tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79967467974227142252024-03-18T12:20:53.549+01:00Letters From Ripley"Ripley Lucilio suo salutem"Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.comBlogger3857125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-8730191510673192242024-03-16T10:32:00.001+01:002024-03-16T10:32:16.798+01:00You Do The Math<p> 300,000 refugees were flown into the US...into 43 cities (left unnamed at this point) by Homeland Security. </p><p>That means each city got 6,976 'new' resident, and potentially in four years....would be citizens and voting. 7,000 potential votes....out of thin air.</p><p>The Haitian crowd (with or without cannibals)? I could potentially see in Florida....around 100,000 new residents, and in four years....they would be 100k potential votes.</p><p>Just a crazy time to view reality.</p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-32212413860783382202024-03-16T07:20:00.000+01:002024-03-16T07:20:03.410+01:00Skepticism<p>I saw this commentary the other day and it stuck with me: </p><p>"I used to believe what I saw on the evening news.</p><p>I used to get fighting mad when people said 9/11 was an inside job.</p><p>I used to think Bush was a good president.</p><p>I used to think our elections mattered.</p><p>I used to believe what "science" said.</p><p>I used to think we actually went to the moon in that stupid aluminum foil bucket.</p><p>I used to think people that were anti-vax were just crazy.</p><p>I used to think chemtrails were just a stupid conspiracy theory.</p><p>I used to think our dollar had value.</p><p>I used to think Israel was our "biggest ally."</p><p>I used to think the wars we fought were righteous, instead of being fought over lies so the military industrial complex can prosper while our best men died.</p><p>The point is, I used to think a lot of things that I don't think anymore....it's OK to admit it when you're wrong."</p><p>-- Mindy Robinson</p><p>Yeah, it's stuck with me....I'm more of skeptic today than at any point in my life. </p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-52877502040210234852024-03-14T18:58:00.001+01:002024-03-14T18:58:10.570+01:00TikTok Chatter<p> I sat looking over all this DC hype about forcing China to sell the US their US piece to TikTok.</p><p>After a while, it hit me....whoever buys (even Elon or some goofy billionaire) will face another problem within six months.</p><p>What about CCP-owned Lemon8, CapCut, Temu, and Shein? Will they have to be bought as well?</p><p>And who is pricing any of this? If the CCP says TikTok (US) is worth 44-billion....will some idiot left-wing American idiot pay that? What about Temu or CapCut? 44-billion combined? </p><p>It's all a bit crazy if you ask me.</p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-64032301258831121982024-03-14T15:44:00.002+01:002024-03-14T15:44:53.387+01:00The Thing About Don Lemon<p> I'm just not a fan of CNN (or former ex-company CNN) journalist Don Lemon.</p><p>On interview skills? I can think of forty journalists (even Katie Couric) who are better at Q-and-A.</p><p>On debate skills? One-to-ten....he's marginally a '2'.</p><p>Why CNN sticks to him? I think he's moderately priced on salary. </p><p>I get the impression that even among blacks....he's just not ranked up there.</p><p>Intellectual? No.</p><p>Starting his own podcast gimmick? No.....he's not like Tucker Carlson or the normal folks you'd see.</p><p>But here's the thing...Don has no plan 'B' or exit strategy. He has no real back-up job to CNN. No one else cares that much to hire Don (not even ABC). </p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-30869766197116601452024-03-14T10:08:00.000+01:002024-03-14T10:08:10.357+01:00Reality<p> If you own a $250,000 home.....you probably discovered here in 2024....your homeowners policy went up 23-percent (Bankrate quote).</p><p>If you live in Florida, along the coast....you probably noticed your 2024 rate went up by 50-percent or more.</p><p>So, I'm going to make the following prediction.</p><p>By 2027, realizing President Biden wins...at least 200,000 people a year will be forced to hand the keys to their house over to the mortgage company because they can't afford homeowner's insurance.</p><p>By 2028, a national emergency will be underway as banks and mortgage companies are holding more than 300,000 homes and 800,000 condo apartments. No one can afford the purchase price (because of the prime-rate) or the insurance cost. </p><p>The government at this point is talking about passing special tax-free status for home-insurance companies....where they pay zero taxes.</p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-86822637550537439512024-03-13T08:17:00.003+01:002024-03-13T08:17:52.441+01:002024 and 1929?<p> This came up in a discussion I viewed (another podcast)....talking over differences economically today, and 1929.</p><p>1929....you drunk water from the tap...either coming from the city or your pump on the property. Today? You buy around $100 of bottled water for the family per month.</p><p>Today, you eat out with the family around ten times a month. Back in 1929....you at mostly at home.</p><p>1929, you probably owned a car but had zero insurance. Today? You pay around $300 minimum insurance on the car.</p><p>1929, you had no cable TV. Today? You pay $150 for cable.</p><p>Today, you have a couple of I-Phones for you and the kids, for $300 a month. 1929, phone service was just starting to get into the system in rural areas.</p><p>1929....a movie ticket was 35-cents. 2024? Anywhere from $9 to $20.</p><p>1929....a cup of coffee ran around 5-cents. 2024? You'd pay near $4 for the mega-cup at some name-brand coffee shop.</p><p>For 1929, it wasn't that big of a fall for the recession. For 2024? It's a massive fall if the same type of recession were to occur.</p><p><br /></p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-16346816223865966342024-03-12T19:09:00.001+01:002024-03-12T19:09:12.551+01:00I Had An Idea On ID/Voting<p> If it makes perfect sense to have voting without an ID....why can't we have announcements to run for Governor, Senator, and President....without showing an ID?</p><p>You know...just show up to the county office without an ID, and get my name onto the county commissioner ballot? </p><p>Now, I admit....I might not use my real name....maybe something like 'Hocus Pocus', and you accept my $200 registration fee....without demanding any legit ID.</p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-24551507618745671142024-03-12T11:45:00.000+01:002024-03-12T11:45:28.436+01:00Seven Observations<p> 1. Maybe just my gut feeling....but it seems like one-third of all customer service people...are literally 7th-grade mentality. </p><p>2. If your state has deemed kids to have mentality and intellect to make their decisions by age 13....open a suitcase for them, and carry them to the county social office....leaving them there for 'handling'. The kid will eventually figure out things.</p><p>3. All this cannibal-gangs chatter in Haiti....just where did this come up before? If the White House agrees to bring Haitians up to the US and dump them into communities? I just don't see how the public would be agreeable....knowing one or two out of every fifty were cannibals' in nature.</p><p>Also, this would trigger Americans to ask....what's worse....ISIS thugs or cannibals?</p><p>4. Maybe it's a crazy thought, but if Trump walks into the White House in 2025...something in my head suggests that US Army or National Guard presence will be a regular thing, with 10,000 permanently based around the city....to protect against insurrection, or fake-insurrection.</p><p>Just seems like the Democrats have opened up a wild crazy period.</p><p>5. Of the 25-odd million migrants who arrived before this current 'herd'....did they get free hotel rooms and $10,000 debit cards? No. I'm guessing they are peeved to the 9th degree.</p><p>6. Just odd how Covid ended....folks under 70....about a 99-percent survival record. Almost fits a flu-epidemic.</p><p>7. Before the late 1920s....in the farming area I grew up in (Alabama)....they had no electricity. If you try talking about this period of time.....no one much wants to hear about it. </p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-16011778243456466612024-03-12T09:54:00.000+01:002024-03-12T09:54:32.696+01:00Smuggling Story<p> I sat and watched a brief piece from yesterday....FBI 'boss' saying ISIS has a new income gimmick.....helping to smuggle people into Mexico...to cross the US border.</p><p>Pay per person? Unknown. </p><p>Numbers? Mostly unknown.</p><p>How did the FBI figure this out? Oddly, that part of the story wasn't readily told. I thought over how the FBI works. One might imagine FBI duo with nothing much going on, and walking into a refugee center to ask stupid questions. Ten minutes later....'holy smokes' is probably the response, and they file a report.</p><p>'Smuggling-R-Us'? Well....yeah. They figured out some unused freighters exist, and rig up hauling couple hundred....probably charging $5k a trip. Couple million in profit....dock for half-a-day, and return for second run.</p><p>How they would stop this? Unknown. Even if Mexico enforced some control on docking....you could slide into Honduras and dock there to unload the crowd.</p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-86237942571318073442024-03-11T17:02:00.003+01:002024-03-11T17:02:30.930+01:00Census-Chatter<p> In recent days...over the Census chatter, and the idea that illegal immigrants will be counted in the 2030 Census....giving blue states an edge.....I gave this some today to think over.</p><p>So if I were a illegal migrant guy....I'd go up to the Democrats and these twenty-odd states, and I'd lay down three key requirements.</p><p>First, you need to give me a fake-job...paying $60,000 a year.</p><p>Second, you need to rig up some fake-ass mortgage-deal....giving me $20,000 in free cash for a down-payment.</p><p>Third, you need to arrange a car loan with zero-percent interest.</p><p>Failure for the state? Me and the 350,000 other folks will suddenly shift in 2029 to a red-state, and give them the bodies to count.</p><p>Imagine a state like Alabama....going out and talking 1-million migrants into settling in the state, and getting 2 new Representative seats.</p><p>All of this triggering some worries? Oh yeah.....you'd have to pay the migrants something to keep them in NY City.....for five-plus years. Do they really have cash for that?</p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-82743533781568900732024-03-11T15:52:00.000+01:002024-03-11T15:52:54.543+01:00Library Chatter<p> For those who didn't know...in Alabama....there's a battle brewing over state libraries....with ban-some-books being discussed.</p><p>There's a draft state bill....that would move control of libraries....from library 'folks'....over to local politicians. Just the way it's worded....it sounds like a school board situation....but just for library actions.</p><p>I have a different prospective over this.</p><p>If you'd asked around 1977 (when I left the farm)....fewer than 20-percent of folks in the county knew precisely where the county library was located. A year or two later...some funding came up and a regional library started up (outside of the county 'seat'). </p><p>If you asked about the regional library, I'd imagine today that 80-percent of local folks know where it exists, but fewer than a quarter of them have ever used it. As for the country seat library...fewer than 10-percent regularly use it.</p><p>As for this control chatter? There's some opinion that maybe the pro-library people might be pro-p0rn in some odd way, whether true or not. This being some situation where they have a bundle of Playboy/Penthouse magazines around? Well....no. This is more of the case where some books would have fantasy stories relating to Doctor Bud having relations (physical) with Doctor Marvin, and possibly involving Nurse Wendy in some capacity. Yeah, like those cheap $4 sex novels you'd see.</p><p>So the general idea is that protective folks want the library to stay 'pure'....with good wholesome Jack London, Charles Dickens, or Edgar Allen Poe stuff. The library 'bosses' seem to believe that they know better, and sex stuff is desperately wanted by these poor rural folks. </p><p>I used to go over to the Air Force library system a good bit, and there's be a card in each book....to indicate the last sixty-odd times it'd been checked out. Somewhere around the summer of 1983, I'd gone and checked out a Edgar Allen Poe book....it'd been checked out three times since acquired in 1972. I'm not saying there's a lack of business....just that the bulk of whatever the library has in inventory....is probably only read a dozen times over a twenty-year period. Maybe with p0rn....there's more business or check-outs? </p><p>It's just funny how this came up suddenly to be a hot topic, and fierce librarian folks fighting for lusty written material.</p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-28980858042402638202024-03-11T14:48:00.000+01:002024-03-11T14:48:04.931+01:00My Gut Feeling Over Biden's 'Pier' At The Gaza Strip?<p> Thousand guys assigned to assemble this....probably takes less than 20 days to accomplish.</p><p>I'd go ahead and pre-order at least 100 'Purple-Heart' medals for anticipated attacks.</p><p>As for people needing to stand there and keep it operational? You can anticipate them being attacked sooner or later, and the structure itself being destroyed or damaged somewhere in the next 365 days.</p><p>As for who pays for the cargo to come ashore? Well...the EU and the US are probably going to pay something in the range of $40-million a week to keep this Cyprus-to-Gaza route open and operating. </p><p>Just asking for trouble? Yeah, but someone behind Biden (on the staff) sees this as a plus-up regionally...even if it comes under attack. </p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-57304873368358138162024-03-11T11:33:00.003+01:002024-03-11T11:33:35.657+01:00My Thinking Over TikTok<p> For a brief time in 2020 (Covid era), I got onto the App, and probably wasted about forty hours viewing 'crap'.</p><p>Majority of stuff I saw was low-class personal production of stuff made by high-school kids and university students....occasionally adults trying to be funny with marginal effect.</p><p>Probably one out of forty videos I viewed were somewhat dangerous.</p><p>Back on the farm (mid-1970s)....in the community, we had two brothers (the Barr boys) who were notorious for doing crazy stuff. They had a old pick-up which they would start at one end of the field....then with it still progressing at 10 mph....they'd climb out of the cab to reach the tail-gate and then jump back in before the truck reached the end of the field (10-ft deep ditch existed there). They did it strictly for the thrill. Had they existed today? I think they would have recorded this at least a hundred times, and invented crazier stunts.</p><p>Some folks have posted videos from TikTok onto Twitter....where Gen-Z folks (college kids and up to age 25)....where they are crying and awful disturbed about the unfair life they've been dealt.....how their salary of $45,000 isn't covering their cost of living, or how their 50-year old boss seems demented/crazy. It disturbs me watching these....mostly because the participants don't seem ready for the big world and harsh reality.</p><p>I see TikTok as having marginal value. But to ban it? Kids would just use VPN services to get around the ban.</p><p>It's just funny....in a way....we are evolving in the opposite direction. Being stupid....is enticing. </p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-29389714430663205382024-03-11T10:52:00.005+01:002024-03-11T10:53:09.766+01:00About Politics<p> Just a little history over the Republican Party....originally created in 1824. They wer nicknamed in this era....'<span style="white-space: normal;">Adams-Clay Republicans', '</span>Adams's Men', and 'Anti-Jacksonians'. </p><p>Leadership originally? John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay.</p><p>How long they lasted? Well....ten years (they dissolved in 1834).</p><p>I should note here that the leading national conservative party was the Whig Party. Both Adams and Clay felt they were 'losers'.</p><p>We go through a period in the 1830s where the Whig Party has problems, and are trying to get a wild group up.....themselves, the National Republican Party folks, disenchanted Democrats, and a group bound and determined to anti-Masonic folks (one-issue party and feeling Masons were cult-like).</p><p>This lead to a 20-year period of marginal success in elections.</p><p>Then in the mid-1850s....along came a revolution in politics....where disenchanted members went off to create what was called the 'American Party'.</p><p>I should note in this short era....they also came to be called the 'Know Nothing movement' and "Native American Party." </p><p>1860 election....they finally evolved into the Republican Party.</p><p>Yeah, to some degree....there were periods where they were fake Republicans, fake Whigs, fake Know Nothings, and fake anti-Masonic folks. There is always such a trend going on. </p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-61127853592195448042024-03-11T10:31:00.000+01:002024-03-11T10:31:01.625+01:00Movie Review<p> This past weekend....I attempted to watch Netflix's Spaceman. Chief actor? Adam Sandler </p><p>Basic story? Astronaut Jakub (Czech guy) is sent off on a space mission by himself....in a crappy ship. This guy originally applied to NASA and was turned down twice. He's now working for some private company. Six-month mission.....with Jakub's wife about to dump him.</p><p>So...somehow....Jakub finds this creature in his vessel, which he deems friendly, and names Hanus. Hanus appears to be intelligent....and mostly resembles a six-foot spider. Hanus talks a lot....trying to understand why Jakub has screwed up.</p><p>Movie is mostly about some relationship between the Czech guy....in a crappy ship....with Hanus.</p><p>On my index (1-to-10)....movies worth watching? I give it a '2'. Maybe as a book....it works. Trying to find any humor in it (this being Sandler)? NO. </p><p>I have to admit it....with Netflix....it's hit-and-miss 50-percent of the time. </p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-16234381511693509682024-03-10T13:09:00.004+01:002024-03-10T18:01:47.827+01:00What If Biden, Trump and RFK Jr Were Dumped?<p> If you went up to most Americans and said....you'd don't need a Jesus-like character for President....you just need a downsizing of the federal government (massive budget cut) and some executive-like guy to fill the role for eight years.</p><p>Who?</p><p>Well....I'd dump all 100 Senators. </p><p>I'd dump the 50 governors.</p><p>You can't have Elon (he's got better things to do).</p><p>You can't have any technology geek, because they lack common sense.</p><p>Vivek? Well....yeah, that's about the only guy capable of filling the role.</p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-73313041863600702622024-03-10T12:40:00.000+01:002024-03-10T12:40:02.072+01:00Just Thinking<p> I sat and watched a ten-minute interview with Yuval Noah Harari....one of those PhD types who spends time thinking about what we teach kids today and whether it has any value in the future. </p><p>So he got onto this one topic.....today (2024)....we have NO idea what to teach young people that will still be relevant in twenty years. </p><p>The art of typing? Yeah, I would imagine voice recognition will be replacing typing by 2035.</p><p>Most math skills? Replaced by AI within twenty years.</p><p>Driving a car skill? I'd easily say by 2040....more than half the nation will not have a need to drive themselves.</p><p>The art of brewing beer? I would imagine by 2050....in America...fewer than 500 folks will have the skill to do it.</p><p>Bartending? Why? AI will arrive via a machine....ready to make 1,000 mixed drinks. Just some kid name 'Woody' to reload the cannisters in the basement will be needed.</p><p>Car repair? Some AI system named 'Barney' will be set up in a garage, with two half-wit guys to drive the cars into place and hook up the system.</p><p>Piggly-Wiggly clerk ladies? All replaced by 2050.....AI.</p><p>My question....more than half the US population probably won't need to get educated beyond the 7th grade. Their jobs? Curious question and no answer.</p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-66772896730872851152024-03-10T09:44:00.003+01:002024-03-10T09:44:36.593+01:00Three Thoughts<p> 1. Some folks went out and did the audience numbers for the State of the Union address.</p><p>Folks, 18 to 34? 5-percent watched the address.</p><p>Folks, 35 to 54? 19-percent watched the address.</p><p>Folks, 55 and over? 75-percent watched the address.</p><p>Only 8-million Americans down from age 54....watched it. </p><p>2. Tomorrow night (Monday) is Oscar night.</p><p>The last time I watched a Oscar show? 1983. </p><p>I sat and thought about it. Back in my early Air Force years, with a 50-cent ticket....I'd probably go six to ten times a month to a movie. Since 2000? I probably go one to two times a year to some movie.</p><p>To be honest, I would probably rate most movies produced these days as 'crap', and feel stupid having paid $10 for a ticket and another $8 for a popcorn/soda.</p><p>The last time at a theater and feeling 'value' for a great movie? 2011....with the movie 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo'. </p><p>My point on this topic....it's just a lot of crappy movie being made today, which aren't worth wasting 2 hours in viewing.</p><p>3. L A county has said officially (Sat evening)....that the primary counting business is NOT over for them....they still have around 305,000 ballots to count. </p><p>Most estimate they won't officially conclude things until Tuesday evening (at best). </p><p>Just makes no sense. </p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-6212709566685892642024-03-09T12:19:00.000+01:002024-03-09T12:19:42.662+01:00The Thing About Britt's Kitchen<p> I had a chance this week to observe the kitchen of Senator Britt (at the family home in Montgomery)....via a couple of photos taken of the house in 2018 when it was placed on the market.</p><p>The highlight? "48" subzero matching cabinet face refrigerator, custom corian countertops with seamless flow into sink, and a color of taupe for the room".</p><p>It was what they used for her GOP speech after President Biden's SotU talk.</p><p>I'd take a guess....whoever owned it prior to Britt.....probably spent in the neighborhood of $50,000 just for the kitchen alone.</p><p>So my personal Bama comment? Well....to be honest, I've seen a few Bama residences in my life (66 years old). </p><p>I think if you asked around....fewer than .01-percent of folks in the state have something like this kitchen.</p><p>My brother, the engineer, probably would say that he'd view the kitchen as unusable....because it looks like TV studio or store model kitchen (not meant for real cooking/baking). </p><p>I'm not saying it was a bad thing....but the longer I looked at the background....I just kept thinking....what idiot would go out and spend $50,000 just on a kitchen? You could have gone to Biloxi's casino 'front' on 25 weekends. You could have bought a fine fishing cruiser-boat and a new motorcycle for that. You could have spent two months at some Aruba hotel on a 4-star 'binge'. </p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-29799334969947673312024-03-09T11:55:00.000+01:002024-03-09T11:55:11.720+01:00Added Nutritional Element<p> Early Feb, I went and added an odd 'fruit' to my diet....freeze-dried barberries. Shot-glass at breakfast and dinner.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguj7TaIJXmLJteaDzSaa09k1aZf2s2NMHAFvs1Tm66BzuZC9cZzFGbvv9-WeblsU-Vd0wsvFb8nbcBH8EMTvJv3xNbXJdCs8yOx-dhvyXbVJpqvzekDGdpkvMxWh-ykj5HDjtRB9zhJvpaSe51WwOdNqmWwuWkd6AiGoGGW0KjaVU5-GQIYyXUCxJ8hQM/s780/barberry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="780" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguj7TaIJXmLJteaDzSaa09k1aZf2s2NMHAFvs1Tm66BzuZC9cZzFGbvv9-WeblsU-Vd0wsvFb8nbcBH8EMTvJv3xNbXJdCs8yOx-dhvyXbVJpqvzekDGdpkvMxWh-ykj5HDjtRB9zhJvpaSe51WwOdNqmWwuWkd6AiGoGGW0KjaVU5-GQIYyXUCxJ8hQM/s320/barberry.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>So after five weeks, I can say a couple of things:</p><p>- My digestive system slowed down in a major way. After breakfast, I still feel full eight hours later. Snacking has dissolved away. </p><p>- My bowel movement schedule? Well...oddly, it went from 24-to-30 hours....to around 72 hours. I'm not constipated...just processing at a slower rate. </p><p>- Sugar 'lows'? Now, near zero.</p><p>- Weight loss after 5 weeks? I figure around half-a-point a week, without really increasing exercise....just mostly cutting snacks out. Mostly by still feeling 'full'.</p><p>I'm not saying barberries are some miracle element....just that it does affect the digestive system to run in a different manner. </p><p>Bitter taste? Yeah, that is the one odd factor when eating the berries. </p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-82671641721056149062024-03-09T11:25:00.002+01:002024-03-09T11:25:39.941+01:00Wrestling Chatter<p> I hold a strong fascination with fake wrestling. </p><p>One of my favorite routines? A win-or-lose script where the big 'draws' agree....whoever loses the match....has to leave the state (meaning they can only return if they put on a mask and pretend to be someone else).</p><p>It ought to be that way in politics....some big faked-up match, and you can only return if you put on a mask to be pretend to be someone else.</p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-49395620527530721192024-03-09T11:10:00.002+01:002024-03-09T11:10:07.653+01:00Smell Story<p> I saw this image today, and it's been on my mind.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ruoc_RjJvaZXW1gUkUe4dHHX2hZKY6LERCe68w2tBT7Z7K5WhEo9ltSgC5MBmtcpPS1rlb5x7S1Rm97zBSFC0VC89xVLwfnNa64vwl2g_bikQpQjbGR9CP735BpNLpOkppp4FPI2bDIsTwCcNdaGNBUuAxbGIpbnys3fizXE8l8KwrPl9kRDddsBKys/s1354/weed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1354" data-original-width="1179" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ruoc_RjJvaZXW1gUkUe4dHHX2hZKY6LERCe68w2tBT7Z7K5WhEo9ltSgC5MBmtcpPS1rlb5x7S1Rm97zBSFC0VC89xVLwfnNa64vwl2g_bikQpQjbGR9CP735BpNLpOkppp4FPI2bDIsTwCcNdaGNBUuAxbGIpbnys3fizXE8l8KwrPl9kRDddsBKys/w385-h442/weed.jpg" width="385" /></a></div><p></p><p>First, what do they mean by 'strong odor'? </p><p>Second, personally, I can think of forty-odd after-shave smells/scents....that I can't stand (you know....old-lady type perfumes, or that stupid Old Spice smell).</p><p>Then I'm wondering....who is the judge of this?</p><p>I used to work with a contractor associate who had gas problems....especially in the 20 foot by 20 foot office that we worked in. I'd actually have to get up and leave for 10 minutes when his 'attack' occurred. Would a guy like that....be allowed to stay as a 'guest'?</p><p>Finally, I'm wondering with generally homeless folks....who only bathe once a month.....if they might be included in this seating arrangement. <br /></p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-25385568371466856862024-03-09T10:41:00.002+01:002024-03-09T10:41:29.383+01:00My 'Irish Spring' Essay<p> When I went off to basic training (August 1977)....I ended up buying a bar of Irish Spring at the BX, and got 'stuck' on the scent. For about 35 years, I was addicted to the I-S 'smell'. </p><p>One day, after retirement.....my wife (German in nature) had some stock-holder meeting that we could attend. That means food, Champaign, and 4 hours in a overly-heated arena.</p><p>I started to sweat a fair amount and the aroma of Irish Spring got into the air. Yeah, I may have overly used the Irish Spring that morning.</p><p>Around the third hour....she attempted to move us back two rows....thinking the smell came from the couple in front of us. About 10 minutes later....she started to sniff on me....now realizing this smell was the after-affects of Irish Spring mixed with sweat from the hot arena.</p><p>To put it mildly, I was lectured on the whole return trip home....how I would have stop using Irish Spring. </p><p>It's been a tough six years since then....with only one or two sneak-purchases on my part to get Irish Spring. What I've learned...to simply buy the liquid stuff, and refill some other non-Irish Spring container with the real Irish Spring. </p><p>So far....it's worked. But I'm having to be careful not to sit in hot places and sweat openly. </p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-23194668282555401172024-03-09T10:05:00.000+01:002024-03-09T10:05:23.835+01:00'Gifted Downnfall' Essay<p> After I retired from the Air Force, I did contractor work. I worked in an office with one logistics lady. She was married to an Air Force NCO, and had two daughters.</p><p>Prior to Ramstein, she'd been in Guam. As the older daughter entered the 5th grade, the mother went 'turbo' and pushed to an extreme on education. She spent at least ten hours a week with the kid on advanced stuff. </p><p>At the end of the 5th grade, the school staff did some testing and finally came to the conclusion....the kid was way too smart for the 6th grade....so they advanced her to the 7th grade. The kid was a A-plus student for the next couple of years.</p><p>At the end of the 8th grade...dad got a new assignment....going to Ramstein. The kid arrived and did great in the 9th and 10th grade. The school went and put on some special program. 11th grade? That was a breeze.</p><p>So there scholarship interest going on. The kid has every single block filled-in. </p><p>Georgetown University has a 1-year scholarship deal offered up in the 12th grade. </p><p>But there is an interesting change of pace in the 12th grade. Early on....the kid takes to partying, and quietly boozing up. It would appear that the teachers are on some agenda to ensure her grades don't slip.</p><p>The university scholarship is finalized. Mom takes the kid off to Georgetown and gets her plugged into a dorm room. Life for about a week....is about to peak.</p><p>The kid takes to partying and boozing. At Christmas break....the kid has two failed classes....two marginal-passing classes, and only class with decent grades. There's a warning note from the college....if something doesn't happen....the scholarship deal ends in June.</p><p>Well...2nd semester goes with four marginal-passing classes and one decent grade class. Scholarship ends.</p><p>Mom goes and picks up the kid. They return to dad's new base area.....where the family has a nice middle-class home with a fairly large basement 'bedroom'. The kid designates that as her room.</p><p>I got an email about 90 days after this 'return' from my former co-worker. The kid had adjusted to the failure, and simply was 'camping-out' in her room after breakfast....watching TV all day, and barely being seen. </p><p>About 9 months passed after that email. The next one came. The daughter was mentioned.....they had convinced her to get therapy, and the therapist had convinced her to get a part-time job....at some coffee shop. </p><p>Six months would pass, and I'd get one final update email....the daughter had agreed to take one class per semester at the local community college. She still spent the bulk of each day hidden. </p><p>It's been around 18 years since that email. About once a year, this will pop up in my mind. I would imagine now.....the daughter being mid-30s. She's probably still living in dad's house, and working at the coffee-shop. </p><p>The younger sister (by 4 years)? The 'ungifted' kid (a comment that mom will utter in the office on occasion)? I would imagine she went on to a normal college and graduated around 2013. </p><p>Life is not a paved road, or designed to be easy. Sometimes....you just need to focus and keep yourself in some form of moderation. </p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996746797422714225.post-37579918292731207302024-03-08T09:46:00.000+01:002024-03-08T09:46:03.239+01:00'Fair Share' Chatter?<p>At least ten times a month, I hear the impression of 'fair share' uttered. Prior to the 1990s....I just don't remember it. I don't remember it on the farm....I don't remember it in boot-camp....I don't remember it while running a 1.5-mile track in 95-degree heat.</p><p>Somewhere in the 1990....it started to come up. </p><p>In the 2008-to-2016 era? I probably heard it on CNN or NPR at least twelve times a week.</p><p>Here's the thing....it's not definable. You can't show where it really works in life.</p><p>Presently, I'm of the mind that we need reverse-fair-share....meaning you need to cut your budget, before I accept some fair share 'BS'.</p><p>Fair share chatter not working on me anymore? Yeah, it's come down to the point where the expression is some quote you'd hear from a 8-year old kid. </p>Schnitzel_Republichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07661743281187855265noreply@blogger.com2