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Jay wrote: "
Ruth Bader Ginsburg in hospital for treatment on gallbladder
Dear RBG,
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, even if you have to drink pickling spiced tea, hang in there until the next president takes offi..."
Yeah, that's pretty much it. And I bet she's thinking the same thing.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg in hospital for treatment on gallbladder
Dear RBG,
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, even if you have to drink pickling spiced tea, hang in there until the next president takes offi..."
Yeah, that's pretty much it. And I bet she's thinking the same thing.
Critics alarmed by US nuclear agency's bid to relax rules on radioactive waste
Nuclear Regulatory Commission keen to allow material to be disposed of by ‘land burial’ – with potentially damaging effects. ...“If you dump radioactive waste in places that aren’t designed to deal with it, it comes back to haunt you. It’s in the air you breathe, the food that you eat, the water you drink..."
I understand that the Trump administration is keen to cut regulations to save a buck for big business, but there's a huge difference between being partisan and being grossly negligent.
Want a novel Google search? Try:
How many housing developments have been built atop old landfills?
Just out of curiosity, where will your grandchildren and great-grandchildren be playing, and drinking radioactive groundwater????
This move lacks sanity.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission keen to allow material to be disposed of by ‘land burial’ – with potentially damaging effects. ...“If you dump radioactive waste in places that aren’t designed to deal with it, it comes back to haunt you. It’s in the air you breathe, the food that you eat, the water you drink..."
I understand that the Trump administration is keen to cut regulations to save a buck for big business, but there's a huge difference between being partisan and being grossly negligent.
Want a novel Google search? Try:
How many housing developments have been built atop old landfills?
Just out of curiosity, where will your grandchildren and great-grandchildren be playing, and drinking radioactive groundwater????
This move lacks sanity.
Potentially fatal combinations of humidity and heat are emerging across the globe
The study identifies thousands of previously rare or unprecedented bouts of extreme heat and humidity in Asia, Africa, Australia, South America and North America, including in the U.S. Gulf Coast region. Along the Persian Gulf, researchers spotted more than a dozen recent brief outbreaks surpassing the theoretical human survivability limit. The outbreaks have so far been confined to localized areas and lasted just hours, but they are increasing in frequency and intensity, say the authors. The study appears this week in the journal Science Advances.
Damn, damn, damn! It appears that Chinese hoax is out to get us.
Somehow, I don't think we're going to recycle our way out of this one.
The study identifies thousands of previously rare or unprecedented bouts of extreme heat and humidity in Asia, Africa, Australia, South America and North America, including in the U.S. Gulf Coast region. Along the Persian Gulf, researchers spotted more than a dozen recent brief outbreaks surpassing the theoretical human survivability limit. The outbreaks have so far been confined to localized areas and lasted just hours, but they are increasing in frequency and intensity, say the authors. The study appears this week in the journal Science Advances.
Damn, damn, damn! It appears that Chinese hoax is out to get us.
Somehow, I don't think we're going to recycle our way out of this one.
I'm awake. I'm freshly showered. I'm dressed. I've already had one cup of coffee, read the news, and am preparing breakfast.
It's only 7:30 AM!
What in the name of the flying spaghetti monster has this pandemic done to me????
It's only 7:30 AM!
What in the name of the flying spaghetti monster has this pandemic done to me????
Newborn babies among dead in attack on Kabul maternity hospital
Interior and health ministry officials said that mothers, nurses and children were among the dead and wounded.
I thought I'd seen so much over the years that I couldn't be shocked and outraged anymore, but now they're targeting newborns!
Forget calling them terrorists or extremists... It's official, this planet is inhabited by human beings and THEM!
Interior and health ministry officials said that mothers, nurses and children were among the dead and wounded.
I thought I'd seen so much over the years that I couldn't be shocked and outraged anymore, but now they're targeting newborns!
Forget calling them terrorists or extremists... It's official, this planet is inhabited by human beings and THEM!
Labor of Love: the baby-making reality show you won't believe
Sex and the City’s Kristin Davis is back with a bizarre competition series that sees men compete to impregnate a single woman...If the coronavirus has taught us anything, it’s that people will watch any old dating show under quarantine, no matter how staggeringly dumb it is. So with that in mind, Fox’s Labor of Love will probably end up as the biggest hit of the summer.
I would ask how low will FOX stoop, but I think that's already been very well established.
stoop -verb- 1. Lower one's moral standards so far as to do something reprehensible.
2. Fox "News"
Sex and the City’s Kristin Davis is back with a bizarre competition series that sees men compete to impregnate a single woman...If the coronavirus has taught us anything, it’s that people will watch any old dating show under quarantine, no matter how staggeringly dumb it is. So with that in mind, Fox’s Labor of Love will probably end up as the biggest hit of the summer.
I would ask how low will FOX stoop, but I think that's already been very well established.
stoop -verb- 1. Lower one's moral standards so far as to do something reprehensible.
2. Fox "News"
I don't know whether or not this counts as irony, but with all this sheltering in place stuff, I'd forgotten it was Memorial Day.
Joel wrote: "I don't know whether or not this counts as irony, but with all this sheltering in place stuff, I'd forgotten it was Memorial Day."
No kidding, Joel? When was that?
No kidding, Joel? When was that?
My friendly neighborhood used bookstore is finally open, once again. That pretty much sums it up, really.
Joel wrote: "My friendly neighborhood used bookstore is finally open, once again. That pretty much sums it up, really."
I'm justifiably envious, Joel!
I'm justifiably envious, Joel!
New York Times under fire over op-ed urging Trump to 'send in the troops'
The New York Times’ decision to run an op-ed from the Republican senator Tom Cotton titled “Send in the troops” is drawing widespread criticism, including from Times staff.
First, there is no law preventing a US senator from being a moron.
Second, I'm not sure that I buy the hard left argument that an Op-Ed can endanger lives. Indeed, sending in the troops might, but writing about it? Questionable, at best.
Basically, the argument is that running this article puts black NY Times staffers in danger. However, is the danger any greater than running any other controversial story or article? I doubt it. There will always be people who are threatened by truth or an opposing opinion, and some will turn violent. That is an unfortunate part of journalism as a profession.
The NY Times decision to run this Op-Ed was correct, just as it was correct to run the opinions opposing Senator Cotton's outrageous response to the current unrest.
Am I the only one fed up with people on both sides of the aisle trying to filter the news and\or opinion?
The New York Times’ decision to run an op-ed from the Republican senator Tom Cotton titled “Send in the troops” is drawing widespread criticism, including from Times staff.
First, there is no law preventing a US senator from being a moron.
Second, I'm not sure that I buy the hard left argument that an Op-Ed can endanger lives. Indeed, sending in the troops might, but writing about it? Questionable, at best.
Basically, the argument is that running this article puts black NY Times staffers in danger. However, is the danger any greater than running any other controversial story or article? I doubt it. There will always be people who are threatened by truth or an opposing opinion, and some will turn violent. That is an unfortunate part of journalism as a profession.
The NY Times decision to run this Op-Ed was correct, just as it was correct to run the opinions opposing Senator Cotton's outrageous response to the current unrest.
Am I the only one fed up with people on both sides of the aisle trying to filter the news and\or opinion?
A followup to my previous post:
New York Times says senator Tom Cotton's op-ed did not meet editorial standards
The New York Times has issued a mea culpa over the paper’s decision to publish an op-ed by the Republican senator Tom Cotton entitled: “Send in the troops”.
While I applaud the NY Times for reaffirming their editorial standards, especially when they discover inaccuracy (That's the politically correct nomenclature for Senator Cotton's outright lie.), I can't agree that hard right or hard left Op-Eds have no place in the media. Or that they should be pulled when protested.
Let's be honest, our society is a long way from defeating racism. However, the US also has a Nazi party, a Communist party, and a variety of supremacists that can only be reasonably defined as hate groups. We also have a Green Party, PETA members who would rather hit a human being than a deer with their car, a Libertarian Party, and a Legal Marijuana Now Party, etc. We have no limits on ideology, no matter how mainstream or fringe. Nor should we. Nor should we prevent proponents from exercising their First Amendment Rights to publish whatever they choose, even drivel.
Senator Cotton's misguided call for using US troops against the civilian population is indeed asinine. As was Trump's similar proposal. But asking responsible media to censor ideologues or ideologies that we detest is inherently wrong, and citing a worst case scenario 'danger to staff' argument cannot make it right. If we succumb to this easy solution, we'll be left with no responsible media, just right and left wing FOX "News" clones picking and choosing which version of the news the public should see.
America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours."
-Michael Douglas as President Andrew Shepherd
The American President, Warner Bros, 1995
I agree wholeheartedly that racism should be opposed, however a voice, no matter how hateful or moronic, should be opposed with a voice, not with censorship.
New York Times says senator Tom Cotton's op-ed did not meet editorial standards
The New York Times has issued a mea culpa over the paper’s decision to publish an op-ed by the Republican senator Tom Cotton entitled: “Send in the troops”.
While I applaud the NY Times for reaffirming their editorial standards, especially when they discover inaccuracy (That's the politically correct nomenclature for Senator Cotton's outright lie.), I can't agree that hard right or hard left Op-Eds have no place in the media. Or that they should be pulled when protested.
Let's be honest, our society is a long way from defeating racism. However, the US also has a Nazi party, a Communist party, and a variety of supremacists that can only be reasonably defined as hate groups. We also have a Green Party, PETA members who would rather hit a human being than a deer with their car, a Libertarian Party, and a Legal Marijuana Now Party, etc. We have no limits on ideology, no matter how mainstream or fringe. Nor should we. Nor should we prevent proponents from exercising their First Amendment Rights to publish whatever they choose, even drivel.
Senator Cotton's misguided call for using US troops against the civilian population is indeed asinine. As was Trump's similar proposal. But asking responsible media to censor ideologues or ideologies that we detest is inherently wrong, and citing a worst case scenario 'danger to staff' argument cannot make it right. If we succumb to this easy solution, we'll be left with no responsible media, just right and left wing FOX "News" clones picking and choosing which version of the news the public should see.
America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You gotta want it bad, 'cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours."
-Michael Douglas as President Andrew Shepherd
The American President, Warner Bros, 1995
I agree wholeheartedly that racism should be opposed, however a voice, no matter how hateful or moronic, should be opposed with a voice, not with censorship.

Please do visit Substack (dot) com and go through my two-minute humour-article ME AND MY BIG MOUTH. SERVES ME RIGHT!
If you think that the article is worth a read, please do recommend it to others you think would also be interested in reading.
Your feedback (be it positive or negative) is most welcome.
Stay safe
Regards
Hari Prakash
A wrote: "I hope I have arrived at the right place in a maze of categories, subcategories, groups, sub-groups, titles, headings and so on.
Please do visit Substack (dot) com and go through my two-minute hum..."
Hari, we ask members to restrict self-promotion to the Writing folder https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...
Please do visit Substack (dot) com and go through my two-minute hum..."
Hari, we ask members to restrict self-promotion to the Writing folder https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...
Rebecca wrote: "A wrote: "I hope I have arrived at the right place in a maze of categories, subcategories, groups, sub-groups, titles, headings and so on.
Please do visit Substack (dot) com and go through my two-..."
In other words, you've arrived in the right group.
Please do visit Substack (dot) com and go through my two-..."
In other words, you've arrived in the right group.
Joel wrote: "With all this mask wearing, what are people going to do for Halloween?"
Stay home and hide under the bed.
Stay home and hide under the bed.
Is anyone reading more humor to cope with the covidiocy? I've resorted to re-reading Wodehouse. Somehow Jeeves makes things seem possible.
I drove past the grand opening of a new Lego store today. People were standing in line for blocks!
Joel wrote: "I drove past the grand opening of a new Lego store today. People were standing in line for blocks!"
I'm both groaning and smiling. (Hope I don't hurt myself.)
I'm both groaning and smiling. (Hope I don't hurt myself.)
Joel wrote: "Is anyone reading more humor to cope with the covidiocy? I've resorted to re-reading Wodehouse. Somehow Jeeves makes things seem possible."
I've done some turning to Wodehouse as well. Murder mysteries have kind of lost their appeal just now, which is awkward for a writer of murder mysteries.
I've done some turning to Wodehouse as well. Murder mysteries have kind of lost their appeal just now, which is awkward for a writer of murder mysteries.
How do My Fellow Americans plan to celebrate their Labor Day weekends? It's supposed to get to around 110F in my neck of the woods, so it may amount to sitting indoors and reading for me!

With a fridge-full of some suitable liquids within easy reach, I hope.
It was about 16 deg C (ca 60 F) in East Anglia this morning.


I'm in Canada but we have Labor Day (aka Labour Day), as well. I'm going to make pork adobo, mashed potatoes, peperonata and roasted tomatoes. And then I'll wash a billion dishes, because the damned dishwasher is broken. Again!


Martin wrote: "I've achieved something marvellous today. I managed to get my face mask off without scattering at least one of my hearing aids over the ground. I'm going to write in my diary about this."
Well done, you!
Well done, you!
Martin wrote: "I've achieved something marvellous today. I managed to get my face mask off without scattering at least one of my hearing aids over the ground. I'm going to write in my diary about this."
Good job, you! I've given up wearing earrings for the duration as I'm afraid I'll accidentally remove an earlobe in my attempts to unmask.
Good job, you! I've given up wearing earrings for the duration as I'm afraid I'll accidentally remove an earlobe in my attempts to unmask.

My dad has been considering that a real accomplishment, too!

I take it that your earrings are for pierced lobes. In my experience clip on earrings come off lady's ears very easily - on a sofa or back of a taxi.
Joel wrote: "They just cancelled trick-or-treat in my neighborhood.
Boo-hoo!"
I believe it's still on in my neck o' the woods, though I hardly get any kids, anyway.
Boo-hoo!"
I believe it's still on in my neck o' the woods, though I hardly get any kids, anyway.
Joel wrote: "They just cancelled trick-or-treat in my neighborhood.
Boo-hoo!"
I believe it's still on in my neck o' the woods, though I hardly get any kids, anyway.
Boo-hoo!"
I believe it's still on in my neck o' the woods, though I hardly get any kids, anyway.
The Smallest Mule
July 9, 2020
"911. What is your emergency?"
"Ambulance. Can't...breathe...hurry!"
Fortunately, I had my cell phone in my pocket.
Strangely, I wasn't exercising or exerting myself in any way. I was simply walking out to get my mail, so I'm now working on a way to sue the US Post Office.
The EMTs found me collapsed and unconscious on my front step, and in worse shape than anyone still living should be. I have no memory of the period from July 9 through the end of the first week of September. I'm told that's a blessing, but it still feels like a chunk of my life has gone missing.
The diagnosis was a "minor heart attack," which is the equivalent of being kicked in the chest by the smallest mule in the herd. Definitely, not something I can recommend. In fact, I will wholeheartedly warn you not to try this at home.
Over the first few weeks in hospital, I'm told that I crashed several times, was intubated three times, and repeatedly hit with the defibrillator paddles. Apparently, the ICU staff felt that I needed a jump start, and not the fun kind.
(The full list of medically required indignities is confidential.)
Worse, I had to relearn all those critical life skills like raising my arm on command and standing up. Just take my word for it -> When you graduate from a bed pan to a commode, it's time to break out the champagne and celebrate without restraint!
I was released from the hospital yesterday, but still need physical therapy and more time to heal. Ergo, I won't be posting for a while, but as Douglas MacArthur said:
"I shall return."
July 9, 2020
"911. What is your emergency?"
"Ambulance. Can't...breathe...hurry!"
Fortunately, I had my cell phone in my pocket.
Strangely, I wasn't exercising or exerting myself in any way. I was simply walking out to get my mail, so I'm now working on a way to sue the US Post Office.
The EMTs found me collapsed and unconscious on my front step, and in worse shape than anyone still living should be. I have no memory of the period from July 9 through the end of the first week of September. I'm told that's a blessing, but it still feels like a chunk of my life has gone missing.
The diagnosis was a "minor heart attack," which is the equivalent of being kicked in the chest by the smallest mule in the herd. Definitely, not something I can recommend. In fact, I will wholeheartedly warn you not to try this at home.
Over the first few weeks in hospital, I'm told that I crashed several times, was intubated three times, and repeatedly hit with the defibrillator paddles. Apparently, the ICU staff felt that I needed a jump start, and not the fun kind.
(The full list of medically required indignities is confidential.)
Worse, I had to relearn all those critical life skills like raising my arm on command and standing up. Just take my word for it -> When you graduate from a bed pan to a commode, it's time to break out the champagne and celebrate without restraint!
I was released from the hospital yesterday, but still need physical therapy and more time to heal. Ergo, I won't be posting for a while, but as Douglas MacArthur said:
"I shall return."
Jay wrote: "The Smallest Mule
July 9, 2020
"911. What is your emergency?"
"Ambulance. Can't...breathe...hurry!"
Fortunately, I had my cell phone in my pocket.
Strangely, I wasn't exercising or exerting my..."
Holy shit, Jay! And, that was a MINOR heart attack? Please don't have a major one! We've certainly been missing you around here. Rest up, and return to us as soon as you're well.
July 9, 2020
"911. What is your emergency?"
"Ambulance. Can't...breathe...hurry!"
Fortunately, I had my cell phone in my pocket.
Strangely, I wasn't exercising or exerting my..."
Holy shit, Jay! And, that was a MINOR heart attack? Please don't have a major one! We've certainly been missing you around here. Rest up, and return to us as soon as you're well.
Jay wrote: "The Smallest Mule
July 9, 2020
"911. What is your emergency?"
"Ambulance. Can't...breathe...hurry!"
Fortunately, I had my cell phone in my pocket.
Strangely, I wasn't exercising or exerting my..."
Damn! Very sorry you had to go through that, but glad you came through it in one piece. I hope your recovery is quick and thorough.
July 9, 2020
"911. What is your emergency?"
"Ambulance. Can't...breathe...hurry!"
Fortunately, I had my cell phone in my pocket.
Strangely, I wasn't exercising or exerting my..."
Damn! Very sorry you had to go through that, but glad you came through it in one piece. I hope your recovery is quick and thorough.

July 9, 2020
"911. What is your emergency?"
"Ambulance. Can't...breathe...hurry!"
Fortunately, I had my cell phone in my pocket.
Strangely, I wasn't exercising or exerting my..."
That sounds horrible - I'm so glad you're home and recovering, wow.

July 9, 2020
"911. What is your emergency?"
"Ambulance. Can't...breathe...hurry!"
Fortunately, I had my cell phone in my pocket.
Strangely, I wasn't exercising or exerting my..."
Wow, what a bummer! Glad you're back and hope you're full strength soon!
Jay--I've been gone a lot, so only just saw this! Hope you are making a good recovery, and don't do it again!

Best wishes,
Martin
Joel wrote: "Anyone planning to celebrate Thanksgiving by Zoom this year?"
I'm just having the usual gang of idiots - my husband and youngest son. I hope people do plan to Zoom, however, rather than risk traveling and infecting their loved ones.
I'm just having the usual gang of idiots - my husband and youngest son. I hope people do plan to Zoom, however, rather than risk traveling and infecting their loved ones.

I see it's been another month since I dropped in. Good to see some of you around anyway. I broke all to rules to spend TG with my closest family members. I just couldn't bear to stay at home.

My wife of 45 years wasn't feeling too well a couple weeks ago. I spent 3 weeks arguing with her that she should call her physician, but she was sure she knew what the problem was. Her legs had swollen to the size of tree trunks by the time I convinced her to see a doctor. Atrial fibrillation. She spent 6 days in the hospital, got out about 10 days ago.
Three days ago she started to feel nauseous. Again, I told her to call her doctor. Again, she refused. At 6:00 this evening--last night, actually--I called 911 and had her taken to the ER. She had a septic infection. They thought they had her stabilized and sent her to the ICU. I asked her how she felt just before they loaded her gurney on the elevator--said she was fine.
Her breathing and heart stopped in the elevator. They started her heart twice, but her blood pressure never got high enough to keep her going. She died about 3 hours ago.
It's especially ironic because the contractor just finished building her the kitchen she's lusted after for 20 years. It cost more than either of the first two houses I bought. She never got to use it.
I'm kind of numb and filling my time with drinking my way through a bottle of Dewar's White Label and typing up what happened tonight. Hard to process all this. Time for another drink.
Books mentioned in this topic
The Book of Heroic Failures (other topics)Fox in Socks (other topics)
Green Eggs and Ham (other topics)
Fox in Socks (other topics)
Fox in Socks (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Katherine May (other topics)Richard Osman (other topics)
David Sedaris (other topics)
Christopher Moore (other topics)
Christopher Buckley (other topics)
More...
Dear RBG,
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, even if you have to drink pickling spiced tea, hang in there until the next president takes office. We'll build you a monument, send money, name buildings and bridges after you, open a RBG National Park, name our grandchildren (boys and girls) Ruth...anything, REALLY!
Sincerely,
Everyone Not Wearing a MAGA Hat