We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
I can quickly name three: Cameras, coffee cups and teacups, and CDs.
I happen to love CDs because I can listen to what I want to. Hundreds of 'em. I have a large vinyl collection too, mostly operas. The thing is, great speakers to fill ye olde homestead with each tiny detail. Pop music doesn't need that. I have the best speakers ever. Nobody buys them anymore.
Coffee cups do not hold enough coffee, and the coffee cools off too fast. American coffee needs mugs or styrofoam. When did anybody use their china coffee cups and saucers, eveh on holidays?
Cameras seem sort of peculiar nowadays except for professionals. Even Asians don't use them anymore, and they used to be the camera fanatics. Is Nikon still making money? What about Kodachrome?
French Prosecutors Drop Charges Against Muslim Screaming “Allahu Akbar” Who Beat Elderly Jewish Woman and Tossed Her from 3rd Floor Balcony – Cuz He Was High on Pot
UNDER a spreading chestnut tree The village smithy stands; The smith, a mighty man is he, With large and sinewy hands; And the muscles of his brawny arms Are strong as iron bands.
His hair is crisp, and black, and long, His face is like the tan; His brow is wet with honest sweat, He earns whate'er he can, And looks the whole world in the face, For he owes not any man.
Week in, week out, from morn till night, You can hear his bellows blow; You can hear him swing his heavy sledge With measured beat and slow, Like a sexton ringing the village bell, When the evening sun is low.
And children coming home from school Look in at the open door; They love to see the flaming forge, And hear the bellows roar, And watch the burning sparks that fly Like chaff from a threshing-floor.
He goes on Sunday to the church, And sits among his boys; He hears the parson pray and preach, He hears his daughter's voice, Singing in the village choir, And it makes his heart rejoice.
It sounds to him like her mother's voice, Singing in Paradise! He needs must think of her once more, How in the grave she lies; And with his hard, rough hand he wipes A tear out of his eyes.
Toiling,—rejoicing,—sorrowing, Onward through life he goes; Each morning sees some task begin, Each evening sees it close; Something attempted, something done, Has earned a night's repose.
Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend, For the lesson thou hast taught! Thus at the flaming forge of life Our fortunes must be wrought; Thus on its sounding anvil shaped Each burning deed and thought!
Do the young'uns these days live on their ipads and junk like that? It's a damn shame.
If you have kids, or grandkids, let's get back to good toys and things which add real life, vs virtual life, to real living.
I am thinking of blocks, pick-up-sticks, wooden train sets, Legos, Chess (can be learned at 5), board games, card games, etc. Poker should be learned as young as possible, because it's part of life. Books at their levels, of course. Real books. Older kids, BB guns, bows and arrows, etc. By age 10-13, fishing rods, 28 ga shotguns, .22s, and big boy and girl toys like that.
Everything imaginable is on Amazon.
What ideas do our readers have for kids, for Christmas things?
You will never be happy if your happiness depends on getting solely what you want. Change the focus. Get a new center. Will what God wills, and your joy no man shall take from you.
Photo from The Vitality of Six-Man Football - Six-man football rose nearly 100 years ago in small-town America. In the 21st century, “basketball on grass” is a way of life for towns like McCool Junction, Neb.
Wild Rice is a marsh grass seed, like regular rice. It traditonally goes with game meat, wild bird meats. Well, it goes with turkey too.
People tend to cook it with various additions (mushrooms, cranberries, apples, nuts, white rice, etc) but it's a treat on its own if you have enough of it. Chicken broth and salt and pepper does this wild grain justice.
Though Warren once favored school choice and was an advocate for charter schools, she changed her views while seeking the Democratic presidential nomination.
23:33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.
23:34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing.
23:35 And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!"
23:36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine,
23:37 and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"
23:38 There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."
23:39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!"
23:40 But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
23:41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong."
23:42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
23:43 He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
The Dems had no choice but to pursue an impeachment tactic, for any excuse, because they know they have no winning candidate for 2020. It's a Hail Mary.
THE 
The Village Blacksmith
