Good day, my friends. First off, my apologies for my lack of posts lately. There are a number of reasons for it. But I’m back. My being lazy online typically means the exact opposite for my real life.
Last week was my day shift at work. I never have time blog when I’m on day shift because people actually expect me to do things at work. Day shift means all the managers and what-not are there. I do more work in one day shift than I do in a week of night shifts. I’m very glad I only work one week of days per month.
I’ve been off work since Thursday. The weather has been nice so I have been getting ready for Spring planting. As you all know, I am a big believer in self-sufficiency. This will be my first attempt at a big ass garden. I planted a few things last Fall, mostly greens and onions. Everything did well aside from red cabbage. I don’t think I will be trying to grow that again. So, I’ve been spending my days breaking up the ground (by hand, since I don’t believe in using gas or electrical powered tools), planning out what I’m going to plant, picking up all the branches and trees that have been knocked down by the winter storms, fishing and soaking up the sun. It’s been in the 60s and 70s with plenty of sunshine this week. Once the sun goes down, we’ve been sitting around the bonfire having a few drinks. Good country life. Yesterday evening we found a possum asleep in my fish food bin. That was quite a surprise.
I have a lot of catching up to do on reading my fellow bloggers. I’ve done a little of that today but I have a long way to go. It’s difficult to maintain my online presence when I live in the woods with no internet connection aside form my cell phone.
So, a few big talking points on the ‘Sphere lately. The first is women being allowed into combat. Most of you have already expressed your thoughts on this. I’m a bit late to the game. My personal opinion is this: If they want to fight, let them fight. It’s the same opinion I have on gays in the military. This is modern war. It’s not like we have massive hordes of swordsman and cavalry clashing in the middle of the field with limbs and shit flying. Modern combat is mostly conducted with missiles, drones, strike teams and explosives (IEDs, mines, etc). If we still had all-out melees with primitive weapons, I would say women can’t cut it. The way we do things now, women really won’t make a difference as long as we don’t allow them into the Special Forces (SEALs, Green Beret, Rangers, Recon, etc). I think the main result is going to be women getting hurt where a man wouldn’t. I won’t be shedding any tears, they are just getting what they ask for.
Bill Powell made a post about Obamacare greatly increasing the cost of insurance premiums for smokers. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise, since the WHO (World Health Organization) is on a mission to demonizing smoking in all it’s forms, including E-cigs. E-cigs have already been banned in Canada, a few other countries, and several US cities. Not because they are unsafe, but because they offer a safe alternative to smoking that still looks like smoking, thus undermining the afore-mentioned demonization program. Several commenters asked how they could know whether or not you are a smoker. I have the answer to this. Several members of my family used to be life insurance salesmen. When someone bough a policy, they would swab the persons mouth with a q tip and send it to a lab. They could apparently use this to determine in the person was a smoker and whether or not they had HIV/AIDS. This was about 6 years ago, I’m sure the tech has improved by now.
I’m a smoker. And a heavy drinker. You all know this. Luckily I am covered under my company’s policy and not an individual one, and the changes will (so far) only apply to individual policy holders. It’s still quite idiotic, considering how much money the government makes off of Sin Taxes (Tobacco, Alcohol, etc). If everyone quit smoking it would make a dent in federal and state income. I think the dangers are blown completely out of proportion. I smoke and drink every day, and I never get sick. I can work all day without getting winded. I can out run most every non smoker who has ever tried to exercise with me. It’s all a load of BS. As is the case with most things.
I suppose we are all supposed to be worker drones with no personal enjoyments or pleasures. Go to work, pay taxes, consume. Go home and masturbate to some porn on our newest overpriced piece of iCrap. Go to sleep. No need for thinking or decision making, the government will take care of everything.
Well, enough of that. I’m really glad to see Spring weather here. I feel sorry for you fellows up North. Young Hunter was telling me the other day that it was 1 degree where he lives. Mistress and I were outside tanning. I love the South. This Winter has made me believe very strongly in vitamin D and the power of the sun to affect me. As soon as the sun came out and the weather got nice, my mood and motivation increased drastically. I wanted to jump out of bed and work outside. We had a very cloudy, rainy winter. I’ve started taking 5,000 UIC of vitamin D3 and I will be continuing to do so. Thanks Carnivore and Bill Powell for the info you guys provided on D3 when I was feeling shitty this Winter.
I’m sure I will have more to say once I finish catching up on everyone’s blogs. Have a great day, gentlemen.
-Dr. Illusion
Thanks for the mention Dr. and I’m glad I could help. I was wondering what was up and I’m glad you’re back to posting regularly.
Considering we have the same trade, Bill, I am sure you have done shift work before. At my plant, night shift means we are firing up grills and cooking wild boar (we catch them at work and clean them there), cranking up some music and having a blast. If something goes wrong we band together to sort it out quickly, then get back to having a blast. And they pay us 26/hr minimum to do it. Day shift is a different story. I bloody hate day shift. I also hate sleeping at night and working during the day. When I’m up all night, I get to talk to Ace and Young Hunter and most of my friends a lot more, as they work shift schedules as well.
I’m glad to be back.
It’s interesting that various authorities are always trying to ban the more healthful alternatives to smoking. E-cigs and chewing tobacco are much safer than cigarettes, but countries all over the world have and are trying to ban both altogether. Having abused tobacco and nicotine products in all of their many incarnations, I can easily say smoking is the hardest on your body.
I’m not usually one for the whole internet activism thing, but it would be much appreciated if you could throw a signature on this one, Doc.
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/prevent-fda-regulating-or-banning-sale-and-use-electronic-cigarettes-accessories-and-associated/RQLBYRsd
My family does the big-ass garden thing, which I’m not a fan of because it attracts an inordinate amount of bees. I feel like a fighter pilot in WWII whenever I mow the lawn (I use a riding mower because this is the 21st Century and I’m allergic to grass).
Fortunately, the bees are only active for half the year. As you mentioned, it’s cold up here.
I have to work one day shift a week and I hate it. Like you I do more work on my day shift than my night shifts combined. Only benefit of days for me is for whatever reason there are cooler people to work with.