Comments for The New Neo

Comment on All the lonely people by Molly Brown

Molly Brown — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 07:18:56 +0000

When I was a high schooler, my father told me that I could have a lot of ‘friends’ but that over the course of my life there would only be a few people – beside family – that really mattered deeply. This was not at all cynical, my father was an honest, kind and loving man. He wanted me to choose friends wisely and not over invest in casual relationships. I’ve found it to be true, for me. I have a couple of friends that have lots of friends, though, and sometimes I wonder if I’m just too lazy to have lots of friends! I love hanging at home, working on the house and in the garden, reading, keeping up with my kids and grands and the rest of the family. I don’t seem to have the time or energy for much else!
And I really value the people I have known all my life and try to keep in touch more than just the holiday newsletter – I have made one or two close friends since adulthood, but the people who knew you when you were ‘young and foolish’ and still love you, well…
Also, I feel that my husband and I ‘grew up together’ even though we didn’t meet until our early 20’s. If I lost him it would be a real blow and yes then I would be lonely.

Old Texan,
A few years ago we had a case of an elderly parent go missing in my semi rural neighborhood. The active search for him was the longest for any missing person search here in modern times. His body was finally found after several months. His son’s house (from where he went missing) was in the neighborhood and the headquarters of the search was based two houses up the street from mine. Very tragic situation and I feel for you and others in the same position. At the same time it was so moving to see the amount of volunteer and caring effort to find him and bring peace to his family. I hope that same peace will come to you.

Comment on All the lonely people by Charles R Harris

Charles R Harris — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 04:53:29 +0000

I knew a woman who grew up in a Wyoming ranch, the nearest neighbor was 12 miles away. The kids had to entertain themselves when time allowed.

Comment on Is it really the biggest oil deal in recorded history? by Gringo

Gringo — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 04:23:49 +0000

From Neo’s link:

“We built [the] Venezuela oil industry with American talent, drive and skill, and the socialist regime stole it from us,” Trump said in a Jan. 3 press conference, in which he talked about the U.S. military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Trump is here exaggerating, to say the least. US oil companies—plus Royal Dutch Shell— built the Venezuelan oil industry beginning in the early part of the 20th century, but by the time Venezuelan oil was nationalized in 1976, most of the oil company employees in Venezuela were Venezuelan nationals. Until Chavez took over PDVSA in 2003, PDVSA was one of the few well-run Third World government oil companies.

In the 1990s @ $10-20 oil, PDVSA entered into partnerships with foreign oil companies to help develop the heavy oil in the Orinoco basin. In 2007, @ $100 oil Hugo Chavez gave the foreign oil companies the choice to get out or accept a lower percentage of oil revenues. Exxon got out, Chevron stayed.

That being said, I would prefer having blowhard Trump–a blowhard who tends to back up his words with actions— instead of Carney as the leader of my country. As then-Celtics Coach Pitino said in a previous century, Abraham Lincoln isn’t walking through that door.

Comment on All the lonely people by Marlene

Marlene — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 04:14:00 +0000

Dear OldTexan,
It breaks my heart, the loss of your missing hunter best friend Charles.
I can barely imagine your grief.
And I see there will be a memorial for him on Sept. 19.
I am deeply, deeply sorry for your loss.
— Marlene

Comment on On my ex and the moon by John Guilfoyle

John Guilfoyle — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 04:08:06 +0000

“Plus, just by chance I happened to be stepping out of my car at the exact peak minute of the eclipse.”

God was saying “Hello” Neo…gave you a beautiful sight as encouragement.

Comment on Is it really the biggest oil deal in recorded history? by om

om — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 04:08:06 +0000

Betsybounds:

Oh, I forgot one essential word, “Not.”

Comment on There’s a bid to vacate Chauvin’s state conviction by John Guilfoyle

John Guilfoyle — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 04:06:00 +0000

I just hope Chauvin lives long enough to see justice prevail.

Comment on All the lonely people by R2L

R2L — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 03:26:43 +0000

@ Neo: “And few of my friends know each other, so there’s little community there.”
That remark strikes me as having more impact and significance than we might normally realize. The older lifestyle and more urban environments probably had more “cross over friendshps” from localized living. So if you had not heard from Bill you learned about Bill from Tom, etc. because they also knew each other.

Smaller families, personal or personalized entertainments, job hopping, moves to suburbia, all created more fragmented social groupings and reduced overall networking.

Some people are also just skilled at socializing and networking – more outgoing than many of the rest of us.

Comment on Is it really the biggest oil deal in recorded history? by om

om — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 02:49:45 +0000

Betsybounds:

How clever and original, as usual.

Comment on There’s a bid to vacate Chauvin’s state conviction by huxley

huxley — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 01:43:54 +0000

If ever anyone got a raw deal, it was Derek Chauvin.

Prayers.