Definition of Opinion:  A belief or conclusion held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof.

Please be respectful to others with differing opinions. 

Greg Watkins

Jim Coats

Mike Lorts.  Thank you.

Katie.  Thanks for your response.  I certainly noticed and appreciate how you have toned things down recently.

Most importantly....If I had a magic wand, I would wave it and kill Sherri's cancer. 

Now....I love you saying that we have the government we deserve because of our voting.  Boom!  Drop the mic.  I'm with you!

You want "us"....I presume that means all of us, to stop calling the politicians things like "brain dead" and I will add "Hitler".  That one will be hard....for both sides.  I think we simply need to NOT take it personally.  What do you think?  After all, they are just opinions, right?

You said ".....there is not one politician, party, or sector that will have the right ways to fix all our issues."  100% agree with you.  That's where working in a spirit of cooperation and compromise comes in. 

And finally, as if I have any control, please feel free to write your posts as lengthy as you want.  Like I said in my post, I have the right not to read them IF they don't float my boat.....but I won't criticize volume.  How's that?

So, in the interest of detente, I will end with initials only of my bumper stickers.....for now.

STB!!  ETL!!  AF!!

PR!!  FTM!!

Dennis Moran

Kathy your daughter Sherri is in my prayers..... Cancer needs to be eliminated

Im going to stay away from politics.  I respect your right to think for yourself and choose the people that support your views.

my lattest reading is GO TELL THE BEES THAT I AM GONE by DIANA GABALDON

I guess I got hooked on outlander.... I like the period of time and time travel.  

Im also, reading ASTOR by ANDERSON COOPER.   

I enjoy reading about famous people 

I'm a slow reader who wants to savor the words.

Thanks again and God Bless ......RED SKELETON sure had a gift for words..... sorry about the spelling ooops.

Dennis.

Katie Baribeau (Moore)

Yogi Berra had a gift for words also.  I think he said "it ain't over till it's over."  For me, this is way to early to discuss polls.  The only poll I really care about is the final vote.  I listened to some pollsters on a program. They said in 2016 people were hesitant to say the were voting for trump, in 2024 they are hesitant to say they are voting against him. I have no way of know if that is factual, all I know is that polls have been off.  What isn't off is the final tally of a vote!  

Greg, I will answer you later, but first, will you answer the questions I pose.  If we both agree to discuss, it will be worth my time, if you don't agree it is a continuation of what has been happening here for a long time and to steal the writing of another forum member, INWMFT.  See Jim, you're quotable. 

Mary Powers (Evans)

Michael Kelly

I personally find it inspiring that WE ALL CAN SELF GOVERN THE RANGE OFOUR RHETORIC SO THAT WE CAN BE COURTEOUS TO ONE ANOTHER. I am very encouraged by the willingness of each of us to take control of our own personal feelings, and with due acknowledgement of  the strength of our Beliefs, to nevertheless TONE IT DOWN. WELL DONE.

I do want to say that I attribute to our Public Officials some if not almost All of the Responsibility for the Trickling Down of this loosening of Standards in the treatment of one another. I am uncomforthable even though at times I feel it is perfectly justified for one or another public official to take umbrage verbally about some comment by an adversary. These people are supposed to set an example for the rest of us. I can allow myself to mention one name because I support him, Donald J. Trump. He sometimes makes me angry when he singles out someone of his  opponents for a denigrating public statement that is intended to, and sometimes does anger his opponent. In saying this, I have no criticism at all of his Leadership Skills in the face of  the most sustained opposition during  his 2016---2020 Term all of it purposeful Lies meant to demean him and destroy his Presidency. He did a very Remarkable Job, That is undeniable. I would even take the Job of saying "DJT, will you Shut the Hell Up, Dammit" and probably get fired 3 times a day. There are other Snide Offenders but you all understand what I mean. It's this Rhetoric none of us Need. Glad We Are Leading the Way so That They, Our Leaders, Can Follow Suit. I Wish they Would. Of course, maybe Trump is successful in Foreign Policy because he alone can make the Claim, I am the nastiest, most unpredictable SOB in the Neighborhood. BE SCARED OF ME  OOOOOOHHH! (all them robed Mahooticans must be phlumoxxed)

I watched a Video today of a Johnny Carson Show. The guests were Waddie Mitchell, and Baxter Black, both of them perfformers at the Annual Western Poetry Convention at Elko Nevada each year in January when everyone is down to winter Crews on the Ranches. Both were very funny but Baxter Black, categorized himself as a member of the Bizarre branch of Cowboy Poets, Johnny Carson asked Baxter Black responded with his performance of a Trubute to Vegetarians  and about what he did to his own Vegetable Garden with his True Value Spade, when he craved A Salad. It will have you doubled over in Laughter right down to the last line when he asks if someone has some Bleu Cheese Dressing.

Finally, really finally, Hertz Rental Cars is selling off  20,000 Thousand that's right  Count Em, Electrical Cars, they like people say, that dog wont Hunt, well the Battery Cars won't Rent. No Rentals No Fleet!

Jim Coats

Katie.  I'm with you when you say that the "ONLY poll (my emphasis added) I really care about is the final vote."  I feel that way about sports as well....to the sometimes delight of my wife.  I RARELY watch a sporting event all the way through....let's take football, for example....because the only thing that matters to me is the final score and that makes me a mid-4th quarter football fan.....and that can take 30+ minutes.

If you and Greg want to discuss subjects, that's great.  Me, I'm a simple person.  Hey, hey, hey!  I know what you're thinking.  My mind is pretty much made up on many subjects and not likely to change UNLESS a really good point of view is presented.  But in politics, I'm pretty much there.  I'm a life-long Republican and that's the way I vote starting with my first Presidential election by absentee ballot in Vietnam in '68, as I recall.  I voted for Nixon.

Nancy Scott (Nicoll)

First, I want you to know Katie that I am praying for you and your daughter!

Also, I'm a little late adding to the list of good reading, but here are some of my suggestions: A terrific writer of spy novels is DANIEL SILVA. Everything I've read of his is great - the characters draw you in.      WWII book that I loved was "All the light we cannot see"  .         Abraham Verghese wrote "Cutting for Stone"  and "the Covenant of Water".  Both are family sagas, very well written and emotionally riveting in my opinion!  Last book that I've thought of as a fun read and sort of fits our generation is entitled, "The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto" by Mitch Albom.  It's a very different book than Albom usually writes, and it is an epic story of a guitar player and the lives he touches through his music. As I said, it's a fun fictional read!   These are all books I recommend to anyone who asks!         Mike, I looked up, "a Cowboy and His Elephant" and the author is Malcolm MacPherson.  The story is about a cowboy named Robert Norris.  Looks interesting and something I'd like!  I'm going to read it this year!!  Thanks.

Bill RIHS

Greg, looks like I missed your Birthday announcement too😩. Happy belated birthday, welcome to 77. How did I get this damn old😎. I am the "brain dead" poster. I will self reform too. Katie and Jim, good points. I will express my anger and opinions going forward.

Katie Baribeau (Moore)

Jim, I am the same way with professional sports, if I have recorded it I often skip to the end. But I love the Olympics. However, I live with a big Dallas Cowboy fan and my grandson is the best fan of all time, or for you TBFOAT.........  I was born in Wisconsin so yesterdays game was quite enjoyable for me, but I had to keep it down because I had two people who know how to use torture techniques within 5 feet.  
 

So this is my favorite sports joke. Three Dallas Cowboys fans were driving to the Dallas stadium for a game, on the way they were in a horrible accident.  All were killed and sadly went straight to Hell.  The devil went to interview the three men and found them playing outside, drinking and joking around. The devil asked if he knew where they were, they answered in the affirmative.  They told the devil they were from Texas and the were used to the heat, even enjoyed it.  Well, that made the devil mad, the men were supposed to be miserable. So he froze Hell over.  Then the devil went to see the three again.  He found them playing, ice skating and having fun. He asked them why they weren't miserable, after all It was very, very cold and they weren't use to it.  One man said, "we are celebrating, Hell is frozen over so that must mean the  Cowboys must of won the Super Bowl!   (Sorry if there are other Cowboy's fans on here)

Michael Kelly

KATIE  That is a very funny Joke! The Dallas Cowboys are very adept at snatching defeat from the Jaws of Victory.

Nancy S. You will really enjoy that Book about Robert Norris. Especially the part where after the Elephant is grown up he still has very interested Buyers who want to know if he still has some 'Elephant Broke Horses" that are for Sale.

Mary Powers (Evans)

Thank you Nancy for your book recommendations!  I agree that Daniel Silva is an excellent writer.  Like you, I loved "All the Light We Cannot See."  I also liked "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society."  In both books, I was struck how important communication with the outside world was, via radio at the time, akin to our TV and internet.  "Covenant of Water" is already on my TBR, so I'll move it up based on your recommendation.

With the talk of elephants and old time TV like the Red Skelton Show, I was wondering if anyone remembers the baby elephant walk.  I recall seeing it on the Lawrence Welk show and the next school day (grade school), everyone walking around like elephants.  

Jim Coats

If you don't already know, Nancy Scott was a nurse at Hospice and spent some years there as I recall.  They touched my family and many others, of course.  As far as I am concerned, they are angels.

My wife and I love and try to recognize nurses and teachers.  What a wonderful job they have.  Oh, BTW....you should see The Dutchess when we are at Safeway and the firefighters come through shopping.  I ALWAYS go up to the one who looks senior and give him or her a fist bump and say..."Thanks for being there."  They do appreciate that.

P.S.  Don't forget, Michael Wetzel was 30+ years on the job with the fire department.  Thanks for being there, Mike.

Mary Powers (Evans)

Good idea, Jim!  And yes hospice nurses are special people, good for both the hospice person and the family.  

Earl Harris III

Message Forum Participants, 

I'm smiling from ear to ear after reading the most recent posts. I'm with all who are making a real effort to lower the heat by posting less offensive posts and striving to greatly reduce or eliminate the name calling that in the past has achieved little in terms of understanding and acceptance of others. Let's agree to disagree with as much grace and kindness we can muster.

Jim, your posts #12437 and #12443 were very impressive. I was seriously moved by your comments to try to frame the need for a new detante between all of the competing political and ideological factions. 

I, too, will try better in my posts be be more thoughtful not to use language that might trigger others. I will work to keep my entries shorter, focused primarily on issues and topics of interest to me...and others. I'm now closer to 80 than 70. That's reason enough to want to try a little harder to be a better human being. 

It's clear that everyone on this Forum feels strongly about his or her beliefs. Our experiences in life, the things we've learned to accept and embrace over 76+ years on this planet, have shaped who we are today. We can hold polar positions and still treat others with respect. I'm certain of one thing: all of us will be voting come November. Won't that be great! Seriously! 

Thanks, also to Mike Lorts, Katie, Richard, Dorothy, Michael Kelly, DeWitt, Dennis, Bill, Mary, David, Greg, Frank, Bill, Michael Wetzel (and others?) who have written helpful statements, big or small, over the last few days about book recommendations or submitted thought-provoking research, funny jokes and personal stories about the past. Thank you! Keep it up!

And, finally, thanks to all who have offered words of concern and prayers for Katie's daughter, Sherri! Let's help here beat her cancer by sending as many possible good vibes and wishes her way!

Earl Harris III

Nancy,

I inadvertently left you off of my thank you list. I have been reading your postings of late and find them interesting. Jim's commented that you served as a nurse, a hospice nurse to boot!

Hospice care is something that I only know a little about, but what I have come to understand is that nurses provide a wonderful service not only for the patient but for families who are in need of support.

Maybe you could share a bit about your work as a nurse and what you found to be most fulfilling as well as challenging? 

Bill RIHS

I mentioned before now, but a Hospice of the Valley nurse was both my in-laws nurse as well as my dads. My I laws passed before and my dad did, last May 31. When my dad went under Hispice care I asked for the same nurse my inlaws had, I got her. She is an angle on earth. All of the Hispice associates that helped my in-laws and father were absolutely wonderful. Nancy, as I said to you; you too must be an angel on earth.

Greg Watkins

Frank Wiley

Hi Nancy, I have thanked you before for being a Hospice Nurse.  I have been lucky I guess because I've only had one experience with Hospice.  My Mother-in Law died of Alzheimer's.  It was terrible to watch a person disintegrate like that.  Hospice Nurses are "ANGELS"!  I don't know how they do it.  I'll bet they are people of faith though.  

Frank Wiley

A good Book Series about the Pacific Theater (The Marines) in W.W. 2 are the W.E.B. Griffin books.  A good website if you like to buy your books is: "Thriftbooks".  There are also some great used book stores in the Phoenix area.  

Mary Powers (Evans)

Thanks for the recommendation Frank.  I've read mostly about Europe and the US during WWII, so it would be good for me to learn more about the Pacific theater.  Also thanks for the recommendation of thriftbooks.com   I hadn't heard of it, and it looks like there are some great prices.  I also like frequenting local stores.  

Mike Lorts

A very well written book about a mother and son fleeing a drug lord and certain death. I highly recommend American Dirt.

Jim Coats

So....you're riding a horse full speed.  There is a giraffe next to you and a lion chasing you.  What do you do??

Get your drunk ass off the carousel!

P.S.  I read the first 7 W.E.B. Griffin books.  VERY good!  I had forgotten about him.

David Rainwater

Mary, my favorite reading on WWII is/was the five or six volume history by Winston Churchill.  While he may be a bit  biased in trying to portray his actions in a favorable light, it is fascinating how he conducted himself during that trial and helped manage the War on both the political and military fronts.

Richard Deshong

Mary, Erik Larson has written several nonfiction books about WWI and WWII. The Splendid and the Vile is one written using actual documentation written about Winston Churchill's first one hundred days as prime minister which coincided with the beginning of Germany's blitzkrieg on London.

Another of his books, Dead Wake is about the sinking of the Lusitania and is written from research on actual passengers and German submarine documentation found after WWI ended.

A third book, In the Garden of Beasts is the history of America's ambassador to Germany during Hitler's rise to power. 

He has written several other book and I highly recommend them all.