluable!
There are other kinds, but mine is just a square of something similar to nonslip shelf liner (e.g., https://www.amazon.com/ALIUNI-Adhesive-Breathable-Bathroom-Protector/dp/B0FKSMRDCL).
And an electric drill with a set of new bits, WITH A CORD. The cordless ones are useless.
They used to be, but technology advances. I love my cordless DeWalt impact driver.
That is an absolutely great drill, is it not? I love the old tools that often have the wood worn smooth and darkened by the hands that used them. In this case there's also the simplicity of being able to actually use it even where there is no electricity or no extension cord.
Why do you worry that your readers don't like you. Speaking only for myself, I love you!
I agree we’re in Hell. Is there anyway out besides voting in November?
That won't get us out no matter how it turns out. Endurance is key. It's going to get worse and I suspect involve a significant amount of bloodshed. The thing is to keep going - it's what Madison & Jefferson got most wrong when they wanted to do away with a standing army. Evil never rests so we can't either. I just signed up to be a volunteer voter registrar and am hoping that will introduce me to people who are having trouble getting the paperwork they'll need to vote so that I can direct them to help. You have to stay informed, vigilant, and seek opportunities for real action. It won't get better unless we act to make it that way. Voting is only a start and a minimum - there's so much else that needs done.
Thanks for that!
Literal bloodshed, I fear. Join a well regulated militia.
Yes, literal bloodshed. Read history, that's how it works. We're not going to be different because people don't think it's important enough to learn its lessons.
The people couldn't put up an effective defense against the US military, the National Guard, and the ICE animals. If voting fails, a coup is probably our only hope.
Getting sentimental in your advancing age, are you? Your persona, your professional "being" is determined intellectual honesty; some would say intellectual combativeness. "Being liked" would dilute it; "being respected" defines it.
Intellectual combativeness is lovable ❤️
A correct and proper fortune cookie would read "Help! I'm being held prisoner in a Chinese bakery!" (thanks Alan King)
Gene, we like you plenty.
The rest, I need a bit to think....
I have a drill like that. Inherited it from my dad.
A brace and bit. Such nostalgia.
When I was about five, I used father’s to drill some holes in one of my Playskool wooden blocks. I didn’t understand why my mother was upset. They were my blocks!
Democrats argue because they can. Republicans (or members of the party formerly known as Republican...) don’t argue because they can’t.
Still have my dad’s drill just like that. Things might have taken three times as long back then but I’m nostalgic for the simplicity.
And for the supremely portable independence from electricity. I wish I'd inherited my grand-Aunt Rosie's treadle sewing machine.
We don't like you very much? Gene--unlike our coworkers and family, we actually choose to spend time with you.