Marvin Irving Blusteln

Alop for President 2020.

Stewart Myrent

​Sorry I've been absent the past two days, but the router was messed up & I couldn't acess email 'till just now.  Very funny, Alan, but now I have to get to work.  Talk to you soon.

Stewart Myrent

​I've been thinking a lot about this lately, so I would like some feedback.  I've been wondering why liberals & conservatives, having access to the same FACTS (not alternative facts, ala Kellyanne Conway), could come to totally different conclusions & totally different viewpoints, after considering all the facts.  At first, I thought it might come from a religious basis, or bias, but I quickly disavowed myself of that notion, as I know there are liberal & conservative Jews, liberal & conservative Christians, liberal & conservative Buddhists, and so on.  But I am starting to think that, like religion, liberal or conservative thought is taught to us in childhood.  First of all, to me, conservatism has a backward-looking viewpoint, as in "Make America Great Again", which would certainly indicate that America is no longer great.  So, to you conservatives out there, when was America last great?  I would love to know the answer to that one question.  Is it the 1940's or 50's?  Is it the 1900's? Or is it the 1860's?  How far back would we need to go, to make America great again?  (I hope it's not the 1860's, as I really like central heat/A/C & electricity - I really love electricity!).  Liberals, or progressives, if you prefer, seem to me, to be considerably more forward-looking.  And that's the thing about liberals.  They are way more kind-hearted, inclusive & empathetic in their natures.  They want EVERYONE to have the same advantages they had, in their quest for happiness & safety for themselves & their kids.  Why do I get the sense that conservatives don't really care about newcomers to our country?  It's kind of, like, "We're already here - We got ours already & you can't have any of that, mainly because you're not like us!"  I am starting to think it's the way you were raised.  Or, am I totally mis-reading this?  Let me know. 

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Anticipating dawn in beautiful Montreal, Quebec...

Advent is like the glow in the sky just before sunrise...

Sunrise at 7:31 AM will be dawn on a sunny, brisk December morning.

There is a lot to mourn this Christmas holiday in the US...

Canadians are apprehensive speaking with Americans (this is what they say)...

Like the US, Canada and Australia are frontier nations...

It is humbling that the value both countries place on human life has moved them beyond a culture dominated by guns...

It will be quite an experience to waken in Montreal - where my four Oshkosh grandchildren recognize that English is the second language - and to light the Love candle on the fourth Sunday of Advent.

Donald Henry Kuehn

Happy Festivus (for the rest of us).  

DK

Stewart Myrent

​I just wanted to wish all of our Christian friends a joyous & happy & Merry Christmas & best wishes to all for a wonderful, Happy New Year.  That's right, 2019 is just around the corner.  It's hard to believe that another year has basically flown by.  I think around the time you hit 30 years of age, you start noticing that the years are starting to go by very quickly.  Around age 50, you start noticing that the decades are starting to pass very quickly.  I remember turning 60 & thinking, "didn't I just turn 50 a few months ago?"  I think the reason that "youth is wasted on the young", is because the young don't realize how quickly they will become the geriatrics.  I can't tell you how many times I've heard people say, "If I only knew then what I know now."  Except it doesn't work that way.  You couldn't know then, what you know now.  That's the whole point.  The only way you could know, what you know now, is to go through everything that preceded it.  But, that, of course, presumes that you are paying attention.  If you reach age 70 & feel you don't understand what's going on (or, perhaps you believe you understand what's going on, but are sadly mistaken, or self-deluded), I'm sad to say, you haven't been paying attention.  I stopped for breakfast this AM & sat behind an elderly couple, who BOTH had walkers.  The husband was wearing what looked to me, to be pajama bottoms.  Yikes!  But I have to say, this couple looked really old.  They were obviously in their 80's.  This is what I have to look forward to?  Having breakfast with my walker & pajama bottoms?  Well, a week from tomorrow, it will be 2019 & we'll all be a year closer to those spectacular 80's!  Happy New Year!

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

It’s midnight Christmas morning... we light the Christmas candle and from the Christmas candle pass the light in the darkness each person lighting their individual candle as we stand in a ring around the sanctuary and then in hushed voices sing “Silent Night”.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Stewart, thanks for all your best wishes during this holiday season.

a word of caution: there are undoubtedly more people (of all ages) than you would imagine out and about wearing their pajama bottoms.  I am noticing multiple generations here in their pajama bottoms and t-shirt tops at our hotel’s breakfast buffet.  These days pajamas are comfy loungers - so comfortable my physician daughter tells me I might be surprised how many people come for office visits wearing pj bottoms and slippers.  Right now I'm looking at a boy wearing "Sleepy Hero" pjs.

Are you eating Chinese today?

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

DK, some of the kids at the Drive, Chip, and Putt Competition National Finals at Augusta National could use your help.

Happy Festivus.

Stewart Myrent

​Janis, thanks for the update on the "pajama craze" that's sweeping this country, although I have to say that seeing the boy wearing "Sleepy Hero" (whatever that is) pajamas, is not nearly as disturbing to me, as seeing Grandma & Grandpa in their pjs & slippers.  No, I will NOT be eating Chinese food today, although it's not because I didn't have the opportunity.  My brother texted me the other day, to ask if I wanted to join him & his family to see a movie today & then go out to eat.  (Pretty traditional.)  Told him I had other plans.  We did not discuss where to go for dinner, but I assumed it would be for Chinese food.  I understand the stereotype of Jews going out on Xmas Day & eating Chinese food, but I'm not sure that it's that Jews love Chinese food; my guess would be that Chinese restaurants are the only restaurants open on Christmas Day.  There was a hilarious scene in "A Christmas Story", in which the family is forced to go out for Christmas dinner, after their own home-cooked dinner is ruined.  They were not a Jewish family, but they still wound up at a Chinese restaurant.  What a coincidence!

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

An interesting question was raised at the Pirates Exhibit at the Montreal Archaeology and History Complex:

Pirates or Privateers?  

Something to consider in the context of our modern system of private enterprise.

Donald Henry Kuehn

My understanding is that “Privateers” were sanctioned by their governments (kind of a poor man’s navy to protect merchant shipping). When they went rogue they became “Pirates”. Aargh.  

DK

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

The sign outside a Milwaukee Lumber Company reads:

"FORGET THE WALL, BUILD A DECK, INVITE EVERYONE OVER."

Who knows what Trump is doing at the southern border?

He has made the northern border as difficult as possible to cross by air...

I contrast this trip 2018 to easy travel in Europe 2015 (both after 9/11).

Classmates have recently traveled to Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand.

I wonder how it compares to air travel between U.S. and Canada...

Most of Canada is north of the 45th parallel -

Montreal was beautiful as ever...

(a little brisk though to visit the Plains of Abraham).

Be aware!

Montreal drivers seem every bit as aggressive as Chicago drivers...

Christmas 2018 was not a white one in Montreal.

After Christmas, boots (better yet skates or cleats) definitely a plus -

Streets and highways were plowed after modest snowstorm,

snow was pushed to roadside - more snow, then rain on snow

rain on snowy not shoveled (not salted) sidewalks, slush at curbs

pedestrians brave ice glazed slip ‘n slide scary sidewalks, 

and crossing streets means stepping from those sidewalks into lotsa, lotsa slush. Aargh!

Love the sturdy paper straws and eco friendly recycling in Montreal.

Love the duck-- duck soup, duck salad, duck burgers, duck quarters...

Love the young Canadian hockey players...

Milwaukee to Toronto I enjoyed conversation with Nicholas Baptiste, a 23 year old Canadian ice hockey forward who currently plays for the Milwaukee Admirals as a prospect to the Nashville Predators.  He played afternoon game Saturday 12/22 in Chicago.  The Admirals would be home (in Milwaukee) for Christmas before returning to Chicago to play the Wolves Wednesday 12/26 at 7 PM.  Nick was sneeking in a visit home to Ottawa - he would be home for about 60 hours before returning to Milwaukee Christmas Day to play in Chicago 12/26.  He was jubilant - his extended family would all be at the Ottawa Airport to welcome him.  (Baptiste was signed to a three-year entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres in May 2014.)

Stewart Myrent

​Happy New Year to all!

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

It's a beautiful, 

      very bright,  

            very cold

                 White New year's Day in Oshkosh, WI...

  Happy New Year to all!!

 It's 2019. 

Stewart Myrent

​I understand that 2019 has barely started, but I am already tired of 2019 & am ready to go "full speed ahead" to 2020.  There are several reasons for me wanting to bypass 2019, not the least of which, is the current resident of the Oval Office.  I had stated several weeks ago, that his life was going to change drastically, in the very near future.  That time has now arrived, with the swearing in of the new Congress in a mere 4 days.  Many questions about our current CIC, will be answered by a House of Representatives, interested & anxious to bring out the truth (I've been wanting to see those Income Tax Returns for some time now - it will tell a lot), in contrast to the obeisant, complicit & (as far as I'm concerned) traitorous Republican leadership, who have eschewed their Constitutional duties away from a "separation of powers", to be in concordance with an obviously corrupt Administration.  I guarantee if a Democratic president had done 1/2 of what he's done (or ala Mike Flynn, "if I'd done 10% of what...I'd be in jail", the Republicans would have been all over it.  The part that I would personally love to skip, is the torrent of B.S. that I will be hearing every day, of every week, of every month, etc.  When will it all stop?  My guess is, it will stop when he's out of office.  But then, we will have to abide a President Pence.  But, first things first.  It's kind of scary, that this is my major concern & it's the first day of the year.  HELP!

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

December 31st a neighbor shared this message:

Achievable New Year’s Resolutions:

1) get older

2) gain weight

3) do stuff

4) drink coffee

5) try not to die

with following note:

“I’ve been spending too much time on my computer.  

Today will be my last day for the year.

Will be back on January 1st.  Thanks for understanding.”

As for me: I remain in utter disbelief/ disgust since hearing Paul Gigot, political commentator and editor of the editorial pages for The Wall Street Journal, and TV Host of The Journal Editorial Report, share (his regret), his “MISS” (as in “HITS & MISSES” for 2018) during his year end show:

Paul Gigot: “I will add my miss, shootings at parkland and high school - - there - - and - - the - - synagogue - - in - - pittsburgh - - not - - only - - murderist - - evil but end up leading to bad laws, regulate guns for law abiding”

- - in other words Paul Gigot regrets that the young Parkland survivors in bringing voice to the will of the people, that the voices of the majority might be heard, and that - for the common good - effective common gun sense legislation could be passed... this is Paul Gigot’s regret for 2018?

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

The new Democratic majority House has been gaveled into session; the new Senators have been sworn in.

FaitH  is...

Holding  on  tight  when 

the  going  gets  windy.   Charles Schulz

a word from Ben Franklin:

"We are all born ignorant, but one has to work hard to remain stupid."

Stewart Myrent

​Janis, loved the Ben Franklin quote, in fact, I'm still laughing.  I hope to remember it tomorrow, but if I don't (good chance), I can always look back & reference it.  Thanks.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Remembering Stuart Scott, courageous sportscaster and anchor on ESPN:

In July 2014, Stuart Scott was honored at the ESPY Awards, with the Jimmy V Perseverance Award for his ongoing battle against cancer.  (Stuart was diagnosed with cancer following an appendectomy in 2007.)  When he accepted the award, he said:

“When you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer.  You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live.”  

Stuart Scott died of appendix cancer January 4, 2015 at the age of 49.  

Alan A. Alop

Stewart Myrent

​Thank you for the post, MISTER fuckhead.  I loved it!

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

Alan, you forgot “Esq.”

The liberal media is complicit in feeding the outrage machine over one U.S. Representative's comment.  There's a glaring double standard re the representative's political affiliation, gender, religion.  Replaying and rehashing the comment is a total distraction to the major issues of the government shutdown and all that Congress should be dealing with..

Parents in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania are suing the school district over policy to arm teachers in the classroom.

Alan A. Alop

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—In a bold gambit to end the government shutdown, the House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, said on Saturday that she would bypass Donald J. Trump and negotiate directly with the Russian President, Vladimir Putin.

“I owe it to the American people to bring this shutdown to the swiftest possible conclusion, and so I’m avoiding the middleman,” she said.

Pelosi, who is scheduled to board a plane to Moscow Saturday night, said that she had not informed Trump of her plans to deal directly with Putin. “Whatever,” she said.

In an official statement, Putin said that he welcomed Pelosi’s overture and shared her desire to end the shutdown. “At some point, I’d like to visit Yellowstone,” he said.

Janis Kliphardt (Emery)

January 2, 2019   McSweeney's response to “How does Warren avoid a Clinton redux — written off as too unlikable before her campaign gets off the ground?”  Politico, 12/31/18

"I'm a perfectly reasonable, women-friendly fellow who is completely open to the idea of a woman president.  I have no problem with women.  My wife is a woman, I have daughters...

"I don't hate women candidates -- I just hated Hillary... I'm actually starting to hate Elizabeth Warren.

"...never thought I'd hate anyone as much as I hate Hillary Clinton... Don't get me wrong.  I've heard that Elizabeth Warren is a champion of consumers and the middle class... Nonetheless she rubs me the wrong way...

"I always tell my daughters they can be anything they want, so long as they don't make other people feel uncomfortable.  They can be as ambitious as they want, so long as they do it in an acceptable manner.

"So bring it on, ladies!  I'd love to see a female President.  Just not Hillary.  Or Elizabeth Warren.      I am totally open to all other women leaders... Kamala Harris and Amy Klobuchar are beginning to make me angry and I'm not sure why...

"Reach for the stars, girls!"

Here we go again...

Who said Donald Trump is likeable?  jke