Open Thread - Friday, February 22, 2018

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Human bodies are designed for regular physical activity. The sedentary nature of much of modern life probably plays a significant role in the epidemic incidence of depression today. Many studies show that depressed patients who stick to a regimen of aerobic exercise improve as much as those treated with medication.
-Andrew Weil, MD guru of alternative medicine

A couple of cold and rainy days kept me in the house, and I squander life force perusing the Internet. The negative effects were tangible. The cacophony of opinions, view points and nuttiness induced anxiety that quickly turned to consternation. It is hard to fathom how much energy is spent trying to influence, manipulate and herd humanity.

It funkin' pisses me off to be lied to and manipulated. I have to reach for an antidote, loud funkin' blues!

Is it me?

I think the root cause is outside my house.

It seems like the writing is on the wall.

No television available around my house and the Internet is what it is, so I get out of the house for the evening.

I am determined to live out my days, on my terms.

Eyes open, at volume.

Time to roll.

Have a great weekend!

The thread is OPEN.

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Raggedy Ann's picture

We're off to AZ to help my son and his wife in their move to NY state. They have some of my heirloom furniture I'm bringing back home. They've sold most everything in order to move with less and start over in their new location. A good decision.

Life has been busy for us these last few weeks. It won't slow down for a while. It will keep me sane until summer, when I can slow down and enjoy long days.

Have a beautiful day and weekend, everyone! Pleasantry

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

NCTim's picture

@Raggedy Ann I have been chipping away at getting small / shedding baggage.

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The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -

WaterLily's picture

@NCTim I started one of those "minimalist challenges," where on the first day, you get rid of one thing; on the second, two; and so on until, by Day 30, you've shed 465 things.

The first six days were easy. I've now been stuck on Day 7 for three weeks! Lol

I know what you mean about spending too much time on the internet. We also do not have cable so it's an easy trap to fall into. Being outside definitely helps.

Best wishes as you help with the move, Raggedy Ann -- and hope everyone here has a great weekend!

Oh, and here's a little bit of good news -- something I hope the other 49 states can follow:

Governor proposes sweeping changes to Vermont gun control laws

"I have a huge responsibility as governor to try and keep Vermont and Vermonters as safe as possible," he said. "This is an area, regardless of the political fallout, I think is the path forward to keep Vermonters safer.”

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NCTim's picture

@WaterLily ... a second, post mortem, sift through the master bedroom walk in closet. That's where Sue stashed stuff.

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The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -

WaterLily's picture

@NCTim

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Raggedy Ann's picture

@NCTim
I really only care about the hand carved dining room furniture that was my mother's. The bedroom furniture is not something I have room for, so my daughter wants it and will take it to her house. Win-win all around!

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

NCTim's picture

@Raggedy Ann About down sizing, and mentioned looking for a small place with a two stall garage, which is unusual around here. Most small places have a car port and shed. My friend claimed it was about the two wheelers. How very astute of him.

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The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -

riverlover's picture

I think I feel more protected yelling at the dog, inside. Another concussion, still symptomatic, but I made it through another death fall. No idea why it occurred. Owls call at night, even through windows I can hear them. A comforting sound. Another day of we haven't completely destroyed everything.

My husband might have been 71 today. Lost expectations. Happy B-day. 9 years now.

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Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

NCTim's picture

@riverlover Please take care. I could not turn off the music. The hole never fills in, does it?

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The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -

Lookout's picture

Another beautiful day here - spring is ready to burst out. Daffodils are starting to bloom. It is time to plant early crops in the garden.

Yes magazine has a piece in their new edition that uses studies of the longest lived peoples to suggest a better approach to life.
http://issues.yesmagazine.org/issue/decolonize/solutions.html#1stArticle
The main ideas are to:
eat mainly plants
Move and be active
De-stress by being part of a community
Do meaningful work
be part of an empathetic tribe.

The missing piece, from my view, is spending time in nature. To me nature is a way to understand our insignificance. In the billions year old universe, our species is the "flash of a firefly in the night". Yet we attach such self importance to ourselves and our species. The universe exists for us? I don't think so.

Here's wishing us all peace and joy in whatever corner of the world you find yourself.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

NCTim's picture

@Lookout Spring weather rolled in a couple of days ago, which is very therapeutic. I had been making excuses for not doing a walk around, but I got in ~20 miles so far this week and plan to roll on 5-7 later this AM.

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The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -

snoopydawg's picture

@Lookout

with 20mph winds. Still debating my daily walk. Every time I sigh heavily the dawgs think that we are going now. Sigh. They tell me that I have a coat and gloves so what's my problem?

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

orlbucfan's picture

I live in a high-tech house as hubby works in sports entertainment. However, I avoid Twitter, FaceBook, the boob tube, etc. I'm one of those antiquities who enjoys holding and reading a physical book. Smile Taking very long walks has always been my fave form of exercise. I'm in good shape so guess it paid off. LOL. There are days when I feel down so I go right for the tunes and books.

rl, please be careful! The rest of yous enjoy the weekend. Rec'd!!

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Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.

NCTim's picture

@orlbucfan My Sweetie:

I'm one of those antiquities who enjoys holding and reading a physical book. Taking very long walks has always been my fave form of exercise.

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The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -

enhydra lutris's picture

today during a patch of bad weather - blustery high winds and morning outside temp of 30 degrees. Looks like all the plants made it ok, but we have several more such days lined up.This means several days of putting on row covers in the afternoon and taking them off in the morning, but at least this morning is the last day of house-cleaning, organizing and neatenizing.

My wife is big on the getting small and downsizing thing until something breaks at the worst possible time and I wander into the garage, paw through my stuff, and find either the right part to fix it with, or something I can jury rig a temporary repair with. There's a difference between getting rid of junk, knick-knacks and unnecessary impediments, and getting rid of tools, supplies and raw materials. Somewhere in the middle comes conveniences. My bread whisk isn't simply better than a wooden spoon, it is phenomenally better for many things. OTOH, wooden spoons surpass for stirring porridge, stew, soup and sauces, so I don't grief myself about having both.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

NCTim's picture

@enhydra lutris And a large part of the reason I need a two stall garage. All three motorcycles are on battery tenders, 12 drawer tool chest, boxes of airhead parts, plus the guitar room/tools.

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The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -

here in TX all week but it's been a nice soft rain for all the plants. Just gray and a bit gloomy for the humans. I'm enjoying the Stevie stuff, he's one of my favorites.
He does a few weather-related songs but this sorta fits.
Thanks for the OT.

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NCTim's picture

@randtntx

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The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -

@randtntx miss him mightily

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@QMS Me too. Would love to be able to go to the old Antone's in Austin and listen to Stevie play.

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The Aspie Corner's picture

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Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.

Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.