Thursday Thirteen

I was watching the news, which locally has been taken over by many females. There is evidence of bias against jobs in which women are dominant. Some of the sources of bias include:

• The use of male-coded language in job descriptions and performance evaluations, which may deter or disadvantage women from applying or advancing in certain fields12.
• The perception of women as more communal and less agentic than men, which may undermine their leadership potential and authority13.
• The lack of support and recognition for women’s contributions and achievements, especially in male-dominated environments14.
• The persistence of gender stereotypes and expectations that limit women’s choices and opportunities43.

These biases may affect women’s career satisfaction, motivation, performance, and advancement. They may also create a hostile or unwelcoming workplace culture for women1243. (Bing AI, accessed 05/04/2023)

So I asked the free version of ChatGPT (which is only current to 2021 so this list might not be correct) to give me a list of 13 highly regarded news people along with brief descriptions:

1. Anderson Cooper - A renowned journalist and anchor for CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360", known for his coverage of major events such as Hurricane Katrina and the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

2. Rachel Maddow - The host of the popular MSNBC show "The Rachel Maddow Show," Maddow is known for her in-depth reporting and analysis of current events and politics.

3. Christiane Amanpour - A journalist and anchor for CNN International, Amanpour has covered major news events around the world, including wars, natural disasters, and political upheavals.

4. Lester Holt - The anchor of NBC Nightly News, Holt has been a fixture in American television news for decades and has covered a wide range of stories, from major political events to human interest stories.

5. Jake Tapper - The host of CNN's "The Lead with Jake Tapper," Tapper is a well-respected journalist and political commentator who has covered many major news stories throughout his career.

6. Shep Smith - A former anchor for Fox News, Smith has a reputation for fair and balanced reporting and has covered some of the most significant news events of recent years, including Hurricane Katrina and the 2017 Las Vegas shooting.

7. David Muir - The anchor of ABC's "World News Tonight," Muir has covered a wide range of stories, from natural disasters to presidential elections, and has won numerous awards for his reporting.

8. Martha Raddatz - A veteran journalist and anchor for ABC News, Raddatz has covered many major news events, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and has moderated several presidential debates.

9. Chuck Todd - The moderator of NBC's "Meet the Press," Todd is a well-respected political journalist and commentator who has covered numerous presidential campaigns and political events.

10. Norah O'Donnell - The anchor of CBS Evening News, O'Donnell has covered a wide range of news stories throughout her career, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the Boston Marathon bombing.

11. Chris Wallace - A well-respected political journalist and commentator, Wallace is the host of "Fox News Sunday" and has moderated several presidential debates.

12. Savannah Guthrie - The co-anchor of NBC's "Today" show and the anchor of NBC News' breaking news and special reports, Guthrie has covered a wide range of stories, from natural disasters to high-profile legal cases.

13. David Axelrod - A former senior adviser to President Barack Obama, Axelrod is a political commentator and analyst who provides expert analysis and commentary on politics and current events.

Here's a list from Bing when asked the same question:

Based on web search results, here is a list of 13 of the highest rated news people, with a brief description of who they are:

- **Lester Holt**: He is an American broadcast journalist who has served as anchor of NBC Nightly News since 2015 and also serves as anchor for Dateline NBC¹.

- **Fredricka Whitfield**: She is an anchor for CNN/U.S. and hosts the weekend edition of CNN Newsroom¹.

- **Christiane Amanpour**: She is a British-Iranian journalist and television host who serves as CNN's chief international anchor and host of Amanpour¹.

- **Hu Shuli**: She is a Chinese journalist and editor-in-chief of Caixin Media, a business news outlet that is known for its investigative reporting and independent stance¹.

- **Bob Woodward**: He is an American investigative journalist and associate editor of The Washington Post, who is best known for his role in exposing the Watergate scandal with Carl Bernstein¹.

- **Anderson Cooper**: He is an American journalist, television personality and author who anchors Anderson Cooper 360° on CNN and also serves as a correspondent for 60 Minutes on CBS News¹.

- **Louis Theroux**: He is a British-American documentary filmmaker and broadcaster who is known for his immersive and often humorous style of exploring various subcultures and controversial topics¹.

- **Eugene Scott**: He is an American political reporter for The Washington Post who covers identity politics for The Fix blog and also hosts the podcast The Next Four Years¹.

- **Tucker Carlson**: He is an American conservative political commentator and television host who hosts Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News Channel, which was the highest-rated show in cable news for the week ending February 12, 2023². (He's no longer with Fox, so this is outdated.)

- **Rachel Maddow**: She is an American liberal political commentator and television host who hosts The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC, which was the third highest-rated show in cable news after Fox News's The Five and Jesse Watters Tonight for the week ending May 1, 2023³.

- **David Muir**: He is an American journalist and anchor of ABC World News Tonight, which was the highest-rated newscast for the quarter ending September 30, 2022, averaging 7.41 million total viewers and 1.27 million adults 25-54⁵.

- **Greg Gutfeld**: He is an American conservative political commentator, comedian and television host who hosts Gutfeld! on Fox News Channel, which easily fended off a comedic challenge from CNN's Bill Maher's Overtime in late night on Fridays in February 2023².

- **Norah O'Donnell**: She is an American television journalist and anchor of the CBS Evening News, which was the second most-watched evening newscast for the quarter ending September 30, 2022, averaging 5.15 million total viewers and 0.93 million adults 25-54⁵.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 5/4/2023(1) Top 12 Most Influential Journalists Of Today - NYFA - Student Resources. https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/top-12-influential-journalists-today/ Accessed 5/4/2023.

(2) With 3.5 Million Viewers, Tucker Carlson Has The Week’s Highest-Rated .... https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjoyella/2023/02/14/with-35-million-viewers-tucker-carlson-has-the-weeks-highest-rated-cable-news-show/ Accessed 5/4/2023.

(3) Cable News Ratings Monday May 1: MSNBC, CNN & Fox News. https://www.mediaite.com/daily-ratings/cable-news-ratings-monday-may-1-msnbc-tops-fox-news-in-prime-time/ Accessed 5/4/2023.

(4) Here Are Evening News Ratings for 2021-’22 TV Season and Q3 2022. https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/here-are-evening-news-ratings-for-2021-22-season-and-q3-2022/514702/ Accessed 5/4/2023.

(5) Fox News Channel Passes ABC As TV’s Third Highest-Rated ... - Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjoyella/2022/08/30/fox-news-channel-passes-abc-as-tvs-third-highest-rated-network-in-prime-time/ Accessed 5/4/2023.

(6) Fox News Channel’s ‘The Five’ Is The Most-Watched Show ... - Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjoyella/2023/01/24/fox-news-channels-the-five-is-most-watched-show-in-cable-news/ Accessed 5/4/2023.

__________________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 806th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Playing with ChatGPT

Input: Let's write a poem about wind, sunshine, meadows with greening grass and buttercups blooming yellow

ChatGPT (free version)

In the meadow green and bright,
The sunshine bathes the land in light,
And on the breeze, the wind takes flight,
As buttercups bloom golden bright.

Their petals dance in the gentle breeze,
As if they're whispering secrets to the trees,
And the rustling grass beneath their knees,
Soothes their worries, and puts them at ease.

The wind carries the scent of the blooms,
As they sway and dance, dispelling gloom,
And in this moment, all their worries consume,
As they bask in nature's sweet perfume.

The sunshine bathes them in its warmth,
As they lay in the meadow's grassy arms,
And the world around them seems transformed,
As they're lost in the meadow's calming charms.

So let the wind blow, and the sun shine,
As the meadow's beauty is truly divine,
And the buttercups, oh so fine,
Remind us of nature's wonder, pure and kind.

Analysis:

This is really a terrible poem. This is the kind of poem I would try to write in free verse, but when I ask ChatGPT to rewrite the poem in free verse, it doesn't. It still writes rhyme, and almost the exact same thing. See below.

Input: Can you rewrite this as free verse?

ChatGPT

In the meadow, green and bright,
Sunshine streams, a sea of light,
The wind, it blows, takes to flight,
Buttercups bloom, yellow and bright.

Their petals sway in the gentle breeze,
Whispering secrets to the trees,
Rustling grass beneath their knees,
Soothes their worries, puts them at ease.

The wind carries the blooms' sweet scent,
As they dance and sway, their worries spent,
Lost in nature's wonderment,
Basking in the meadow's calm content.

Sunshine warms, a comforting embrace,
Lying in the meadow's grassy space,
The world transformed, a different place,
Nature's beauty all around, filling every space.

Let the wind blow, the sun shine,
The meadow's wonder, so divine,
Buttercups, a reminder, oh so fine,
Of nature's pure and kind design.

Analysis:

I don't think poets have much to worry about from ChatGPT at this point. I'm not sure it knows the difference in types of poems. Next time I will ask it for a sonnet or a villanelle or something and see what happens.

When I get time, I will take what the AI has spit out and see if I can write a nice free verse poem from it. I see a few nice words in there, but otherwise it's sappy and uninspiring (and the meter's off). This seems like something a 4th grader might write.

Metal In Your Eye

Friday morning, as I hovered near the telephone awaiting word from other family members about surgery my father was undergoing, I noticed that my husband's right eye was red and swollen.

"I think you need to go to the doctor," I said, after he told me he'd gotten some dust in it. "You may have scratched something."

"It'll be fine. I'll use some Visine," he muttered. And his eye did look better after that, and I said no more about it.

My father had his surgery and was doing ok; he would be in the hospital all weekend. I called and texted to keep a check on him.

Saturday, as my husband helped me change the bed, I looked at him closely for the first time (I am not a morning person). "You're eye is swollen. It looks even worse," I said.

"I can't do anything about it, the doctor's offices are closed and I'm not going to the emergency room," he said. Then he told me his eye had hurt all night, that every time he shut his eyelid, he felt pain.

"We're calling the emergency number. They'll have a doctor on call who will open up an office and see you," I said.

He called the number for his doctor's office, and when they sent him to the hospital number, he hung up. "I'm not going to the emergency room," he repeated.

Sigh. Men can be so stubborn.

"Call back and go through and they'll let you talk to the doctor on call. Tell him what's going on." I handed him the phone.

"I'm not going to the emergency room," he muttered as he dialed again. He was put through to the doctor on call. She listened to him describe what was wrong and she said she thought she should check him out. Could we meet her at the office in Roanoke in an hour?

That was a 45-minute drive and neither of us were dressed, but we hurriedly shrugged on clothes, and I hauled him off to be seen. In the meantime, family members were texting me that my father was doing ok. I let them know I was dealing with a little emergency of my own.

We arrived at the Roanoke office before the eye doctor. She was prompt, though, hitting the door at the hour mark. She took us into the shut-up building, turning on lights as she went. She sat my husband in a chair and had him read a chart. His vision in the inflamed eye was poor. She added drops to his eye and some kind of dye stuff, then looked in.

"Flakes of metal. One big one and some tiny ones," she pronounced. "I'll have to get those out there. They will rust and cause even more problems. It's a good thing you called."

I had not considered the possibility of metal rusting in an eye, but it makes sense that it would. She poured more drops in his eye, and fortunately those swept away all of the small particles. The large one though, sat in the middle of his pupil. That one she removed and showed to me. It was no bigger than the period at the end of this sentence, really. But I imagine it felt like a boulder in my husband's eye.

She checked for rust, but fortunately found none. She gave him a prescription for antibiotic drops and sent us on our way. He has a recheck appointment later this week.

The first thing I did when I returned home and got him settled was ask him what his readers are in terms of magnification. He said he didn't wear his safety glasses because he needed to wear his reading glasses to see up close. But they make safety glasses with readers built in. I just didn't know what magnification to purchase.

Turns out, neither did he, so Sunday we made a trip to the local CVS so he could try on glasses and figure out what he needed. Having determined that a 2.50 or a 2.75 would work, I came back home and ordered him safety glasses with readers built in. They should be here today.

It's always something.

My father, meanwhile, is still in the hospital. He had back surgery for severe arthritis in his back. Today is Monday and he's still there. It was a big surgery, and he's 81 years old. So he's where he ought to be.

And my husband's eye is looking much, much better.

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing

1. What is your favorite source for delicious recipes?

A. I don't have one. Sometimes I cook things on recommendations, but I dislike cooking, so I just do the basics. I wish I liked to cook. It would make life tastier, if nothing else.

2. If you had to repeat a day over & over, how would you want it to go?

A. I'd get up, someone else would cook my breakfast, the doorbell would ring and someone would hand me a million dollars, my friends and family would call just to say they loved me, and I'd write something, read something, play guitar, and watch someone else clean the house.

3. Who or what has saved your life?

A. Going to therapy was lifesaving. Doctors who removed a puss-filled chocolate cyst from my ovaries (several times over) saved my life. Going to Hollins College (now Hollins University) saved my life.

4. Name something you can never seem to start or finish.

A. My "great American novel" or work of fiction.

5. How has your taste in food changed over the years?

A. I hope it is more adult now, although I still eat a lot like a kid, I'm afraid.

6. When was the last time you cried?

A. I shed a few tears at the end of the Carol Burnett 90th Birthday special on Wednesday night.

7. What are the best parts of human nature?

A. Empathy, love, hope, caring, and endurance.

8. What are concepts and ideas that bend your mind?

A. I try very hard to understand gender identity issues, but I probably fail there. Other concepts include the many worlds theories, war, hatred, racism, book banning, and bigotry.

9. What are you most likely to be asked for help with?

A. Things to do with writing or with computer problems, sometimes. I last helped my nephew out with Quicken, for example.

10. What is the story behind one of your scars?

A. I have a 4-inch scar in the middle of chest that is huge. It came from removal of a large mole that was present at birth and considered precancerous. They removed the mole when I was 5 (they still used ether then for anesthesia) and the scar was to have been hidden after I turned 18, but I never had that done. I used to use the scar to get out of physical education in school. When my phy ed teacher saw it, she asked what it was, and I said it was from heart surgery. I was joking, but she didn't realize that, and after that all I had to do was tell her I wasn't feeling well (which was usually menstrual cramps) and she'd let me out of gym class.

11. What have you never said out loud?

A. I can't think of anything. And even if I could, why would I share it here?

12. Name the times you’ve been the leader/the one people count on.

A. I was a leader in a local historic society, I was chairman of the library board, and I was the editor/writer/photographer/etc. for the county's 250th anniversary (which was a bust because of the pandemic, but that wasn't my fault). 

13. Who do you see who makes your heart light up?

A. My husband, my brother, other family members, my friends, and little baby animals.

14. If your financial needs were met, how would you spend your time?

A. Apparently the same way I spend it now.

15. Who are the people you talk to when you want the truth?

A. I expect the truth from everyone I speak with. I think the better question would be to whom do I speak who doesn't tell me the truth, and I know it. That one I could answer.

__________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

 

Saturday 9: Promises, Promises

Saturday 9: Promises, Promises (1983)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this week's song, Naked Eyes lead singer Pete Byrne admits he believed his girl's promises, right from the start, but now he knows he should have been more careful with his heart. Do you consider yourself more trusting or skeptical?

A. I used to be trusting but now I am skeptical. Life changes you like that sometimes.

 

2) He looks back on when he and his girl laughed like kids. When did you recently literally laugh out loud (opposed to keystroking LOL)?

A. Yes, but not at anything online. My husband and I laugh a lot.

 

3) He accuses her of not being able to finish what she starts. How about you? Do you finish what you start, or can you think of projects that you're unlikely to ever complete?

A. I have projects that I have started (mostly novels or knitting or something) that I likely won't finish. But I am very good with deadlines, and I've been doing this blog since 2006, which is a long time to write a blog. So, I stick with some things.

 

4) Naked Eyes was a British New Wave band who had four Top 40 singles, including "Promises, Promises." They never toured 40 years ago because it was difficult to recreate their synthesizer-driven sound onstage. Is there a band or singer you would have liked to have seen perform live, but never did?

A. I'm still trying to see Melissa Etheridge, who is again this summer coming to a location near me, but I don't expect to be going. It's out in the open (people will be smoking, I expect), dogs are welcome (I'm highly allergic), and you have to take your own chair. I have back problems and I can't sit in a lawn chair or stadium chair for very long. Plus, when I went to look at the tickets, there were only 8 seats left and you know those weren't very good.

I also would have liked to have seen The Eagles, The Doobie Brothers, Fleetwood Mac, and Sheryl Crow.

 

5) While "Promises, Promises" is about an untrustworthy lover, Peter Byrne says he and bandmate/cowriter Rob Fisher worked well together because they knew they could trust one another professionally. By sharing honest assessments of creative ideas, they knew Naked Eyes would never put out "rubbish." If you want an honest opinion on something important, where do you turn?

A. Hmm. Tough question. It depends on the subject matter. If it's about my writing, at the moment I don't really have anyone to turn to. Life stuff, I trust some friends. Household stuff, I turn to my husband. Business stuff, I ask my brother. Health stuff, I trust my doctor. There is no one person I trust for everything, though I may ask some people for advice about everything. That doesn't mean I listen.

6) Madonna was a Naked Eyes fan. Are you a Madonna fan?

A. Not particularly. 

7) In 1983, when this song was on the radio, the Lotus 1-2-3 program made it easier for PC users to build spreadsheets. Are you answering these questions on a PC or a Mac? Laptop or desktop? Android or iPhone?

A. I am on a desktop PC, which is my preference for writing, reading online, and playing video games. I have never liked laptops (I don't like the keyboards), and my iPhone is tiny.

 

8) Also in 1983, America West Airlines took off for the first time, taking passengers from Las Vegas to Phoenix. Where did you go on your first flight? What about your most recent flight?

A. My first flight was to Spain when I was in high school. My last flight was in 1993, when we flew to Orlando to go to Disney. I haven't been on a plane since.

9) Random question -- Finish this statement: If I knew then what I know now, I would have: taken better care of my physical health.

 _______________

I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.  

Thursday Thirteen #805

Book banning, or the idea of it, anyway, has found its way to my community. In the last few months, one person, then five, turned out at the Board of Supervisors meeting to argue that certain books shouldn't be allowed in the public library.

Most, if not all, of the books they have so far questioned involve LBGTQ+ issues. It's the new bigotry and bias.

My little heart warmed this week when 10 people spoke before the Board to tell them to leave the libraries alone and let people read what they want to read.

I am completely against banning books. If one doesn't want to read a book, then don't check it out of the library. It really is that simple. I don't like porn, so I don't read porn. I don't like horror, so I don't read horror. Easy peasy.

Anyway, here are 13 reasons why books should not be banned:

1. Books offer diverse perspectives and allow readers to explore new ideas and ways of thinking. Banning books limits intellectual curiosity and narrows minds.

2. Freedom of speech and expression are fundamental human rights. Banning books violates these rights and undermines the principles of democracy. (See the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.)

3. Censorship restricts access to information and can lead to ignorance and intolerance. Books provide a window into different cultures, experiences, and viewpoints, which helps readers develop empathy and understanding.

4. Banning books sets a dangerous precedent. If one book is banned, what’s to stop others from being banned too? It can lead to a slippery slope where free expression and creativity are stifled.

5. Education is crucial to personal growth and development. Books are an essential part of the learning process and banning them hinders students’ ability to learn and grow intellectually.

6. Literature has the power to inspire and uplift people. Banning books deprives readers of the opportunity to discover new ideas and explore the depths of human experience.

7. Books help readers confront difficult and complex issues. Banning books on controversial topics such as race, sexuality, and politics, only serves to sweep these issues under the rug.

8. The right to read is a basic human right. No one should be denied the opportunity to access information or to form their own opinions.

9. Banning books limits creativity and stifles innovation. Literature is an essential part of the human experience, and banning books denies people the chance to explore and create new ideas.

10. Reading is a vital skill for success in life. Banning books not only limits people’s access to information but also their ability to develop critical thinking and literacy skills.

11. Banning books is often motivated by fear and intolerance. It is important to confront difficult and uncomfortable ideas and to learn from them, rather than to shy away from them.

12. Banning books limits artistic expression and stifles creativity. Literature is a form of art, and banning books denies people the opportunity to engage with and appreciate this art form.

13. Finally, books are an important part of our cultural heritage. Banning books erases our history and denies future generations the opportunity to understand and learn from it.

(ChatGPT helped compile the list.)

__________________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 805th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Scammed Over Tic Tacs

The checkout clerk stared at my Tic Tacs like they were from another planet. He put them side by side and frowned.

"One of these isn't ringing up," he announced.

"They came from the same box," I said. I pointed to the display right beside him.

"The bar codes aren't the same," he said.

Eventually, he shrugged, scanned one a second time, and then tossed them both in my bag.

After I had arrived home and put everything away, I settled in for a reading hour. I reached for the Tic Tacs.

One of them had been opened and was half empty.

I looked at the bar codes. They weren't the same. The guy had been right. But he hadn't noticed that one was half empty and opened. I hadn't noticed because he'd had his hand wrapped around them while he frowned at the bar codes.

My guess is someone "traded" out one they'd been eating on for a new one. If they'd simply opened one and eaten from it and put it back, the bar codes would have been the same. I tossed the opened one - who knew what could be in there, or where that had been.

I was out a $1.09. Not much in the grand scheme of things, but still.

These are the days when one must be ever vigilant. Check the expiration dates on every item picked up, examine packaging, ensure that things look right - whatever that means. 

Technically this person did not steal from the grocery chain. They stole from me.

Biden Announces

Today, exactly 4 years to the day he announced in 2019, President Joe Biden announced he will run for the office again. 

Biden has a long history of public service, including serving as Vice President under Barack Obama and as a Senator from Delaware for 36 years. This experience has given him perspective on the challenges facing the country and the skills to navigate the complex political landscape in Washington.

Biden has also been a strong advocate for working-class Americans throughout his career, which I find attractive.

Here are some of his achievements as president to date:

- He passed a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that provided direct payments, unemployment support, vaccine funding, rental assistance, and more to millions of Americans.

- He rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement and pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.

- He signed a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill that will improve roads, bridges, airports, public transit, broadband, water, and energy systems across the nation.

- He ended the US military involvement in Afghanistan after 20 years of war and evacuated more than 120,000 people from the country.

- He restored US leadership and diplomacy on the global stage by rejoining the World Health Organization, the Iran nuclear deal, and other international agreements and organizations.

- He expanded health care access and affordability by reopening enrollment for Obamacare, lowering prescription drug prices, and supporting Medicare expansion.

- He advanced racial justice and voting rights by creating a task force on policing reform, reversing some of the former guy's immigration policies, nominating a diverse cabinet and judiciary, and supporting legislation to protect voting access.

President Joe Biden (photo from whitehouse.gov)

Generally, Biden's platform and efforts as president reflect a commitment to economic justice. Whether or not this has been successful could be debated. I don't know how inflation is going to hurt him. As Bill Clinton said, "It's the economy," and that's always difficult to determine. People may be making more money today, but they are spending more, too, and that is the part that sticks with you. That bill at the grocery store hurts.

One of the most significant issues for me with Biden is his age. While age alone should not disqualify a candidate, it is a legitimate concern given the demands of the presidency and the need for a leader who can keep up with the pace of the job. That said, should the former guy win the Republican nomination, he won't be a spring chicken, either, as he would be 76 years old in 2024. 

I like the "Dark Brandon" side of Biden; he can be firm when he has to be. I appreciate his efforts to draw attention to the crazy MAGA people and differentiate them from those who still call themselves Republicans but no longer fit what that party has become. (I think the MAGA people call them RINOs but to me that's backwards.) The Republicans of today are not my father's party. Those people had some sense. Today, not so much.

Biden also has a folksy side that I have enjoyed watching. It may not be the most attractive thing about him, and he does make gaffes, but we all do. The only thing is everything he says and does is under a zillion microscopes, while the rest of us can slide on by. Or some of us can, anyway.

Personally, I would like to see a Democratic challenger who is younger in years. I'm afraid in the current climate, the reality is that this person would have to be a straight, white male, and while I am loathing myself for writing that, I also know that in order to keep what little freedoms we have remaining, this is not the time to push a far-left agenda. We are too far along the road to an authoritarian transition of government, and I for one do not wish to live in a regime run by police and militia vigilantes. Nor do I want a theocratic state, medical restrictions, or to lose my right to vote, all of which I think are possible if we continue to follow the path of a state like Florida, as an example.

In order to pull in the moderate vote, I think the Democrats need to find this younger person, and soon. Unfortunately, other than Gavin Newsome, the governor of California, there aren't many names that pop into my head at the moment.

I will vote for whomever the Democratic Party nominates, as I always have, but I am not convinced Biden is the person to keep the country going. A younger version of him would be ideal. I just don't know who that might be.

(This post was written with input from both chatGPT and Bing AI)

Sunday Stealing

Sunday Stealing

1. Would you rather trade some intelligence for looks or looks for intelligence?

A. I'm just fine as I am, thank you.

2. If everything in your house had to be one color what would it be?

A. It's all pretty much one color anyway - off white, or eggshell, or almond, however one wants to denote that type of color.

3. What animal would be the most terrifying if it could speak?

A. A fly.

4. How do you procrastinate?

A. Read, play video games, look at stuff on the Internet, do laundry when I should be doing something else.

5. If you had a warning label, what would yours say?

A. "Handle with care. Subject has opinions."

6. Would you rather go 30 days without your phone or life without dessert?

A. Oh, I'd go 30 days w/o my phone without missing a beat.

7. If one animal was made the size of an elephant, which would be the scariest?

A. A fly.

8. If you were reincarnated as a famous landmark, which would it be?

A. Landmarks aren't alive, so this is an impossible question. I could be a panda bear in the National Zoo, I suppose.

9. What celebrity chef would you like to make you dinner?

A. Any of them would do. I'm happy when anyone but me makes dinner.

10. How much would someone have to pay you to eat a spider?

A. Is it a big spider or a little tiny spider? Because I've probably accidentally eaten little tiny spiders before. 

11. If you joined a circus, what would your circus act be?

A. I would have to be a clown.

12. Do you have any superstitions?

A. Not really. I try not to walk under ladders but that's for safety reasons.

13. What cheesy song do you have memorized?

A. I know all the words to Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer, for some reason. I also know the words to Ahab the Arab, by Ray Stevens.

14. What’s something weird that you recommend everyone try at least once?

A. Reiki.

15. What do you think is the most unpleasant sounding word?

A. Bucolic. It's a terrible word to describe something lovely. "That barn in the meadow is so bucolic." It sounds like the barn is throwing up.

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I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Saturday 9: I Won't Be the One

Saturday 9: I Won't Be the One to Let Go (2002)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Barbra Streisand begins by singing about dreams and wishes. What are you wishing for this morning?

A. It would be nice to wake up to a day without either a national or local shooting, but given that it is the weekend, I doubt that will happen. So instead, I shall wish for a calm day for everyone, as calm as it can be for them. I would also like for someone to magically come and declutter my house, but I am not holding my breath on that one.

2) Barry Manilow sings that "anytime you need me, you'll know where I am." If a friend needs you, what's the best way to reach you (text, phone call, email, knock on the front door . . . )?

A. Phone or text would be the quickest way to reach me. 

3) Both of this week's artists are from Brooklyn. In addition to Barry and Barbra, Brooklyn is home to Coney Island, where America's first roller coaster debuted in 1884. Do you enjoy amusement park rides? If yes, do you have a favorite?

A. I do not enjoy amusement park rides anymore. I did when I was young - as in a teenager - but after I hit my 30s, I found them painful. We rode a few rides at Disney in Orlando in 1993 when we went, but both of us ended up aching and sore after a few slams against the side. Even rides that looked like they wouldn't be that physical actually were. A person with brittle bones could end up with a broken body on some of those things.

4) Barbra and her husband, actor James Brolin, have lived in the same Malibu home for more than 25 years. How long have you been in your current residence? Do you think you'll be moving anytime soon?

A. I have lived in my current house since November 1987, and I don't expect to leave it except by force or in a hearse.

5) Barry Manilow once lived in luxurious Bel Air. His neighbors were former President and Mrs. Reagan. At first, he thought it would be great to have the Reagans nearby but quickly changed his mind because he disliked the Secret Service helicopters flying overhead. Tell us about one of your neighbors. (No pressure; we don't expect to hear about historic figures.) 

A. Well, hang on to your hats, lads and lassies. This might be a bit long. My neighbor's name is Lanetta Ware. Professor Ware, who is now over 80 years old, taught at Hollins University (my alma mater) for 43 years. She served as Department Chair of Physical Education until she retired in 2005. She also offered sports clinics to various local schools and at Botetourt Country Club and was a Red Cross First Aid Instructor.

In 2017. she received special honors and recognition from The Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association. She received the award for her love of the sport, passion for teaching, and dedication to coaching. Her efforts in coaching and in rule establishment was one of the driving forces in advancing women in collegiate athletics during the Title IX era. She is well-known across the nation for her work in women's sports, including lacrosse, fencing, field hockey, and golf. She was a trailblazer in helping women's sports to advance to greater recognition and rewarding experiences for students and fans alike. She served as a National Basketball Official, a National Field Hockey Official, and a National and International Lacrosse Official.

Lanetta Ware, 2007

While she was a professor at Hollins, the college was the Division II Virginia State Champions in women's lacrosse in 1978 and 1979 and they were the USWLA Division II Runner Up in the National Championship in 1979. Additionally, Miss Ware co-authored and served as editor of the USWLA Umpiring Manual as well as the International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Association Rules Book and Umpiring Manual and authored or co-authored many other papers concerning women's sports. She served as an official and as chairman of numerous USWLA and IFWLA tournaments and held numerous offices in both the USWLA and the IFWLA, including president of IFWLA for eight years. She was an honorary member of the VWLA, USWLA and the IFWLA.

She has been named to four halls of fame for women's lacrosse: Hollins University, the University of Richmond, US Lacrosse, and Virginia Lacrosse. The Virginia Umpiring Award for Service and Devotion to the game is known as the Lanetta T. Ware Award.

She has been a member of numerous professional societies, including the United States Field Hockey Association, the Virginia Women's Lacrosse Association, the United States Women's Lacrosse Association, the American Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, the United States Fencing Association, the United States Tennis Association, and the National Golf Coaches Association.

She was the former women's golf champion at Fredericksburg Country Club, Hidden Valley Country Club, and Hermitage Country Club. She was a medalist at the Virginia State Women's Golf Tournament in Hot Springs, Virginia and competed as one of 16 women on the Virginia and West Virginia golf team from 1962-1966. Additionally, she was a runner up at the Wintergreen Golf Club and Roanoke Valley Women's Golf Tournament.

She moved to Botetourt County in 1962. In 1971, she built a home and beef cattle farm with her longtime friend and fellow coach, Marjorie Taylor Berkley, who passed away in 2017. She continues to farm because she enjoys the cattle and the picturesque nature around her home. 

Whew. What a life, eh?

6) As a teenager, Barbra worked as a switchboard operator. Her job consisted of connecting calls by inserting phone plugs into the appropriate jacks. As telephoning became automated, these jobs were phased out and by 1983, the switchboard operator was obsolete. Can you think of another occupation that used to be common but doesn't exist anymore?

A. Secretary.

7) Loyal Fanilows can subscribe to ManilowTV. For $9.95/month, fans can watch exclusive content, like interviews and concert performances. Do you more often watch live broadcast TV or streamed content?

A. I watch whatever's on DirecTV because I still have DSL and streaming is not the best. I hate that little buffering sign.

8) In 2002, the year this recording was released, the Sears Wish Book offered seven different collectible Barbies. According to Mattel, the doll's manufacturer, there are more than 100,000 Barbie collectors all over the world. Do you collect anything?

A. I have a collection of Santa Mouses (Mice)? Most were given to me by friends. I also have a lot of books.

One of my Santa Mouses.

9) Random question: Are you exclusively an online/ATM bank customer, or do you often go into the branch and interact with a teller?

A. I do both. I bank online and I also go to the bank.

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I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.  

Dandelions and . . . Daisies?

I took these pictures in the yard the other day before my husband mowed. Dandelions are common and most folks try to irradicate them from their yards. I tend to leave them alone. They aren't hurting anything.

Dandelions are flowering plants that belong to the family Asteraceae. They are native to Eurasia and North America but have been introduced to other parts of the world. They have many uses as food, medicine, and ornamental plants. (Bing AI)

The white flower I think many people would call a daisy, but it's actually fleabane. Fleabane belongs to the aster family. Some of it is native to North America and some is not. The flowers bloom from spring to fall and utilize a variety of habitats. Fleabane can be cooked as greens and is used to treat various ailments. (Bing AI)

One of my most hurtful memories involves dandelions. When I was quite small, I thought them beautiful, and I picked a handful to take to my mother. She immediately declared it a weed and threw them in the trash. I don't recall ever picking another flower for my mother again.

I still find dandelions beautiful. They're so happy looking, with their yellow color, and then they are fun when they've gone to seed. One hardy blow upon them and the seeds fly through the sky like magic.

Thursday Thirteen

Which of these things are important to you? Are they all important? Equally important?

1. The need to support and honor American veterans.

2. The importance of protecting national security and keeping Americans safe from terrorism and other threats.

3. The value of education and the need to invest in it for future generations.

4. The importance of maintaining a strong and growing economy.

5. The need to improve infrastructure and invest in transportation, energy, and other critical areas.

6. The value of free speech and the importance of protecting First Amendment rights.

7. The importance of individual liberty and personal responsibility.

8. The need to address climate change and protect the environment.

9. The importance of reducing the national debt and addressing government waste.

10. The need for immigration reform and securing America's borders.

11. The importance of maintaining a strong military and supporting our troops.

12. The need for healthcare reform and improving access to quality healthcare.

13. The importance of addressing mental health issues and improving access to treatment.

This is a list that ChatGPT provided when asked to give a list of 13 things that Democrats and Republicans agree on. (This is also the order in which it gave me the answer to the question.) Is this a true list, do you think? 

__________________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 804th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Chasing the Ladies

This handsome fellow was strutting his stuff in front of the house the other day. He had two ladies he was hoping to impress.

Here are the turkey hens he was after.

 

Feint of Heart

Last week could have been worse.

Not only was I threatened over a silly article by a silly person, I was battling a problem with my blood pressure.

The numbers were running very high - stroke level high, actually. My doctor was telling me to take half of this pill or that to try to bring it down. I didn't know whether to exercise or go to bed.

Would that very last Baked Lays Potato Chip be the thing that threw me over the edge? I wondered.

And of course, things like having to phone the police to report said threatening phone call only upped my blood pressure. It certainly did nothing to ease it.

Finally, I saw my doctor on Thursday. She detected a new heart murmur. She's been listening to my heart for over 15 years so surely she would have heard it before were it not new.

She also said she heard a carotid bruit, which is a vascular sound over the carotid artery in the neck.

This is new, as well.

Add this to the pain in my calf that seems to be varicose veins, and it's starting to look like I have some kind of heart issue. Plaque buildup, probably. Too bad I can't brush my veins out like I do my teeth. 

Isn't learning that you are having heart problems just what one wants to hear to end out the week?

My doctor did not do bloodwork as I have terrible veins and the nurse that can easily do that was not in the office. She made a referral to a cardiologist but warned me not to expect to hear from the facility any time soon. Apparently, the days of making a referral and then seeing the expert with a few weeks are long gone. She said it may be months before I see a cardiologist, "but you'll be ok," adding that if she were really concerned, she would have sent me on to the emergency room.

In the meantime, she doubled one of my medicines, and the blood pressure numbers are lower now. Not great, but better than they were, and enough that I feel I have some breathing room.

Her notes on my chart indicate she is concerned about aortic stenosis. Aortic stenosis (AS or AoS) is the narrowing of the exit of the left ventricle of the heart (where the aorta begins).

However, I do not have the symptoms of this, which include loss of consciousness, shortness of breath, and chest pain. (Yes, I looked it up. Wouldn't you?) I have two out of 5 risk factors - high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and my cholesterol, while not great, is not running at really high levels. In fact, it was in the normal range 30 years ago when a doctor first checked it. 

I'm one of those people who think the numbers for cholesterol lower so the pharmaceutical companies can sell more drugs (I think the same thing about "A1C," which no one ever heard of until there was a drug available to "fix" it.). 

Cholesterol medicine did not agree with me when I tried it some years ago. I had cognitive issues with it and at one point could barely put two sentences together. That cleared up as soon as I stopped the medication. No one in my family tolerates cholesterol medication well, and since it seems to be a familial problem, I doubt seriously that there is little to be done about it.

My doctor told me once when I said something about being concerned about dementia since one of my medications is a suspect for that, that I shouldn't worry. "You'll die of a heart attack long before you get dementia," she said.

Comforting, eh?

The Craven, the Crazies, and the Rest of Us

Over the weekend, an Oklahoma newspaper with no online presence printed this as its front page of its weekend edition:

You can hear Rachel Maddow discuss this at this link, if you want.

I have written local journalism for 39 years. My first article was published in 1984. I've written for nearly all of the local publications, including many that no longer exist, and for statewide magazines. I estimated once that I've published over 2 million words in multiple publications.

My editor at The Fincastle Herald always told me if I didn't have someone angry at me, I wasn't doing my job.

Suffice to say, I did my job. Over the years, I have been threatened by various and sundry people, including a sheriff in nearby county. He stopped me as I was entering the courtroom to listen to a board meeting. "How do I know that's water you have in there?" he demanded, nodding toward my ever-present water bottle.

I took a drink and held it out to him. "You're welcome to the rest of it. It's just water."

"I could haul you in right now for having liquor and who'd know different?" he said. He banged his hand against his pistol on his thigh for emphasis.

"Everybody knows I don't drink alcohol," I replied, and I walked past him to my seat. I could feel him glaring at the back of my head.

Later that same night, I nearly wrecked my car on the way home as I drove over Caldwell Mountain and the tire went flat. In the shine of a flashlight, I discovered my tire had been slashed with a knife.

Yes, someone in the next county over had tried to kill me. Caldwell Mountain is a dangerous drive, over twisting, winding roads. My car could have gone off the pavement and down the mountainside, not to be found for possibly years.

That happened about 25 years ago. So, while this is nothing new, the rhetoric now has been taken to a whole other level.

It was not unusual for me to receive phone calls from people complaining about stories I wrote. "I didn't say that" was the usual complaint. I carried a tape recorder and I'd play it back to them, if I had to.

They backed down then.

Sometimes, though, the complaint was not that I wrote what they said, but that I didn't write what they said.

Sometimes people simply sound so stupid to me that I paraphrase or leave it out completely if it's not relevant to the main part of the article. It is my job to tell a story that is truthful, but that doesn't mean I have to use ignorant, racist, homophobic, fascist, or antisemitic language. Paraphrasing is allowed.

But some people want their words - no matter how ignorant they sound - in print. They want their opinions, word for word, stated. That's how sure they are that they're right. That's how sure they are that their closed-minded world view is the one that should rule the day.

So it was that last week I found myself listening to someone rant about how I hadn't printed exactly what this person had said at a supervisors meeting. 

The person threatened me. I hung up on this person, and I called the police and reported the phone call. I also blocked the number.

Twenty years ago, I would not have done that. I'd have ignored the call. But these are different times, and people feel mean and emboldened, and being a bully is now in fashion. 

I was taken aback by the phone call because it was literally over nothing, as far as I was concerned.

These are the times we live in. People feel emboldened in their fascism and narrow-minded thoughts. They have no room in their brains for open-minded thinking. My way or the highway, as my parents used to tell me.

However, we are all adults, not children in need of being sent to our rooms. And if someone can't have an adult conversation with me that doesn't involve threats, screaming, or insults, then that is not someone I care to talk with.

And as for the report above, it just shows how low people can be. To call these people snakes would be an injustice to snakes. The people in the article/photo above are lower than a snake's belly in a wagon rut. They're so low, there is no bottom for them.

I hope they all lose their jobs.