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.
(Why he mentions fascists is unclear to me. Maybe he means racists? That was stupid because it is a thoughtful essay. Or is Trump a fascist? A fascist is a socialist.)
The fear in Nancy Pelosi’s eyes is what I’ll always remember about the Ilhan Omar Affair. Nancy Pelosi doesn’t turn away from a fight, but turned away from a fight with Omar. That tells you how serious the situation is.
Ocasio-Cortez also said during her interview that automation could potentially allow for more time to focus on art, inventions, the sciences and “enjoying the world that we live in.”
I have had two or three expert birder companions in my life who had musical talent. You could take them for a hike without binocs or anything, and they would point and identify everything they heard.
Sad to say, I lack a musical brain, and my memory for bird songs and bird calls is weak and requires constant refreshment. It's funny, but some things stick to my brain like Crazy Glue and some sorts of things do not.
If birding is one of your hobbies (birding/hiking), you know that you hear far more than you can see. It's fun to see, because you get the idea of a species' habits. But if identification matters to you, sound is easier than straining your neck to find a Vireo in the top of an oak tree.
I've considered birding without ever looking at anything. Sitting on a log, say, during Spring migration and just listening for an hour or two. I know that I would be exasperated.
Can you readily tell a Rose Breasted Grosbeak from a Robin or an Oriole? And those are easy.
4:1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness,
4:2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished.
4:3 The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread."
4:4 Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.'"
4:5 Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
4:6 And the devil said to him, "To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please.
4:7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours."
4:8 Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'"
4:9 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here,
4:10 for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,'
4:11 and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'"
4:12 Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
4:13 When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.
He or she has been skulking around my rose bushes this week. These guys are often early migrants. The rusty tail is a good field mark for this thrushy-looking thrush.
In the Northeast, we have two non-migratory thrushes which are not thrushy-looking: The Robin and the Eastern Bluebird.
It’s significant that Democrats have decided to transform Washington into one giant stage to air the evils of Trump. It will last for months. And if they take the next step and seek to impeach him, the drama will continue for months more.
The obsession with Trump eclipses the Democratic presidential campaign and the party squabble over how far it should lurch to the left. Those things are now lonely islands floating somewhere far from the political center. They’re unattached to Washington, where the fate of Donald Trump is being determined. Their media coverage has already taken a hit. Trump is a mightier attraction than the entire field of candidates for the Democratic nomination.
Pelosi single handedly defeated the Trump administration wish to build a wall on the nation’s Southern border. In so doing, she and her cohorts flashed yet another green light to anyone who wanted to invade the nation and profit from its beneficence. Since they had all voted far more money for a wall when Trump was not president, they were acting like political hacks, not as deliberative legislators. No one much cared. Nancy was superwoman. She had defeated the big, bad Trump.
Jump rope is a favorite Maggie's calisthenic for general conditioning. It's an HIIT cardio exercise, and a lower leg strengthener too.
Why do it? 7 Benefits of Jumping Rope. That article shows several of the fun variations of jumping, but the photos show a girl with a rope that is almost twice the proper length for her.
One popular way to jump is to fit jumps into a calisthenic workout circuit including light weights and other things. For example, weighted lunges, kettlebell swings, jump rope, pushups. I see guys in the gym do 20 minutes of jump variations non-stop for their cardio. They are fit for sure.
My jump intervals are 1-2 minutes. Jumping is gentle on the joints because there is minimal impact, about the same impact as walking.
Besides the fun variations, double-unders are the coolest format. Triple unders are ridiculous.
Prof. Peterson nails it at the Oxford Union. There is really nothing more to be said on the topic. As he sagely observes, there are few "solutions" in life - just trade-offs.
Blowing out birthday candles increases bacteria on cake —
I have had two or three expert birder companions in my life who had musical talent. You could take them for a hike without binocs or anything, and they would point and identify everything they heard.
He or she has been skulking around my rose bushes this week. These guys are often early migrants. The rusty tail is a good field mark for 
Chimney Myths and Misconceptions