Morning all. Hopefully, your pre-holidays weeks are going well. It’s that time of year when roaring fires become cozy beacons…oh, let’s face it. A solar minimum has us using the Crock Pots way more than normal. Please, stay warm.

And now, how about something from the American Revolution.

Okay, so here’s the deal. This is the open thread. This is where we all come to get the news that other Q tree inhabitants think is worth knowing and sharing. Please, post links to any “news” stories quoted, and ask for help if you are stumped as to how to do that. We’re a friendly lot. Someone will be with you shortly, and there is no reason to have to press one for English.

Free speech, and the open exchange and hashing out of ideas is not only allowed, but encouraged. If we all don’t use it, we’re going to lose it. A little incivility goes a long way, though. Everyone here has closely held convictions and values. Stepping on them might result in something like this:

https://youtu.be/QUkTiLA1d5g

There is absolutely no reason for infighting to result in burning down the tree, house up in the branches and all. Please, keep the tail feathers tucked and avoid lifting legs on the fire hydrants.

AND before hitting the “post” button, ask yourself if the words you use are reminiscent of the Alinsky method of isolating a target rather than actually fostering dialogue and discussion. Getting the MAGA movement to engage in infighting is one of the other side’s goals. Falling into that trap no matter the topic being discussed feeds the divisions, and the impression the other side wants to impose on us as being violent and all that goes with that characature.

And now for some house keeping:

There are a few rules here in the branches of the Q Tree. Our host, Wolfm00n, outlined them in a post on New Years Day. Please, review these rules from time to time.

Fellow tree dweller Wheatie gave us some good reminders on the basics of civility in political discourse:

1. No food fights.
2. No running with scissors.
3. If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.

Steve suggests – to be accurate – no shooting at the nuclear weapons, but to be safe about it, don’t event point firearms toward them. I, Deplorable Patriot, bossy chick that I am, request no teasing the animals, pets and wildlife alike.

Teasing and trolling the lefties and their bastions, on the other hand is a moral imperative. Found this on FB.

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In the eternal fight against the forces of evil and darkness, unceasing prayer is always needed.

Today’s Gospel is St. Luke’s version of the ten lepers asking Jesus for pity before he cured them, but the reading that speaks to our times comes from the book of Wisdom of the Helenistic Canon:

WIS 6:1-11
Hear, O kings, and understand;
learn, you magistrates of the earth’s expanse!
Hearken, you who are in power over the multitude
and lord it over throngs of peoples!
Because authority was given you by the Lord
and sovereignty by the Most High,
who shall probe your works and scrutinize your counsels.
Because, though you were ministers of his kingdom, you judged not rightly,
and did not keep the law,
nor walk according to the will of God,
Terribly and swiftly shall he come against you,
because judgment is stern for the exalted–
For the lowly may be pardoned out of mercy
but the mighty shall be mightily put to the test.
For the Lord of all shows no partiality,
nor does he fear greatness,
Because he himself made the great as well as the small,
and he provides for all alike;
but for those in power a rigorous scrutiny impends.
To you, therefore, O princes, are my words addressed
that you may learn wisdom and that you may not sin.
For those who keep the holy precepts hallowed shall be found holy,
and those learned in them will have ready a response.
Desire therefore my words;
long for them and you shall be instructed.

As always, prayers for the fight against that which seeks to enslave us are welcome.

And now, on to the day’s news…..