Live Free or Die Motto

SPOILER ALERT: The title of this post is not about the virus or death, but how a state motto lead to one of the most important First Amendment cases in U.S. history.

Maybe, I have way too much time these days — doesn't everyone?

In some ways it's not so bad. I've learned things not known about NH, where we've lived since 2004. 

This is a rather long post, folks. But, I found the subject matter very interesting and definitely in the "never knew that" category.

Live Free or Die, the NH state motto, was adopted in 1945 at the end of WW II, but had nothing to do with that war. It originated from a quote by General John Stark, the state’s most distinguished Revolutionary War hero. In 1809, Stark wrote a volunteer toast to wartime veterans hosting a 32nd anniversary reunion of the 1777 Battle of Bennington, VT. The full toast was "live free or die; death is not the worst of evils." (Too long for a state motto?)

As the shortened official state motto, the wording was put on license plates, state route signs and the back of the statehood quarter for NH. 

State law required that all non-commercial vehicles bear license plates with the state motto. Another NH statute made it a misdemeanor to knowingly obscure the figures or letters on any number plate.

That license plate requirement led to a historical court case, Wooley v. Maynard.

In the early 1970s, a deeply religious couple, George and Maxine Maynard, moved to NH, and that requirement was troublesome to them. The Maynards felt that the state motto on their car plate supported concepts they didn't subscribe to — they didn't feel free and believed God would grant them eternal life.

I blocked out this license plate no. for illustration purposes

What Happened? After George Maynard covered up the plate motto with electrical tape, battle lines were drawn between the couple and the state of NH. The first encounter was in a Lebanon, NH parking lot in November 1974. George was fined $25 for altering his car plates. A judge suspended the fine, pending good behavior. In December 1974, Neal Wooley, then Lebanon, NH, police chief said the same officer pulled George over again. This time, the state motto had been physically cut out of the plate.

Taken to court again, Maynard was ordered to pay a $50 fine and the $25 fine for the first offense. As a matter of conscience, he refused to pay them and was sentenced to jail for 15 days. Maynard served the full sentence, but it also cost him his job.

In March 1975, the Maynards sued in U.S. District Court for the District of NH. They sought injunctive and declaratory relief against enforcement of the statute that mandated the state motto on their car plates and making it a criminal offense to obscure said motto.

They won. The District Court after hearing the case entered an order enjoining the state from arresting or prosecuting the Maynards at any time in the future if they obscured the portion of their plates with the state motto.

But the case wasn't over. Then NH Governor, Meldrim Thompson, a patriotic and conservative governor, ordered the state attorney general to take the case to the United States Supreme Court, which accepted it.

On November 29, 1976, the Supreme Court heard the case of Wooley v. Maynard. The state attorney general's office argued that just because a car displays the motto, doesn’t automatically mean the driver believes in it.

They won again in Washington. In a 6 to 3 decision, The Supreme Court of the United States ruled it was against the Constitution to force citizens to use private property as a mobile billboard for the state’s ideological message. (Maynard never attended the oral arguments explaining that he couldn't afford the time or travel expenses.)

Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, in his majority opinion, phrased the issue as “whether the State may constitutionally require an individual to participate in the dissemination of an ideological message by displaying it on his private property in a manner and for the express purpose that it be observed and read by the public.”

Burger wrote: “The First Amendment protects the right of individuals to hold a point of view different from the majority and to refuse to foster, in the way New Hampshire commands, an idea they find morally objectionable.” 

The majority reasoned that the case presented a classic case of compelled speech which sets out the principle that the government cannot force an individual/group to support certain expression. The First Amendment limits the government from punishing a person for his/her speech, and prevents the government from punishing a person for refusing to articulate, advocate, or adhere to the government’s approved messages.

As a result of this decision, Wooley v. Maynard became one of the most important First Amendment cases in U.S. history. 

While it's forever linked to NH, the Maynards are not and years ago moved to Connecticut. Reportedly, they covered up that state's motto, “The Constitution State” on their license plates.

I learned about this case based on curiosity about the state motto and know that it's not illegal to obscure the state motto. But then, I wasn't planning to do so anyway.

As mentioned earlier, having too much time can lead to unexpected discoveries.

Have you "discovered" anything you didn't knew before? If so, please share.

Over the weekend, before the rain set in, we walked in Mine Falls Park. This 325-acre park in Nashua, NH, has plenty of space for social distancing. Lots of walkers, joggers, cyclists, families were out getting exercise too. 

It was great wonderful to be outdoors as you can see by our selfie. As of last Thursday, March 26, there's a stay at home order for NH residents in effect until May 4. However, people can still go out to exercise, go to work, and buy essential supplies. We appreciate that it's not (yet) a shelter in place order and hope that others can get outside as well.

Don't Let Cat Out

This image was sent to me by a friend who lives in CA, a state currently in shutdown. 

Sharing in a text message, she told me it was posted on FB, but didn't know its origin. 
My online search didn't provide any info. I'm not a user of social media, other than blogging, and wondered if anyone else saw it or who knows its origin. If so, please share. 

MANY thanks to whoever posted/altered this image as we ALL needs humor these days.

Be safe & as happy as possible, Everyone.

Phil Got It Wrong

In early February, one of the nation's best known weather prognosticators (someone who predicts the future) foretold an early spring this year. 

Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil made that prediction on February 2 in Gobbler's Knob, PA. According to legend, if Phil sees his shadow it's a sign of six more weeks of bad weather. If it's cloudy, and there's no shadow, then winter will end early. Phil, most likely, wasn't thinking about New England weather.

This was the view outside our Nashua, NH, window late Monday afternoon.

Admittedly, Phil's predictions are not always accurate, even though he's reputed to have been in the weather forecasting business for over 125 years. You would think he had this down by now.

Granted, it's a tough task when trying to predict the weather in a nation with varying regional climates. In the past 10 years, it's estimated that Phil predicted a longer winter 7 times and an early spring 3 times which gives him a 40% accuracy rate.

But, remember, we're talking about a groundhog. Even the National Weather Service doesn't get the weather right many times. And, isn't it easier to blame a groundhog for the weather, instead of a trained weather forecaster?

Good news, yesterday's snowfall won't stick around long. But, it was annoying to residents here who had to clear and move their cars today so the apt parking lot could be cleared. This is the forecast for Nashua, NH, later today. 

BIG Thanks to blogger friends who have been posting about how things are going in their part of the country and the world.We read and appreciate your comments.

It's definitely a challenging time. Social connections are so vital. Grenville and I are doing OK in self-isolation. We hope you and your families are safe and well.

Chicken Pot Pie Comfort

These are nothing else will more a more welcoming dinner than comfort food.

Chicken Pot Pie definitely meets that criteria and it's an easy meal prep too. Area  restaurants remain shuttered here too, except for take-out orders. We enjoy dining locally and when traveling, But, cooking dinner at home has always been a regular occurrence. This dinner was delicious served with a side salad. 

I wasn't specifically looking for a dinner recipe, the night we enjoyed this, but so glad to have found it while net-surfing. Does everyone do that in these days of self-isolation? 

The recipe is courtesy of former talk show host/actress Jenny Jones and available on her Jenny Can Cook website and on YouTube (note you won't find any ads or endorsements here).  For those who may remember it, The Jenny Jones Show was a tabloid-style TV talk show. It ran for 12 seasons, from 1991 to 2003 and was taped in Chicago, ILL.

Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

The creamy filling and flaky crust are made without any cream or butter, just milk, chicken broth and vegetable oil.  It's helpful to have all the ingredients chopped and ready before starting. You can substitute veggies like broccoli, corn, mushrooms, green beans in this recipe. It's a great way to use any leftover/frozen vegetables in the fridge or freezer. 

Prep Time: 35 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 
Serves: 3-4 (leftovers are a good thing)

Filling

• 1 C chicken stock (unsalted) 
• 1 C whole milk
• 1/2 C all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 2 boneless chicken breasts (about 1 lb.) cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 C chopped onion
• 2 carrots, sliced 1/8-inch thick (1 C)
• 2 stalks celery, sliced 1/8-inch thick (1 C)
• 1 C frozen peas, thawed on a paper towel
• 3/4 tsp salt (less if using salted stock)
• pepper to taste
• poultry seasoning (optional)

Top Crust

• 1 2/3 C all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/3 C vegetable oil
• 1/3 C 1% milk
• egg wash (one egg yolk + 1 tsp water)

INSTRUCTIONS

Filling

1. Preheat oven to 400° F.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together stock, milk, and flour until smooth. Set aside.
3. Heat the oil in your biggest pan over med-high heat. Cook and stir onion, carrot, & celery for 2 minutes.
4. Add chicken. Cook & stir for 2 minutes.
5. Stir in peas followed by chicken stock mixture, salt & pepper. Cook, uncovered, for 2-3 minutes until thick.
6. Pour into a 9-inch deep dish pie pan. Set aside, uncovered.

Crust

1. Combine flour and salt in a bowl.
2. Add oil & milk all at once. Stir with a fork.
3. Shape into a 5-inch disc and place between 2 sheets of floured wax paper, then roll into a 12-inch circle.
4. Brush rim of pie pan with eggwash.
5. Gently remove crust from wax paper by draping it over your arm and place onto pie. Trim away or flute overhanging crust, pressing down edges.
6. Brush entire crust & edges with eggwash. Using a sharp knife, poke a dozen holes in the top to release steam.
7. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes. Let stand 15-20 minutes before serving (if you can wait that long).

Luckily, all the ingredients were available in our home in the freezer and pantry. This was an easy recipe. I'm planning a do-over with various veggie combinations.

Grenville's rating was two forks. He was happy there were leftovers for another meal.

Friday Funnies

Here's something a bit different for today's smile instead of the usual photo. This clip was first sent to me by a friend who lives in the UK and I also found it on YouTube. 

In times of crisis, like now, it's been said that humor and laughter are the best medicine. That may not help cure anything, but it certainly can't hurt to share a chuckle. Besides in this time of self-isolation, why not.

Americans need to know that we are not in this battle alone. Friends Down Under are facing TPT (Toilet Paper Tribulations) as well. This humorous poem from a well known bush poet, S.J. Paterson, sums up the current TP craziness worldwide. 

FYI: The word “dunny” is slang for a toilet/bathroom. Coles is the name of a supermarket chain in Australia.

Virus, Spammers, & Spring

Online source - Amazon

As if humans didn't have enough issues with a virus affecting so many people worldwide. There's the lurking potential of other viruses that can seriously disrupt and affect computers and other equipment.

As we all know, in these uncertain times, more people are working from home and using a combination (or all) of their computers, tablets, cell phones.

This increases the potential for infection, it's far greater because, unlike human contact, there is no social distancing. Now, more people are in self-isolation and, being social creatures, want to share information, humor, etc.

Online free clipart

But, potential danger lurks in sharing too much online or through emails and messages. 

Yes, blogger friends, it's from those dreaded internet and trolls, called spammers, which many of us have been exposed to and intensely hate dislike.

These unscrupulous lurkers are like moths to a flame and apparently have nothing good or better to do than annoy.
This rant post could bring a sudden spam onslaught to my comments (as has happened before). It's a risk worth taking. I'm on great terms with the delete function and never hesitate to use it, as often as needed.

This week, I received a separate email and text messages from two trusted friends. These friends sent the same info to other folks. 

I know my friends' well and that their intent was to share some humor and not to infect anyone's equipment. I immediately deleted the messages and contacted my friends to ask them not to include my email/phone on any future emails/messages. I explained the reason for my request and why it was important to let them know. 

Coincidentally, before reaching my friends, I received forwarded messages from someone included in the original group email/text. Neither was opened and both were deleted on receipt. if I don't recognize the sender's name, the message goes to Trash and the trash is deleted/emptied. On my cell phone, any number not recognized is blocked.

Recently, my blog comments have been spammed numerous times by two spammers whose IDs won't be included here as all their Trash has been deleted. The most recent incident was this morning when there were numerous spams on recent posts from the same source, all deleted now. 

Many bloggers choose to moderate comments, which can be helpful in preventing any spammer comments. However, I prefer to self-moderate. All comments are checked daily and inappropriate (trash/spam) is immediately deleted.

As mentioned earlier, I'm good and unmercifully quick with the delete function. On a more upbeat train of thought . . .

Spring is here today, March 19, in the USA
Happy 1st Day of Spring in all U.S. time zones. 

That may be according to the calendar, but here in NH, we had some early a.m. light snow today.

Maybe, like me, you learned that the spring equinox, (when day and night are roughly the same length) would occur on either March 20 or March 21.

While the equinox has historically fallen on one of those dates. This is the first time in 124 years that the 1st day of spring is on March 19 nationwide, regardless of time zone. For much of the last century, it's occurred on March 20 or 21. The last time spring arrived this early was 124 years ago in 1896. 

If you're planning ahead, Summer arrives June 20, 2020.

Running Out ?

Nashua, NH City Hall

Things are the same in Nashua, NH, as in other parts of the U.S. and the world. The city is shut down with closures to schools, restaurants, library, senior center, city offices, and city hall. City officials are discouraging public gatherings of over 25 people. 

At our mill apartment residence, the management office, gym facilities, pool and function room are closed. Office and maintenance staffs can be contacted by phone.

Shopping in local supermarkets has been quite adventuresome. Many items like paper, canned goods and baking supplies are out of stock. (Is everyone baking bread, cookies or cake?). And, many folks, myself included, are wondering, if there are closets stocked with toilet paper (TP). 

The run on TP has been called unusual by industry specialists; social scientists say that stockpiling isn't an uncommon response from fear of running out and fear of the unknown.

Unlike other products, TP is not likely to be used more by those stricken with respiratory symptoms, even as the coronavirus spreads. The need for TP isn't expected to increase as people adjust to closures, canceled events and interruptions to daily life.

If TP was in short supply, stockpiling could be understood. Curious if there is indeed a risk to the nation’s TP supply, I looked online for answers (and reassurance).

The short answer is no, according to a Harvard Business School professor who studies manufacturing supply chains and calls TP supplies too steady. According to him, typical demand for the product is flat proportional to the population — unlike other products, there's no hot season for TP. 

Factories operate to produce a constant stream of product, without allowances for increase or decrease. So, when the constant supply meets a demand spike, shelves get emptied. TP products differ from products like hand sanitizer and coronavirus test kits, where increased use means that there is a genuine risk of shortages.

According to both retailers and manufacturers, the TP demand surge should subside and supply increase as companies keep producing it. Most TP sold in the U.S. is made in North America. So while it's expected that more rolls show up soon, many shelves remain empty.

While this current TP shortage isn't remotely related to this scene from the 1947 Frank Capra film, It's a Wonderful Life, I thought about it anyway this week. My mind works in very strange ways at times all the time (just ask Grenville). 

In this scene, actor Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey uses his honeymoon funds to keep the Bailey Building and Loan, a small community bank, in operation and forestall a bank run when customers clamor to withdraw all their funds.

The money's not here, George explains that was used to help neighbors and he convinces folks to take only what they need for the short term, not all their money. Today, it's not George Bailey, but the 1933 U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) that insures bank deposits so people won't pull cash out in panic, leading to a bank failing.

Years ago, bank run(s) happened often, especially during the Great Depression (1929 to late 1930s) when people rushed to pull money from their banks. More than one-third of U.S. banks failed before the FDIC was created to restore trust in the banking system. 

If there was only a federal act to restore TP to store shelves — everyone would be happy.

Update: After posting earlier today, I walked downtown to the local CVS retail pharmacy (as mentioned, our gym is closed). There was a scant supply of TP products on the shelves. The store manager told me there had been an overnight delivery and that some folks were ripping boxes open in the wee morning hours. My purpose, other than exercise, was to pick up several other items; I also included the 2-package limit (just in case). 

Nashua CVS store shelf at 9 a.m. today and my purchase

While shopping, I witnessed a woman at the register who had a cart filled with the remaining TP supply. The manager explained there was a limit and returned packages to the shelf.

Returning home, Grenville was very glad I went for a walk and not because of the TP acquisition. A local bagel store is open for take-out orders and he'd requested an "everything" bagel. Of course, I also selected one for myself, a cheese one. 

Now we're going to spread them with cream cheese and enjoy with a hot cup of coffee.

If you lived closer, you'd be more than welcome to join us. But. as we would have to keep a respectable social distance, we'll delay off that invite for a few weeks. 

Stay safe and well, everyone. Enjoy watching (or re-watching) some classic films, like the one mentioned here. They can be a lot of fun and oddly relevant.

Life is like a role of TP. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it seems to go.

Bye, Bye to Picasa

Yes, I'm rather very late in ditching the Picasa photo editing software from my desktop PC. But, when my desktop MAC was updated to the latest OS (operating system) it was way past time to part ways. This is a long post on free photo editing alternatives that offer more user features and as mentioned are also FREE.

My excuse for delaying was familiarity breeds reluctance despite the fact that Google ended support for Picasa in mid-March 2016 adding that there would be no further developments or updates (there were none). However, Picasa would continue to function on desktops where it was already installed as it did on mine.  Google let former Picasa users view their Picasa web albums online at Google Photos. After a recent check, my photos are there. I've never used Google Photos. Many should be deleted and most likely will be soon.

That said, I continued using Picasa even after purchasing Adobe® Photoshop Elements. Two years ago it was at version 15, now at 19. I've used it sparingly, and shamefully never learned its capabilities. True, it was much simpler then learning Adobe Photoshop®. which was used years ago in a college course. Picasa was super easy for quick photo edits and collages posted on this blog.

Forward to late 2019, when my Mac desktop sent notices that 32-bit apps would no longer be supported with Apple's upgraded Catalina OS (operating system) update; only 64-bit applications would run under it. My desktop was running the previous Mojave OS, which allowed 32 and 64-bit applications to work — Picasa and other 32-bit apps still worked. But, once the OS was updated, they wouldn't, even if still on the hard drive. (Many experts recommended deleting 32-bit apps then updating. Others suggested holding off until the kinks were "smoothed out." That was my out — I'd hold off until 2020.

And I did, even when 32-bit warnings were replaced by daily pop-ups that updates are ready to install. Another choice was remind me in a day, so I choose that one. 

At the start of March, months into 2020, it was time to Just Do It. Especially after an Apple Support Rep cautioned that the update eventually could just happen. I knew it was time to delete the 32-bit apps and move on, done while humming Bye Bye, Picasa to the tune of American Pie (my singing is worse).

But WAIT there's good news. A search on the Mac App store with a two-fold goal for 64-bit and FREE photo editing programs, came up with gold (before leprechauns find it later this month). My goal was 64-bit photo editors to work with the newest Mac OS and at no cost (Free works for me). Another reason to download from the Mac App store is compatibility that's included in the software app description. You can download from the SW websites too. The download method is your preference.

Not only were there several numerous photo editors available, but many had more features than Picasa. True, most contain in-app offers to upgrade to Paid or Pro versions. But, as mentioned, FREE was a goal and, despite these offers, the programs will work.

OK that was a long-winded farewell, as most can be. Now, here's a brief rundown on two photo editors recently downloaded to my desktop. Thankfully, there's several YouTube tutorials on these programs and similar ones available in the App store. Be forewarned that some You Tube videos are better or worse than others.

PhotoScape X is billed as an all-in-one photo editing software with features like editor,

photo viewer, cut out, collage, GIF maker, photo merge, frames, batch functions, tools

and brushes. It has a RAW conversion feature and several batch editing tools to let you resize and rename multiple images. Its website includes video tutorials. A paid version has more features and tools. This one with its multitude of photo capabilities is Free. This program also offers one-click enhancement features with many filters, frames, brushes, shape crops, color pickers and clone stamps. 

Fotor Photo Editor has been called the "lite Photoshop" and is also a FREE download. Like Photoscape X there's also a paid version with even more features. It has a list of basic tools and features ranging from simple edits (brightness, saturation) to wrinkle remover, teeth whitening. There's also a number of effects, frames, stickers and text options geared to social media sharing. Fotor includes collage and design sections and templates. 

I've read several reviews labeling Fotor as more an image enhancer than a photo editor. PhotoScape X received higher ratings for its photo editing features. )This isn't an endorsement for one or the other, as I've downloaded both.) I've spent hours watching YouTube videos on both (some good, some not). Elaine Giles has several on-line videos on Fotor features. Jamie Keet, Teacher's Tech, has a lengthy one featuring Photoscape X. FYI, neither program works with layers, if anyone is interested in that capability.

But, these photo editors are not the only free photo editing software currently available. There's many more; some are platform specific (Windows or Mac); others are only for use on a cell phone or tablet:

• Adobe Photoshop Express (web and mobile - iOS, Android, Windows)
• GIMP (desktop Mac & Windows)
• Paint.NET (desktop Windows only)
• Pixlr (online and mobile - iOS, Android)
• Pixlr X (online on desktop)
• PhotoScape X (desktop only - Mac & Windows; Pro - Windows only)
• Fotor (online Mac & Windows; mobile iOS, Android)
• Photos Pos Pro (desktop Windows only)
• BeFunky (web Mac & Windows; mobile iOS, Android)

Also, several of these are available for use online without the need to download to your PC, tablet, or phone. If anyone has used any of these and has a recommendation please feel free to experiences in comments below. Thanks in advance.

To date, I've been creating collages in Fotor and PhotoScape X just to get the feel of each program. Each has unique capabilities, although those in Fotor are more limiting. 

Fotor is more standardized and offers templates for up to 9 collage styles. There's limited choices for photo editing within the cell of each collage; photos can only be enlarged, rotated, deleted. Changes can be made for border, corner, shadow, width of the collage frames. There's also a freestyle collage option.

By comparison, PhotoScape X offers templates for up to 10 collage styles and many more choices. It lets users change the look and effect of each individual photo within the collage and apply different effects to each one. It also allows changing the background, spacing, borders, background, opacity of the collage itself. Also, template shapes are quite unique and cell borders can be moved.

Friday Funnies

Here's a photo that needs begs for a caption. I could only come up with these taking poetic license on the first one. Feel free to comment with your suggestion(s).

How much is that doggie in the stroller?
We were stollin' along

This trio was being pushed by their owner in an Orlando, FL park we visited during our recent short trip there.

Currently, I'm trying out a couple of new (to me) free photo editors. This border is included in one of them. A post next week will give some details on these programs.

If possible, avoid large gatherings and stay well. Several major events have been cancelled/postponed here in the city of Nashua, NH and throughout New England. Both Grenville and myself are taking as much precaution as possible and hope you all are too.

If you have neighbors or friends who are susceptible to health issues or elderly, it might be good to give them a call or visit (if possible) to make sure that they are OK.

Enjoy Your weekend, Everyone

Did You Ever . . .

Get a notification that you absolutely disagreed with?
If so, did you do anything about it — and what did you do?

Spoiler alert: It happened to us recently. This is a rant about that experience.

Here's the scenario. It's all abut the $$. We applied for an increase on a credit card that we plan to use for a trip this year. The initial trip deposit was made on this card; final payment is due in a couple of months. That amount will exceed the current card limit.

Deciding to apply for a credit increase, we did so online at the card website. There's a few queries to answer/update: annual income, salary (if working), monthly rent/mortgage, monthly amount charged on the card. The last one was problematic. We don't track monthly expenses, just use it and pay off in full, ahead of the due date.

Surprise to us. The credit increase was denied and a reply posted on our account. Reason: Recent use of this account's existing credit line has been too low.

Directed to another bank website for more information about this denial reason we learned: In general, customers who are most often approved for credit line increases tend to use more of their credit line by spending and paying off the card each month or by keeping a balance on the account and paying it over a period of time.

A What You Can Do area suggested: If you plan to use your card more, make sure you use your card responsibly. Add AutoPay and customized alerts to help you make more than your minimum payment on time each month . . . 

We have checking and savings accounts with this bank. Oddly, we have another card with nearly twice the credit limit than this one and don't have any accounts with the issuing bank. This is why we found the denial reason even more irksome (and annoying too).

What Did We Do?
The cookie cutter reply, so annoyed me that I wrote a letter to include the above information and added our long standing as customers and good credit score, etc.

My letter noted the reason for the increase and even suggested that a lesser credit line increase would be acceptable. Another alternative was if a temporary credit line increase would be possible when the final trip payment is due. (This would serve our needs.) 

Of course, we know that customers, like us, who don't carry a monthly balance and pay off accounts on or ahead of time are not ideal customers. The bank has your monies in its accounts, but isn't collecting any extra $ through interest charges.

Our rebuttal was mailed this week with a request for a written response. We're not taking any bets on whether or not one will be received. (No GoFundMe needed here.)

To be continued . . .

Friday Funnies

Don't fence me in didn't seem to fit, perhaps don't lock the fence ?

Daylight Savings Time (DST) begins in most of the U.S. this Sunday, March 8 (2nd Sunday in March) and ends on the 1st Sunday in November, which falls on Sunday, Nov. 1.

We're "losing" an hour of sleep as clocks “Spring forward”  ahead. The computers and tablets will reset automatically. We also have 7 wall clocks, 2 pedestal clocks and a couple of wrist watches to reset (we still use basic ones that only tell time). Then there's the appliance clocks and clocks in the car GPS units. How many clocks/watches will you reset?

Enjoy Your Weekend, Everyone.

Bundled Up

The weather in Nashua, NH, hasn't been as cold as in recent winters, but there have been some cold days and nights, so winter wear is needed. 

Last week, I saw the two figures in a sculpture at the entrance of the Nashua Public Library were garbed in colorful winter hats.

This note was tucked in the lap of the girl figure along with two pairs of gloves.

It's not the first time, items have been placed by the sculpture. Several months ago, I spotted this pair of shoes left there. A religious text was in the girl figure's lap. 

The hats and gloves were gone when I returned to the library a few days later as was the book. Hopefully, those in need have benefitted from these well-meaning donations.

Searching for Not Trolling

When thinking about this post, I had considered using the last word in this title. But, after checking several definitions, that seemed a poor choice, so it was changed.

What I'm searching for are new-to-me blogs to read, not necessarily follow, which isn't

Internet source

something I do even with current blogs. There's no special reason because most are written by fellow bloggers I've been reading and commenting on for several years. 

Interestingly, the word troll can be used interchangeable as a noun and a verb. As a noun it's often been used in Scandinavian folklore to refer to an often ugly-looking giant that inhabits caves or hills. 

As a verb, it was commonly used when referring to the sport of fishing as in to fish by trolling a baited line or lure through the water. It's been used in a corporate sense to describe companies trolling for new business opportunities. Here's an example of another verb in which it is similar to search. She trolled through thrift stores and flea markets looking for bargains. 

But in more modern usage, the term has an entirely different and unpleasant meaning, was it refers to social media trolls who troll the Internet.

A troll usually now refers to an intentionally disruptive Internet user who has been known to bait others online. This action of baiting is now known as social media trolling, not because the people doing it are considered to be ugly looking people, but rather have ugly motives. A social media troll is anyone who purposely posts something controversial to get a reaction from others. This person often creates online discord by posting inflammatory or off-topic messages in an online community. 

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Some older more mature folks among us may remember that trolls were popular toys in the early 1960s and one of the biggest toy fads in the U.S. 

Troll dolls (Danish: Gjøltrold) were created in 1959 by Thomas Dam, a Danish fisherman and woodcutter, who couldn't afford a Christmas gift for his daughter and used his imagination to carve a doll with furry up-combed hair depicting a troll. Other children in the Danish town of Gjøl saw it and wanted one. Dam's company, Dam Things, began producing dolls made of plastic under the name Good Luck Trolls, which were popular in several European countries, before being introduced in the U.S. 

They became briefly popular again during the 1970s through the 1990s and were copied by several manufacturers under different names. During the 1990s, several video games and a video show were created based on troll dolls. In 2003, the Dam company restored the U.S. copyrights for this brand, stopping unlicensed production. In 2005, the Dam company modernized the brand under the name Trollz, but it failed in the marketplace. In 2013, the brand was bought by DreamWorks Animation, which produced an animated feature film, Trolls.

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This 2016 computer-animated musical comedy film was based on the Troll dolls. In the film, the Trolls are small colorful creatures who live in an almost perpetual state of happiness, singing, dancing, hugging, and having fun all day. They are discovered by the Bergens, large ugly miserable creatures, who feel happy by eating a Troll. The film follows two trolls who go on a quest, to save their village from destruction by the Bergens. The film received positive critic reviews and grossed $346 million worldwide against its $125 million budget. A sequel, Trolls World Tour, is scheduled for release in April 2020.

More digression and now back to the original purpose of this post. I would appreciate if fellow bloggers could let me know about blogs you enjoy reading. I already read several blogs which others also read. Feel free to post your suggestions in a comment to this post. Thanks in advance.

Now for your entertainment, here's a popular song from the Trolls film. Spoiler alert: this video features folks happily dancing around similar to those in another pop tune, Happy, by Pharrell Williams.

Can't Stop the Feeling was written, produced and performed by Justin Timberlake. It was a #1 hit in 17 countries, including the U.S. and Canada. 

Hope this tune put you in a happy mood — It always does that for me.