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.
Our new housekeeping ladies only seem to speak Russian. They work hard and quickly, strong too as if they grew up on farms. Their English seems limited to "Good morning" and "OK".
I do not care where they are from as long as they are legal. Large portions of Ukraine are Russian-speaking, but I just wondered whether they would say "Ukraini" because there seems to be antipathy towards Russians these days, and sympathy towards Ukrainians.
Anyway, who cares? Clean and orderly household is all I care about.
Recreational is a different topic, but that goes back to college years. Don't want it, don't need it. I view weed as the lazy and stupid drug. Not so for all.
Cod is perhaps my favorite fish (besides Grouper). Sadly, their populations on George's Bank, the Grand Banks, and around England have been overfished. Tragedy of the Commons. You can no longer be confident that you can catch one off the Maine coast.
There is a contradiction between the "grief" and "anguish" and "rage" about the reversal of the Roe decision and ordinary feminist, or plain ordinary views about peoples' sex lives.
Yes, sex is a powerful driver in life for men and women. It is biological and psychological. However, at least after adolescence, we are all endowed with a brain too. In my view, women have all the power. They have the power of attraction, and have the modern power of birth control.
Excepting rape (or maybe substance-addled non-decision-making), men and women are in charge of conception. It is not rocket science. Women can not leave it all to the boys and very few do.
Canoeing With the Cree. Almost 100 years ago, two 18-year-olds paddled 2,250 miles across America. This is their story.
“There is a cleanliness, a breadth and sweep and strength in the North, a purifying realization that one is living close to the fundamental elements of life. Yes, the North has a spell.”—Eric Sevareid
It was during the spring of 1930 when 19-year-old Walter “Walt” Port thought of the idea. He was scheduled to graduate from high school in a few months, so why not celebrate that accomplishment with an extended canoe trip, and do it with his closest high-school buddy, 17-year-old Eric Sevareid?
“We’ll leave right after graduation in June,” Walt explained to Eric. “From here in Minneapolis, we’ll paddle up the Minnesota River to Big Stone Lake on the South Dakota line, then into the Red River of the North, down that river into Canada and Lake Winnipeg, up the east shore of the lake to Norway House and, at that point, attempt a wilderness jump of 500 miles to Hudson Bay. So, what do you think?”
What the young men were considering was a 2,250-mile canoe trip that, as far as they knew, had never before been attempted—or if it had, such a trip had never been documented. And though they would be leaving near the beginning of summer, they would be fortunate to complete such a trip by the time winter arrived in the North.
Hope our readers - Americans, would-be Americans, and those in other lands who find America interesting - will take a few minutes to peruse the US Constitution. Certainly declaring independence was a courageous if not reckless move, but our foundational document is the Constitution.
Other than a moment of gratitude for that, today is a beach day or hike day or a boat day or a day to crank up the barbie and have a few beers.
10:1 After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go.
10:2 He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
10:3 Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.
10:4 Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road.
10:5 Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house!'
10:6 And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you.
10:7 Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house.
10:8 Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you;
10:9 cure the sick who are there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'
10:10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say,
10:11 'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.'
10:16 "Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."
10:17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!"
10:18 He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning.
10:19 See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you.
10:20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
The 4th of July weekend is a good time to remind everybody about the genius of the US Constitution. This founding document (1787) is a work of genius, especially insofar as it took into account human nature.
Declaring independence from Britain was a bold move (Thank you, France, for your help), but the cornerstone is the Constitution.
Please do not go around diagnosing people - or even yourself. Still, this is something to watch out for when dating. Interestingly, many men are attracted to women with borderline traits because of the drama. At first, anyway, it can be exciting. Borderline men exist too, but they are easy to avoid.
Why These Frogs 
Feathers 
Hope our readers - Americans, would-be Americans, and those in other lands who find America interesting - will take a few minutes to peruse
Aren't 
“The Act of Mourning Itself is a Final, Destitute Version of Love.”