It's nice today, abaout 70 degrees. I will plant out my impatiens today, which is something I am impatient to get to. Tomorrow it should actually be hot.
In state and local politics, our state comptroller just threw her hat in the ring for Chicago mayor. (The current mayor, in a radio interview this morning, wouldn't say whether he is running again.) She had an op-ed about education in the paper the other day, and yesterday I got a check in the mail from her! (That was just doing her job: to issue my state tax refund, pretty much on schedule.) She and her "people" seem pretty well organized and competent, so I'll consider voting for her on that basis alone, though she also has relevant experience on her resume and is reputed to be a moderate Dem. I bet they'll do a decent job of threading the needle on minorities (her parents immigrated from Mexico in the 1960s and moved to the burbs because of violence in the city) and associated hot-button issues. As for her age, she's in her 50s, which is good when seeking higher office: experience and energy.
Update: The nice lady at the Scout Shop was able to click on some permissions for me, which should (load-bearing word) result in my being able to do all these things the next time.
Huh, a lot of food for thought here. Sweetbreads, carbs, and sugars, which I avoided for years, have been creeping into my diet lately. I like meat, and discarding carbs and increasing meat would be easy enough. Maybe I'll give the carnivore diet a shot. My issue is not losing weight, but making sure I'm getting proper nutrition despite lacking appetite. As I've aged, I've lost much of my ability to taste food, as well as my appetite for eating it. I can taste salty and sweet, but savory is mostly gone. A hamburger is two meals for me, anymore.
My Dad taught human nutrition at Texas A&M. His summation regarding the ideal human diet was:
Fresher and less processed food is more nutritious.
Meat is the most concentrated and complete source of nutrition and trace elements.
Animal protein can be replaced by vegetable protein, but your diet must be planned more carefully.
Eat a variety of things.
Avoid sugar.
If more calories are consumed than burned, you'll get fat.
That's my MO. Avoiding processed foods is my main mantra, and I rarely if ever do ultra-processed. I will have the occasional Popeye's chicken sandwich.
John Adams, after spending his first night in the newly constructed White House, wrote to his wife the next morning...
""I pray heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house and on all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof."
FDR had it carved into the mantle above the fireplace in the State Dining Room.
What is common however are the ungodly quantities of sugar added everywhere in the USA, starting with bread (in proper bread, there is no added sugar).
Even in chocolate: Cadbury was bought some years ago by an American company, which reportedly changed the taste and texture of the chocolate, adding palm oil and more sugar. Already, when I lived in the UK several decades ago, Cadbury's chocolate tasted sub-standard compared with the average continental chocolate.
When it comes to process food, you will notice that the cheaper the product, the more sugar there is in it.
Even sodas with "zero sugar" are a problem: my personal experience is that the sugar replacement is so good at doing its job, that the body treats it as if it were sugar.🙃
Without making a "diet" per se, cutting on all this added sugar (including in breakfast cereals), and walking🚶♂️, yes I know😅 , would go a long way in giving better health to Americans.
RFK Jr is a dangerous quack, but, he is not wrong regarding added color and other additives in food: just check the difference in color between Heinz ketchup in the USA and in Europe, or between Fanta Orange (the Nazi soda), in the USA and Europe.
Finally, the American compulsion with "hydration", could be very well a symptom of being diabetics or pre-diabetics.
You might have a point about hydration fanatics. Though on the other hand, as an American tourist to Europe, the difficulty getting sufficient water at restaurants (those little glasses!) is pretty annoying. To travel is to be dehydrated, and then to panic looking for a toilet when you finally need one.
Yes, good advice. Having a lot of experience with endurance activities in difficult conditions, I have a good understanding of hydration needs. Yes, the frequency and color of pee is a darn good indicator.
In restaurants, you ask a pitcher of water, it is free (caraffe d’eau in France). The size of the glass is irrelevant. In bars/cafés, you can ask a glass of water, it is free at the counter (not if you want it delivered at a table).
In cities, you need to pay for the toilets.
You can usually use the toilets in a café, but you need to order.
You can even use the toilets in a McDonald. 😉
Most of the time, if you take your precautions before, and drink reasonably, you should be ok: especially if you walk, the excess liquid will go in the sweat.
Fear of being dehydrated is highly exaggerated: we had recently temperatures up to 38 degrees centigrade (a record for May), but then you do not go in the sun in the middle of the afternoon.
Those used to tropical and equatorial climates know that the first sign of dehydration will be much darker urine: so do not drink in excess, unless you have such symptoms.
Not too long ago I finished, A.B. Guthrie Jr.’s novel "The Big Sky". I'd very much recommend the book for its most authentic storytelling about frontier men.
Anyway, In the book, Jim Deakins has a wonderful monologue saying that eating wild meat provides profound sustenance without the bloating caused by "civilized" foods, highlighting a preference for a diet that fuels physical exertion. He argues that meat provides a clean, deep, and lasting strength necessary for the rugged life of a mountain man, contrasting it with the heavy feeling associated with farm-grown foods.
I tried to find the exact quote - it was worth it. But sorry to report I cannot.
We hear that occasionally while play'n pool. I sing along, but not nearly as well as she does. But most everyone of my generation knows the words, & most everyone wonders what they tossed off the bridge...
I have to wonder if there’s a genetic component in that some people can’t tolerate carbs. I’m not talking celiac or gluten intolerance either. I’m a huge carb queen but have never been overweight nor do I have any health issues. I could never give up bread or veggies. I eat a big salad every day and breakfast is pretty much always a piece of my homemade sourdough bread with a fried egg on top. Low salt Triscuits are a staple in my diet. If I feel a little hunger pang, I go grab a couple. I definitely would try it if I had a reason to do so. I’ve mentioned before our golf course superintendent has eaten 3 pounds of meat every day for probably the last five years. He used to be pudgy with many health problems. He now looks amazing and most of his health problems have disappeared. He eats absolutely nothing but meat. Now to me that sounds extremely boring.
Not sure if it's genetic, but many people suffer from FODMAP intolerances. FODMAP denotes specific sugars: Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides And Polyols. These are specific sugars found in many common foods, including wheat products, dairy, numerous fruits and vegetables. Meats and fish are free of FODMAPs naturally, as are eggs. Individuals whose bodies do not produce enough of the enzymes necessary to digest these sugars can experience severe digestive and bowel issues, including bloating and diarrhea.
The research on FODMAP sugars was developed by Monash University and they have produced a low FODMAP diet based on scientific research. However, individual responses can vary, so professional help from a dietician or nutritionist, along with a wel-kept food diary is advised.
We have a daughter-in-law that follows that FODMAP plan. It's a bummer to have the added worry. The diet anxiety always a risk of feeding itself. On the bright side, my son has become accustomed to a better diet than a lot of young men.
Up to around age 35 I ate huge amounts of carbs. I say that I ate my lifetime quota of sugar by age 12. My mom used to tell me, turn towards me so I can see you. My father's side of the family are tall and thin. My mother's side were 'short, fat German farmers'.
I can only assume that around age 35 my metabolism switched sides of the family.
I do believe the body tells the mind what to hunger for, if paying attention and not overwhelmed by addictive elements. Like you, it would be hard to give up good bread (and olive oil), but pasta does not sit well with me. Nor most cereals. It's gotten more difficult to eat at restaurants because so many add so much sugar to everything - pizza sauce, salad dressings, all Asian foods, all Italian foods. buns for burgers. I've gotten to where I cannot stand the taste or the way it feels.
Way back machine when I was a Weight Watcher leader after losing 50+ lbs, I always knew animal protein was my friend & not let myself from getting too hungry.
Cereal for breakfast- I’d be hungry in an hour. I knew I was in ‘trouble’ one night when the family w/ preteens, sat down for dinner, served ourselves a pasta meal, & I saw I served myself more than they did & knew I could eat it all! Went back to weight watchers for the last time.
I think you've hit upon the fundamental, which is everyone is different.
I'm fine with carbs but don't overdo it...whatever that means..., I love meat and eat maybe a 1/2 pound every day, big on vegetables, pretty much eat what the traditional medical folks say to eat. So far so good.
tidbid of scam info posted in our community newsletter: When you get your monthly bank statement, you probably check to confirm that the dollar amounts of your cashed checks match the amounts you expected. However, you also need to look at the cashed checks (or the images your bank provides you) to confirm that the name of the payee was not changed. If it was changed, report it to your bank right away—if you report it promptly, your bank is likely to reimburse you. If you wait too long, your bank is likely to refuse to do so. How long is too long? That depends in part on your bank, so check with them.
As you may know from attending one of our talks, we recommend using a black gel pen to write checks because that makes it more difficult for criminals to wash and re-write your checks. But some criminals can digitally alter your checks even if you use a black gel pen. So, you still need to look at the check (or an image of it) after it is cashed.
We just ordered what we hope is a lifetime supply of checks (4 boxes, 40 checks each). We pay 2-3 bills annually via checks, everyone else takes plastic.
we write very few checks, but around here some folks don't want to be paid in cash 'cause they don't like carrying cash/some say they won't accept it, & they often don't have credit card capability.
Some stores won't accept cash, which irritates some customers.
restaurants are adding a surcharge if someone uses a charge card. They're supposed to have signs on the door &/or hostess stand announcing that, but they often don't. Some customers take that off the waiters tip.
That's such a stupid way to do business. Morons. Make a price list and add 2.75% markup to every price, IOW bury the surcharge in the price. Shoot, make it 3% to cover the new menu cost. No one cares; they don't see it.
this day in 1871, Jesse James and his gang rob the Obocock Bank in Corydon, Iowa, taking $15,000. That was a lot of money (google check in today's $ = 409,450.82)
There is an apochyphal story that either my brother or myself was supposed to be named Jesse James Janney. The version I heard was my Dad asked Mom "what if he wants to work at a bank when he grow up? Who'll hire Jesse James? He asked her on the way to the delivery room. She backhanded him, telling him "come up with a new name, but I've already monogrammed things with jjj. So I became Jay J Janney. My brother (Jeff) tells the same story but his middle name is my father's middle name.
Good morning. My home thermometer registered 49 degrees when I first got up; it’s now 55. Sunny and high reaching 80.
The mothership hasn’t dropped yet. But someone named CynthiaW has restacked an article about Bari Weiss, 60 Minutes and press bias that I’m reading through. It’s not simply a hatchet job about “how billionaires and Bari Weiss ruined 60 Minutes”.
And now the mothership dropped. Looks like an update on Gaza.
I read it and it’s good. I haven’t watched 60 Minutes in years but the crying I’m reading about from Pelley etc sounds exactly like what came out of NPR when they lost their federal funding. I see it as they’ve been living forever in a bubble of their own creation and they’re just now seeing life outside it. I have a hard time understanding how it’s not obvious that their worldview is limited and protected by them at all costs. Now that it’s out in the open, I don’t have much sympathy when the tears start rolling. It’s more like “See how it feels?” BTW I know that Weiss has a lot of detractors but I’ve read enough by and about her to be convinced that she’s not on either side. I’m hoping she’ll be successful in forcing us all to find middle ground in the media. https://thelasikdoc.substack.com/p/the-capture-they-wont-admit-to?r=50b9j&utm_medium=ios
I knew he was toast soon as I read the piece about the stuff he said at the meeting. He must have known, too. Couldn't possibly have expected no consequences.
That's really good. Thanks for the link. I haven't seen 60 minutes in at least a couple decades...maybe more than 3 decades, I can't remember because I haven't watched in for so long.
I have no opinion on Weiss or her new gonzo in charge. I'll wait and see.
I see someone else linked it. But you can always see what any Substack member has posted, or restacked, by clicking on their name which will take you to their home page.
From the TMD bit about new acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte, presumably of the Pulte Homes construction firm:
"Despite the appointment, Pulte will retain his housing post and his chairmanship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac."
What could go wrong? None of these roles requires full-time attention, right?
"The 2004 law creating the role requires a nominated DNI to have 'extensive national security expertise' from the appointee. It’s unclear whether Pulte has ever held a security clearance."
Why is it "unclear"? Is it because this information is not available anywhere, or is it because the reporter couldn't find the information in time to publish. Note: "It is unclear" means the same thing as, "I don't know."
Since "extensive national security experience" is a legal requirement, shouldn't the Congress say, "We will not permit this person to hold this position in violation of our clearly legislated expectations?"
That position is subject to Senate confirmation. Bill Pulte is from the Pulte homebuilding family, and (based om his Wikipedia bio) has as much intelligence experience as you do.
Unless of course, you were The Marvelous Mrs. Maizel in a past life. 🙂
that happened to me, too. Then 'someone' came along & cleaned things up. Looks like that happened 'below' for you, but I had already posted my double wink, so you got a repeat winky
As I have said in my comments in National Review and The Dispatch, since Trump 1, he is like Napoléon II, the President who made himself Emperor through an self-coup d’état.
Trump tried once and failed, and people elected him again...
France alternated between many actual "régimes", either through revolutions, coups d’états, or actual consensus, whenever they were disastified with their current system.
The US Constitution is so vague, that it has been a complaint of Conservatives since the 2nd half of the 19th century that the US system of governance is no longer the one devised by the Founding Fathers.
We have seen in recent years a complete breakdown of any checks and balances, coupled with an "immune" President.
In France, when the head of government is no longer trusted by the National Assembly, he can be removed quite easily, along with his government, in the US, the head of government being the head of state, the Prince-President (earlier title of Napoléon II), cannot be removed, nor is his government.
I have no doubt which of the two régimes is the most democratic.
Our Constitution needs more than a few amendments, including reducing the Senate vote for impeachment conviction from 2/3s to 3/5th. (“Make impeachment great again!”) But it remains viable.
I tried to count the number of French constitutions since 1789, and lost count.
Constitutional amendments - I'd put modifying the pardon power as a high priority. That seems one that both left and right (ex-MAGA) could find appealing and might actually pass. I'd also like to see Supreme Court structure protected, but that would be unlikely.
Like the London Tube which suffers from having single tunnels where the trains act like pistons, the US Constitution has one glaring congenital flaw: that the Head of State and the Head of Government are the same person.
The older/first homes in our compound were built by Del Webb Corp. In 2001, Pulte Homes (now PulteGroup) acquired Del Webb Corporation. From that point forward, Pulte became the builder, but continued using the Del Webb brand & did not do as good a job, cut corners, saved costs wherever they could. When I moved here, the house I had built was by Pulte. When hubs & I married, we moved into a house built by Del Webb.
No, because he's doing that thing of calling his lickspittle an "Acting Director", which relieves him of all those niggling details for some number of days I forget.
Quick rundown...he's never held any position related to national security, he got kicked off the Pulte BOD for being a moron, he knows nothing about housing, and by any measure, his single credential is a bottomless willingness to kowtow to DJT.
I think Congress could take a stand even in the "Acting Director" situation. Just because he's not being proposed for Senate confirmation doesn't mean his qualifications for doing the job shouldn't matter to the institution that created the position in the first place.
The degree to which our "system" of "checks and balances" has been sabotaged by utterly corrupt and worthless individuals has, on occasion, made me a little upset.
I might be jumping the gun or projecting my fantasies upon these wretched people, but I think that if they weren't in public office, they wouldn't be qualified for any job, anywhere.
I thought that article was really revelatory about the mindset of "prestige media." Fish don't know they're wet, as the cliche holds.
I wonder if the Mothership will mention the story of Henry Nowak, the student in England who died in handcuffs after the man who stabbed him accused him of racism. A protest movement is growing.
Or maybe they won't say word one, like the didn't say word one about the Civil Commission Report on sexual assault (weak-tea words for it) by Hamas and "civilian Gazans."
hah, get crack'n, cause today is also National Egg Day. How do you like your eggs, if you like eggs? We've talked about eggs alot - Jay & his deviled eggs. Hubs likes egg salad sandwiches. I mentioned my very old, 1945 vintage egg steamer, doesn't have the timer or whistles that others have, but it's been used since 1945 by my mom & then me & like the energizer bunny, keeps go'n. I like hard-boiled eggs as snacks, & poached eggs & grits. Omelets of all kinds, scrambled in breakfast burritos...
When I cook eggs, I scramble them, adding a bit of heavy whipping cream to it, then sprinkle in some cheese. I cook it lower temp than does Katie. She says my beakfast eggs are ready for lunch! 😡 I fold mine more than stirring them.
I bought a dozen eggs yesterday, but eggs were not my choice for today's breakfast. Maybe they will be tomorrow. I may have previously stated that I like my fried eggs with firm yolks; this is accomplished by adding a little water to the pan and putting a lid on it so the steam cooks the top until it is pink in color.
We enjoy all kinds of eggs. I Particularly enjoy pickled red beet eggs. Great camp or backyard meal especially with some ring bologna and cheese. (And a good brew). I believe you just talked me into starting a batch.
Today is National Repeat Day. Huh? Today is National Repeat Day. The explanation discusses things like reading the same book again (I can't do that, no matter how much I like a book - I have waayyy too many books to read), or re-reading books to children, which is a good thing. I'll throw in Déjà vu, feeling that you’ve already experienced the exact moment you’re currently in...
On more than one occasion I've pulled a book off the shelf, thinking it unread, and after reading a chapter realizing I have read it. I take that to mean I didn't find the book that memorable, and do not need to re-read it!
I sometimes pull a book off the shelf and find that I read some of it but didn't finish (shown by a bookmark I left in place). Then the issue is whether to pick up where I left off, or start again because I would have forgotten a lot of it.
There are some books I know for sure I have read in their entirety and am happy to re-read.
I get books donated to the thrift shop with either one bookmark which makes me wonder what happened to their reading? Or books with lots of little tabs to hold spots but I never have time to “look” closely into the reason of those tabs…
Today a child’s Bible was donated & as I was taking it to the floor to place it to sell, I casually opened it to a chapter “God Messed Up” & on that page a child had scribbled a bit with crayon — I flipped thru & didn’t find any more scribbles. I laughed. I have absolutely no clue what a chapter about what “God Messed Up” could be - and the scribbles!!! And God laughed!
Followed by J R R Tolkien, C S Lewis, and some 'cosy mystery' series on Kindle that by the time I get to the 25th installment in a series that started 10 years go, I forget who did what early on. I read so fast that I am constantly rotating through different authors the day a new installment comes out.
My wife does the same. It is the rare series that she can't figure out who done it in the first chapter. I can't figure it out, and don't care.
For about 15 years I re-read Pat Conroy's "The Prince of Tides" annually. I began before Pam and I began dating, and I continued into my marriage with Katie. Children 2 and 3 took too much time to sit and read 600+ pages at one setting.
All you need now is a donkey and a trip to the Cévennes.
It is a lovely hilly and remote region (similar than the one where I live, a little further in the southwest), and there are many places which would have changed little compared to the time of Stevenson. (The main changes took place in the last 50 years).
I've read that - perhaps I'll make a list to keep on my phone for 'rereads', starting w/ this. Reading on my phone is good for times at the doctor, or other 'waiting' times when an interruption won't matter. My other book times are nighttime on my main kindle & audio listening while I'm doing 'stuff' in the house.
I actually "met" Jim Harrison in the Bluebird in Leland, in about 1977-ish....I forget. He was my hero. Lesson learned...don't meet your heroes. He was kind of a dickhead.
Yeah, that sucks. Maybe the character Donald in "Returning to Earth" is who he wishes he could be? Nah, just an ass that creates compelling characters.
I remember being stunned and having my mind moved to some alternative level of consciousness by "El jardín de senderos que se bifurcan" (The Garden of Forking Paths) by Jorge Luis Borges and also by "Los Pasos Perdidos" (The Lost Steps) by Alejo Carpentier.
Oooh. I very much love latin authors, but I've never tackled Borges. I'm gonna look at both of those. Like Kurt, my favorite is Marquez. To throw out a name that makes me sound literate, I also very much liked "All The Names" by Saramago. I recently tried Mario Vargas Llosa "Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter" - guess he's not my guy.
I personally would rather see folks try what you're posting about vs what is now more the increase of folks injecting themselves for weight loss, type 2 diabetes, etc. By late 2025, usage specifically for weight loss rose to 12.4% of adults, according to later Gallup data summarized by Statista — showing extremely rapid growth. Injectable weight‑loss medications (like semaglutide or tirzepatide) produce large, sustained weight loss only while the person continues taking them (& the side effects sound awful, imo). When the medication is stopped, most people regain a significant portion—often the majority—of the lost weight over the following year.
Obviously, I'm not a fan of the above.
I'm also not a fan of sugar, flour, sodas of any type. Contrary to the all-meat diet, I limit my red meat. I eat a lot of fish & poultry, eggs, rice, some potatoes, veggies - basically, Mediterranean minus the bread.
It's nice today, abaout 70 degrees. I will plant out my impatiens today, which is something I am impatient to get to. Tomorrow it should actually be hot.
In state and local politics, our state comptroller just threw her hat in the ring for Chicago mayor. (The current mayor, in a radio interview this morning, wouldn't say whether he is running again.) She had an op-ed about education in the paper the other day, and yesterday I got a check in the mail from her! (That was just doing her job: to issue my state tax refund, pretty much on schedule.) She and her "people" seem pretty well organized and competent, so I'll consider voting for her on that basis alone, though she also has relevant experience on her resume and is reputed to be a moderate Dem. I bet they'll do a decent job of threading the needle on minorities (her parents immigrated from Mexico in the 1960s and moved to the burbs because of violence in the city) and associated hot-button issues. As for her age, she's in her 50s, which is good when seeking higher office: experience and energy.
Update: The nice lady at the Scout Shop was able to click on some permissions for me, which should (load-bearing word) result in my being able to do all these things the next time.
Huh, a lot of food for thought here. Sweetbreads, carbs, and sugars, which I avoided for years, have been creeping into my diet lately. I like meat, and discarding carbs and increasing meat would be easy enough. Maybe I'll give the carnivore diet a shot. My issue is not losing weight, but making sure I'm getting proper nutrition despite lacking appetite. As I've aged, I've lost much of my ability to taste food, as well as my appetite for eating it. I can taste salty and sweet, but savory is mostly gone. A hamburger is two meals for me, anymore.
My Dad taught human nutrition at Texas A&M. His summation regarding the ideal human diet was:
Fresher and less processed food is more nutritious.
Meat is the most concentrated and complete source of nutrition and trace elements.
Animal protein can be replaced by vegetable protein, but your diet must be planned more carefully.
Eat a variety of things.
Avoid sugar.
If more calories are consumed than burned, you'll get fat.
That's my MO. Avoiding processed foods is my main mantra, and I rarely if ever do ultra-processed. I will have the occasional Popeye's chicken sandwich.
Dear MarqueG68,
Not related, but an interesting view from the former US ambassador to Denmark on the uninvited trip to Greenland by Trump’s Special Envoy.
https://youtu.be/31O1xQ1_c3g?is=VBurYI207b5KVt6z
John Adams, after spending his first night in the newly constructed White House, wrote to his wife the next morning...
""I pray heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house and on all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof."
FDR had it carved into the mantle above the fireplace in the State Dining Room.
Soooo, John Adams would refused to vote for Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton? Sad!
Well, they themselves couldn't vote until 1920, and Kamala probably only after post 1960's civil rights legislation.
That said, he probably still wouldn't vote for them, they're both pathetically awful in their own personal way.
Dear MarqueG68,
As noted, people are different.
What is common however are the ungodly quantities of sugar added everywhere in the USA, starting with bread (in proper bread, there is no added sugar).
Even in chocolate: Cadbury was bought some years ago by an American company, which reportedly changed the taste and texture of the chocolate, adding palm oil and more sugar. Already, when I lived in the UK several decades ago, Cadbury's chocolate tasted sub-standard compared with the average continental chocolate.
When it comes to process food, you will notice that the cheaper the product, the more sugar there is in it.
Even sodas with "zero sugar" are a problem: my personal experience is that the sugar replacement is so good at doing its job, that the body treats it as if it were sugar.🙃
Without making a "diet" per se, cutting on all this added sugar (including in breakfast cereals), and walking🚶♂️, yes I know😅 , would go a long way in giving better health to Americans.
RFK Jr is a dangerous quack, but, he is not wrong regarding added color and other additives in food: just check the difference in color between Heinz ketchup in the USA and in Europe, or between Fanta Orange (the Nazi soda), in the USA and Europe.
Finally, the American compulsion with "hydration", could be very well a symptom of being diabetics or pre-diabetics.
You might have a point about hydration fanatics. Though on the other hand, as an American tourist to Europe, the difficulty getting sufficient water at restaurants (those little glasses!) is pretty annoying. To travel is to be dehydrated, and then to panic looking for a toilet when you finally need one.
One benefit to Roma, italy are the nasone everywhere! Free cold water that runs 24-7! Always take a water bottle because you fill it up fast.
Dear R. Rice,
If you feel constantly thirsty when you start walking, get yourself tested for diabetes.
Same thing if you need to go to the loo several times a day.
Yes, good advice. Having a lot of experience with endurance activities in difficult conditions, I have a good understanding of hydration needs. Yes, the frequency and color of pee is a darn good indicator.
Dear R. Rice,
In restaurants, you ask a pitcher of water, it is free (caraffe d’eau in France). The size of the glass is irrelevant. In bars/cafés, you can ask a glass of water, it is free at the counter (not if you want it delivered at a table).
In cities, you need to pay for the toilets.
You can usually use the toilets in a café, but you need to order.
You can even use the toilets in a McDonald. 😉
Most of the time, if you take your precautions before, and drink reasonably, you should be ok: especially if you walk, the excess liquid will go in the sweat.
Fear of being dehydrated is highly exaggerated: we had recently temperatures up to 38 degrees centigrade (a record for May), but then you do not go in the sun in the middle of the afternoon.
Those used to tropical and equatorial climates know that the first sign of dehydration will be much darker urine: so do not drink in excess, unless you have such symptoms.
Thank you.
I agree w/ you 💯%
Not too long ago I finished, A.B. Guthrie Jr.’s novel "The Big Sky". I'd very much recommend the book for its most authentic storytelling about frontier men.
Anyway, In the book, Jim Deakins has a wonderful monologue saying that eating wild meat provides profound sustenance without the bloating caused by "civilized" foods, highlighting a preference for a diet that fuels physical exertion. He argues that meat provides a clean, deep, and lasting strength necessary for the rugged life of a mountain man, contrasting it with the heavy feeling associated with farm-grown foods.
I tried to find the exact quote - it was worth it. But sorry to report I cannot.
It was the third of June ...
https://youtu.be/nv33eaygVDQ?si=qC_wtcbH0L5187kp
We hear that occasionally while play'n pool. I sing along, but not nearly as well as she does. But most everyone of my generation knows the words, & most everyone wonders what they tossed off the bridge...
I have to wonder if there’s a genetic component in that some people can’t tolerate carbs. I’m not talking celiac or gluten intolerance either. I’m a huge carb queen but have never been overweight nor do I have any health issues. I could never give up bread or veggies. I eat a big salad every day and breakfast is pretty much always a piece of my homemade sourdough bread with a fried egg on top. Low salt Triscuits are a staple in my diet. If I feel a little hunger pang, I go grab a couple. I definitely would try it if I had a reason to do so. I’ve mentioned before our golf course superintendent has eaten 3 pounds of meat every day for probably the last five years. He used to be pudgy with many health problems. He now looks amazing and most of his health problems have disappeared. He eats absolutely nothing but meat. Now to me that sounds extremely boring.
Not sure if it's genetic, but many people suffer from FODMAP intolerances. FODMAP denotes specific sugars: Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides And Polyols. These are specific sugars found in many common foods, including wheat products, dairy, numerous fruits and vegetables. Meats and fish are free of FODMAPs naturally, as are eggs. Individuals whose bodies do not produce enough of the enzymes necessary to digest these sugars can experience severe digestive and bowel issues, including bloating and diarrhea.
The research on FODMAP sugars was developed by Monash University and they have produced a low FODMAP diet based on scientific research. However, individual responses can vary, so professional help from a dietician or nutritionist, along with a wel-kept food diary is advised.
We have a daughter-in-law that follows that FODMAP plan. It's a bummer to have the added worry. The diet anxiety always a risk of feeding itself. On the bright side, my son has become accustomed to a better diet than a lot of young men.
Up to around age 35 I ate huge amounts of carbs. I say that I ate my lifetime quota of sugar by age 12. My mom used to tell me, turn towards me so I can see you. My father's side of the family are tall and thin. My mother's side were 'short, fat German farmers'.
I can only assume that around age 35 my metabolism switched sides of the family.
I do believe the body tells the mind what to hunger for, if paying attention and not overwhelmed by addictive elements. Like you, it would be hard to give up good bread (and olive oil), but pasta does not sit well with me. Nor most cereals. It's gotten more difficult to eat at restaurants because so many add so much sugar to everything - pizza sauce, salad dressings, all Asian foods, all Italian foods. buns for burgers. I've gotten to where I cannot stand the taste or the way it feels.
I feel it's the body telling me what it needs.
Way back machine when I was a Weight Watcher leader after losing 50+ lbs, I always knew animal protein was my friend & not let myself from getting too hungry.
Cereal for breakfast- I’d be hungry in an hour. I knew I was in ‘trouble’ one night when the family w/ preteens, sat down for dinner, served ourselves a pasta meal, & I saw I served myself more than they did & knew I could eat it all! Went back to weight watchers for the last time.
I would not like to have to give up things... salad, popcorn. I guess I'm a believer in moderation.
Popcorn, my favorite snack. White and red kernels, mixed together.
haha, that above 'deleted' was just respect for the day I guess - Nat'l Repeat Day
I think you've hit upon the fundamental, which is everyone is different.
I'm fine with carbs but don't overdo it...whatever that means..., I love meat and eat maybe a 1/2 pound every day, big on vegetables, pretty much eat what the traditional medical folks say to eat. So far so good.
tidbid of scam info posted in our community newsletter: When you get your monthly bank statement, you probably check to confirm that the dollar amounts of your cashed checks match the amounts you expected. However, you also need to look at the cashed checks (or the images your bank provides you) to confirm that the name of the payee was not changed. If it was changed, report it to your bank right away—if you report it promptly, your bank is likely to reimburse you. If you wait too long, your bank is likely to refuse to do so. How long is too long? That depends in part on your bank, so check with them.
As you may know from attending one of our talks, we recommend using a black gel pen to write checks because that makes it more difficult for criminals to wash and re-write your checks. But some criminals can digitally alter your checks even if you use a black gel pen. So, you still need to look at the check (or an image of it) after it is cashed.
I haven't written a paper check in years. It's one of the most dangerous and least secure means of payment there is.
We just ordered what we hope is a lifetime supply of checks (4 boxes, 40 checks each). We pay 2-3 bills annually via checks, everyone else takes plastic.
we write very few checks, but around here some folks don't want to be paid in cash 'cause they don't like carrying cash/some say they won't accept it, & they often don't have credit card capability.
Some stores won't accept cash, which irritates some customers.
Zelle, QuickPay, or they don't get paid. If I had a store, I wouldn't take cash.
restaurants are adding a surcharge if someone uses a charge card. They're supposed to have signs on the door &/or hostess stand announcing that, but they often don't. Some customers take that off the waiters tip.
That's such a stupid way to do business. Morons. Make a price list and add 2.75% markup to every price, IOW bury the surcharge in the price. Shoot, make it 3% to cover the new menu cost. No one cares; they don't see it.
this day in 1871, Jesse James and his gang rob the Obocock Bank in Corydon, Iowa, taking $15,000. That was a lot of money (google check in today's $ = 409,450.82)
There is an apochyphal story that either my brother or myself was supposed to be named Jesse James Janney. The version I heard was my Dad asked Mom "what if he wants to work at a bank when he grow up? Who'll hire Jesse James? He asked her on the way to the delivery room. She backhanded him, telling him "come up with a new name, but I've already monogrammed things with jjj. So I became Jay J Janney. My brother (Jeff) tells the same story but his middle name is my father's middle name.
Good morning. My home thermometer registered 49 degrees when I first got up; it’s now 55. Sunny and high reaching 80.
The mothership hasn’t dropped yet. But someone named CynthiaW has restacked an article about Bari Weiss, 60 Minutes and press bias that I’m reading through. It’s not simply a hatchet job about “how billionaires and Bari Weiss ruined 60 Minutes”.
And now the mothership dropped. Looks like an update on Gaza.
I read it and it’s good. I haven’t watched 60 Minutes in years but the crying I’m reading about from Pelley etc sounds exactly like what came out of NPR when they lost their federal funding. I see it as they’ve been living forever in a bubble of their own creation and they’re just now seeing life outside it. I have a hard time understanding how it’s not obvious that their worldview is limited and protected by them at all costs. Now that it’s out in the open, I don’t have much sympathy when the tears start rolling. It’s more like “See how it feels?” BTW I know that Weiss has a lot of detractors but I’ve read enough by and about her to be convinced that she’s not on either side. I’m hoping she’ll be successful in forcing us all to find middle ground in the media. https://thelasikdoc.substack.com/p/the-capture-they-wont-admit-to?r=50b9j&utm_medium=ios
Pelley assumed he was an untouchable. He learned otherwise. Hopefully he saved enough money, because I doubt anyone will pay him his former salary.
You can't trash your boss in a public meeting.
I knew he was toast soon as I read the piece about the stuff he said at the meeting. He must have known, too. Couldn't possibly have expected no consequences.
He might have made himself untouchable now. Living in your bubble makes one feel extra bold apparently. Imagine that ego.
I go back and forth about Bari Weiss. But I’m hopeful she has a positive direction and vision, not just tearing down CBS News.
That's really good. Thanks for the link. I haven't seen 60 minutes in at least a couple decades...maybe more than 3 decades, I can't remember because I haven't watched in for so long.
I have no opinion on Weiss or her new gonzo in charge. I'll wait and see.
Pelley can start his own Substack.
thanks for the link!
??? where's the article to read?
I see someone else linked it. But you can always see what any Substack member has posted, or restacked, by clicking on their name which will take you to their home page.
From the TMD bit about new acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte, presumably of the Pulte Homes construction firm:
"Despite the appointment, Pulte will retain his housing post and his chairmanship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac."
What could go wrong? None of these roles requires full-time attention, right?
"The 2004 law creating the role requires a nominated DNI to have 'extensive national security expertise' from the appointee. It’s unclear whether Pulte has ever held a security clearance."
Why is it "unclear"? Is it because this information is not available anywhere, or is it because the reporter couldn't find the information in time to publish. Note: "It is unclear" means the same thing as, "I don't know."
Since "extensive national security experience" is a legal requirement, shouldn't the Congress say, "We will not permit this person to hold this position in violation of our clearly legislated expectations?"
That position is subject to Senate confirmation. Bill Pulte is from the Pulte homebuilding family, and (based om his Wikipedia bio) has as much intelligence experience as you do.
Unless of course, you were The Marvelous Mrs. Maizel in a past life. 🙂
Dear CynthiaW,
"ACTING"
Trump 1 (I paraphrase): "I like acting, they are more flexible".
Hence, no need for Congress's Advice and Consent, and no need for experience and competence.
hey, welcome to National Repeat Day 😉
Dear dj l,
It seemed to freeze when I first added it, so, after a few minutes, I did it again.
that happened to me, too. Then 'someone' came along & cleaned things up. Looks like that happened 'below' for you, but I had already posted my double wink, so you got a repeat winky
Dear CynthiaW,
"ACTING"
Trump 1 (I paraphrase): "I like acting, they are more flexible".
Hence, no need for Congress's Advice and Consent, and no need for experience and competence.
Donald Trump is trying hard to catch the US up to the number of Republics France has had. 🙂
Dear Phil H,
As I have said in my comments in National Review and The Dispatch, since Trump 1, he is like Napoléon II, the President who made himself Emperor through an self-coup d’état.
Trump tried once and failed, and people elected him again...
France alternated between many actual "régimes", either through revolutions, coups d’états, or actual consensus, whenever they were disastified with their current system.
The US Constitution is so vague, that it has been a complaint of Conservatives since the 2nd half of the 19th century that the US system of governance is no longer the one devised by the Founding Fathers.
We have seen in recent years a complete breakdown of any checks and balances, coupled with an "immune" President.
In France, when the head of government is no longer trusted by the National Assembly, he can be removed quite easily, along with his government, in the US, the head of government being the head of state, the Prince-President (earlier title of Napoléon II), cannot be removed, nor is his government.
I have no doubt which of the two régimes is the most democratic.
Our Constitution needs more than a few amendments, including reducing the Senate vote for impeachment conviction from 2/3s to 3/5th. (“Make impeachment great again!”) But it remains viable.
I tried to count the number of French constitutions since 1789, and lost count.
Constitutional amendments - I'd put modifying the pardon power as a high priority. That seems one that both left and right (ex-MAGA) could find appealing and might actually pass. I'd also like to see Supreme Court structure protected, but that would be unlikely.
Dear Phil H,
Like the London Tube which suffers from having single tunnels where the trains act like pistons, the US Constitution has one glaring congenital flaw: that the Head of State and the Head of Government are the same person.
Les Constitutions de la France | Conseil constitutionnel https://share.google/KRKSFOGVPVoUsj1NS
Dear Phil H,
Because you only know how to count using your fingers? ☺️
The older/first homes in our compound were built by Del Webb Corp. In 2001, Pulte Homes (now PulteGroup) acquired Del Webb Corporation. From that point forward, Pulte became the builder, but continued using the Del Webb brand & did not do as good a job, cut corners, saved costs wherever they could. When I moved here, the house I had built was by Pulte. When hubs & I married, we moved into a house built by Del Webb.
Dear dj l,
I heard that although he is from the said Pulte family, they do not recognize him as being part of the company.
There's a family battle occurring; they are in litigation about it. They have different visions for the company.
That's right. He's so worthless, the Directors kicked him off the BOD in 2020.
Which implies that he is below their standards.
I'll repeat, welcome to Nat'l Repeat Day 😉😉
I didn't know Pulte owned Del Webb. There are Del Webb communities just over the SC border.
I'm not sure if Pulte owns Del Webb Nationally, but they do here.
No, because he's doing that thing of calling his lickspittle an "Acting Director", which relieves him of all those niggling details for some number of days I forget.
Quick rundown...he's never held any position related to national security, he got kicked off the Pulte BOD for being a moron, he knows nothing about housing, and by any measure, his single credential is a bottomless willingness to kowtow to DJT.
I think Congress could take a stand even in the "Acting Director" situation. Just because he's not being proposed for Senate confirmation doesn't mean his qualifications for doing the job shouldn't matter to the institution that created the position in the first place.
The degree to which our "system" of "checks and balances" has been sabotaged by utterly corrupt and worthless individuals has, on occasion, made me a little upset.
It was first sabotaged by voters who didn’t care about character, and by party leaders who didn’t care about anything but power and winning elections.
Taking a stand, or even standing, requires a spine.
Yeah, that's the problem.
I might be jumping the gun or projecting my fantasies upon these wretched people, but I think that if they weren't in public office, they wouldn't be qualified for any job, anywhere.
I thought that article was really revelatory about the mindset of "prestige media." Fish don't know they're wet, as the cliche holds.
I wonder if the Mothership will mention the story of Henry Nowak, the student in England who died in handcuffs after the man who stabbed him accused him of racism. A protest movement is growing.
Or maybe they won't say word one, like the didn't say word one about the Civil Commission Report on sexual assault (weak-tea words for it) by Hamas and "civilian Gazans."
No mention of Henry Nowak.
To be a little fair, that was more a UK story (or non-story/buried story) rather than one in the US. And as such it may have not been noticed by TMD.
I watched 3 minutes and 42 seconds of that video before it reminded me of why I don't listen to podcasts.
hah, get crack'n, cause today is also National Egg Day. How do you like your eggs, if you like eggs? We've talked about eggs alot - Jay & his deviled eggs. Hubs likes egg salad sandwiches. I mentioned my very old, 1945 vintage egg steamer, doesn't have the timer or whistles that others have, but it's been used since 1945 by my mom & then me & like the energizer bunny, keeps go'n. I like hard-boiled eggs as snacks, & poached eggs & grits. Omelets of all kinds, scrambled in breakfast burritos...
When I cook eggs, I scramble them, adding a bit of heavy whipping cream to it, then sprinkle in some cheese. I cook it lower temp than does Katie. She says my beakfast eggs are ready for lunch! 😡 I fold mine more than stirring them.
I bought a dozen eggs yesterday, but eggs were not my choice for today's breakfast. Maybe they will be tomorrow. I may have previously stated that I like my fried eggs with firm yolks; this is accomplished by adding a little water to the pan and putting a lid on it so the steam cooks the top until it is pink in color.
We enjoy all kinds of eggs. I Particularly enjoy pickled red beet eggs. Great camp or backyard meal especially with some ring bologna and cheese. (And a good brew). I believe you just talked me into starting a batch.
Every Sunday I fix fried eggs for me and scrambled eggs for my wife.
I like eggs in as many ways as Bubba explains to Forrest there are ways to prepare shrimp.
I like eggs fried, on toast. Scrambled is fine when we're at camp and it's easier.
Today is National Repeat Day. Huh? Today is National Repeat Day. The explanation discusses things like reading the same book again (I can't do that, no matter how much I like a book - I have waayyy too many books to read), or re-reading books to children, which is a good thing. I'll throw in Déjà vu, feeling that you’ve already experienced the exact moment you’re currently in...
On more than one occasion I've pulled a book off the shelf, thinking it unread, and after reading a chapter realizing I have read it. I take that to mean I didn't find the book that memorable, and do not need to re-read it!
I sometimes pull a book off the shelf and find that I read some of it but didn't finish (shown by a bookmark I left in place). Then the issue is whether to pick up where I left off, or start again because I would have forgotten a lot of it.
There are some books I know for sure I have read in their entirety and am happy to re-read.
I get books donated to the thrift shop with either one bookmark which makes me wonder what happened to their reading? Or books with lots of little tabs to hold spots but I never have time to “look” closely into the reason of those tabs…
Today a child’s Bible was donated & as I was taking it to the floor to place it to sell, I casually opened it to a chapter “God Messed Up” & on that page a child had scribbled a bit with crayon — I flipped thru & didn’t find any more scribbles. I laughed. I have absolutely no clue what a chapter about what “God Messed Up” could be - and the scribbles!!! And God laughed!
I understand, but some books deserve a reread. Which books is different for everyone.
My top book to reread is the Bible ;)
Followed by J R R Tolkien, C S Lewis, and some 'cosy mystery' series on Kindle that by the time I get to the 25th installment in a series that started 10 years go, I forget who did what early on. I read so fast that I am constantly rotating through different authors the day a new installment comes out.
My wife does the same. It is the rare series that she can't figure out who done it in the first chapter. I can't figure it out, and don't care.
I agree. I reread "Travels With a Donkey in the Cevennes" all the time.
For about 15 years I re-read Pat Conroy's "The Prince of Tides" annually. I began before Pam and I began dating, and I continued into my marriage with Katie. Children 2 and 3 took too much time to sit and read 600+ pages at one setting.
Dear CynthiaW,
This company offers a 2 weeks trek alongside the path taken by Stevenson:
Chemin de Stevenson : l'intégrale en randonnée liberté https://share.google/qYu2pFpgg4GSbbRam
I have not tried it myself, so I cannot "endorse" it.
Looks super cool.
Dear CynthiaW,
All you need now is a donkey and a trip to the Cévennes.
It is a lovely hilly and remote region (similar than the one where I live, a little further in the southwest), and there are many places which would have changed little compared to the time of Stevenson. (The main changes took place in the last 50 years).
I understand that donkeys can be very friendly with humans.
Based on personal experience, their reputation for stubbornness is not undeserved. And some bite and/or kick.
All the more reason to get on their good side?
"Similar to" not "similar than" 🙄
It is not the kind of mistake that I would normally make, so perhaps it was autocorrect? 🤔
I've read that - perhaps I'll make a list to keep on my phone for 'rereads', starting w/ this. Reading on my phone is good for times at the doctor, or other 'waiting' times when an interruption won't matter. My other book times are nighttime on my main kindle & audio listening while I'm doing 'stuff' in the house.
I try to keep a book in my purse. I read several chapters of "A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains" while waiting for the doctor on Monday.
It's the reason I went Kindle...I walk around with about 300 books.
another now on my list, definitely, as well as perhaps some of her others.
100 Years Of Solitude for me.
Maybe I'm a sap - I loved "Love In The Time of Cholera".
Though, as I've mentioned before, my annual re-read is Jim Harrison's "Returning To Earth". To ground me a little more.
I actually "met" Jim Harrison in the Bluebird in Leland, in about 1977-ish....I forget. He was my hero. Lesson learned...don't meet your heroes. He was kind of a dickhead.
Yeah, that sucks. Maybe the character Donald in "Returning to Earth" is who he wishes he could be? Nah, just an ass that creates compelling characters.
I read that in Spanish in Latin American Literature class in college. That was a long time ago.
Same here. Fantastic book.
I remember being stunned and having my mind moved to some alternative level of consciousness by "El jardín de senderos que se bifurcan" (The Garden of Forking Paths) by Jorge Luis Borges and also by "Los Pasos Perdidos" (The Lost Steps) by Alejo Carpentier.
Oooh. I very much love latin authors, but I've never tackled Borges. I'm gonna look at both of those. Like Kurt, my favorite is Marquez. To throw out a name that makes me sound literate, I also very much liked "All The Names" by Saramago. I recently tried Mario Vargas Llosa "Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter" - guess he's not my guy.
It's full of passages that make me smile. He was so good.
well, I just added another on my long list of "to read"!
I personally would rather see folks try what you're posting about vs what is now more the increase of folks injecting themselves for weight loss, type 2 diabetes, etc. By late 2025, usage specifically for weight loss rose to 12.4% of adults, according to later Gallup data summarized by Statista — showing extremely rapid growth. Injectable weight‑loss medications (like semaglutide or tirzepatide) produce large, sustained weight loss only while the person continues taking them (& the side effects sound awful, imo). When the medication is stopped, most people regain a significant portion—often the majority—of the lost weight over the following year.
Obviously, I'm not a fan of the above.
I'm also not a fan of sugar, flour, sodas of any type. Contrary to the all-meat diet, I limit my red meat. I eat a lot of fish & poultry, eggs, rice, some potatoes, veggies - basically, Mediterranean minus the bread.