Author: Darlene Mitchell

Deals No One Bought, Or Should Ever Buy

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Deals No One Bought, Or Should Ever Buy

Trump is selling everything from sneakers to water.

Deals No One Bought, Or Should Ever Buy

By Cate Rees-Hessel with Wes Hessel

  1. That damn Trumpy Bear from late night television.
  2. Trump Vodka – we have enough Russian piss to deal with…
  3. Tacky gold sneakers that are certainly not Chucks.
  4. JD Vance hair care kit (clarifying shampoo definitely not included) – his hair isn’t the only thing that is oily…
  5. Donald Trump Chia head.
  6. MAGA (made proudly in China) red hat – watch for the tariff exception…
  7. Anything souvenir to do with the Trump inauguration.
  8. A 2024 calendar (election sold separately)…
  9. Beaded Trump head earrings – yes, I actually saw these hideous creations online…
  10. Earrings made of safety pins – they won’t help hold our nation together (or fix any of the gross damage)…
  11. Fake pearl toilet paper earrings left over from 2020. We all have enough crap to deal with…
  12. Trump’s memoirs for bathroom reading – should you receive this as a “gift” and run out of toilet paper, be prepared for a hefty plumbing bill…
  13. Anything from the boxes in the Mar-A-Largo bathroom.
  14. A membership in the JD Vance Barefoot and Pregnant Society.
  15. Putin puppet theater, complete with an orange-haired marionette.
  16. Red neck ties (read that any way you want)…
  17. “Fail to the Chief” remix recording, sung by Hershel and the Hillbillies..
  18. Vintage Apprentice bored game
  19. Box set of “The Apprentice” on VHS
  20. Cat and dog dinnerware.
  21. Deportation vacation.
  22. Commemorative brick from the fallen border wall.
  23. Trump garbage truck.
  24. Big Mac gift certificate.
  25. McDonald’s French fry machine replica toy used by Donnie boy – most parents prefer educational toys…
  26. McDonald’s Not Happy Meal with a toy Trump figurine.
  27. Anything designed by Melania.
  28. Fake blood pellets left over from the Donald’s fake assassination attempt.
  29. Trumpo-monopoly game – missing the Get Out of Jail Free card
  30. Autographed Trump mug shot – wait a minute, this I might buy…
  31. Vance and Trump candle set – um, hold on…
  32. “My Pillow” anything.
  33. Pussy cat stuffed animal that hisses when you grab it (caution: kitty also has claws…)
  34. Locker talk handbook for creepy old men.
  35. Orange toupee.
  36. A video of “The Donald” swaying to a 45 minute 1960’s music playlist.
  37. JD Vance non-fashion doll.
  38. 34 guaranteed felony escape gift certificates…
  39. Toy Trump Train – no self-respecting tree would have that thing underneath it; besides, personally I’m still ridin’ with Biden…
  40. Anything signed by the blasphemous Donald – I have no respect for anyone who scribbles on the Word of God, nor does the Scriptures need anyone’s endorsement, especially from someone consistently breaks the majority, if not all, of the Ten Commandments…

For Giving Tuesday (or any other time), support any or all of these or other progressive organizations, by giving what you can or by volunteering. In the wise words of Michelle Obama, this holiday season and beyond, “do something”…

The Christian Left: https://donorbox.org/friends-of-tcl

The Progressive Jewish Fund (PJF): https://www.nif.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/pjf/

Democratic National Committee (DNC): https://democrats.org/

The Barack Obama Foundation: https://www.obama.org/

MoveOn: https://front.moveon.org/

The Lincoln Project: https://lincolnproject.us/

National Organization for Women (NOW): https://now.org/

Planned Parenthood: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/

ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/

Southern Poverty Law Center: https://www.splcenter.org/

Wildlife Conservation Society (formerly World Wildlife Federation): https://www.wcs.org/

The Humane Society of the United States: https://www.humanesociety.org/

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA): https://www.aspca.org/

PETA: https://www.peta.org/

Sierra Club: https:`//www.sierraclub.org/

National Audubon Society: https://www.audubon.org/

World Food Program USA (WFP – part of UN): https://www.wfpusa.org/

Feeding America: https://www.feedingamerica.org/

March of Dimes: https://www.marchofdimes.org/

Doctors Without Borders: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

UNICEF: https://www.unicefusa.org/

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): https://www.unrefugees.org/

The Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Amnesty International (AI) USA: https://www.amnestyusa.org/

 

24 Things to be Thankful For

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24 Things to be Thankful ForJust because Trump was re-elected we still have much to be thankful for.

24 Things to be Thankful For

By Cate Rees-Hessel with Wes Hessel

A Sad Day

Thanksgiving 2024 was a very sad day for so many of us. It’s unbelievable that Donald Trump has once again been elected president of the United States. But despite that despicable result, we still have many things to be thankful for. I was heartbroken hearing a favorite and familiar hymn being sung by right-wing conservative fundamentalists, when Trump received the number of electoral votes to win the election.

Blasphemy

I do still question the legitimacy of this outcome, and intend to fight back by joining in any and all peaceful protests against “The Donald” and JD Vance. As a devout liberal Christian of Jewish heritage, I found the singing of this hymn for Trump’s “win” to be blasphemous.

In This Storm

I do find comfort, however, in the lyrics of one of my favorite Christian contemporary songs by the very talented CCM recording artists “Casting Crowns”. For almost the past two decades “Praise You in this Storm” has brought me comfort. I am not sure where this band stands politically, but the music brings me hope. “Although my heart is torn, I will praise you in this Storm”. I do believe that God is in control, but I will always vehemently disagree with anyone supporting the orange monster, even those I care about.

24 Reasons

But there are things to be yet thankful for in the holiday season. I want to offer encouragement to our saddened world this holiday season, so here are my twenty four things to be thankful for in ‘24…

  1. I am thankful for loved ones, including my furbabies.
  2. I am thankful that while we celebrate the conclusion of this year that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are still in office.
  3. I am thankful for the Lincoln Project.
  4. I am thankful that we can still put a turkey on the table this Thanksgiving before we have one in the White House again. My spouse feels calling Trump a turkey is an insult to the mean, cantankerous, stupid fowl, but it’s a far less insulting term than the ones I usually reserve for the Donald.
  5. I am thankful for Harris-Walz, and the honest campaign they ran.
  6. I am thankful for Democrats and our fight to retain democracy against the “dictator from day one”.
  7. I am thankful for certain Republicans like Liz Cheney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and others that actually voted against Trump.
  8. I am thankful for Mary Trump.
  9. I am thankful for feminist pride.
  10. I am thankful for every woman that did not die from miscarriages and lack of health care before the extremist “anti-abortion” laws, and I am broken hearted for those who perished at the hands of the tyrant Trump.
  11. I am thankful to currently live in a free democracy.
  12. I am thankful for the right to vote, and hope to continue living in our nation as I pray it remains a free country.
  13. I am thankful for necessary government programs that benefit the disabled, children, and seniors, but will I be able to say this next Thanksgiving? I hope so, but I am not holding my breath.
  14. I am thankful for those willing to fight for our freedom – our military will never be “suckers” or “losers”, no matter what the immoral orange haired monster calls them.
  15. I am thankful that I live in a state with a very strong Democratic governor.
  16. I am thankful for the many women that I have stood with over the years that fought for equality – we still won’t go back.
  17. I am thankful for COVID vaccines that President Biden made available after the Donald wrecked our economy and cost thousands to lose their lives with the mishandling of the pandemic.
  18. I am thankful the pandemic is over and we can finally manage COVID, thank you again to the Biden administration, as well as Dr. Fauci and all those who worked tirelessly to slow down and stop the pandemic.
  19. I am thankful for my neighbors that have immigrated to our nation in hopes of a better life or to be with family, but will they be deported?
  20. Although I am not diabetic, I am thankful for insulin being capped at $35 for those who do need it.
  21. I am thankful that no one’s cats or dogs were actually eaten – that rumor was started by a racist crazy man whose lemmings voted him unbelievably into office again.
  22. I am thankful that I am a childless cat lady that proudly voted for Kamala Harris and will continue to show my love for children and furbabies in my own ways, joining the many women who although are not mothers per se, are vital and strong without the approval of Mr. Vance.
  23. I am thankful I don’t use any of JD Vance’s hair products – I thought Brill Cream went out in the 1960’s.
  24. I am thankful that I won’t be purchasing blasphemous books that I simply can’t refer to as God’s Word signed by Trump (the Bible in no way needs his endorsement), or the bevy of Trumpy souvenirs this holiday season. My fireplace just isn’t big enough for MAGA hats and hideous gold sneakers, or worse yet Trumpy Bear (and burning those hats, sneakers, or “bear” would be toxic)…

In Conclusion

I would be very thankful to see Trump sentenced to prison for his 34 felonies this week. That would be a holiday miracle to benefit the greater good. Yes, our hearts are certainly torn up for sure, but we must not give up hope. Happy Trump-free holiday season for everyone. In closing, thanks to our current Biden Harris administration for the second year in a row the cost of a Thanksgiving dinner cost less than in previous years. Be blessed and stay safe everyone…

 

Be the Light

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Be the Light

Sometimes being smart and doing all the right things doesn't make your life easy, but every once in a while someone touches us. Here's a story about such an event.

Be the Light

Editor: I rarely reprint anything from the internet on this site. I believe the first time was a heart warming story about a blind horse who had a horse friend that would warn her of dangers and guide her to the field and back to the barn each night. The second is a the story by author journalist, Elizabeth Gilbert, about a bus driver who was willing to take his passengers’ problems and dispose of them. If you want to be inspired, here you go.

By Elizabeth Gilbert

Rush Hour
Some years ago, I was stuck on a crosstown bus in New York City during rush hour. Traffic was barely moving. The bus was filled with cold, tired people who were deeply irritated with one another, with the world itself. Two men barked at each other about a shove that might or might not have been intentional. A pregnant woman got on, and nobody offered her a seat. Rage was in the air; no mercy would be found here.
I’ll Take Those Problems
But as the bus approached Seventh Avenue, the driver got on the intercom. “Folks,” he said, “I know you have had a rough day and you are frustrated. I can’t do anything about the weather or traffic, but here is what I can do. As each one of you gets off the bus, I will reach out my hand to you. As you walk by, drop your troubles into the palm of my hand, okay? Don’t take your problems home to your families tonight, just leave them with me. My route goes right by the Hudson River, and when I drive by there later, I will open the window and throw your troubles in the water.”
Delight
It was as if a spell had lifted. Everyone burst out laughing. Faces gleamed with surprised delight. People who had been pretending for the past hour not to notice each other’s existence were suddenly grinning at each other like, is this guy serious?
Oh, He was Serious.
At the next stop, just as promised, the driver reached out his hand, palm up, and waited. One by one, all the exiting commuters placed their hand just above his and mimed the gesture of dropping something into his palm. Some people laughed as they did this, some teared up but everyone did it.
Longing for the Light
The driver repeated the same lovely ritual at the next stop, too. And the next. All the way to the river.
We live in a hard world, my friends. Sometimes it is extra difficult to be a human being. Sometimes you have a bad day. Sometimes you have a bad day that lasts for several years. You struggle and fail. You lose jobs, money, friends, faith, and love. You witness horrible events unfolding in the news, and you become fearful and withdrawn. There are times when everything seems cloaked in darkness. You long for the light but don’t know where to find it.
Be the Light
But what if you are the light? What if you are the very agent of illumination that a dark situation begs for?. That’s what this bus driver taught me, that anyone can be the light, at any moment. This guy wasn’t some big power player. He wasn’t a spiritual leader. He wasn’t some media-savvy influencer. He was a bus driver, one of society’s most invisible workers. But he possessed real power, and he used it beautifully for our benefit.
You Can Change Someone’s Day
When life feels especially grim, or when I feel particularly powerless in the face of the world’s troubles, I think of this man and ask myself, What can I do, right now, to be the light? Of course, I can’t personally end all wars, or solve global warming, or transform vexing people into entirely different creatures. I definitely can’t control traffic. But I do have some influence on everyone I brush up against, even if we never speak or learn each other’s name.
All the Way to the River
“No matter who you are, or where you are, or how mundane or tough your situation may seem, I believe you can illuminate your world. In fact, I believe this is the only way the world will ever be illuminated, one bright act of grace at a time, all the way to the river.”
~ Elizabeth Gilbert

Cosmo, The Talking Crow Comes To Town

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Cosmo, The Talking Crow Comes To Town 

Introducing Cosmos. The talkative crow from Oregon.

Cosmo, The Talking Crow Comes To Town

Editors Note: While I was scrounging around looking for a Thanksgiving story I came across the story of Cosmo the Talking Crow that I reported on back in 2021. Cosmo (or maybe it’s Connie) brought a smile to a lot of people’s faces. So here, once again, is Cosmo’s story of a bad Thanksgiving vacation.

 

Oregon State Police called in on a foul mouthed crow 

By D. S. Mitchell

Down State Noise
Normally, the goings on in Grant’s Pass, Oregon, never gain the attention of the big city folks of Portland, Seattle, or LA.   Last week however, we here on the west coast got a bit of a smile as we learned about the antics of a rogue, rough talking, four letter word tossing, crow.  You read that right.  A crow. As the story goes, out of the blue a friendly, albeit attention seeking crow, showed up in town.  According to reports the first place the crow was spotted was on top of the Planet Fitness building, where he would talk to people entering and exiting the facility. Drawing both laughter and a raised finger or two.
Moving On
Apparently dissatisfied with the Planet Fitness digs our talkative and colorfully articulate bird looked around for friendlier faces.  He seemed to find what he was looking for when he found the Allen Dale Elementary School in late November.  It didn’t take long before he was the resident mascot. The news became public when Naomi Imel, an assistant at the school called in the story to the Oregonian on 12/09/2021. Lizzie  Acker 503-221-8052, lacker@Oregonian.com was the featured reporter who followed up on the feathered friend story.

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You Might Be a Woman of a Certain Age

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More of the Famous, “You Might be a Woman of a Certain Age”. . . 

More of "Women of a Certain Age."

More of the Famous “You Might be a Woman of a Certain Age”…

By Cate Rees-Hessel

  1. If you ever had clear plastic enclosed furniture and got stuck to it while wearing hot pants, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  2. If you wore Charlie perfume when it originally came out, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  3. If you know Youth Dew Bath Oil came before the perfume, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  4. If you know what Youth Dew is and who still makes it, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  5. If you ever used Tinkerbell cologne, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  6. If you ever used Tinkerbell wash-off nail polish, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  7. If you had a little doll in a plastic perfume bottle, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  8. If you ever had a Dawn doll, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  9. If you ever had a Chrissy doll, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  10. If you had an original Alan or Midge doll, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  11. If you remember Growing Up Skipper – yes, her boobs grew (see the ”Barbie” movie for a demonstration), you might be a woman of a certain age…
  12. If you know who Spike the dog is, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  13. If you know who Dennis Rodman is, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  14. If you know what Terry Bradshaw’s occupation was before he became an actor, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  15. If you had day of the week panties, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  16. If you are ready to throw your Spanx at Sir Tom Jones, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  17. If you are ready to throw your Depends at Sir Tom Jones, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  18. If you are ready to throw yourself at Sir Tom Jones, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  19. If you ever had a beeper, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  20. If you watched Saturday morning cartoons growing up, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  21. If you ever ran through the sprinkler as a child, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  22. If you ever caught fireflies and put them in jar with blades of grass and a metal lid with punched holes, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  23. If you ever went berry picking, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  24. If you remember Mr. Ed or Here’s Lucy, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  25. If you ever had a metal glider on your porch, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  26. If you had a wicker laundry hamper with a flower accent, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  27. If you ever had a rubber bathing cap with a brightly-colored flower, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  28. If you ever had wax lips or bottles with a sugary beverage in them, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  29. If you ever chose your Christmas presents from the Sears Wish Book, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  30. If you ever shopped at Sears, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  31. If you ever shopped at Radio Shack, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  32. If you ever shopped at Zayre or Venture, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  33. If you ever ate a breakfast brownie from a box, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  34. If you ever had a Swanson frozen dinner with the metal tray, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  35. If you ever had a little tub of ice cream with a flat wooden spoon, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  36. If you ever had orange drink in a miniature milk carton, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  37. If you or your child ever had a baby crib with an animal applique, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  38. If you ever had an original Spirograph, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  39. If you ever had an original Lite Brite, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  40. If you ever spent any Saturday nights at Blockbuster, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  41. If you know who the Great Pumpkin is, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  42. If you ever saw a flashing blue light right after hearing, “Attention K-Mart shoppers…”, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  43. If you ever consumed Sugar Babies, Bazooka, Mary Janes, Lemonhead, or Chico Sticks, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  44. If you ever called a radio station to play your request and dedication on the air, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  45. If you know who Casey Kasem is, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  46. If you know who Wolfman Jack is, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  47. If you know what musical House of WAXX is from, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  48. If you ever met the Flintstones or the Jetsons, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  49. If you ever smelled Jovan Musk Oil, English Leather, High Karate, or Aqua Velva, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  50. If you know Mikey hated everything, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  51. If you ever had Jiffy Pop, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  52. If you ever owned an avocado green electric fry pan, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  53. If you ever repaired a run in your stocking with clear nail polish, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  54. If you ever wore a Frank Mazzendrea design, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  55. If you ever wore an original Norma Kamali garment made of sweatsuit fabric, you might be a woman of a certain age…

Donald Trump: It Should Have Ended Then and There

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Donald Trump:

It Should Have Ended Then and There

Trump is a destroyer not a builder

Donald Trump:

It Should Have Ended Then and There…

By Cate Rees-Hessel and Wes Hessel

  1. When Donald Trump announced his original run for the White House; June nine years ago, and we all thought it was a joke, it should have ended then and there…
  2. When he got the nomination in 2016, it should have ended then and there…
  3. When the Donald made fun of a disabled journalist, it should have ended then and there…
  4. When Trump bragged he “grabbed ‘em by the p_____”, it should have ended then and there…
  5. When Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, it should have ended then and there…
  6. When the orange haired monster talked about a military parade that only dictators do (of course, it was just one more thing the Donald didn’t follow through on), it should have ended then and there…
  7. When the Donald completely mismanaged the pandemic causing catastrophic loss of life, it should have ended then and there…
  8. When he told the nation to drink bleach, it should have ended then and there…
  9. When the orange buffoon touted the unproven and ineffective anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine for COVID, it should have ended then and there…
  10. When he promoted ivermectin, a drug primarily used to deworm animals like horses and is unsafe for humans, it should have ended then and there…
  11. When he said the windmills cause cancer, it should have ended then and there…
  12. When Trump claimed the Continental Army “took over the airports” during the Revolutionary War, it should have ended then and there…
  13. When he held a Bible upside down outside of a church that has he does not attend, it should have ended then and there…
  14. When he began selling autographed Bibles and a bevy of of other merchandise to his loyal followers, it should have ended then and there…
  15. January 6th, it should have ended then and there…
  16. When he was impeached twice, it should have ended then and there…
  17. When the orange marmalade was indicated, it should have ended then and there…
  18. When he was convicted on thirty-four felony counts, it should have ended then and there…
  19. When he claimed to be better looking than the beautiful (soon to be our next president) Kamala Harris, it should have ended then and there…
  20. When he “took a bullet” and only wore a bandage during rallies but not while golfing, claiming that his getting shot proves he is not a threat to democracy (Does anyone else stand with me that the bullet he took was a set up? Adolph Hitler faked his own assassination attempt…), it should have ended then and there…
  21. When he orchestrated the overturning Roe v. Wade, it should have ended then and there…
  22. When he bragged about overturning Roe v. Wade while woman are bleeding to death in their cars from miscarriages, it should have ended then and there…
  23. When he ran again after losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden, it should have ended then and there…
  24. When he got the Republican nomination despite being a convicted felon, it should have ended then and there…
  25. When he promised a “bloodbath”, it should have ended then and there…
  26. When Donny boy insisted Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, who are legally in the United States, are eating dogs and cats, it should have ended then and there…
  27. When he chose JD Vance as his running mate, it should have ended then and there…
  28. When he refused to release his tax records during his 2016 campaign, it should have ended then and there…
  29. When he claimed the 2020 election was stolen from him despite a record number of votes against him, it should have ended then and there…
  30. When Trump, the oldest candidate to seek the presidency, is slurring his words, speaking completely out of his mind more than usual, it should have ended then and there…
  31. When Project 2025 came to light, it should have ended then and there…
  32. After Trumpty Dumpty was not reelected but was giving Putin confidential pandemic information, it should have ended then and there…
  33. When the boxes of classified information were found in the bathroom at Mar-A-Lago, it should have ended then and there…
  34. The fact the Donald lies more than he breathes, it should have ended then and there…
  35. When we learned his abnormal and horrifying fascination with dictators, it should have ended then and there…
  36. When he made a promise to be a dictator from day one if he were to get another term, it should have ended then and there…
  37. When Trump told MAGA right wing “Christians” they will never need to vote again, it should have ended then and there…
  38. When conservative Republicans began to jump ship, it should have ended then and there…
  39. When he called our military members who made the ultimate sacrifice “suckers and losers”, it should have ended then and there…
  40. When The Donald tried to take credit for the $35.00 monthly insulin Biden and Harris arranged for seniors, it should have ended then and there…
  41. When he said “Do you want the black president or the white president, I think they want the white guy”, it should have ended then and there…
  42. When Trumpty Dumpty said black people can relate to him because he is now a felon, it should have ended then and there…
  43. When his plan is to tax ninety-five percent of the middle class more and give billionaires a tax break, it should have ended then and there…
  44. When the “My Pillow guy” and Elon Musk are his buddies, it should have ended then and there…
  45. When he called the intelligent and mentally astute former prosecutor and Vice President Kamala Harris “retarded” and a “low IQ individual” at one of his recent fundraisers, it should have ended then and there…

It will finally end with a vote for Harris-Walz on November 5th, 2024. The Mango Mussolini’s reign of terror will finally end, and despite what the MAGA say, America will continue to be great. Every woman, man, non-binary gender, LGBTQ+ community member, other minority, each of those in drag and childless cat ladies must vote. Racism and bigotry must end, antisemitism must end, gun violence must end – hate will finally begin to end. Democrats and Republicans alike must vote and vote blue. Thank you, Joe Biden, for all you have done to heal our nation and bring us our next president – our first female VP and soon our first female biracial president. We are not going back. When we fight, we win. God bless America…

You Might Just Be A Childless Cat Lady

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You Might Just Be A Childless Cat Lady

JD Vance's comments about childless cat ladies is abhorrent.

You Might Just Be a Childless Cat Lady

By Cate Rees-Hessel

We need the childless cat ladies’ vote in this important 2024 election. Here are twenty-four reasons you might just be one of us ladies:

  1. If you realize your own worth, you might just be a (childless) cat lady…
  2. If you own adorable feline(s) and/or canine(s) and treat them like children because they are your furbabies, you might just be a childless cat lady…
  3. If you show your love for children in other ways: auntie, teacher, foster parent and so forth, you might just be a childless cat lady…
  4. If you understand the pain of infertility but still support reproductive freedom, you might just be a childless cat lady…
  5. If you hiss, growl, and instinctively put claws out when you hear the names JD Vance or Donald Trump, you might just be a childless cat lady…
  6. If you proudly support Momola Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, you might just be a childless cat lady…
  7. If you realize what a complete moron JD Vance is, you might just be a childless cat lady…
  8. If you love a good cat reel or meme, you might just be a childless cat lady…
  9. If you dressed as Catwoman at the last costume party you attended, you might just be a childless cat lady…
  10. If you support animal welfare organizations, you might just be a childless cat lady…
  11. If you recognize locker room talk for the abuse it is, you might just be a childless cat lady…
  12. If you can’t be grabbed – we have claws and we’re not afraid to use them, you might just be a childless cat lady…
  13. If you will donate kitty litter to the next Trump rally, you might just be a childless cat lady…
  14. If you believe in woman’s rights, equal pay, ERA, you might just be a childless cat lady…
  15. If you despise sexism, you might just be a childless cat lady…
  16. If you want the world to be a better place for all daughters, you might just be a childless cat lady…
  17. If you believe in sisterhood, you might just be a childless cat lady…
  18. If you read Cat magazine, not National Affairs, you might just be a childless cat lady…
  19. If the sight of the Donald makes you want to cough up a hairball, you might just be a childless cat lady…
  20. If you want all children male or female to thrive, you might just be a childless cat lady…
  21. If you are a Democrat, you might just be a childless cat lady…
  22. If you wish you had a ball of string to strangle the Trumpy Bear that’s been advertised on television, you might just be a childless cat lady…
  23. If you bought a Trumpy Bear for your cat to use as a scratching post or chew toy, you might just be a childless cat lady…
  24. If you can be a playful kitty when the mood strikes, you might just be a childless cat lady…

Come on childless cat ladies, we can meow with the best of them. Our votes count, our lives have meaning, and frankly we are as cute as kittens…

Questionable Health Care Habits

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Questionable Health Care Habits
Readers Digest offers some suggestions when kissing your dog and other questionable habits.Questionable Health Care Habits 

 

D.S. Mitchell

Bored

While I was waiting to get my oil changed, I tired of playing cell phone solitaire and began to search through stacks of magazines in the waiting area. I soon found the September 2024 Reader’s Digest, and  Rosemary Counter’s terrific article on our many loathsome, unclean, and totally disgusting behaviors that we should probably stop doing.  The title of the piece was, “Do You Kiss Your Dog?” I’ll do a short recap of the article but I suggest you find the original article and read it, Rosemary is much funnier than I am.

Best By

Just because it says “best if used by” such and such date, does not mean the product is any less flavorful if used after the highlighted date. An item may not be at  peak favor but still safe to eat. Remember you can’t always trust your eyes or your sense of smell. It you are seriously concerned about how long the item has been hiding at the back of the refrigerator throw it away, or check out the FDA website for specific guidelines.

Cutting Corners

1). I know you’ve done it. The package of cheddar cheese has a blemish (mold) and you just cut it off. It seems, according to experts, that if there is some mold growing on cured meats and hard cheeses its probably just fine to cut off the area that shows the mold and serve it to your family, no harm done. However, with soft, more porous cheeses like Brue and Feta, or soft produce like strawberries it is best to throw the item away.

Kissing the Dog

2). According to Rosemary’s article more than 61% of dog owners admit to kissing their dogs on the mouth. I love my fur baby but no way to this one. I’ve watched, I know where that tongue has been and I sure don’t want any of those leftovers inside me. Despite the need to bond with your animal there is a good chance such face to face loving will result in an animal-to-human spread of disease. Pasteurella the source of skin inflammation and joint infections, Salmonella (stomach cramps, fever) and E. coli (diarrhea, blood stream infections) are rampant, not to mention the chance of passing you a parasite.

The Five Second Rule

3). We are all familiar with the five second rule.  If it’s on the floor for less than five seconds it is safe to eat. Stop. If you drop a cookie, a piece of candy, do not pick it up and eat it. Instead, throw it away. Thinking about where your shoes have been in the last couple weeks should be be enough to make you rethink the wisdom of eating any item of food that has landed on the floor for five seconds or for any length of time.

Orphaned Water Bottles

4). Orphaned water bottles. We all have one or two reusable water bottles hanging around, either at the bottom of our gym bag or on the backseat of the car. You’ve rinsed it out but it never gets properly scrubbed. So adding fresh water to that reusable bottle probably isn’t a wise idea, even in a pinch, if you plan on drinking from it. “The inside of that bottle is like a dirty aquarium,” Ms. Counter tells us, “it is filled with viable microorganisms. Perhaps the microorganisms from your mouth’s backwashed flora won’t hurt you but foreign bacteria can sneak into the bottle and multiply.” A water bottle sitting in the car for a few hours becomes a veritable petri dish for microscopic bugs to thrive in. Porous plastic bottles are the most hospitable to bacteria; so it’s best to opt for glass or stainless steel. Whatever you end up drinking from, please wash it every day or two in the dishwasher or with 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water.

Wash Those Hands

5). What we do outside our homes is often very different from what we do behind closed doors. Handwashing is one of those behaviors. We consciously scrub those hands when we are in a public bathroom, but at home we often neglect the serious scrubbing, after all the germs are my own, right? “Even microbes you already harbor can balloon if your immune system is busy fighting something else,” Rosemary Counter warns us. So, scrub those hands like you are in a public restroom.

Peeing in the Shower

6). It has happened to all of us. The warm running water stimulates the bladder to contract, causing a sudden urgency and there’s no stopping the inevitable. Urine is normally sterile and it’s going straight down the drain so there should be no problem. What about public swimming pools, where we know everyone is peeing in the water. Expert’s tell us to be more afraid of swimming in fresh water lakes or rivers that are filled with fish waste and bacteria. The often suspect public swimming pools are loaded with chlorine and the vast amount of water dilutes most human secretions to safe levels.

Pimple Popping

7). Thank God, I’m past picking and popping pimples. Fortunately, I rarely had a bump or a pimple to deal with when I was younger, but when I did have an eruption it was always in the same spot on my chin. It’s a miracle there isn’t a huge scar in that spot on my chin.  Rosemary suggests that you remember every popped pimple is an open wound where evil bacteria can start a skin infection like impetigo, or a yeast based fungus like candida, or God forbid an abysses requiring anti-biotics or surgical drainage.

Toothbrush Sharing

8). If I thought kissing my dog on the lips was totally disgusting; the suggestion that sharing toothbrushes with someone, even my husband/lover, actually happens, literally curled my toes. Yikes. My mom told me my mouth was the dirtiest thing ever, and I believed her. I swear I wouldn’t share my toothbrush with ANYONE. Toothbrushes are easy to come by, you can pick up one anywhere, even the front desk at the hotel. If for some reason you are in an oral hygiene desert, don’t reach for the other guy’s toothbrush, just rinse your mouth with mouthwash or water. Everyone has their own unique delicate bacteria balance, using someone else’s toothbrush can expose you to flu, colds, and even herpes.

Well now that you know the truth about how germs can find there way into our bodies it might be a smart idea to change some of our questionable hygiene habits.

 

24 Reasons to Not Vote Trump in 2024

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24 Reasons to Not Vote Trump in 2024

You don't have to be a pug to be against Trump. Here are 24 reasons to vote Harris

24 Reasons to Not Vote Trump in 2024

Editor: You don’t need to be a Pug to be against another presidential term for Donald Trump. Cate came up with 24 great reasons to turn your back on the disgraced former president. I told Cate there were far more than 24 reasons to vote Harris but she said she wanted to keep it short and sweet. So here we go.

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

Let’s Count Them…

  1. Project 2025. “We’re not going back.”
  2. Convicted of 34 felony counts – 14 more are pending, with the dismissal of another 40 more by a Trump-appointed Federal judge being appealed. “When we fight, we win.”
  3. “I will be a dictator from day one.” “We’re not going back.”
  4. “Now if I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a bloodbath for the whole — that’s gonna be the least of it. It’s going to be a bloodbath for the country…” “When we fight, we win.”
  5. His gross mishandling of the pandemic. “We’re not going back.”
  6. Bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade, despite women having miscarriages being denied life-saving medical care. Incest and rape victims, including children too young to carry a baby to term, are being forced into childbirth. Pregnancies that are a threat to the mother’s life or will result in the birth of a dead baby are not excluded. Women having no right to what to choose what to do with their own bodies. “When we fight, we win.”
  7. He is a mockery to Christianity and has no morals or scruples. “We’re not going back.”
  8. His withdrawal from Paris Climate Agreement. “When we fight, we win.”
  9. Trump’s obsession with (and pandering to) foreign dictators. “We’re not going back.”
  10. Social Security and Medicare. “When we fight, we win.”
  11. Apparently can’t afford a mirror to look at himself since he thinks he is better looking than the beautiful Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris. (I wish we didn’t have to look at him.) “We’re not going back.”
  12. Much of his former staff, including his former Vice President Mike Pence, want no part of him. “When we fight, we win.”
  13. J.D. Vance – the man who called Trump “America’s Hitler” but now is his running mate; equally as dangerous as “The Donald”. “We’re not going back.”
  14. January 6, 2021. “When we fight, we win.”
  15. Making fun of disabled people, racism, anti-semitism, sexism… even denigrating Gus Walz. “We’re not going back.”
  16. “Grab ‘em by the p____” “When we fight, we win.”
  17. Big billionaire tax cuts. “We’re not going back.”
  18. Medical coverage will be for none but the wealthy. “When we fight, we win.”
  19. That orange faced, orange haired, insult to a clown. “We’re not going back.”
  20. His wife – the first staple in her belly button first “lady”. “When we fight, we win.”
  21. Mar-A-Lago’s cluttered bathroom of national secrets. “We’re not going back.”
  22. The alleged “assassination attempt” in Butler, PA. Hitler faked an assassination attempt back during his reign of terror. Amazing how the big white bandage came off for a game of golf but was back on for the Republican convention. “When we fight, we win.”
  23. A bevy of junk for sale – gold sneakers and Trumpy Bear. I will never call God’s Word junk but holding the Good Book upside down (as Sen. Warnock pointed out, like the Bible needs Trump’s endorsement), and then selling copies for sixty dollars is blasphemous. Trump has no idea what Easter is. As Sen. Warnock also pointed out, Trump needs to read it. “We’re not going back.”
  24. He had the job before, was fired for making a mess of the presidency, replaced by a much better candidate – Joe Biden – and now he wants back in the Oval Office. I say HELL NO – “I’m with her”. Please join me in making sure we elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz – to help, go to https://go.kamalaharris.com/. “When we fight, we win.”