Alphabet news' favorite way to lie

They don't want to directly lie.  There may be potential libel issues with that, plus they want to keep their micro-thin veneer of being objective when they are really the propaganda arm for the socialists.   So when they want to spread a lie they quote someone telling the lie and just don't offer any counter opinion.

Recent example.  Nancy Pelosi saying that if the Dems 'give in' and fund 200 miles of border wall  at 0.15% of the federal budget Trump could shut the government down any time to get his way.  Pelosi may be so old and demented she no longer remembers that this partial shutdown can only happen by the president refusing to sign an appropriations bill that does not fund a common sense border security addition.  Once the bill is passed government can not be shut down until all those appropriated funds are spent.  Now Nancy may be too addled to know this anymore but surely some producer in the local news rooms knows this.   But they think this lie advances their socialist cause so they don't air anyone explaining basic civics, just Nancy's silly lie.

I will not interfere with the online panhandler.

I will not participate but just as with a street theatre panhandler there is no need for me to interfere with the performance.   Those who donate are getting warm fuzzy feelings out of it and there is no need for me to interfere with that just because I get a vibe of "this is quite a cushy living, just shaking my cup online and otherwise gabbing with my fingers"   It is perfectly fine for me to simply choose not to jump into the game.

And on a related note:  I will get myself over feeling guilty about not giving my bro and SiL money and stop projecting "she was manipulating me, she is trying to be a pampered princess on my bro's middle class salary yada yada" to counteract my guilt emotions.   I ended up feeling manipulated in October and I have my own potential budget crunch and need to beef up my emergency fund plus get a vehicle repair/replace fund built.

I have also listened to enough Dave Ramsey to know that people have to control their spending to get out of paycheck to paycheck mode, otherwise the spending just outpaces any increases in income.   So I'm not going to try to supplement their income any more.  If they ask I will offer to pay for a FPU enrollment instead.   But they know the Ramsey name from me sending his money makeover book to her son and son's gf who "were going to get married but don't have money yet"  Well I DGAF if they marry or not.  They probably are better with not until they grow up and get themselves jobs or start a business walking dogs or whatever.  Working part time retail is not a good life long plan.  But IMO thinking they'll just be heirs is even worse and those adult kids need to be told "work part-time and get training for what you want to do as a career"  but none of those 4 is asking me for life advice so I won't shove it in their faces unless they ask me for money.

I just need to log in to my RA again and adjust beneficiaries.  If I 'get hit by a bus' I don't want my final thoughts to be "oh shit,  son and GF are going to indirectly get my retirement money cuz SiL will give it to them and bro will go along with it."

Winter blahs

I always get them, more a feeling of not wanting to do a bunch of riding than serious blues the last few years. And I always struggle a bit with "what is wrong with me not seizing the day and riding when we get nice warm days in winter?"   But since my riding desire comes back with increasing sun I don't worry as much as I used to.   I am trying to force myself to do more pecking away with de-cluttering efforts.   It is harder this year than last because I already got rid of most of the easy obvious stuff.  But I have made a bit more progress and I just need to keep making it at least a weekly goal.

I have whiffed on having difficult conversation with brother that he and SiL need to go to FPU or something rather than asking me for dough.  With the government shutdown I may face a budget shortfall myself this year.   I am undecided whether I should try to make a big de-cluttering, spring cleaning, yard improvements push if we end up on furlough/forced PTO or try to get a temporary job.
 If I had a crystal ball to know how long we will be in this place it would be easier.  With working full time I take the same tack as cooking.  "Only cook stuff I like to eat and dad can eat that or fall back on his usual pre-packaged stuff"   so with the home improvements and cleaning similarly.  "Only do things that will make my life easier by making it easier to find stuff or I'll enjoy the results of this project"  Part of me would like to sell the place and move to WY soon, but it is handy to be able to commute to work to have social interactions and be away from house and I cannot see dad deciding to move and give up the neighbors he loves and the handy very short drive to run in and shop or see docs etc just to make sure he doesn't lose equity value in the house.