While in the past most of the focus of Bike Week was here in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, it has since spread out to other areas around the state. That has given the mistaken impression that not as many bikers have been coming up for the festivities because the not quite as many people congregate around Weirs Beach, the 'HQ' of Bike Week. But looking at the tourism dollars rolling in and full hotels and campgrounds, it is obvious that just the opposite is true.
At least this year's Bike Week looks to have great weather all week, with only a chance of thundershowers sometime on Thursday.
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Much has been made of the increasing suicide rate in the US, with a 25% increase seen across the nation over the past few years.
There are all kinds of theories as to why this is occurring running the gamut of the decay of the nation's moral fabric, the attacks on religiosity, readily available abortion which cheapens the value placed upon life, the war against men (most suicides are male, with the number rising alarmingly amongst middle aged men), the jungle that is social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.), and one of my favorites, the rapid increase in the use of SSRIs, a class of drug used as an anti-depressant. Considering one of the side effects in children and young adults can be suicide ideation, is it any surprise that all of these factors are contributing to the rising suicide rate?
I doubt there is one factor that we can point to and say “Aha! Here's the problem!”
What's the solution? Frankly, I have no idea. But I do have on suggestion that I think many should consider, that being to “drop out' of social media. Take a break from it all. Don't log in to any of your electronic addictions. Wean yourself off of the electronic fentanyl, or better yet, go cold turkey for a while. Also consider staying away from all of the so-called news websites and apps. You might be surprised just how much better you feel after a week or so away. You'll likely also come to realize just how much time you have been wasting on something that has no socially redeeming values and lets you get back to living life again.
Will this solve the problem? Again, I have no idea. But it doesn't take any time or money to give it a try and you just might find yourself enjoying the real world again.
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How many times over the past few years have we heard about some busybody bureaucrat shutting down a kid's lemonade stand? Call it the height of asininity and government overreach spuured on mby the Left's need to control every aspect of our lives.
But now folks are fighting back against that crap, specifically the men and women of Country Time Lemonade. They've started a legal defense fund to help entrepreneurial kids fight the bureaucrats and run their pop-up lemonade stands, just like we did when we were kids. Call it one more fight against those who seem to think they know how we should live our lives better than we do.
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As if we had any doubt that 'comedian' Bill Maher is a douchebag, he proves it to us yet again by wishing the economy would tank and hurt millions of Americans just so he and his cohorts can get rid of Trump. Of course HE wouldn't be hurt by such a slump because he is, after all, wealthy. But the rest of us would have to suffer just so he can feel better about who's president?
And then there's his whole 'losing democracy' shtick which makes us realize he doesn't understand that America is not a democracy, but a constitutional republic.
Then again, the elite don't need to understand these things because everything is about the 'feelz', not the facts.
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For a change of pace (and a palate cleanser), how about a documentary about Mister Rogers?
Apparently it is quite good and confirms many of the good things I've heard about him over the years.
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Apparently even the people living in Massachusetts hate Massachusetts because they are refusing to have kids there. The Pay State has the lowest fertility rate in the nation, has seen its influence in Congress withering away as its population grows slowly (if at all) and other states with higher fertility and immigration (from other states) grow more rapidly, taking away their House seats in Congress.
While not quite a one-party state like California, it does have way too many Democrats spending the taxpayers' money on useless and stupid things. While it's taxes aren't quite as bad as those in neighboring Connecticut, it's still known by many as 'Taxachusetts' as there is little its legislature won't tax.
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And that's the news from Lake Winnipesaukee, where the roar of engines is expected to get louder over the next 7 days, cash registers will be ringing up sales from visiting bikers, and where for once I have no issue with Monday's imminent arrival.