Category: Arts & Entertainment

Trump’s Torturous Tribulations

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Trump’s Torturous Tribulations

Trump’s Torturous Tribulations

By Cate Rees-Hessel w/ D.S.Mitchell

 

Disaster Impending

As we draw closer to the dreaded day of January 20th, Donald Trump’s second inauguration, something I thought I would never hear or say, allow me to point out more insane things he has done prior to his taking office again this month. We absolutely must resist this devastating excuse for a president…

Cold Day in Hell?

But it should be noted first, even his inauguration itself demonstrates his all-consuming self-interest: the ceremony has been moved indoors because the temperature is predicted to be in the low twenties. At least two prior Presidents in the last 60 years or so were inaugurated outside in similar cold, and the last time an inauguration was moved indoors, the temp at noon was 7 above zero. Even more telling is the official statement that the most of the quarter-million tickets sold for the event when it was set for outside won’t be honored for indoor seats, but are now “commemorative”. In other words, worthless – but wait a minute, they were already. All the more reason we absolutely must continue to resist this coming travesty.

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A Woman of a Certain Age: Political Edition

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A Woman of a Certain Age :

                      The Political Edition…

 

A Woman of a Certain Age:

                     The Political Edition…

 

By Cate Rees-Hessel

  1. If you campaigned for Shirley Chisholm, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  2. If you know who Shirley Chisholm is…
  3. If you brought a folding chair to the table…
  4. If you campaigned for Mondale/Ferrara…
  5. If you’re not going back…
  6. If you voted against Reaganomics…
  7. If you know what Reaganomics is,  just think “trickle down.”
  8. If you think President Biden is a hottie…
  9. If you think Donald Trump is a hottie, ewwwww – you actually need a comprehensive eye exam, at the very least…
  10. If you’re not going back…
  11. If you stood on street corners in the sun and rain to fight for ERA, reproductive freedom, going to bat for girls in sports…
  12. If despite your aches and pains, you are still willing to stand on street corners in the sun and rain again to fight for ERA, reproductive freedom, and girls/women in sports…
  13. If you can remember when women couldn’t get credit in their own names…
  14. If you voted for Jimmy Carter…
  15. If you’re not going back…
  16. If you subscribed to Ms. Magazine…
  17. If you know who Gloria Steinem is…
  18. If you’re old enough to be JD Vance‘s mother or grandmother, but glad you aren’t…
  19. If you thought we would finally see a women President after years of fighting for a female when Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris gave it their all…
  20. If you’re not going back…
  21. If you want your daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters to have equality and inclusion…
  22. If you quote Eleanor Roosevelt, Roslyn Carter, or Jackie Kennedy Onassis…
  23. If you think Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone…
  24. If you remember that awful day in Dallas when President John Kennedy was assassinated…
  25. If you’re not going back…
  26. If you were a founding member of NOW…
  27. If you remember Watergate…
  28. If ever wore a POW/MIA bracelet…
  29. If you are a “childless cat lady”…
  30. If you have ever been barefoot and pregnant, but your daughters and granddaughters are wearing shoes because you fought for freedom…
  31. If you ever declared, “we are young, good looking, we’ll be there”, and you’re empowered because you were there…
  32. If you’re not going back…
  33. If you attended Woodstock or Live Aid…
  34. If you participated in Hands Across America…
  35. If you never joined a protest in your youth but felt compelled to do so during Trump’s original term, please do so again…
  36. If you campaigned against the swimsuit competition in the Miss America pageant…
  37. If you’re not going back…
  38. If you supported Vanessa Williams when the scandal broke…
  39. If you thought Party Hearst might have possibly been not guilty…
  40. If you feel “Hell no, we won’t go” bubbling from your soul, because we are “NOT GOING BACK”…

How to Save Money this Holiday Season

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How to Save Money this Holiday Season

How to Save Money this Holiday Season

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

It seems that everyone wants and needs to save money this holiday season – perhaps we are quite worried the upcoming Trump tariffs and his recent admission that it will be very difficult to bring down grocery prices. If only we had Kamala coming, instead, but since we don’t, here are some unique and practical ideas for your last minute holiday shopping. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah on a budget…

  1. Recycle and re-gift.
  2. A well thought out thrift gift is perfectly fine, as long as it’s in good condition.
  3. Nothing wrong with a white elephant Christmas grab bag.
  4. Homemade gifts are often appreciated – after all you created it with your own two hands.
  5. It’s the thought that counts, not the amount spent. A nice card for a dollar store gift as long as it’s tasteful is fine if that’s all your budget will allow.
  6. e-cards save postage and are environmentally friendly.
  7. Give homemade gift certificates for babysitting, cleaning, lawn mowing, and the like.
  8. Potluck dinners can be a fun way to enjoy each other’s company
  9. There are many free holiday movies on streaming, and paid streaming services offer great deals during the holidays.
  10. Host a spa party to get everyone holiday ready. Saves money on professional nail, hair, and makeup services.
  11. Live trees are often cheaper later in the season – the closer to Christmas, the cheaper the tree.
  12. Go caroling.
  13. Host a party right after Christmas – holiday food and décor will be half off or more…
  14. Pass that fruitcake back and forth – okay, maybe not.
  15. Go to a food pantry or clothing swap.
  16. Many libraries offer craft and cooking classes for free – most include the supplies.
  17. Last year’s holiday outfits with a change of accessories will look fresh and fashionable.
  18. Festive foods don’t need to be expensive – look online or at your local library for recipes.
  19. Classic TV favorites or nostalgic episodes of old shows with a bowl of popcorn and hot chocolate are always fun
  20. An ornament swap is a great way to change decorations for a new look.
  21. Cookie exchanges are a yummy way to enjoy fellowship and a variety of Christmas cookies.
  22. Build a snowman.
  23. Family game night with finger foods or pizza is a great form of entertainment.
  24. Read the Christmas story “The Night before Christmas” aloud in your pajamas.
  25. Dreidel parties with chocolate coins are very festive.
  26. If you can’t afford eight nights of gifts, consider gifting the first and last night, and maybe have a trinket grab bag the other six nights.
  27. How about a gift the entire family can enjoy: board games, tins of popcorn, box of chocolate? If your budget allows, a television, computer, Soda Stream, or air fryer, for example. Anything your household will enjoy…
  28. Pet gifts can be cans of food or treats or doggy, kitty sweaters – furbabies can receive practical gifts, also.
  29. Stocking stuffers can be stock uppers like toothpaste and brush, socks, deodorant, razors, and the like.
  30. Local light displays are usually, free and some neighbors actually set up lights that move to music that you can listen to on your car radio.
  31. Midnight mass, church services, and school concerts are beautiful and free ways to celebrate the holiday season.
  32. House parties for New Year’s Eve are cheaper and safer – champagne and alcohol are not a requirement to have fun. Above all, never drink and drive…
  33. Homemade noise makers, pots and pans, musical instruments, etc., can all be fun with no cost.
  34. Silly party hats can come out of your closet, no cost and environmentally friendly. No cardboard hats to throw away after midnight.
  35. Television football games and parades with a light brunch and/or snacks are a great way to enjoy the company of loved ones.
  36. A sock puppet show with a painted cardboard box stage is a great holiday craft project for children.
  37. A living room song and dance show is also fun and creative.
  38. Look for Groupon-type offers, BOGO’s, and coupons.
  39. Borrow and barter.
  40. Out of season clearance gifts are fine. The pool toys and swimwear season will be here sooner than you think. During the bitter cold winter, the promise of warm weather might just be a welcome gift.

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/

 

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…

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…

Women of a Certain Age-Yet Again…

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Women of a Certain Age – Yet Again…

Women of a Certain Age-Yet Again…

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

  1. If you had a latch hook shag rug in colors of orange, yellow, and chocolate brown, you might be a woman of a certain age…
  2. If you had a macrame plant hanger and a bead curtain in your first apartment…
  3. If you remember some of the shows on “When Radio Was” when they originally ran…
  4. If you know exactly what “You’ll shoot your eye out” means…
  5. If you ever sent or received a telegram…
  6. If you read Dennis the Menace or Mary Worth comic strips in a print newspaper…
  7. If you still read and enjoy a print newspaper…
  8. If you wore puka shells…
  9. If you used Short and Sassy shampoo and conditioner…
  10. If you remember the advertisement that read, “The only important things you wear are your jeans and your hair”…
  11. If you remember “Curlers in your hair, shame on you”…
  12. If you own curlers that don’t heat up or plug in…
  13. If your boyfriend had a Mustang muscle car…
  14. If you know who “Marsha, Marsha, Marsha” is…
  15. If you ever ate in a Pizza Hut with a salad bar…
  16. If you recall when bell bottoms and platform shoes were in fashion…
  17. If you ever bought a cup of coffee for a quarter, or even 50 cents…
  18. If you remember “You deserve a break today” and “At McDonald’s, it’s clean” commercials…
  19. If you ever got change back from a dollar at McDonald’s…
  20. If you ever shopped at a five and dime store…
  21. If you know what a five and dime store is…
  22. If you ever ate at a Woolworth restaurant…
  23. If you remember the original dollar stores…
  24. If you paid six dollars for your first concert ticket…
  25. If you ever wore gloves and a hat on a regular basis…
  26. If you remember Woodstock the concert, not just the bird…
  27. If you remember “It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want too…you’d cry too if it happened to you”…
  28. If you still own leg warmers and a double skinny belt…
  29. If you miss big hair, beehives and Aquanet…
  30. If you long for Dippity Do and DEP…
  31. If you ever used a hairspray called FREEZE…
  32. If you owned a smocked tunic top to wear over jeans…
  33. If you still wear Jean Nate body splash…
  34. If you still wear Sweet Honesty perfume…
  35. If you ever used Youth Dew bath oil…
  36. If you still use Prell Shampoo…
  37. If you love a good “Skybar”…
  38. If you know what a “Skybar” is…
  39. If you still bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan (of course, the bacon you bring home is still less than your male counterpart)…
  40. If you saw an Alfred Hitchcock film in a theater…
  41. If you remember theaters that had only one screen…
  42. If you would give anything for a Tab on ice…
  43. If you know what a Tab is…
  44. If a flower behind your ear was an elegant touch…
  45. If you know the lyrics to all the Carol King and Carol Bayer Sager songs…
  46. If you remember original Orange Julius drinks and Dilly Bars…
  47. If you know exactly what “One Adam Twelve” means…
  48. If you support and respect the older gentleman that authored the Violence Against Women Act and gave us our first female VP…
  49. If Dr. Jill Biden is your role model…
  50. If you weathered the rain and the sun marching for Girls in Sports, reproductive freedom, and ERA…

Calamity’s Favorite Quotes

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Calamity’s Favorite Quotes:

Calamity’s Favorite Quotes:

“Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; hate less, love more; and all good things are yours.”

                                                                                                                                 Unknown

Get Up and Get Moving

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Get Up and Get Moving

According to the experts, it doesn't really matter what you chose to do, just do it. Sitting is killing us.

Get Up and Get Moving

D. S. Mitchell

 

Getting Fatter

We hear it every day, our society is becoming more sedentary and with that comes obesity. Many of us spend hours behind a desk at our jobs.  We drive our cars to the fast food drive thru, then the bank drive thru, and the pharmacy drive thru, we never even have to get out of our cars.  We use our computers to shop, (I love Amazon), without ever leaving the house.  With decreased activity people are increasingly complaining of multiple issues including aches and pains, bad knees, obesity, depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.

Too Much 

Just like we enjoy eating and drinking too much, we enjoy sitting too much. We are surrounded by cars, snacks, elevators, sugary drinks and fast foods. The problem has become serious enough that the World Health Organization has a new agenda focused on encouraging physical activity. Things are serious when WHO recognizes the problem as a world wide health issue.

Improving Mental Health

A “Black Dog Institute” of Australia study found that 1-2 hours of exercise per week can prevent depression. In addition to improved mental health multiple world-wide studies have shown that vigorous movement can stave off heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, fatigue, diabetes, and even cancer. That should be a hell of a motivator, but sadly it doesn’t seem to be. There could be many reasons for that; but to combat the sitting disease it is necessary to drop all the excuses, find your tennis shoes and go for a walk, sign up for Pickleball at the local park, take a water aerobics class.  This exercise thing can be a fun thing.

Sitting Addiction

Our country, and most of the industrialized economies are suffering from a “sitting addiction” which leads in turn to “sitting disease”.  Physical inactivity is one of  the top 10 causes of disease and disability according to a recent UK government study. That study attributed 1 in 6 deaths to “sitting” which is equal to smoking in that country.

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