Comments on: Open thread 10/25/2025

By: AesopFan

AesopFan — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 04:55:17 +0000

@ Mike Plaiss in re thistles

One thistle in a lawn is a disaster; a million in a field are a masterpiece.

Plants are only called weeds when they grow where you don’t want them to be.

Dandelions in a huge field are also beautiful. And useful.
https://practicalselfreliance.com/dandelions-for-the-bees/

By: Snow on Pine

Snow on Pine — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 01:56:59 +0000

Make that Ecuador.

By: Snow on Pine

Snow on Pine — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 01:29:30 +0000

When you are compiling a list of the detrimental effects of illegal immigration—and there are many–one thing which is frequently overlooked is “remittances,” the enormous amount of money which is sucked out of our economy–to it’s and our detriment (that’s money which is taken out of circulation, and is unavailable to help our economy and our businesses grow)–and is transferred to their home countries each year by immigrants, many of them illegal immigrants.

These amounts are enormous and, according to the article linked below, taken together, they actually far exceed the $80 billion given out by the U.S. each year as foreign aid—last year $63 billion dollars were remitted to Mexico alone (and that’s down from prior years, probably due to Trump’s efforts), $363 million sent to Nicaragua, where it made up 27 percent of that country’s GDP, $8.479 billion was remitted to El Salvador, Peru received $4.945 billion, Equador $6.54 billion, and India $135.46 billion.*

* See https://www.breitbart.com/immigration/2025/10/26/western-union-reports-fewer-u-s-dollars-being-sent-home-by-migrants/

By: Mike Plaiss

Mike Plaiss — Sun, 26 Oct 2025 19:00:38 +0000

Getting back to the picture. It is interesting that the thoroughly uninteresting Sumac can be so beautiful when it has its moment. In the western suburbs of Chicago an abandoned train line was turned into a public path that runs for dozens of miles – the Prairie Path. Many years ago I was on a bike ride with my daughter and there was a very large field off the path that had been completely taken over by thistles. We went by when they were all in bloom and it was stunningly beautiful. I’ve spent a great deal of my gardening life battling the damn things.

By: Kate

Kate — Sun, 26 Oct 2025 17:34:19 +0000

Nice piece in the WSJ, Mike Plaiss. Thanks. I agree with the writer about Asheville (half an hour north of me) and about smaller Appalachian towns. Have a blessed day!

By: Selfy

Selfy — Sun, 26 Oct 2025 17:03:30 +0000

Article in left-wing Pro Publica about Oklahoma’s anti-woke school policies:
https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-education-department-oklahoma-public-schools

By: Art Deco

Art Deco — Sun, 26 Oct 2025 15:47:53 +0000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfXODtG_-1s
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The membership is made up of students at East Tennessee State University, so the line up changes noticeably every few months. They gave a performance broadcast last night on Song of the Mountains that was entertaining.

By: Art Deco

Art Deco — Sun, 26 Oct 2025 15:32:44 +0000

Sorry, the band played Hawaii Five 0, not Mission Impossible.
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Had trouble recognizing it.
==
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8GNXVJhQGA
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A Lalo Schifrin masterpiece. Not sure you could dance to it.

By: Art Deco

Art Deco — Sun, 26 Oct 2025 15:25:47 +0000

Another dance scene on which Neo has yet to blog.
==
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oivcG31tDY

By: Mike Plaiss

Mike Plaiss — Sun, 26 Oct 2025 15:02:40 +0000

This human interest story from the weekend’s WSJ will surprise few readers here, but perhaps it will come in useful if you encounter anyone badmouthing evangelical Christians.

I Used to Worry About Being Jewish in a Small Christian Town. Now I Feel Right at Home.
https://archive.fo/SM46S