Category: Update

I Just Want to Know, How Come?

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I Just Want to Know, How Come?

Trump is the original flim-flam man.

I Just Want to Know, How Come?

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

  1. If convicted felons can’t vote for president, how come a felon with 43 convictions could even BE president? He can’t even vote for himself. He has no right to be on the ballot.
  2. If Joe Biden was allegedly too old to be president for four more years, how come Donald Trump, now the oldest candidate to run for the office, could serve four years? He is 78 years old and would be 82 at the end of his term. Why the hue and cry for President Biden to drop out of the race due to his age, despite the fact he was the incumbent, AND had beat the orange haired monster by over 7 million votes in 2020.
  3. If Kamala Harris does not like Jewish people as “The Donald” claims, how come she is married to a Jewish gentleman?
  4. If Kamala and her supporters (like me) are childless cat ladies, how come she is referred to by her step children as “Momala“, and so many of us are called “mom”? Come on, childless cat ladies, we can hiss with claws out because we are pussies Trump will never grab. I intend to kick kitty litter in the face of J.D. Vance and watch every episode of Jennifer Aniston on Friends. In fact, I’m hosting a Friends marathon while wearing cat ear headbands.
  5. How come any Democrat that has an indiscretion, because nobody is perfect, is drummed out of office and prosecuted, yet the multi-time adulterer, Donald Trump, is revered and treated as a Messiah by the so called “evangelical” right wingers. There is only one Messiah and that is Jesus, a Jewish carpenter.
  6. How come J.D. Vance, who previously referred to Trump as an American Hitler (the Donald certainly is America’s Hitler) but now he’s Trump’s vice presidential running mate? Interesting that Hitler orchestrated his own assassination attempt. I spent many good times in Butler, Pennsylvania, and I honestly question the Trump shooting. It saddens me that lives were lost that day near my hometown of Pittsburgh. I must also point out that Trump’s former vice president Mike Pence has distanced himself from the Donald and has refused to endorse him. Pence’s security advisor is part of the Republicans for Harris, advising Mike to endorse Kamala.
  7. How come Republicans are all about managing women’s reproductive organs? Like Tim Walz said, “Mind your own damn business.”
  8. How come Republicans are anti-Semitic and yet many are hard supporters of Israel?
  9. How come Republicans are racists?
  10. How come Republicans are anti-women?
  11. How come Republicans are happy to give big business and billionaires tax cuts while refusing tx help for hard working lower and middle class Americans?
  12. How come Republicans are anti-LGBTQ when Jesus loves everyone, died for all sins, and God made everyone in his image and likeness? “So God created mankind in his own image…” (Genesis 1:27a NIV); “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” (Psalm 139:14a NIV).
  13. How come Republicans want to see individuals pay student loans that are not affordable and causing financial hardship for those individuals that are struggling to make a living?
  14. How come Republicans don’t want common sense gun laws that will save lives?
  15. How come Republicans want the convicted felon that lost the election four years ago and made an international disaster of the pandemic to be their nominee once again?
  16. How come Republicans insisted that President Clinton be impeached for his indiscretion with Monica Lewinsky but they make Donald Trump, who cheated on all of his wives, into a heroic  figure? I must point out, to the right wing fundamentalists, there is only one Messiah in Christianity, Jesus.
  17. How come Republicans want tax breaks for billionaires that don’t need them, but want to abolish Social Security for seniors and disabled that have paid into the system for decades?
  18. How come Republicans deny climate change when severe weather indicates the “inconvenient truth” that global warming does exist and it is destroying our world?
  19. How come Republicans want babies born, but deny them nutrition assistance and medical care once they are here?
  20. How come Republicans just don’t care about the hard working lower and middle classes?

Women of a Certain Age

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Women of a Certain Age –

Barbie Birthday Edition…

Women of a Certain Age –

Barbie Birthday Edition…

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

  1. If “One Bad Apple”, “I Think I Love You”, “Pleasant Valley Sunday”, or “Ben” are on your playlist, you might be a woman of a certain age.
  2. If you know what to ask any mermaid you happen to see…
  3. If you know why Charlie has good taste…
  4. If you ever polished your teeth with Pearl Drops (mmmmm)…
  5. If you remember new Coke and new math…
  6. If you ever swung on a tire…
  7. If you ever sang about swinging on a star and carrying moonbeams home in a jar….
  8. If you ever drank from the garden hose (don’t try this again)…
  9. If you had a Betsy Wetsy, Suzie Cute, Chatty Cathy or Mrs Beasley doll…
  10. If you ever used two tin cans and a length of twine as a communication device…
  11. If you ever “drove” a Yugo, Le Car, Bobcat, or Pinto, not only are you of a certain age, I feel sorry for you…
  12. If your baloney has a first and last name…
  13. If you ever made a balcony appetizer with a pearl onion on a toothpick…
  14. If you know what choosey moms choose…
  15. If you ever shaked and baked, or “helped”…
  16. If you know who was moving kind of slow, at the junction…
  17. If your recipe cards include tuna casserole with potato chips crust and chicken ala king….
  18. If you ever used recipe cards…
  19. If you ever read a Weekly Reader…
  20. If you know who Dick, Jane, Spot, and Puff are.
  21. If you call math arithmetic…
  22. If you recall when Pringles were just potato flavored only…
  23. If you remember when M&M candies came in just plain and peanut…
  24. If you ever used a Trimline or Princess phone (mine was pink)…
  25. If you ever protected your manicure by dialing the phone with the eraser end of a pencil…
  26. If when you hear Amazon, you think of a river in South America…
  27. If you ever received a glass or a towel inside a box of detergent…
  28. If you ever received a toy in cereal or a prize in a Cracker Jack box…
  29. If you know Cracker Jack has nothing to do with crackers or a real man named Jack…
  30. If you ever made a purchase with S&H green stamps…
  31. If you ever clapped on, clapped off…
  32. If you ever waxed on, waxed off…
  33. If you ever owned any compilation by K-Tel….
  34. If you owned an original pair of Candies’ clogs…
  35. If you ever shopped at Peck and Peck, Sears, Wards, “Misc”, Murphy’s, Thom McCann, Buster Brown, or Lerner shop…
  36. If you know who got no respect but had a lot of balls…
  37. If your favorite summer Olympians are Mark Spitz, Olga Corbit, or Cathy Rigby…
  38. If your favorite ice skater Olympic stars are Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Liz Manley, Brian Botano, Brian Orser, or Scott Hamilton…
  39. If you call a credit card a Charge-A-Plate…
  40. If you ever walked through the Elizabeth Arden Red Door…
  41. If you ever had an Adrian Arpel in-salon facial, and went on to follow her on QVC….
  42. If you know who Elizabeth Arden and Adrian Arpel are….
  43. If you ever used Youth Dew bath oil…
  44. If you still use Jean Nate splash-on cologne…
  45. If you have ever heard of splash-on cologne…
  46. If you ever wore strawberry or lemon perfume …
  47. If you ever wore Coty’s Emeraude perfume…
  48. If your favorite cologne is named Charlie…
  49. If you ever used a Trapper Keeper or a gel pen…
  50. If you ever used a Day Runner…
  51. If you ever were a candy striper…
  52. If you recall when nurses wore caps and dresses…
  53. If you ever owned blow mold Christmas or Easter lawn ornaments…
  54. If you ever washed your hair with beer or used an egg white face mask …
  55. If Hazel or Bewitched are one of your favorite TV shows…
  56. If you know “You Got a Friend”….
  57. If you were a Lustre Creme shampoo girl or had a Lilt permanent…
  58. If you call Oil of Olay or Ponds cold cream…
  59. If you know who Mike Douglas and his weekly co-hosts were…
  60. If you ever watched “Apples Way”, “Lotsa Luck!” or “You Again” on TV…
  61. If you ever owned a scarf clip or sweater fastener…
  62. If you ever owned veiled hats or prim white gloves that are not for winter…
  63. If you’ve ever sought advice from Ann Landers or Dear Abby…
  64. If you know who Ann Landers or Dear Abby are…
  65. If you are as old as Barbie, you are 65, and are definitely a woman of a certain age…

 

Happy birthday, Barbara Millicent Roberts – you look great for 65. Thank you for empowering girls and women everywhere to be whatever they choose to be…

Spring and Summer Lifestyle Tips of a Budget

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Spring and Summer Lifestyle Tips on a Budget

Here are some common sense ways to save money this spring and summer

Spring and Summer Lifestyle Tips on a Budget

 

By Cate Rees-Hessel with Wes Hessel

 

Mother, May I?

April showers bring May flowers, along with the promise of summer activities and enjoyment. There are very many ways to save money during warmer weather and still have lots of fun:

  1. Take advantage of free movies, plays, and concerts in the park or at your local libraries. Many of these outdoor events have food trucks – the cuisine is usually very good but can be rather pricey. Consider packing a cooler of food to save on funds when attending these festivities.
  2. Water parks are great for summer fun, and now is the time to get your season passes at a potential discount. Many park districts and recreation departments offer pool memberships at a cheaper early bird rate prior to Memorial Day weekend. Several neighborhoods have no cost or low cost splash pads that are like mini water parks, as well. Be careful at the concession counter – prices are higher there and often less healthy options are sold. Ask if coolers with food from home are permitted. Check rainout lines/webpages before using your gas to drive to the facility just to find out it’s closed on a particular day. Of course, if you can bike or walk to the local aquatic center, all the better.
  3. Toes in the sand season is almost here – pedicures are in order, but can be pricey. Consider an online coupon/Groupon, a beauty school mani-pedi, or DIY. Soak feet in warm water, adding in some fragrance or bath oil for a more spa-like experience. Trim toenails straight across with a clipper. Ingrown nails can be treated with a special file available at most big box retailers. Push back cuticles with an orangewood stick or metal implement made specifically for this purpose. Use an oil or cuticle remover for best results. A pumice stone or metal dry skin remover is preferable over a razor for callus and dry skin. Dry well between toes, and if need be, use an antifungal cream or spray. Use toe separators or wind tissue between your toes before you start polishing. Apply a base, two coats of color polish, and a clear top layer for the best look, then finish off with lotion. Dipping a cotton swab in a little nail polish remover and running it around your cuticles will remove any excess polish that may have gotten on your skin. A do-it-yourself pedicure can look great.
  4. Time share rental sites, home swaps, and Airbnb’s can make vacations more affordable, or join a hotel group in email for discount codes. Watch reviews, though, as the quality of a particular stay site can vary widely. airbnb.com, www.redweek.com, www.go-koala.com/timeshare-rentals. A staycation can be just as much fun – check for free local museum days or complimentary events at local parks, beaches, and other public institutions.
  5. Picnics and cookouts during spring and summer are great ways to get together with friends. Ask everyone to bring a dish to share, but be cautious of food safety. Use a meat thermometer before taking any protein off the grill. Do not cross contaminate food – never use the same plates or utensils for cooked items that have come in contact with raw foods, without thoroughly washing them. Keep foods cold – a cooler full of ice will suffice if you are barbecuing in a park where a refrigerator is unavailable. Wash hands thoroughly, antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizer in a pinch can work but I recommend only picnicking where there are bathrooms available. Back yard cookouts are a safer option. Meats should rest ten to fifteen minutes after removing from the cooking source, but never leave any perishable food out longer than a total of two hours. Consider warmer temperatures when choosing baked good to bring. Frostings and chocolate treats can easily melt in the heat. Make sure you stay hydrated, especially in heavy heat. Avoid caffeine and stick with liquids like good ol’ H2O and clear juices. Throw away your trash in provided receptacles if you’re eating at a park or other such location. Wipe down tables in public spaces with a wipe safe for food surfaces or bring a spray bottle of vinegar and napkins or paper towels to clean tables. Consider a table covering to keep the surface safe for consumption.
  6. Use discount sites and price comparison apps to save money on events and hot weather essentials. Spring is a good time to get in on sales before summer arrives. rakuten.com, www.groupon.com, www.joinhoney.com.
  7. Sunscreen is important whenever you are in the sun, but be wary of budget brands and potentially dangerous chemicals. Two years ago, the FDA, based on the currently available scientific data, said that only two sunscreen ingredients could be considered safe and effective – titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Other UV filter chemicals like avobenzone, cinoxate, dioxybenzone, ensulizole, homosalate, meradimate, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, oxybenzone, padimate O, and sulisobenzone have concerned regulators because of skin absorption. Of those, the worst are oxybenzone, homosalate, and avobenzone – all three of them have been connected to disruption of the endocrine system. The European Commission in 2021 released preliminary reports about the first two, saying they should only be used at most to 2.2% and 1.4%, respectively. Current U.S. regs only cap those concentration percentages at 6% and 15%. Remember dollar stores, as well as some big box stores, often have sunscreens, cosmetics, and other HBA products that are made in China – some of them with recognizable brand names – and these are not regulated. Look at labels – made in China or PRC (People’s Republic of China) pose real safety concerns.
  8. Local beaches and lakes are almost always free – just check bacteria conditions and other water quality standards before plunging into the drink.
  9. If you want to spend your tax refund on some beach or cruise wear, remember budget apparel is fine. Just like holiday clothing, these articles are only wearable for short seasons. Better to spend more on wardrobe staples and keep the trendy spends to a minimum. The same goes for beach towels and totes. Take advantage of end of season sales for next year – that’s a great way to get higher quality things that will last longer. Spend a bit more on swimwear – chlorinated water is hard on bathing suits and trunks.
  10. Remember, simple days and nights on the patio with loved ones, including furbabies, are a wonderful free way to enjoy the spring and summer seasons. A good book on a lounger with a glass of ice tea or lemonade is not just relaxing, but a break from the hustle and bustle of politics, social media, national news, and everyday stress. Relax, unwind and breathe…

Russian Dissidents Keep Dying

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Russian Dissidents Keep Dying

Putin Critics Keep Dying

A String of Violent Deaths Follow Putin and Associates

 

By D.S. Mitchell

 

Complete Control 

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s opponents continue to disappear in a pattern of bizarre and sudden deaths. Many of those that have opposed Vladimir Putin during his near 25 years in power have met violent deaths. Alexei Navalny, a striden critic of Putin is his most recent presumed victim. Navalny supporters and many foreign leaders categorically state Navalny’s death was murder. There is no doubt that Navalny was a prisoner under the complete control of the Kremlin. We all know he was banished to a prison camp in the Arctic Circle, where it is known he was regularly thrown in isolation, exposed to the winter elements, beaten, and starved.

Shootings, Exotic Poisonings, and Plane Crashes

The number of Russian dissidents dying is growing. All are suspected victims of Putin and his Kremlin killers. The means of execution has varied; shootings, exotic poisonings, and quite theatrically a plane brought crashing to earth. Many of these deaths are still listed as accidents and suicides. The real question is, how many of his enemies has Putin actually killed; the answer to that question, will  probably never be known.

Alexander Litvinenko

Alexander Litvinenko, was an officer of the Federal Security Service (FSB) and and an outspoken
critic of Vladimir Putin. The FSB is a Russian internal security and counterintelligence service that was created in 1994 as a successor to the old Soviet-era KGB. The FSB is responsible for counterintelligence, antiterrorism, and surveillance of the military. Litvinenko fled Russia in 2000 with his family and sought asylum in London.
Soviet Era Poisons

In 2006, Litvinenko died of polonium-210 poisoning in a London hospital. His killers, were accused of spiking his tea with the deadly radioactive isotope. Before his death, Andrey Litvinenko told reporters that the FSB security service was still operating poison laboratories dating from the Soviet era. The accused killers, Andrey Lugovoy and Dmitry Kovtun had links to the intelligence services. Despite strong evidence against Lugovoy and Kovtun; Russia refused to extradite them for trial.

Justice Delayed

In September 2021, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that Russia was responsible for the assassination of Litvinenko and ordered Russia to pay Litvinenko’s wife €100,000 in damages plus €22,500 in costs. The ECHR found beyond reasonable doubt that Lugovoy and Kovtun killed Litvinenko and that Putin probably ordered the assassination.

Natalya (Natasha) Estemirova

Natalya (Natasha) Estemirova, was a human rights defender in Chechnya, documenting kidnapping, murder, rape and other atrocities. On July 15, 2000 she and a close friend were abducted and murdered. Putin has long been associated with her and her friend’s death. 

Yuri Shchekochikhin

Schekochikhin was Deputy Editor of the free newspaper Novaya Gazeta. Schekochikhim was also a writer, a State Duma deputy and a member of the Commission against Corruption. On 3 July 2003, Yuri Shchekochikhin died 12 days after being hospitalized in a Moscow clinic, at the age of 53, of what doctors said was an “acute allergic reaction.”

Sergei Skripal

In 2018, at least a dozen people in the small town of Salisbury, England, were sickened and one died when inadvertently exposed to the nerve agent, Novichok.  Authorities believe it was caused when two agents from the Russian GRU military intelligence agency carelessly handled the toxin causing it to be left on surfaces in their hotel room, a taxi cab, a pub booth, and on an air plane seat. The apparent target of the assassination attempt was, Sergei Skripal.

Doorknob Tampering

Skripal had been convicted in Russia of treason. Skripal was a double agent who worked with UK intelligence for multiple years and whose release to the west came in a prisoner exchange. Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were nearly killed when they came in contact with the neurotoxin Novichok which had been smeared on the doorknob of their home in Salisbury. The two Skripals spent many weeks recovering in hospital, but survived. Relations between the Kremlin and the UK were severely damaged by the Skripal attack and murders of several high profile Russians living in exile.

Yevgeny Prigozhin

Known as “Putin’s Chef,” Yevgeny Prigozhin caught the attention of the world in June 2023 when his Wagner paramilitary group, in what appeared to be open mutiny, left the front lines of the battle in Ukraine and headed in military procession toward Moscow. Prigozhin was outraged at Kremlin officials, whom he believed were endangering his troops with errant missile attacks. On the way to Moscow Prigozhin’s mercenaries seized the city of Rosrov at which point the march to Moscow was halted and negotiations for a truce started.

A Deadly Truce

Prigozhin appeared to have negotiated a truce with the Kremlin, agreeing to evacuate his Wagner troops to Belarus and to focus the group’s activities outside Ukraine. In August 2023 he was in Moscow to finalize the details of the agreement. After leaving the meeting, somewhere north of Moscow, he and several of his top aides were killed when an explosion aboard his Embraer Legacy 600 business jet sent the plane spiraling to the ground, killing all on board. Soon after, Putin signed a decree forcing Prigozhin’s Wagner troops to swear an oath to him and Russia’s national flag.

Boris Nemtsov  

Boris Nemtsov, a major domestic rival of Putin, died in 2015 right before an opposition rally. Nemtsov was shot in the back of the head four times within blocks of the Kremlin on his way to the rally. Nemtsov was a vocal opposition leader who had served as Deputy Prime Minister under Boris Yeltsin and was seen as a potential successor. A joint investigation by the BBC and the Insider uncovered that Nemtsov had been followed by FBS agents for over a year prior to his murder. The investigation revealed that the agents shadowing Nemtsov were suspected of poisoning several Kremlin critics. Five men of Chechen origin were arrested over the attack, but those close to Nemtsov believed that Putin had given the order.

Anna Politkovskaya

Anna Politkovskaya was one of Russia’s most prominent journalists before her death. The Novaya Gazeta (now Novaya Gazeta Europe) reporter was loudly critical of Putin and Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov. The journalist and human rights activist, was gunned down in the elevator of her Moscow apartment building in 2006. She regularly criticized the Kremlin, particularly regarding policies related to Chechnya. A probe into her death failed to determine who killed her. Her brazen murder had a chilling effect on Russia’s media, causing many free newspapers, including the Gazeta, to flee Russia and publish from outside the country. Putin called for her killer(s) to be arrested, but slammed Politkovskaya herself as contributing “very little” to Russian life.

Boris Berezovsky and Friends

Even rich oligarchs haven’t been safe from Putin’s wrath. It seems multiple Russian executives have died under mysterious circumstances, including suspicious suicides and unexplained falls from tall buildings. Boris Berezovsky was a Kremlin insider turned strident Putin critic who had gone into self-imposed exile in the UK in the early 2000s. In 2013, Berezovsky was found hanged in the bathroom of his Ascot residence. The case remains officially a suicide. An associate of Berezovsky, Nikolai Glushkov another Putin critic was found suffocated in his London home. Georgian billionaire and political opponent of Putin, Badri Patarkatsishvili, was found dead under suspicious circumstances in his Surry, Uk home where he too was living in exile. Further, on Jan 11, 2007 — A founding father of the one-time Yukos oil empire, Yury Golubev, was found dead in his London apartment.

Opposition to Ukraine Invasion

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The Rise of Depression in the United States

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The Rise of Depression in the U.S.

The Rise of Depression in the U.S.

Depression and divorce are up in the United States 

By Jones William 

Depression Affects All Ages

Depression is a mental health disorder and it’s increasing in the United States. Depression doesn’t just affect the brain, the disorder also has physical and emotional effects. Anyone can be affected, children, adolescents, and adults. Despite being one of the most advanced countries in the world, an estimated 30%  of Americans are currently suffering from depression. When compared to 2015 data, this is an increase of 10%; making it the highest rate of depression ever recorded for Americans. A third of American women are victims of depression, that’s about twice as many as men.  Furthermore, individuals aged 18-35 record are subject to higher rates of depression than other age groups.

Factors Contributing to Increasing Prevalence of Depression

Economic Hardship in America: The middle class in the United States has been steadily shrinking since Ronald Reagan. The promise of a better life than that of your parents had is gone. Many “middle-class” people are maintaining the middle class life style by high credit card debt, and home equity loans. Facing disappointing realities, and suffering from financial stress, depression becomes the order of the day.

Poor community ties and shattered relationships: In the last twenty years  church fellowship and neighborhood activities have dramatically decreased. The COVID-19 pandemic has isolated Americans from their support system. We rarely even say hello to our neighbors. Divorce rates have skyrocketed. As those  human networks disintegrate we as a society are experiencing an increased isolating technology boom. This technology boom, including the use of social media, decreases face-to-face interactions. It is difficult to experience healthy relationships, and normal communication when all interaction between individuals are at a distance or on line. As a result, a sense of belonging, the meaning and purpose of life, and familiar human support systems are lost.

Expectations of Americans are too high: Some experts believe that despite mental health communities and schools having good intentions; promoting unrealistic self-positive expectations can be harmful. Fostering the notion that all Americans “can be anything they want or dream” opens the door, especially for adolescents and young adults, to experience disgrace and disappointment, when the reality of their life fails to match what they had imagined for themselves. Sounds like  a guarantee for misery and depression.

Is it possible to lower depression rates and cases in the U.S.?

The United States government and citizens can do several things at societal levels to curb depression. For instance, meeting the basic needs of citizens and improving their interpersonal relationships and community ties can reduce depression rates and cases.

Nurturing Social Connections: Post pandemic America feels different than pre-COVID America. The current high depression rates are likely to decline as the country moves towards “normalcy” and social networks are revitalized. Since human beings are social beings, social isolation and loneliness can cause mental and physical disorders such as depression, headaches, suicide, anxiety, in addition to many other problems. When people are connected to their country, their community, their friends, and family members, reducing depression is achievable.

Meeting Basic Needs: Increased depression rates from food insecurity and homelessness could be  reduced if our government can find ways to meet its citizen’s basic needs. In colleges and universities, three out of five students have basic needs challenges. They suffer from hunger, homelessness, and lack of affordable healthcare services. There is a direct link between financial stress and depression. Furthermore, individuals suffering from mental illness tend not to seek services because of the expense.

Ensuring Mental Healthcare is Available: Accessing mental healthcare is difficult in many areas of the country. Lack of money and insurance coverage prevents many Americans from getting the needed  mental healthcare services. To make matters worse, in many areas of the United States there are no mental health clinics, practitioners, or hospitals. Government funding for mental health services is sorely lacking and with Medicaid and Affordable Care not being available in many states with Republican governors is a big problem.

Conclusion

Depression is a major health concern in the United States. Men, women, and children can all be victims of mental illness. Depression risks among adolescents and young adults have increased dramatically in recent  decades. The question becomes, will our government ever prioritize the well being of the majority of American citizens over the billionaire class? Until that question can be answered we will live with a patchwork of laws and a failure of services.

Sources

https://www.health.com/depression-rates-higher-than-ever-things-to-change-7501286

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140930132832.htm

https://abc3340.com/news/nation-world/depression-on-the-rise-in-the-us-cdc-says-centers-disease-control-prevention-mental-health

http://www.drrevelmiller.com/2019/09/why-is-depression-so-common-in-the-usa/

Remembering Alexei Navalny

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Remembering Alexei Navalny

Remembering Alexei Navalny

One of Putin’s Fiercest Critics has died according to Russian authorities

 

By D.S. Mitchell

Death Reports

It was February 16th, and I was watching MSNBC when a red news alert banner appeared at the base of the screen. “Alexei Navalny, anti-corruption activist and well-known Putin critic reported dead.” Within moments Joy Reid was sharing the dreadful news that the world’s most famous political prisoner was dead at 47, from “sudden death syndrome.” SDS is a common condition amongst Putin opponents.  The pattern of lethal attacks against Kremlin critics is alarming, ranging from gun shots at close range, falls from buildings, and exotic poisonings.

Tears for Alexei

I started to cry. I never met Alexei Navalny, but for the world to lose a man of such courage and charisma is heartbreaking. Navalny’s wife, Yulia Navalnaya, said in a speech in Munich on Friday that if the reports about her husband’s death are true, Putin and his associates “will be brought to justice.” Yulia, who has primarily remained in the background during Alexei’s years of activism, indicates she will carry on his very public work.

To the End

Navalny has been a thorn in the Putin’s side for over a decade. Navalny was a trained attorney, a well-known blogger and YouTuber, and anti-corruption advocate. Prior to his imprisonment Navalny organized several large protests against Putin and the Kremlin. While in prison, he remained a strident political voice, speaking out against Putin and filing lawsuits against Russia’s terrible prison system.

Underpants Poisoning

Navalny survived multiple poisoning attempts, one in which he claimed his underpants had been loaded with the neuroparalytic, Novichok. To each of the various attempts on his life the Kremlin denied responsibility. In 2020 after a dramatic hospitalization in Berlin, Germany for another Novichok poisoning, Navalny decided despite the danger, he would return to Russia instead of emigrating to some “safe country” in the west.

Last Seen

After returning to Russia he was imprisoned on fraud and extremism charges, all of which Navalny denied. He was serving a 30 year sentence at the time of his death. In December 2023, Navalny’s lawyers said that they had lost contact with him. Three weeks after their complaint he was located in a high-security penal colony above the Arctic Circle. His last public appearance was at a court hearing Thursday, February 15, 2024, during which he was seen joking with the judge, according to a video of the hearing published by a Russian news outlet.

Biden & Blinkin Reactions

Biden praised Navalny’s courage. “He bravely stood up to the corruption, the violence and all the bad things that the Putin government was doing,” Biden said. “In response, Putin had him poisoned, he had him arrested, he had him prosecuted for fabricated crimes, he sentenced him to prison, he held him in isolation … Even in prison he was a powerful voice for the truth.”  Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State said: “His death in a Russian prison and the fixation and fear of one man only underscores the weakness and rot at the heart of the system that Putin has built. Russia is responsible for this.”

Anti-Protest Laws

In many cities across Russia, small groups of Russians braved strict anti-protest laws and laid flowers at makeshift memorials to Navalny. More than 400 people have been  arrested, according to OVD-Info, a Russian rights group that tracks political arrests and offers legal aid. Navalny is survived by his wife Yulia and their two children. In a Valentine’s Day post to his wife, he wrote: “I feel that you are close to me every second and I love you more and more.”

Before and After Moment

Supporters and allies were visibly stunned by the news of his death, and many pointed an accusing finger at Putin. Many of his supporters telling western media it was murder. Mikhail Fishman, a journalist, blinked back tears as he said: “We must learn to live with this news somehow. But we understand the scale of what has happened, that we will mark this as a before-and-after moment.”

 

Even Clean People Get Bugs

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Even Clean People Can Get Bugs

Numerous health issues are thought to be related to cleanliness when it has nothing to do with hygiene. Examples such as scabies, bedbugs, fleas, ringworm and head lice.

Scabies, Bedbugs, Fleas, Head Lice, Ringworm Have Nothing To Do With Cleanliness

Lax Hygiene Is Not The Cause Of An Infestation

By D.S. Mitchell

Fleas

I’ve always had a dog and sometimes a kitty. If you have pets you have likely dealt with fleas at some point or another, despite flea collars and systemic barriers. Flea eggs fall off our pets and onto our carpet. After a gestation period, larvae hatch from the eggs and develop into pupae, which emerge as adult fleas when stimulated by the scent of a warm blooded animal in close proximity-such as yourself, or your pet. Motivated by the scent of human blood the hungry fleas attack,  leaving small, itchy red bumps.

Cleanliness has nothing to do with the infestation you are experiencing. Fleas are attracted to warm bodies. These little critters over time have developed genetic adaptations to many of the insecticides we use to kill them.  Although flea bites, in themselves, are not harmful, people scratching the bites with dirty hands or fingernails can cause an infection.  OTC anti-itch cream can usually relieve the itch. Vets recommend spot on flea and tick treatments which usually prevent re-infestation. Vacuuming can help, but it is unrealistic to expect to snare every flea pupa with the vacuum.

Head Lice

When I was a young mother I was on constant alert for head lice which cause regular outbreaks in school. When your little tykes come home and hugs you and other family members you have an infected household.  Head lice are parasitic insects known for clinging to hair and feeding on human blood.  When infected, you will have an itchy scalp and neck. Examine your hair, close to the scalp, and if you are infected, you will see tiny tan or grayish bugs or tiny eggs sticking to the hair shaft, close to the scalp and the blood supply. Although itchy and uncomfortable, head lice are not known to be dangerous. Drugstores nationwide carry treatment kits. Some communities even have lice removal centers to take care of the problem.

Ringworm

First of all, ringworm is not a bug or insect, but instead a fungus. The fungus eats keratin, the dead outer layer of skin. Ringworm is highly infectious. It has nothing to do with cleanliness and can be contracted if you come into contact with infected people or pets. In locker rooms contamination often comes via washcloths or clothing. If you notice a red, scaly rash in the shape of rings that grows over time you probably have ringworm. An infected pet may display a circular rash or hair loss. If the infection is on smooth hairless skin an OTC anti-fungal cream should be all you need. However, if the outbreak is on a hairy area of skin, you should visit your doctor and get an oral medication, because the fungus can travel down hair follicles making the topical cream ineffective.

Bedbugs

Bedbugs infest beds and upholstered furniture and feed on humans as they sleep or rest. Suspect you have an infestation if you have a cluster or “line” of itchy red bumps like mosquito bites on most any part of the body. Suspect bedbugs if any family member has spent a night outside your home.  Bedbugs have been around since the beginning and they are oblivious to clean sheets and hygienic efforts. Bedbugs are hitchhikers and often ride on luggage and backpacks. The bites are irritating but usually an OTC antihistamine will relieve the discomfort. There are several products on the market for use by the homeowner to eradicate the infestation. If you don’t notice a quick drop in the bites you may need to call an exterminator.

Scabies

Scabies are tiny mites that burrow their way under the top layers of skin, laying eggs and excreting feces, sparking an inflammatory reaction in the skin. The “trails” they leave under your skin will be intensely irritated, red, and itchy. The itching may be especially irritating at night. Be particularly suspicious of an infestation if you have been on vacation or have recently come in contact with a new group of people. Scabies are passed through skin-to-skin contact and is in no way a sign of poor hygiene. You’ll probably be seeing your PCP and getting a prescription for a  topical cream. Everyone in the family should be treated. The cream needs to be applied two times, a week apart to be sure it kills mites when they hatch.

Tips On Staying In Style In This Economy

  By

Staying In Style In This Economy

Anna Hessel offers common sense ideas to save money in these inflationary times

 

Editor’s Note: Anna Hessel with a little help from hubby, Wes, will be offering up for the next seven weeks, 10 tips a week on How to Stay In Style In This Economy. Watch for it every Tuesday.

How to Stay in Style in this Economy…

By Anna Hessel with Wes Hessel

Inflation is being beaten back but basic costs are still high, and service providers are charging more, but there is hope out there. Saving money has always been a challenge but in this current economic climate saving money can be get a bit tricky,  but there are certainly ways to shave your budget without losing out on things you need and want, here are today’s suggestions:

 

  1. Dare to compare – check your cell phone, hotspot, or internet plan to see if you’re getting the best buy. “Unlimited” plans maybe more than you need, such as for cell phone data – check your account on the provider’s website or app for your usage history, or call their customer service if you can’t locate it to find out what you are really using.
  2. Dare to compare, part 2 – check other providers for the service to see if there’s a better deal. For instance, if you have an unlocked or otherwise compatible phone, see if another vendor would get you more for your money. If your device isn’t unlocked, talk to your provider to see if they have an unlock program – more are making one available, but it might not be advertised. Also, the conversation you have with the customer service person who you’re asking might get you to a unpublished plan that is better than you have but is only available for their personnel to save your business.
  3. Dare to compare, part 3 – when is the last time you checked to see if you’re getting the best buy for your insurance plans? How about the best deal (be it less fees or higher interest) at yout bank? (And alternative online institutions which offer checking/debit card or savings account equivalents, such as PayPal or Chime, may be a good place to try…)
  4. Discount drug cards or services can be very helpful for filling prescriptions – sometimes they are even cheaper than insurance prices…
  5. If you have Medicare, look into advantage plans – depending on your personal situation, they can get you benefits you don’t already have or improve the ones you do, all potentially at little or no additional cost, maybe even save you money. Be cautious as some hotlines/brokers are oriented toward one or two particular providers they work for, but shopping around is worth it.

Don’t Discount the Discounts…

  1. Save with coupons – they still exist in paper form, not just online. Although super couponing is no longer popular, any money saved is worth the clipping. Many grocery stores have coupon dispensers in the aisles or otherwise available by the product(s) they’re for. Ask for rainchecks if sale items are out of stock. In addition, grocery clearance can also be a great way to reduce your food costs but be very cautious of expiration dates and packaging. Dented cans and taped food boxes or containers are not worth the risk.
  2. Look for package deals – be they the $5 or $6 “bundle” at your favorite fast food (good for the occasional treat) or retailers (online or otherwise) who sell a group of related items for a potentially lesser overall price. But caveat emptor (let the buyer beware) – sometimes such groupings actually cost more, particularly if their are parts you wouldn’t use or care for.
  3. Join loyalty programs and/or download loyalty apps. They often have incentives for signing up, and many offer a birthday or even anniversary gift. Paying for some loyalty programs also can pay off in free shipping, discounts, and perks. If you are not familiar with the program or app, check their ratings online – there are some who call for extreme hoop-jumping or are there to get your private information…
  4. If you shop online, try cost comparing services through Honey, Capitol One, Amazon, or the like – in addition to immediately looking for a better deal elsewhere on a item you are interested in, they can monitor the price on a wanted product and let you know when a good buy is available. They also can have reward program benefits, too…
  5. Pre-buying can make for major savings; services like Groupon can really make a difference, but always read the terms and conditions carefully – there can be requirements that may make it less advantageous or even unusable for you.