YES!

My UNO losing streak has ended! After winning the first hand yesterday, Bentley won the next two. Then I came roaring back to win the last two, beating him 3-2. He's still ahead of me, 3 games to 2, but I feel like my luck has changed.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"Eating foods high in flavonoids could slow down cognitive decline." Drudge Report, 7/29

THE LOVE OF BOOKS

"Long before they learn to read, children need to be taught to love reading books. They need to hold them in their chubby hands. Turn the pages one by one. Point to each word as it's red aloud. Marvel at eery illustration. And maybe chew a bit on the cover. What are books for, if not to be 'devoured' by readers of evewry age, young & old alike?" Column by Sharon Randall, Norfolk Daily News 7/27. I don't remember Dad & Mom reading to me, but I remember falling in love with books at a very early age. They bought us a set of World Book Encyclopedias, which were kept in my room, & I even spent time reading through the volumes. We loved reading to our own kids, [although one can only read "Peasant Pig & the Terrible Dragon" so many time before going insane.], & we still enjoy reading to our grandkids. I always have at least one book going at a time, sometimes two, once & awhile even three.

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE NEW ZEALAND

"New Zealand rated best place to survive global societal collapse." Drudge Report, 7/29

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* Compliments of Reader's Digest, June 2021

"A pirate walks into a bar with a paper towel on his head. 'What's ith the paper towel?' asks the bartender. 'Arrr!' the pirate replies. 'I've got a Bounty on me head." 

"Of course I believe in science, like how jelly grows inside doughnuts."

BACK TO SCHOOL

"The Babylon Bee Presents:  A Back-to-School Shopping List for Your Conservative Child."

-- Fireproof American flag to carry around:  Public school teachers are always on the lookout for American flags to burn. Be prepared!

-- Kids size "I Identify As Vaccinated" t-shirt:  Teachers must respect your child, no matter how he identifies.

-- Scissors to cut the masks off his peers & set them free:  Just remind him not to run with them & we're sure it will be totally fine.

-- Extra boxes of tissues to help his classmate wipe their liberal tears:  A great way for him to make some friends.

FREE SPEECH

"Our nation was founded on the idea that protecting citizens’ speech from the government would protect the people’s right to govern themselves by preventing the government from controlling information and ideas. But modern progressives are so sure their worldview is superior that they’ll exploit all available avenues to quash speech they don’t like. This White House seems to have forgotten that the people are in charge of the government in this country, not the other way around." Bill Hagerty, National Review Online 7/29 

 

WHAT WE THINK OF GOD

What we think of God makes a tremendous difference in our lives. Where we get our ideas of God makes a tremendous difference too. We can gather up data & develop our own image of God, or we can allow God to reveal Himself in a self-portrait--His Son, Jesus Christ." Reuben Welch, Men's Devotional Bible

HUSBANDS & WIVES

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church & gave Himself up for her." (Eph. 5:25)

"Paul did not Exhort husbands to rule over their wives. Instead, he commanded husbands to love their wives. The Greek word for love (agape) here means God's love. Therefore, Pau exhorted husbands to show unceasing care & loving service for the well-being of their wives in all areas--physical, mental, & spiritual. In addition, the husband's love for his wife is to be an ongoing process. Husbands must love their wives unconditionally, even when they may seem undeserving & unloving.

"The pattern for the husband's love for his wife is Christ' love for His church. This is a radical love--that led Jesus to die on a cruel cross for sinful humanity . . . Taken literally, the second part of verse 25 teaches that husbands should be willing to make even the ultimate sacrifice (life itself) for their wives! Husbands are to imitate the sacrificial love of Christ in their marriages. If husbands obey Paul's command, they will not behave in an overbearing way toward their wives. Instead, all areas of married life will be characterized by self-sacrificing love." Day by Day in Ephesians, by Don E. AtkinsonCOMFORT

"As God's comforted children, it is also our great privilege to comfort others. There is much opportunity to do that. One can speak a cheering word to the sick & troubled. One can help through acts of service, especially on behalf of the poor & needy & victims of war. Ultimately we will also partake of the eternal comfort in heaven. There we will--along with others who believe in Jesus as their Savior--enjoy & savor the complete, perfect comfort of heaven. We comfort one another today with God's promise of eternal comfort." Reinhold Stallman, A Year with Jesus

THE TRUE CHURCH

"Christ, the Chief Shepherd, has called us out of the world & into His flock (1 Peter 5:2) Wherever one finds the living voice of Christ & those who by the Holy Spirit hear & believe it--both pastor & flock together--there is the church. Lutherans define the church as God's giving & our receiving, that is, Lutheran confess that the church exists where the sinner is forgiven in the stead & by the command of the Lord Jesus Christ's redeeming work & the delivery of that work through the preaching of the Gospel of that work through the preaching of the Gospel leave no doubt for the saints there there is a church or that they belong to it. Christ the Good Shepherd gives; His flock receives.

"Defining the church as shepherd & sheep (John 10:1-18) denies any claim that a special group within the church is the true church, whether the papacy, the local congregation alone, the clergy alone or even one particular institutional church body, such as the LCMS. The shepherd & the sheep belong together, regardless of time & place in the world. That happens primarily in worship, whether here on earth or there in heaven." Jason Lane, The Lutheran Witness, June/July 2021

YES!

My UNO losing streak has ended! After winning the first hand yesterday, Bentley won the next two. Then I came roaring back to win the last two, beating him 3-2. He's still ahead of me, 3 games to 2, but I feel like my luck has changed.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"Eating foods high in flavonoids could slow down cognitive decline." Drudge Report, 7/29

THE LOVE OF BOOKS

"Long before they learn to read, children need to be taught to love reading books. They need to hold them in their chubby hands. Turn the pages one by one. Point to each word as it's red aloud. Marvel at eery illustration. And maybe chew a bit on the cover. What are books for, if not to be 'devoured' by readers of evewry age, young & old alike?" Column by Sharon Randall, Norfolk Daily News 7/27. I don't remember Dad & Mom reading to me, but I remember falling in love with books at a very early age. They bought us a set of World Book Encyclopedias, which were kept in my room, & I even spent time reading through the volumes. We loved reading to our own kids, [although one can only read "Peasant Pig & the Terrible Dragon" so many time before going insane.], & we still enjoy reading to our grandkids. I always have at least one book going at a time, sometimes two, once & awhile even three.

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE NEW ZEALAND

"New Zealand rated best place to survive global societal collapse." Drudge Report, 7/29

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* Compliments of Reader's Digest, June 2021

"A pirate walks into a bar with a paper towel on his head. 'What's ith the paper towel?' asks the bartender. 'Arrr!' the pirate replies. 'I've got a Bounty on me head."

"Of course I believe in science, like how jelly grows inside doughnuts."

BACK TO SCHOOL

"The Babylon Bee Presents:  A Back-to-School Shopping List for Your Conservative Child."

-- Fireproof American flag to carry around:  Public school teachers are always on the lookout for American flags to burn. Be prepared!

-- Kids size "I Identify As Vaccinated" t-shirt:  Teachers must respect your child, no matter how he identifies.

-- Scissors to cut the masks off his peers & set them free:  Just remind him not to run with them & we're sure it will be totally fine.

-- Extra boxes of tissues to help his classmate wipe their liberal tears:  A great way for him to make some friends.

FREE SPEECH

"Our nation was founded on the idea that protecting citizens’ speech from the government would protect the people’s right to govern themselves by preventing the government from controlling information and ideas. But modern progressives are so sure their worldview is superior that they’ll exploit all available avenues to quash speech they don’t like. This White House seems to have forgotten that the people are in charge of the government in this country, not the other way around." Bill Hagerty, National Review Online 7/29

 THE LOVE OF BOOKS

"Long before they learn to read, children need to be taught to love reading books. They need to hold them in their chubby hands. Turn the pages one by one. Point to each word as it's red aloud. Marvel at eery illustration. And maybe chew a bit on the cover. What are books for, if not to be 'devoured' by readers of evewry age, young & old alike?" Column by Sharon Randall, Norfolk Daily News 7/27. I don't remember Dad & Mom reading to me, but I remember falling in love with books at a very early age. They bought us a set of World Book Encyclopedias, which were kept in my room, & I even spent time reading through the volumes. We loved reading to our own kids, [although one can only read "Peasant Pig & the Terrible Dragon" so many time before going insane.], & we still enjoy reading to our grandkids. I always have at least one book going at a time, sometimes two, once & awhile even three.

WHAT WE THINK OF GOD

What we think of God makes a tremendous difference in our lives. Where we get our ideas of God makes a tremendous difference too. We can gather up data & develop our own image of God, or we can allow God to reveal Himself in a self-portrait--His Son, Jesus Christ." Reuben Welch, Men's Devotional Bible

HUSBANDS & WIVES

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church & gave Himself up for her." (Eph. 5:25)

"Paul did not Exhort husbands to rule over their wives. Instead, he commanded husbands to love their wives. The Greek word for love (agape) here means God's love. Therefore, Pau exhorted husbands to show unceasing care & loving service for the well-being of their wives in all areas--physical, mental, & spiritual. In addition, the husband's love for his wife is to be an ongoing process. Husbands must love their wives unconditionally, even when they may seem undeserving & unloving.

"The pattern for the husband's love for his wife is Christ' love for His church. This is a radical love--that led Jesus to die on a cruel cross for sinful humanity . . . Taken literally, the second part of verse 25 teaches that husbands should be willing to make even the ultimate sacrifice (life itself) for their wives! Husbands are to imitate the sacrificial love of Christ in their marriages. If husbands obey Paul's command, they will not behave in an overbearing way toward their wives. Instead, all areas of married life will be characterized by self-sacrificing love." Day by Day in Ephesians, by Don E. AtkinsonCOMFORT

"As God's comforted children, it is also our great privilege to comfort others. There is much opportunity to do that. One can speak a cheering word to the sick & troubled. One can help through acts of service, especially on behalf of the poor & needy & victims of war. Ultimately we will also partake of the eternal comfort in heaven. There we will--along with others who believe in Jesus as their Savior--enjoy & savor the complete, perfect comfort of heaven. We comfort one another today with God's promise of eternal comfort." Reinhold Stallman, A Year with Jesus

THE TRUE CHURCH

"Christ, the Chief Shepherd, has called us out of the world & into His flock (1 Peter 5:2) Wherever one finds the living voice of Christ & those who by the Holy Spirit hear & believe it--both pastor & flock together--there is the church. Lutherans define the church as God's giving & our receiving, that is, Lutheran confess that the church exists where the sinner is forgiven in the stead & by the command of the Lord Jesus Christ's redeeming work & the delivery of that work through the preaching of the Gospel of that work through the preaching of the Gospel leave no doubt for the saints there there is a church or that they belong to it. Christ the Good Shepherd gives; His flock receives.

"Defining the church as shepherd & sheep (John 10:1-18) denies any claim that a special group within the church is the true church, whether the papacy, the local congregation alone, the clergy alone or even one particular institutional church body, such as the LCMS. The shepherd & the sheep belong together, regardless of time & place in the world. That happens primarily in worship, whether here on earth or there in heaven." Jason Lane, The Lutheran Witness, June/July 2021

WHAT WE THINK OF GOD

What we think of God makes a tremendous difference in our lives. Where we get our ideas of God makes a tremendous difference too. We can gather up data & develop our own image of God, or we can allow God to reveal Himself in a self-portrait--His Son, Jesus Christ." Reuben Welch, Men's Devotional Bible

HUSBANDS & WIVES

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church & gave Himself up for her." (Eph. 5:25)

"Paul did not Exhort husbands to rule over their wives. Instead, he commanded husbands to love their wives. The Greek word for love (agape) here means God's love. Therefore, Pau exhorted husbands to show unceasing care & loving service for the well-being of their wives in all areas--physical, mental, & spiritual. In addition, the husband's love for his wife is to be an ongoing process. Husbands must love their wives unconditionally, even when they may seem undeserving & unloving.

"The pattern for the husband's love for his wife is Christ' love for His church. This is a radical love--that led Jesus to die on a cruel cross for sinful humanity . . . Taken literally, the second part of verse 25 teaches that husbands should be willing to make even the ultimate sacrifice (life itself) for their wives! Husbands are to imitate the sacrificial love of Christ in their marriages. If husbands obey Paul's command, they will not behave in an overbearing way toward their wives. Instead, all areas of married life will be characterized by self-sacrificing love." Day by Day in Ephesians, by Don E. Atkinson

COMFORT

"As God's comforted children, it is also our great privilege to comfort others. There is much opportunity to do that. One can speak a cheering word to the sick & troubled. One can help through acts of service, especially on behalf of the poor & needy & victims of war. Ultimately we will also partake of the eternal comfort in heaven. There we will--along with others who believe in Jesus as their Savior--enjoy & savor the complete, perfect comfort of heaven. We comfort one another today with God's promise of eternal comfort." Reinhold Stallman, A Year with Jesus

THE TRUE CHURCH

"Christ, the Chief Shepherd, has called us out of the world & into His flock (1 Peter 5:2) Wherever one finds the living voice of Christ & those who by the Holy Spirit hear & believe it--both pastor & flock together--there is the church. Lutherans define the church as God's giving & our receiving, that is, Lutheran confess that the church exists where the sinner is forgiven in the stead & by the command of the Lord Jesus Christ's redeeming work & the delivery of that work through the preaching of the Gospel of that work through the preaching of the Gospel leave no doubt for the saints there there is a church or that they belong to it. Christ the Good Shepherd gives; His flock receives.

"Defining the church as shepherd & sheep (John 10:1-18) denies any claim that a special group within the church is the true church, whether the papacy, the local congregation alone, the clergy alone or even one particular institutional church body, such as the LCMS. The shepherd & the sheep belong together, regardless of time & place in the world. That happens primarily in worship, whether here on earth or there in heaven." Jason Lane, The Lutheran Witness, June/July 2021

TRENDING

"'Weed nuns' on mission to heal world with cannabis." Drudge Report

"Problem solved:  Cleveland Indians mascot replace by Apu from The Simpsons." Babylon Bee

UNO

At least I gave Bentley some competition yesterday. Once again, I decisively won the first hand. Then Bentley won the next two. Then I won the next one, tying the score at 2-2. Alas, he clocked me the next hand for a 3-2 victory, after which he proclaimed, "I am the UNO master!" [Where did he learn to be so mouthy, Rachel?] I was reminded of the UNO games we used to play with my grandparents. Granpa pronounced it YOU-KNOW.

MOVIES

Last night I watched a double-feature. First, I watched "The Long Riders," 1980 movie about the James-Younger gang, & starring the Keach, Carradine, & Quaid brothers. What it lacked in historical accuracy it made up for in bloody shoot-outs. Then I watched "The Big Lebowski," a 1998 movie by the Coen brothers. As you can imagine, it was pretty quirky.

ABORTION

Abortion hurts women and kills children . . . To read the brief from Fitch is to face facts. She points out that the Mississippi’s Gestational Age Act points out some brutal realities: “The United States is one of few countries that permit elective abortions after 20 weeks’ gestation. After 12 weeks’ gestation, 75% of all nations ‘do not permit abortion’ ‘except (in most instances) to save the life and to preserve the physical health of the mother.’” In the brief, Fitch explains further reason for the law: “At 5–6 weeks’ gestation, ‘an unborn human being’s heart begins beating.’” At about eight weeks, the developing baby begins to move about in the womb. At nine weeks, “all basic physiological functions are present,” as are “teeth, eyes, and external genitalia.” At ten weeks, “vital organs begin to function” and “hair, fingernails, and toenails . . . begin to form.” At eleven weeks, there may be hiccupping as the diaphragm forms. At twelve weeks, there can be “sucking motions” and the opening and closing of fingers, while the baby “senses stimulation from the world outside the womb.” At that point, the child “has taken on the human form in all relevant respects.” In short, it’s a description of what a mother and father who are welcoming their unborn baby see in ultrasounds." Kathryn Lopez, National Review Online, 7/26

BOURBON

"In 2021, American alcohol laws remain needlessly complex and archaic. It’s time to move toward a freer and more commonsense system. Which means it is time to allow bourbon in your mailbox." C. Jarrett Dieterle, National Review Online, 7/26

THE DRAFT

"If you wonder what Republicans are accomplishing in Washington, look no further than the Senate Armed Services Committee, where a majority of them voted to create the predicate for drafting women into the military. Astonishingly, only five of the committee’s 13 GOP members voted against an amendment requiring women to begin to register for the Selective Service. It’s unclear why this is a pressing national need, or why anyone believes that it would help during a major war. Perversely, though, it’s considered a blow for gender equity, and, of course, that overwhelms all other considerations for Democrats and Republicans alike." Rich Lowry, NRO

NEW WORDS

"Dictionary.com has added more than 300 words. They include a series of race- & virus-related terms, such as 'Black Code' & 'long hauler,' as well as increasingly common expressions like 'yeet' & 'oof,' the online lexicon has revealed." Omaha World Herald, 7/27

COVID

"Pastor threatens to remove people with face masks from church." Drudge Report

"To defeat Delta variant, experts recommend doing all the things that didn't work the first time." Babylon Bee

"Grin (or grimace) & bear your vaccine. If a needle jab makes you wince, that might actually be a good thing. American participants in a study were asked to make variou facial expressions while getting injected. Those who wore either a grimace or a genuine smile involving both the mouth & eyes reported about 40% less pain than those who maintained a stoic poker face." Reader's Digest, June 2021

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* Compliments of Reader's Digest, June 2021

"A golfer standing on a tee box overlooking a river sees a couple of fishermen & says to his partner, 'Take a look at those two idiots fishing in the rain!'" 

"I just found out that I'm color-blind. This came right out of the purple."

GUNS

"Top 10 reasons you should just turn your guns over to the government TODAY

> The government is very trustworthy & would never hurt anyone:  Also, they have nukes. Resistance is futile.

> The government will donate your guns to a noble cause:  Like drug cartels & insurgents in the Middle East.

> You can rest assured knowing that criminals will turn in their guns too. Babylon Bee

SIDEWALK PROPHETS

On Saturday night I was at 1c Sanctuary, a LCMS church in Columbus, for a Sidewalk Prophets' concert. Those guys were awesome! The lead guitarist was way awesome! I even recognized a few of their songs, since we listen to The Message on Sirius XM when we're traveling in our Encore. I've seen in concert Twila Paris, Big Daddy Weave, Lauren Daigle, Casting Crowns, Jordan Feliz, Building 429, & Matt Maher. This concert was among the best.

WHAT I'M READING

I always eagerly anticipate the next book I've chosen to read. My latest read is "Madhouse at the End of the Earth:  The Belgica's Journey into the Dark Antarctic Night," by Julian Sancton. It's a narrative of an ill-dated Antarctic expedition. I gave up on "The Gulag Archipelago." It was just too depressing. It was a waste of 50 cents.

WHAT I'M WATCHING

Last night I watched "The Dig," a 2021 movie on Netflix. "On the eve of W.W. II, a British widow hires a self-taught archaeologist [played by Ralph Fiennes] to dig up mysterious formations on her land, leading to a staggering find." This dig was ground-breaking. Get it? Ground-breaking?!

MY LIFE

For those of you who are endlessly fascinated with the details of my life, here's what I did last Friday. I watched Bentley, our 8-yr-old grandson, since Lois is in MN with Nathan, Laura, & the grandkids. We had a grand time . . . well, except for UNO. After decisively defeating him on the first hand, he came back & clocked me on the next three. Then we went to the Norfolk Aquaventure water park--my first visit there--& I was impressed. Bentley must have been tired, because he was only in the water for about an hour. On the way home we stopped at Sonic for slushes & cheese curds. After we got back, we watched Ironman. Later on Friday I made an ill-fated trip to Columbus, having failed to carefully check my calendar, thinking, erroneously, that the Sidewalk Prophets were in concert that night. The trip wasn't a total loss, since I got to eat supper at Pizza Ranch. This morning I'm watching Bentley for a few hours again before going to work at Orphan Grain Train.

ROBOTS GONE WILD

"You call that service? A few years back, the Henn na Hotel in Nagasaki, Japan, hired 243 robots to cover positions ranging fro concierge to bellhop. Unfortunately, the check-in robots had trouble answering guests' questions & photo-copying passport, while bellhop robot kept banging into walls & tripping over curbs. One in-room assistant sprang to attention every time a lodger snored, saying, 'Sorry, I couldn't catch that. Could you repeat your request?' Not long after the experiment began, the hotel 'fired' half of the malfunctioning robots. And they didn't get their tips, either." Reader's Digest, June 2021

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* Compliments of Reader's Digest, June 2021

"My niece wants to know:  If she donates her hair, & the recipient of her hair commits a crime & leaves hair at the crime scene, will her DNA be found all over the crime scene & thus incriminate her? She's 12."

SMELL

"Women have keener noses than men, perhaps because they have as many as 50% more cells in the part of the brain that processes smell. Studies have shown that women are better able to identify & distinguish among scents than men." Reader's Digest, June 2021

MAN'S GREATEST NEED

" . . . a man cannot find significance in any lasting way apart from Christ. So, if a man is in Christ, & submitted to God's plan & purpose, then he can satisfy his greatest need in a way that endures." Patrick Morley, Men's Devotional Bible

SEX MATTERS

" . . . sex matters a lot! Sex binds a man & woman in the profound relationship of marriage that not only serves those two, but provides the foundation for all of society & extends the right working of God's creation through space & time.

"Chastity, then, acknowledges the sacred importance of sex & the wonder of the physical, in-the-flesh reality of our individual identity. It celebrates the joy of being God's creature integrally fitted into His creation for that creation's flourishing. Chastity is not an invasive infringement on individual personhood. It is not some prudish curtailment of happiness & personal fulfillment. It is the opposite. Chastity is the celebration of God's gift of vibrant life & confidently trusts in His promise to bring all of His creation, including each one of us, to the complete fullness of His eternal design for the universe. To live chastely is to live celebrating God's creation." Joel Biermann, The Lutheran Witness, Jan. 2021

TODAY'S HYMN OF CROSS & COMFORT

When in Hour of Deepest Need, LW #428

When in the hour of deepest need We know not where to look for aid; When days & nights of anxious thought No help or counsel yet have brought.

Our comfort then is this alone:  That we may meet before Your throne And cry to You, O faithful God, For rescue from our sorry lot.

For You have made a promise true To pardon those who flee to You, Through Him whose name alone is great, Our Savior & our advocate.

And so we come, O God, today And all our woes before You lay; For sorely tried, cast down, we stand, perplexed by fears on ev'ry hand.

Oh, from our sins hide not Your face; Absolve us through Your boundless grace! Be with us in our anguish still! Free us at last from ev'ry ill!

So we with all our hearts each day To You our glad thanksgiving pay, Then walk obedient to Your Word, And now & ever praise You, Lord.

 NEW MATERIAL!

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

We just finished watching the 3rd season Virgin River. SPOILER ALERT! "Virgin" is a misnomer. Last night we started watching Star Trek Enterprise, a prequel to Star Trek. It stars Scott Bakula, one of our favorites, & looks promising. Also, yesterday afternoon I watched The Outlaw Josey Wales on Netflix. Lois is heading to MN for a week or so; I won't be able to keep up with Deep Space 9, Star Trek Enterprise, & Blacklist, so I'll have to browse Netflix for alternatives. 

I didn't think I'd have time to watch a movie last night. Thanks to my failure to read my calendar correctly, I drove to Columbus for a Sidewalk Prophets' concert, only to discover that the concert is scheduled for tonight. It wasn't a total loss, as I got to eat supper at Pizza Ranch. Anyway, where was I? Oh, yeah. I watched "Chinatown" last night, the classic movie starring Jack Nicholson & Faye Dunaway. Although I wouldn't say it was a waste of time, I came away mostly unimpressed.

WHAT I'M READING

I finished reading "Stalin's War," by Sean McMeekin. It recasts W.W. II as a huge victory for Stalin, thanks in large part to complicity by American & British leaders, including Roosevelt. Very disquieting but worth a read, if you enjoy reading about W.W. II.

TRENDING

"Unemployment up 800% among ethnic mascots." Babylon Bee

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"What pairs with beetle? Startups seek to make bugs tasty. Tiziana Di Costanzo makes pizza dough from scratch, mixing together flour, yeast, a pinch of salt, a dash of olive oil & something a bit more unusual--ground acheta domesticus, better known as cricket powder. Di Costanzo is an edible insect entrepreneur who holds crick & mealworm cooking classes at her West London home, where she also raises the critters in a backyard shed . . . " Omaha World Herald, 7/24 In related news, McDonald's has announced plans to market their new McCricket Sandwich.

"Body preserved in bog since Iron Age contains undigested last meal." Drudge Report  Crickets?

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE FLORIDA

"Naked FL woman, busted for skinny-dipping in stranger's pool."  Drudge Report, 7/22

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* Compliments of Reader's Digest, May 2021

"Our teenage grand-daughter was thrilled when she landed her first real job waiting tables. But after one shift, the excitement seemed to have waned. 'How do you like being a waitress?' I asked. She shrugged, "It would be OK if people wouldn't keep asking for stuff." 

COVID

"As Americans navigate conflicting mask advice, 'everyone confused.' Drudge Report

HOLLYWOOD

"Wokeness has invaded Hollywood, which used to be a refreshingly amoral place where people cash-signaled instead of virtue-signaled. Posing is now currency. That’s bad, because when everybody was focused on money, at least we could buy them off. You could make something conservative because people would pay for it. But you can’t buy off people who are only interested in getting PC props from their fellow drones. As a result, today’s films and shows are dreary exercises in boring conformity that push a message of submission to the dominant paradigm. It’s all CRT strawmen villains and a diverse spectrum of tiresome protagonists who look different but are entirely the same." Kurt Schlichter, Townhall 7/22  Agreed! We've been watching The Eqaulizer, NCIS New Orleans, FBI, & FBI Most Wanted on cbs.com, & we noticed this past season how politically correct they all became. Not as much fun to watch them. Thank goodness for Blue Bloods, Seal Team, & NCIS.

ON THE BORDER

"How can anyone from your neighbor to officials in the Biden administration talk about this pandemic while completely ignoring the southern border?  But they sure are.  Constant harping on the rapid spread of a new variant and the irresponsibility of those who won’t get the shot, but never once acknowledging the hundreds of thousands of unvaccinated pouring across our borders illegally every month?

"These people are arriving not only unvaccinated against COVID, but it’s safe to assume unscreened for a whole host of maladies from whooping cough to head lice.  The government then scatters them like a handful of grass seed across the lower forty-eight states and we’re all supposed to pretend that doesn’t exacerbate the spread of a highly contagious virus?" Chris Stigall, Townhall 7/22

"Inspiring:  US women's soccer team to boycott scoring goals until racism is defeated." Babylon Bee

ROE V. WADE

"The justices may duck this argument but cannot refute it. The Constitution, federalism, the separation of powers, and moral truth all converge on an answer in this case, and Mississippi has just identified it. The justices should have the courage and integrity to admit that the Court has been wrong." The Editors, National Review Online

VALUES

"Indeed it seems readily apparent that much of what's changed in more recent times hasn't been for the better. Given the great disparity evident between the respectful social environment & traditional values that we inherited compared to the relative absence of fundamental principles governing life in the new century, that conclusion seems well founded for obvious reasons, to wit. The family unit has mostly disintegrated . . . The political class serves itself. The national mainstream media is hopelessly corrupt. Terrorism is here to stay. Washington, D.C., is an establishment swamp. Sanctuaries protect criminal alien who abuse Americans. Division reigns.

"'Education' is a despairing euphemism. Curriculums are nonsensical. Discipline in schools is virtually non-existent. Colleges & universities have become breeding grounds (no pun intended) for cause-oriented busybodies whose appreciation for constitutional rights reflects a rather perverse view of freedom. Liberal indoctrination rules--permeating education K-12 & beyond. Television, movies & technology have replaced the Sunday sermon as the principal vehicles of moral challenge & progress. Historical context is routinely excluded. Cancel culture has become the cat's meow, so to speak. Frames of reference involving the daily behavior of human beings center on the internet & whimsical (Facebook & Twitter) postings often having their origin in evil intent." Lee Hulm, Norfolk Daily News, 7/22/21

TURBINES

"Birds colliding with turbine blades is one of the main negative effects of onshore wind farms. But a nine-year study at a wind farm in Smola, Norway, has found that bird strikes can be cut by more than 70% simply by painting one blade of a wind turbine black. Scientists believe this reduces what they call motion smear, allowing birds to see the three rotating blades. Trondheim-baed researcher Roel May says further tests at other wind farms are needed to confirm the findings." Reader's Digest, May 2021

NEW MATERIAL!

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

We just finished watching the 3rd season Virgin River. SPOILER ALERT! "Virgin" is a misnomer. Last night we started watching Star Trek Enterprise, a prequel to Star Trek. It stars Scott Bakula, one of our favorites, & looks promising. Also, yesterday afternoon I watched The Outlaw Josey Wales on Netflix. Lois is heading to MN for a week or so; I won't be able to keep up with Deep Space 9, Star Trek Enterprise, & Blacklist, so I'll have to browse Netflix for alternatives. 

I didn't think I'd have time to watch a movie last night. Thanks to my failure to read my calendar correctly, I drove to Columbus for a Sidewalk Prophets' concert, only to discover that the concert is scheduled for tonight. It wasn't a total loss, as I got to eat supper at Pizza Ranch. Anyway, where was I? Oh, yeah. I watched "Chinatown" last night, the classic movie starring Jack Nicholson & Faye Dunaway. Although I wouldn't say it was a waste of time, I came away mostly unimpressed.

WHAT I'M READING

I finished reading "Stalin's War," by Sean McMeekin. It recasts W.W. II as a huge victory for Stalin, thanks in large part to complicity by American & British leaders, including Roosevelt. Very disquieting but worth a read, if you enjoy reading about W.W. II.

TRENDING

"Unemployment up 800% among ethnic mascots." Babylon Bee

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"What pairs with beetle? Startups seek to make bugs tasty. Tiziana Di Costanzo makes pizza dough from scratch, mixing together flour, yeast, a pinch of salt, a dash of olive oil & something a bit more unusual--ground acheta domesticus, better known as cricket powder. Di Costanzo is an edible insect entrepreneur who holds crick & mealworm cooking classes at her West London home, where she also raises the critters in a backyard shed . . . " Omaha World Herald, 7/24 In related news, McDonald's has announced plans to market their new McCricket Sandwich.

"Body preserved in bog since Iron Age contains undigested last meal." Drudge Report  Crickets?

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE FLORIDA

"Naked FL woman, busted for skinny-dipping in stranger's pool."  Drudge Report, 7/22

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* Compliments of Reader's Digest, May 2021

"Our teenage grand-daughter was thrilled when she landed her first real job waiting tables. But after one shift, the excitement seemed to have waned. 'How do you like being a waitress?' I asked. She shrugged, "It would be OK if people wouldn't keep asking for stuff." 

COVID

"As Americans navigate conflicting mask advice, 'everyone confused.' Drudge Report

HOLLYWOOD

"Wokeness has invaded Hollywood, which used to be a refreshingly amoral place where people cash-signaled instead of virtue-signaled. Posing is now currency. That’s bad, because when everybody was focused on money, at least we could buy them off. You could make something conservative because people would pay for it. But you can’t buy off people who are only interested in getting PC props from their fellow drones. As a result, today’s films and shows are dreary exercises in boring conformity that push a message of submission to the dominant paradigm. It’s all CRT strawmen villains and a diverse spectrum of tiresome protagonists who look different but are entirely the same." Kurt Schlichter, Townhall 7/22  Agreed! We've been watching The Eqaulizer, NCIS New Orleans, FBI, & FBI Most Wanted on cbs.com, & we noticed this past season how politically correct they all became. Not as much fun to watch them. Thank goodness for Blue Bloods, Seal Team, & NCIS.

ON THE BORDER

"How can anyone from your neighbor to officials in the Biden administration talk about this pandemic while completely ignoring the southern border?  But they sure are.  Constant harping on the rapid spread of a new variant and the irresponsibility of those who won’t get the shot, but never once acknowledging the hundreds of thousands of unvaccinated pouring across our borders illegally every month?

"These people are arriving not only unvaccinated against COVID, but it’s safe to assume unscreened for a whole host of maladies from whooping cough to head lice.  The government then scatters them like a handful of grass seed across the lower forty-eight states and we’re all supposed to pretend that doesn’t exacerbate the spread of a highly contagious virus?" Chris Stigall, Townhall 7/22

"Inspiring:  US women's soccer team to boycott scoring goals until racism is defeated." Babylon Bee

ROE V. WADE

"The justices may duck this argument but cannot refute it. The Constitution, federalism, the separation of powers, and moral truth all converge on an answer in this case, and Mississippi has just identified it. The justices should have the courage and integrity to admit that the Court has been wrong." The Editors, National Review Online

VALUES

"Indeed it seems readily apparent that much of what's changed in more recent times hasn't been for the better. Given the great disparity evident between the respectful social environment & traditional values that we inherited compared to the relative absence of fundamental principles governing life in the new century, that conclusion seems well founded for obvious reasons, to wit. The family unit has mostly disintegrated . . . The political class serves itself. The national mainstream media is hopelessly corrupt. Terrorism is here to stay. Washington, D.C., is an establishment swamp. Sanctuaries protect criminal alien who abuse Americans. Division reigns.

"'Education' is a despairing euphemism. Curriculums are nonsensical. Discipline in schools is virtually non-existent. Colleges & universities have become breeding grounds (no pun intended) for cause-oriented busybodies whose appreciation for constitutional rights reflects a rather perverse view of freedom. Liberal indoctrination rules--permeating education K-12 & beyond. Television, movies & technology have replaced the Sunday sermon as the principal vehicles of moral challenge & progress. Historical context is routinely excluded. Cancel culture has become the cat's meow, so to speak. Frames of reference involving the daily behavior of human beings center on the internet & whimsical (Facebook & Twitter) postings often having their origin in evil intent." Lee Hulm, Norfolk Daily News, 7/22/21

TURBINES

"Birds colliding with turbine blades is one of the main negative effects of onshore wind farms. But a nine-year study at a wind farm in Smola, Norway, has found that bird strikes can be cut by more than 70% simply by painting one blade of a wind turbine black. Scientists believe this reduces what they call motion smear, allowing birds to see the three rotating blades. Trondheim-baed researcher Roel May says further tests at other wind farms are needed to confirm the findings." Reader's Digest, May 2021

WHY I BLOG

I started blogging as one way of self-therapy for my clinical depression & anxiety. I've continued. Even though I hope my posts amuse & inform & advocate, mostly I blog for me. Just sayin'. 

TRENDING

"Bride dislocates knee during first dance with groom." Drudge Report

"Planned Parenthood relieved after learning Biden's 'They're killing people' statement was just referring to Facebook." Babylon Bee

COVID

"Positive man disguises self as wife in order to fly." Drudge

NFL

"NFL will include 'Black National Anthem' during pregame ceremonies." Drudge

G.O.M.E.R. *

* Grumpy Old Men & Their Elucidating Rants

"U.S. life expectancy fell by 1.5 years in 2020, the largest single-year drop since World War II, according to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Wednesday. The average life expectancy for Americans in 2020 was 77.3 years, a level not seen since 2003. “I myself had never seen a change this big except in the history books,” Elizabeth Arias, a demographer at the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, told reporters. Arias is a lead author of the new life expectancy report. The main causes of death for Americans are heart disease and cancer, however the decline in life expectancy was driven primarily by the coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19 contributed to 385,201 American deaths in 2020, according to the CDC." Zachary Evans, National Review Online

LANGUAGE

"Have you noticed how our language is changing? At a congressional hearing on "Birthing While Black," nearly every politician used the words "birthing people" instead of "women" or "mothers." Asked why, Shalanda Young, President Joe Biden's budget director, said, "Our language needs to be more inclusive." John Stossel, Townhall

FREE SPEECH

"This week, President Joe Biden was asked whether he had any message for social media amidst a dramatic rise in the number of diagnosed COVID-19 cases thanks to the delta variant. Biden immediately responded that companies like Facebook were responsible for murder: "They're killing people -- I mean, they're really, look, the only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated. And they're killing people." Meanwhile, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said that Facebook had not stopped misinformation thoroughly enough on its platform, calling misinformation a "serious threat to public health."

"None of this is accurate. Facebook is, first of all, a platform; it is not a publication with the same responsibilities of editorial oversight as a publisher. To treat Facebook as such would be to transform its purpose. Furthermore, on a purely factual level, it is simply untrue that Facebook users are disproportionately likely to avoid vaccination -- in fact, according to Facebook's statistics, vaccine acceptance in the United States among their users now stands between 80% and 85%, and 3.3 million Americans have used their vaccine finder tool to seek a location for a vaccine.

"So, what's driving the Biden administration's finger pointing? Its broader agenda to utilize the massive market dominance of the social media platforms to squeeze alternative media sources out of existence. Before the rise of social media, most Americans who used the internet for news bookmarked a variety of pages and then visited them individually. Over time, as social media grew and as people began to access stories they liked through an algorithmically controlled newsfeed, Americans used social media for news. This centralized the mechanism for information dissemination.

"Now, the left sees an opportunity: If all the news is accessed in one place, by restricting access in that place, the news monopoly once held by legacy media can be reestablished. All that will be required is labeling everyone they don't like "misinformation." Ben Shapiro, Townhall

Caution! This post contains material that may not be suitable for younger readers!

KUDOS

We spent last week at David & Carmen's chalet on Little Island Lake, near Park Rapids, MN. David, Lois' brother, & I fished a lot. Fishing was mediocre at best. Well, this morning David texted me with a picture of a 4 lb+ walleye that he caught yesterday. This lake isn't even supposed to have any walleye in it! Yes, I'll admit to being a little jealous, but I'm still happy for him.

COVID

"1 of 5 believe microchips inside vaccines!" Drudge Report

"Australia man ties bedsheets together to escape 4th floor hotel quarantine." Drudge

"Designer creates wedding dress made entirely from dumped face-masks." Drudge

TRENDING

"GALLUP:  2020 set records for negative emotions." Drudge

GREAT JOBS *

* Courtesy of the Babylon Bee

"Here's a list of 10 great jobs you can get with that $100,000 college degree."

* Garbage man's assistant

* The guy who touches the wire for the electrician to see if it's still live

* Amazon warehouse pee bottle cleaner

* Biden's unofficial feed chewer

REMEMBER THE ALAMO!

"By all means, let’s be as truthful as possible about the Alamo and the Texas Revolution. But it’s pointlessly destructive to tear down what deserves to be honored and to forget what — as Sam Houston insisted so ringingly and aptly — should be remembered." Rich Lowry, National Review Online  We were at the Alamo in January.

NATIONAL ANTHEM

"So why stop at a “black national anthem”? I don’t think one exists, at least not yet (though you can be sure some left-wing activist group is scrambling to come up with one), but why not a Hispanic national anthem before games too? There are a lot of Hispanic players in the league, why don’t they count? Now there’s an openly gay player, we need a gay national anthem too. There are a lot of tall guys out there, they need an anthem, as do the short people because if tall people are getting one…" Derek Hunter, Townhall

MORAL DECLINE

"No issue -- with the possible exceptions of defunding police departments as murders increase and biological men competing in women's sports -- better reveals the moral and rational decline of an individual or institution. If anyone you care about defends a person's right to display their penis in front of a group of girls and women, my heart goes out to you. It is very painful to lose respect for a loved one.

"Within the lifetime of even the youngest person reading this column, exposing the male organ to strangers, especially women and girls, was considered sick and criminal. Men who did it were arrested and charged with indecent exposure, and rightly so. In the span of a few years, thanks to the schools people still send their children to, and thanks to the media people still watch, listen to and read, exposing one's penis is to be considered wholesome and not only legal but a fundamental civil right." Dennis Prager, Townhall

PIZZA

"For the second time in two years, customers prefer Domino’s Pizza as their favorite pizza over Papa John’s. The pizza delivery business is certainly getting more competitive post-lockdowns, but this result marks a real reversal of fortune for the company I founded from the broom closet of my dad’s tavern in 1984. Recently, the 2020-2021 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI)for the restaurant industry was released and showed that Domino’s Pizza beat Papa John’s in customer satisfaction for the second year in a row. Papa John’s also received its lowest score since 2009, which was under the leadership of then-CEO, Nigel Travis." John Snatter

MELTDOWN

"The art of the 'good' meltdown:

> Accept it.

> Know what you need.

> Model a good meltdown. No kicking the dog, punching the wall, or full-blown meltdowns in front of children--it can frighten them. But showing others, especially kids, that you can express painful emotions in a way that doesn't negatively affect others can be an important lesson.

> Try an 'alternative rebellion.'

> Calm yourself explore the meaning of your meltdown, & move on." Reader's Digest, April 2021

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

It's my little brother Mark's birthday today. Happy Birthday, Mark! One of my favorite memories is playing tennis with him in 90-degree weather--so hot that the asphalt on the tennis court was getting soggy. When we got home, his face was beet red, & I would get yelled at.

A PRAYER

I came across this prayer during my daily quiet time this morning. It seems apt, considering the state of our country.

"Behold in mercy al who are in authority over us. Supply them with Your blessing that they may be inclined to Your will & walk according to Your commandments." Lutheran Service Book

BADMINTON

"493 km/hour. That's ow fast a badminton birdie (shuttlecock) travels, making it the fastest moving object in sports. Badminton became an official Olympic sport in 1992." Parade Magazine, 7/11/21  My brother, sister, & I used to play endless games of badminton across the fence bordering our backyard with our neighbor, Selma Lange.

COVID

"LA county sheriff will not enforce new mask mandate." Drudge Report

TRENDING

"Far more adults don't want children than previously thought." Drudge

"Scientists warn that within 6 months humanity will run out of things to call racist." Babylon Bee

RULES

"Rules for being the age you are . . . Tone down the cynicism. At some point in life, we get the idea that believing in things--art, politics--makes you a sucker & that 'being real' means accepting how rotten to the core everything is. True, there is a lot of rottenness in the world. But cynicism is radically incomplete. In fact, human beings are often splendid, the world is often glorious, & nature, red in tooth & claw, also invented kindness, charity, & love. Believe in that." Reader's Digest, March 2021

HERE'S TO YOUR HEALTH

"Lower risks from diabetes. Science has long suggested that saunas & hot tubs help improve blood sugar & body far percentage, but unless you've got an in-home spa, those things can be hard to come by on a regular basis. A study presented at the 2020 annual meeting of the European association for the Study of Diabetes found that subjects with type 2 diabetes who spent anywhere from 2-30 minutes in the bath four times per week showed decreased body weight, body mass index (BMI), waste circumference, diastolic blood pressure, & glycated hemoglobin. All that from a good old-fashioned soak in a warm tub! Ditto

GROCERY LINES

"Dan Meyer, chief academic officer at math software company Desmos, estimates that in a standard checkout line each item takes 3 seconds to scan & the rest of the transaction (niceties, paying, etc.) takes 41 seconds. So one overloaded person with 100 items will take less than 6 minutes to be rung up, while four 4 people with 20 items each will take around 7. In other words, you're better off behind the 1 customer with the overflowing cart than behind a line of less encumbered express shoppers." Reader's Digest, April 2021

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* Courtesy of Reader's Digest, April 2021

> I'm afraid of being murdered only because they would record my stomach contents.

> Fries should be offered more often, like, Yes, your mortgage was approved. Would you like fries with that?

> Saw some idiot at the gym put a water bottle in the Pringles holder on the treadmill.

> Doctor's orders say 30 crunches a day . . . That's an awful lot of chocolate, but I guess I can give it a shot.

GOD'S SPECIAL REMEDY

"Although man can gain momentary happiness on the mental, emotional or physical planes of life, he will never attain lasting happiness as long as the God-void in his spiritual nature is unfulfilled. He will never know abiding joy or have power to control those weaker parts of his nature. Jesus Christ is God's special remedy to fill the God-void in very human being." Tim LaHaye, Men's Devotional Bible

IN THE IMAGE OF GOD

"Holy Scripture describes the creation of human beings as male & female in the context of saying we are made in the image of God. The sexed nature of our bodies is not oppressive. It is marvelous because God reveals the self-giving nature of His love even in our bodies. The whole Bible portrays the bond of marriage between a man & a woman as a representation of the relationship between God & Israel or Christ & the church. When a man & woman give themselves wholly to the other & joyously receive their mate, it is a living picture of who God is. Anything the devil can do to distort that reflection, he will do. The meaning of sex & sexual ethics, thus, are not secondary aspects of the church's message & mission but point concretely to Christ & His bride."  Rev. Scott Stiegemeyer, The Lutheran Witness, Jan. 2021

TODAY'S HYMN OF TRUST 

What Is the World to Me, LW #418

What is the world to me With all its vaunted pleasure When You & You alone, Lord Jesus, are my treasure! You only, dearest Lord, My soul's delight shall be; You are my peace, my rest. What is the world to me!

The world seeks to be praised And honored by the mighty Yet never once reflects That they are frail & flighty. But what I truly prize Above all things is He, My Jesus, He alone. What is the world to me!

What is the world to me! My Jesus is my treasure, My life, my health, my wealth, My friend, my love, my pleasure, My joy, my crown, my all, My bliss eternally. Once more, then, I declare:  What is the world to me!

ROAD TRIP REDUX

Yesterday we got back from our most recent road trip after spending a week at David & Carmen's chalet on Little Island Lake south of Nevis, MN. Highlights include:

> Beautiful weather. We didn't get rained out once.

> Food, fellowship, & fun with friends & family.

> The serene, natural, relaxing setting.

> Fishing follies. Even though the last 3 days were a piscatorial nightmare, I finished on top of the leader board with 15 fish--a CPF [cost per fish] of $2.93.

> A trip to Lake Itasca State Park, which included a boat excursion on Lake Itasca, the source of the Mighty Mississippi, a hike along the Schoolcraft Trail, culminating at Hill Point & a view of Schoolcraft Island, & a lite lunch at the Headwaters Cafe.

> Wildlife. We saw deer, wild turkeys, bald eagles, common loons, beavers, & ospreys. Sadly, we failed to see any black bears.

> Trips around Little Island Lake on David & Carmen's pontoon boat.

> Delicious meals at the Catholic Church, while enduring the world famous Hackensack Flea Market, & gourmet fare at Necce's Italian Restaurant in downtown Park Rapids, because, food.

> No mosquito bites or tick attacks.

> David's expert grilling of pork chops, chicken, hamburgers, & brats. We also feasted on sweet corn, & I enjoyed sipping Not Your Father's Root Beer, Long Island Ice Tea, & Rumchata.

We're ready to go back again next summer.

WHAT I'M READING

I recently finished "The Accidental President:  Harry S. Truman & the Four Months That Changed the World." Now I'm reading 3 books concurrently, including "Founding Myths:  Stories That Hide Our Patriotic Past;" [Did you know that fighting continued for a year after Yorktown?] "The Gulag Archipelago," by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn; & "Stalin's War:  A New History of World War II." These last 2 books should be required reading for Bernie Sanders & anybody else who ignorantly upholds Socialism.

MAN'S BEST FRIEND

"STUDY:  Dogs 'just get' humans in ways other animals simply can't . . . " Drudge Report

OUR FEARLESS LEADER

"10 Things That Are Worse Than The Civil War According To Joe Biden." Babylon Bee

* The Jan. 6 attack on the capitol, where millions died. Literally, just as bad as Antietam.

* Matlock getting canceled.

* The New York Post reporting on his son's laptop. Pickett's Charge has nothing on this national tragedy.

CRT

"Bad news:  Teachers are teaching CRT. Good news:  They're teaching it about as well as they teach math." Babylon Bee

THE WIT & WISDOM OF BEN SHAPIRO

"Last week, heretofore nearly anonymous hammer thrower Gwen Berry made international headlines when, during the podium ceremony for winning bronze in an Olympic trial, she turned away from the U.S. flag as the national anthem played . . . Berry turned 90 degrees from the flag, stood with her hand on her hip, & glared directly into the camera. It was a deliberate provocation & a deliberate attempt to raise her own profile. 'I feel like it was a setup,' she later complained. 'They did it on purpose.'

"Actually, Berry just saw an opportunity maximum her profile, & she seized it with alacrity. In the U.S., there's far more money to be made & fame to be achieved by spurning the American flag & the national anthem than by embracing it:  Colin Kaepernick makes millions because he failed as a quarterback bu succeeded as a self-aggrandizing symbol of supported racial bravery. Meanwhile, the thousands of athletes with track records superior to either Kaepernick's or Berry's who stand for the national anthem remain anonymous.

"That's because American currently rewards an entitled sense of grievance. Most Americans know little about foreign countries; they somehow believe that the U.S. is inferior, or that the prosperity, health & free lifestyle to which they have become accustomed is the global & historic norm. It most assuredly is not.' [emphasis added] Norfolk Daily News, 7/9

FINALLY AT LONG LAST

One of my 2021 New Year's resolutions was to get a DNA history from Ancestry.com. [And, yes, I know this site is managed by the Mormons.] It was one of my unfulfilled resolutions from 2020, too. In January I sent my sample in, but I never heard anything back, despite repeated efforts to obtain them. I decided to try one more time today. I went to the website & submitted my request, but my password was rejected, so I asked to reset my password. This time I was successful. Here are my results:

> 52% Germanic Europe

> 35% England & Northwest Europe

> 8% Sweden

> 3% Norway

> 2% Other regions

Am I surprised? Yes & no. The Leckbands originated in Northwest Germany in the area of Schleswig-Holstein. Over many years this territory swung back & forth between Denmark & Germany. I think that would explain "Northwest Europe." I'm not sure about England. Also not sure about "Sweden" & "Norway."

My maternal grandmother once told me that our family tree from the Handel side of the family included ancestors from Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, & Russia. I think this would explain the "Germanic Europe" results.

She also told me that we might have a little Jewish ancestry, but this is not borne out from these results.