Or You Practice Guitar (It Works For Me)

You use a glass mirror to see your face;  you use works of art to see your soul.
―     George Bernard Shaw
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On This Day In:
2022	Three Treasures
	Memorial Day 2022
2021	How Trump Won The Fringe Right
	Hold My Hand
2020	I’d Include Health Care
2019	Accustomed To It
2018	Booking My Trip Into The Expanding Universe
2017	Fear Instead Of Convictions
2016	Memorial Day – 2016
2015	A Handful Of Reviews
	And You Can Quote Me
2014	Get Wisdom
2013	Enjoying The View?
2012	Adam’s Rib
2011	I’m Sure I Remember That…
	Memorial Day, 2011

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Playing Golf?

When angry, count four; when very angry, swear.
—     Mark Twain
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On This Day In:
2022	Do Good Works
2021	We Like To Believe So, Anyway
	More SoCal Sounds
2020	I’m Older Now
2019	Why #45 (#LazyDonald) Was Destined To Be A Failed Presidency
2018	Easter In Liverpool
	Star Guides To Destiny
	Growl
2017	Decisions
2016	Along The Path
2015	Make Mine Rare, Please
2014	Passion Flooding
2013	On Purpose
2012	Sans Gall Bladder, Day 4
	How Did You Spend Your Day?
2011	It’s Hammerin’ Time!!
	Convenient Auxiliaries

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I Didn’t Finish It Yesterday

Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.
—    Winnie the Pooh
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On This Day In:
2022	Starting Over (Again)
	Another LONG Post (Guitar Review)
2021	Allowing For Compromise
	Whoa-whoa
2020	Why #LyingDonald Hurts The US
2019	Blow Between Your Ears
2018	Thinking Ahead
2017	I’d Like To Try
2016	Or Blog (And Bound)
2015	Welcome The Virtuous
2014	Closing The Gap?
2013	On Parenting
2012	What Knowledge Is
2011	The Indefinite Accumulation Of Property

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“You’re Fired!” (A Nice Letter)

I did not attend his funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.
—     Mark Twain
Today it was announced that as of last Friday (21 April 2023) Tucker Carlson has been “fired” from his evening “opinion” host gig at Fox (Faux) News.  He has now joined a growing list (Lou Dobbs, Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly, Ed Henry, and Roger Ailes) of senior staff who’s presence has poisoned cable “news” for decades.  In fairness to Beck, he was removed for “erratic” behavior, while the latter three were removed for alleged sexual “misconduct” / harassment.  Carlson (like Dobbs) was removed because the network is trying to avoid further legal liability from his repeated misstatement of “facts” (his opinions as if they were facts) and his on-air promoting of former President Trump’s lies about losing the 2020 election due to computer / voting fraud.  Carlson knew these statements were false and repeated them on-air anyway, because they buoyed up his show and his network’s ratings.
Now, before was all start celebrating Carlson’s “fall from grace”, let us remember Carlson has been getting paid millions over the last decade or so, and he will undoubtedly be enjoying his current unemployment by laughing all the way to the bank – or at least until one of the computer companies wins a civil suit against him and he has some financial penalty imposed on him for his (apparently) knowing disregard for the truth.
The Murdoch’s (the owners of Fox) will pay their penalty and go back to poisoning the minds of 15-20% of Americans who continue to believe their lies and misrepresentations – after all, they are an “entertainment company”, not a “news network” – and profit, not truthfulness is what matters at Fox.  As an aside, we don’t “really” know why Dobbs was cut from the network.  Fox has only said they do periodic reviews and change programs (and hosts) as they deem necessary.  Dobbs was shown the door shortly after Dominion (the voting machine company which recently settled with Fox for over $750 million) filed their liable / damages civil suit against Fox.
American “Conservatives” deserve better than Hannity, Carlson, O’Reilly, and Fox et. al.  In my opinion, although the current Republican Party does not represent or promote “Conservative” ideologies, there is a real need for those principles to be stated in the market place of ideas.
I was raised to honor and respect the Constitution, the “rule of law”, “equal justice under the law” and the general judicial policy of “stare decicis”.  Without a rational conservative minority to balance the vox populi, we risk a social anarchy as negative in its long term consequences as that proposed by the current religious / fascist / totalitarian Republican party.
In my opinion, Tucker Carlson’s firing is a small, tentative step towards the return to a rational, conservative Republican party.  And, I applaud it…
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On This Day In:
2022	The Grand Essentials
	Second 40
2021	Adding Spice
	Be Who You Must
2020	Mo, Cilla, Mushy Peas And Rain
	No New Wars
2019	An Epitaph For #45 (#LyingDonald)
2018	Before And After
2017	Verbs
2016	Not Too Tidy
2015	Little Understanding
2014	Open Early
2013	Movies And A Lifetime Of Lyrics
	This Truth
2012	Cheaper To Hold
2011	Resistance Is Futile
	One Great, One Enjoyable, One Terrible…
	Unfortunately, No Approval Is Required

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I “Make” Ours Each Morning

No one ever died from sleeping in an unmade bed.  I have known mothers who remake the bed after their children do it because there is wrinkle in the spread or the blanket is on crooked.  This is sick.
—    Erma Bombeck
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On This Day In:
2022	The Grand Essentials
	Second 40
2021	Adding Spice
	Be Who You Must
2020	Mo, Cilla, Mushy Peas And Rain
	No New Wars
2019	An Epitaph For #45 (#LyingDonald)
2018	Before And After
2017	Verbs
2016	Not Too Tidy
2015	Little Understanding
2014	Open Early
2013	Movies And A Lifetime Of Lyrics
	This Truth
2012	Cheaper To Hold
2011	Resistance Is Futile
	One Great, One Enjoyable, One Terrible…
	Unfortunately, No Approval Is Required

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Sometimes Once Can Be Enough

Kids today don’t know how easy they have it.  When I was young, I had to walk 9 feet through shag pile carpet to change the TV channel.
—     Anonymous
I have reached an age when, if someone tells me to wear socks, I don’t have to.
—     Albert Einstein
I am old but I am forever young at heart.  …  Each year is special and precious, you can only live it once.
—     Richard Gere
[Happy Birthday to me!    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2022	The Air Is Thinner, But It’s A Killer View
2021	Staying Young While Getting Old
	Mid-Afternoon (Hopefully)
2020	Still Measuring
2019	Living On The Couch
	Who Am I – One Interpretation
2018	A Gardening Goal: Feed The Flowers
2017	Freakishly Happy Cowboy
2016	One More, Please
2015	Infinite Adventure
2014	Unpaved
2013	Headstones
2012	Keeping Young
2011	Lessons Well Learned

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What My Dog Thinks About Her Daily Walk…

Each morning, I interrupt my dog’s life long personal research of eating and napping for a walk around the block.  In her younger days, we would go out for over an hour and cover several miles.  Now, she’s getting on and has arthritis in her shoulders and hips.  Despite her aches, her enthusiasm for the upcoming variety of smells is infectious and I’m sure this is what she’s thinking…
After a bit though, she looks at me and I’m sure singing the chorus to this….
Ah, well…  As long as the tail keeps wagging, we’ll keep doing what we do…  After all, a dog’s gotta dog!
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On This Day In:
2022	Following His Own Path
2021	Show A Brother Some Love
	Beyond Words
2020	Especially You, Bro
	Words Without Explanation
2019	Enjoy!
2018	Happy Birthday, Bro!
2017	Love Can Change The World In A Minute
2016	60, Little Bro!
2015	Vision and Courage
2014	58 – Little Bro
2013	New Adventures And Old Hopes
	Caving In
2012	Bits And Bobs And Birthdays
	Always Hope
2011	Wet Snow And Long Hills

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One’s Seal Of Approval

The only advantage of not being too good a housekeeper is that your guests are so pleased to feel how very much better they are.
—     Eleanor Roosevelt
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On This Day In:
2022	Make It Easy
	On A Lighter Note
2021	I Hope Not
	Diggin’ It
2020	Organized Skepticism
2019	An Interest In Life
2018	Two: A Current President With Both
2017	Watch This Space
2016	Beyond The Foundation
2015	Become An Affliction
2014	Just Setting Out
2013	Scott’s Inscription
2012	Good Knowledge
2011	Social Safety Nets

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Some Of Us Sit Quietly (Indoors), Read And Drink Coffee

On vacations:  We hit the sunny beaches where we occupy ourselves keeping the sun off our skin, the saltwater off our bodies, and the sand out of our belongings.
—    Erma Bombeck
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On This Day In:
2022	Sometimes I’m Confused
2021	You Need Me On That Wall
	Counting Bees And Chasing Clouds
2020	Precious Life
2019	Nothing Is Too Difficult For Me
	Patterns Of Caring
2018	And May Never Be
2017	Don’t Forget
2016	I Was A Percentage Man
2015	It Waits Patiently
2014	Unknown
2013	Explaining Love?
2012	Echoes of 1%
2011	Salaam, Egypt!!
	Where Do You Learn?

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Just Agree To Disagree

Like religion, politics, and family planning, cereal is not a topic to be brought up in public.  It’s too controversial.
—     Erma Bombeck
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On This Day In:
2022	There Is No Fate But What You Make
2021	The Silent Word
	Touched My Hand
2020	Releasing Their Fears
2019	17 Days Until The Next Government Shutdown
2018	Disciplined Models
2017	We Cannot Afford Enemies
2016	Love Is Just A State Of Mind
2015	Waiting?
2014	Big C, Little B (II)
	Where God Has Not
2013	Chasing His Dragon
	Shaped And Molded
2012	Believe In Yourself
2011	Cultural Equivalence
	Why Not?
	Books About Books
	The Basis For Adult Continuing Education

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Feeling GAS* (Again)

Nothing is more beautiful than a guitar, save perhaps two.
—     Frederic Chopin
[As in “Guitar Acquisition Syndrome“.  (LoL)   —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2022	And Even Fewer Regrets
2021	Today Counts
	I Hope You’ll Understand
2020	Maybe #IncompetentDonald Really Is A Great Manager
2019	Your Only Choice
2018	A Good Definition
2017	Getting It Done
2016	Getting To Know Me
2015	Why I Pay Taxes
2014	Inequality Of Sacrifice
2013	I Never Saw A Moor
2012	Fill In The Blank
	Not For Naught
	Cliff Notes To Life?
2011	Conference Games Sunday

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NFL This Weekend: Six Games In Three Days!

If a man watches three football games in a row, he should be declared legally dead.
—    Erma Bombeck
[This post was originally titled “six games in two days”.  I didn’t realize one of the games was to be played on Monday night…    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2022	Limited Knowledge And No Control
2021	Gifts
	Look Inside Your Heart
2020	A Strength Of Science
2019	A Higher Standard
	Make Two Calls
2018	Irreplaceable Sparks
2017	Saving For April 15th
2016	First Wish
2015	Tracing Shadows
2014	One Thing
2013	More Is Less
2012	The Screw-Up Gene

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Neat, Please

As a cure for worrying, work is better than whiskey.
—     Ralph Waldo Emerson
[Which (somehow) reminds me of the Willie Nelson lyrics:
“There’s an ol’ doctor who told me
That I better start slowin’ it down.
But there’s more old drunks
Than there are old doctor’s
So I guess I better have another round.”
From his song:  “I Gotta Get Drunk”    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2021	Someone Should Tell Senator Joe Manchin
	One Of The Things We Need
2020	Boxing Day 2020
	Fractal Branches
	Advice For Sons, Too
2019	Almost Soulful Pleasure
2018	Cursive In The News
2017	Coffee Crunch
2016	Preparation
2015	Scarcely Asked
2014	They Resemble Us
2013	Both
2012	That’s Success!
2011	Losing At Dominoes
2010	1,001

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A Practical Theory

My theory on housework is, if the item doesn’t multiply, smell, catch fire, or block the refrigerator door, let it be.  No one else cares.  Why should you?
—    Erma Bombeck
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On This Day In:
2021	Still Building
	Golden
2020	Books And Blogs
	You Don’t Know What I Got
2019	#45 Is The Inverse
2018	A Message To The White House Press Corps
2017	Eeny Meeny Miny Moe
	Binge, Binge, Binge
2016	Feeling Warm Yet?
	Four Documentaries
2015	Just Like All The Others
2014	In My Own Vanity
2013	Filled With Words
2012	Lectio Auget Existentiae Meae
2011	Lied Lately?
2010	Born To Work At Faux News
	Lost Again (Uh, Make That Still)
	Qui Genus Humanum Ingenio Superavit
	They’re Back… (Part 1)

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For Some… Not All

Reading is like the sex act – done privately, and often in bed.
—     Daniel J. Boorstin
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On This Day In:
2021	Does Blogging Count?
	Another Notch
2020	Even Being President For Almost Four Years
	#45: Crying About The American Voters
	Dying Isn’t Much Of A Way To Make A Living Boy
2019	And Autumnal Foliage
2018	Up Hill, Both Ways
2017	Trump Carnivores – The Revolution So Far
2016	Election Results
2015	Speak Louder
2014	Why I Frequently Give In
2013	Am Remembering
2012	Sustained Fear
2011	Commitment

 

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