Oh, goodness, Old Lurker, when I read your 11:57 I started crying again. :(

Just finishing up my thoughts on the two YA books I published. The first was based on a real crime and so is the second. I read about the method in, I think, a Vanity Fair article years ago. Owners of old or no-longer-winning thoroughbred race horses would insure their 'deadbeat or no longer valuable racehorses' and then hire a mastermind (?) thug who ran a criminal enterprise who would murder the horse and make it look like an accident. Several of them were caught, thank goodness, but I'm sure it still goes on. Evil never sleeps. (Who said that? Elliot Ness?) Guess I'll go duckduckgo it. :)

JamesD, I've never talked much about the two little mysteries I wrote. You might find it interesting that the crime (brutality/dog abuse) in 'Let The Bones Talk' is true. A vacationing fisherman discovered the Golden Retriever on a small island in the Verdigris River, a tributary of the Arkansas River, northeast of here. The crime was so horrible and brutal that I couldn't figure out what kind of beast (human) would commit the torture of the dog. Every detail is true. Writing about it sort of helped me, not forget or understand, but eased my mind a little. I think one of Ig's posts the other day touched on the same theme or understanding of evil. I would paraphrase but I'm not as brilliant or even as smart as Ig is and I certainly can't write like he does -- the essence is maybe that it is surprising how ordinary and common evil can be and often is ........

JamesD, I don't know how to make a link over at other site. I tried it just a few minutes ago on here, and it got lost, I think. Will try one more time. It has my two 'mystery' YA's and the two short stories. https://www.amazon.com/JJ-Minor/e/B01D6YUXZ8/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Me, too, Porch. Much later, if ever, honest historians might analyze Trump's presidency and of course see decisions made that could have been different, however, President Trump had perverted, vindictive lies and psychological torture inflicted on him every day during his time in office. Most people would have been driven mad.

Okay, AB, thanks. it just pissed me off for a little while. Perfidy is such a damning word. Surprised me. Also, that was one thing, over and over, I heard 'Trump's lies' from the left. They never were specific. It just branded him and I hated it.compared to what the media and the left did every day for over four years, the lies we were assaulted with, make Trump sterling.

"His own perfidy and his treatment by the political class has disabused dissidents of their faith in the system." What the hell is this about Trump's perfidy? What deceitfulness and untrustworthiness are they talking about?

When I woke up my husband was watching Hogan's Heroes. 'Much better than the news,' he said. :)

" Biden’s transition team asked if it would be possible to determine which soldiers voted in GOP primaries or who have contributed to GOP candidates so commanders could station them away from the president-elect. The request was refused fueling their fear of attack." I read those tweets to my husband and he said: If you're captured in combat all you are required to do is give your name, rank, and serial number." I was going to ask if the tweets (requests) were really true, but, knowing the lack of history, civics, etc., taught in our schools over the past decades, it probably is. Guess my question is -- do you guys think the Biden team really asked for that information?

Jane, My thoughts are with you as you go through this day making arrangements for Kiwi. It was a joy to hear about your compassion and love for her. Thank goodness someone as kind and thoughtful as you are had her as part of your life. You've been so strong these past months as you've gone through your vision problems. I know you'll manage your heartache and loss over your lovely little dog and best friend as you have over health problems. Take good care of yourself, you are valued by jom. Joan

Ah, yes, Jack, loved my British newspapers.

TK ... you sort of agree?

BuffyUK, I subscribed to the Times and really enjoyed the Sunday Times (way back when) -- it was left of me, but they had so many interesting articles. We also subscribed to the International Herald Tribune (I guess it's changed, now owned by NYT, though it was never conservative.) I guess I also subscribed to the Evening Standard (that was my go-to paper). There was another one we got regularly. As my son got older, I would find The Sun hidden in his room. :) The breasts were eye-popping. Think it was The Sun. We had a cleaning lady who came twice a week, Spanish, devout Catholic, and I told him it would horrify Carmen to see those newspapers, so he agreed to be careful and/or leave them at his friends. Think they shared them. :) This was about 8th grade or so for him. He went all the way through school at ASL while we were there. Big shock bringing him home during senior year, though he went back to graduate.

I forgot to say that I was relieved to see someone like you sort of agreeing with what I've been thinking. Also, I had fun writing my comment. I've gotten more careful about using names (guess I'm paranoid) so I used the gender neutral 'they' as his name. (Had to look up gender neutral to remind myself what it was called.) Anyway, as I said, it was a sort of fun mental exercise writing about they's dementia, corruption, etc. Wonder how all of those crazy people manage to think like that?

Ig, on the last thread you posted this: "I think he is less demented and more tenacious than he is generally given credit for. I think he is a tough, crooked, corrupt, quite maggoty survivor and if someone wants to knock him off they better not miss." I wrote then deleted a post about the dementia. I don't think he's demented. Of course he's worn around the edges, but that just means more of what he really is will be exposed. There won't be more self-indulgence because when was that ever curtailed before?

Thanks, jimmyk, I need support from people with common sense*. :) have sort of had a hollow feeling in my stomach about saying 'yes, you should get it.' Covid does come with some bad side effects for some unlucky people. *If I started worrying to my husband, I'd make him mad. Early on I had made up my mind that I wasn't taking the vaccine, but was surprised when my husband said he'd take it. Then I also started reading that older people like us (79 fast approaching 80 and 83 for him) should take it -- because if there were side effects popping up later, we're so past life expectancy anyway, we're in our bonus years. I try and have a sensible attitude about covid, the quarantine, the things we've been asked to give up and do, like masks, as well as the fact that as an individual there's nothing I can do about any of it. I just love our sweet daughter so much, I don't want to worry about her or a casual 'yes' that I gave.

Think the COC let us down some years ago -- if they were ever really for us. Speaking of commerce -- I'm watching news on food production. All of the warnings from Venezuelans about what might happen if the left takes over here makes me seriously interested. Do any of you guys watch Market to Market on PBS Saturday mornings? There are two painting shows that come on at 6 and 6.30 that my husband watches, and I sit there, drinking coffee, reading last night's jom, and daydream during the art shows but have started paying attention to the Market to Market telecast. Some of the things they talk about are so interesting. "The summer weather of 2020 shows up in a series of impactful USDA reports. The bulls take charge initially* — we’ve assembled a panel to parse the future. Market analysis." *what happens after 'initially' ??

jimmyk, the posts from Berenson and Epoch Times article about the vaccine deaths make me nervous, slightly sick to my stomach. Our daughter's work (visiting, managing clinics, etc.) made her eligible for the vaccine. She wasn't going to get it (she's never had a flu shot) but one of her co-workers that she really respects (for professionalism, IQ, etc.) said she was taking the shot because of not having to worry about catching covid and then giving it to her parents or someone else who was vulnerable. So, our daughter asked me, should I take it? That way I wouldn't keep worrying about catching it and giving it to you and dad accidentally. (She came down with a bad cold the day before Christmas Eve -- got the test, was clear, and then got the test again a week later, still clear.) I told her yes, take it, not because of us, just because I thought it would be a good idea. I did say, now if you get side effects ..., and she sort of laughed and kindly said, aw, no, don't worry. I keep thinking, if there were really bad side effects and deaths, wouldn't we know by now? Didn't I read we were vaccinating hundreds of thousands of people or so a day?

We saw a brief report on the colorfully attired caravan* from Honduras and I asked my husband why don't we just ask Honduras if they want to be a state -- that way they wouldn't have to walk all the way up here -- they'd get their money sent straight south to them. *reminded me of a carnival --

Jane, if I'd win the millions I'd see an attorney, set up a trickle down or some other type of family revocable living trust for the money to be paid in to, next I'd tithe. I'd also donate to St. Jude's, Folds of Honor or other veteran's group, Alzheimer's Disease research, SPCA, I'd set up a fund/grant for foster children aging out of the system (they have nowhere to go, at 18 they are on their own) -- what else, I don't know. I'm trying to think of the small checks I write at the end of the year to charities I want to help. I would also make certain that our three grandchildren were educated in how to manage the trust and charities so that they would have a mission in their lives -- making sure their heritage was skillfully and professionally managed. I'd be so happy.

Also, when I was AMENING about CH's post, I wasn't referring to RG or Cates, it was: "Trump put his entire life on the line and the sun will rise in the west before I blame him for one fucking thing." that I got revved up about.

I know, narciso, I know. I'm two days or so behind and I got excited about a couple of comments. I just wanted to 'blab' about how I don't trust democrats. :) Also, TomR, I think AB was talking about 'military training' not your integrity when he said it doesn't apply to most things here. And, TomR, I'm breaking one of my rules by replying to something between two other posters, but it seemed obvious what AB was talking about.

Who thought manchin would turn out to be a rancid polecat. Posted by: Narciso I did, narciso, always. Since I've been voting, 1962, I've never seen a democrat who could be trusted. Their first allegiance has always been to their party and pet projects -- the USA has never been first.

Why aren't people blaming RG or Brian Cates for four years of smokescreens and pure unadulterated bullshit? Trump put his entire life on the line and the sun will rise in the west before I blame him for one fucking thing. Posted by: Captain Hate | January 16, 2021 at 01:02 PM AMEN, Captain Hate, AMEN!!

ccgirl: :) I have to keep myself in this frame of mind or I'd be feeling pretty down ... bad time of year to feel sad or forlorn. Though, I got a nice surprise text from my yogi/taichi teacher this afternoon and we're gonna do tai chi outside tomorrow. It's been snowing, down in the 30s for a week or so and tomorrow it's going to be in the 50s, so at 11 a.m. CST, I'll be outside in the park performing tai chi! Yea!