Sorry, back again and trying to catch up. It's winter here and I'm prone to seasonal depression, so I've been binge watching Max Miller's Tasting History. He's not a trained historian, so not always 100% accurate, but very entertaining.
And, yes, here in NZ, the push for Women's Right to Vote had a lot to do with the Temperance Movement and was supported by many liberal clergy (First in the world!!! 1893!!!!) In 1919 a nationwide vote for Prohibition was narrowly defeated, only by the votes of soldiers still serving overseas. For many years after, it continued to be a referendum question held alongside national elections.
But the only Graham I want to hear from is when a reporter holds a mike in front of that wolf-in-sheep's-clothing Franklin, and asks what God thinks of his choice for President now.
My mother was a nutritionist. I learned about Graham and the reason for his crackers from a book of hers "The Nuts Among the Berries". It's about food faddism in the US. I still have it somewhere.
So, you're a writer, huh? That's super interesting. For a Mo-mommyblog, you said? On the 'Inter-webs'? You know it's 'Internet', right? Cool, cool. Yeah, I just hoped I wouldn't be the one to break that newsflash to ya.
So, yeah, I guess on the Interwebs, you're always write. Heh, yeah it's... see, it's funny. Because you write.
I mean, YOU'RE right, it's... not that funny. Can I buy you a drink or something?
My first encounter with a Graham Cracker, at the age of five, convinced me that they were in fact an early form of packing material. Time has not changed that view.
It was a long day. If I’m reading the results correctly, they were “unremarkable.” The one part I didn’t have scanned is the lumbar spine, which is actually the most likely culprit. If not that, then probably an autoimmune disorder.
Bottom line is that at this point, we’re just ruling things out. Which is important, but not as satisfying as an actual diagnosis as to what is causing all this pain.
I was diagnosed with acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy/Guillain-Barre Syndrome in May of 2022. I have sensory, motor, proprioceptive and autonomic nervous system damage. I wouldn't wish pervasive nerve pain on anyone.
OMG, I’ve never even heard of that, but it sounds incredibly painful. Gentle hugs to you, my friend.
The only dx I’ve received so far is peripheral neuropathy, of unknown origin (non-diabetic). Started with occasional numbness in my toes, along with a pain that felt like a tweaked muscle on the right side of my spine, in mid-December. Pain exploded on 4/26, which led to my 1st ER visit and Rx for gabapentin. At 4th (!) ER visit on 5/20, they upped gabapentin dose to 1800 mgs/day, but my pain has definitely outpaced that dose. I had “unremarkable” MRIs of brain, c-spine and t-spine just this Wednesday. All that’s left is MRI of lumbar spine and some blood tests for RA factor. It feels like stumbling around in the dark to get to the root cause.
Oh also, 1000% agree with you that nerve pain is the absolute worst pain ever invented. As a girl who grew up a farm, the closest I can compare it to is touching a live electric fence. IT IS THE WORST PAIN EVER.
When I'm having a bad day, I tell my husband that I'm "sizzling". Hugs to you as well and I hope you get news that leads to treatment and relief. The nervous system is a mystery. Get as much rest as you can.
Masturbation, eh? Reminds me of a joke: I went to the doctor recently. He told me I had to stop masturbating. I said, "why?" He said "so I can examine you."
Exactly what is it about Graham crackers that's supposed to keep you from masturbating? Or Corn Flakes? Unless they contain some ingredient that suppresses your libido, I just don't get it. Is it because they're kinda bland? I still don't see how it works. I know, "DO YoUR owN REseARCh". Don't feel like it. I'm busy.
Back in those times, the word used was Onanism. But Onan's real sin was refusing to give his deceased brother an heir by the widow, most likely because he wanted to keep the land and pass it on to his own children. In effect, he stole his brother's inheritance, thus disrespecting his memory by wiping it out. The particular sex act is irrelevant and a waste of ink.
The idea of preserving a deceased family member's descent is not unique to the ancient Hebrews, but exists among other pre-literate peoples. I used to think the genealogies were boring until I learned about the Maori concept of whanau (extended family) and why it is so important to know one's ancestry, the relationship to the land, and why the apparently endless battles. My background is in Anthropology, and I find the more I learn about other cultures, their myths and spiritual beliefs, the more interesting it is to contrast and compare differences and similarities in the Bible. I think the reason so many can't understand it is that they have only been taught a very literal reading, which makes no sense in a vastly different society. On s surface reading, the ethical problems faced by a tribe that was firmly rooted in nature, the seasons and a constant need to secure food and protect it from other marauding tribes, is so far removed from modern city dwellers with constant electric light, office jobs rather than manual labor, and a food pantry when desperate, it is hard to relate. Belief in God will always be higher among farmers, because of the recognition that, while science has contributed many positive benefits (fertizer? insecticides? GM seeds? tractors dependent on gasoline?) ultimately, neither a farmer nor a scientist can make it rain.
I spend many hours racking my brains over whether a generally predictable weather cycle occurred by chance evolution, or, if there is an Intelligence guiding it all. If so, I do not wish to take it for granted when my needs are provided for, then turn around and be an ungrateful snot whining I don't believe in a good God when I am still immeasurably better off than billions on a global scale.
And try to be satisfied with the idea that, like Will Rogers, all I know is what I've been told. To categorically state whether God exists, I would have to know everything in the Universe, and then - I myself would be God.
So I assure myself that to say "I don't know" (agnostic in Greek) is the wisest admission.
And then - there's a sunset touch.....and I remember that the vast majority of the world's population does believe in some form of afterlife and ultimate Judgment (at least for others, especially those I dislike/disagree with, tho I think I will somehow evade judgment myself.....)
Why is it that these beliefs are so Universal? Is there some deep seated psychological reason for this? Some recognition of what is true in Nature, a constant cycle of death and rebirth, is also true of humankind when we go into the unknown? If I hold myself superior to these "primitive superstitions", am I really just an arrogant rich white Westerner, who wants the privelege of pointing the finger at others, while convincing myself there is no judgment for me after death. If that is correct, I will never know I am right.....
Again, I don't know. But I do know I cannot relate to other societies, especially less technologically advanced ones, unless I have respect for their spiritual beliefs and practices, and therefore, it seems to be inconsistent to disdain my own ancestors' religion, as well as the ancestors and sacred writings of the Jews.
Maybe it is just that we are beyond the midwinter solstice. The days are growing longer and soon there will be buds and bids singing and walks on the beach, but I think I am beginning to cautiously move toward hope.
And I begin also to understand why the church will always be full of old people. We are those who have enough time to reflect on our approaching death.
My impression is that Sylvester Graham believed that eating foods made with coarse-ground flour that retained all its germ and bran would make anyone much stronger. So much stronger that they could easily resist their sinful urges.
Graham understood milling flour pretty well – it was his understanding of sinful urges that was laughable.
And yet, there are people who looooove them! *gives Husband serious side-eye* Any time I make a cake, Himself begs for all the leftover frosting, slaps it between two graham crackers, and is blissed-the-fuck-OUT. Yeesh. Of course, he's also been known to shoot the icing out of a pastry bag and straight into his mouth. The horror...
My oldest does logistics and security for aafes and he'd like you to know that if you were a military child today, you would have fresh crackers and all the fruits.
Sorry, back again and trying to catch up. It's winter here and I'm prone to seasonal depression, so I've been binge watching Max Miller's Tasting History. He's not a trained historian, so not always 100% accurate, but very entertaining.
And, yes, here in NZ, the push for Women's Right to Vote had a lot to do with the Temperance Movement and was supported by many liberal clergy (First in the world!!! 1893!!!!) In 1919 a nationwide vote for Prohibition was narrowly defeated, only by the votes of soldiers still serving overseas. For many years after, it continued to be a referendum question held alongside national elections.
But the only Graham I want to hear from is when a reporter holds a mike in front of that wolf-in-sheep's-clothing Franklin, and asks what God thinks of his choice for President now.
Just before the Edsel and way before Tesla, American Motors gave us a look at a future that would have Hugo Gernsback fall off his chair laughing. Ladies, gents an Ets the Astra Gnome. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6598c8e83ff0af0197ff19f9/1711508923053-X2OZ2GVV32S5RJ9FZZR1/1956%2BAmerican%2BMotors%2BAstra-Gnome_0000_MTK05080.jpg?ICID=ref_fark
My mother was a nutritionist. I learned about Graham and the reason for his crackers from a book of hers "The Nuts Among the Berries". It's about food faddism in the US. I still have it somewhere.
“Sylvester! Get a grip, willya?”
“I’m upstairs boxing the clown, be right down!!”
I have a cup of coffee and a "plank" of graham crackers every morning without fail.
sorry, wrong article.
So, you're a writer, huh? That's super interesting. For a Mo-mommyblog, you said? On the 'Inter-webs'? You know it's 'Internet', right? Cool, cool. Yeah, I just hoped I wouldn't be the one to break that newsflash to ya.
So, yeah, I guess on the Interwebs, you're always write. Heh, yeah it's... see, it's funny. Because you write.
I mean, YOU'RE right, it's... not that funny. Can I buy you a drink or something?
My first encounter with a Graham Cracker, at the age of five, convinced me that they were in fact an early form of packing material. Time has not changed that view.
Y’all. I’m just a hot mess of pain. That is all.
Damn. I'm so sorry, 2Cats. Morphine to the rescue?
I’m just on gabapentin right now, but it’s clearly not working.
How did your tests go on Wednesday?
It was a long day. If I’m reading the results correctly, they were “unremarkable.” The one part I didn’t have scanned is the lumbar spine, which is actually the most likely culprit. If not that, then probably an autoimmune disorder.
Bottom line is that at this point, we’re just ruling things out. Which is important, but not as satisfying as an actual diagnosis as to what is causing all this pain.
Compare notes with Holly and then ask about local ticks and what nasties they might carry?
I'm very sorry.
Ta.
I was diagnosed with acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy/Guillain-Barre Syndrome in May of 2022. I have sensory, motor, proprioceptive and autonomic nervous system damage. I wouldn't wish pervasive nerve pain on anyone.
OMG, I’ve never even heard of that, but it sounds incredibly painful. Gentle hugs to you, my friend.
The only dx I’ve received so far is peripheral neuropathy, of unknown origin (non-diabetic). Started with occasional numbness in my toes, along with a pain that felt like a tweaked muscle on the right side of my spine, in mid-December. Pain exploded on 4/26, which led to my 1st ER visit and Rx for gabapentin. At 4th (!) ER visit on 5/20, they upped gabapentin dose to 1800 mgs/day, but my pain has definitely outpaced that dose. I had “unremarkable” MRIs of brain, c-spine and t-spine just this Wednesday. All that’s left is MRI of lumbar spine and some blood tests for RA factor. It feels like stumbling around in the dark to get to the root cause.
Oh also, 1000% agree with you that nerve pain is the absolute worst pain ever invented. As a girl who grew up a farm, the closest I can compare it to is touching a live electric fence. IT IS THE WORST PAIN EVER.
When I'm having a bad day, I tell my husband that I'm "sizzling". Hugs to you as well and I hope you get news that leads to treatment and relief. The nervous system is a mystery. Get as much rest as you can.
Can I ask what you take for pain? Because the 1800 mgs of gabapentin per day that I’m currently taking is obviously NOT WORKING.
So,… breakfast tomorrow? Shall I call or just nudge you?
Masturbation, eh? Reminds me of a joke: I went to the doctor recently. He told me I had to stop masturbating. I said, "why?" He said "so I can examine you."
Well, it’s sex with someone you love.
Unless your name is Donald Chump.
Exactly what is it about Graham crackers that's supposed to keep you from masturbating? Or Corn Flakes? Unless they contain some ingredient that suppresses your libido, I just don't get it. Is it because they're kinda bland? I still don't see how it works. I know, "DO YoUR owN REseARCh". Don't feel like it. I'm busy.
Back in those times, the word used was Onanism. But Onan's real sin was refusing to give his deceased brother an heir by the widow, most likely because he wanted to keep the land and pass it on to his own children. In effect, he stole his brother's inheritance, thus disrespecting his memory by wiping it out. The particular sex act is irrelevant and a waste of ink.
The idea of preserving a deceased family member's descent is not unique to the ancient Hebrews, but exists among other pre-literate peoples. I used to think the genealogies were boring until I learned about the Maori concept of whanau (extended family) and why it is so important to know one's ancestry, the relationship to the land, and why the apparently endless battles. My background is in Anthropology, and I find the more I learn about other cultures, their myths and spiritual beliefs, the more interesting it is to contrast and compare differences and similarities in the Bible. I think the reason so many can't understand it is that they have only been taught a very literal reading, which makes no sense in a vastly different society. On s surface reading, the ethical problems faced by a tribe that was firmly rooted in nature, the seasons and a constant need to secure food and protect it from other marauding tribes, is so far removed from modern city dwellers with constant electric light, office jobs rather than manual labor, and a food pantry when desperate, it is hard to relate. Belief in God will always be higher among farmers, because of the recognition that, while science has contributed many positive benefits (fertizer? insecticides? GM seeds? tractors dependent on gasoline?) ultimately, neither a farmer nor a scientist can make it rain.
I spend many hours racking my brains over whether a generally predictable weather cycle occurred by chance evolution, or, if there is an Intelligence guiding it all. If so, I do not wish to take it for granted when my needs are provided for, then turn around and be an ungrateful snot whining I don't believe in a good God when I am still immeasurably better off than billions on a global scale.
And try to be satisfied with the idea that, like Will Rogers, all I know is what I've been told. To categorically state whether God exists, I would have to know everything in the Universe, and then - I myself would be God.
So I assure myself that to say "I don't know" (agnostic in Greek) is the wisest admission.
And then - there's a sunset touch.....and I remember that the vast majority of the world's population does believe in some form of afterlife and ultimate Judgment (at least for others, especially those I dislike/disagree with, tho I think I will somehow evade judgment myself.....)
Why is it that these beliefs are so Universal? Is there some deep seated psychological reason for this? Some recognition of what is true in Nature, a constant cycle of death and rebirth, is also true of humankind when we go into the unknown? If I hold myself superior to these "primitive superstitions", am I really just an arrogant rich white Westerner, who wants the privelege of pointing the finger at others, while convincing myself there is no judgment for me after death. If that is correct, I will never know I am right.....
Again, I don't know. But I do know I cannot relate to other societies, especially less technologically advanced ones, unless I have respect for their spiritual beliefs and practices, and therefore, it seems to be inconsistent to disdain my own ancestors' religion, as well as the ancestors and sacred writings of the Jews.
Maybe it is just that we are beyond the midwinter solstice. The days are growing longer and soon there will be buds and bids singing and walks on the beach, but I think I am beginning to cautiously move toward hope.
And I begin also to understand why the church will always be full of old people. We are those who have enough time to reflect on our approaching death.
My impression is that Sylvester Graham believed that eating foods made with coarse-ground flour that retained all its germ and bran would make anyone much stronger. So much stronger that they could easily resist their sinful urges.
Graham understood milling flour pretty well – it was his understanding of sinful urges that was laughable.
John Waters once said he thanked God every day that he was raised Catholic, because he knew, no matter what, sex would always be dirty.
They weren't delicious when they were first invented, so maybe they just ruined your mood?
Nice food excites the mind and enflames the most sinful thoughts.
Have a nice bland snack instead.
People be crazy.
And yet, there are people who looooove them! *gives Husband serious side-eye* Any time I make a cake, Himself begs for all the leftover frosting, slaps it between two graham crackers, and is blissed-the-fuck-OUT. Yeesh. Of course, he's also been known to shoot the icing out of a pastry bag and straight into his mouth. The horror...
I grew up on overseas bases.
By the time we got Graham Crackers, they were stale and soft.
It wasn't until I was in college that I realized that they were crispy.
(Also, fresh pineapple was a revelation!)
My oldest does logistics and security for aafes and he'd like you to know that if you were a military child today, you would have fresh crackers and all the fruits.
That is fantastic!
To butcher a phrase.
"When MAGA sneezes, Nigel Farage's mob catches anti-LGBTQ+ bigotry."
https://bsky.app/profile/reformexposed.bsky.social/post/3lt7pp2n7wc2z
If only we could tariff DOGE/MAGA ideas.
RIP Julian McMahon. I knew him from Charmed, a truly thankless role
He was in Nip Tuck too
Porgy: Oh, not now, Mudhead! They need me at the last meeting of the philatelist’s club.
Mudhead: I didn’t know you masturbated.