The Views Expressed in This Post Do Reflect the Views of Management

MOTUS has a special guest poster today: you may know her as Betty Ann, Betty Angelou or Mellow Lemoncello, but it’s always Betty Ann, our righteous princess warrior from New Mexico and winner of the coveted Golden FLOTUS. Below is an editorial she has drafted for her local paper where, in BA fashion, she minces no words: 

“Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.”
― Gustav Mahler

h/t Son of Sobieski V9.11.1683

Rules for Thee but not for Me

At a Christmas Party I was reminded to write for this newspaper. Apparently young people read my editorials, enjoy them, and want more. I suppose if I’m to be reviled by liberals around here because they are terrified of a Deplorable point of view, it is small price for inspiring young Americans. So let’s get busy:

I’ve ditched the term “liberal”. I can’t find anything liberal about progressives, who aren’t progressive, either, nor are they interested in real democracy but in a socialist globalist agenda, which is all about tyranny. Tyrants view the world from their point of reference only. All differing points of view are shunned as hate speech today. And when tyrants become powerful, opposing views are outlawed—this is happening in the EU with frightening rapidity and good people are going to jail. It is happening on Facebook, Twitter, and in the news outlets—all by tyrants—even though it’s against the law in this country to silence opposing opinions.

We have arrived in times where there are two separate sets of laws, one set for the ruling class, and another for the masses. It matters not to tyrants what people think who are exposed daily to the wrongs of having two sets of law; those benefitting from broken justice ignore and manipulate the law. Right here at home we see this kind of creeping tyranny every time we turn from the park to Hwy 4; a broken down semi-truck still sits in the center of our town, garbage piling high behind that business and expanding up the hillside. The law is clear about semi-trucks and mounting garbage for businesses, a law made by the people of this town. Yet our village government twisted the intent of the law in order to free the privileged council member who owns that truck and themselves from accountability, making favored persons free from the law; rules for thee but not for me!

Thus our tyrants on the national stage can in front of our faces with impunity lie in federal court to get subpoenas to spy illegally, collude with Russia selling American assets for personal gain while serving as Secretary of State, openly advocate violence against fellow citizens, treasonously give aid and comfort to sworn enemies who openly threaten our murder to the tune of 150 billion in cash, then collude to subvert long standing foreign policy and the administration of a duly elected president of the United States repeatedly at home and abroad (John Kerry, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton), and no one is charged with high treason, even though the law clearly says it is treason. Instead our “Just-Us” department investigates legal Non-Disclosure Agreements made with porn stars* ten years before PDJT ever announced running for president, in an effort to destroy a man who challenged their entitlement to rule. The media obediently and breathlessly report that those NDAs are impeachable crimes, when they are common practice everywhere, including when you work for this village. Saying something is true when it is a lie is called lying, unless you are a tyrant, then lying is called news. “You sheep will think and believe as you are told, or else you, too, will be maligned and impugned”; rules are for thee but not for me!

The media, the democrat party, and the GOPe, have, since 2016’s victory by Deplorables, hated Trump voters and PDJT with a scorn pure and vicious in what has now become a Cold Civil War. Stupidly—way more stupidly than any police officer could ever be—the morons in the media and in the ruling class think that if they get rid of President Trump, we will go away. They do not grasp that he is our creation, not we his. Long after PDJT finishes his service to this country, even if he serves one term, this movement will continue full blast with an end game of triumph for the Constitution as originally intended. The reason is found in Western history: from the Magna Carta to the martyrdom of Thomas Beckett to the formation of these precious United States, people have become increasingly culturally sick and tired of tyrants and their double standards.

Our Founders, many who died for signing the Declaration of Independence, believed that all human beings are born equal with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and that all men are subject to one set of laws—truths that are self-evident. Contrast the truth of powerful tyrants today who believe that rights are granted by government alone, that as our betters they are entitled to run the government; they alone will say which laws are enforced and decide who is exempt from honoring the law.

Tyranny has no place on American soil, but it’s here. Americans are not anarchists or violent or insolent, but a peaceful people, true to honor and slow to anger. Speaking against tyranny is a responsibility owed the generations yet unborn, who have no voice. When we do not, in the minds of tyrants we are already subjugated—sheep, not equals.

*You did not care about Chappaquiddick or Bill Clinton’s raping, woman abusing presidency. In fact, you wanted him back. So no, we do not give a damn about the porn stars. Everybody had a good time. Mary Jo Koepekne and Bill Clinton’s victims, not so much. - BA Lemoncello

(applause here)

Remember When TV Was Fun To Watch?

RIP Laverne, 1943 -2018

Yes, yes, I know: the theoretically Republican House was unable to muster up a measly $5 billion for the border wall but coughs up nearly $11 billion for “aid” to Central America and Mexico. And the left’s continuing efforts to deplatform Tucker Carlson because the only free speech they approve of is that which they don’t find offensive. Then there’s the weirding of the Flynn sentencing. I’m too numb to do anything other than acknowledge all of the above and move along at this point. So I’m just going to focus on the passing of Penny Marshall who gave us one of the most endearing characters of the 20th century in the form of working girl Laverne DeFasio, constantly broke and perpetually seeking romance.

Sclemeel, schlimazel, hasenfeffer incorporated!

It’s a bit disconcerting to realize that we now have legislators like the Occasional Cortez who were not even born at the time this true bit of Americana completed its 8 season run (1976-83). Set in the mid-60’s the only thing AOC had in common with the characters of Laverne and Shirley is the fact that they were all broke – albeit Alexandria after having spent $280,000 on an economics degree from Boston University, so you decide who is the dumb one. Oh, plus all three of them worked in establishments that moved a lot of beer.

But while Laverne and Shirley knew how to have fun, AOC found her job to be underpaid, repressive, and  indicative of everything that is wrong with America. That seems to be the only thing she learned in college.

So I choose to ignore everything else today and just celebrate the joy Penny Marshall brought into the world through her movies (Big, A League of Their Own, Awakenings) and TV characters, especially Laverne.  Let’s celebrate the season, Laverne and Shirley style, and call it a day.

“Almost everyone had a theory about why ‘Laverne & Shirley’ took off,” Marshall wrote in her 2012 memoir “My Mother Was Nuts.” ”I thought it was simply because Laverne and Shirley were poor and there were no poor people on TV, but there were plenty of them sitting at home and watching TV.”

I think it was just because it was fun.

AOC’s Superhuman Green Energy Plan

“I keep things raw and honest on here since I believe public servants do a disservice to our communities by pretending to be perfect,” she added. “It makes things harder for others who aspire to run someday if they think they have to be superhuman before they even try.” - NYDN

And if there is anything Alexandria Ocasio Cortez is not, it’s superhuman:

So after all the sacrifices she made to land a job paying $170 Grand per year in a city far, far from home she needs to take a little break from all the strum and drang:

My only advice: try to keep your eyeballs inside their sockets. Eye-popping, not so good for your blood pressure.

But seriously, poor babe; not only didn’t she learn anything about real world economics while picking up her credentials at Boston U but she didn’t even learn how to take care of herself. Fear not, she’ll figure that out soon enough after getting “inaugurated” into Congress. Everybody does.

So forget about the facials, you’ll soon find yourself bathing in champagne. Because when you’re busy saving the world from global warming you really need to be relaxed.

OMG! She is super-human! Just like Barry.

Obama clean energy loans leave taxpayers in $2.2 billion hole

Thinning the Herd, the Hard Left Way

Leftists, choose your poison: organic/vegan OR Global Warming. According to the annuls of Nature magazine you can’t have one without the other.

The study, which was published in Nature, was led by researchers from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden.

'Our study shows that organic peas, farmed in Sweden, have around a 50 percent bigger climate impact than conventionally farmed peas', said lead researcher Stefan Wirsenius, an associate professor from Chalmers.

'For some foodstuffs, there is an even bigger difference – for example, with organic Swedish winter wheat the difference is closer to 70 per cent,' he said.

Their research found the reason why organic food is so much worse for the climate is that the yields per hectare are much lower, primarily because fertilisers are not used.

Who knew: ‘organically’ enhanced soil (pig and cow s**t) doesn’t produce as high a yield as ‘chemical’ fertilizer! Oh wait, that was sort of the point: feed more people with less land…

But it gets worse.

Because organic meat and milk production uses organic feeds, it also requires more land than conventional production, he found. This means that the findings on organic wheat and peas in principle also apply to meat and milk products', he said.

So of course their conclusion is not to farm conventionally, but to stop eating meat and use the land it’s raised on to farm organically.

'The type of food is often much more important. For example, eating organic beans or organic chicken is much better for the climate than to eat conventionally produced beef,' said Dr Wirsenius.

So please, don’t anyone tell me this is just a Big Farma funded study. It’s just more glo-bull-ist bullcrap.

The researchers used a new metric, which they call 'Carbon Opportunity Cost' to evaluate the effect of greater land-use contributing to higher carbon dioxide emissions from deforestation.

I would like to suggest America use a new metric, which we can call ‘Illegal Alien Opportunity Cost’ to evaluate the effect of greater tax-dollar use contributing to higher "’deforestation’ of our citizens via DUI deaths and murders committed by illegals.

Perhaps the globullists think the only answer to the pressing issue of carbon emission is to reduce the number of people on the planet. As usual, the USA will be asked to take the lead; that would explain why the world wants us to take in as many illegal ‘citizens’ as possible: I believe it’s called “thinning the herd.”

BUILD THE WALL

Let The Christmas Countdown Begin

We will now begin the official countdown till Christmas. So if you haven’t finished your decorating,

wrapping:

and baking

time to get to it. In case you have to do it twice.

The tree fainted

The dog ate them

So as the world continues to go insane, remember: you needn’t participate. Jump off the wagon for awhile, I promise it will be a soft landing.

And believe me, the lunacy will proceed without you.

So comment on the world at large if you wish or just kick back and make some holiday appetizers. Either way, there’s still going to be only 9 days till Christmas, and time goes by fast.

Here’s an easy to assemble appetizer that Zephyr tells me some of you were interested in, good any time of the year as they’re pretty quick, make ahead and moderately healthy. Enjoy, whatever you decide to spend the day on.

Melon, prosciutto & mozzarella sticks

Ingredients

• Half a cantaloupe, seeds removed, scooped out into balls using a melon baller (alternatively, cut into cubes if you don't have a melon baller)
• 6 slices of prosciutto, torn into bite sized pieces (Costco’s is great for this – I think it’s San Daniele)
• 5 oz. small mozzarella balls (bocconcini), cut in half
• handful of fresh basil
• toothpicks or small kebab sticks (I like the looks of the bamboo picks with the knot on top)
• balsamic vinegar/syrup

Instructions

1. On each toothpick/kebab stick arrange a ball of melon, then a piece of fresh basil, a half of a mozzarella ball, another piece of basil, a piece of prosciutto, another piece of basil and finally another cantaloupe ball.
2. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze before serving if desired.

Cook’s Notes

I skipped the balsamic vinegar and just marinated the bocconcini in olive oil (about half a cup) lemon juice (1-2 tablespoons) crushed red pepper flakes to taste (about 1/8 tsp for wimps) a smidge of dried oregano, kosher salt and pepper. Marinate at least an hour or stick them in the frig where you can leave them for days. You can still add the balsamic if you’d like. Of course you can also sub cherry tomatoes for the melon in which case I would definitely use a balsamic glaze (like Rolands), which makes it very pretty when served on a white plate.

If the basil leaves are yuge, cut them in half, or even fourths. Bocconcini can be left whole if small . I only used 1 melon ball per pick as they seemed more manageable that way.

Downtown Christmas Memories

When I was growing up  every town had at least one iconic department store that did Christmas right: fabulous back-lit and magical Christmas displays, often animated, gracing all of their street level windows. In a time before kids were so wired into their iPhones and “social” networks that they missed much of the amazement of the real world, there were all these fabulous windows of mystery and wonder, free for the taking. All it took was a dime bus ride downtown. 

I was very lucky as my hometown, Grand Rapids, MI, had three such emporiums of merchandise, all founded in the late 1800’s:

All now long gone. One of them, Herpolsheimer’s,  however lives on as it has been memorialized in the film version of Chris Van Allsburg’s book The Polar Express.

The old Herp’s, as the locals called it, had what was called  the “Santa Express” – a monorail that ran around the entire basement level of the store during the Christmas season to keep kids occupied as mom and dad shopped.

Santa’s Rocket Express, 1949

It is said to have served as the inspiration for Van Allsburg’s  popular book.

The old Herpolsheimer’s building,

Print found on Pinterest but tracked down to ArleneFaye 

which once housed the inspirational train and window wonders currently houses the Grand Rapids Police Department. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but you probably wouldn’t want to take your kids there for a festive Christmas pot pie lunch in their tea room.

And don’t even get me started on the “dime” stores, of which Grand Rapids also enjoyed three:

Print found on Pinterest but tracked down to ArleneFaye 

Woolworths, above, at the foot of Monroe, Grants, right next door, and Kresge’s just up a block to the east.

Print found on Pinterest but tracked down to ArleneFaye 

Also all gone.

What about your town’s locally owned iconic department stores? Do any of them still exist? Are any of them still in the downtown area? Or is your downtown comprised of restaurants, bars and clubs these days? Just wondering.

FLOTUS Friday: Blonde On Blonde Edition

Based on the catty comments about Melania’s new hair shade I’ve concluded that while the left is fine with men transitioning to women and vice versa they are not so fine with PDJT’s wife transitioning to blonde.

Her critics stopped short of accusing her of Scandinavian cultural appropriation, as that could easily come back to bite an awful lot of them.

Once FLOTUS never POTUS

I confess, I prefer Melania with predominantly chestnut locks myself. But any woman who can rock a black jacket and leather pants look like this -

can do any damn thing she wants with her hair.

Our FLOTUS clearly figured out long ago – possibly even sooner than POTUS - that the “comedians, journalists, performers and book writers” are not here to write history or praise Caesar but rather to advance themselves and their agendas. So let the haters pile on, sadly our FLOTUS has already grown used to their venom and tripe.

Danger: Underdogs Ahead

I note that the Washington Republicans are already whining about not being able to (fill-in-the-blank) because of the uncooperative Democrats: Rep. Scalise: Pro-Border Security Democrats ‘Being Held Hostage by Extreme Radicals’ Like Nancy Pelosi. Finally, they’re back in the underdog position they’re so fond of and comfortable with.

Republicans have proved themselves useless in advancing their own agenda. Take Michigan for example: our supreme RINO governor Rick Synder will be leaving office at the end of an 8 year run having done nothing other than sign a right to work bill into law while also expanding Michigan’s Medicaid under Obama’s “Affordable Care Act” - a burden that now rests solely on the shoulders of state residents as the federal subsidies have died. He also reduced business taxes, yay, while eliminating the tax exemption on retiree pensions. Then there’s the bill he vetoed after it passed both chambers of the legislature to eliminate gun-free zones. So much for Republicans being 2nd Amendment advocates.

Oh, and then there’s this: he passed a 7.3-cent-per-gallon tax increase in 2015 intended to fund the improvement of Michigan’s beyond abysmal roads and bridges. Where did the money actually go? Certainly not to repair roads, and most Michigan residents have pot hole inflicted wounds to prove it. No, in typical RINO bait and switch fashion the money actually went to fund – ready? – Medicaid and public schools.  So it came as no surprise when Democrat Gretchen Whitmer handily won the November governor’s race on essentially one campaign slogan: “Fix the Damn Roads!” 

So when the pictures of this year’s Main Street Christmas tree on picturesque, car-free Mackinac (pronounced mackinaw) Island were published

it prompted comments along the line that were it anywhere else in Michigan it would be marking a pothole.

So let this serve as a cautionary tale for all those proud “never Trump” Republicans out there: not delivering on what you promised your constituents and blaming everyone else for your failure is how we got Trump in the first place. So if you want more Trump, that’s just fine with us.

We’ll take an alpha dog over an underdog any day of the week.