In life with the puppy, in 3 weeks Max has gone from this small to this big.
We put him on large breed puppy food so hopefully he doesn’t hurt himself growing so fast.
He is mostly house trained, but sometimes when he gets excited, he forgets.
Still miss Smoke sometimes, but having Max has really helped me, he is a lot of fun to play with.
If you have anger issues, this one is a great tool (h/t mindyourbusiness)
This week’s book:
Discourses and Selected Writings
Disclaimer: I’m not your Supervisor. These are my opinions after reading through these books a few times.
Epictetus was born a slave around 50 ad. His owner was Epaphroditus, a rich freedman who was once a slave of Nero. Though he was a slave Epictetus was sent to study philosophy under Musonius Rufus.
Epictetus was lame and there are some stories it was caused by his master and others that it was caused by disease.
He was a freedman when all philosophers were banished from Rome in 89 by the Emperor Domitian. He then started his school in Greece, and had many students. He did not leave any writings from his lessons, but one of his students, Flavius Arrian, took notes and wrote the Discourses.
Epictetus did not marry, had no children, and lived to be around 80-85. In retirement, he adopted a child that would have been abandoned and raised him with a woman.
He died sometime around AD 135.
He might be my favorite Stoic teacher. I love his bare bones and very straight forward approach.
Following is a paragraph-by-paragraph discussion of one of his lessons. Epictetus’s text appears in bold, my replies are in normal text.
HOW SHOULD WE STRUGGLE AGAINST DIFFICULTIES?
It is difficulties that show what men are. Consequently, when a difficulty befalls, remember that God, like a physical trainer, has matched you with a rugged young man. What for? some one says. So that you may become an Olympic victor; but that cannot be done without sweat.
While “That which doesn’t kill us makes us stronger” isn’t always true, there is usually a strength gained from rising to a challenge, even if I lose. It is also usually true that work is required to reach a goal and avoiding challenges and difficulties can lead to mental and physical weakness.
To my way of thinking no one has got a finer difficulty than the one which you have got, if only you are willing to make use of it as an athlete makes use of a young man to wrestle with. And now we are sending you to Rome as a scout, to spy out the land.[1]
As the philosophers send a man back to Rome to see how the political landscape has changed since they have been banished, they want to ensure the man they chose is capable f completing the job.
But no one sends a coward as a scout, that, if he merely hears a noise and sees a shadow anywhere, he may come running back in terror and report “The enemy is already upon us.” So now also, if you should come and tell us, “The state of things at Rome is fearful; terrible is death, terrible is exile, terrible is reviling, terrible is poverty; flee, sirs, the enemy is upon us!” 5we shall say to you, “Away, prophesy to yourself! Our one mistake was that we sent a man like you as a scout.”
Like an inaccurate report based on a scouts fears would be worse than no report at all, self-doubt can stop me from achieving my goal of starting a side hustle. Trusting the inner cowardice will never let me move forward as I know I am capable of doing.
Diogenes, who before you was sent forth as a scout, has brought us back a different report. He says, “Death is not an evil, since it is not dishonorable”; he says, “Ill repute is a noise made by madmen.” And what a report this scout has made us about toil and about pleasure and about poverty! He says, “To be naked is better than any scarlet robe; and to sleep on the bare ground,” he says, “is the softest couch.” And he offers as a proof of each statement his own courage, his tranquillity, his freedom, and finally his body, radiant with health and hardened. “There is no enemy near,” says he; “all is full of peace.” How so, Diogenes? “Why, look!” says he, “I have not been struck with any missile, have I, or received any wound? I have not fled from anyone, have I?” 10This is what it means to be a proper scout, but you return and tell us one thing after another. Will you not go away again and observe more accurately, without this cowardice?
Diogenes, was the founder of the Cynics and was famous for his total renunciation of material goods. While Stoics see riches as a preferred good while understanding the need to not lose your sense of self in pursuit of them, the Cynics saw them as an unnecessary obstacle to living a pure life.
What am I to do, then?—What do you do when you disembark from a ship? You do not pick up the rudder, do you, or the oars? What do you pick up, then? Your own luggage, your oil-flask, your wallet. So now, if you are mindful of what is your own property, you will never lay claim to that which is another’s.
Just like I know which possessions are mine, I should also know what duties and responsibilities are mine.
He[2] says to you, “Lay aside your broad scarlet hem”[3] Behold, the narrow hem.[4] “Lay aside this also.” Behold, the plain toga.[5] “Lay aside your toga.” Behold, I am naked. “But you arouse my envy.” Well, then, take the whole of my paltry body.
Epictetus is trying to explain to the scout that while the Emperor can enforce his will on a person’s body and possessions, he can not affect the mind of a person that does not let him. This is an easy concept to grasp in theory, but in practice would be difficult to achieve.
Do I any longer fear the man to whom I can throw my body? But he will not leave me as his heir. What then? Did I forget that none of these things is my own? How, then, do we call them “my own”? Merely as we call the bed in the inn “my own.” If, then, the inn-keeper dies and leaves you the beds, you will have them; but if he leaves them to someone else, he will have them, and you will look for another bed.
Just because something was promised to you, doesn’t mean you will receive it. A couple years ago, my dad informed my brothers and me that he will be leaving everything to his live in girl friend. Luckily my brothers and I have a similar mindset and really don’t care what he does with the gas rights to the old farm that is in his name. Like Bill Cosby once told a group of high schoolers that were making fun of his kids for being rich, “They aren’t rich. My wife and I are rich, but these kids own none of that.”
15If, then, you do not find one, you will have to sleep on the ground; only do so with good courage, snoring and remembering that tragedies find a place among the rich and among kings and tyrants, but no poor man fills a tragic role except as a member of the chorus. Now the kings commence in a state of prosperity:
“Hang the palace with garlands”;[6]
then, about the third or fourth act, comes—
“Alas, Cithaeron, why didst thou receive me?”[7]
Slave, where are your crowns, where your diadem? Do your guards avail you not at all? When, therefore, you approach one of those great men, remember all this—that you are approaching a tragic character, not the actor, but Oedipus himself.
While powerful and rich people seem to have it made, they have a lot of external pressures to deal with and they also have fortune turn against them sometimes. As the only preacher I ever enjoyed a sermon from once said, “It’s obvious money, external beauty and fame do not bring happiness. For proof, just look at Hollywood, do those people seem truly happy to you?”
“Nay, but so-and-so is blessed; for he has many companions to walk with.” So have I; I fall in line with the multitude and have many companions to walk with. 20But, to sum it all up: remember that the door has been thrown open. Do not become a greater coward than the children, but just as they say, “I won’t play any longer,” when the thing does not please them, so do you also, when things seem to you to have reached that stage, merely say, “I won’t play any longer,” and take your departure; but if you stay, stop lamenting.
If you stay somewhere and are not being held against your will, complaining about how unfair or difficult it is is pointless. I’ve raised my kids with this understanding and felt a little pride when my son said the since the restaurant he manages opened up another location, he has been working 60-70 hour weeks, and then he said, but that’s better than not working.
Music this week is from Iron Maiden’s second album, Killers.
Purgatory I have a t shirt with the Eddie/Satan face on it, my wife says that’s weird, I disagree.
That’s a big, fluffy puppy.
You’re going to need a bigger house.
I don’t see it because he looks the same to me, but when I compare the pictures, he got BIG.
My wife says a monster is eating our cute little puppy.
Does Max have some malamute in him? The positioning of the ears seems like he could. Mine was a puppy for about 10 days and got really big, really fast.
I wrote a tiny treatise (in the form of dialogue) about how silly Diogenes was.
I like it.
Something about Diogenes always made my teeth itch.
That’s as good an explanation as I’ve seen.
Diogenes strikes me as someone who made a fetish out of poverty. While when it comes to living a happy life, there isn’t a great deal of difference between millionaires and bums (stolen from Don Marquis), I can’t help feeling that ostentaion from either is silly and meaningless.
How about Euripides?
You know, Euripides trousers, your pay for dese trousers!
Eumenides 😉
My favorite Diogenes story was how he would start masturbating randomly in public.
Today, he’d be locked up in a mental ward. The Greeks respected a little eccentricity with their actual geniuses. Unlike in today’s world where we trot out empty suits on TV dolled up in make-up to tell us to respect authority.
Little bit of egg on my face with the seller. First we speculated and that just isn’t good. We assumed a Chinese family, heavily Christian and possibly a family member that was ill. We based this on realtor photos of house and room and our walk through.
Far from it and I was a bit embarrassed of myself to go the route of speculating.
Very nice Korean family. Husband, well now ex-husband, in which where the egg of my face happened, spoke fluent English. Sweet wife who was indeed steeped into translating and running a Korean podcast for Christianity and their 15 year old daughter.
Sounds good, sometimes we can enjoy being a little embarrassed when it’s for the right reasons.
The wife was so sweet. To sound like a mosquito as we are apparently portrayed as, she was telling me in very broken English how I will love the house and during snow she sat outside gaining God’s inspiration.
The husband in such a respectful manner opened up that he does not mean to offend but if he speaks Korean it is to translate what is going on.
They gifted us their washer and dryer. It wasn’t in the contract of the sell.
Korean family FAR more likely to be Christian (Baptist) than Chinese.
True enough. Also Taiwan surprised me in being roughly 4% Christian.
(Includes my next door neighbors and a Taiwanese coworker,)
This guy visited our church last week.
I had no idea that Christian churches in Iran and among the Persian diaspora are the fastest growing in the world. He’s converting people fresh off the boat in Liverpool.
Wait, since the Dems are down to 47 Senators plus 2 “Independant”s, does that mean Chucky is now the Senate Minority Leader?
47 Democrats, 3 “independents”, 49 Republicans.
So, nope.
Who defected?
King, Sanders, and Sinema are the “independents”.
Whoa. Max is gonna be an XXL! Great looking doggie and I’m glad he’s helping ease the pain of losing Smoke.
Trusting the inner cowardice will never let me move forward as I know I am capable of doing.
I feel this. Nagging doubts mixed with some apathy is not a recipe for action.
I’ve raised my kids with this understanding and felt a little pride when my son said the since the restaurant he manages opened up another location, he has been working 60-70 hour weeks, and then he said, but that’s better than not working.
That’s a win. Nice job.
Both songs are excellent, but Murders murders.
Thanks, Ron!
Thanks
Ron, I’ve never had a job I didn’t like, ’cause I went to work to have fun. OTOH I have had bosses I didn’t like. My mother told me, a long time ago, “Don’t work for anyone dumber than you”. Sometimes I did though but usually not for very long.
Drugs, ass, Feinstein dead.
Ding dong
Fenix ammo is doing free shipping to CA in celebration.
A++ trolling. I like those guys
She will still vote D.
The memes have arrived.
This is gonna be fun.
A little off topic but still…Popcorn
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?pc=carousel-about-en#sent/KtbxLxGnPXFMtgNwmplcXWbwDwrXGMsTLq?projector=1
OOOPS
What is this link?
Barack and Joe
Senator Feinstein Death Not Expected To Affect Re-election Campaign
Hahahahaha! Ain’t that the truth!
How is Jimmy Carter still alive?
Did someone drop a house on her or was she doused with water?
This guy gets it
Glitchy must have forgotten he is American, not Ukrainian.
Mitch McConnell claims the “number one priority” of “most Republicans” is aid to Ukraine.
RT if you think Mitch must go NOW.
Would like to start nailing down times for the Glibs meetup Saturday 7 Oct at Gourmeltz. We talking 1130ish around opening or noon? Anyone other than me and Ron meeting?
I’m probably going to take a day of leave on Friday and make it a 96 hr weekend – need some extra time off for projects at this point.
I’m down. I think that may be a USPSA morning, too…
Does that mean you want it later?
I am free all day, so I will go with what works for the most people.
Yep, totally flexible if we can get details down a few days out.
I will check calendar but don’t expect a conflict.
Freedom and democracy means doing what the gov’t tells you and never questioning it.
Biden: People must be “cautious” about giving divergent opinions on Covid
CWAA
Ok, Bob.
Libertarian Party, we found your guy!
If it’s going to be a Democrat, then better to be him. But yeah, no way he’d get my vote in the general. If the L’s actually were to run; it would destroy the illusion that the Misses takeover fixed anything…
I’d vote for him over any R except Trump. That’s a sad statement about the R’s, not my love of Bobby Jr.
I forgot about the Indian guy. I’d vote for him but all the rest are neo-cons who never get my vote.
Meh. Ramaswamy is a bit of a fast talker for my taste. I dont trust the guy.
Me neither. Too much car huckster.
Not I; Vivek would get my vote (might switch to ‘Independent’ or ‘R’ to vote for him in the primary), Desantis…. might. Trump will not. Kennedy will not. So in all likely hood, it will be another write in of my dog – speaking of which, Ron clearly is a child of the 70’s – he likes ’em fluffy! And you probably only have another week of being able to pick him up.
All we need to fix the current crisis is more government.
Why can’t you knuckle dragging libertarians see that?
And it’s not like ‘high’ interest rates are a crisis anyway (he says as a, possibly obsessive, saver). The cost of housing may be a ‘crisis’, but I’ll give 3 guesses as to what institution is most responsible for that.
As a knuckle dragging libertarian, I respond to more government with my big club.
BY BIG CLUB MEAN….
We could just stop printing more money.
Crazy talk, I know.
Time to implement my plan of tax-free, government-backed
Nothing says lower housing costs than more government interference in the market with subsidies and price controls.
That would fix the housing market the same way govt backed school loans fixed student loans.
Brilliant!
https://www.phillyburbs.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2023/09/29/tupac-shakur-death-police-arrest-man-suspected-shooter/71003823007/
WOW
Note to self: If ever involved in a murder and don’t want to get caught, don’t release a book about it.
For everyone other than Orenthal James Simpson you are correct.
Nice dog pictures.
It’s obvious money, external beauty and fame do not bring happiness. For proof, just look at Hollywood, do those people seem truly happy to you?”
Money can’t buy happiness, they’re just renting.
Or, as I like to say, money can’t buy happiness, but it sure makes surviving a whole lot easier.
At least you get to pick your own kind of misery (thanks for the line Rodney).
What happens to the proceeds?
First, Trump’s entire New York business operation, now deemed fraudulent, could be turned over to a receiver who would effectively take control of the firms and liquidate them at a public auction.
Does it all go to the Sheriff of Nottingham?
“judge’s fraud ruling”
I know that’s not what they mean but it’s apt.
Oh so I was wrong about emminet domain. It’s just going to be the State taking it. Good thing they are doing the authoritarian thing to the man they call authoritarian otherwise I might lose more faith in our system.
The media is furiously masturbating to the thought but this is sure to get overturned. It’s too preposterous even for them.
Dude. The game is so rigged. I wouldn’t place a wager on it either way.
Meanwhile, maybe they can bleed him broke through attorney fees.
Seizing property of your political opponents is perfectly compatible with Our Democracy.
They think they’re going to have some kind of photo op like walking around one of Saddam’s palaces.
What happens when the properties sell for more than the values Trump claimed on his loan applications?
They go to Ukraine. Duh.
If they can seize the property of Russian oligarchs to send the proceeds to Ukraine, why not seize Trump’s assets. He was a Russian asset after all.
I’ll have to submit that one to MSNBC.
First they came for Trump
I did not speak out because I am not Trump…..
Y’all can take it from there.
This all crushing persecution of Trump is going to load the worst kinds of people in this country with power they have dreamt of since the beginning of time.
It will not end well at all. I will shed not one tear for the TDS crowd when the hammer falls on them, and it will fall on them.
I wonder if any of these persecutors ever think about the day when someone with “nothing more to lose” decides to take measures?
Some real gems in last weeks Powerline.
NYC is underwater.
Blah, blah, blah climate crisis blah, blah blah.
needz moar H2O
Someday there’s going to be a real rain.
Word.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFme5QgpJxo&ab_channel=CineClips
They’ve been busy with other important work.
NYC Council wants to tear down Washington and Jefferson statues
That describes nearly everyone of any prominence in history.
That’s the point. There will be nothing in US history to celebrate beyond obscure BIPOC’s who are heralded as the real heroes. It’s part of the demoralization process.
Cancel Sacajawea!
Boo hoo! I feel so bad for them!
Please. Get back ta me when *anywhere* in NYC gets more than 24″ of rain in less than 24 hours.
Or, like upstream from some of my friends, > 48″ of rain in a matter of 2(?) days.
Pussies.
Where are you that the sea and sky are one?
Gulf coast.
Sea, sky and oil refinery are all one.
Cracky is gonna have some new friends!
https://twitter.com/KawsachunNews/status/1564488545619812352
“Panama is exporting 41.28 tons of cocaine to the United States for its “destruction”…”
This could be read a couple of different ways.
I think we all know that “destruction” means “distribution.”
This is relevant.
Imagine Hunter in bed, hearing the siren song…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5Y8tFQ01OY
Gaaaahhhh..
They could have just called Trudeau.
“Mega Cracky?”
His evil twin, MAGA Cracky
Don Jr. does always seem to be on something. Then again, is could just be Mt. Dew
The Hat, the Hair, and the Crack.
I’m just waiting for The Jacket to make a cameo appearance.
In high places!
https://thecountersignal.com/former-indian-diplomat-says-trudeau-was-high-on-cocaine-during-visit/
It’s shit like this that makes you want to beat your head on the tarmac.
Defending democracy
Biden’s speech is the fourth in a series centered on fortifying democratic values against attacks from what he describes as Republican extremists bent on eviscerating self-government. He singled out the “Make America Great Again” movement that Trump leads.
“This MAGA threat is a threat to the brick and mortar of our democratic institutions,” Biden said. “It’s also a threat to the character of our nation that gives our Constitution life, that binds us together as Americans, a common cause. None of this is surprising, though. They’ve tried to govern that way before. Thank God they failed. But they haven’t given up.”
Nothing says reverence for the brick and mortar of our democratic institutions like unleashing the full might of the federal government against your political enemies.
Remember when he was supposed to “unite” us? That lasted all of 10 seconds.
It’s things like this that make me think he’s at least partially in charge. He seems like a vindictive asshole, and this is in character.
Republican extremists bent on eviscerating self-government
Nothing about the government, particularly at the federal level, has anything to do with self-government.
This MAGA threat is a threat to the brick and mortar of our democratic institutions
90% of these “democratic institutions” need to be razed.
a common cause
I have no common cause with you cuntes.
It’s not just the feds. If anyone believes all these Dem prosecutors at the state level just decided to go after a former sitting president without the full support of the guy at the top, I have a bridge to sell them.
It’s been reported numerous times, and Biden has basically said it publicly – he endorses the charges and lawfare against Trump because he thinks he’s dangerous. The stories on this always make sure to add some disclaimer that he has had nothing to do with the cases brought.
Probably because he feels personally threatened. Last time Trump merely asked to look into Joe’s associates’ criminal dealings.
It’s things like this that make me think he’s at least partially in charge. He seems like a vindictive asshole, and this is in character.
He’s no puppet. He’s fully responsible for everything his administration has done.
If you think Biden’s vindictive wait’ll you see the next Trump. If Trump does get re-elected he’ll be all in on chasing every shadow. He still has a good memory.
Difference is the system will work as it should under Trump and thwart. With Biden its a rubber stamp
Good stuff, Ron.
And it brought a song to mind, so thanks for that, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCKrKJ-cDWg
It used to be you could at least find some core values between the parties and really it was the application or execution of how to achieve those values were the difference.
We are a fractured country and libertarians are the Gen X thinking maybe mom and dad will just forget about us.
We’re the middle children of history, man.
Gen X libertarians are extra neglected.
Good. I don’t want to be bothered.
Gen X should be the Menendez Brothers of America.
*upvotes*
Totally
It used to be you could at least find some core values between the parties and really it was the application or execution of how to achieve those values were the difference.
Only during the ahistorical Great Postwar Consensus. Fuck that phoniness too.
Cue the wailing.
https://www.mediaite.com/politics/exclusive-robert-f-kennedy-jr-planning-to-announce-independent-run/
Dude better up his security
If the GOP shivs Trump, he may draw more Republican than Dem votes.
If? It’s all set to have him win primary only to go to prison and/or disqualified after he wins.
He’ll pull more from Republicans regardless of what happens with Donny Dipshit. The left hates his guts and think he’s insane. Some on the right like a lot of the things he’s said.
Govt backed mortgages? No doubt also excluded from bankruptcy. That would be a disaster beyond measure.
Of course it would. I didn’t claim he’s the next Ron Paul. I simply said some on the right like many things he’s said. Hell, some of the non-righties here like many things he’s said.
He would be a wrecking ball in DC, particularly for the intelligence agencies.
If I can’t get Ron Paul, I’ll settle for chaos.
It sure would be fun to watch.
Ending big pharma / govt scam, and not starting WWIII are the things that will make him popular.
☝🏻
It seems like there was one other big thing he was accidentally right on. I forget right now.
The parties are scams and no answering to voters/constituents?
He does a good job identifying many of the problems. He’s not so good with solutions.
That’s been mentioned more than once here about liberals in general.
Looks like LaGarde decided to defend the European bond markets instead of the Euro today.
Yields are falling slightly (4 to 5%) from their highs of yesterday but the Euro is staying fixed right at $1.06
This weekend should be “interesting”