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Morning!

Interesting Vikings/Packers game yesterday. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. But, it ended as the best of times.

I agree illegal border crossings by refugees is out of control... and it needs to be controlled.

My issue with Team Trump is that their argument for border control, and it is their argument, is that these border crossings need to be stopped because these people coming in are rapists, murderers, drug smugglers... in short, really, really, really bad people. Trump is stoking fear and hatred towards these people; he is campaigning on fear and hatred.

But, these people aren't really, really, really bad people. They are just people, people like any other people, only they are more desperate, scared, and hungry than most people. They are refugees, which means they are running from something, trying to get away from something.

Make an argument against uncontrolled border crossings that doesn't demonize the refugees. The refugees aren't the problem. Their home countries are the problem, our lack of control of the border is the problem, our lack of infrastructure and support and room to handle uncontrolled influxes of people is the problem.

There is nothing wrong with saying we can't handle this influx of refugees. There is nothing wrong with saying we don't want to handle this uncontrolled influx of refugees. The boat is full. We want to control the movement of peoples across our borders. JUST SAY THAT. Don't say, as Trumpsters do, that they are BAD, BAD, PEOPLE. MURDERERS, RAPISTS, DRUG RUNNERS, LIBERALS!

Same with that dummy Vance spreading the bullshit about the dog and cat eaters. He was spreading hate, hate against a group of people. Hate based on bullshit! Those Haitians aren't to blame for the mess in Springfield. Blame a stupid government program that dumped a whole bunch of LEGAL refugees in a town without offering the help or resources needed to deal with what the government dumped on them. There is the blame. That was and is the problem. Not the people, not the refugees, but the stupid lack of planning and help for towns and cities to deal with the issues legal and illegal refugee settlement and relocation creates. But, Vance...

Tell the damn TRUTH. It isn't the helpless without a pot to shit in refugees that are the problem, it is everything else. Cast the blame where it belongs. Then work to fix it. Don't demonize the helpless and innocent.

But, that is how Trump rolls. He spreads fear and hate. That is his gameplan. Just like it was for ...

Don't stop. Dump the buttons, too. Dials, knobs, and sliders only.

One reason I went with my Honda: it was the only car I test drove that had nice big dials for the radio and climate controls, nice big dials with heft that you could feel "click" as you turn. I hate having to hunt and seek for a little black button and then have to repeatedly stab that stupid little button, stab, stab, stab, an increment at a time, just to change the radio volume, air temp, or fan speed. Stab, stab, stab. Poke, poke, poke. Stupid. I want nice big dials with some heft to them. Quick, simple, smart.

Oh, and Honda and Toyota were the only ones I tested that had a simple gear shift lever located where you would expect the gear shift lever to be. The others had little push buttons you had to find on the dash or a goofy little toggle thing hidden behind the turn signal stalk. Arghh!

Morning!

Big day planned. Vikings, Packers, and Chicken Wings! (then nap)

"Mikeal" is a variant spelling found primarily in the northern borderlands shared by Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Russia (largely due the issues Swedes have with spelling and the resulting confusion it creates in four different countries).

"Mikaël" is the predominant spelling.

Mic is short for microphone.

Mike is short for Michael.

If Norwegian was a part of our core curriculum, as it really should be, there would be less confusion with these matters.

Dave modestly doesn't mention his own take on "MacArthur Park" that he has worked up. It comes in a little bit longer at nearly 12 minutes, but it is equally moving (and he does have an intermission at the six minute mark for beer and bathroom).

Reported violation in the Soundhole's fairness and truth in posting:

Beet fields don't turn color in the fall. They aren't allowed to.

Prior to the fall harvest, the sugar beet leaves are chopped off while still green by a mechanical defoliator to facilitate the harvesting. No one is sure what their fall color is as they never allowed to reach it.


Some old-timers say a beet field turned looks like a rainbow of frolicking My Little Ponies ...







Alas, this happens before the beauty of beets can blossom...

Morning!

Pumped for band today. I have a 12 measure trombone solo on our arrangement of "The Bare Necessities". First concert is Oct. 24th if you up this way.

I come in after the tuba solo. (this isn't us, but it is close to our standards )