John Michael Greer has an amusing post on "perfect" diets--and concludes, like we have here, there is no such thing. He has some sharp observations on the "evangelical" personality whether in diet, or religion, or politics or what have you.

I didn't watch the SOTU. Number 45 needn't feel left out--I haven't watch any, ever. I did read a couple of transcripts, one with commentary, which I found unimpressive. As the old saying avers: the devil is in the details. The speech was long on sentiment, generalities, fabrications, and exaggeration but very short on details. Maha's title on her blog says it all: Fake President, Meaningless Speech.

I found this massive idiocy this morning. I am actually at a loss for words. I wonder how people could possibly believe this but then remember Jim Jones and Heaven's Gate. I still wonder.

Andrew Bacevich has an excellent post-mortem of our recent past. There is an inertia to human affairs that resembles the inertia in physics: motion will continue in the original direction until outside forces act to change trajectory and/or velocity. Or to put the matter Biblically: the sins of the fathers pass to future generations. I would amend that to read simply "actions of the fathers" because our actions set up ripples that continue into the future--sometimes a long time into the future.

We have snow today--light but enough to coat the ground and other surfaces. The weather people predict temps in the 20s and low 30s for the next week. Our shopping only took an hour. We just had a few things to replace and veggies to get for the week.

Ronni Bennett has a question on her post today "how old is old?" and an interesting discussion of the issue. The old notion that "you're only as old as you feel" is somewhat idiotic. Somedays I feel like I am in my 50s and others I feel 75 (or older). While we suffered through our colds a month ago I felt like 100 going on death. For the most part I feel like the 68 (69 in April) my birth certificate and driver's license say I am. When did I really have to come to grips with my age? When, at 59, I was interviewed for a type of job I had held all too frequently during my adult life I was told I was "overqualified." Given my background, I was overqualified the last three or four times I held that kind of job so what was the difference? Only my chronological age. There are compensations, however. I have been overweight most of my adult life but now it doesn't bother me. I do try to eat healthy but I eat when I am hungry and I eat what I want. I no longer think about time and money wasters like hair stylings/perms or make up. I have culled my wardrobe to what is comfortable: tee shirts, flannel shirts, jeans, and sweats (depending on the season.) I don't own a dress or skirt and hope never to wear one again. I don't care which female entertainer "of a certain age" has a line of rejuvenating skin treatments, or diet, or exercise program. They make their living in part on their physical appearance. I don't. I don't care which octogenarian is skydiving, or running a marathon, or powerlifting. I couldn't do that when I was 30 and I don't want to do it now. I am fine with that. I will applaud but won'd emulate. How old is old? Depends to whom you listen and I don't listen to many such opinions any more.

The World Economic Forum has just finished up in Davos, Switzerland and this piece, though written before the conference, by Branco Milonovic perfectly describes what has gone on. Although #45 must have been in hog heaven, invited to big boys club instead of being on the outside looking in like the poor kid with his nose smashed against the window of a high class restaurant seeing all the goodies he couldn't get.

Are we underestimating American Imperial collapse? Perhaps.

This is the best answer to the male attitude that women exist only to make sure they are fed. I will excuse my cats' notion that I exist to make sure they are fed and their box is clean. They don't have thumbs and can't read a cook book. Besides they are warm and cuddly and purr. But a man--he can learn to cook or starve for all I care.

When the Taliban controlled Afghanistan they blew up sculptures of Buddha which predated Islam by perhaps 500 years. Purported Christians in Ireland destroyed a statue of Mananan mac Lir an ancient sea god associated with Ireland and other of the small island around Britain. Good red blooded Americans harassed a woman who had a license plate with a reference to Isis which happened to be her daughter's name and the only advice given her: change your daughter's name. Now this. Is it just me, or are people going insane all over?

Looks like Black Friday over here. It was a massive sale on Nutella that drove French consumers into a frenzy. I can't think of a product on the market which would lead me to be involved in anything like this. They aren't starving. They could do without of make do with something else. Can someone tell me why we see scenes like this? The psychology totally eludes me. This article tries to explain but I loved a lot of things as a child but don't go apes***t over them as an adult. I don't know what Macron had to say; my French isn't up to translating.

I love this story. One person's trash becomes several other people's treasure.

George Monbiot posted a good article in the Guardian. I have just started reading Against The Grain by James Scott. Monbiot promises his own notion of a "path forward" next week but I am always skeptical of such plans. By the time we humans notice a problem we are deep in the manure pile. The end of civilization? Depends on how you define civilization. And how far down the organizational and technology slide we go.

We should have temps in the 40s today and the 50s tomorrow. But, of course, the roller coaster continues. I really wish spring, real spring, would hurry up. Winter isn't as much of an annoyance as it used to be when I had to go out in all kinds of crappy weather to a crappy job (for the most part). But it won't ever be my favorite season.

Found this interesting article at Foreign Policy In Focus questioning whether #45 isn't just a racist, misogynist, lying (etc., etc.,) incompetent but actually. . . evil. Feffer makes a good case for answering "yes." Which then leads to the question of what about those who condone his actions? "Handsome is as Handsome does" the old saying goes which is a double edged concept. What if Handsome doesn't do handsomely but ugly instead? Is s/he still handsome. Perhaps, as Soren, the vampire in "Unraveled," says "Monster isn't what you are but what you do." (That is part of the Deadly Curiosities series by Gail Z. Martin for those not acquainted with the work.)

Tom Englehardt has a good post at Tomdispatch this morning and he is absolutely right in all respects. It reflects what we have felt here for some time. Mom used to say that the nightly news programs were the comedy of the day. She laughed while I cried (or cursed). Now I resist putting on the news for any more than it takes to get the weather forecast.