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.
Some varieties of Serviceberry, more commonly known as Shadbush up here because it blooms during the Shad run, grow in most parts of the US and southern Canada. Some grow as shrubs, some as small trees. If you spend any time tramping outdoors, you will see them.
Some varieties are used as landscape plantings (I have used them) but most grow wild, especially in brushy edges.
The berries look somewhat like blueberries, and range from red to purple to black.
Depending on the variety, the berries can be sour or sweet. All are edible raw, and you can make jam with them too.
Serviceberry is not to be confused with the Huckleberry, also a common wild plant. Huckleberry is a common meadow edge plant.
14:23 Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
14:24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.
14:25 "I have said these things to you while I am still with you.
14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.
14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
14:28 You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I.
14:29 And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.
The White Shark (aka Great White Shark, thanks to Hollywood) is a worldwide critter of primarily temperate coastal areas. They live on fish, and marine mammals when they can find them.
They do not mind cold water or warm water, but just follow the food. Below migration patterns of White Shark in the eastern US.
Most other sharks of the Northeastern US follow similar north-south migration patterns. While never common inland, Long Island Sound hosts Blue Sharks and Hammerhead Sharks in summer months.
Why are we seeing more White Sharks in the Northeaster summers these days? Because of conservation. The US Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 has resulted in dramatic increases in the numbers of Harbor Seals and Grey Seals. These blubbery critters, which can resemble humans in wetsuits, are favorite foods.
Other conservation efforts, such as limiting the trawler harvests of Menhaden ("Bunker"), have resulted in an abundance of food for sharks, seals, Ospreys, Eagles, porpoises, and dolphin. All of those critters historically lived in the southern New England seacoast.
Ribeye, whether as a roast or cut into steaks, is the tastiest and most succulent cut of any ungulate. I prefer the steaks over the roasts, because I love the contrast between the surface, caramelized char and the almost raw center. Pan broiled, of course. Salivating as I write that... To me, regular prime roast is just an excuse to eat fresh horseradish.
Since we're on the topic, what's a New York Strip Steak? Not my favorite, but ok in a pinch. In my opinion, the only cut suitable for a grill.
Some of our readers, like me, have butchered countless deer (not perfectly, but well-enough) and know all the cuts of hoofed critters first-hand.
One more: Italians (Northern Italians) love their steaks. It's the luxury Secondi in Italy. When I cook a steak, I sometimes throw a couple of sliced onions in the juice, sometimes some garlic too but it's not needed. Good steak needs only salt and pepper, maybe some olive oil, and butter. Italians like to flavor steak with lauro (laurel leaf) or rosemary. I do not care for that Lauro (Italian Bay) flavor.
Income inequality is a crazy subject for too many reasons. Sure, single motherhood plays a role but, importantly, government help is not counted as income. And to further mess things up, incomes change. Entry level jobs pay little, but people can advance. And what about people who make low-paying choices, like those people whose dream is to be a Maine Guide? Or a poor Adjunct Professor? And aspiring artists and actors?
... the bad faith of his antagonists exceeds even Mr. Trump’s defects and vices. The plot they concocted to get rid of him failed. And, yes, it was a plot, even a coup. And they fucked it up magnificently, leaving a paper trail as wide as Interstate-95. Now all that paper is about to fall over the District of Columbia like radioactive ash, turning many current and former denizens of rogue agencies into the walking dead as they embark on the dismal journey between the grand juries and the federal prisons.
"Conditioning" is about speed, agility, HIIT cardio, endurance, explosiveness, and muscle use. Energy, stamina, and get-up-and-go. It is not about strength or strength-training, which is why lots of calisthenics are involved. In a tough conditioning hour, you can never catch your breath so it is intense cardio. Good stuff for life.
I am in the sorry 10% who routinely flunk our Sat. AM calisthenics ("Athletic Conditioning") class. By flunking, I mean being unable to complete the trainer's expectations on at least half of the exercises in the time allowed. I hate failure, so I give it my all and come up short. We are calling ourselves the "Masters Class" and we are all age 45 or more. However, several 50+ and 60+ do make the passing grade. Bravo for them because this sort of thing is great to prevent physical deterioration.
If it were high school or college, we would ask for extra time due to disability but, instead, we do our best and accept the fail. Reality is a bitch. Do better next week, or just give up and rightly despise yourself forever for being a loser.
21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
21:2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them;
21:4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away."
21:5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true."
21:6 Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.
These birds are similar to the very abundant Sandhill Cranes, and can interbreed with them.
Sandhill Cranes are huntable and highly edible. They taste like Swan, I am told. Do not shoot a Whooping Crane. The US has an eastern flock, and the famous western flock.
With a flock this small, conservation is promising but not guaranteed.
So tasty food "makes you eat it"? Really? Their example of "highly-processed food" is quesadillas. These nags want you to live on fruit, greens, nuts, and seeds.
I hate invasive species, and I have read all about foreign earthworms. However, I am not askeered of European Nightcrawlers because they seem not to be able to handle certain sorts of winters, and they will not travel far.
So every couple of years I order 2500 of these rapid breeders. If you have decent soil, to a decent depth, regularly replenished with good mulch and fallen leaves, these guys will do a good job for your borders and other gardens while feeding the worm-eaters.
All of my shrub, lawn, and vegetable gardens have been carefully prepared. No pesticides, etc, with good deep loam fortified with maure, etc. I let grass clippings lie, and fallen leaves too (until autumn). Feed the worms!
How can you tell whether your soil is lousy? If you dig up a shovel full of earth and do not find 5 or 6 wigglers, it's either not very good or it's been a rough winter for them.
The reason for guys and gals of any age to do total body resistance exercises like squats and deads is to maintain or build muscle and bone strength and overall functionality. They are not just for athletes, and yes, they are preferable to machine exercises which tend to isolate muscle groups rather than being full-body, functional exertions.
BUT proper technique is important. Beginners need to be trained to do those things correctly. Even with excellent training, I had a painful back during my first few months of deadlifting. As I grew stronger with the movement, the pain went away and never returned.
I began doing deads 3 years ago. I began with 95 lbs, with trainer. The bar weighs 45 lbs, and the lightest bumper plates weigh 25. I have the movement pretty-well grooved in by now so I do deads on my own. However, my trainer still programs what I do. Occasionally I use the trap bar, for no reason other than variety.
At this point (mind you, I am not a youngster, and do not have a husky lifter's build) my programming looks like the below note from my genius trainer - This is a strength program for a not-young guy, not an endurance program although I mix it up sometimes:
Think: after 115 lb. 5 rep warmup, with 90 second rests between sets.
Set 1—135 for 5 reps Set 2—145 for 5 reps Set 3—155 for 5 reps Set 4—155 for 5 reps Set 5—165 for 3-5 reps
If you add a 6th set add another set at 135.
Even if you feel you can/should do more weight, don’t. Master the weight(make 135-155 move smooth and easy, with no sticks)- Master the hold. Get to a point where 135-155 for 5 reps “feels” like you could do it for 15-20 reps.
Some varieties of 
Ribeye, whether as a roast or cut into steaks, is the tastiest and most succulent cut of any ungulate. I prefer the steaks over the roasts, because I love the contrast between the surface, caramelized char and the almost raw center. Pan broiled, of course. Salivating as I write that... To me, regular prime roast is just an excuse to eat fresh horseradish.
Four climbers die on Everest 
Cold Brew’s 
While greenies 
Seeing Endangered Whooping Cranes Step Through the Fog of Extinction -