Not a Bad Idea

This is the year of Linus

 You remember him. No, not THAT Linus.

As any child after the first can tell you, being #2 is a tough job. Worse, for Linus, there are major theological arguments as to whether he should be considered the first, second, or third pope. Depends on the historian's bias, I think.

But, no, I mean THIS Linus.

The kid that illustrated the meaning of the term 'security blanket'.

Who carried his blanket everywhere, unashamed and unafraid of ridicule.

Well, this is his year.

People, particularly of the female type, are keeping wholeheartedly into wearing blankets loosely disguised as clothing.

Yes, that first one has a USB controlled heating element.

I've been bombarded with ads for these over the last week or so. Yes, the temps have dropped considerably over the last few weeks. At first, it was just refreshing after a rather warm late summer.

But for the last week, it's been cold enough to start dragging out the winter clothing and blankets. 

In the Northern states, this isn't that unusual. Winters are cold, and our wardrobes show the result. Slipping into something comfortable doesn't mean silk, it means flannel, sweatshirt material, sheepskin, and plush, velvety warmth.

• Layering
• Underwear
• Thermals - CuddleDuds (lightweight and warm), Long Johns, knit long sleeved t-shirts - the choices vary, but a close fitting base is a must.
• Shirt - long sleeved, do I have to mention?
• "Winter ready" for the lower half
• Long Johns
• Leggings
• Winter tights, a heavier fabric and a tighter weave
• Warm pants, or a mid-calf or longer skirt. If you do wear a skirt, the leggings are a necessity.
• Socks - bring an extra pair or two if it's snowing - these are thick, often Nordic patterned, I have no idea why other than tradition.
• Waterproof shoes or boots - this is NOT the time for athletic or shower shoes.
• Bread baggies - at least two - they make it easier to get your boots on and off.
• Boots are preferred for snow higher than a few inches. If snow gets into the sock layer, it can saturate once melted. Wet socks really make you cold. In any footwear, a good tread is critical.
• Sweater, preferably one that covers your butt. The hood fashion for droopy drawers never was all to popular in Cleveland area winters.
• Coat, Gloves in pocket. Hat on head (Yes, you WILL have 'hat head'. And staticky hair. Get over it - fashion is overrated. If you want, you can tuck a dryer sheet into your hat. Use it to calm down the fly-away strands once you land at your destination
• Scarf - some tuck it into their coats. Most wrap it around the outside, to be pulled up when the wind hits your face.
• Don't forget the window scraper. Mine is VERY sturdy, with an extension handle, and a brush on the flip side. Credit cards work in a pinch, as does the edge of your scarf to clear the junk scraped off the windows.
• This is where having money is SO great. You will want a car with a remote start, heated seats, and a good heating system. These are NOT luxuries - they are necessities.

I hope this explains the apparently chunky shape of those in the Northern Midwest. Yes, we often put on a few pounds pre-winter, for the same reason that bears do.

Fat is an insulator.

Some Random Memes (Attribution if I Can Find it)

From Knuckledragging My Life Away.

in

Take the time to go to the link - most days, Wirecutter has a lotta memes not found elsewhere. I haven't asked him where he found them. I assume quantum travel is involved.

Oooh, this'll burn!

Try the site where I found this - he only posts these memes on Mondays, but they are always worth seeing.

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As for my chaotic life, I've taken direct action to settle it down, including taking at least 1-2 days a week when any non-emergency calls for assistance are met with, "I can't do that today, I'll put you on the schedule for either tomorrow or the next day."

That phrase alone kept me from my usual recent nutty running around over the weekend. I'm starting to act on the good advice, "Put the oxygen mask on yourself FIRST."

Perhaps not coincidentally, my health issues have calmed down and are more manageable. My hair is comb-able, it's stopped breaking and falling out, and my skin is even calming down.

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I just tried to post a link on my Facebook page. I could not - only pictures, feelings, and other 'feel-good' stuff.

Nothing relating to events in my life, news, or anything that might offend people of too-sensitive natures.

Bummer. Well, just another reason to move my activity to X.com more regularly. X might be periodically infested with Leftist trolls, but they don't clamp down on personal expression.

Just took the Facebook Share link off the post template.

More Stuff That Gets in the Way of Writing

Currently managing insurance agent recertifications, visiting my hospital confined brother, looking for a skilled nursing home for after his hospital release, keeping my sister calm, and my own health and home intact.

So, yeah, kinda busy.

Honestly, I'm less engaged with national and world politics. Trump's team seems to have matters well in hand, and I don't feel the urge to obsess over the State of the Union every day.

Local politics is a concern. The Left appears to be pivoting to ramrod their agenda at the state levels. Ohio is in play; Vivek Ramiswamy is leading by a significant margin. Be has both name recognition and Trump's endorsement.

I fear electing another RINO who will pander to his donors, let the Left have free rein packing the state payroll, and generally doing their best to turn this state into Illinois East.

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Posts Providing Alternate POVs

Have you ever had a conversation with a friend or family member who, when you challenge the Standard Media Advocate Leftist Line (SMALL), asks, 

"Where did you get your 'facts'?"

Most of us read voraciously, and can be hard put to remember where we had read the information opposing the SMALL (VERY small) people.

Fear Not!

I'm going to start a regular feature that aggregates need and analysis on specific topics from an Anti-SMALL perspective.

The tag line will be SMALL TOPICS, followed by a dash and the specific topic. It should make searching for them easier. 

I will keep a SMALL TOPICS Index page, listing all the topics covered so far, by alpha order. That Index page will redirect to an updated Search Page within the blog.

I'm doing this, because I'm having trouble remembering where I'd read authoritative work. By organizing it, I'm also hoping to help myself. 

Among those topics will be:

- Genocides around the world - both real, and those imaginary ones that The Left blockages about

- Media collusion with The Left

- Academic collusion with The Left

- The Deep State's collusion with The Left (are you seeing a theme here?)

Multiple Examples of Leftist-Run States Prosecuting Selectively

Sadly, these examples were gathered in just a short time browsing the blogs. 

"Female" Weinie-Wagger is released, because...why? Not "HER" first time.

Man breaks into house, stabs family, kills 6 year old boy.

Found guilty, sentenced, just released after 10 years.

Because crazy.

No shit.

Brazilian professor at Harvard shoots pellet gun near synagogue.

I'm assuming Not a Citizen. Deport ASAP.

Because nothing says fair and impartial like releasing violent insurrectionists.

Yes, I do think the family should also go, and soon. They are not American citizens, and should be deported.

I'm tempted to refer to Robert Heinlein's description of "The Crazy Years". That was a time period he imagined in his books, just after the end of the 20th Century, when the commonly accepted social and cultural norms were completely upended.

Many people's behavior became more bizarre, strange public behavior became the norm, and crime became a common feature of urban living.

The institutions that had previously kept peoples' weirder actions in check were completely helpless to exert any influence on their constituency. Churches, local authorities, the courts - nothing seemed to stop the antisocial trend.

Arguably, we've been heading in this direction for some time. The Left has a firm hold on selective prosecution of The Normals, over the top efforts to criminalize anyone who points out - rightly - that the Loonies are imposing their way of life on the rest of us, and a dogged, relentless effort to sexualized children against their parents wishes.

Honestly, could you have ever imagined that the phrase " HER Penis" would become common?

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SMALL Topics - Media Collusion with Politicians

This is the first post under the SMALL Topics category.

American Thinker is a site I had gotten out of the habit of checking out.

This post is one that prompts me to reconsider that choice. It addresses the role of the media/social media in influencing elections. It's worth reading it all. 

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CCP Influence Operations in American Politics

CCP is the abbreviation for China.

This link lays out the whole story about China's attempts to BUY American office holders.

Trump needs to revoke some peoples' Visas. ASAP.

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IF The Left Was Smart...

...they would learn from their mistakes.

Link HERE.

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Genocide - Could You Have Named Every Group on This List?

20 of them - and I'm sure you can guess what almost all have in common.

In the future, as I find more updates on these, I'll separate them into individual target groups. With pictures and videos, if I can find them. We need to bring these atrocities to light, and, for younger people, if there is not photo/video evidence, it doesn't exist.

Call it the Instagram/TikTok Effect.

Here is another list. This one focuses on the fact that the majority of the persecuted/killed are Christians.

A Very Long Day

I've been trying to get some things done - housework, business, financial.

A family member is being admitted to the hospital tonight.

So, I'm going to try to fit things into small pockets of time as I can.

In other news, the movie business is about to crash completely.

Why ever could that be?

Could it be that making Woke films is more important than making a profit?

Serves the pseudo swipe roof right. It reinforced the Normals Warning -_"Go Woke and Go Broke".

We're just not playing that game any more.

4 days later - brother is back home, stable for now. I had an ortho follow-up for my knee replacement this morning.

I was glad to leave just then. The roofing company that botched the job last summer is back, at THEIR expense, to fix the job. Lotsa pounding, banging, and making noise.

I'm doing very well. Can raise from a seated position with using my arms, great balance and ability to stand on one leg.

Flexibility needs improvement, so I was referred for another round of PT.

In other news, Russian allied tankers seem to have been engaging in "under the radar" prelude to war actions involving drones used in France. Even though open warfare is not yet present, this is just one more example that countries cannot be complacent about their enemies.