Very Personnel Comments
Yesterday was a very hard day for me. It was Sandy’s birthday, 79. A Friend/Neighbor sent me an Email. She found a voice message that Sandy had sent to her, wanting to know if they would go to dinner with us. Friend sent the voice message. First time in 5 months that I heard my Darling Sandy’s voice. I really cried, listened to it twice (crying now too). I now have her voice for the rest of my life. I urge you too record your voice for your loved ones, on your phone, their phone, somewhere. Let them know you did it. It is something they will love to have as the years go by.
Re: Video
Don’t know why, but the dance routine and music remind me of the dance routine in “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” (albeit with a strong Ukrainian flavor).
As an aside; Elise Stefanik is retiring – totally – from politics. She will not run for NY Governor nor will she seek re-election in the US House.
She is citing family issues.
Why do I find this rather odd??
Is Candace Owens infiltrating my brain?
Why do I find this rather odd??
==
Perhaps because she was planning a vigorous campaign for a demanding office and now has elected to forego public life.
==
That she was willing to relinquish her House seat on a chancy campaign for governor indicates that she’s tired of Capitol Hill. The gubernatorial campaign has not been working out. She has an unexpected primary challenge and the polls contra Hochul look bad. New York voters are willing to elect dreadful human beings if they have a (D) after their name. Hochul’s not that, merely a hack whose whole family have nomeklatura jobs. Attempting to return to the House would mean challenging other local pols who had been firing up a campaign and doing so to retain a House seat she apparently no longer wants.
==
Her husband’s employer has its HQ in Fairfield County, Ct, three hours and change from their home in Saratoga Springs. Getting out of Congress may mean they can move out of that district and relocate farther south which will make an easier commute for both of them. She actually grew up around Albany and carpetbagged into the North Country district.
==
Am curious about what sort of employment she’ll be seeking next.
Shirehome, Thank you very much. Good idea.
Anthropogenic Intelligence (AI): dynamic and creative. You’ve come a long way, baby.
Shirehome, my condolences. I also lost someone close to me and having a recording of her soft voice would help but also would hurt.
Shirehome: Condolences. I too have a recording of a loved one — my father. I found it on a mini tape recorder after his death, and pushed the PLAY button to hear what it was. I think it was something he was dictating for later transcription, but the subject was unimportant to me. What I wanted was to hear his voice.
I have kept that mini recorder now for 35 years, so I know I have it. But I have not felt the need to play it again — just having it has been a comfort to me.
Shirehome, what a blessing to have your beloved’s voice, and a kind friend.
SHIREHOME:
I’m glad you have that.
Thanks for sharing SHIREHOME
I lost a very dear friend over a decade ago now. I still have two of her voicemails, which I guess many would consider a little creepy. In one of them she’s a bit pissed off at me. That’s my favorite.
SHIREHOME.
What a gift.
Thank you all for the very kind words.
Shirehome, my condolences. I have voicemails from several deceased loved ones and am grateful to have those. One is of my parents singing “Happy Birthday” to me when they were in their eighties.
It looks like the dancer with the longest hair and the broadest smile is briefly en pointe during one of the sequences. Is that common now for men?
Thanes for the tip, Shirehome.
This is a sad Christmas season for me as well. On December 5th, my best friend from high school, a retired veterinarian, passed away unexpectedly at age 93. He was so healthy, I expected him to live to be a 100.
Though he lived in Spokane, we got together often and took trips together. Over the last forty years he and his wife, along with me and my wife, spent many happy times together. He lost his wife to cancer 20 years ago, but has continued to be active, engaged, and involved with family, friends, and his community. In the last two years we talked frequently by phone. He was always upbeat and interested in politics, sports, and reading new books.
Over the years, I have lost many friends. But this one has hit me very hard. I fully expected him to outlive me.
His was a well-lived life. May he RIP.
Molly G:
No, it’s an old folk dance thing from certain parts of the world such as Georgia.
J.J.:
I’m so sorry. That’s one of the hardest things about aging, in my opinion – losing so many people.
J.J., deepest condolences on the loss of your friend. May he rest in peace. It’s hard to outlive your friends, no matter how many younger people who care for you may be in your life.
I do this in my apartment all the time.
Dance – fun. Anyone else think we really need more fun? Especially these days.
Ross Coulthart is saying that he hopes the upcoming summer 2026 blockbuster Spielberg SF film isn’t going to push the Alien “threat” narrative.
Let’s think about this for a moment, because–from a human perspective—couldn’t any entity which can–or is–interfering with our human “agency”–our abilities, our actions, plans, and the normal direction of our human progress–naturally be seen as a “threat” to us as humans, as a species?
Such Aliens in essence “taking over,” and nudging, pushing, or even forcing us humans in a particular direction, down a particular path, one dictated by these Aliens, and what they want–what they might think is “best” for us humans, as these Aliens might define “best”–and closing out other paths we humans might prefer to take.
Suppose we humans don’t want to be changed/uplifted/enlightened/directed in the manner Aliens might want us to be?
What if, to us humans, the path chosen by these Aliens for us looks more like slavery than benign mentorship?
Sure looks like such a situation could be seen as a “threat” to us humans.
TO BE FAIR, THEY REPORTED IT EXACTLY AS THEY MEANT TO: Matt Taibbi: The Jeffrey Epstein Saga is the Worst-Reported Story of All Time.
The Instapundit commenters, including Reynolds himself, spent years fanning the Epstein pedophile-blackmail conspiracy flames, and there’s nothing Taibbi is saying that hasn’t already known for a very long time now.
There is a prize given in our development for the best Halloween and Christmas decorations and lights and, each year, one house down the block goes all out, and it almost seems as if their light display–which seemingly grows in coverage and intensity each year–might be able to be seen from outer space.
Just saw an image on Youtube–apparently now taken down–of one such house, bright Christmas lights covering their entire lawn, and their next door neighbor’s Christmas light display consisted of one word in large white illuminated lights on his lawn–DITTO.
Niketas:
I was writing much the same as Taibbi about the Epstein case quite some time ago: see this as well as this.
And here we thought that that classic Chutzpah joke was just…a joke…
Other recent “jokes” of note:
“Why would Australia give a non-citizen on a Visa, SIX gun licenses?
“And why would he be given six licenses when his son has known links to ISIS?”— https://instapundit.com/763961/
‘BBC Can’t Admit the Obvious. “The Australian Broadcasting Corporation insists that the Bondi Beach terrorist attack had nothing to do with religion”’— https://instapundit.com/763884/
@neo:I was writing much the same as Taibbi about the Epstein case quite some time ago:
Indeed you were well ahead of Taibbi on this, as was I as you could see by my comments on those posts, for what that’s worth.
Just like how the rest of the world is just now discovering Somali fraud in Minnesota despite all of Powerline’s work since 2021, I suppose.
Anyway, with respect to Epstein, you saw it then and now Taibbi sees it, but the crew at Instapundit had the same information we all had and chose to chase clicks instead….
Niketas:
Yes, it’s depressing to see sometimes.
Everything you wanted to know about Watergate but may have been afraid—or not known enough—to ask…(including why Trump is, for his rabid-to-the-point-of-delirious opponents, RMN incarnate).
Another spectacularly murky political saga comprehensively brought to life, from Nathan Pinkowski…with details about hypocrisy, dishonesty and moral bankruptcy sufficient to power a major city.
My knees hurt watching that.
Very Personnel Comments
Yesterday was a very hard day for me. It was Sandy’s birthday, 79. A Friend/Neighbor sent me an Email. She found a voice message that Sandy had sent to her, wanting to know if they would go to dinner with us. Friend sent the voice message. First time in 5 months that I heard my Darling Sandy’s voice. I really cried, listened to it twice (crying now too). I now have her voice for the rest of my life. I urge you too record your voice for your loved ones, on your phone, their phone, somewhere. Let them know you did it. It is something they will love to have as the years go by.
Re: Video
Don’t know why, but the dance routine and music remind me of the dance routine in “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” (albeit with a strong Ukrainian flavor).
As an aside; Elise Stefanik is retiring – totally – from politics. She will not run for NY Governor nor will she seek re-election in the US House.
She is citing family issues.
Why do I find this rather odd??
Is Candace Owens infiltrating my brain?
Why do I find this rather odd??
==
Perhaps because she was planning a vigorous campaign for a demanding office and now has elected to forego public life.
==
That she was willing to relinquish her House seat on a chancy campaign for governor indicates that she’s tired of Capitol Hill. The gubernatorial campaign has not been working out. She has an unexpected primary challenge and the polls contra Hochul look bad. New York voters are willing to elect dreadful human beings if they have a (D) after their name. Hochul’s not that, merely a hack whose whole family have nomeklatura jobs. Attempting to return to the House would mean challenging other local pols who had been firing up a campaign and doing so to retain a House seat she apparently no longer wants.
==
Her husband’s employer has its HQ in Fairfield County, Ct, three hours and change from their home in Saratoga Springs. Getting out of Congress may mean they can move out of that district and relocate farther south which will make an easier commute for both of them. She actually grew up around Albany and carpetbagged into the North Country district.
==
Am curious about what sort of employment she’ll be seeking next.
Shirehome, Thank you very much. Good idea.
Anthropogenic Intelligence (AI): dynamic and creative. You’ve come a long way, baby.
Shirehome, my condolences. I also lost someone close to me and having a recording of her soft voice would help but also would hurt.
Shirehome: Condolences. I too have a recording of a loved one — my father. I found it on a mini tape recorder after his death, and pushed the PLAY button to hear what it was. I think it was something he was dictating for later transcription, but the subject was unimportant to me. What I wanted was to hear his voice.
I have kept that mini recorder now for 35 years, so I know I have it. But I have not felt the need to play it again — just having it has been a comfort to me.
Shirehome, what a blessing to have your beloved’s voice, and a kind friend.
SHIREHOME:
I’m glad you have that.
Thanks for sharing SHIREHOME
I lost a very dear friend over a decade ago now. I still have two of her voicemails, which I guess many would consider a little creepy. In one of them she’s a bit pissed off at me. That’s my favorite.
SHIREHOME.
What a gift.
Thank you all for the very kind words.
Shirehome, my condolences. I have voicemails from several deceased loved ones and am grateful to have those. One is of my parents singing “Happy Birthday” to me when they were in their eighties.
It looks like the dancer with the longest hair and the broadest smile is briefly en pointe during one of the sequences. Is that common now for men?
Thanes for the tip, Shirehome.
This is a sad Christmas season for me as well. On December 5th, my best friend from high school, a retired veterinarian, passed away unexpectedly at age 93. He was so healthy, I expected him to live to be a 100.
Though he lived in Spokane, we got together often and took trips together. Over the last forty years he and his wife, along with me and my wife, spent many happy times together. He lost his wife to cancer 20 years ago, but has continued to be active, engaged, and involved with family, friends, and his community. In the last two years we talked frequently by phone. He was always upbeat and interested in politics, sports, and reading new books.
Over the years, I have lost many friends. But this one has hit me very hard. I fully expected him to outlive me.
His was a well-lived life. May he RIP.
Molly G:
No, it’s an old folk dance thing from certain parts of the world such as Georgia.
J.J.:
I’m so sorry. That’s one of the hardest things about aging, in my opinion – losing so many people.
J.J., deepest condolences on the loss of your friend. May he rest in peace. It’s hard to outlive your friends, no matter how many younger people who care for you may be in your life.
I do this in my apartment all the time.
Dance – fun. Anyone else think we really need more fun? Especially these days.
Ross Coulthart is saying that he hopes the upcoming summer 2026 blockbuster Spielberg SF film isn’t going to push the Alien “threat” narrative.
Let’s think about this for a moment, because–from a human perspective—couldn’t any entity which can–or is–interfering with our human “agency”–our abilities, our actions, plans, and the normal direction of our human progress–naturally be seen as a “threat” to us as humans, as a species?
Such Aliens in essence “taking over,” and nudging, pushing, or even forcing us humans in a particular direction, down a particular path, one dictated by these Aliens, and what they want–what they might think is “best” for us humans, as these Aliens might define “best”–and closing out other paths we humans might prefer to take.
Suppose we humans don’t want to be changed/uplifted/enlightened/directed in the manner Aliens might want us to be?
What if, to us humans, the path chosen by these Aliens for us looks more like slavery than benign mentorship?
Sure looks like such a situation could be seen as a “threat” to us humans.
What then?
Unicorns have the best intentions.
Well stated:
==
https://reformclub.blogspot.com/2025/12/did-gary-neville-have-point.html
Interesting Epstein volte-face on Instapundit:
The Instapundit commenters, including Reynolds himself, spent years fanning the Epstein pedophile-blackmail conspiracy flames, and there’s nothing Taibbi is saying that hasn’t already known for a very long time now.
There is a prize given in our development for the best Halloween and Christmas decorations and lights and, each year, one house down the block goes all out, and it almost seems as if their light display–which seemingly grows in coverage and intensity each year–might be able to be seen from outer space.
Just saw an image on Youtube–apparently now taken down–of one such house, bright Christmas lights covering their entire lawn, and their next door neighbor’s Christmas light display consisted of one word in large white illuminated lights on his lawn–DITTO.
Niketas:
I was writing much the same as Taibbi about the Epstein case quite some time ago: see this as well as this.
And here we thought that that classic Chutzpah joke was just…a joke…
“Trans Muslim killer tries to skip sentencing for executing parents — then makes excuse for murdering them”—
https://nypost.com/2025/12/21/us-news/trans-muslim-woman-mia-bailey-sentenced-to-life-for-killing-her-parents-in-utah/
Other recent “jokes” of note:
“Why would Australia give a non-citizen on a Visa, SIX gun licenses?
“And why would he be given six licenses when his son has known links to ISIS?”—
https://instapundit.com/763961/
‘BBC Can’t Admit the Obvious. “The Australian Broadcasting Corporation insists that the Bondi Beach terrorist attack had nothing to do with religion”’—
https://instapundit.com/763884/
@neo:I was writing much the same as Taibbi about the Epstein case quite some time ago:
Indeed you were well ahead of Taibbi on this, as was I as you could see by my comments on those posts, for what that’s worth.
Just like how the rest of the world is just now discovering Somali fraud in Minnesota despite all of Powerline’s work since 2021, I suppose.
Anyway, with respect to Epstein, you saw it then and now Taibbi sees it, but the crew at Instapundit had the same information we all had and chose to chase clicks instead….
Niketas:
Yes, it’s depressing to see sometimes.
Everything you wanted to know about Watergate but may have been afraid—or not known enough—to ask…(including why Trump is, for his rabid-to-the-point-of-delirious opponents, RMN incarnate).
Another spectacularly murky political saga comprehensively brought to life, from Nathan Pinkowski…with details about hypocrisy, dishonesty and moral bankruptcy sufficient to power a major city.
“The Real Watergate Scandal;
“A myth and its legacy.”—
https://claremontreviewofbooks.com/the-real-watergate-scandal
H/T Powerline blog.
Yep, the scandal and its modern-day reincarnation. ..