Website and Blog Transition

I've been contributing to my own website and the blog it contains. If you would like to follow me, it's: morgenmarshall.com

I was trying to keep up on both platforms, but recently, that site has taken more time and thought so there are more posts available.

Thoughts on Tariffs

Tariffs are taxes. Usually, the tariff is collected on imported goods, such as "Duty Fees" when we come back from vacation, or taxes on imports. Are Tariffs good or bad? I think it depends on the goods being taxed. If we could make it or grow it, we would use our own goods, right?

For my thinking, raw materials should not be taxed when they come in - when they are imported. Some finished goods should be taxed coming in, but not going out. Only those that we make internally should be taxed. If we can't make the goods, why tax the goods when they come in?

Tariffs are best used to protect Domestic production - either raw goods, resources, or manufacturing. Otherwise, they are counter-productive. There are “political” uses for Tariffs, but that only makes them more expensive to buy in our country.

Once I've used my domestic resources, I must purchase resources produced by other countries on the international market. Why would I purchase it if I don't need it? If I'm growing wheat, I want to use Domestic-produced wheat for bread for the people, instead of bread purchased from an international grower, because it’s more expensive to import wheat, when we add in shipping and tariffs. Same with tin, aluminum, iron, steel, corn, soy, wheat, and so on. Also, I can spend my money where I want to, supporting the countries and producers that align with my political goals.

For instance, let's say I make machine parts. I don't want domestic shoppers to buy them from an international maker when I can make goods to order in a timely manner. Same with automobiles, tractors, airplanes, sewing machines, computers, etc. In these examples, I would impose a tax, or tariff, on the imported goods so that my domestic industries are supported and not undersold by inequalities in labor costs or resource production from international producers.

What about the things I don't make? Like computers, fabric, wool, fabric dyes, tea and coffee, printers, televisions, and so on? Those, I must import - or develop manufacturing for them. If I must import these goods no matter what, why would I want them taxed? Taxing the goods would only make them more expensive for their end-users - my people! So, I would not tax these goods.

What about the things I produce in excess? Like wheat, corn, soy, automobiles, paper, and so on? Tax those on the way out? Why? If raw goods, and there is no domestic use for this excess, let the goods be sold on the international market. And if I make goods that no one else makes, then those can be sold on the international market, as well. However, with the inventiveness of other countries, selling my manufactured goods may not bring much in trade to counteract a trade deficit.

Tariffs are not an effective political tool. They are meant more for protection of domestic production. They might be used to punish, or deter trade from, an international producer of a widely-available good. For instance - let's say fabric can be purchased from several international producers. I might impose a larger tariff on goods produced in a country that doesn't align with my political agenda in foreign policy. But if that country is the only producer, this tactic won't work.

Tearing Families Apart

The United States Government does NOT have my permission to separate children from their parents at the border and detain them in my name. IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, I DENOUNCE THIS POLICY!!!

I may be a citizen of the United States, but this is NOT MY IDEA, NOT MY POLICY AND


NOT MY PRESIDENT!!!!!

My Hula Hoop

What's in my hula hoop? Me, myself and I.

Not my circus, not my monkeys.

It's hard to stay focused when the world is falling apart around me. My world, my little corner, is doing OK. I'm holding my own. Kitty and I are well. I've had some blind-spots (visual issues) but nothing is going wrong.

I have food, shelter, utilities, gas in the car, and a phone that's ringing with people instead of robo-callers.

So, a bit of gratitude here. I see the Universe is listening, but not providing what I "want" quite yet. My needs are met.

I have what I need, and my wants are either goals or wishful thinking.

I finished edits on the story. It grew 4 pages. Ready for my first readers? No, it is not perfect. It still has holes and my main character still is not "big enough" to suit me. But the story is there. How much backstory to include is the question.

Not a bad day, overall.

Been Writing and So Much More!

If you've followed me on social media, I mentioned that I finished the draft of my story, "Anne Riddle and the Sheriff of Hell Bent."

I've been editing it and finding holes in the story everywhere. Oh, Boy! I hate editing! But, it's a lot easier to work with something than nothing. So, I'm proud of myself for finishing the draft.

I realized that Anne isn't "big enough" in the story, so I've been developing her character a bit. She's too quiet and meek. Yes, she's injured, but she can still talk and think, and she needs to do that.

Otherwise, I've been both teaching and learning.

For teaching, I've been offering classes in various Microsoft Office components at the local community center in the seniors' program. It keeps me busy and keeps my teaching chops sharp.

I got approved to teach two high school classes this summer, too. One on writing a college admissions essay, and the other on budgeting for college freshmen.

Then, I have a friend at the local Public Works office, and she is sending "her guys" to take classes on Excel from me, so my summer is jam-packed.

For learning, I signed up for some free classes on Canvas dot net.  I took a class called "Fantastic Fiction and Where to Find It" from a university in Scandinavia. It was in English, too! I've also participated in other classes, but that was the first one I finished.

The reason I signed up was TCM is offering a class on musicals starting next week. At least that's how I got involved with the Canvas site.

Every time I turn around another free class is being offered that I want to take. If you haven't checked out online learning opportunities, I urge you to do that. Besides Canvas, there are Corsera and Allison that I've been in contact with. There are other networks too, but these are the ones I've signed up with before. All of these sites offer free classes, many are run by universities around the world.

There are classes in psychology, sociology, education, computing, mathematics, physics, literature, business, and so much more. It's amazing what is out there! I found some syllabi to writing classes online, and I'll be reading the materials on their lists, even if I can't take the classes.

There is a class called "10,000 Women" that I would LOVE to take, but it conflicts with the TCM class, and I know my time is limited. So, I'm passing on it and sending the link to other women entrepreneurs. That class is only offered at certain times of the year, so it's tough to be already in the musicals class and having so much other stuff going on.

Healthwise, things haven't changed too much. I'll be going to Vanderbilt the end of this month to see if maybe they can figure out what's going on. The dizziness seems to be getting worse, as is my balance. And the "migraine blindness" episodes are becoming more frequent.

There may be nothing we can do, but I want an answer to why it keeps happening and what's going on anyway.

And Kitty, my little cat, is doing very well. She got another grooming at the end of March, and her fur is growing in nicely. She found a box she likes to sit in and watch the world go by, and she still flirts with the firemen when they come by. She's very loving. She likes to sit with me. She's still not much on smurfs to the face and she doesn't like to be held, but she's company. She greets me at the door and sits on me in the evenings and watches TV with me. She's discovered treats, and she loves to play. She's a hoot!

If nothing else, I'm staying young mentally. Doing all this stuff keeps me busy, keeps my mind working and my thinker thinking. None of it may mean anything in the end, but it is interesting anyway. And if a little permaculture or ecology class makes me more aware of my lifestyle and impact on the planet, I'm all for it.

Rethinking Suicide

Not for me, so no, I'm not in trouble....

My step-brother committed suicide around the time of my birthday. If you've read this blog for any length of time, you know how I've spouted off and said I don't believe it's right, and given my reasons...

But..
What if I'm wrong?

I don't have the right to judge anyone. None of us really knows what's on the other side. We speculate and have opinions and beliefs, but none of us can really understand another's path. What if suicide was the path for someone? How can we really know?

When I talked to my step-mom, I didn't spout off to her. I tried to comfort her, instead. I'm sure she was feeling pretty bad already, and didn't need me to judge her or her son. She needed someone to say they heard her pain, and I did.

I do.

Pro Vs Chump

Putin is a Pro
Trump is a Chump

Putin knows how to manipulate. He's a master at it. When he threatens, he backs it up. He even kills people on foreign soil.

Trump threathens and blusters. There is no meat in his threats. Sure, he can fire you, but that might just be a blessing. Really, his threats are pretty empty.

Trump's in over his head. Problem is, he doesn't realize it. He thinks he's Putin's equal, but he isn't even close. He's an amateur.

Overcoming Bad Feelings....

I've been in a funk lately. I reacted badly to some things in my life, and I started to spiral down. My reaction was one of creativity.

I've picked up the crochet, and made myself a little blank book. I spend all today working on the book.


The glue is still wet, so it has to sit out and open overnight. At least overnight.

I'm working on this crochet pattern:

I added some rows to the pattern so that it will make a nice stole, so this printout is only about half the size of the finished stole. I'm making it in black yarn.

When I get upset, depressed and otherwise unhappy, the best way for me to get out of it is to connect with that Universal Force and Intuition. I connect with the Universal Creative Force. I get out of that nasty place right away.

I don't like being unhappy. I don't like being depressed. I don't like feeling helpless. This is my remedy.

Writing, Friends, Honesty

I've been half-heartedly writing a fiction piece every so often. I got a slew of emails right after mid-January, announcing quite a few writing contests. Unfortunately, I'd published all my latest to Facebook, so they weren't eligible for entry. Been keeping the new work close to the chest in response. I want to build a catalog of unpublished work I can submit.

In the friends arena, I've found some forked-tongue folks. I made a new friend, but she had to move away suddenly. I hope she comes back, but she's a friend for life. I have a few of these friends who move away and yet remain my friend. It's like we are meant to connect and then they move to where they are supposed to be. I have a network all over the globe, anymore. It's nice, but lonely, too. I want to have dinner, go out for coffee, sit and chat, and crochet together....

*****

 

 Honesty is an area where I'm finding difficulty because of others. I feel judged because of what I say. I speak honestly, and sometimes feel like it's the wrong thing to say.

For instance, maybe because of my education, or maybe the way I've lived and the people I've known - I'm very open to gay women. I have a lot of gay women friends, and though I don't categorize myself as gay, I am not threatened at all by them. I welcome their raw honesty and insight. I find that most gay women don't lie to themselves, and I like that. I want that self-honesty in my life.

This seems to offend the locals.


Next, I'm not a Christian. I've tried, I really have!!!
But Christianity does not "click" with my insides. I call myself a Pagan, though I don't follow any particular path. My spiritual training has been Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Mysticism, Kabalah, New Age, and more. I find truth in many sources, and listen to the message, not the messenger. That puts up walls around me that I can't seem to get through. It's like I'm marked with nasty red "X"s all over my life - or tainted....

  Photo by Badger

Sometimes, I speak a little rough. In this southern Appalachian region, that seems to offend the locals, also. Women aren't supposed to talk like that. I was raised by a swearing mom who went hell-for-leather to the nasty stuff whenever she got angry. I take after her. I've learned that some of my language reflects mental states that I work to alleviate. But some of my rough language is just me making a point.



I will always be an outsider around here. I know that. I don't have three generations of ancestors here. This region is very "clannish" and likely always will be. However, I wish to understand them and their outlook toward life. I respect their viewpoints. I don't much care for the climate, but that's OK. I love the literature and humor. I love the self-sufficiency and self-reliance I see in the people. They are sturdy and stalwart, if sometimes a little rigid. Not at all what I was led to believe before I moved here.

My loneliness is speaking today. My friend is far away and others are shunning me. I know I probably have a good part in this, but I don't see all of it right now.

****

On the bright side, the new diet plan and medical care is working. I've dropped a significant amount of weight - over 10% - since the first of the year. It's expensive, but I'll keep it up as long as my finances hold out.

Been having trouble

I've been having trouble writing blog posts. It won't load on my computer. I've restarted the computer several times to clear out the cache, but it just kept "loading" forever.

I guess Google got it straightened out a bit because this post is working.

I won't post anything else tonight, just Thank You to Google for getting Blogger to work.

Partial Diagnosis and Going Forward

I received a partial diagnosis of my long-term malady on January 4th. The doctor said my adrenal glands were depleted and in the "Adrenal Steal" stage of depletion. This is why my insulin response is off, and why I put on weight so easily.

I was told about depleted adrenal glands back in 1986-7 somewhere. I took supplements for about a year and thought I was better. Apparently, that was a temporary fix.

Last week, I changed my diet completely. I'm gluten-free and dairy-free. I've spent the time since by giving away a lot of food and restocking my pantry.

The doctor said that dairy foods were aggravating my "inflammation response" which is what caused adrenal depletion to begin with.

Removing gluten from my diet will support my microbiome, which is also compromised and showing signs of "leaky gut syndrome" without going all the way to leaky gut. I have an overgrowth of H-Pylori, and removing gluten will help to reverse that.

***NOTE: 
Our microbiome is in our digestive tract (stomach and intestines, including the colon), and is a delicate balance of bacteria and yeasts (fungi). It helps to digest foods we consume and extract the nutrients.

We all have some H-Pylori in our microbiome. Yes, it can be "killed" by a special antibiotic regime. That doesn't really help us. We need this bacteria in our microbiome, as it serves a purpose. 

An overgrowth of H-Pylori can lead to GERD and Reflux. If H-Pylori is allowed to take over the stomach, upsetting the balance of yeast/bacteria - or taking over as the only bacteria, it can lead to ulcers and bleeding in the digestive tract.
***

I gave 7 pages of medical history to the doctor. I skipped about 10-12 years of stuff that I thought was over and done, but HE told ME - those years and what I went through!

Apparently, it started when I was 16 and sprained my ankle. My ankle never quite healed properly because I couldn't stay off it. That was the beginning. Add all the other stuff (not sharing it online), and I've basically had inflammation going since....

WOW!!!

I have another test this upcoming week, to see if my inner ear is what's causing my dizziness and inability to walk a straight line. I sit quietly, and the room starts spinning, so I hope something shows up. I'm tired of falling over, walking into walls and open doors.

Other than that, I'm waiting for the referral to Vanderbilt in Nashville for further testing.

On to other things....

I haven't been writing much since December. I guess I'm burned out. At least temporarily.

I got a lot of resources at the first of the year about writing contests. If I hadn't posted my stories to Facebook, I could enter them into the contests. Live and learn....

I've been learning to cook a whole new way, with the diet changes. It's hard to remember to eat from all three macronutrient categories for each meal. I often forget one. So far, protein is the biggest loser.

My website is languishing. Coding up the recipes for the website is really involved. I end up typing the recipe up three times to make it work. This is my process:

• First, I type it into the recipe analyzing program. 
• Next, I code it up for uploading to the website, adding a photograph. 
• Finally, I put it in a pdf file that can be downloaded and printed.

I decided to offer my services for weddings. I'm an ordained minister, and I have a spiritual sensibility that makes me perfect for alternative couples and alternative faiths. So, why not offer my services and do something for people who need it? I set up a special mailbox and put an ad on Craigslist.

I also signed up to teach an Excel class at the local Senior's Center. Only three classes, to see how it goes. That's next month. As long as I can talk and present the information, I can still teach a little.

So, lots going on. Meanwhile....

I've been meditating and thinking about my lifestyle and my isolation. I'm an intentional, intense introvert, so being around people has to be planned and I have to allow myself to recover from every interaction. 

I want to connect with people, but it's tough. It takes a lot to open up to people beyond the surface stuff - and to listen to others. Sometimes, it feels like I'm living in a sheeple-filled vacuum. So few people think for themselves or stand on their own two feet emotionally.

Everyone is tied up in the latest political guffaw - like I was for a while. I got worn out, and re-focused my attention to my immediate world because that's what affects me the most. Then, I refocused again, to my little section of that immediate world.

We KNOW this president is incapable of running the country and is a mysoginist, racist pig. So what?

Yes, it reflects badly on the country and our people. Yes, many of our citizens are in fear and feeling insecure.

There is nothing I can do for them in the greater world, but in my little world, I can be inclusive, safe, and supportive. I can be intelligent, spiritual and compassionate, even though I'm an introvert.

Those are my thoughts and feelings right now.