THESE MODERN TIMES

Our lives haven't changed under the fascist, but we have resources many Americans don't have. My friend, now gone, was devastated a few years ago when the cost of living increase didn't take place in her Social Security check. She had been counting on it, paltry as it was. Trump is not everyone's president, least of all his base, whom he has totally conned.

Poison Ivy: we didn't know we had it in a certain area, and it took a long time to figure out that weeping rash on Mr. TBend's legs was caused by poison ivy. Once we identified it, it fell upon me to go spray it with the special spray every day until it seemed to be gone, because apparently I'm immune to it, or at least more immune than he was. I didn't test that by actually touching the leaves, but for the amount of time I spent over there spraying, there should have been at least a little bit of itching.

As a senior citizen with a limited income I am telling you I am hurting--food costs and meds are almost double what they were last year at this time. I, basically, buy the same foods and amounts every Thursday and each week the bill is a little higher.
Yes as beautiful as Mother Nature can be she has a few tricks up her sleeve--like poison ivy!!

Our area is having a new housing boom with developments going up everywhere, and there is a shortage of skilled carpenters and house framers. Colorado has a big tourism economy, especially Estes Park, my nearest town, where the 4 1/2 million visitors a year pass through to get to Rocky Mountain National Park, and they appear to be okay with paying high prices for food and lodging. A lot of them come for legal recreational marijuana, and that has attracted a lot of workers who want to light up when they want, but there is a shortage of skilled workers for the restaurants etc. Many jobs still require drug testing, so it's not exactly pot paradise for people who want good-paying jobs. Gasoline has stayed relatively cheap, and that helps bring the tourists.

The farmers are not enthusiastically embracing Trump's $12 billion in welfare to farmers affected by his recent trade barriers, because for one, they are unsure if it will trickle down to them. These are small farmers, not the giant corporate farms, which will probably get most of that money. Most of them voted for him, but they are not blindly drinking the Koolaid - they're saying that the overall effect of the tariffs and retaliatory tariffs is going to hurt them for years to come, and the $12 billion won't make up for that, even if it gets renewed and extends for years.

Our interstates are overwhelmed and in lousy condition, and it's reaching the point where road congestion is going to start limiting economic growth.

So sorry for your woes. Stories about that vicious plant make me less eager to go walking in strange places!

Yes, I've seen the same with food prices, especially when my friend in S. America talks about what he pays in the grocery store. Maybe I will finally put up my grow lights and grow my own spinach. As for the BBC, they're better than most news channels. I think teal mentioned how we need to hear some news from outside the U.S., for validity.

I can tell you that inflation is here. Food is more expensive. Ted and I went out for drinks and two appetizers and the bill was 33 dollars yesterday. Jose's vet bill was l50. for a routine visit. Our income is pretty well fixed so I don't see any signs of that going up. As for tv, I am clueless since I only watch BBC and the educational channel.