The Government might be shut down, but this blog is open and available. The New York Times reported that while the United States is only 5% of the world’s population, we consume 30% of the world’s narcotics. That statistic goes a long way to explaining the number of accidents, car crashes, shootings, thefts, and mayhem of 2018. And then, there’s Trump and his minions.
Amid all this chaos, the intelligence and wit of Patti, Jeff, Deb, Rick, Beth, Todd, Art, Bill, Maggie, Bob, Prashant, Sergio, Carl, Lauren, Steve, Jerry, Wolf, Stan, Dan, Michael, Elgin, Scott, Jim, John, Randy, James, Kent, and Mathew as well as all of you who make this blog a part of your day brought hope and sanity in these times of darkness and strife. So I want to say thank you.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, too, George.
Karen Gillan was a cute teen, clearly, as well as remaining so…
For some reason, I’m getting a number of blog redirections/traffic driven to Sweet Freedom from porn sites. That I find a bit puzzling. I don’t offer nearly as much cheesecake or other relevant content as even a number of blogs I often link to…
Todd, I consider Karen Gillan my favorite DOCTOR WHO Companion of all time. I have no explanation for your redirection/traffic situation.
She’s genuinely charming onstage as herself as well as in character in various roles, and if anything is more attractive as she gets older (inasmuch as she’s in her earliest 30s now, this is more or less natural). She certainly had some of the best writing for a companion.
Dunno what Russian bots or various spammers or Amazon instant-book creators are doing with it, but my blog got a thousand widely-dispersed hits over the last 24 hours. Curiouser and curiouser.
Todd, this blog was hacked in 2018. Fortunately, Patrick fixed things. It’s just a big hassle!
Happily, I think (hope) it’s just copying content for trivial purposes, but we might see. Yikes…I remember the big mess-over you faced some years back…
One of my New Year’s resolutions is to stop sending you pictures, George! I keep telling you they’re private!
Deb, I hope one of your other New Year’s Resolutions is to step up to your soapbox when the occasion requires. Your wonderful opinions are valued here!
Glad to find you here every morning. Just miss the blogs that went away for sad reasons.
Patti, I plan to post on this blog as long as I’m able. But, like you, I miss the many blogs that have gone away for various reasons. Nothing stays the same…
George, I don’t always comment on your daily posts because many of the topics are unfamiliar to me, and I don’t like to talk on a subject I know nothing about — unlike a current POTUS who shall be nameless. But for years your blog has been a welcome part of my morning routine. Thanks for being there!
Dan, I always get a kick out of your comments. I try to present a variety of posts, something for everybody.
There’s a lot of anti-Trump talk here, as there should be. But be careful. If Trump can’t bully Congress into giving him funding for the Great Wall, he may settle for building a little one around your blog. But don’t worry–we’ll just tunnel under it and comment anyway.
Michael, thanks for your common sense approach to Trump. Many of my friends blame their weight gain during the past two years on Trump anxiety!
Every day is an adventure – what will George post today? Of course there are certain set things but you never know when a traveling musical will hit town or when the Kelleys will help stimulate the economy, and the book reviews almost always are things of interest. I must admit the one thing that doesn’t grab my interest is the occasional DC cartoon/superhero review, but the overall level of interest remains way up there.
Of course, the biggest loss remains Bill Crider and his blog, but life has to go on.
Jeff, I try to post on a diverse array of topics and subjects. Currently, Diane is researching mattresses. She wants a new mattress for our upstairs bedroom. Diane replaced the mattress in the downstairs bedroom last year. Eventually, she’ll replace the mattresses in the other two bedrooms, too. I alway appreciate your knowledgable comments and humor!
Jackie has used the excuse of “we’re saving XXX thousands by not going to Florida” to go on a Kelley-like Amazon buying spree the last month or so, including shoes (for both of us), a recliner, a shopping cart (since I can’t drive), coffee, makeup, two humidifiers, sheet sets, kitchen storage containers (like Tupperware), CDs and DVDs, hoodies, towels, other clothes I can’t remember, plus more.
She is starting to talk about a mattress too, though ours is not that old yet.
Jeff, Diane has plans to stimulate the Economy, too. On Diane’s list is a walk-in shower (we’re getting estimates from contractors) and a new Nissan Rogue. We just had our furnace filter changed and the technician told us the motor was “going.” But, we might still be under Warranty…they’re checking on that. And, Art Scott’s hot water tank died over Christmas. I had the technician check our hot water tank. “Hey,” he exclaimed, “this hot water tank was installed in 1997! Most hot water tanks last about 10 years. You’re DOUBLE that!” So, we might be getting a new hot water tank when we get a new motor for our furnace. It’s always something…
Jeff, so you’re not saving it, you’re just spending it on other stuff. Saving would be good.
George, seems like you just got your Rogue.
Rick, it’s hard to believe but the Nissan Rogue is a 2011! I’m closing in on 90,000 miles–usually the milestone I use to justify a new vehicle.
And here I am thinking the state of your blog was New York.
Jerry, I’m sometimes in a New York State of Mind, but since we’re also on the border of Canada, I sometimes prefer maple leafs, hockey pucks, and Poutine. Thank you for being part of this online community!
Your blog is my first stop every morning, after the newspaper. That means I’ve just got up and and having my first coffee, so sometimes (?) I’m grumpy.
You know and I know that we’re not saving the money that Jackie is spending. I will admit it is a lot less than we would spend on three months in Florida. But, so what? What are we saving it for if not for ourselves? We have no kids. Our nieces and nephews will mostly have to fend for themselves. If Jackie gets to decide, most of what we have left will be going to charities.
Rick, we’re all a little grumpy at times. Oliver Wendell Holmes was sipping coconut oil coffee when he said, “The morning cup of coffee has an exhilaration about it which the cheering influence of the afternoon or evening cup of tea cannot be expected to reproduce.”
By the way, we ordered Girl Scout Cookies Saturday. Yum.
I’m a latecomer here and can’t comment on everything that george presents us, having no knowledge of American sports e g, but there are still enogh topics where I feel “I can add my mustard” as we say in German. 🙂
I’m really happy to have found you ,, George – and all of the people writing comments, since our interests overlap so much!
So I wish everybody here all the very best and hope that this community will stay healthy!
Wolf, your international perspective enriches our understanding of events. I’ll be interested to hear what you think when Brexit finally happens! Britain and the EU will never be the same.
Re Brexit:
I don’t know what to say – still hoping that it’ll be averted somehow.
My friends in London and my family (my sister is married to an Englishman, her daughter just maaried an Irishman) feel at a total loss. My sister and her children renewed their German passports – just in case …
On the other hand, losing the connection to the EU would teach those Brits, though of course the average Joes would be hurt most. Crazily enough (or not) the richest Brexit backers all have money in the other EU states, especially Ireland!
Wolf, I think Brexit will be a disaster for the UK. There will be fallout for the EU, too. Everybody loses.
I read this blog every day! I also change my underwear every day! Make of that what you will!
Bob, you’re clean and mean!
Thank you, George. It’s always a pleasure to visit your blog and read your delightful posts, though I haven’t been very regular in over a year.
Prashant, your comments are aways a pleasure to read!