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David Mitchell

P.s.

I got up this morning and read where all 45,000 of the "trading cards" sold out.

And they are reselling with prices reaching up to $8,000 - yikes !!!!!!!!!

I keep thinking we will wake up one day and see this guy, telling us it was "just a story".

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Okay everyone, let it be known, I did not initiate the reemergence of politics on this Message Forum. But since others have chosen to do so I will say that Trump's antics are nothing more than a distraction from the very serious dialogue we should be having on how to resolve our very real problems in America.

Why do we not express our concerns about the dire financial situation we are in....the $13 trillion dollar debt which is fast making our grandchildren slaves of the state?  Where is any serious concern about the situation that has been evolving at the southern border since Biden took office? Where are the voices in the MSM or among the Democrats about the flow of fentanyl coming into the country via the Mexican drug cartels who control the border, to say nothing of the crimes of human and sex-trafficking associated with the border?  Does anyone care that the thousands flowing into our nation are from many, many foreign countries with no vetting of health status or criminal backgrounds?  Who is worried, that while we send billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars overseas to a corrupt Ukranian government, there is no accountabiltiy as to its use? Does everyone just happily assume these dollars are actually aiding their military and their afflicted citizens? Have we simply decided it is okay to sweep Biden's handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal under the rug? Does anyone care that the women of that nation have gone back to being subjugated by the Taliban into wearing burkas and banned from education? What about the millions of dollars of equipment left behind with which the Taliban are free to trade U.S. military weapons with other nations hostile to the U.S.? Is it okay to not be concernend that there is no questioning about why we should just forget that this withdrawal enabled our enemies to become better armed all while some in Congress seek the means to do away with the 2nd Amendment by which American citizens have a Constitutional right to bear their own arms?  

Who is actually running this country of ours?  It is certainly not Biden who cannot find his way off the stage or read a teleprompter or answer questions from a "free" press, and who is pressed into putting into positions of power people who fit the criteria of "diversity, equity and inclusion" and not whether they have the experience or the expertise to respsonsibly meet the requirements of the agencies with which they are charged with running. Who bothers to question why the CIA, the FDA, the FBI, the CDC have told lie upon lie in order to silence any opposition and so further weaken our Constituitional form of governemnt so as to facilitate the nefarious goals of the globalists and the WEF?

We have way more serious problems than the distractions of the narcissistic Donald Trump, and we had better wake up to admitting that our nation, along with our freedoms, are in every measurable sociological, moral, economical and global arena, in freefall.. 

Michael McLeod

Hey don't look at me. I was writing pious little stories about peace on earth, the three wise men and how Sister Mary Donna of Barcelona saved the orphans.  

David Mitchell

I confess!  It was me. I violated the covenant.

Mea Culpa, mea culpa, mea culpa.

* (but I simply could not resist the baseball cards)

M/M,

Though I am tempted to answer as many of the dozens (seemed like hundreds) of points in your post (especailly the budget, Ukraine, and sex trafficking), I will refrain. 

I have been a conservative republican all my life, and would still like to be. I am for a balanced budget, a strong national defense, and oppose abortion on demand (but would agree to some esceptions). I am opposed to much of the Liberal agenda and I worry about the moral decay of our society - - I could go on and on with that train of thought. 

But my recent concern has been more with my own "party", and the uttterly embarassing mess it has gotten itself into by following an immoral, Sociopathic, cheating, lying, whore-mongering, draft dodger (and clown) down a path (already paved for him by the ultra-right) towards, vicious attacks on anyone who disagrees, winning at all costs, blatant racism, restriction of voter rights, and damn the facts. (did I leave anything out?).

Oh yes, a PLANNED AND COORDINATED ATTACK ON OUR NATIONS CAPITAL, and AN ATTEMPT TO OVERTURN OUR CONSTITUTION!  

David Mitchell

Okay, I lied again.

On second thought, I will violate one of my promises - about not mentioning "human trafficing and sex trafficking". I urge you all to visit the websites for EXODUS CRY,  DESTINY'S CHILD, and WORLD WITHOUT EXPLOITATION. These are three sites which I have been loosely following for a few years (well, moslty Exodus Cry). They follow and advocate against the real sex traffickers around the globe, whch are all over the globe and have existed for generations - not the sex traffickers of the Qnon so-called secret Cabal run by the Democcratic party - one of the most ridiculous pieces of fiction I've ever heard.

You should watch the film made by Exodus Cry called "Nefarious". It is a bone-chilling and tear-jerking documentary of teh problem in a number of countries around the globe.

David Mitchell

Dammit!

I knew I forgot something. My memory has gone to hell lately.

I forgot to state that I unequvocably oppose the closure of any more White Castles in the Columbus area. Or throughout the entire state of Ohio for that matter.

Viva Castillo Blanco!

Michael McLeod

Was just hoping we could get through the holidays sans politics. Can we do that? 

You know there is a huge White Castle down here in Orlando, right? Biggest one in the world, they say.

It's halfway between Winter Park, where I live and teach, and the theme parks, which I avoid. Nothing against them apart from being obscenely expensive and crowded thedays. Glad I got it all out of my system years ago. I bet Walt would be aghast at certain changes at Disney World One of these days I'll write about it.

Michael McLeod

PS I want to add that, although I'd qualify it a bit -- I think "freefall" is too strong a word - I do agree, in principle, with mm1's last graph, above. 

Meanwhile on the subject of we're all going to hell in a bread basket, here's a little newsclip from today's papers. The "nut graph," as we used to call it in the newsroom,meaning the one point in the story where everything is succinctly summed up, is the quote from the scientist at the end, equating the damage we as humans have inflicted on the planet's equilibrium to an asteroid strike. Sometimes you put the nut graph at the bottom, as mm1 did above, and sometimes you put it at the top. 

The official timeline of Earth’s history — from the oldest rocks to the‌ dinosaurs to the rise of primates, from the Paleozoic to the Jurassic and all points before and since — could soon include the age of nuclear weapons, human-caused climate change and the proliferation of plastics, garbage and concrete across the planet.

In short, the present.

Ten thousand years after our species began forming primitive agrarian societies, a panel of scientists on Saturday took a big step toward declaring a new interval of geologic time: the Anthropocene, the age of humans.

Our current geologic epoch, the Holocene, began 11,700 years ago with the end of the last big ice age. The panel’s roughly three dozen scholars appear close to recommending that, actually, we have spent the past few decades in a brand-new time unit, one characterized by human-induced, planetary-scale changes that are unfinished but very much underway.

“If you were around in 1920, your attitude would have been, ‘Nature’s too big for humans to influence,’” said Colin N. Waters, a geologist and chair of the Anthropocene Working Group, the panel that has been deliberating on the issue since 2009. The past century has upended that thinking, Dr. Waters said. “It’s been a shock event, a bit like an asteroid hitting the planet.”

John Maxwell

James Hamilton, M. D.

Folks,

O. K., we'll release Dave M. on a recognicence bond from jail for inciting a political discussion and try to get back to a calmer and more seasonal topic.

I suspect we all have favorite charities to which we contribute, often ones that have connections to people or diseases that we know or causes about which we really care. During this season we are also inundated by mail, the media and people on corners, in stores and malls promoting their charities.

But do we give small gifts to show our appreciation to those who help us out day to day in our lives throughout the year? Some of these people we see but may not even know their names but provide a service to us on a regular basis. Those who deliver our mail, collect our trash and recycled materials, deliver our newspapers at those dark hours of the morning. Those people whom we pay or tip  but maybe have done a little extra for us over this past year like a wait staff, the mechanic who takes good care of your car, a nurse or even a doctor. I'm sure there are many others on this list.

Merry Christmas to all!

Jim 

Michael McLeod

I like your suggestion, Jim. My fave is kindness to strangers. And kindness can be just a smile, a word, a phrase. Last night I was picking up burgers for myself and my sweetie. And the parking lot was nuts. And there was a car filled with beautiful young women, at least six of them, dressed to the nines, approaching the single parking spot I could find. (Among the shops is a veritable latter-day crack dealership by the name of Trader Joe's, hence the chronically crowded lot.)

Anyway,I stopped and leaned out the window and waved them into the space.

Then, when I saw them a few minutes later after finding myself a spot some distance away, I caught their attention and said: "I just had to give you that spot. You're all so beautiful!"

Tell you what, that was a win-win. They got a parking spot. I got a chorus of giggles; a flashback to my mother, and how cordial and outgoing she always was with strangers; and a feeling, for the moment, like an old school, debonaire gramps. 

Oh, another shopping moment. This one in the parking of my usual grocery store. I read somewhere that the true test of virtue is whether or not you return your shopping cart to the corral instead of just leaving it somewhere haphazardly. Nobody's gonna catch you or call you out on it if you leave it for the other guy or the attendant. But if you're thinking of you fellow shopper, guided by your own internally-driven sense of being neighborly, you put the damn thing in the corral.

The other day I watch a woman do so. It was quite a long way to go, two parking-lot aisles over -- and down here the lots are regular frying pans thanks to the Florida sun -- to tuck it away. I stood by my car, squinting, and waited for her return. When she did I told her the story of the article, then said "That was a regular cross-country trek, so I know you're a good soul." 

Neither of those moments cost me a damn thing. Hell of a bargain for the feeling I got for doing it, though. Wish I'd figured it out and started taking advantage of it sooner than I did. I came from good stock. Trying to live up to it on my way out the door. Better late than never.

David Mitchell

Jim,

Great thought. I have a local family that I enjoy providing Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners each year - starting about 16 years ago. It ins't much but the appreciation I get in return is heart warming. 

But I started a fun thing back during the Covid recovery as the fast food places were re-opening, although scrambling to maintain limited staffs. I started tipping in the drive through windows. It got to be so much fun that I expaned the idea. I'd drop a larger bill and ask them to split it with their co-workers. You should see some of the funny looks I get. 

And Mike,

Being a life-long anal retentive, I have been a compulsive grocery cart returner for years. I do it not because I am such a terriffic example of superior human being, but because it is in my blood, and I can't do a damn thing to stop myself.

Come to think of it,,,,,,,

WE COULD BE HEROES,,,, JUST FOR ONE DAY

 (skip ahead to 1:30)

James Hamilton, M. D.

And speaking of earthly time periods... 

What and where is the largest known (by weight) single organism in the world?

What and where is the largest known (by size) single organism in the world?

Which one is older?

Which one is in danger and why is it in danger? (Clue: think - Neil Sadaka's song "Breaking Up is Hard to Do".)

🙄

Jim

Michael McLeod

I may be crazy but i think it's a plant. kind of in the mushroom neighborhood. A fungus that covers miles and miles of a forest floor somewhere and is considered a single organism..A regular fungal subdivision. You mention two but I got nothing on that.

Again, I could be hallucinating for all I know. That's how flimsy the remembrance is.I blame the fungus. Maybe I smoked some of it.

Michael McLeod

dave: that singer and that song is in my all time top ten list. immortal.

David Mitchell

After 2 hours and a penalty kick,,,,,,,,

Donna Kelley (Velazquez)

Incredible World Cup Final match!! Congratulations, Argentina. Bravo, Messi!!

David Mitchell

Or perhaps this version with the hilarious Andrea Martin (and Joe Flaherty) from my favorite TV show  "Second City TV" which was full of stars and nobody watched it (in the middle of the night).

This is their version - "Don't Cry For Me Rawalpundi"

Michael McLeod

Jack: I think Mary Margaret just misses us. C'mon over here, Mary Margaret! C'mon everybody, group hug! Jack! You rascal! Put that mistletoe away!

Joseph D. McCarthy

Dr. Jim,

If my feeble memory serves me correctly the answer about the largest living organism was partly answered by our Florida based "Professor"/columnist.  I will take a chance on my memory, it has only failed me 80% of the time.  Fir TREE(s); specifically, memory, Redwoods.  As I, and my faltering memory remember, the organism spans something like 20 or more acres.  But don't quote my memory on that, it could be sequoias.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannuka, and a happy New Year to all.

Many years ago our youngest granddaughter, in Catholic Grade Schoool, told us one December that she thought she would become Jewish.  Asking why she replied because the receive presents for more than one day.  To which I replied "but only one present per day."  Immediately she replied "Okay, so I'll become a Pissperterian."   Had to been on my wife's side.

James Hamilton, M. D.

Mike and Joe,

Since it is getting close to Christmas and we all have lots of things on our plate, I'll go ahead and give you the answer to my two questions.

Mike, you are essentially correct - the largest (by area) single living organism is the "Humongous Fungus" (Armillaria ostoyae) which is mostly underground in Oregon's Malheur National Forest, covering 2,385 acres  (about 3.7 square miles).

The largest (by weight) - although this is possibly debatable - is a massive clone (same DNA) of aspen trees (my favorite photo subject)  sharing a common root system in Fishlake National Forest in Utah. Called the "Pando"  it covers 106 acres with about 47,000 stems. The trees are heavier than the subterranian fungus in Oregon.

Now, there are some who think that there are larger aspen stands sharing a root system somewhere here in Colorado, one of which is around Kebler Pass (a place I have photographed) but that remains to be proven. However, that would take a lot of DNA studies! By the way, Kebler Pass intersects with Ohio pass at its apex just west of Crested Butte, Colorado.

Fall Aspens near Kebler Pass, September, 2008:

One more thing - it has been reported that the Pando is breaking up due to overgrazing of aspen shoots by deer and cattle. Thus the song reference in my last post.

Jim

John Jackson

Before we declare the Christmas truce, I want to say (surprise!) that I take issue with most of MM’s Friday post (seems like much longer ago) but a full response would take more time than I have now and more patience from my fellow classmates than they are likely to want to give me.  So I’ll address only her shout out to the Second Amendment (badly misinterpreted by the right-wing ideologues who dominate our current Supreme Court). 

I think this is especially fitting since last week was the tenth anniversary of Newtown, where 20 first- and second-graders were massacred by a madman.   

I’m going to let the graphic below, showing comparative rates of gun deaths among young people in the U.S. and other countries, speak to our insane gun laws and the appalling glorification of gun culture in our country:

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Not to step on your toes, John, but I was preparing to post this story before your post appeared.

The most incredible painting by Jenedy Paige! For the faithful, here is some historical information most of us don’t realize about the likely manger and swaddling clothes that surround the account of Jesus’s birth. Such a beautiful story, and painting, based on the true reason for our Christmas season.

The artist, Jenedy Paige, explained a bit about the meaning behind her art called The Little Lamb.

"A few years ago, I began to feel that I should attempt a Nativity painting. This of course was a very daunting idea, but I figured the best place to start was with research. I began with Luke 2:7,

“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

I also came upon an article of archaeologist, Jeffrey R. Chadwick, and found it eye opening and inspiring. Jeffrey R. Chadwick has worked in Israel as a researcher and field archaeologist for over thirty years, specializing in the backgrounds of biblical narratives. He suggested that the manger would have most likely been carved out of white limestone, one of the most abundant natural resources in the Israelite region, and showed pictures of many similar mangers they have uncovered on archaeological digs. And while we like to think of the baby, “asleep on the hay”, he also states that this was also unlikely, as grass was available on the hills surrounding Judea year round. They really would have had no need to store hay, and the mangers were most likely used for water.

I also learned that while we often think of “swaddling bands” as scraps of fabric, showing the poverty of Mary and Joseph, they were actually a big part of Israelite culture. When a young woman was betrothed she immediately began embroidering swaddling bands, which were 5-6” wide strips of linen that would be embroidered with symbols of the ancestry of the bride and groom. Thus the bands symbolized the coming together of the two families as one. They also symbolized the integrity of the woman, as she strove to make both sides of the embroidery match exactly, symbolizing to her soon to be husband that she was as good on the inside as she was on the outside. These bands were then wrapped around the hands of the couple at the wedding ceremony. So the bands the Savior was swaddled in may have included the lion of Judah and the stem of Jesse.

As I wrapped my head around these rather mind altering ideas, I realized that many of the concepts that we have of the Savior’s birth revolve around paintings of European artists from centuries ago. I’m sure they painted according to the best of their abilities and knowledge, but I also wondered why more modern painters had yet to illustrate these concepts. I felt up to the task and began sketching right away. I picked up limestone from a stone yard, I bought linen from the fabric store, and just in time one of my good friends had a baby boy, and oddly enough, his name was Luke. I put all these components together and created this painting.

As I’ve sketched and worked, my heart has been so full as I’ve uncovered this image. For when you take away the Hollywood drama, the traditions of centuries, and the wood and the hay, all you’re really left with is a babe in white linen on white stone. And my mind immediately went to the purpose of the Savior’s life: He was born to die. He came as the sacrificial lamb for all mankind; so how fitting that He would begin his life on a stone altar of sorts, and be wrapped in white linen, like he would after His death. And of course He would be placed in a trough for water, for He would be Living Water, and would bring life to all. I also found myself weeping for the Father, and how it must have felt to see His Son begin life foreshadowing His death. My heart was so full of gratitude that He would send His Only Begotten to be the Savior for us all. That He would send His Son, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, to die so that we all might live. What good news, what comfort and joy, what a gift was given to us all. O come, let us adore Him."

Michael McLeod

wow, Dr. J. That second megafauna example mentioned above is not only gee whiz jaw-dropping but uplifting and tragic and evocative in a "why-can't-we-all-get-along-like-the-aspens" sort of way.  

Mark Schweickart

I know I posted this Christmas (cover) song of mine a couple of years ago, but for those of you, who like me, have failing memories, here it is again for you to check out as if it were the first time. It is a cover of Robert Earl Keen's "Merry Christmas from the Family." It plays right into our white trash roots – come on now, don't pretend like you don't know what I am talking about. We all know where we came from. Or as I say in the note attached to the YouTube posting – "the family in this is not my family of course, but close enough."

Here's the description attached to the YouTube site that further clarifies a few things:

I have to admit I had never heard of this artist who, I now realize, has been a significant presence in the Texas country music scene for many years. Several years ago, while being bombarded by all the normal Christmas standards on the radio on my way home from work one holiday season, I suddenly heard this one by Robert Earl Keen. It knocked me out. Quite a refreshing interruption to Frosty and Rudolph, and I felt compelled to try to do a cover of it. I have taken quite a few liberties with the lyrics to put my own stamp on it, but the tone and humor are all his. I just stretched it out a bit and down-played the drunkenness. I also changed the tempo and added a few musical Christmas allusions throughout. The family in this is not my family of course, but close enough.