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It's been almost five months now since I was laid off. It doesn't seem that long, actually. What've I been doing since then? Collecting unemployment checks and doing freelance consulting, helping people with their computer problems and qu ... read more

I just had to share this comment someone left here on FriendsNews. Read it, absorb it, digest it, lather, rinse and repeat it. Then let me know what the %$ it means! Here it is:I comprehend that is genuinely uninteresting and you39 ... read more

Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable. -- Cesar A. CruzRead, listen or watch the rest here: ... read more

Today, May Day, honors the workers who produce all of the wealth. It is also a European festival of ancient origins marking the beginning of summer, usually celebrated on 1 May (from Wikipedia), but we digress. It is in honor of those ... read more

When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty. There is no justification for taking away individuals' freedom in the guise of public safety. When once a Republic is corru ... read more

My brother Doug talking about Portuguese genealogy on their January 22, 2019 podcast. In today's episode of Our Portuguese Tab ... read more

It WAS a good Friday. There was nothing religious about it. If you know me at all, that wouldn't surprise you. I was just reading my previous post and wanted to have something more positive this time. We're all still adjusting to each o ... read more

We're in Moscow. Bill already summarized our trip here. I do believe that I am fully initiated into the sisterhood of Mothers. I have changed an exploding poopy diaper in an airplane bathroom, with turbulence! I'll spare you all the detai ... read more

We're in the Atlanta airport now! Good to be on US soil, except that they keep mentioning George Bush (... as in the Houston Airport). :) It's 1:45a. m. Moscow time right now (5:45p. m. EDT), but I'm not tired. I'm anxious to catch the ... read more

Sunday, November 25, 2007, 5:00pm CSTWe're in the air on our way back to Moscow. Delta Flight 46. The current in-flight movie is Evan Almighty, which we saw on one of our other flights to or from Moscow last time. You know, when you je ... read more

That's how long before we leave Astrakhan for Moscow. Not that we're counting or anything. The bad thing about these in-country flights is that they don't use jetways, those expandable tubes that protect you from the weather as you get ... read more

This (below) is why we hate Walmart. Its explosive growth has gutted two key pillars of the American middle class: small businesses and well-paid manufacturing jobs. Too many people just want low prices no matter the overall, long-run ... read more

And remember those politicians who are in the banks' back pocket (hint: it's most of them)Backing a lower court ruling made in 2009, it said two foreclosure sales were invalid because the banks did not prove that they owned them at the tim ... read more

So, the wife texts me saying, Fence guy quoted $35500 to do the fence. He's coming out Wednesday. This is a fence repair for a small backyard, not a new thousand acre fence. Me: How much?!Wife (paraphrasing): Oops, I left out the deci ... read more

Study finds moving our bodies in any way each day can uplift our moods and help increase our mobility and mental wellbeing. Is physical activity the key to a stronger mind? Two in three people believe it just may be... ... read more

Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad, the world's oldest prime minister, has offered the world's youngest, Finland's Sanna Marin, some words of wisdom as she takes on her new role: Ask old people for their advice. ... read more

Old stuff, but some of it's still funny ... It's basically the precursor to this website. Click the links in the table of contents, above. Otherwise, just do a search in the home page's search b ... read more

The Holmes Family Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 5, September 5, 1989 Jeannie breaks elbow Placed on Disabled ListLathrop -- While attempting a sling-shot maneuver during a roller derby match last month with teammates Tiffany and Thomas, Jeanni ... read more

The Broken Record Vol. 4, No. 5, June 25, 1992Predictable, irritating. Really, no redeeming qualities whatsoever. ... read more

The Holmes Family Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 6a, September 17, 1989Everyone seems to be on a diet these days. Lucy and Jeannie are trying a low carbohydrate/high protein diet. Don's trying good old reliable starvation. Eleanor is on the Nu ... read more

Behind the Eight Ball Who is that behind the eight ball, anyway?Vol. 6 No. 5, Au ... read more

news from La-La Land HAPPY NEW YEAR!!Vol. 3, No. 1, January 4, 1991Newsletter editor murdered!The editor of this newsletter was apparently murdered some time over the weekend according to police. We think it was ... read more