Mardi Gras, internet addiction, and new computers...

the new computers have arrived.

They are wonderful!

Today is Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) - the day before Ash Wednesday kicking off the penitential season of Lent, my very favorite liturgical season.  Lent feeds my Catholic "guilt" bemoaned by all lapsed or apostate Catholics.  Feeling guilty when you do something wrong is a really bad, no-good, horrible, to be avoided emotion, doncha know?

Nope!

Guilt is good.

Guilt is that "small still voice" informing you that you've done something wrong.  Guilt is what prompts you to reform, turn to God, ask for forgiveness, and amend your life.

Guilt, however, is not a cudgel with which to beat yourself up and feed some sick desire to wallow in misery.  God loves you and will forgive you.  Just ask Him.

To celebrate we'll be heading to the gym first on this beautiful sunny day. Late afternoon we'll be heading to Wallyworld for new wireless keyboards (way better price than Amazon), and then dinner at our local "MAGA" 2nd amendment restaurant, Dueling Irons, where every day WW II vet Dan Rankin has his breakfast paid for by other diners. 

I just may have to split the Deep Fried Banana Split with hubby after chowing down on pork schnitzel.

Internet Addiction

So what happened being computer-less for approximately four days?  (And, yes, LSP - I know that my phone is a hand held computer.)

The first day there was slight actual physical discomfort.  Nothing I can exactly describe other than an uneasiness.

Day two was better, except for several times every hour I thought, "Oh, I need to go look that up.  Wait - I can't."

Finally, on day three I went on-line on my phone, but only checked Breitbart re: the Nevada caucus. Quick note about Bernie.  I've changed my opinion on his nomination from being a non-starter, to believing the commie/libtards will be willing to sacrifice him since they know they can't beat Donald Trump.

On day four I didn't even care anymore about checking out the latest news. The computers were delivered and set up by my guru, I went online, and about 5 minutes later I walked away thinking, "I didn't really miss a thing, did I?"

Am I addicted?

According to this very fine article? Probably not. The article even wonders if there is actually such a disorder as Internet Addiction Disorder.

Just because you use the Internet a lot – watch a lot of YouTube videos, shop online frequently, or like to check social media does not mean you suffer from Internet Addiction Disorder. The trouble comes when these activities start to interfere with your daily life. In general, Internet Addiction Disorder is subdivided into varying categories. The most commonly identified categories of Internet Addiction include gaming, social networking, email, blogging, online shopping, and inappropriate Internet pornography use. Other researchers suggest that it is not the amount of time spent on the Internet that is particularly troublesome – rather, it is how the Internet is being used. (emphasis mine)

For years I've been saying that I have nothing against tech (well, gee - I am a blogger after all), but the inappropriate use of tech. Walking around with your face plastered in your phone, watching porn, being on-line instead of attending to your duties is inappropriate (IMO.)

During those four days I managed to get an amazing amount of work done.  So obviously I consider limiting my time on the internet as a future priority and Lent is a perfect time to work on that.

More

Bunkerville:  Super Tuesday and Voter Fraud – Does anyone really care?  Only the liberty loving conservatives, Bunk

American Thinker:  The Rebranding of Socialism as 'Democratic Socialism'  A rose by any other name is still communism

MOTUS: Forget the Coronavirus Pandemic. It's Mardi Gras  Yes!!

Red Pill Jew:  Fu*king Jewicidal Morons  RPJ is fighting mad, and I don't blame him.

Lone Star Parson:  Melania Mondays! India Special

Diary of a Right Wing Pussycat:  New Courses of Study at American Universities  If you missed this go over there post haste.  It's hilarious!

Nox and Friends:  Coronavirus versus Democratitis. A Public Service Message

NB:

For those of you who enjoy Woodpile Report, Ol' Remus has posted:

A personal note. 

There's no gentle way to say this, so I'll not try. My wife is at the end stage of a terminal condition. As is always the case there's some uncertainty. Weeks are possible, days are probable. Woodpile Report will go dark for a while when it happens.

There is no commenting system on Woodpile, but please pray for the soul of "Mrs. Remus" as she transitions to a new life.

And finally - to celebrate Mardi Gras, here is a beautiful picture of our president and first lady scattering handfuls of rose petals at the Raj Ghat memorial in New Delhi, India.

And no good day is complete without a kitteh:

Civil War 2.0??...

your thoughts.

I thought I'd better check in from my snowy abode (I may escape today for a bit) so you wouldn't think I'd fled the planet.

Lent started with a smashing sacrifice when I couldn't get out on Fat Tuesday to gorge on a carb laden pile of pancakes or filled doughnuts.  Do I get a do-over on Fat Tuesday?  Maybe LSP can give me a special dispensation to indulge today (please?)

 Even worse  I couldn't get out on Wednesday to attend Mass and have ashes plastered on my forehead.  Sigh.


Disturbing Content

No - not the wacked out commies further pushing their anti-American agenda and their relentless pursuit of trashing our duly elected president.  I resent every tax-payer dime these enemies of the state are sucking up instead of doing their jobs.

This is about a number of articles in the American Thinker from last week.

 On February 28 Is a Second Civil War Coming? was posted and scooped up close to 1700 comments.  

The following day  America's Second Civil War Has Already Begun gobbled up over 1200 comments.

On March 3, they posted What does it take to start a civil war? with well over 500 comments.

Then on March 6, Lloyd Marcus posted  What If Trump Loses in 2020?  also with over 500 comments.

Why am I mentioning the comments?

Anyone who has hung around my corner of the internet knows that I spend quite a bit of time perusing comments on articles.  While I like reading what intelligent people post, I'm even more interested in how people respond. 

 I found the responses a bit alarming.  The comboxes, other than the trolls, were filled with people who were equally alarmed, but still pragmatic about the outcome of the politics of today.  These were not comments from wild eyed skin- heads, but mostly well thought out responses. 

I've always thought the idea of Civil War was impossible.  I'm not so sure anymore. I have taken my own temperature on the ignorant antics of the commies in this country and it's has soared into the brain frying area.  

Hoaxed

This comment from American Thinker brings me to the next subject - the documentary Hoaxed. 

We are already deep into a civil war. Because much of the fighting is done with information, not hand to hand combat, most don’t see it. The war is well underway. 

 I watched Hoaxed yesterday and I am so impressed that I'm urging you to watch it.  That's a big step for me since the producer, Mike Cernovich, is not on my fan list.  This is one of the best objectively produced documentaries of the psychotic hold fake news has on our society.  I think you'll be surprised what they have to say about Black Lives Matter too.

More

Conrad Black: The Greatest Constitutional Crisis Since the Civil War

Virtual Mirage:  Putting Things in Perspective

Imprimis:  America’s Cold Civil War


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Shrove Tuesday...

time for pancakes before Lent starts...

Fat Tuesday

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday which begins the season of Lent.  I have always loved Lent and look forward to it each year.  But today is Fat Tuesday, a day of final celebration before the fasting and abstaining.   I'm headed to Costco to buy some gooshy sweet rolls for tonight.

Have you gathered together your reading and made a list of things you may want to accomplish during Lent?  Patty over at St. Monica's Tears, has a great list if you need ideas.  Nunly (Mary Ellen) has a great meditation to get you in the right frame of mind.  And Sherry, over at Chocolate for Your Brain, is already having problems and Lent hasn't even started.  Oy vey!  Tracy, A Catholic Mom in Minnesota, has posted a wonderful prayer for Fat Tuesday.

And from last year:

Lenten Journey
Super Tuesday and Ash Wednesday

I posted this link last year.  Well worth a read:

 

What Can I Do Before Lent Begins?   Anything worth doing is worth preparing for..

 Just imagine that this Lent is going to be different from every other Lent we've experienced.  Imagine that there will be many graces offered me this year.  Let's even imagine that God is going to help transform our lives, with greater freedom, greater joy, deeper desires for love and service. read the rest

 And it's not too late to acquire this fabulous book which is part of my Lenten reading list for this year: