As in the main voice of Margaret and Helen. The website that features the raunchy and therefore appealing rantings of “83 year old Helen Philpot” writing to her “dear friend of 60+ years, Margaret”. It took off like wildfire a year ago, and by the time I discovered it, it was well underway with some few “prior” posts that seemed to be placed for “authenticity” (although it’s easy to set up prior posts to pretend a site has been going for ages) and a backstory that some people bought into hook, line, and sinker, and they loyally defendher honor. Others, not so much, but the even if not authentic the premise of the site was still very entertaining.
For whatever reason, it’s the 29th of October now and no posts at all since September 23rd. That’s highly unusual, and commenters are going a little nutso over the dearth of information. Some are appealing to the “nephew” Matthew, who supposedly set up the blog and maintains the technical end of things…they want him to come on and give some type of update, as they are worried about the health of that dear crusty old bird.
I don’t know if “Helen” is authentic. I think I’ve always doubted it, although I secretly hoped it was all on the up and up. But I don’t want it to end this way, without a freakin’ clue, even if it is a hoax/fake…
And if it’s truly “Helen” then I hope she is okay. I liked reading her stuff, I’m a little envious of her audience size, and I want her to keep writing for a long, long time.
We have gotten too spread out, too imperialistic for our britches. We have military bases all over the world, we pour billions of dollars into every one ELSE’s economies with our soldiers and their families maintaining a presence in countries that would stay peaceful if we left, would easily be defended if we left, and don’t need or want us to be there anymore.
By whose design are we hanging around in everyone else’s house? COME HOME!
So we don’t want our military to be out of jobs? Easy. Transfer the job and the money to a public service sector. Fix New Orleans and Rapid City, SD. String up new powerlines across the country (or bury them deep). Build new or repair existing dams and bridges. Put that military expertise to work, make them city cops or county sheriffs. Tear down eyesore hotels in Idaho Falls that are bankrupt and deteriorating, and build parks.
Those soldiers who joined because they wanna FIGHT someone, not spend time rebuilding their country, send them to Afghanistan to finish the job there to rout the Taliban. Then bring them home to help improve our country’s home defense system, which is where they belong and the task they should be doing.
Closing all those bases across the world would save us billions of dollars in operation costs. Apply those savings to the national debt, or to universal health care coverage subsidies.
Eh. Facebook “friend” (very conservative, I don’t know her except on facebook) offered to stop listening to Rush Limbaugh if I stopped listening to Rachel Maddow. Now, what she doesn’t know is that I only listen/watch when I’m in a hotel room while out of town, as I don’t have cable at home…and therefore rarely get to see/hear Rachel.
But I was tempted to agree to stop listening to Rachel, if she would be willing to stop listening to Rush. I’d take one for the team, there! Wonder if I should take her up on it??
I’m in the at risk category so I’m considering getting one. But I’m torn, I’ve heard so much pro and con that I’m now dithering where I had once been really determined to get one (in fact, both).
This story on Local News 8 quotes people from all angles, committed to getting one to firmly against it. I know some schools in Idaho are giving the flu mist out to the children (with parental permission) and I know people who have actually been diagnosed with having the H1N1 flu and yet they survived just fine.
So I’m torn. Thimerisol is still being used, and that causes me concern. I haven’t had a flu shot in years, but this new pandemic of world diseases has me concerned that we’re due for another epidemic.
Coming on his new album. I hope he visits Idaho Falls again in the near future! I enjoy his humor and have all his music (so far). This one makes the point that we all came from the same genetic stock, so even if you’re a creationist, hey, we all came from somewhere…which makes us all related…eww!
I am a white woman, and have been discriminated against in many ways during my lifetime, for being female. Some times I speak up, some times I’ve just held my tongue and tried to cut my losses. It’s not always the best course of action to speak up.
Some of the people take offense when I take offense, insisting they never meant to hurt or degrade me with their comments. Some go so far as to attack me for pointing out their sexism. None realize that if I’m mentioning it, it’s because it was offensive to me as a woman, and that very concept is what counts, whether the intent was there, or no.
Being white, I’ve been really fortunate to never personally experience the inherent racism I see everywhere. I was raised by racists, I work with them, I even have social contatct with people who would never admit to racism but who clearly have biases. The weird thing is that not all of the racially charged situations I encounter are started by white people. Just as with sexism, where sometimes women themselves are guilty of sexist remarks and attitudes, so are some minorities I encounter guilty of racism.
Recently the scandal was of the Australian blackface skit that had even Harry Connick, Jr. embarrassed. And the idea is that “no one intended any harm” but that’s not the point…the point is that it’s a well known racist act to use blackface and it’s no longer considered “innocent” in any way, no matter how strong the protestations.
On the other hand, are we too politically correct, really? Is it unreasonable to be unable to point out stereotypical behaviors or patterns without being considered a prejudiced person?
…still painted orange this year. At least the Grizz tried.
The whole Emotion Bowl kept spectators on their feet. It was filled with boos and cheers from the first play of the game where the Tigers kicked off to the Grizz, all the way to the last play where the Tigers took a knee. The final score was 28-13.
The Tigers played great defense and offense the whole game but the Grizz had bad offense the first half, scored in the second half, and only sometimes had great defense.
Overall, it was a great game even though my team lost.
This piece is so powerful. It totally explains what’s wrong these days, why the country seems to be in the middle of a terrible political upheaval, and why it’s WAR for the conservatives. Per Neal Gabler in the LA Times:
You cannot beat religion with politics, which is why the extreme right “wins” so many battles. The fundamentalist political fanatics will always be more zealous than mainstream conservatives or liberals. They will always be louder, more adamant, more aggrieved, more threatening, more willing to do anything to win. Losing is inconceivable. For them, every battle is a crusade — or a jihad — a matter of good and evil.
It’s incredibly right-on. You have to read the entire thing.
It’s back to school I go as it’s the beginning of the 09-10 school year. It’s good to be a junior. It just means I’m one step closer to my last and final year in high school. The classes I have are going great if you are out there asking.
I’m going on to the fifth week and already there is loads to cover around the school starting with Homecoming, then the death of our sophmore friend, and this week the BIG picture is Emotion Bowl. Most stores/ fast food places windows close by Skyline are filled with the words Go Big Blue or something along those terms.
I hoping for my team, Grizz, to win but Tigers could upset us again like last year and keep the goalpost orange. We’ll have to wait and see.
administrator : Hey, unless someone wants to take this site over (free until January 2011, then it will cost for domain registration and hosting) I am thinking about shutting it down. I don't have enough time to do it justice...sorry! Email me at the contact email if you want to have this gift...
admin : Dawn, are you going to write a post here?
admin : boomer, you ever think about writing a book?
boomer : Hi, Doc... my new piece is a full blog, and a real long one. Feel free to edit and condense if you want.
darlene :
darlene : I say, we don't need no steenkin' chat box!
administrator: : VireeinpusnuG, if you are for real, email me...otherwise I'll keep deleting your user entry...
administrator: : We have some new authors signed up. Please, everyone, feel free to write at will! Make your voice be heard...
administrator: : chatbox is dead...maybe I'll open again so general public can use it...
administrator: : kartofeln: If you're for real, send me an email. Otherwise I'll keep deleting you as a user...
darlene : happy easter to all my christian friends out there!
administrator : this theme is too buggy...
Liz : My house is party central for the block. You guys need some new neighbors!
administrator : my neighbors try to avoid ME.
darlene : Yeah, my neighbors are staunch Republicans that I try to avoid...but who knows, maybe I can sneak something in...
boomer : It's time to buckle down and start talking to your neighbor about getting the health care bill passed. We need it.
Liz : I'm tired of all the stupid sheeple in this country. Let's cut out more funding from education, we really need more stupid sheeple at the ballot box in our future! X(
Liz : Yeah, way to go, Kym! That was a great story and you should be a poster child for the lost middle class...
administrator : way to go, kymberly!
administrator : need something that is good for a forum but easy on the pocketbook, right now.
