Knowing Your Audience

As we move through Month Three of the Trump Tantrum the NY Times continues the fun by dissociating from reality, or something. This self-help piece by Lesley Alderman seems timely yet unfocused:

The Year of Conquering Negative Thinking

Here’s a New Year’s challenge for the mind: Make this the year that you quiet all those negative thoughts swirling around your brain.

All humans have a tendency to be a bit more like Eeyore than Tigger, to ruminate more on bad experiences than positive ones. It’s an evolutionary adaptation that helps us avoid danger and react quickly in a crisis.

But constant negativity can also get in the way of happiness, add to our stress and worry level and ultimately damage our health. And some people are more prone to negative thinking than others. Thinking styles can be genetic or the result of childhood experiences, said Judith Beck, a psychologist and the president of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy in Bala Cynwyd, Pa. Children may develop negative thinking habits if they have been teased or bullied, or experienced blatant trauma or abuse. Women, overall, are also more likely to ruminate than men, according to a 2013 study.

On the other hand, in social and/or political circles where status is elevated by victimhood, negative thinking may be the way to go. In any case, the reader revolt in the comments confirms that plenty of progressives have no intention of finding anything positive about the current environment.

Yet in a different story we actually find unexpected positivity and imagination from - please sit down - NYC Mayor Bill DeBlasio. He is making the same point about Trump's son-in-law and key adviser that many others have made yet few progs seem able to embrace:

Jared Kushner Named Senior White House Adviser to Donald Trump

...

The scion of a prominent Democratic family active in New Jersey politics, Mr. Kushner showed few early signs that he would become a national political power player. A Harvard graduate, he is a lifelong Democrat, liberal on social issues. Like his ideologically limber father-in-law, he has donated to Democratic candidates.

Mr. Kushner’s appointment was greeted with relief by some liberals, including Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York, who views him as moderating influence in a Trump West Wing dominated by hard-line conservatives. “I respect him a lot,” Mr. de Blasio said when asked about Mr. Kushner on Monday. “I’ve known him for years and find him to be a very reasonable person.”

My goodness. Like Trump himself, or Mike Bloomberg, Kushner is almost surely a "cut taxes, cut regulation" Northeastern Republican who has no interest in the social conservative agenda. In the rest of the country, he would be considered a staunch liberal. Yet progressives will freak out by this appointment anyway, because Trump.

So negative.

Comments

[Buford Gooch]

I was going to post "First!" before reading the piece, but decided not to.

[buccaneer morgan]

So Mr 'my password is password,' was in the running for foggy bottom.

[sbw]

Franken: I'm not a lawyer

But I play petty and vindictive on TV.

[DebinNC]

Interesting recap of AL credit union hostage saga ... Police went in the back door and grabbed the miscreant while he was away from the hostages.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Well, we just had an election between Tigger and Eeyore.

People prefer Tigger.

There ya go.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Speaking of optimism:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-10/u-s-small-business-optimism-index-surges-by-most-since-1980

[jimmyk]

Franken: I'm not a lawyer

I am, however, a failed comedian who once stayed at a Holiday Inn Express.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

That drive-through sequoia that made itself into grape stakes was about an hour and a half south of here. Gorgeous park, especially in the fall when the dogwoods have turned.
The Ratzkywatzkys visited many times. As I think about it a good friend who did chemo at the same time as Mrs Ig was the chief ranger dude there for years.

[DebinNC]

Re folks whose status is elevated via victimhood, Michael "Gentle Giant" Brown's parents search for millions in compensation has hit a snag.

[Dave (in MA)]

If only Kushner can live up to the high level of excellence set by Jarrett, Blumenthal & Lance...

[Jim Eagle]

sbw,

That's all they got? An inflated answer to a question going back 30 years because of a "top of my head" during a radio interview. Well at least they chose a clown who is not a lawyer to ask the question and to keep humping the chicken while Sessions answered in completely honest terms and details.

They don't have much and what they do have in regards to the job of the AG is that he should be an activist who makes up the laws and selective enforcement as he goes along. Sessions not having any of it.

Looks like the photog have got Louis Gorhmet a little upset.

[Dave (in MA)]

Franken: Here's how Trump should deal with protesters.

[Dave (in MA)]

It's 'nepotism' if Trump gets advice from his daughter's husband, but A-OK if the first lady tries inflicting single payer or this on us.

[DebinNC]

Franken emerged from the crowd and charged one male protester, grabbing him with a bear hug from behind and slamming him onto the floor. “I was a wrestler so I used a wrestling move,” Franken said.

No assault charges filed?

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Dave (in MA),

Ha! I LOVE that picture. My grandson STILL gripes about the school lunch change, and he's a sophomore in college.

[Captain Hate]

Layers and layers of fact checkers:

http://thefederalist.com/2017/01/10/washington-post-reporter-doubles-down-on-fake-news-about-guns/

[Dave (in MA)]

DebinNC, don't be silly; he's a Democrat.

[the generallyistic deplorable rich]

that is one of those things you tend not to forget ...

[lyle]

Here's a denizen of the oh-so-tolerant-left being oh-so-tolerant:

https://ricochet.com/402097/example-1456-of-why-trump-won-the-election/

[Frau Grammatik]

Corey Booker and Meryl Streep are just two useful idiots in the yuge basket of dem despicables.

The 60 Minutes program was sandwiched in the middle of a carefully arranged media blitz by NRDC staff. The day after the 60 Minutes program, the Alar story was taped for the Phil Donahue Show. Before and after the 60 Minutes program, Meryl Streep played a prominent speaking role against Alar, including an appearance on the Phil Donahue Show. Streep had been steered to NRDC by Robert Redford after they finished filming Out of Africa. She told him she wanted to get involved in an environmental cause.

The combination of EPA, NRDC, 60 Minutes, Meryl Streep and others worked. By the summer of 1989, the manufacturer voluntarily took Alar of the market.

Others? how about an "old friend" -

The study was wrong. The accusations about Alar were groundless. Still, (David) Fenton was unrepentant: “We designed [the Alar campaign] so that revenue would flow back to the Natural Resources Defense Council from the public,” he told his other clients in an internal memo later reprinted by The Wall Street Journal. “And we sold this book about pesticides through a 900 number."

Fenton boasts he is the midwife of the organic food movement. Daddy Soros is pleased.
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2004/10/the_real_voice_is_george_soros.html

[Frau Steingehirn]

“I was a wrestler am a sniveling coward so I used a wrestling coward's move,” Franken said."

Fixed if for you, illegitimate Sen. Al.
Pfui!

[the generallyistic deplorable rich]

the democrats with bylines have been practicing #fakenews for a while.

[Oops had to erase the double underline.]

Fenton set up the Real Climate site to push climate alarmism shortly after Steve McIntyre started making waves with his critique of the Crook't Hockey Stick, and several years before Gore made his big hit with The Convenient Untruth. The climate scare has been a tremendously successful piece of propaganda, enriching and empowering a tremendous number of the leftist elite; its success continues its whistled march past the the graveyard, filled with those who thought narrative could overpower nature without time limit.

[Clarice Feldman]

Yes, frau--how could we forget that? Tough toots for the Washington State apple growers. OTOH I remember the first food scare--it was cranberries which were supposed to kill you cause they were touched by DDT or something--It was just before Thanksgiving. My mother came back from the store with twice the usual amount and said we eat them every year--they've been grown the same way--and this year they are half the price.

I have since viewed all food scares the same way--B.S.

[Account Deleted]

"The much anticipated intelligence report which concluded that Russia tried to influence the recent presidential election had another startling, yet widely ignored, conclusion: The Russian government promotes anti-fracking propaganda in the United States."

http://acsh.org/news/2017/01/09/fracking-protesters-are-putin-puppets-10707

[Clarice Feldman]

BTW I'm a Tigger not n Eeyore type which is probably why I'll never write for the NYT

[Account Deleted]

"Rep. Duncan Hunter on Tuesday said House Speaker Paul D. Ryan might have to get involved in the dust-up over a painting that depicts police officers as pigs and had been hanging in the U.S. Capitol Complex.

Last week, Mr. Hunter had personally removed the painting, which was done by a winner of a congressional art competition held by Rep. William Lacy Clay, Missouri Democrat."

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jan/10/duncan-hunter-paul-ryan-might-have-get-involved-co/

[Frau Propaganda über alles]

kim - fake science makes fake news, a win-win for those determined to make the world better for us'ns.

[-peter]

Lol Clarice

[Account Deleted]

From the "Yi Pi Ki Yay [redacted]" file:

"House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, Wisconsin Republican, said Thursday that the budget reconciliation legislation to repeal Obamacare will include a provision to remove Planned Parenthood from the taxpayer dole."

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jan/9/planned-parenthood-on-the-ropes-as-republicans-mov/

[Thomas Collins]

I am not familiar enough with the Winnie the Pooh oeuvre to know which is which. However, I try to avoid negative or positive states. I am most productive and happy when I am slightly gloomy and determined to accomplish whatever task lies in front of me.

[jimmyk]

All those images of Kate Middleton are hot, but no comparison to this lady:

She gunned down a Pali terrorist trying to run over more Jews in the truck attack the other day in Jerusalem.

[Frau Propaganda über alles]

Clarice, when we had our hobby apple orchard, we bought a small bag of alar in Medford, OR. It was so expensive, we never used it!

Streep's carpy performances, in the name of her and *all* children, are unfortunately seared, seared in my memory.
Despicable, indeed.

[the generallyistic deplorable rich]

Posted by: KevlarKid | January 10, 2017 at 01:54 PM

lol I had a big think comment at about 2AM one morning a few days ago pointing that out (the accusation, not that part of the report though). surprised that that would have made it into the report (the evidence is more credible that they fund the activities in Europe, in the US, plenty of others can step into the void, not the least of which is the Dallas Fed or the EPA or Energy).

[Account Deleted]

Most younger Eeyore's smoke marijuana, the most powerful gateway drug in America.

Their parents who smoke it believe it's harmless and "safer than alcohol."

Berkeley isn't a microcosm for the greater population of the US; but it certainly runs sympatico with college-bound youth where "chronic" smokers are made, not born.

Eeyore's who smoke marijuana on average 3 days per week for two years develop "pits" and "holes" in the top regions of their brains. There is a book coming out in 2018 with the photographic evidence for how the brain literally begins to "digest" itself inside a chronic marijuana smoker. (Sorry I can't use pinpoint science on this but I saw the photo masters and heard the author speak in May 2016. Not a crusader, a medical doctor who is investigating the metabolic and physiological effects of "harmless" drugs.)

To my point: our national history will include a chapter on marijuana and its impact on the body politic, the American family, the criminal justice system, and now- American agriculture.

It's enough to make an Eeyore outta the staunchest Tigger if Tigg is operating without information that's likely to be buried away from public view for the sake of the afflicted.

[the generallyistic deplorable rich]

Posted by: Thomas Collins | January 10, 2017 at 02:01 PM

surprised that you would be unfamiliar with one of the scared texts of national security.

[home gamers: remember Danzig dribbled that down his chin as our enemies laughed.]

[Account Deleted]

From the "Cork in the bunghole of freedom" file:

"Obama chief of staff on president's farewell address"

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/president-obama-chief-of-staff-denis-mcdonough-exit-interview/

The final countdown...can we do it by fives?

[Frau Propaganda über alles]

Woo-hoo! Ted Cruz is taking the present DOJ to task about its history of misdeeds.

It doesn't get any better than this!
Sen. Cruz uses a frozen flounder of facts to deliver a frontal uppercut to Al Franken's phony testimony *against* Sen. Sessions.

[Account Deleted]

From the "The blowback of history seldom favors the propagandist" file:

"With just 10 days left in the presidency of Barack Obama, the soon-to-be-former President is feverishly attempting to pre-write history.

Obama has turned to his loyal scribes in the mainstream media to construct the facade of a legacy that he hopes will stand up past Jan. 20.

http://www.unionleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?avis=UL&date=20170110&category=OPINION0201&lopenr=170119969&Ref=AR&source=RSS#sthash.hI8FaUUC.dpuf

[henry]

duels on the floor of the senate would be a welcome boost to cspan viewing

[Buford Gooch]

Frau, my wife is watching the hearing. I'm in back in my office. She tells me that if I don't watch any other part of the hearing, I should find video of Cruz going after them.

[Account Deleted]

ATTENTION ALL FRIGID WEATHER DENIZENS OF JOM

I need consumer advice re a crucial winter gear accessory: gloves.

Heading to St Paul Minnesota on Thursday. Even though the weather is supposed to be on the warmer side (above 20 degrees yeeeeetch), I'd like to leave a pair of arctic service quality gloves with my son who is making do with a run-of-the-mill pair of whatevers.

Any recommendations for effective, arctic cold caliber gloves?

Many thanks for all replies, in advance.

Kev

[Account Deleted]

From "The Way (I Hope) We Never Were" file:

BRA-BRA Stroysand has thrown her wig into the ring with the wise and powerful Merle Streeptococci.

"...shakin in the bushes, Boss."

http://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/entertainmentnews/barbra-streisand-blasts-donald-trump-i-completely-agree-with-meryl/ar-BBy5XVg?li=AA2qN5v&ocid=spartanntp

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LT_MEXICO_TRUMP?SITE=MYPSP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-01-10-10-21-54

Mexico will negotiate with Trump, and as soon as possible.

They want to end uncertainty.

[Buckeye]

Hearing rumors that the anarchist crowd is planning to tear up DC on inauguration day.

Sure hope Bikers for Trump plan to show up as a "counter balance".

[pagar, a bacon, ham and sausage supporter]

"the hearing, I should find video of Cruz going after them."

Meanwhile:

https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2017/01/ted-cruz-reveals-the-real-reason-dems-are-terrified-of-jeff-sessions

IMO, it is really hard to believe that every Democrat Senator wants to go on record as to the Democrats being the completely lawless party.

When we already have them on record as the political party that wants to "make America sick again."

[Account Deleted]

re: Mexicans want to re-negotiate with Trump

You bet your a$$ those do-nothings in MexiCity want to negotiate.

Over $500 billion in Gringo greenbacks flowing out of the USA annually now via the ultimately virtuous and hardworking squatting felons from Mexico. (recent study by Western Union)

Then there is the backflow of $500 billion to a trillion $ into US banks for laundering.

[Square pegs into round holes.]

KK, a lot of those MRI studies are now bullshit. They found something wrong in the algorithm or something. I didn't bother to investigate much about just what it was because it fit into my bias so nicely.

[Account Deleted]

From the "And now this from the Religion of Peace" file:

"A diplomat from Sudan was arrested for allegedly grinding against a woman on a Manhattan subway Monday — but the charges were dropped because he has diplomatic immunity, police sources said.

The 49-year-old diplomat, Mohammad Abdalla Ali, was riding an uptown 4 train at about 2 p.m. when he allegedly approached the 38-year-old woman from behind as the train was leaving Grand Central and rubbed his crotch against her, police sources said.

Is that the UN-kind of diplommunity or the Hildo Clintoona kind of immunity?

http://nypost.com/2017/01/09/diplomat-busted-for-grinding-on-woman-on-subway/

[Oh, wait.]

She should sue the pants off him.

[lyle]

At least the brute didn't grab her pussy, KK.

[jimmyk]

No doubt he's a Christian fundamentalist.

[the generallyistic deplorable rich]

exactly.

Sudan could waive the immunity though. Or the US could just expel him.

[lyle]

Should have "sandwiched" her with another "diplomat." That's not just condoned but a perennial knee-slapping punchline...

[the generallyistic deplorable rich]

Posted by: KevlarKid | January 10, 2017 at 02:35 PM

not anywhere near that much. a lot, but not that much.

[windansea]

Kev, I live in Florida now but easy way to find anything is do a search on Amazon for ex winter gloves, then click on 4 star rating and above, then read the comments of the ones you like. I hardly ever return anything buying this way

http://tinyurl.com/zuoqa7k

[lyle]

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/313446-sanders-its-much-to-early-to-say-if-ill-run-for-president-again

Pure bluster. Fauxchahontis is lead big wampum warrior.

[lyle]

http://hotair.com/archives/2017/01/09/final-bill-for-hillary-futility-1-2-billion/

As Matt Vespa reminds us, Hillary Clinton once offered this zinger about Donald Trump’s claims to be a business wizard: “What kind of genius loses a billion dollars in a single year?” The New York Post has the answer in their review of election-campaign financial disclosures. The final cost of Hillary’s futile bid for the presidency — including monies spent by the Democratic Party and supporting PACS — exceeded $1.2 billion.

[Account Deleted]

See if this woiks:

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialRightWingNews/photos/a.401034789956656.90394.389658314427637/1664212860305503/?type=3&theater

[the generallyistic deplorable rich]

1.2 billion and she still couldn't get the likability software to function.

that personality v6.6.6 coulda worked with enough money and time.

[caro]

KK, I buy a lot of stuff from Sierra Trading Post. Valuable comments and good prices.
See gloves at
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/s~mens-gloves/?perPage=96

[the generallyistic deplorable rich]

those dang Russians ... always tinkering, messing things up.

[DebinNC]

KK - winter gloves ... Lots of good reviews and low price.

[jimmyk]

“What kind of genius loses a billion dollars in a single year?”

Of course it was an idiotic question, of the sort only someone who's never actually been in business, and who knows absolutely nothing about business, could make. One of hundreds of disqualifying comments.

[Stephanie despicable me]

KK, I bought my husband some Wells Lamont Thinsulate work gloves at Walmart of all places that he swears by. They also have the finger thingy where you can access your cell phone without taking them off.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/7710L-Men-s-Black-Synthetic-Leather/123191885

He absolutely loves them.

[henry]

I have yet to find a pair of gloves that survives duck hunting decoy wrangling intact. Lots of warm / waterproof options as linked above.

[Dave (in MA)]

Re: gloves, a coworker (who moved here from NH) couldn't believe I didn't have any gloves on yesterday when we were starting to walk out to our cars after work, and the temp was in the single digits. If I wore gloves my hands wouldn't fit in my pockets. I keep them in the car in case I need them.

When I have to shovel snow, I put on a pair of these and then shove my hands into a pair of these, although those prices are far higher than what I'd pay. If it's warm enough - over 25 or so - I skip the double layers.

[Dave (in MA)]

Too bad he wasn't a Kennedy; he would have been lionized instead of arrested.

[Stephanie despicable me]

BTW those gloves at Walmart are $7.50.

If your son works outdoors a lot, I would also recommend the fleece lined work pants from Walmart. $19.97 made by Wrangler and very warm. Several of his friends have now bought some as well for winter outdoor yard work.

Walmart actually has a lot of work clothes. Makes sense and they are definitely blue collar oriented.

[Dave (in MA)]

Based on what I've seen in movies and on TV, if there's ever an apocalypse, I'd like to have the finger-less glove concession.

[Account Deleted]

Posted by: the generallyistic deplorable rich | January 10, 2017 at 02:49 PM

Thank you. Put an extra zero in the remittance figure of $500 billion.

The laundering receipts figure I stand by. Thanks again.

[Stephanie despicable me]

When Elizabeth Warren aka Chief Spreading Bull comes out to ask questions you think that she'd do it using smoke signals.

[Old Lurker]

Porch's parents LIVE in MN. But even they go to FL for the cold months. I'd save the cost of new gloves and warm undies and use that money to re-ticket the flight.

[Account Deleted]

Posted by: windansea | January 10, 2017 at 02:50 PM

Indeedy. A time-tested online search method. I improve odds of success by "talking" to friends as reviews can be planted and might oversell. Just me being cyber-paranoid. ;) Thanks for your reply.

[lurkersusie]

I hope this isn't true!

Robert Kennedy Jr. says he's accepted job offer from Trump

President-elect Donald Trump met with Robert Kennedy Jr., a prominent vaccine skeptic, on Tuesday. According to incoming White House press secretary Sean Spicer, the two discussed “the issues pertaining to vaccines and immunizations.”

After the meeting concluded, Kennedy told reporters that Mr. Trump had asked him to “chair a commission on vaccination safety and scientific integrity.” Kennedy said he told Mr. Trump he would chair such a commission, and that their meeting was held at Mr. Trump’s request.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/robert-kennedy-jr-says-hes-accepted-job-offer-from-trump/ar-BBy7z6P?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=mailsignout

[James D]

KK @ 2:07

The promotion and glorification of marijuana these days makes me absolutely sick.

As I've posted many times, I am no fan of the war on drugs as its currently conducted, or the harmful effects to society from it. But I'm also totally against legalization, let alone normalization as we're currently seeing, of drug use.

[Neo]

Hungary plans to crack down on non-governmental organizations linked to billionaire George Soros now that Donald Trump will occupy the White House, according to the deputy head of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s party.

The European Union member will use “all the tools at its disposal” to “sweep out” NGOs funded by the Hungarian-born financier, which “serve global capitalists and back political correctness over national governments,” Szilard Nemeth, a vice president of the ruling Fidesz party, told reporters on Tuesday. No one answered the phone at the Open Society Institute in Budapest when Bloomberg News called outside business hours.

LUN

[James D]

Dave @ 3:13

You're right.

I never understood the point of that. You'd think that in a post-apocalypse world, with so many dangers (zombies, plague, radioactive fallout, what have you), you'd want as much skin protection as possible.

[windansea]

Just me being cyber-paranoid

I hear ya, if the reviews have some saying the product is fantastic and others saying it falls apart I usually stay away, when you get consistent good reviews with a few minor quibbles then it's probably okay.

[Account Deleted]

Posted by: Square pegs into round holes. | January 10, 2017 at 02:37 PM

Yes. The MRI studies have been discredited. The author shared evidence shot with actual cameras on cadavers.

Also had some interesting photoslides on light-bearing qualities of certain food sources.

Had slides comparing umbilical cord biopsies from 1980 to those biopsied in 2010 (Yeetch!)illustrating the dramatic uptick of chemical residues.

It was one of those presentations where I stopped taking notes after 5 minutes.

Waiting for the book.

[henry]

Sorry Chuck, no earmarks for you.

Nice backbone so far.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

lurkersusie,

That isn't a job offer. It's an independent commission I think.

Trump is skeptical about some of the vaccines. So, amazingly, is Sheryl Atkisson.

I don't know what to think about this. My kids all got vaccinated. I got all the vaccinations, too. No harm to anyone in my family, nor any suspicion of such.

I also know about herd immunity, and a real danger with some of the illegals bringing in stuff like drug-reistant TB and polio.

Maybe the best thing would be to get some public testimony so that people will quit being frightened. On the other hand, I don't like a Kennedy being involved in anything, because criik opportunities areenormous.

Atkisson has done some work on fudged figures at the FDA concerning vaccines. I haven't paid enough attention since vaccine years are behind me.

Again, not happy with a Kennedy.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

crook opportunities

[Account Deleted]

Posted by: Old Lurker | January 10, 2017 at 03:15 PM

OL---> yer killin me. ;) There is *ALWAYS* a better way, no?

Ya, Baby Kev is earnin his keep up there sloggin' out this degree in economics and playin' hoops for the Macalester Scots.

"But, Son, are you sure you want to live in arctic weather half the year and spend the other half anticipating that first turn of the leaves in late August?" (from my 9 years of hard time in Burlington VT).

He admitted when he got home for Christmas: "Dad, that place really gave me a run for my money."

All right then. He's gonna make it. Being humble and honest in the same breath.

I think FL is on the agenda for his spring break. LOL

[henry]

A glove recommendation from our Chitown skiing unit.

[Old Lurker]

Chitown Lurker has a good idea.

But mine is better.

Take a spare battery:

http://www.thewarmingstore.com/iongear-battery-heated-gloves.html

[Account Deleted]

Posted by: James D | January 10, 2017 at 03:23 PM

I hear ya. The "war on" is a con and cover for the banks to launder ever-greater amounts of narco-bucks off the books, IMNSHO.

As a chronic pot smoker from age 18-35, I learned the hard way. Although I enjoyed my fair share of success financially and professionally during those crucial years of young adulthood---- I missed out on a lot as a result of chronic use.

It didn't really occur to me why although the obvious was quite evident. But I received a solid answer one day in the sweat lodge listening to my "anchu" (teacher")pray in the presence of about 30 inmates we were sweating that day.

He said: "Creator, help these young men realize that weed is a danger to them. They sit here before you seeking their own hearts. Help them to understand that weed will hide them from themselves."

That answer came some 14 years after I quit smoking it and growing it on our farms. It was a way of life. It occurred to me that I followed people down a lot of dead trails during my time with weed.

The opportunity cost to weed smoking is unbearably high. I shared this knowledge with my youngest and he's stayed away from weed, although he tried it to see what all the fuss was about. The kids here in Berkeley are sparking up by age 8. And their parents are known to smoke with them.

Baby Kev is clean and he's sober. No one man can foretell the future for any other man. But it does matter if one's elders can explain why "don't do it" is the more prudent course. My folks grew up poor in barrios and smoking weed was the scourge among families---> kids who started smoking were lost to their families.

My anchu drove home the "why." He was a weed smoker for 18 years too. It was the hardest drug for him to quit. We both shared a story about how much we loved not only smoking it but the ritual of handling it, growing it, and sharing it/selling it. (Semi-loads to Chicago?)

But what I realized was that I was searching for my own true medicine: GrandFather White Sage (salvia apiana). Incredible how my relationship with that mother of all healing plants lifted my fascination with the cheeba....the look, the feel, the stickiness of the sap, the cross-pollenating, the crushing, the wrapping and tying of "wands"...the scent.... almost a dead ringer for the Mata.

Only it cleanses and purifies and *never* misleads or lies.

[Kev now jumping off his soap box.]

It's a great day to be alive and breathing free air, no?

[Willy]

Kevlar: I'm now certain of your disability.

"Gateway drug"

Symbolic of your innate ignorance despite being terminally glib.

[Account Deleted]

Posted by: Miss Marple the Deplorable | January 10, 2017 at 03:28 PM

Vaccines... what to believe? Heard from some fellows in May 2016 about the trials and tribulations of the HPV vaccine push on young girls. Big bidness.

We vaccinated all of our kids. We always made sure that the kids were never vaccinated without us present, and that kids were never immune system compromised when getting vaccinated (sometimes the doctors wanted to multi-task and vaccinate on the basis of "while you're here you might as well..." )

It would take a lot of evidence to the contrary to suggest that Big Pharma isn't trying to exploit the reappearance of TB and other eradicated diseases due to lax immigration enforcement. Huge federal subsidies to them for fixing this problema I would imagine.

[Jack is Back!]

Kev,

All good glove recommendations but I don't know if they could stand up to the USAF Cold Weather survival school at Goose Bay, Labrador.

We went with NWOT Nomex Flight Gloves with hand warmers on ocassion. I think they'd be available in any military supply store near you unless the kids of Berkley have burned them down by now.

Basically the same gloves WW2 gunners used on the bombers as there was no heat and no pressurization.

[rse]

I knew our windy city lurker would weigh in.

KK-my kids believe that it is ritalin and other attention-span drugs that are the gateway as they make mood alteration a norm from an early age. Then the age 21 drinking minimum up from 18 makes pot and alcohol equally illegal. The equivalence becomes a habit.

I am still trying to catch my breath from this morning when someone tried to break into my house while I was at the grocery store. Husband called me to ask where I was as alarm company had called him. Came home to one garage door up and door wide open and alarm blinking. Found two cats almost immediately but couldn't find the older two and did not want to mention it. Finally an hour later the tomcat appears on stairs and just keeps staring at me. Took him another 30 minutes to slowly come down stairs, Found the other under Red's bed where she has stayed all day.

Alarm went off almost precisely 30 minutes after I left. Not a fun feeling.

[Willy]

Are you one of the Trump 400# bed-wetter who can't imagine why they are diabetic?

Maybe you should consider alternatives like CBD'S to assuage the rampant toxicity in your gut.

[Buckeye]

I have yet to find a pair of gloves that survives duck hunting decoy wrangling intact. Lots of warm / waterproof options as linked above.

Even worse when your boots spring a leak after your smart-ass dog drops a bird in a puddle....ask me how I know:)

[BlueOx]

Kev,

Gloves @ 20 degrees? At that temp, don't be surprised to see kids at the bus stop wearing gym shorts.

And I hate to break it to you, but the forecast high for Friday is 3. (Following a -15 night.)

[Buckeye]

I was drawing a blank on the gloves KK, but it figures that the JOM ladies would have the lowdown.....Mrs. Buckeye buys most of my duds:)

[Buckeye]

rse

Anything missing?

[Jack is Back!]

Sorry if you've heard this one before, but its still a classic:

"A man walks out to the street and catches a taxi just going by. He gets into the taxi, and the cabbie says, 'Perfect timing You're just like Frank.’

Passenger: 'Who?'

Cabbie: 'Frank Feldman. He's a guy who did everything right all the time. Like my coming along when you needed a cab, things happened like that to Frank Feldman every single time.'

Passenger: Well, I don't know about that. There are always a few clouds over everybody.'

Cabbie: 'Not Frank Feldman. He was a terrific athlete. He could have won the Grand-Slam at tennis. He could golf with the pros. He sang like an opera baritone and danced like a Broadway star. You should have heard him play the piano. He was an amazing guy.'

Passenger: 'Sounds like he was something really special.'

Cabbie: 'There's more. He had a memory like a computer. He remembered everybody's birthday. He knew all about wine, which foods to order and which fork to eat them with. He could fix anything. Not like me. I change a fuse and the whole street blacks out. But Frank Feldman, he could do everything right.'

Passenger: 'Wow, some guy then.'

Cabbie: 'He always knew the quickest way to go in traffic and avoid traffic jams. Not like me, I always seem to get stuck in them. But Frank, he never made a mistake and he really knew how to treat a woman and make her feel good. He would never answer her back even if she was in the wrong; and his clothing was always immaculate, shoes highly polished too. He was the perfect man! He never made a mistake. No one could ever measure up to Frank Feldman.'

Passenger: 'An amazing fellow. How did you meet him?'

Cabbie: 'Well, I never actually met Frank. He died and I married his wife."

[Account Deleted]

"Kevlar: I'm now certain of your disability.
"Gateway drug" Symbolic of your innate ignorance despite being terminally glib.

From a male who goes by the same nickname that my black brothers down NOLA way have bestowed upon their johnsons.

Listen Willy.... oh wait. That cotton in your ears doesn't allow for that.

I don't know you or from whence you've come. But you remind me of one of those sewer rats who can swim up the pipes, past the p-traps, and spring up out of the toilet bowl when the lid opens.

Get behind me, Douche.

[Stephanie despicable me]

The painting has evidently been removed.... again.

Ha!

[Willy]

So it's at least 400 lbs.

Just checking.