I agree that we certainly live in a throw-away culture- everything is disposable, ephemeral. We design obsolescence into our ever accelerating cycles of news and fashion. In this way, we are the exceptional culture, not the rule. I think it is far more normal for people to take care of their possessions with a sense…

Yes, yes, the poor dogs. But if we're going to ignore the homicide can I make the point that all those shows are criminally bad?

I don't know, the American anthem is pretty perfect for them; flashy, violent, high drama. Musically speaking it is a superior tune, just sayin'. I like ours too, although I sing it "Let's keep our land glorious and free" instead of "God keep our land..." since I am an atheist. I don't think anyone minds when you…

I doubt it; they are polar opposites. Cosby is super old fashioned with really racist views and practices respectability politics, Buress is a modern progressive. I doubt that Buress was on Cosby's radar before he made the statement. Nope, it's plain old fashioned sexism, that we ignore a huge scandal about women…

All the information Buress was operating on was available to the rest of the public as well. It's kind of amazing (in a depressing way) how everyone seemed to be waiting for someone else to bring it up. That's how power works, I guess.

My dad's family grew up like that, and they certainly don't think it's funny. But it isn't shameful, either; they were proud to be disciplined and self sufficient, and in many ways we have failed ourselves to lose those skills and that mindset so completely.

Jimmy: "you kind of started this whole thing"

I'd hire that guy.

That is interesting. I studied evolutionary biology and I don't think we've evolved to eat processed foods either, but these guys who think that there was some ideal "natural" state of society and a diet to match are straight-up delusional.

AGREED.

Some of this stuff got lost between generations because it's silly, but some of it because people weren't paying attention, and it's a loss.

She started in pretty abject poverty, but subsistence farming is different when you have some sort of control (or illusion of it) or sense of possible mobility. Her parents had that extraordinarily hopeful mindset, and taught it to my grandmother's older sister. Their hope was blind and silly, but sincere. They had a…

I think it has a trickle down effect (or in some cases a ricochet effect) through generations. I say all these things about my Grandmother, but i also have boxes, reams, and jars of bit and bobs, various flotsam and jetsam that is perfectly usable on unforeseen rainy days in the future. It's only junk if it's not…

Your precious sensibilities (and sleep) are my priority, Ma'am.

YOU OWE ME

Thanks, I guess I'm only just now realizing how much she has inspired me too.

I think someone just had the genius idea to sell chicken fucking soup to rich weirdos and market it as such. Here I thought I was being frugal reusing my carcasses, turns out I am totally in the fashion.

lol I do all of those things too :)

This has caused a very loud argument between my mother and father, whom I have just surveyed about the meaning of "spendthrift". My mom knows the correct meaning, and my dad is convinced, like I was, that it means the opposite. They are disputing many previous usages in previous loud arguments.

I don't think that's a weird habit- that's only practical. I think a lot of sensible people save gift wrap. Seems wasteful not to. About the bacon fat though... yes, I use it, but I actually use much more rarely than I save it. Now that you've got me thinking, I probably only keep it because my grandmother did so. I…