For the first time, I actually had to box something up and mail it back on Boxing Day. Ha! Wil got me a gorgeous ring for Christmas. It is a Mother’s Ring in 14K gold with the 5 birthstones of our children. The last two were born in September, so a sapphire is set on each side of the 5 stones. The rest are in birth order. Thus it goes: sapphire, pearl, gold topaz, opal, sapphire. This is the first ringmaker I have ever encountered that uses a real pearl and opal instead of dark and light pink stones. I love the ring!! However, I have decided to have it resized from 6 to 6.5, for the sake of comfort in Summer.
Continuing the previous thread about the R's and D's, I remain of the opinion that the GOP seems to be going the way of the Whigs. It is arguable that some of the same basic forces that doomed the Whigs are acting on the GOP, and their reactions are so similar it is downright spooky. I don't think the GOP can survive by reinventing themselves, but the Dems show promise along those lines. I continue to hope that this will be the year, at very long last. When the denouement finally comes, maybe the Democratic Party will fission to give the country a progressive and a center-right party.
I would love that. But I’m not holding my breath. It remains rare that a group that large can make a wise choice in short order. It’s like trying to turn a freighter, not a sailboat.
I'm not sure I see the analogy with the Whigs. The Whigs were torn apart by the slavery issues, being replaced by an explicitly anti-slavery party. I'm not seeing a comparably intractable issue for the Republicans.
If you're right about the Democrats, wouldn't that leave both new parties too weak to elect anybody, much less a president? Not, mind you, that I'd be sorry to offload the corporatists. For myself, I'd be much more comfortable in a solidly progressive (or leftist) party, without constantly having to worry about the damned Republican Lites.
Hmmm….. As I recall, the Whigs really had no unifying political philosophy aside from being opposed to Andrew Jackson, which really didn’t mean much by the 1860’s, him being dead and all. They were often in favor of tariffs, federal investment in infrastructure, a national bank, etc., but being opposed to such things was no bar to standing for election as a Whig. At least once they refused to hold confirmation hearings for a Supreme Court justice nominated by a non-Whig president, with the expectation that a new Whig president [Henry Clay in the case I recall] would nominate someone they liked. The Whigs spawned the American Party (AKA the Know-Nothings, “primarily anti- Catholic, xenophobic,and hostile to immigration,” as well as the Constitutional Union Party (which was only active in one presidential election but persisted in Southern enclaves.) Those are the similarities that come to my mind. Come to think of it, they also held the first Presidential nominating convention.
Cat--I figure the lunatic fringe of the GOP would simply wither away. Two major parties, neither of which can win, is a potential problem, but I think far more likely in a system with proportional representation (e.g. UK, Germany, France, etc.).
I may have said something about it before, but I settled on some Russian artist-grade watercolors; the company predates the October Revolution. Very economical considering the quality--probably because of the ruble-dollar exchange rate, but expensive to buy single pans (rather than sets) here. I found single pans for sale on eBay from Russia for about a third to a quarter of the US prices, plus modest shipping charges. But delivery must be by surface post--maybe by the Trans Siberian Railway to Vladivostok, then by ship to Hong Kong or South Korea and thence to the US? Definitely not for those who must have instant gratification.
We used to send good-sized New Year's packages to relatives in Japan by surface post, but there is no more overseas surface post from the US--only airmail, which is far more expensive. The commercial package delivery services also don't handle surface post from the US to Japan; from the US to the Philippines there is commercial surface delivery. When the US discontinued surface post it was said that would be a blow to overseas book sales, and I suppose that happened. Seems very silly; obviously the ships still make the trip. Which reminds me--ships powered by ammonia(!) are being developed--zero carbon dioxide emissions. Essentially, the ammonia is a convenient way of storing hydrogen.
WaPo: The Aftermath of the Ukraine Scandal [Click] Uncle Vlad must be pleased. He presided the other day over the opening of a very nice new railway line into what had been Ukraine—I forget if it was Crimea or the Donbass region—probably the former.
The sun is shining, the grass is green, the orange and palm trees sway. There's never been such a day in Beverly Hills, L.A. But it's December the Twenty-fourth, and I am longing to be up north
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...
So said Irving Berlin. Guess it didn't work for him either.
We have cold, but no snow. It's all been washed away by rain or melted by last week's mild temps. I'm not happy!
Listener, we got Nickie when she was six months old. She had been removed from her previous family because they starved her. She was just a skeleton in a kitty suit! She hoarded her food for a few months until she realized that behavior wasn't necessary, that she'd get plenty of food. I'm thinking she must have been able to learn and to abandon the hoarding behavior because she was the age she was. Mizzen was only two months, so the experience and fear of not enough food must have made a far greater impression on her, poor baby! I'm sorry she still has this hangup.
My pleasure, Cat; not that I need any preaching, what with being a member of the choir, but I like to keep up with what Bernie is up to in the way of campaigning.
And a happy Boxing Day to all!
ReplyDeleteFor the first time, I actually had to box something up and mail it back on Boxing Day. Ha!
DeleteWil got me a gorgeous ring for Christmas. It is a Mother’s Ring in 14K gold with the 5 birthstones of our children. The last two were born in September, so a sapphire is set on each side of the 5 stones. The rest are in birth order. Thus it goes:
sapphire, pearl, gold topaz, opal, sapphire.
This is the first ringmaker I have ever encountered that uses a real pearl and opal instead of dark and light pink stones. I love the ring!! However, I have decided to have it resized from 6 to 6.5, for the sake of comfort in Summer.
Continuing the previous thread about the R's and D's, I remain of the opinion that the GOP seems to be going the way of the Whigs. It is arguable that some of the same basic forces that doomed the Whigs are acting on the GOP, and their reactions are so similar it is downright spooky. I don't think the GOP can survive by reinventing themselves, but the Dems show promise along those lines. I continue to hope that this will be the year, at very long last. When the denouement finally comes, maybe the Democratic Party will fission to give the country a progressive and a center-right party.
ReplyDeleteI would love that. But I’m not holding my breath. It remains rare that a group that large can make a wise choice in short order. It’s like trying to turn a freighter, not a sailboat.
DeleteI'm not sure I see the analogy with the Whigs. The Whigs were torn apart by the slavery issues, being replaced by an explicitly anti-slavery party. I'm not seeing a comparably intractable issue for the Republicans.
DeleteIf you're right about the Democrats, wouldn't that leave both new parties too weak to elect anybody, much less a president? Not, mind you, that I'd be sorry to offload the corporatists. For myself, I'd be much more comfortable in a solidly progressive (or leftist) party, without constantly having to worry about the damned Republican Lites.
DeleteHmmm….. As I recall, the Whigs really had no unifying political philosophy aside from being opposed to Andrew Jackson, which really didn’t mean much by the 1860’s, him being dead and all. They were often in favor of tariffs, federal investment in infrastructure, a national bank, etc., but being opposed to such things was no bar to standing for election as a Whig. At least once they refused to hold confirmation hearings for a Supreme Court justice nominated by a non-Whig president, with the expectation that a new Whig president [Henry Clay in the case I recall] would nominate someone they liked. The Whigs spawned the American Party (AKA the Know-Nothings, “primarily anti- Catholic, xenophobic,and hostile to immigration,” as well as the Constitutional Union Party (which was only active in one presidential election but persisted in Southern enclaves.) Those are the similarities that come to my mind. Come to think of it, they also held the first Presidential nominating convention.
DeleteCat--I figure the lunatic fringe of the GOP would simply wither away. Two major parties, neither of which can win, is a potential problem, but I think far more likely in a system with proportional representation (e.g. UK, Germany, France, etc.).
DeleteI may have said something about it before, but I settled on some Russian artist-grade watercolors; the company predates the October Revolution. Very economical considering the quality--probably because of the ruble-dollar exchange rate, but expensive to buy single pans (rather than sets) here. I found single pans for sale on eBay from Russia for about a third to a quarter of the US prices, plus modest shipping charges. But delivery must be by surface post--maybe by the Trans Siberian Railway to Vladivostok, then by ship to Hong Kong or South Korea and thence to the US? Definitely not for those who must have instant gratification.
ReplyDeleteShipping is costly in more ways than one. Glad you found something you can use!
DeleteWe used to send good-sized New Year's packages to relatives in Japan by surface post, but there is no more overseas surface post from the US--only airmail, which is far more expensive. The commercial package delivery services also don't handle surface post from the US to Japan; from the US to the Philippines there is commercial surface delivery. When the US discontinued surface post it was said that would be a blow to overseas book sales, and I suppose that happened. Seems very silly; obviously the ships still make the trip. Which reminds me--ships powered by ammonia(!) are being developed--zero carbon dioxide emissions. Essentially, the ammonia is a convenient way of storing hydrogen.
ReplyDeleteNow that's interesting! And innovative. 'Bout time!
DeleteHere’s a related story, Cat. [Click]
DeleteWaPo: The Aftermath of the Ukraine Scandal [Click] Uncle Vlad must be pleased. He presided the other day over the opening of a very nice new railway line into what had been Ukraine—I forget if it was Crimea or the Donbass region—probably the former.
ReplyDeleteWaPo: US military reportedly planning countermeasures against Russian meddling in US 2020 election. [Click] Better not let Trump find out about it…
Trump changes from previously customary Episcopal church Christmas Eve appearance for Southern Baptist. [Click]
Here are two from politico.com (which I don’t consider a high-quality news outlet, but what they lack in quality they make up for in quantity):
Democrats seize on anti-Obamacare ruling to steamroll GOP in 2020 [Click]
Democratic insiders: Bernie could win the nomination [Click]
Unaffiliated voters now at 40% in Colorado [Click] New law will probably make such data unreliable.
Hogmanay fury as Edinburgh residents told to apply for access to own homes [Click] Far better not to give permission for the fireworks shows and other things that attract excessive tourism.
Gee, the National Cathedral must have therefore been packed. 😉
DeleteFigures he’d opt for somewhere where his conscience wouldn’t be troubled. Makes me want to go back to the (Episcopal) pew.
Awakening to a Mass-Supervision Crisis [Click] It’s far worse than I imagined.
ReplyDeleteThis whole Christmas week of sixty degree weather is just not working for me!
ReplyDeleteThe sun is shining, the grass is green, the orange and palm trees sway.
DeleteThere's never been such a day in Beverly Hills, L.A.
But it's December the Twenty-fourth, and I am longing to be up north
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...
So said Irving Berlin. Guess it didn't work for him either.
We have cold, but no snow. It's all been washed away by rain or melted by last week's mild temps. I'm not happy!
Listener, we got Nickie when she was six months old. She had been removed from her previous family because they starved her. She was just a skeleton in a kitty suit! She hoarded her food for a few months until she realized that behavior wasn't necessary, that she'd get plenty of food. I'm thinking she must have been able to learn and to abandon the hoarding behavior because she was the age she was. Mizzen was only two months, so the experience and fear of not enough food must have made a far greater impression on her, poor baby! I'm sorry she still has this hangup.
ReplyDelete😽
DeleteBernie Sanders Explains Why Low Unemployment Doesn’t Mean Americans Are Better Off [Click] Shouldn’t be news to anyone with the brains God gave a goose, but one never knows. [Pardon my bad attitude.]
ReplyDeleteYou'd be surprised.
DeleteThanks for the link. Will read the article tomorrow.
My pleasure, Cat; not that I need any preaching, what with being a member of the choir, but I like to keep up with what Bernie is up to in the way of campaigning.
DeleteTrawlers return to Pacific fishing area in rare environmental success story [Click] “With stocks rebounding, regulators have reopened a groundfish habitat off the west coast – with environmentalists’ support.”
ReplyDelete