I just had two friends loose cats to the ultimate thief, age. The Squirt's last sibling died, and a good friend had to put their old girl down as well.

It crushes your heart to lose a cat. Yet I sign up again and again. I cannot live without the furballs, even knowing what the price is going to be. The Squirt is 15, blind in one eye and suffering arthritis, and a hint of kidney disease. Although you don't like to think about it, baring accident, she is next. She is my wife's cat. Or it is more my wife is her person.

No it will not be easy.

But we will be at the shelter looking for another furbaby.

Well, I am no longer disabled. The Social Security Administration sent me a note indicating I am now retired. Nothing else changed. Hey I don't have to explain myself every three years, I have old.

You know it feels kind of weird. A very light monkey off my back, a destination of sorts. "I'm retired" requires no explanation as to why.

It is generally understood that Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn on a grant from the crown. (Typical King giving you something they don't own in exchange for what they do owe.) It was not just this that got Penn out of the country. It was the scandalous behavior of his Father's sisters. A pair of bakers that were charging far over the allowed prices for pastry. He had to get them out of the country. So yes it came down to the pie rates of Penn's aunts.

My new laptop, first in 16 years. 12 core i5 1335u, eight gig ram, 1tb hard drive.

The old Thinkpad T61 is showing sharp signs of becoming a brick. This is a 16 inch Thinkpad E16 gen 1. I pulled the windows drive for a 1 terabyte drive I installed Linux OpenSUSE leap 15.5 on. I’m massaging that to where I want it.

And am pissed at the number of things in the bios I had to turn off labeled “security” in order to install Linux. Security? Yea, security for mickysoft.

And a modern hard drive. They took the SSD works and removed the legacy 2.5 inch case. No cables, plugs right in the motherboard. Don’t be fooled. The 1tb is in the computer, this is 0.5tb that came out. Heavily infected with a virus.

The computer kind. I'm fighting mine. It is acting like an old ball mouse with a bad switch. Sometimes it just does not want to go where I tell it to go. Nothing wrong with my table, but it will go from a whole screen in two inchs to two inches to move a quarter inch on the screen. No rhythm or reason.

I suppose I need a new Christmas message. My last one was written 20 years ago and I keep recycling it. (All previously used electrons). However of late I have felt as inspired as old oatmeal. Health issues, which I am to understand just get worse from here on in, life issues, world issues, all leave me pretty flat. What uplifting message of peace on Earth can you have with Putin trying to conquer Ukraine and doing nothing but killing people? What hope for America when idiots are willing to die to deny science facts. When religious extremists want to keep people, especially children and women ignorant the better to control them. I’m not wagging a finger at the third world, I mean right here in the U S of A. (Looking at you Texas Board of “Education”)

Yea, pretty depressing. Yet somehow I have to get some kind of warmth and love going. All I can do is pull in the people that matter to me, the friends that are dear and shut out the world. All we have is each other. Sometimes I have to do with what you can.

Now, I’m going to draw the drapes on the cold (very) cruel world, cuddle my wife and eat good Scottish food.

It's Star Trek day. My first and more important fandom

The damn cat has figured out pull tabs. I found him in the kitchen with a can of tuna, cracked open and him licking up the liquid. He did not have the leverage to get it fully open.

Well it's in the fridge and I'm having tuna tomorrow.

I do not need more, I do not have to imagine that my life is larger than it really is. "I do not know" is a valid and liberating answer to life's greater questions. It allows us to put aside the myths, and seek the truth. I would rather have truthful uncertainty than a certain lie.

Robin Wood died last week. She was a fantasy artist of some fame until the paint went toxic on her in the 90s. She was seen on the covers of Dragon Magazine She did the art for The People of Pern and her own Tarot deck. (Yes you Furries with one half finished, she published one. You can still get it, the Robin Wood Tarot.) among other projects.

She was also a friend. She gave aid and comfort when my first wife died. We saw less of each other when she moved from my neighborhood, but remained agreeable friends. I last saw her at a local Steampunk convention. You never know when it will be the last time.

She did not do furry that I know of. But I felt a record her was appropriate.

We can breathe again. The Orange Fuck is stinking history. I wish Biden and Harris strength in cleaning up the mess the trumper tantrum has made of everything. Everything the blovated fuck trumpet touched he ruined or damaged.

Now we must roll up our sleeves and for the second time clean out the fascists. Only this time they are embedded in our nation. Many call themselves white supremacists. They are an evil among us and we need to stamp it out.

And Mr Biden. Do not think you get a pass. If you try any crap, I will come down on you just as hard.

RIP Arecibo. It collapsed before it could be taken down. Raise one to a grand old instrument that was an opener of the way.

Bye Don.

Now we can begin to heal.

I have voted. My choices made and the ballot delivered to the city clerk. I cannot change my mind. With that in mind can I avoid the next month of endless political advertising?'

I am under no delusions that the Democrats are on my side. That has been amply demonstrated.

I have also seen it amply demonstrated that Republicans are against everyone but the 1%. Doubly not on my side and far more likely to do me direct harm.

By crude analogy a urinary infection is painful, a urinary blockage is deadly. It is time for the lessor of two evils.

I watched the Wonder Woman 84 trailer.

Now trailers are suppose to make you want to see the film. I'm looking at this thing, lots of action, a totally clueless guy. I'm not getting the conflict or even the reason for the film. I'm left with a head scratcher. Why do I want to see this film?

You will tell me that it is a symbol of racism. I will agree.
You will say it defended slavery. I will say; Yes it did.
You will say it belongs as no part of any official governmental thing. Hard to argue that.

So, given that, why do I not hate it?

Because anyone willing to fly it self identifies as a racist. Like the Nazi swastika it is a tool to identify people that need punching.

Tools of speech should not be banned because I would rather have them out in the open where we can see the fuckers. The truth of free speech is it also means speech you do not agree with. Free, as in you get to say it, not free as in there are no consequences.

There is no right to not be offended. You have no right to never see it. I will argue you are better off seeing it because then you know it is there. Better it is said, the devil you know.

I want the day to come when symbols of hate are no longer seen because they are no longer wanted by anyone. Until we get that day, let them identify in the open, it is their right as it is your right. Better the devil you see.

"U.S. Attorney General William Barr has repeatedly blamed anti-fascist activists for the violence that has erupted during demonstrations over George Floyd's death, but federal court records show no sign of so-called antifa links so far in cases brought by the Justice Department.

NPR has reviewed court documents of 51 individuals facing federal charges in connection with the unrest. As of Tuesday morning, none is alleged to have links to the antifa movement.

Of the cases brought so far, 20 involve allegations related to arson; 16 involve the illegal possession of a firearm, more often than not by a felon; another eight people face charges related to inciting a riot or civil disorder.

The single instance in which an extremist group is mentioned in court documents is a case against three Nevada men. Federal prosecutors allege the trio belong to the right-wing Boogaloo movement that wants to bring about a civil war. The men have been charged with plotting violence during Las Vegas protests." --NPR News

So the Government is not finding the people responsible that they want to find. Once again the facts do not match the rhetoric. This has been the constant tune in this maladministration since the start. The Anti Fascists, and lets spell it out are NOT the rioters. The protesters are NOT the rioters. The rioters are white supremacists, adding "asshole" is not necessary.

Police in this country have become an occupational army against the citizens, not the protectors of public welfare. A hard break is required.

*Fire the police, rebuild the department with clear rules, and no military equipment. This HAS proven to reduce police violence by as much as 90%.
*Hold people responsible for what they do. Police do not get extra right for being police. They should be held to the same standard of deadly force as any citizen. If it is wrong for Jane Citizen, it is wrong for the police.
*Remember one bad cop and 39 good cops silent about it are 40 bad cops. They are ONLY good cops when they do not tolerate bad cops among them.

With the kinda crazy weather we of the Midwest have been enduring. Fahrenheit of course. I've been looking for this again, found it..

An Annotated Thermometer

*60 degrees Californians put on sweaters (if they can find one in their wardrobe!).
*50 degrees Miami residents turn on the heat.
*40 degrees You can see your breath. Californians shiver uncontrollably. Minnesotans go swimming.
*35 degrees Italian cars don't start.
*32 degrees Water freezes.
*30 degrees You plan your vacation to Australia. Minnesotans put on t-shirts. Politicians begin to worry about the homeless. English cars don't start.
*25 degrees Boston water freezes. Californians weep pitiably. Minnesotans eat ice cream. Canadians go swimming.
*20 degrees You can hear your breath. Politicians begin to talk about the homeless. New York City water freezes. Miami residents plan vacations further south.
*15 degrees French cars don't start. You plan a vacation in Mexico. Your cat insists on sleeping in bed with you.
*10 degrees Too cold to ski. You need jumper cables to get the car going.
*5 degrees You plan your vacation in Houston. American cars don't start.
*0 degrees Alaskans put on t-shirts. Too cold to skate.
*-10 degrees German cars don't start. Eyes freeze shut when you blink.
*-15 degrees You can cut your breath and use it to build an igloo. Arkansans stick tongue on metal objects. Miami residents cease to exist.
* -20 degrees Cat insists on sleeping in your pajamas with you. Politicians actually do something about the homeless. Minnesotans shovel snow off roof. Japanese cars don't start.
* -25 degrees Too cold to think. You need jumper cables to get the driver going.
*-30 degrees You plan a two-week hot bath. The mighty Monongahela freezes. Swedish cars don't start.
* -50 degrees Congressional hot air freezes. Alaskans close the bathroom window.
*-80 degrees Hell freezes over. Polar bears move south.
*-90 degrees Lawyers put their hands in their own pockets.

My give-a-dam broke and flooded everything with meh.

Cleaning out that 20 gig of furry scrapings. Moving things to the right places, getting rid of duplicate and so forth.

Regrettably I have way too many pictures for whom no artist can be attached. This bothers me because I like to organize things by artist. I have found many-many pictures in the generic genus directories that belong in artist directories. They get moved and I'm finding most have and are duplicates, out with them!

Yea, I'm bored, can you tell?

"Many people consider the things government does for them to be social progress but they regard the things government does for others as socialism." --Earl Warren, late Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court

I'm a mild fan of the furry form.

I really think I need to reconsider that.

All three of the people I support on Patreon are furry artists.

Original art.
3 Vickki Wymans, all on the wall.
3 Megan Giles, two on the wall.
16 Jim Groat, in an album, not enough wall. (I like Red Shetland.)
11 various artists, most not on FA.

A pile of comics from various artists.

And 20 gig of furry scrapings from FA and other sites.

I might have a Furry issue going down here. Not every Furry has a suit, or wants one. We all do not live a fursona, or even really have one. I don't. The avatar is an old D&D character, one of many-many. It's a mask I can put on or take off. That is what a role-player does.

But yes. I am a Furry.

"There is a demon that I deal with daily. I preform rituals and quaff potions to keep the demon at bay. It does not always work. Some days the demon breaks thorough the protections, and my life sucks.

The demon has a name, it is called Pain. From injury and the wear and tear of age, pain is my constant companion. I am the face of the other side of the opiate problem, the person for whom life would be a living hell without the drugs.

I ask my Doctor every time I see her, "Is there a safer, more effective, solution to my pain issues?" The answer has always been no. Nothing, outside of the long term use of painkillers, can keep my life even close to normal.

Why do I mention this? Because our lawmakers, in their typical idiocy, wish to "solve" the opiate issue on my back. They say, "Just forbid long term use. That solves it." The truth is that it does not solve it. It does not even come close to solving it. It only condemns the people that honestly need the drugs in order to function from day to day to a living Hell of agony and no sleep. I don't want these drugs. I would throw them down in a hot second if I could be pain free without them. I do not even take heavy enough doses to eliminate my pain totally because I don't like how that makes me feel.

The issue needs to be solved by punishing the pushers at the drug companies that encourage indiscriminate prescribing of opiates for stubbed toes, not the sufferers of chronic and otherwise untreatable pain, like me, that need the damn stuff."

I find leaving the old year I am a bit on the numb side. 2019 was not my friend. I drifted through the Holidays, neither willing to participate, or be alone. There were parties with family and friends. Fun was had, but I did not feel any joy from the exchange. It is over, I am glad. Now to get that damn tree down and get my normal life back.

I'm not usually this numb. Lack of sleep? I'll readily blame that for most things. It is frucking 5:20 AM when I am posting this. Sleep has not been my friend. And a lack of sleep can really grind you down.

Dark is not my friend and we have lots of that. Due to pain I fitfully sleep through what sun that we get.

New kitty boy is my one honest joy from December. I'm calmer with three cats in the house. Go figure. I do love my fur babies. I still miss Zak, I always will.

I don't create, I'm too tired from the dark and pain. It leaves me fitful and numb. Uneasy for something that has not happened, but should come easily.

Well the shuddering demand for all our mopey has begun. It looks like we the people have escaped death by Walmart this year,. A nice break from someone dying for a bargain in the Hell-hole of shopping.

I find myself ambivalent over the holiday season. The annual war on Christmas has begun, a war curiously only fought on one side. A group of easily offended Fundie types that demand we all do it THEIR way. Their screaming war cry of "Christmas is for Christ!" ignores, well everything. It is not the only winter festival celebrated, nor should it be. I might have been raised in that environment, but I hope I have gotten better. They are so wrapped up in defending Christmas they they forget about Peace on Earth, never mind Goodwill Towards Men.

I do feel the stirring of the old ways, and for me the New Year is December 21. We light the lights to drive away the darkness, and to welcome the new year as the sun comes back to us. January 1 is a calendar accident. Yea my Wife gets the day off. We can sleep in.

So gather your family about you, in what ever from that is. Celebrate the solstice, in what ever form you do. It truth let us have Peace on Earth, Goodwill Towards Men. We have no one else for support.