Message Forum

Bob D. -- this one's for your colleagues/compatriots.

Sandra: this one's for you.

12/17/20 11:38 AM

#19668

Bob D. - You obviously have a better memory than I do. I had to look up Emmanuel Goldstein. That said, I suspect that Mitch McConnell will take up the mantel, or rather, have it foisted upon him, even if the Democrats win the Georgia seats. He will do his best to block all-things-Democrat.

It might be worth reading 1984 again.

12/17/20 02:38 PM

#19669

Christmas decorations at the Cordell home.

In the Entry.

The dining room Christmas tree.

The living room Christmas tree.

Left-side bookshelves in the living room.

Right side bookshelves in the living room.

Some living room Santas.

Breakfast room Christmas tree.

Breakfast room Nativity scene.

Den Christmas tree.

Den fireplace.

There's a lot more, but that's as obnoxious as I'd better be for now. In answer to the obvious question, no, I didn't do everything myself. I let (ahem) my wife and son help out a little bit.

12/17/20 03:08 PM

#19670

David and Martha,

Your house and all the Christmas decorations look beautiful! I can tell you all have been collecting for years.....

You must have boundless energy to pack it all up every year, store it somewhere (attic?) and then repeat each year! Kuddos to you all!

I enjoyed seeing all of it pictured in your lovely home! It's inspiring for me, as I have just started to bring things down from our attic, and I'm already pooped! I think I need a kick to the derriere to hustle a little more, and ignore my 'out-of-shape' muscles!

12/17/20 03:15 PM

#19671

To Everyone:

Please, if you have a few minutes, read in today's WND online, this article:

'Theft by 1,000 cuts: Report outlines election fraud in 6 states'---by Art Moore, the author of SEE SOMETHING, SAY NOTHING.

This sums up what Republicans are currently saying better than anything else I've read, and it illuminates how obnoxious the mainstream media and social media giants are ignoring the facts before us all, as they tell us WE are destroying democracy by refusing to accept the obvious..........(the obvious rouse?)

The article also explains how dangerous it is to our country, to accept all without challenge.

12/17/20 03:26 PM

#19672

Kurt Fischer

I continue to find myself of two minds regarding the Covid crisis.

When I look at statistics from Plano, I see the following:

288,000 population
8,046 confirmed cases from inception
- That's 2.82 % of the population
881 active cases
- That's .31 % of the population
Deaths in Collin County
- Population 1.035 million
- 309 deaths
- That's .03 % of the population

On the other hand, I see deaths in the US from Covid:

331 million population
308,000 deaths
That's .093 % of the population - about three times what Plano has seen

When I look at last year's flu season in the US:

331 million population
56 million flu cases
- That's 17% of the population
62,000 deaths
- That's .019 % of the population

Okay, that's a bunch of statistics

So, if I go out in Plano, there's a 3/10 of a percent chance I'll run into an active confirmed case of Covid. Is this worth all of the ballyhoo?

If I catch Covid in Plano, there is a 3.8% chance I'll die from it. (309/8046). That's much higher than last year's flu, which had a 1.1% chance of dying from it. But both are relatively small likelihoods. Is this worth all the ballyhoo?

On the other hand, I am dutiful in wearning a mask, carrying Lisol wipes, washing my hands, staying away from people, working from home, etc. It's just sometimes I wonder whether this being described as a pandemic accompanied by the constant beating of drums has resulted in too harsh of a medical and cultural reaction. 308,000 deaths is horrific. But on a relative basis, it's not like other historical pandemics that truly decimated the population.

Oh, well. Just wondering whether there is greater expertise out there who could put my concerns to rest.

12/17/20 04:36 PM

#19673

Kurt,

I don't think there is any authoriity that could sum up the facts better. The only thing you haven't factored in is the misdiagnosis of Covid-19 as a cause of death and that also varies by location. I just heard today that murders in Colorado have all been allocated to Covid-19 on the death certificates.

12/17/20 06:17 PM

#19674

Steve and Kurt,

One of our classmates has a relative who works in a hospital in East Texas and who claims that deaths are routinely classified as COVID-19 without evidence because the hospitals receive special payments. The "little people" are afraid to blow the whistle.

12/17/20 09:01 PM

#19675

Straight from Ireland

Excommunicated

A married Irishman went into the confessional and said to his priest, 'I almost had an affair with another woman.'

The priest said, 'What do you mean, almost?'

The Irishman said, 'Well, we got undressed and rubbed together, but then I stopped.'

The priest said, 'Rubbing together is the same as putting it in. You’re not to see that woman again. For your penance, say five Hail Marys and put $50 in the poor box.'

The Irishman left the confessional, said his prayers, and then walked over to the poor box.

He paused for a moment and then started to leave.

The priest, who was watching, quickly ran over to him saying, 'I saw that. You didn't put any money in the poor box!'

The Irishman replied, 'Yeah, but I rubbed the $50 on the box, and according to you, that's the same as putting it in!'

------------------------------------------------------------

Lemon Squeeze

There once was a religious young woman who went to Confession. Upon entering the confessional, she said, 'Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.'

The priest said, 'Confess your sins and be forgiven.'

The young woman said, 'Last night my boyfriend made mad passionate love to me seven times.'

The priest thought long and hard and then said, 'Squeeze seven lemons into a glass and then drink the juice.'

The young woman asked, 'Will this cleanse me of my sins?'

The priest said, 'No, but it will wipe that smile off of your face.'

------------------------------------------------------------

Catholic Dog

Muldoon lived alone in the Irish countryside with only a pet dog for company. One day the dog died, and Muldoon went to the parish priest and asked, 'Father, my dog is dead. Could ya' be saying a mass for the poor creature?'

Father Patrick replied, 'I'm afraid not. We cannot have services for an animal in the church. But there are some Baptists down the lane, and there's no tellin' what they believe. Maybe they'll do something for the creature.'

Muldoon said, 'I'll go right away Father. Do ya' think $5,000 is enough to donate to them for the service?'

Father Patrick exclaimed, 'Sweet Mary, Mother of Jesus! Why didn't ya tell me the dog was Catholic?

------------------------------------------------------------

Donation

Father O'Malley answers the phone. 'Hello, is this Father O'Malley?'

'It is!'

'This is the Taxation Department. Can you help us?'

'I'll try!'

'Do you know a Ted Houlihan?'

'I do!'

'Is he a member of your congregation?'

'He is!'

'Did he donate $10,000 to the church?'

'He will!'

------------------------------------------------------------

Confession

An elderly man walks into a confessional. The following conversation ensues:

Man: 'I am 92 years old, have a wonderful wife of 70 years, many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Yesterday, I picked up two hitch-hiking college girls. We went to a motel where I had sex with each of them three times.'

Priest: 'Are you sorry for your sins?'

Man: 'What sins?'

Priest: 'What kind of a Catholic are you?'

Man: 'I'm Jewish.'

Priest: 'Why are you telling me all this?'

Man: 'I'm 92 years old . . . I'm telling everybody!'

------------------------------------------------------------

Brothel Trip

An elderly man goes into a brothel and tells the madam he would like a young girl for the night. Surprised, she looks at the ancient man and asks how old he is.

'I'm 90 years old,' he says.

'90?' replies the woman. 'Don't you realize that you've had it?'

'Oh, sorry,' says the old man. 'How much do I owe you?'

------------------------------------------------------------

Senility

An elderly man went to his doctor and said, 'Doc, I think I’m getting senile. Several times lately, I have forgotten to zip up.'

'That's not senility,' replied the doctor. 'Senility is when you forget to zip down.'

------------------------------------------------------------

Marriage Humour

Wife: 'What are you doing?'

Husband: Nothing.

Wife: 'Nothing . . . ? You've been reading our marriage certificate for an hour.'

Husband: 'I was looking for the expiration date.'

------------------------------------------------------------

Wife: 'Do you want dinner?'

Husband: 'Sure! What are my choices?'

Wife: 'Yes or no.'

------------------------------------------------------------

Stress Reliever

Girl: 'When we get married, I want to share all your worries and troubles and lighten your burden.'

Boy: 'It's very kind of you, darling, but I don't have any worries or troubles.'

Girl: 'Well. that's because we aren't married yet.'

------------------------------------------------------------

Son: 'Mum, when I was on the bus with Dad this morning, he told me to give up my seat to a lady.'

Mum: 'Well, you have done the right thing.'

Son: 'But mum, I was sitting on Daddy's lap.'

------------------------------------------------------------

A newly married man asked his wife, 'Would you have married me if my father hadn't left me a fortune?'

'Honey,' the woman replied sweetly, 'I'd have married you, NO MATTER WHO LEFT YOU A FORTUNE!'

------------------------------------------------------------

A wife asked her husband: 'What do you like most in me, my pretty face or my sexy body?'

He looked at her from head to toe and replied: 'I like your sense of humor!'

------------------------------------------------------------

Husbands are husbands

A man was sitting reading his papers when his wife hit him round the head with a frying pan.

'What was that for?' the man asked.

The wife replied, 'That was for the piece of paper with the name Betty on it that I found in your trouser pocket."

The man then said 'When I was at the races last week, Betty was the name of the horse I bet on.'

The wife apologized and went on with the housework.

Three days later the man is watching TV when his wife bashes him on the head with an even bigger frying pan, knocking him unconscious.

Upon re-gaining consciousness the man asked why she had hit him again.

Wife replied, 'Your horse phoned!'

12/18/20 09:49 AM

#19676

David,

Those are funny!

12/18/20 03:55 PM

#19677

David,

12/18/20 05:53 PM

#19678

It appears that Chief Justice Roberts was heard shouting to Alito and Thomas in a court preparation room, that during the Gore v. Bush election aftermath, there was no threat of violence among rioters, which seems to indicate that Roberts was afraid of violence errupting, if the Justices agreed to take up the Texas case.

Is Roberts allowing cowardice to determine the correct path to take?

This is not the first time Roberts' actions have been questioned, reguarding the path chosen, when deciding cases.

12/19/20 12:14 PM

#19679

Wayne,

Recall our tour of the Texas Liberators (of Nazi concentration camps) at UT Dallas last March? Martha noticed the name Julius Feinstein from Houston listed as one of the liberators. We knew that to be the name of the father of one of my students at UT from about 1977. I checked with the former student, Michael Feinstein, and it turned out that, yes, it was his father. There had been some sort of event honoring the Texas Liberators that Michael attended, and his father was honored posthumously.

The black-and-white photos and film of the liberation are so horrifying. What it must have been like to be there in person. Usually, I think black-and-white makes things look more dramatic, but I wonder about the color of skin of those starving people. The smells and pathetic moaning must have been awful.

What must it have been like for Mr. Feinstein, a young Jewish man?

We spent the night at Mr. and Mrs. Feinstein's house in Houston in 1978. He had joined in his father's business, buying and selling specialized industrial equipment. The Feinsteins were very gracious and took us to a very nice restaurant.

I am reminded of the fact that we typically meet "older" people without thinking about what they may have done in their earlier lives. It never occurred to me that Mr. Feinstein might have had an experience like the one he had in 1945. I wish I had known. I would have tried to start a conversation about it, recognizing that he might not want to re-visit what was obviously a traumatic experience.

Martha and I attended Michael's 1979 wedding to Judy Freed, whose family owns the Sunnyland outdoor furniture stores. Their dinner was fantastic, with the tenderest beef I have ever had, even though it was cooked through. (I am a non-Kosher, medium-rare kind of guy.) It was the first of three Jewish wedding that I have attended, and in all three the bride and groom were carried around the room in their chairs.

My re-connection with with Michael was via back-and-forth emails. I told him about my late son, and he told me that his son had been in an accident in Mexico and was now a paraplegic. We will get together along with our wives after the New Year, hopefully without any other catastrophic revelations to ruin the evening.

Anyway, if you hadn't mentioned the Texas Liberators exhibit and lecture, I wouldn't have attended and wouldn't have made the connection with Michael.

Thanks!

12/19/20 04:26 PM

#19680

Wayne Gary

David,

Hee is a 6min preview of a UK series which has color pictures of Auschwitz and the liberation

12/19/20 07:12 PM

#19681

Marty Fulton

A while back someone mentioned where (overseas) would be a good place to retire.

10 years ago I began researching Ecuador, and 6 years ago, Panama. Ecuador has

much more volatility in its economy (and USD $). Panama also uses the USD $, but

their economy is much more stable, mostly due to the Canal Zone control passing from

the USA. Here's a good link to check it out. The owner of the 'Relocation Tours' hails

from Dallas, TX. Best Places to Retire In Panama | Panama Relocation Tours

Sure, there are a few issues, but away from a big city, among them won't be:

Crime, Extreme Weather, Expensive Costs of Living, Traffic. Bonus: no such thing

as welfare in Panama

12/19/20 10:28 PM

#19682

Marty,

I thought China bought the Panama Canal.

12/19/20 10:45 PM

#19683

Marty, we have friends who moved to Panama because the husband has some unusual health issue that requires warm, humid weather. They seem to enjoy it.

12/20/20 09:14 AM

#19684

Marty Fulton

Hey Steve, after the Chinese own the west coast of the USA, they will head south...

David, in all fairness, 90% of the folks (including the locals) pronounce the 'p' as a 'b'

in San Luis Obispo. Check out the movie 'The White Orchid' which is filmed in SLO

county. An interesting 'who dun it'...

12/20/20 11:09 AM

#19685

On this Sunday morning before Christmas, I copy a prayer from a worried Maryland Christian lady:

God help our country get back to You...The only one who can save the United States from enemies within. Please expose all that is hidden in the dark...Shine your light, dear Lord. Illuminate every dark corner. We pray confusion in every scheme that comes against your children. Lord bring clarity into our courts, and Lord, let our justices of faith stand firm, not shrinking back in fear. Give them the courage to take on the hard cases. Your will be done....In the mighty name of Your Son, we ask and we receive. Amen.

12/20/20 04:08 PM

#19686

Janalu,

A beautiful prayer. I am going to copy it and repeat it nightly if you don't mind.

12/20/20 05:59 PM

#19687

Not at all, Steve.

I liked it too.

12/20/20 07:25 PM

#19688

Lowell Tuttle

Here's another good one..l

God of all nations,
Father of the human family,
we give you thanks for the freedom we exercise
and the many blessings of democracy we enjoy
in these United States of America.

We ask for your protection and guidance
for all who devote themselves to the common good,
working for justice and peace at home and around the world.

We lift up all our duly elected leaders and public servants,
those who will serve us as president, as legislators and judges,
those in the military and law enforcement.
Heal us from our differences and unite us, O Lord,
with a common purpose, dedication, and commitment to achieve liberty and justice
in the years ahead for all people,
and especially those who are most vulnerable in our midst.

Amen

12/21/20 07:15 AM

#19689