General Discussion, Saturday, March 11, 2017

Posted on March 11, 2017 by Stella

giraffesatdusk

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184 Responses to General Discussion, Saturday, March 11, 2017

  1. MaryfromMarin says:
    March 11, 2017 at 12:22 am

    Had to get this in before nyet’s breakfast….

    Liked by 7 people

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  2. MaryfromMarin says:
    March 11, 2017 at 12:25 am

    ANFSCD…very good article, IMO:

    Marxism: the Bug Wearing an Edgar Suit

    http://thedeclination.com/marxism-the-bug-wearing-an-edgar-suit/

    Liked by 5 people

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    • Col.(R) Ken says:
      March 11, 2017 at 12:51 am

      Mary second time tonight , have read this article

      Liked by 4 people

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    • czarowniczy says:
      March 11, 2017 at 12:54 am

      Judt like heroin addicts, they know it can and will kill them, destroying their lives slowly between that first soul-soaring hit and that fatal OD, but you become so hooked on chasing that impossible dream that nothong else matters. Your family and friends don’t like your new life, well there are plently of other heroin addicts out there who’ll share their denial, drugs and stroking. I always thought addicts should get obe chance to clean up and then, on a second arrest or positive test foe heroin… summarily humanely euthanized. Then again, I’m a drug free, conservative capitalist, soooooooooo.

      Liked by 5 people

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      • Col.(R) Ken says:
        March 11, 2017 at 1:04 am

        You do have a valid point. The “War on Drugs” was/is a joke. We know who the big dealers are, time to Drone them, can’t just to much money floating around, Billions of dollars………

        Liked by 5 people

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        • czarowniczy says:
          March 11, 2017 at 1:08 am

          Repeat heroin junkies, Marxists…whack them before they whack you.

          Liked by 4 people

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        • Col.(R) Ken says:
          March 11, 2017 at 1:15 am

          I’m all for that……commies and gang bangers, then the drug pushers……well my eyes have blurred out on me, it’s time,to rack out.. Czar you take the first watch, I’ll follow you, and Natasha is out on LP/OP, running password is: :”Them Yankees are right behind me”!!!!! -out

          Liked by 4 people

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          • czarowniczy says:
            March 11, 2017 at 12:41 pm

            Let’s not forget the Soviet Union’s part in the drug epidemic in the US, starting in the 60s, going thru Vietnam and right up through the Russian ‘mafia’s’ push into the US drug scene. I am betting that were one able to get into the deepest archives of the various agencies allegedly fighting the War on drugs we’d find a target rich environment.
            You figure what percentages of property crimes are committed by heroin addicts, what the crimes and misery are related to heroin from poppy field to vein, and the addict recidivism rate is…..welllllllll

            Liked by 2 people

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    • Wooly Phlox says:
      March 11, 2017 at 7:35 am

      Excellent article, Mary. Excellent blog, too: bookmarked.

      Liked by 5 people

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    • nyetneetot says:
      March 11, 2017 at 9:54 am

      And this is why reading old magazines and news papers can drive you over the edge; you begin to learn just how many suite there were and continue to be.

      Liked by 2 people

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  3. texan59 says:
    March 11, 2017 at 1:02 am

    I put the coffee out this morning with a heavy heart. I’m getting on a plane to MN this morning to lay to rest one of my favorite aunts. Her kids, all five of them, and me and my siblings spent my first 15 summers visiting with each other. While that was many years ago, it is still a punch to the gut. A reminder to me that no matter how old you get, at least for me, it takes me back to those times that were carefree, and for us kids, much simpler times. I head back up there to get the gang together one more time, at least those of us who are still on this side. I’ll be back Tuesday night, so please keep the coffee pot on while I’m gone. 😦

    Liked by 13 people

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  4. stella says:
    March 11, 2017 at 7:30 am

    I don’t know about you, but the jury is still out on the Republican (Ryan) plans for repeal and replace of Obamacare. Will it work? Can it pass? If it doesn’t pass, what happens next?

    A Facebook friend (a Los Angeles style conservative) suggested I listen to the podcast on Left, Right & Center at KCRW. I’m listening to it, and still reading whatever I can find about it. IF you are interested in listening too, here is the address to access the podcast:

    http://www.kcrw.com/news-culture/shows/left-right-center

    Liked by 3 people

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    • amwick says:
      March 11, 2017 at 7:55 am

      It leaves my head spinning… I will check out the podcast after tennis. TY

      Liked by 3 people

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    • lovely says:
      March 11, 2017 at 8:40 am

      Too much information for me to process yet as to the repeal/replace plan. I am 98% sure that it is going to be terrible given Ryan is the architect and was apparently on TV for 45 minutes acting like a smarmy carsalesrat trying to sell it.

      I’ll listen to your link in a bit to try and get some clarity. There are still penalties for not having insurance (mandated healthcare -no ✓ not American) and from the little I read I don’t like it.

      Liked by 2 people

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    • Cetera says:
      March 11, 2017 at 11:58 am

      I don’t think they’re going to get it passed, and I can’t say I’ll be unhappy about it. I think the odds are very, very good that if it does get passed, we’ll lose crucial GOP votes in step 3, (globalists don’t want to lose key aspects), let alone pick up enough Dem votes, and still won’t get everything fixed.

      Trump hasn’t yet made the GOPe come to heel. Until he figures out a way to break them, he’s going to have a rough time with certain portions of his agenda. If anyone can pull it off, he can, but he’s going to need a lot of help.

      I’m most hopeful that this entire thing is another of Trumps win-win-win scenarios. Either he eventually gets what he wants by making the GOPe do the heavy lifting, or he discredits Paul Ryan specifically and the GOPe in general and marginalizes their viewpoints, or there is such a collapse of Obamacare, coupled with the budget “crisis” that Trump is able to twist arms and hold heads over burning barrels and dictate to the losers what is going to happen.

      I’m not sure that is realistic, but I can dream!

      Liked by 3 people

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      • sandandsea2015 says:
        March 11, 2017 at 3:26 pm

        Cetera, that’s exactly what I’ve been hoping for. Trump being always steps ahead has thought this through and it will render Paul Ryan irrelevant, solving multiple problems at one time. It could happen, right?

        Liked by 1 person

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    • lovely says:
      March 11, 2017 at 1:49 pm

      I’ve done some reading and my first take is that Paul Ryan is looking to his masters and putting in a safety net for insurance companies while simultaneously trying to make President Trump look heartless and incompetent by removing people who are poor but not physically or mentally disabled. If the poor whom Ryan’s plan doesn’t cover are removed there will be a press feeding frenzy. President Trump can bring the truth to the people but it is very difficult truth to make understood and an unpalatable one.

      That said I don’t believe that Ryan’s plan has a snowballs chance in heck of passing.

      I did read SD’s analysis but it seems that he didn’t touch on the plan itself but simply attributed reasons to the the different factions, which in all honesty are known by most people who are politically conscious. I don’t think he addressed the issue although the poster he quoted did cover some good points.

      Repeal/Replace ACA is IMO President Trump’s litmus test. He needs to fix something that is unfixable but turning it over to his enemy Paul Ryan a puppet of Soros is a mistake. I do not trust Reince. Reince and Ryan are very good friends, Ryan is an enemy of America, I have heard nothing locally about the two of them being on the outs and I do know people close to the circle.

      The MSM portrayal of President Trump is that he is in the position of defending taking away previously uninsured people’s insurance after they have been insured through ACA. It is a false premise and that is were President Trump has to take this battle and what he has to define for the American people, before the 2018 elections.

      1) The number of poor people insured by the ACA is inflated because many of them are no longer insured because they could not afford the premiums, the co-pays or the deductibles.

      2) A large number of the poor insured under ACA qualified for Medicaid especially under the expansion of Medicaid so they are really not insured because of the ACA.

      3) The Medicaid expansion is going to likely stay regardless of what happens because it will be political war not worth fighting given every other battle that is currently being waged.

      3) President Trump has always impressed me with his being three steps against his enemies. Where I think President Trump has some loss of peripheral vision is that he thinks like a business man, in a business, everyone wants the business to succeed, if the business benefits individuals benefit. President Trump has often made statements that reinforce this view of him. He needs to realize that although people like Ryan do not want the reality of America becoming an Islamic State or America going to a nuclear war with Russia, people like Ryan, Hillary, Obama, Rubio, do want to see America fail as a free society because they are only interested in protecting their oligarchical benefits and perks.The enemy is very shortsighted, self serving and really does not give a damn about the future of America, they are interested in the instant gratification of their power, money and pleasures. They are solely given over to the now. And as one of the cabal put it fearful of their actions being exposed and hanging from the gallows for their crimes.

      If and when President Trump realizes this (and I believe he will) then all hell is going to break loose and we are going to see a time that makes his first 50 days in office seem like a butter cream cupcake.

      Liked by 5 people

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      • Cetera says:
        March 11, 2017 at 3:26 pm

        Sundance is 100% right with his analysis of the process and plan. However, I don’t care. Sundance is fighting a losing battle, and it is a battle he’s fighting against himself.

        For literally the last three years it has been fought against the GOPe, primary the bastards, give them no quarter, cold anger, etc. I’ve been backing him on that when even most folks at the Tree House were against it, and couldn’t see it. There is absolutely no way, no how, we’re going to support those same GOPe now, and take a bad bill and a bad plan, and have to trust them, compromise, take the hit, and pray that we can fix it later. Ain’t gonna happen.

        We lit the fires. We have our torches, and our pitchforks. We dug ditches, and built our wall of pikes, and poured the burning oil, lit the forest on fire. No matter what, come hell or high water, that we are allowing those MFers through our gates and into our dwellings, without a full accounting, a debasement of them, and full acknowledgement of their past sins and crimes. They have repent, and worse, they have to make us believe that they mean it. Anything less is simply not an option, and it doesn’t matter who tries to sell it, from Trump to Sundance to Ryan.

        Liked by 3 people

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        • lovely says:
          March 11, 2017 at 3:43 pm

          100% right with what process and plan? That the plan is crap and that McConnel doesn’t have the votes? That the process has been corrupted by money? McConnel starts with 52 votes? Give me a break McConnell himself isn’t even a vote for real change.

          I’m not sure that anyone who has any cognitive stability who isn’t pushing an agenda or viewing the world through their emotional government issued glasses would argue any other point.

          I guess my opinion is that SD is pushing a moot point we need to move beyond the stating and restating the obvious, those who have ears have heard, those who have eyes have seen, it is time to put deeds to words. Conservatives have complaining about the inglorious deeds of the GOPe for years (myself included), what good has the complaining and explaining to the minions done for us?

          Liked by 1 person

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          • auscitizenmom says:
            March 11, 2017 at 4:01 pm

            Louis Gohmert was on FOX and FRIENDS this morning and said that Pres. Trump was being protected from the truth about support in Congress for this repeal. He was actually being lied to. And, Louis said that if he would get them together in a room they could hammer this out in short order. So, we know why that isn’t happening. Paul Ryan and friends.

            Liked by 3 people

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          • Cetera says:
            March 11, 2017 at 4:48 pm

            Sundance is right that we don’t have the votes to get something requiring 60 through the Senate, and we don’t have the 51 votes to change the rules in the Senate to only require 51 votes, and even if we did, we may not have the 51 votes to pass something that would currently require 60. That the only way Obamacare is going to be changed at all is via a three-step process, starting with a reconciliation bill.

            It doesn’t matter. None of that is the issue.

            Rather, issue is that no matter what we do or want to do with Obamacare, it cannot happen until the swamp is trained. You can’t build a bridge until you’ve got solid anchorpoints for the foundation of the support structures that will hold the spans. We’re worried about what the final bridge is going to look like. We have to clearcut vegetation and drain the water and get down to some bedrock first. Everything else is meaningless.

            Does that mean D.C. will need to be razed to the ground? Probably. Does that mean Obamacare won’t get repealed, and will collapse on its own, and 90%+ in this country won’t have any health insurance of any kind, including Medicare and Medicaid? Most likely.

            Nothing for it. We’re a bunch of doughboys staring down gatling guns and machine guns across the trenches in WW1.

            “Come on you apes! You wanna live forever?” Charge.

            Liked by 4 people

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            • lovely says:
              March 11, 2017 at 5:49 pm

              Agreed on what you said here.

              I wasn’t saying that whether or not we have the votes is important I was asking what you thought SD was 100% correct on and we both agree that it is a meaningless point.

              It is impossible to build a house on a swamp, DC as it currently stews is swamp, whether we have the votes to pretend that we are doing something is meaningless.

              We have to do something.

              Liked by 2 people

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            • Menagerie says:
              March 11, 2017 at 10:07 pm

              It seem s to me what they are doing is just going to dumps ownership of the healthcare woes from 100% owned by the Dems to 100% owned by Republicans. This alone, with no other mind boggling arguments considered, is stupid.

              Liked by 3 people

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        • stella says:
          March 11, 2017 at 3:51 pm

          Cetera, I’m not trying to be adversarial, and you clearly have a definite opinion on the subject.

          Since that is so, I assume you have considered all the ins and outs of the legislation. Can you explain it to the rest of us clearly, and tell us why you have formed the opinions that you have?

          Liked by 3 people

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          • Cetera says:
            March 11, 2017 at 5:04 pm

            Ignoring the horrible optics of the entire situation, Ryan’s plan sucks. If you look at the plan from across the span of the three step process, sure, it’s fine. But it doesn’t matter. That is vaporware. It doesn’t exist. No battle plan survives first contact with the enemy. We’re building a bridge through a swamp with a lot of handwaving, that “somehow” once we’ve gotten to the other side, everything will be ready and fall into place.

            Nothing in politics, and particularly nothing in D.C., has ever happened that way and worked out, ever, in the entire history of D.C., and quite possibly in the entire history of humanity.

            Look at the Ryan bill, as it stands, and assume that is all we’re ever going to get. Is it good enough? Can we make it work with just that?

            No, we can’t. It kicks the can another three years down the road, maybe. People will still lose their insurance. People still won’t be able to afford coverage. It keeps the elimination of pre-existing conditions, and just moves the penalty around. That alone will doom the bill. You simply cannot have an insurance marketplace or plan that will survive pre-existing conditions. You simply cannot. It does not and cannot and never will work, ever. The math won’t allow it.

            Rather, we need to talk about what they are really trying to do. They are trying to come up with a way that everyone’s healthcare gets paid for. That isn’t insurance. It is a healthcare payment plan. It all still must and will lead to single payor. That is the only possible outcome.

            There is precisely one way to fix healthcare in this country, and only one. Karl Denninger is a real asshole, and he has beaten this particular issue to a messy pulp that years ago used to be a dead horse, and he thinks Trump is evil and a liar ’cause he hasn’t talked about it (which is stupid), but overall he’s right.

            Every hospital and healthcare provider must, without exception or equivication, provide an upfront price of any and all procedures performed prior to them being performed. EMTALA must be repealed. If you can’t pay for your healthcare, you don’t get any, period. There can be no medical monopolies allowed to exist in any form. There can be no restrictions of any kind on what kind of medical equipment can be purchased and used in a given area (currently it is illegal for certain medical devices like MRIs, CT scans, etc, to be operated within something like 5 miles of each other – why? Because it eliminates competition).

            Doing these things will cause medical services and healthcare treatment costs to drop by about 90% over the course of a year or two, tops. At that point, the need for healthcare payment plans provided by the gov’t will decrease drastically, we can actually go back to having genuine healthcare insurance for those who desire it, and charities, neighbors, and families can go back to making sure poor people are able to get their medical treatment cared for too.

            There may be outliers to this, in that the very sickest with the very rarest forms of something (maybe cancer, for instance), will not get the very best in the world treatment. They may have to deal with less than ideal treatment for now, and they may die sooner than they would have otherwise. That really sucks. It does. But there are worse things than death. The suffering of an entire country without healthcare is one of those things.

            And if these changes do in fact occur, within a few years, maybe a decade, those world-class cutting-edge treatments will be available again, and they will be available to everyone, and most will be able to afford them, as we once again build up our medical infrastructure.

            Can any of this happen? I don’t know. Trump’s recent meetings with several democrats makes it seem like there might be hope. I think Trump could get most Rs and some Ds to vote for something like that, and then Bob’s our uncle. At that point, watch out. The U.S., in our lifetimes, would be THE place to go for medical tourism, offering the most advanced, best healthcare at the lowest prices in the world, working miracles again.

            Liked by 2 people

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          • Cetera says:
            March 11, 2017 at 6:10 pm

            I forgot to mention that it doesn’t fix the Medicaid budget issue either. I don’t know if it really fixes the Medicare side of things, but I don’t think so.

            As it stands now, and what the Ryan plan doesn’t fix, is that within President Trump’s term (3-5 years, certainly much fewer than 10 years), Medicaid will consume 100% of several, many, or most of state’s entire yearly budget. Within 10 years, Medicare and Medicaid will consume 100% of all federal tax revenue as well. Nothing else gets funded without deficit spending, or suddenly a bunch of poor and old folks lose their medical coverage. The math doesn’t lie. Reality always gets a say.

            Ryan’s plan doesn’t fix any of that. It is absolutely essential that it get fixed. Might that all get fixed by stage 3? Maybe, but you’re going to kill a lot of sacred cows doing it.

            That’s the main problem. The swamp has to be drained first, before any of this can take place. Why don’t we do it now, or haven’t before?

            All the lobbyists for insurance companies. They helped get Obamacare through to begin with, sucking off revenue from the gov’t teat. All the lobbyists for the medical supply companies. All the lobbyists for medical big businesses.

            We’re talking about eliminating tens of thousands of jobs in state and local government regarding Medicare and Medicaid processing, and hundreds of thousands of jobs in the insurance industry, payment processing, and upper management of healthcare. It is turtles all the way down, and they all have to be killed.

            Why can the Surgery Center of Oklahoma offer such amazingly low prices for services compared to anyone else on the entire continent? Because they don’t do insurance. If you want surgery there, you pay up front. Need a hysterectomy? It’ll cost you $8k, and that includes the facility fee with an overnight stay, the surgeon’s fee, and the anesthesiologist’s fee. That’s it. My wife’s hysterectomy in a local rural hospital where I worked cost close to $35k for the surgeon and facility fee, and about $12k for the anesthesiologists. We paid $6k for it out of pocket, because that was the out of pocket maximum for our plan that year. Insurance covered the rest.

            The doctors at the OK Surgery Center aren’t getting paid less, or going home with less, than their other counterparts. But by not screwing around with insurance, and by not taking Medicare or Medicaid, they don’t need a staff of 20 people to support each surgeon, primarily to collect and process payments. And ultimately, it wouldn’t cost me much more money than I already paid, even with really good insurance at the time. With an Obamacare plan, the same surgery at the same hospital would cost me between $12-15k, double what I paid, and way more than what I would be responsible for at the OK Surgery Center.

            Liked by 1 person

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          • Cetera says:
            March 11, 2017 at 6:24 pm

            I seem to get stuck in moderation a lot these days. To that end, I suppose I should clarify my purposes, too.

            I love you guys, all of you. I’m not even here that much, and I do. I’m often argumentative, because I’m stubborn, opinionated, and convinced I’m right. I enjoy arguing, the verbal fisticuffs. I’m guessing it stems from a lot of my Irish blood.

            I am not intending in any way to insult any of you, nor Sundance, nor Trump. If I do come across that way, it is not my intent, and I beg your pardon. I want to have a discussion, and get some of these ideas out. It serves and venting, and intellectual stimulation and solidification. I have to look things up to make sure I have them correct when I comment on the publicly, and that helps me learn. I get new ideas and feedback when folks disagree or point out how I’m incorrect, and that helps me learn. I like learning, and I know these issues are important.

            I’m pretty certain what I say here has no bearing on anything. Trump isn’t going to see it. Ryan isn’t going to see it. Sundance isn’t going to see it (most likely anyway – does he ever stop in here?).

            You guys are my friends, in this little place of fellowship, where I can express myself, vent a bit, and have a decent time. Please let me know if I’m intruding on your peace or refuge from the Last Refuge. I can go be cantankerous elsewhere, if need be. Just know that I am not trying to be adversarial with any of you.

            Thanks!

            Happy Saturday!

            Liked by 5 people

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            • stella says:
              March 11, 2017 at 7:34 pm

              You aren’t on any moderation list. Maybe because you are writing very long comments, without paragraph breaks?

              Akismet is throwing them in spam, and I am manually rescuing them.

              Liked by 2 people

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            • stella says:
              March 11, 2017 at 7:36 pm

              Just rescued the latest. Wooly was in there with you, if that’s any consolation.

              Liked by 2 people

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            • amwick says:
              March 11, 2017 at 8:44 pm

              …we need to talk about what they are really trying to do. They are trying to come up with a way that everyone’s healthcare gets paid for. That isn’t insurance. It is a healthcare payment plan. It all still must and will lead to single payor. That is the only possible outcome.
              I appreciate your perspective/opinions. This is what I am afraid of. The line between healthcare, and health insurance is blurred because, well, as you said, everyone’s healthcare has to be paid. I would go farther and say that the whole scheme was a giant income redistribution plan… This was not my concept, but I sure do agree with it.

              Liked by 5 people

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            • lovely says:
              March 12, 2017 at 10:28 am

              I don’t think of you as argumentative Cetera, just working your way through the danger that has become our government and not ignoring the obvious which I think we are all trying to do.

              Just because Trump was our best option and I support him doesn’t mean that I think he is infallible or that he has some big secret move behind everything that seems to be a blunder. The people who believe this are dangerous. I’ll never forget when Trump was asked what was what is government’s biggest role and he said health care and education.

              Trump apologists will say he was just campaigning my opinion is that it was a question that he hadn’t thought about and he was learning. Thankfully he seems to be a swift learner.

              America is not going to be an easy fix. The Left grows more violent by the day, the oligarchs grow more threatened and dangerous and patriots dig in deeper and prepare for what seems to be set in motion.

              Liked by 1 person

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              • Cetera says:
                March 12, 2017 at 3:30 pm

                Absolutely. Trump isn’t really a conservative. The pro-Cruz NeverTrumpers were right about that. He’s like Andrew Jackson.

                However, with Trump not really being a conservative, he’s still the most conservative politician elected to Washington in 30+ years, at about any level. He’ll do the most good for the most people.

                Trump was the only choice, only chance, and by far the right man for the job at this time. He isn’t a savior, though, and he will make mistakes. Trump isn’t a sure thing. He’s just the last opportunity we get. If he gets the swamp drained, it will by with the aid of and by the grace of God. If not, well, the inevitable will come, and we’ll deal with that as best we can when it gets here.

                Liked by 1 person

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      • sandandsea2015 says:
        March 11, 2017 at 3:32 pm

        Trump has to know he’s got back stabbers into his inner circle, he just has to know. I’m praying he’s just biding his time until the moment is right and it will be like Jesus flipping the tables of the money changers in the temple.

        Liked by 2 people

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    • Sharon says:
      March 11, 2017 at 4:00 pm

      I no longer bother to form opinions about these things because:

      -it is inevitable that part of what is being presented is not true – we don’t know how much
      -we have no idea how long it will before what is not true is exposed as false
      -in the meantime, the thing will have been implemented according the will of the few who know which is true and which is false
      -and therefore, when that happens, my limited mental storage space has not been uselessly employed to retain data and arguments, the validity of which will not be clarified for an indefinite period of time

      I’m quite serious about all of that. In my opinion, forming an opinion of mine about such things in the present time is of no effect on either side of the thing.

      It’s obvious they know we don’t trust or believe them, which is why they are doing such a hard sell at all levels – and the hard sell pleases many as they say to themselves, “See! We have scared them! They feel they must explain!” Oh. Ok.

      Does that make them more believable?……………. Does it?

      Not to me, it doesn’t. It just exposes a little bit that they know that we know they can’t be trusted.

      And, as Martin Luther would say, “This is most certainly true.”

      My opinion.

      Liked by 4 people

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      • Sharon says:
        March 11, 2017 at 4:07 pm

        Famous saying from my dear 30-year friend, Sue M: “You can’t negotiate with liars.” Trump is negotiating with liars. I would not pretend that he has any choice and may have some success, due to his expertise. That does not change the fact that they are liars or that, unlike his vast business experience/successes, in this situation he does not have the same kind of leverage as is used in the business world, where the adversary “has no choice” due to financial and calendar constraints that force their decisions/commitments –

        Trump’s ideological opposition in this situation pretty much have nothing left to lose, and they are just going to stand on their shrinking sandbar until it sucks them under. No telling how long that will take since it has been about sixty years in the building, with the foundations now deeply rooted in regulatory and statutory and legislative realities.

        People who are as deceptive as this gang is at good at it. I do not doubt Trump’s obvious influence and success. Of course not. I am saying I, personally, have no reason to have any confidence about the process or the outcome. It is what it is.

        Liked by 4 people

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      • amwick says:
        March 11, 2017 at 4:10 pm

        It would be easier if they wore white/black hats, and had magic skin that would turn smurf blue whenever a lie is spoken.

        Liked by 4 people

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    • Rhea Salacia Volans says:
      March 11, 2017 at 11:39 am

      Saw a news blurb this morning that sales of 1984 and the Handmaiden’s Tale are up, which I found to be completely hilarious. Lefty are such projectors. They’re in favor of totalitarian government right up until the reigns are taken from them. Then they decry totalitarianism as loudly as they can.

      They oughta make up their minds.

      Liked by 1 person

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      • stella says:
        March 11, 2017 at 11:56 am

        I posted the link to the American Thinker article this morning on Facebook. Response from my lefty cousin:

        “lies, intimidation, and repetition they undermine the society that they live in”. “denigrating their opponents”. These sentences can apply to the lack of civility and bullying attitude we’re seeking today.

        My response?

        No, it can’t.

        Liked by 2 people

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  6. WeeWeed says:
    March 11, 2017 at 8:22 am

    Mornin’ kids!

    Liked by 8 people

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  8. nyetneetot says:
    March 11, 2017 at 9:27 am

    Mornin’ stella! (Smiter of those that ought to be smote) 😎 🍸 (Long Island Iced Tea)
    Mornin’ WeeWeed! (Master Mixologist Extrodinare) 😎 🍸 (Old Fashioned)
    Mornin’ Menagerie! 😎 |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| (Jack Daniels – Single Barrel )
    Mornin’ Ad rem! (Queen Felis catus) 🐱 🍸 (Flaming Lamborghini)
    Mornin’ Sharon! 😎 🍸 🍸 (earthquake)
    Mornin’ ytz4mee! 😎 🍸 (cosmopolitan)
    Mornin’ waltzingmtilda! 🙂 🍸 (white wine and perrier)
    Mornin’ partyzantski! 🙂 |_| (Tom Collins)
    Mornin’ texan59! 🙂 |_| (Black & Tan)
    Mornin’ ZurichMike! 🙂 🍸 (fuzzy navel)
    Mornin’ Col.(R) Ken! (hand salute) 🙂 |_| (Boilermaker)
    Mornin’ Czarina! 🙂 🍸 (Lynchburg Lemonade)
    Mornin’ czarowniczy! 🙂 |_| (Wild Turkey Rare Breed)
    Mornin’ letjusticeprevail2014! 🙂 |_| (Irish Car Bomb)
    Mornin’ Patriot1783-ctdar! (aka “ctdar”) 🙂 🍸 (grasshopper)
    Mornin’ tessa50! 🙂 🍸 (flaming volcano)
    Mornin’ waltzingmtilda! 🙂 🍸 (sidecar)
    Mornin’ varsityward! 🙂 |_| (Godfather)
    Mornin’ MaryfromMarin! 😀 |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| (Mortlach)
    Mornin’ Wooly Phlox! (aka “taqiyyologist”) 🙂 |_| (Roy Rogers)
    Mornin’ Howie! (aka “doodahdaze”) 🙂 |_| (Classic Daiquiri)
    Mornin’ TwoLaine! 🙂 |_| (Gin & Tonic)
    Mornin’ Sha! 🙂 🍸 (Lemon Drop)
    Mornin’ BigMamaTEA! 🙂 🍸 (Harvey Wallbanger)
    Mornin’ cetera5! (aka “Cetera”) 🙂 |_| (Blackberry wine)
    Mornin’ The Tundra PA! 🙂 🍸 (Baileys Irish Cream on the rocks)
    Mornin’ lovely! 🙂 |_| (Backdraft)
    Mornin’ michellc! 🙂 🍸 (Salty dog)
    Mornin’ auscitizenmom! 🙂 🍸 (Kiss on the Lips)
    Mornin’ Margaret-Ann! 🙂 🍸 (White Russian)
    Mornin’ Auntie Lib! 🙂 🍸 (Tom and Jerry)
    Mornin’ holly100! 🙂 🍸 (Jack & Coke)
    Mornin’ Pam! 🙂 (Not even water)
    Mornin’ Ms.Tee! 🙂 🍸 (Mojito)
    Mornin’ koolkosherkitchen! 🙂 🍸 🍸 (Cuba Libre)
    Mornin’ ImpeachEmAll 🙂 |_| (Flaming Dr. Pepper)
    Mornin’ Monroe! 🙂 |_| (Stinger)
    Mornin’ Les! 🙂 |_| (Rusty Nail)
    Mornin’ shiloh1973! 🙂 |_| (Jack Daniels)
    Mornin’ TexasRanger! 🙂 |_| (Whiskey Smash)
    Mornin’ Ziiggii! 🙂 |_| (B52)
    Mornin’ oldiadguy! 🙂 |_| (Rum & Coke)
    Mornin’ smiley! (“stuck in spambucket”) 🙂 🍸 (Spanish coffee)
    Mornin’ derk! (“Stellars”) 🙂 🍸 (Kamikaze)
    Mornin’ Jacqueline Taylor Robson 🙂 🍸 (Shirley Temple)
    Mornin’ facebkwallflower! 🙂 |_| (Night Train Express)
    Mornin’ Ms. Cindy! (aka “Ms Cynlynn” aka “ms cynlynn”) 🙂 🍸 (1970 ducru beaucaillou)
    Mornin’ sandandsea2015! 🙂 🍸 (1961 Château Montrose)
    Mornin’ amwick! 🙂 🍸 (Blue motorcycle)
    Mornin’ hocuspocus13! 🙂 🍸 (1970 Chateau Latour)
    Mornin’ Sloth1963! 🙂 🍸 (1971 Moulin Touchais)
    Mornin’ MTeresa! (Ex-lurker) 🙂 |_| (Albanian Raki Moskat)
    Mornin’ Rhea Salacia Volans! 🙂 |_| (Hot Buttered Rum)
    Mornin’ joshua! 🙂 |_| (Mudslide)
    Mornin’ John Denney 🙂 |_| (RumChata)
    Mornin’ litenmaus 🙂 |_| (Stolichnaya elit, no ice)
    Mornin’ kinthenorthwest 🙂 🍸 (A Lonely Island Lost in the Middle of a Foggy Sea)
    Mornin’ TwoLaine 🙂 |_| (Smoking Bishop)
    Mornin’ patternpuzzler 🙂 🍸 (Old Lady)
    Mornin’ Senatssekretär FREISTAAT DANZIG 🙂 |_| (Red Russian)
    Mornin’ whiners and complainers! 😛 (No drink for you!)
    Mornin’ to people posting that I missed. 😳
    Mornin’ to all you lurkers! 😕

    Also just in case someday; mornin’ to Elvis Chupacabra, F.D.R. in Hell and sundance! :mrgreen:

    Breakfast!

    NEW and IMPROVED breakfast with extra bacon for ZurichMike!

    Doughnuts and coffee!

    Liked by 9 people

    Reply
  9. michellc says:
    March 11, 2017 at 9:49 am

    Been at the races with my SIL this week and have been making some observations since there are racers from all over the country and Canada there. The first is it’s easy to see who is from the South and who is from the North, those from the South along with us Okies bundle up like Eskimos while those from the North run around in shorts. Northern racers are crazy on the track. Canadian racers are quiet and polite, on and off the track. One thing all racers have in common regardless of where they’re from is they’re all rednecks. Another thing that seems to not be limited to one area of the country is whining along with not wanting to obey the rules and more whining when they’re disqualified for breaking the rules.

    I will say though from the tracks I’ve been to, the owner and staff of this track have become my favorites because they don’t cave to the whiners and tell them, our rules, our call, either race or go home and they treat the local boys the same way as the visitors. I wish our local track was that way, but instead they cave to the locals and change the rules so much during the season by the end of the season nobody even knows the rules any longer.

    Although on the track things haven’t been going the way we’d like and the brand new car body looks like it’s went through an entire racing season and will need to be replaced before the start of the local track’s racing season, it’s been fun. Making that 6 hour round trip daily is the only thing not so fun and the getting home at 2 or 3 in the morning, but who needs sleep. lol

    Today will be spent piecing the sheet metal back on, to go see what happens the final day tomorrow afternoon.

    Liked by 8 people

    Reply
  10. Howie says:
    March 11, 2017 at 9:52 am

    Slideshow of Antartica

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
  11. stella says:
    March 11, 2017 at 9:53 am

    Some fun, and to counterbalance Caturday, here is the picture of the puppies at three weeks old:

    Liked by 9 people

    Reply
    • Rhea Salacia Volans says:
      March 11, 2017 at 11:47 am

      So cute~!

      Which one is yours?

      Liked by 5 people

      Reply
    • sandandsea2015 says:
      March 11, 2017 at 3:37 pm

      ❤❤❤❤ Oh my goodness, Stella!!! They are so adorable. How will you decide?

      Liked by 3 people

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      • stella says:
        March 11, 2017 at 3:52 pm

        Probably when I go to see them. I would like to see their little faces, and also how they behave.

        Liked by 5 people

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        • sandandsea2015 says:
          March 11, 2017 at 4:01 pm

          I’m waiting with great anticipation to see which little one you pick. I’m living vicariously through you because we can’t have pets due to allergies and asthma, but I would dearly love to have a puppy. Thank you for sharing!

          Liked by 3 people

          Reply
        • Sharon says:
          March 11, 2017 at 4:48 pm

          So cute. I’ll never forget how we chose one of our shelter dogs – she came and sat right at the front of the kennel/cage, looking at us intently, as though to say, “Well, make up your mind. I’ve been here too long….” while all the other dogs were either backed into a corner or barking their heads off. She was a Dalmatian and the shelter had named her Rose. As I drove home with her (she was sitting up very still and tall in the passenger seat) I talked with her about that name.

          She was such a proud and self-knowing dog, and when I asked her about the name “Rose” – well, she didn’t have much to say. Just looked out the window. After a couple of minutes watching her, I realized she was Miss Daisy. The only thing missing in completing that picture (that I was simply the chauffeur, serving at her pleasure) was that she was was in the front seat instead of the back.

          It was the way she looked out the window, evaluating where we were going, how long would it take, that made me think of Miss Daisy. When I got her home she simply trotted into the house, chose a specific corner of our bedroom and laid down. That was her spot for night time sleeping all the years we had her. She was just marvelous.

          So yeah – you will know when you meet them, and they meet you. I suspect one of them will pick you in some way.

          Liked by 5 people

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          • stella says:
            March 11, 2017 at 5:18 pm

            My Stella picked me. She was the littlest and the most feisty. She fell asleep in my purse (5 weeks old).

            Liked by 3 people

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            • Sharon says:
              March 11, 2017 at 5:22 pm

              Aw, how sweet! I’m looking forward to the matchup, too! and pics to go along…..

              I do miss my little Thorson and have been tempted…..but I doubt I will ever have another animal. I’ll borrow others’ pets and love on them from time to time…..

              Yesterday I talked with feisty little Molly in the cul-de-sac – who owns one of my neighbors. Molly is the cutest little 10# of whatever – always quite determined to get TO whatever new human happens along.

              She reminds me of both our Daisy and Sierra: their body language and responses told everyone they ever met, “Please take us away! We’ve been waiting for you! You are our new best friend!”….and then after the people left, the dogs would turn to us and say, “Was that fun – or what……..”

              Crazy dogs. Take our hearts and return love and attention a hundred fold……..

              Liked by 5 people

              Reply
          • auscitizenmom says:
            March 11, 2017 at 5:27 pm

            I got a little Peke-a-poo back in 1970. She was a female out of the litter of about 8 and she was sitting in the empty water bowl to stay out of the way of the others who were all fighting. They were only 4 or 5 weeks old.

            Liked by 5 people

            Reply
    • Jacqueline Taylor Robson says:
      March 11, 2017 at 8:20 pm

      They are so pretty! And they look very healthy as well. Nothing cuter than a wee baby!

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  12. stella says:
    March 11, 2017 at 12:05 pm

    Intruder breaches White House grounds, arrested near residence entrance

    http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/11/politics/man-breeches-white-house/index.html

    A man carrying a backpack was arrested Friday night after breaching security at the White House complex and was discovered by a Secret Service officer by the south entrance to the executive residence, officials said.
    The incident happened just before midnight while President Donald Trump was at the White House.
    A Secret Service source said the intruder might have entered the White House grounds on the east side before making his way near the residence’s south portico entrance.

    The White House was placed under security condition “orange,” one of the highest levels of security for the Secret Service.
    The suspect was arrested by the Secret Service and taken into custody.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  13. Rhea Salacia Volans says:
    March 11, 2017 at 2:07 pm

    I hope everyone got a chance to go next door and read about how Shia Lebeouf’s “He will not divide us” was stolen by 4chan, who used wind direction and plane contrails to narrow down the location so they could steal it.

    https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2017/03/10/omg-epic-funniest-troll-conquest-ever-they-stole-shia-labeoufs-flag/

    All I could say was this was brilliant.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
  14. lovely says:
    March 11, 2017 at 2:47 pm

    Bravo! Preet Bharara says he’s been fired ! Hit the road Preet and don’t you come back no more no more, hit the road Preet, and don’t you come back no more 🎼 🍾 !

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  18. The Tundra PA says:
    March 11, 2017 at 5:08 pm

    Good afternoon friends and race fans! We are now two hours into Day 5 of The Last Great Race on Earth and things are starting to sort themselves out. The first 3 teams have arrived in the village of Koyukuk on the Yukon River, with the 4th team just a few miles out. But none of the first 5 teams have taken their 8 hour mandatory rest on the Yukon; if they don’t stop at Koyukuk, they will have to stop at one of the next two checkpoints, Nulato or Kaltag. After that the trail leaves the Yukon River and heads for the coast of the Bering Sea. Wade Marrs is currently in lead by only a few minutes over Mitch Seavey and Dallas Seavey in 2nd and 3rd. Wade and Dallas have both declared their 8 at Koyukuk; Mitch is resting briefly before deciding.

    In 4th position is Joar Ulsom, the Norwegian musher who is sometimes referred to as “the barbarian”. Big, strong, and focused. His first year running Iditarod he was Rookie of the Year and finished in 4th place–an incredible feat for a rookie. Very few rookies finish in the top 20, much less the top 5. Joar is always a strong competitor.

    Our girl Aliy has just not been having a great race so far. The stomach bug that was plaguing her dogs a couple of days ago seems to have improved a lot and the team actually looked very strong and energetic as she left Galena after 24 hrs of rest. She breezed through Huslia in 15 minutes and is now about 50 miles from Koyukuk. So about 5 hours behind the leaders who have to rest for 8 hours while she does not. She should make up considerable time and be back in the top 5 if all goes well.

    Professional mushers are always looking for ways to innovate, tweak things, and either go faster or save energy. This year Dallas Seavey is doing something different that has mushers everywhere talking. For all of the Iditarod’s history, the mushing philosophy has been to have the maximum number of dogs pulling at all times. If a dog gets sick or injured, that dog is put in the sled and then dropped at the next checkpoint to be flown back to Anchorage. For this year’s race, Dallas had a sled built out of stiff carbon fiber that has 4 separate small boxes in the bottom in which he can carry 4 dogs. Since the very beginning of the race, he has had 2 to 4 dogs resting in those boxes at all times. Every couple of hours he stops and rotates the dogs, giving each dog additional rest while still moving. The big question, of course, is whether that additional rest will pay off in the last third of the race in the form of stronger dogs and faster run times. One thing I can see right off is that it is one heck of a lot more work for the musher; both physically, loading and unloading dogs, and mentally, keeping up with the details of how much each dog has been carried and whose turn is next. It also seems to me that this plan only works on nice smooth trail. If the dog in the box is getting slammed around by rough trail, that is not restful at all. I’ll be watching to see how much this strategy pays off.

    Tomorrow we will know a lot more about where things stand and what Aliy’s chances are. I remain cautiously hopeful.

    Go Aliy!

    Liked by 8 people

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  19. shiloh1973 says:
    March 11, 2017 at 5:44 pm

    Anyone here know something about pressurized septic systems? My alarm went off last night about 8PM. I can silence the alarm, but the red light is still blinking. I can’t find anyone who will come on a weekend without paying more than I have. I am now using a porta potti, dish pans so I can throw the water outside. No shower, and no washing machine. I think the pump has gone out, but not sure how to replace it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Cetera says:
      March 11, 2017 at 6:13 pm

      Oh man, no idea. I didn’t know they made pressurized septic systems. My parents have a non-pressurized one with a drainage field, and have never had any issue with it.

      Like

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      • czarowniczy says:
        March 11, 2017 at 6:52 pm

        I have an aerobic system, water out of the final tank is sprayed out in the west 20-acres into the field and the trees. I can chlorinate the last tank, eliminating the smell, or just not put the chlorine effluent out there and suffer thru a minor bit of sulfurous odor. It’s no where near as bad as the smell we get from the paper plant to our west or the Fish Kills landfill (shout out to Jersey), and thectrees think it’s de-lish, a Chateau d’ Lautrine, ’17.

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      • shiloh1973 says:
        March 11, 2017 at 6:59 pm

        The pressurized systems are mandated in Washington state if you don’t have 48 inches of soil before you hit rock. I had 45 inches and the witch would not give it to me. Personal conflict. It cost me 8 grand! More than I spent on the land and the trailer I bought. I am 20 miles from the river, but I guess they think I will kill the fish. Every one of my neighbors have plain old septic systems. I should have sued the county, because I know of new constructions in my area that were not held to the same standard. Just did not have the money.
        Oh well, just have to live like Little House On the Prairie for awhile.

        Liked by 2 people

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    • Rhea Salacia Volans says:
      March 11, 2017 at 7:02 pm

      Is there anyone at the city building that can help you with it? I know it’s a strange question esp. on a Saturday night, but last time I had a family member that had a septic alarm go off, the city that supplied the water actually had to come out and look at it, but I don’t know what all that entailed.

      Liked by 3 people

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      • shiloh1973 says:
        March 12, 2017 at 11:59 am

        I live in the country. City does not apply out here. I will call a contractor tomorrow. Until then, nothing goes down the drains.

        Like

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  20. Wooly Phlox says:
    March 11, 2017 at 6:26 pm

    We’re Living In Crazytown Now

    I have to stop calling my cat Mr. Tripod now, or I’m a doubleplus ungood person now.

    I hope I don’t get mugged at gunpoint any time soon.

    I’m liable to beg them, please, do it. Here, have my money first. And a pack of smokes!

    Like

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  21. czarowniczy says:
    March 11, 2017 at 6:31 pm

    Yet another successful foray to the Maison d’ Chevron, purveyor of fine screw-top wines. Once again found a fruity (Nyet, no no) wine redolent with overtones of undergrad college. So I’m sitting on the back porch, awaiting the rain, and sipping on Arbor Mist Peach…three thumbs up from the farmers across the lake raising the fighting chickens.

    Liked by 2 people

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  22. sandandsea2015 says:
    March 11, 2017 at 7:48 pm

    Liked by 2 people

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  24. Wooly Phlox says:
    March 11, 2017 at 8:19 pm

    Videogames.

    When my mom was in college for nursing, I was probably 10 or so. She took me, out of necessity, many times, and plopped my butt down in the library.

    I read, vociferously, magazines about computers, back when a Timex-Sinclair 1000 cost about as much as it’s name implied. There were speculative, Sci-Fi-like articles about what games could be, In The Future. I remember reading one about a driving simulator where you have a whole country to drive around, and maybe need to stop at gas stations every now and then.

    It all came true, pretty much. Moreso than predicted, from what I remember reading back then.

    http://www.pcgamer.com/an-erratic-journey-to-the-moon-in-space-engineers/

    This is a game “in alpha”. Meaning it’s not done being made yet, but available to anyone who wants to buy and play a game that’s incomplete. It’s absolutely astonishing how far past the predictions I was reading in the 80s we’ve come.

    Aside: Yo momma so fat she wears a VCR for a beeper!

    Nobody under 30 gets that joke.

    Liked by 2 people

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  26. Wooly Phlox says:
    March 11, 2017 at 8:29 pm

    I said, essentially, the other day that I read you wonderful people because most of you are older and wiser than me. That’s why I come here. You folks are a blessing, and a source of wisdom.

    But… Rhea makes even me feel old. 😀

    Liked by 3 people

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  27. Wooly Phlox says:
    March 11, 2017 at 8:44 pm

    Oh, she’s wonderful, and wise, but I’m betting she hasn’t passed 30.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  28. Wooly Phlox says:
    March 11, 2017 at 8:57 pm

    When we were kids, we visited the grandparents on the East Coast in the summer. In the winter, they would send us a box full of bags of Wise™ potato chips. Which were far, far better than any potato chips we could buy in Michigan. It’s like they were cooked in lard. That good. Borden™ makes them. They just can’t sell them here. Like Coors™ in the 80s or something.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  29. auscitizenmom says:
    March 11, 2017 at 9:00 pm

    lilbirdee12’s prayer:

    Our Heavenly Father, Your children come to you tonight to ask for healing and peace throughout our country so that we may return to being One Nation Under God. Guide us to be leaders in Your Kingdom, spreading Your Love and Salvation to all. Forgive us our sins and deliver us from evil.

    Lord, we ask for a blanket of protection over all our troops and law enforcement who serve to defend and protect us. Bless our representatives with the strength and wisdom they need to achieve the path You have chosen for us.

    Please place Your Guardian Angels of Protection around Donald Trump and Mike Pence and their families as they seek to lead America back to You.

    Grant us patience, Lord, as the evil ones try to anger us and cause us to fall.
    Spread blessings over Israel and Netanyahu.

    We humbly ask that You please comfort those who are grieving and in pain.
    Thank you Father, for Your Love and the gift of Life.

    In Jesus name, we pray. Amen

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  30. Wooly Phlox says:
    March 11, 2017 at 9:06 pm

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  32. joshua says:
    March 11, 2017 at 10:36 pm

    I found a short completely understandable summary of the new healthcare bill….sharing it now

    Kayro jayro, down in the land of Pharoah, Pharoah. Come a rat trap, rattletrap, tommy-doodle, periwinkle. Kitchie, kitchie, kie-me-oh. Come a rat trap tommy-doodle oh.

    Teemy tim-o in the land of neo Pharoah set a trap. peeny winkle timey doodle rattle. Buggy rat trap peenie winkle tie me oh..

    Keemo, kymo darowah; Mahee, mahi, maho; Nit cap ko bomadiddle nit cap set back; Sing song Polly won’t you ky-me-o.

    hope that clears it all up. happy daylight savings shift and loss of an hours sleep…

    Like

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