Right As Usual

...but, it's not Trump's guys. It's in - wait for it - Modern Germany. Yeah, that place where ANY depiction of Nazi paraphenalia is Verbotten! Read here to see how German courts have made it a LEGAL form of protest to attack a synagogue with BOMBS, if those 'protesters' claim that they are ONLY acting against Israel. But, somehow, acting against Jews, not Israelis. Because - German citizens who are Jews REALLY represent Israel. Not Germany. Share

This is not merely Milo's problem. This is a problem for ALL of us who step outside the lines. If we allow Milo to be punished by the corporate suits, who are too afraid of the 'mean kids' to risk displeasure, we're as bad as they are. We need to commit to supporting his work, setting aside some cash to buy his book on Kindle, and getting prepared to help him get his message out. Because, like Trump, he is NOT a perfect man - he can be quite outrageous. But, like Trump, he FIGHTS. Share

I do care about the outcome, so watching this is not without some concern. However. This is delicious.  It is pure pleasure on the most basic level. The Entitled Elites are Ap-PALLED at the insolence of those - 'lesser peoples' - you know, the mouth-breathing, reflexively racist, patriarchal PIGS that pay their salaries and elect them to office. Except, this time, they haven't. And it makes them SICK! Oh, and THIS. Can you IMAGINE! That, that, that....Buffoon! That Noveau Riche actually thinks that having won the election entitles him to actually set policy! Imagine that. Share

Here is one of the most lucid about trusting the new people populating the region around Trump. How much to trust them? Really, not at all. Several possible solutions come to mind: For the openly insubordinate, fire them for cause. For those whose actions do not rise to that level of offense, hedge in their worst actions with official rebukes/warnings. Reduce that section's personnel, as any department that has so many people that they can waste time plotting against their boss needs to experience some trimming of the fat. For those who you want to fire for cause, but not fire-able, transfer them to remote outposts, with PLENTY of busywork - and deadlines - to keep them occupied. Do not let them have subordinates to re-build their empire. Do not let them have ANY public opportunity to speak officially. Ask for recommendations for staff cutbacks. Don't take their advice. Share

It was a frantic and VERY long journey, from SC to OH for a birthday party (and, to touch base with all the family), then back again. We drove until our eyes were gritty, then scouted for a cheap motel to lay down for a few hours. Then, onward to the destination. Then, back again in reverse. We arrived this morning in Charlotte. I picked up my car, then headed over to Miracle-Ear for a cleaning and fix of my hearing aids. What a thrill it is to hear clearly again! Home to pick up mail (thankfully, due to the holiday, not that much), unload the car, and eat. Last night's motel ($38/night) did NOT provide breakfast. I grabbed a stick of string cheese and hit the road. By the time I landed at home, I was STARVING! Made a quick scrambled egg with prosciutto and onions, strawberries on the side, and coffee. As Rachel Ray says, Delish! And, only 5 points on WW. I've spent the last 1/2 hour catching up on mail, etc. While traveling, I turned on the Sirius stations. M...

My husband and I caught the end of Mrs. Doubtfire. He remarked that the movie affected him differently, since Robin William's death. I countered that Mr. Williams, like many actors, had the rare human experience of having his work outlast his life. Afterwards, however, I was struck by a sudden thought: This is the NORM for kids today - that their parents will not be living together, and that they will be traveling to other 'homes' for visitation. My husband quipped that our children were 'handicapped' - they'd lived with parents who were not only together, but married. When making decisions about our relationships, we might ask ourselves: What is the norm that you want your kids to have experienced? Share

How AWFUL! Or, not. Share

It's been a busy week in politics, and, yet, I don't feel the need to obsessively perch on the Internet, looking for new stories, as I did before the election. Why? I suppose, in some ways, I feel more secure with Trump in charge. Yes, he's a bombastic, over-the-top President, whose actions, in hiring and in diplomacy, could stand improvement. But - compared to the last President, and that OTHER candidate, he is OK. In some ways - immigration, for example, BETTER than OK. And, I'm content with that. It's nice that I can go to sleep without worrying about the world's villains having weapons bestowed upon them by a feckless President, too eager to curry favor with rogue regimes, and too proud and stiff-necked to actually work with proven allies. Wait a minute - isn't Russia something of a rogue regime? No - it's a kleptocracy, and a thug, wanna-be empire. But, I've known thugs (10+ years teaching in the hood). You can often work with thug...

...then, why don't men declare an "I'm a Self-declared Female Year" and insist that ALL privileges of being female should accrue to them, as well? This was triggered (Ooooh, that DREAD word!) by a recent post in National Review. Share

If the Supremes rule against the Federal government in this, it would open the door to MANY abuses. The Democrats and Progressives, in their INTENSE dislike of Trump, would trample on every precedent. They did that with trashing the filibuster, because it impeded their plans, when they had the majority. It is biting them in the butt now, when they do not. I'd like to think even they could learn from recent history, but - probably not. Read this to find out why. Share

I saw this piece about ND - they are looking to collect taxes from the people who are protesting the pipelines. Rumor has it that many of them are being paid, so they SHOULD be issued 1099s or similar documents. This can accomplish two things: Find out who is responsible for paying them to protest Find out who these people are The answers should be interesting. Share

I'm on fire. I've had experiences working in organizations with the Devos family, and I have always found them to be fair, decent, and operating from a position of ethics. With luck, she will dump the worst of the ObamaRegulations, streamline the administrative crap, and let states take control of their own systems. Just eliminating some of the mandates would allow most schools to dump a LOT of unnecessary administrative/support staff, which would free up money for teachers. Share

I've been thinking about social/cultural/political changes for the last 1/2 century, why they occurred, and what changes will develop in the future. Fred On Everything has some good ideas on that. First, let's start with the idea of Make America Great Again. What does that mean? For many Liberals/Leftists/Progressives, that means that anyone yearning for it MUST want: Racism Hostility to 'furiners', particularly if they have a different language or culture than the speaker Hostility to gays - coupled with the desire to 'fix' them Reflexive rejection of non-WASP culture/music/thought/politics/whatever Willingness to use force to implement their agenda For those who support America, and do want to see it supported by others, it means: That their traditional culture be given at least the same respect that non-Western cultures are given That they will retain their right to worship as they please, and that efforts to evangelize or bring their reli...

The companies that paid big bucks for their Super Bowl commercials got HOSED. The commercials are dumb, not funny, and boring. You don't need as much food as you think (did I mention that I started Weight Watchers Online this week?). All those people who are posting pictures they believe will provide The Definitive Put-Down to Their Opponents are trying to posture themselves as the Virtuous One, Unlike Those Horrible People on the Other Side. Like that's going to change anyone's mind. This guy is one that could, if you pay attention to him, actually make your actions to promote your cause much more effective. But, no. You are much more interested in being pissy about Those Unspeakable, Awful Monsters!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That dramatic enough? Share

This drives me nuts. The REAL reason the elites put up with vulgarity, poor language and reading skills, poor math skills, and other things - like slovenliness, early unwed childbirthing, and consumption of undocumented chemicals, is because they think "those people" - the lesser classes - are incapable of change. In other words, they think the lower classes are just stupid. I just can't understand why the average American doesn't call the Elite out on that. They put up no fuss when the academic requirements for occupations can't be met without post-high school education, which is both expensive, and, increasingly, not worth it. Share

This is one of the most important, and persuasive, posts I've read in more than a year. It makes the strategy clear, and gives you something to talk about with the soft voters. Perhaps they will come to understand WHY they should back off from this tactic, pronto. The future of our country depends on our swearing off use of this tactic against average citizens. Otherwise, I fear that we will polarize to the level needed to foment a Civil War. FOR ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS: I don't believe that you are deliberately trying to insult, belittle, and harass those who disagree with you. You feel VERY strongly about these issues. You feel an urgency to make your points as quickly and and forcefully as you can. Therefore, you forward messages from Occupy Democrat, the many activist groups, and those of your friends who've found persuasive and eye-catching ways to make those points. What is the result? Those of us who are not Progressive (Old-style Liberals, Conservati...

Why, you would think that this just came up out of nowhere! Up until he appeared on the scene, everything was hunky-dory, and the Feeble-Minded Masses were just complacent little cud-chewing bovines, happy to be cared for by their Benevolent Overlords (Trademark applied for). Until the Big, Bad Orange Man stomped onto the stage, with his over-the-top, bombastic noises, the Little People were content. And, then, inexplicably, they weren't. Right. The always-amazing Sarah Hoyt, at According to Hoyt, explains why that meme is absolute hooey (I always wanted to have a reason to write that word). For those who are somewhat befuddled by the Trumpocalypse, here it is in a nutshell: We'uns who are the average guys, the ones who work for a living (or, did until the Obama Economy rolled over us), are tired of being openly disrespected by the Elite who live off of us. Because we were bullied into silence, under threat of our jobs being taken away from us, we did not openly t...

BEFORE getting all up in Trump's grill about this incident, I'd like to know a few things: Who made the decision to separate the kid? Was it a low-level mistake? A PLANNED action designed to insight the teary populace to scream "NO!" and pressure Trump to back off? I'm suspicious enough to assume the latter Why did it take 5 hours to reunite the family? Were the people responsible trying to CYA? Was this a decision of a 'career official' who WANTED to make this an issue? Who, exactly, are his parents? Are they linked to terrorist organizations, or otherwise raising suspicions by their own actions? Share