Althouse: 17° today — finally, warm enough to go outside.

December 26, 2022

17° today — finally, warm enough to go outside.

We were snow-shoeing in the woods, which worked not merely for our own health and pleasure, but also served as trail maintenance.

Write about anything you want in the comments.

27 comments:

Maynard said...: We had warmer temps today in Oro Valley.

Sunny with 75 as the high, a lot better than the frigid 50's.

Four and one half years after moving out of the Midwest and I wonder what took me so long.; 12/26/22, 7:30 PM
Humperdink said...: Bill Melugin @BillFOXLA
BREAKING: In a blatant Friday evening news dump going into Christmas weekend, the federal government has released the November border numbers.

CBP reports 233,740 migrant encounters, the highest November ever recorded, and a large increase over last November (174,845). (Ace of Spades); 12/26/22, 7:36 PM
Clyde said...: Post 10 of 15 - Clyde's Top 10 Favorite "New" Songs of 2022
#6 - Men Without Hats - 2000 Light Years From Home (Again, Pt. 1 EP, 2021)

Men Without Hats are a new wave synth-pop band best known for their 1983 hit "The Safety Dance." In 2021, they released a five-song EP with four cover songs and a reworked version of "The Safety Dance" titled "No Friends Of Mine." The original version of this song was done by The Rolling Stones on their 1967 album 'Their Satanic Majesties Request,' their one and only foray into psychedelia. That album got mixed reviews from critics and even the band themselves. Only two songs from that album were ever performed by the Stones in concert: "She's A Rainbow" and this one. The Stones version was a bit melancholy; by contrast, Men Without Hats make it seem downright fun to be so far from home.

Men Without Hats - 2000 Light Years From Home

Bonus song: The Rolling Stones - 2000 Light Years From Home (Their Satanic Majesties Request, 1967)

As luck would have it, in November, The Rolling Stones released this restored version of the 1967 promotional video of the song in 4K resolution. Enjoy!

The Rolling Stones - 2000 Light Years From Home; 12/26/22, 7:36 PM
Narr said...: Little Hank wasn't a bad boy, really, but at eight he was already acquiring and using profanity, even in his play.

Knowing how badly he wanted an electric train for Christmas, his mom extorted from him the most solemn promises not to talk nasty if he got the train set.

Well, he got the train and was overjoyed. He set it up and while his mother busied herself in the kitchen he pretended to be station announcer. At the first stop he called out, "All you guys who need to get off get off, and all you guys who need to get on get on. Toot-toot!"

After a few more stops, he was so excited he began to forget his promise and called out, "All you bastards who need to get off get off, and all you bastards who need to get on get on. Toot-toot!"

A few minutes later his mother starts listening and hears him call, "All you shitheads who need to get off get off and all you shitheads who need to get on get on. Toot-toot!"

Mom is hoping he'll stop so she waits a minute longer and hears him call out, "All you motherfu--" and comes storming out of the kitchen.

"Fifteen minutes time-out for you, Hank!"

He stews for the fifteen and when she asks if he's learned his lesson he says "Yes, ma'am," and she lets him start again.

"OK," he tells his imaginary passengers, "If any of you guys have a problem with the fifteen minute delay, take it up with the old bitch in the kitchen."; 12/26/22, 9:03 PM
Harsh Pencil said...: Go outside even when it is colder! I do. You won't regret it. I won't quite say it feels good to get outside, but it certainly feels bad to stay cooped up inside.; 12/26/22, 9:37 PM
Big Mike said...: Two days ago Althouse had a post about a demonstration that a self-driving Tesla ran over a plastic mannikin, meant to simulate a child running into a cross walk. I was disappointed that I was apparently the only person who considered the possibility (among others) that the sensors were deliberately disabled. Note that this doesn’t really let Tesla off the hook; Tesla should have a way to determine whether the sensors are operating properly and disable the self-driving feature if they are not.; 12/26/22, 9:39 PM
Owen said...: Lots of tracks in that picture? Or is it just chunks of snow dropping off the branches?

How was the snowshoeing? A real workout? Running in those things will definitely push your heart rate.; 12/26/22, 10:40 PM
Indigo Red said...: The average planetary temperature during the last ice age was 44°F.; 12/27/22, 12:19 AM
Gospace said...: TIt's really beginnning to look like the worst case scenario for vaccine takers of the vaccine that isn't is going to worse then what I though the worst case was going to be. Karl Denninger has an explanation with link as to how the vax permanently changes the immune system. And- not for the better.

I saw a really good thread about government, the medical establishment, and Vitamin D the other day that by itself without any other factors gives us good reason to prosecute the top management of the CDC, Twitter (before Musk), Facebook, and various government agencies for Crimes Agaisnt Humanity for just what they did with discrediting Vitamin D as useful against the dreaded covid. Not to mention they knew from the outset masking didn't work, the vaccine itself didn't work, and a total lockdown was likely to lead to worse outcomes overall then staying open. Suddenlt there's an admission that being outside and exercising helps against covid- which common sense told us all along, since it helps, period, in maintaining good health. And they threw people in jail for surfing alone on teh ocean becuse theyw ere outside spreading covid... to who no one knows, but they were spreading covid! And had to be punished! They saw 4 lights- not 5! That's forbidden! I don't have the link to that thread because I didn't have a place to post it at the time to look it up again. Facebook was available- but they're still government run when it comes to free discussions about anything covid related. In other words- there are no discussions. There's what the government approves of, or nothing followed by Facebook jail,

And on a totally different note my eldest was sent to the southern border on temporary duty. His Christmas surprise was opening up a car trunk coming from our lawless neighbor to the South- and finding a dead body in it. And the driver hadn't declared one on the customs form! I didn't ask what the CBP protocol was for that, but I imagine step 1 is- Draw your weapon!; 12/27/22, 1:15 AM
Jaq said...: The Twitter files are depressing, I mean you knew it was happening, but wow, any remaining faith in our press is gone. NPR suppressed the story of Joe Biden’s corruption, as shown by his son’s laptop, and just got rewarded in the monstrosity omnibus with hundreds of millions of dollars. Using family is a classic mode of corruption of powerful politicians.
A Harvard epidemiologist got banned for suggesting that only the elderly and their caretakers should be vaccinated against COVID, and that there was no reason to vaccinate children, which was my position at the time, and simply made sense, but he got overruled by some Biden toadies at Twitter. It’s classic gaslighting.
I remember here posts would be deleted if any links to the Danish mask study was included, so obviously this went far beyond Twitter. I doubt Althouse was combing posts here for forbidden links.
Glenn Greenwald has a thread about how reporting on Ukraine’s nazi problem, with which I was familiar at the time due to Ukraine’s role in faking up evidence for impeachment, suddenly became forbidden.
Thanks God for Althouse, small enough to avoid notice, although certain commenters do make absurd posts that can only be explained as supporting the regime in its war on common sense, so maybe we have our own FBI agents here.; 12/27/22, 2:52 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "Lots of tracks in that picture? Or is it just chunks of snow dropping off the branches?"

The latter. There hadn't been much if any walking on this trail, my favorite mountain bike trail, but there had been snow bikes. By snowshoeing the trail — I was told — we were improving it, flattening out where the snow bike tires had cut into the surface.

"How was the snowshoeing? A real workout? Running in those things will definitely push your heart rate."

I can't picture running in these things. It's way to easy to step on your own "feet" (projections around your foot). Walking, you either plant your feet farther apart than normal or risk tripping yourself up. I don't think snowshoes are fun compared to hiking boots, but they have some practical applications.

I was glad to get out of the house for a change, and it was fun seeing our usual place well covered in snow.

We only saw 2 snowbikers, but elsewhere in this place, there were lots of little kids learning to ski.; 12/27/22, 4:39 AM
Ann Althouse said...: too easy; 12/27/22, 4:40 AM
Kate said...: When I lived in Maine, 20F with sun and crunchy snow was my perfect weather. Lovely.; 12/27/22, 5:40 AM
farmgirl said...: https://www.wcax.com/2022/12/26/authorities-man-who-died-hiking-new-hampshire-was-salem/

On my local news.; 12/27/22, 5:53 AM
Jefferson's Revenge said...: I agree with Tim in VT re: the Twitter Files. But to me the most depressing thing is the lack of general interest, much less alarm, at the latest COVID drop. I can sort of understand someone ignoring the electoral shenanigan dump because of tribalism but the COVID files basically show the government being proactive in policies that we now know will kill millions. In decades to come we will add the deaths from the vaccine and lost educational opportunities from lockdowns and we will be staggered at what we see.

The government COVID policies were akin to telling the general public to eat poison for their own good.

No one seems to care. Now that is depressing.; 12/27/22, 6:10 AM
wendybar said...: "The script is sickeningly familiar by now, isn’t it? Establishment Republicans -- led throughout the ’22 elections and in their aftermath by the notorious Kentucky senator-for-life Mitch McConnell -- betrayed their party’s base, which is staunchly conservative, increasingly in an America First sorta way.

Yes, lest one is confused because of all the serial betrayals, we’re referring to the gross obscenity called the “$1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill.” For true-blue conservatives, the brazen middle-finger thrust rudely into their faces by McConnell and seventeen other Senate go-alongs should be an act of war. Political war, that is."

"The inevitable counter to this call for war is “But if we split the party, it’ll help the Democrats win in ’24!” spats?

Isn’t the party already spilt, de facto? Yes. RINOs are the minority, among whom are the McConnells, McCarthys, and Ryans who climb the greasy poles to leadership positions. The tail wags the dog.

What is a “unified” Republican Party accomplishing, anyway? In 2023, will Mitch work for or scheme against conservative House initiatives? What did Mitch and Paul Ryan do when the GOP controlled Congress, 2017-19? Stymie Trump’s border measures, for one."

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2022/12/what_are_senate_conservatives_going_to_do_about_mcconnell.html; 12/27/22, 6:23 AM
Humperdink said...: Target ran several ads totally in Spanish during last nights the Monday Night Football game. Target is certainly a trailblazer. Target was also one of the first retail establishments to permit males in the ladies restrooms. Haven't shopped there since and that will not change.

On a different note, spouse and I watched the three part series Sons of Liberty (2015) over the last three days. It depicts events that led up the revolutionary war. Awesome story on the fight for freedom against British tyranny. Centered in Boston, MA. If current residents of that city watched it they would require therapy.; 12/27/22, 7:16 AM
Howard said...: I love snowshoeing because you can Cruz anywhere off trail in the forest. Plus, it's low impact cardio.; 12/27/22, 7:43 AM
Howard said...: China implosion begins as predicted by Peter Zeihan

https://www.businessinsider.com/china-trade-war-covid-companies-moving-supply-chains-2022-12?amp; 12/27/22, 7:51 AM
Kai Akker said...: ---The Twitter files are depressing, I mean you knew it was happening, but wow, any remaining faith in our press is gone. [TimInVermont]

Did the NYT ever cover this FBI scandal? I looked back through a week's worth of Althouse posts but either they didn't, or she didn't post it. Just that Jonathan Turley column for Fox News.

So, still not a story to the NYT? Not something their readers need to know about -- how the FBI used Twitter and other social networks like FaceBook to prevent Americans from finding out any more about Covid, its origins, its treatments, the questions about the vaccines' value and dangers?

Nor about Hunter Biden's laptop and the implications in there that one Presidential candidate -- now our current President -- is financially and possibly criminally indebted to Ukraine and Communist China?

NYT readers don't need to know and probably don't want to know. Ignorance is bliss.

Could Althouse possibly enjoy being in such a group?; 12/27/22, 8:31 AM
BarrySanders20 said...: We broke a trail snowshoeing this weekend up north. About 1/2 miles meandering about the property. Snow was about 18" but much deeper where it drifted. The first time through is a workout, but then it's easy. The dogs love the channel, straying only to track the hoof-prints of the deer that intersected our trail. Tip: snowshoes are designed to move forward. Try to step backward and you'll find out how clumsy you can be. I had to roll out of a snowdrift which was more difficult than I'd expected with the snowshoes on.; 12/27/22, 9:01 AM
Rusty said...: Ann said,
"I can't picture running in these things. It's way to easy to step on your own "feet" (projections around your foot). Walking, you either plant your feet farther apart than normal or risk tripping yourself up. I don't think snowshoes are fun compared to hiking boots, but they have some practical applications."
I have a pair that I've never used. I think I'll give it a try. When we get some more snow down here. We haven't got any where near the amount you guys have.; 12/27/22, 10:07 AM
Original Mike said...: "I had to roll out of a snowdrift which was more difficult than I'd expected with the snowshoes on."

I started a snowball fight once while on snowshoes. Ran, fell, and couldn't get back up because the snow was deeper than my arm-length; there's nothing to push against.

Needless to say, I lost the snowball fight. Badly.; 12/27/22, 10:39 AM
ngtrains said...: I have cross country skis too, and I use those poles when i snowshoe too.
Helps keep my balance and helps when i fall down.; 12/27/22, 12:40 PM
Jim at said...: The government COVID policies were akin to telling the general public to eat poison for their own good.

Telling? Many in those governments were mandating the poison.; 12/27/22, 3:59 PM
Owen said...: BarrySanders20 @9:01: “…The dogs love the channel…”. We used to snowshoe with our Siberian husky and it was just fine until she decided to catch a ride on the tails of the shoes….; 12/27/22, 4:31 PM
Rt41Rebel said...: The sun finally showed up and the temp hit 72° today, after several days in the low 40s. The pool temp had dropped to 58° however. Nonetheless, I ventured my first swim since Saturday. The water was so cold it burned.; 12/27/22, 5:59 PM