12/30/2021 Weirs Times by The Weirs Publishing Company

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 —

VOLUME 30, NO. 52

THE WEIRS, LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE, N.H., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021

COMPLIMENTARY

“Restore The Intent” Presentation At Alton Bay

“In winter in this region a woodpecker will chirp loudly and shrilly from a tree where he clambers up, down, and around in search for a grub or two in the dead wood of a defunct branch.” TOM THOMSON PHOTO

Rambles Of The New Year Wintry Rural Sounds Reprinted From The January 1902 Issue Of The Granite Monthly

Winter in a rural district often impresses us by its predominant silence. Yet winter in such a place is far from being absolutely

silent. We may assert this fact if we bear in mind only the sounds expressed by inanimate and untamed nature. If one rambles in the field and forest in winter, and suppresses those feelings and reflections that

are peculiarly suggested by the barrenness and chilliness of the same, he will find much pleasure in contemplating the voices of nature. The wind sighs thoughtfully in the trees and rustles fervently in the dead leaves that in oc-

casional instances cluster upon their branches. The air soughs in the evergreen pines and spruces with an intonation that appeals vividly to the imagination. In the winter, beneath the trees, one can loiter and reSee RAMBLES on 22

Restore the Intent Constitution Study Group will host a presentation by Hal Shurtleff of Camp Constitution on the Green New Deal and Agenda 21 on Monday, January 3rd at 6:30pm in the Teen Center at the Alton Bay Christian Conference Center. Hal will give an historic overview of Agenda 21-2030 from its founding in 1992 to its implementation nationally, regionally, and locally. Hal will also explain what steps citizens can take to fight Agenda 21. Admission is free and Donations are gratefully accepted. The Alton Bay Christian Conference Center is located at 5 Broadway Blvd, Alton Bay, NH. The Mission of Restore The Intent is to establish grassroots Constitution Study Groups in every county in New Hampshire in an effort to restore the original intent of our American system of government. For more information on the presentation call Darrell Pack at 603-923-3528.

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 —

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Where Has Nancy Been? To The Editor: Nancy Pelosi recently said that crime is outrageous and that it is out of control which raises a question. Where has Nancy been? It certainly is not with average hardworking Americans. Nancy Pelosi is a Lame Duck Speaker of the House of Representatives and she knows it. Apparently plans are already in place for a move to Florida of all places. I give the Speaker credit for a future move to a Republican State with great financial opportunities for the protection of her estimated two hundred million dollars. What a great country. 2022 is only a short time away and Nancy Pelosi’s disinterest in confronting crime has destroyed people”s lives throughout the country. She admits that she does not seem to know where the crime is coming from. I would like to help her out. Emptying the prisons of thousands of criminals. Doing away with bail. Making it a misdemeanor to steal less than one thousand dollars in merchandise. Defunding the police. In Chicago they recently killed a nice young man in front of his daughter stringing Christmas lights. Almost five hundred people have been killed in Chicago this year. These problems are spreading and will begin to show up in cites like Manchester New Hampshire. Nancy owes a great deal of gratitude to the New Hampshire

delegation who have been more than faithful to her. Decisions at the National level will serve no positive purpose for the people of New Hampshire. If the voters of this State keep returning these idiots to office then expect more of the same. Kenneth Bowers Wolfeboro, NH.

Compensate Our Veterans

To The Editor: I sent this via email to Congress this morning. Our disabled veterans are grossly under compensated and have been for generations. This is most especially true for our totally and permanently disabled veterans. Our disabled veterans have been asking Congress for fair and adequate compensation since the end of WWI (1918). That was a 103 years ago. Where is it? In 2022 a totally disabled veteran with no dependents is compensated at the ridiculous rate of $39,984.72 dollars annually. The National Average Wage Index (NAWI) for 2020 was $55,628.60 dollars per annum and the median income for 2020 was $67,521.00. The per capita GDP in 2020 was $63,416.00 dollars, among the highest in the world. This rate of compensation to disabled veterans is deliberate and cruel. Perhaps the biggest problem with low compensation for disabled veterans is that we pay them only for projected lost wages. Quality of life payment

is not included in their compensation. They realize that they are being manipulated and given short shrift by the wealthy and politically connected top 5% of the wealth pyramid who lobby Congress hard in order to keep their compensation low in order to ensure a low tax rate for the Elites. So... We can levy at least a penny tax on every dollar traded on the stock market to pay for their compensation. The New York Stock Exchange alone traded about 1.46 billion shares a day in 2019. There are presently 13 separate stock exchanges operating in the USA. Please introduce legislation now to set compensation at least at the level of the NAWI for ALL types of totally and permanently disabled veterans and/or give them federal tax exclusion for up to $125K per annum. There is one more thing to consider here. This is a growing national security problem. Once our young people fully comprehend that should they enlist in the armed forces and subsequently suffer serious illness or injury then they are looking at a lifetime of near poverty. At that point the armed forces will collapse. It will take a generation to rebuild it to adequate manning levels. Retention will be extremely low. It will be a national defense nightmare. Be warned. I do not request a response. Norma Evanston Dover, NH.

Our Story

This newspaper was first published in 1883 by Mathew H. Calvert as Calvert’s Weirs Times and Tourists’ Gazette and continued until Mr. Calvert’s death in 1902. The new Weirs Times was reestablished in 1992 and strives to maintain the patriotic spirit of its predecessor as well as his devotion to the interests of Lake Winnipesaukee. Our newspaper’s masthead and the map of Lake Winnipesaukee in the center spread are elements in today’s paper which are taken from Calvert’s historic publication. Locally owned for over 20 years, this publication is devoted to printing the stories

of the people and places that make New Hampshire the best place in the world to live. No, none of the daily grind news will be found in these pages, just the good stuff. Published year round on Thursdays, we distribute 30,000 copies of the Weirs Times every week to the Lakes Region/Concord/ Seacoast area and the mountains and have an estimated 66,000 people reading this newspaper. To find out how your business or service can benefit from advertising with us please call 1-888-308-8463.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 —

Not So . . . o g A g N Lo

Exploring ThE lEgEnd & lorE of our graniTE STaTE

by Robert Hanaford Smith, Sr. Contributing Writer

“Thirteen barracks in a row, three thousand men sleep head to toe, plywood and boards make a bed, rolled up tunic- hold your head. Two little blankets hold out the cold, hundreds of lice – hide in each fold, dirty latrines – that stink of lime, walls that are made of mud and slime. Food served us – in a dirty pail, bread that moldy,

Fletcher DeWolf holding his prisoner of war number.

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B-17 Flying Fortress like one that Fletcher DeWolf served in as Bombardier.

Those were “ Stalag Highlights “ as experienced by Fletcher DeWolf who spent 29 months as a prisoner of war, most of which

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hard and stale, stoves that have no fuel to burn O dirt r that makes your stomachwturn. Jerry guards that patrol each fence, always alert – and on the defence this is the life an airman will see, when he hits the silk, over Germany.”

were in the infamous Stalag 17 in the Austrian forest. Fletcher was born in Melrose, Massachusetts on April 1, 1920 but moved when a child to Bristol, New Hampshire with his mother and siblings. The poem seen above is included in a book of poems, “Formation,” by DeWolf’s son, also named Fletcher. His son explained to me in a recent conversation that “the silk” in the last line of the poem refers to the airman’s parachute. Fletcher DeWolf served in World War II in the United States Army Air Corps with the 92nd Bombing Group and the 306th Bombing Group in Europe. He was 22 years old when he went on his first bombing mission over Germany. With the rank of a technical Sergeant he flew seven combat missions over Germany, but his involvement in the war took on a drastic change on his last mission when the airplane he was flying in was shot down. The United States was using B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators in the bombing missions on German cities and other German strongholds in 1942. It was on the Sunday before ChristSee SMITH on 25

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New Year’s Sports Gambling Resolution? by Mike Moffett Contributing Writer

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So my good friend Tim Lang—a state representative from Sanbornton—did yeoman’s work in 2019 to get a sports betting bill into New Hampshire law. It’s very hard to get a law passed (as it should be) and it was particularly difficult for Tim, as his party was in the minority at the time. But he got it done. New Hampshire’s historic first (legal) sports bet was made by Governor Chris Sununu at the Shoppers Pub in Manchester on Dec. 30, 2019. New Hampshire’s 82nd Governor bet $82 on the Patriots to win the Super Bowl. I was there. Had the Pats won it all, the Gov would have netted around $1000. But you may recall that the Pats then lost their first playoff game to Mike Vrabel’s Tennessee Titans, 20-13. It was Tom Brady’s last game as a Patriot. But some portion of the Guv’s bet came back to New Hampshire to help support education, in conjunction with approved contracts involving the New Hampshire Lottery Commission and DraftKings. “We are going to be setting the gold standard for this type of betting product, all across New England, and I think, frankly, the country,” said Sununu that day. “People are going to look at what did, how we did

The Founders of the Legislative Beer Caucus with New Hampshire’s governor after the governor made the first legal sports bet in Granite State history on Dec. 30, 2019. (l-r) Tim Lang, Mike Moffett, Howard Pearl, Reed Pansiti and Gov. Chris Sununu it, and people are going to say, we want that.” So it was good to bring sports gamblers out of the shadows and allow them to legally wager on sports outcomes. It created jobs as well. And having a stake in the outcome of NFL games made even Detroit Lion games much more interesting to watch. But the flip side of all this involves stress and heartbreak. My stress and heartbreak! Especially during this 2021 NFL season. (I know that legal sports betting is now available for all kinds of

sports, far beyond the NFL. But I limit myself to NFL games.) Being a sports “expert,” I figured I could parlay my vast sports knowledge into untold riches. But it didn’te xactly work out that way. Especially in 2021. Without going into detail, let’s just say that I provided “mucho dinero” for education in the Granite State. Here’s the thing. One can use algorithms, biorhythms, football expertise, psychology, intuition, computer programming, rabbits’ feet and more to identify the

NFL “lock of the week,” – the sure bet guaranteed to pay off. But just as there is no such thing as a free lunch, there is no such thing as a sure bet. Or a “Lock of the Week.” I took the “over” in the Tampa Bay/New Orleans game on Dec. 19. (Sports betters know the jargon.) Two high powered offenses. The Saints scored 34 and 38 points against the Bucs in their two division games a year ago. They beat Brady’s Bucs 36-27 earlier this season. So New Orleans ended up winning 9-0. Brady See MOFFETT on 27

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 —

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Prepared! Brendan is off this week. This column appears in is book “Best OF A F.O.O.L” Whew!! It feels nice to be finally hunby Brendan Smith k e r e d d o w n Weirs Times Editor and waiting for the snowstorm. It’s been a frantic twelve hours since the weatherman said we were about to get slammed with anywhere from four inches to a foot of snow. Before that tragic forecast had been made, my life was peaceful here close by the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee. Once it was announced, life, as I usually know it, changed. Once those words spilled from the weatherman’s mouth I panicked and rose up from my armchair and went into the kitchen. I knew, as most other folks here in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire do, that four inches to a foot of snow meant that it could be a storm of a duration exceeding five or six hours and, once done, would be a few hours more until the roads were clear enough to travel on. This meant that it would be close to a full half of a day until I could safely venture on the roads once more. A full half a day until any of us would be able to get to the supermarket. The horror!! The horror!! I ripped open the kitchen cabinet doors to see if we had enough supplies to sustain us through the aftermath of the storm. Even though my wife claimed that there was more than enough food on one shelf of the pantry alone to sustain us for a week, I wasn’t buying it. Man (and woman) cannot live on peanut butter and canned tuna alone. Actually we could, but I was looking for something more substantial. Were there enough Cheez-Its left in the box? How

about pretzels? Would two loaves of bread be enough? What was the status of the Chocolate Chip Cookies? We were failing on all accounts. I threw on my sneakers, got in the car and headed towards the supermarket. When I arrived, I certainly wasn’t alone. The parking lot was three-quarters full and more cars were arriving by the second. I had to park pretty far away but I was undaunted. I walked briskly, following the crowd but marching to my own drummer. I tried not to appear too anxious as I got closer, planning my strategy in my head the entire time. The crowd was buzzing, discussing the impending storm. “The guy on TV said a possible fourteen inches in some isolated areas.” That was the thing. You never knew if you’d be in the isolated area. It was something you had no control over and hoped never happened. It could add a few hours onto your separation from civilization so you needed to be prepared. I imagined that’s why they were called isolated areas. Inside the supermarket it was chaos. Bodies hurrying everywhere, some aimlessly with no game plan. Friends simply nodded to each other, no time to chat. Shopping carts were at a premium and shopping baskets extinct. I immediately made my move. Bypassing the meats, fruits and vegetables, I headed right towards the cookie and cracker aisle. My favorite chocolate chips were already gone but there was still a package left of that pretty good brand. We’d have to sacrifice. I went for it at the same time as an older woman I had seen around town. Our eyes met. I could easily have won this battle but I let it be. There were still a few Pepperidge Farms left, no sense getting crazy yet. The Cheez-Its were gone as

well. As I was about to leave the aisle, a frightened employee came out with a fresh case. We all hovered, jockeying for position, ready to grab at each, nutritionally limited, sodium packed box that went on the shelf. I got one with only a few bruises to my arm and made a beeline to the bread aisle. It was practically bare. I grabbed a few loaves of whatever was left. There was no time now to be choosy. It was all about survival. I was fortunate to get to the pretzels before most of the crowd. The selection was excellent. Satisfied in my hunting, I made my way to the checkout. Having fourteen items or less, I thought I would be in great shape. I grabbed a giant box of Cheerios on the way by that were calling my name. The line was long; some folks trying their best to sneak through with sixteen or seventeen items. Was it worth the fight to confront them? Not for me, though some others made biting comments towards those over the legal limit. I could sense the shame in their eyes, still they kept their place. They would have to live with this the rest of their lives. Time was now of the essence, the first snowflakes were falling outside. I finally made it through the checkout and outside. The parking lot was an obstacle course of abandoned shopping carts. The snow was beginning to intensify. I caught the eyes of a few who had waited until the last minute and were only now arriving. Would there be enough cookies, pretzels and alike to see them through the storm? I had my doubts but I couldn’t linger on it. I got in my car and made my way home. The snow was falling heavier. I’d made it. I’d survive until the next afternoon. Whew!

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 —

The Big Government COVID-19 Lie

Say His Name: Lee Keltner Dear Lee: I never had a chance to meet you. But I will never forget you -- and I will do my best to ensure that you are not forgotten. As the owner of Crossfire Hats in Brighton, Colorado, your craftsmanship and artistry were renowned -- and you garnered local media attention for your success for over two decades in the highly by Michelle Malkin specialized business. You told one interSyndicated Columnist viewer that your work making custom cowboy hats was “keeping the West alive, one hat at a time” and that your products represented the “history of the West.” You said you were a “country boy” who “love(d) being an artist.” Your friend and fellow hatter Steven Weil, owner of Rockmount Ranch Manufacturing Company, told KDVR 31 News that Lee Keltner was “a Western guy, he followed the cowboy code.” He praised you as “a man of integrity” and “honest person.” You were a beloved grandfather and father. Your sister Suzan noted that you “served our country” as a U.S. Navy veteran. Your friends said you were the “guy that would give you the shirt off his back” and a “patriot.” You were a family man, a self-made entrepreneur and artisan, a motorcycle enthusiast, and a salt-of-the-earth American who took pride in his community, his craft and his country. My kind of people. On Oct. 10, 2020, you headed to Denver’s Civic Center Plaza to attend a “Patriot Muster” -- a peaceful gathering of citizens hosted by Benghazi Marine hero John “Tig” Tiegen to show pride in America. Hundreds carrying Old Glory and Thin Blue Line flags, donning MAGA hats, joined you. Young and old, civilian and military, able-bodied and wheelchairbound, answered Tiegen’s call to “Stand Up and Show Up.” The rally went off smoothly -- until attendees began to disperse and return to their cars. Tiegen’s men had come trained and prepared to defend their supporters after the violent Back the Blue rally that I attended three months earlier in July 2020 with hundreds of others at the very same Civic Center Plaza was shut down by violent antifa and Black Lives Matter vigilantes wielding metal rods, skateboards and megaphones to threaten and assault law-abiding citizens. Remember: The Denver poSee MALKIN on 28

by Ben Shapiro

Syndicated Columnist

On Oct. 30, 2020, just days before the presidential election, Joe Biden tweeted, “I’m not going to shut down the country. I’m not going to shut down the economy. I’m going to shut down the virus.” This was a lie. It was a lie because nobody can shut down

the virus. Government does not have the power to end disease, as a general matter. When it comes to a wildly transmissible coronavirus specifically, no government can end the virus. Even the sainted Dr. Anthony Fauci has admitted as much: “we’re never going to eradicate this ... elimination may be too aspirational.” Which means that government should not aim for elimination; it can aim for some level of control. That control must be balanced with countervailing concerns, ranging from suppression of economic freedom to the effects of social isolation. This means that the lowest-cost intervention was incentivization and distribution of vaccines -- a service performed by the Trump administration. The worst form of control would be overbroad, coercive restrictions that fail to achieve their objectives. And yet it is precisely those forms of control now being sought by Democratic mayors and governors, as well as the Biden administration. To make such tactics even more puzzling, Democrats are pursuing such restrictions in the face of an extraordinarily transmissible variant -- some 70 times more transmissible than delta -- that has far lower death rates than prior variants. Such restrictions include vaccination passports, mask mandates, mass testing, and vaccination mandates. Vaccination passports will not control the spread

of omicron, because the vaccinated are capable of spreading COVID-19. Mask mandates will not stop the spread of omicron; nothing short of N95 masks would do much to even slow that spread, even theoretically. In practice, mask mandates have not achieved their desired effect, as omicron spikes in places like New York City demonstrate. Mass testing will not control the spread of omicron, because asymptomatic people will not test -- and if we quarantine millions of asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic people, we will shut down the economy and our school system. And vaccination mandates will simply result in supply chain shortages, including within our health care system, as well as ugly social divisions. So, why pursue useless -- no, counterproductive -- COVID-19 restrictions? Because the big-government lie must be maintained. It is an article of faith. And faith requires reason-free sacrifice -- it requires skin in the game, demonstration of devotion. To pursue rational policy would evidence no fealty to the notion of government-as-protective-god. To pursue irrational policy and then demand obeisance -- this is the mark of the faithful. And if you are not faithful, you are a heretic. And so regulatory genuflection becomes a test of virtue. Effectuating strict regulations is a sign of moral strength, of belief in the myth of government as catholicon. Pushing back against those restrictions is a sign of heresy. On Oct. 22, 2020, in a debate with President Donald Trump, Biden said that “anyone who is responsible for not taking control ... anyone who is responsible for that many deaths should not remain as president of the United States of America.” This was incorrect. The truth is that anyone who claimed that he could take control of a virus should be held responsible for the consequences of that lie. But that See SHAPIRO on 28

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 —

Questioning The Science When people criticize Dr. Anthony Fauci, he says: “They’re really criticizing science. Because I represent science.” Pretty arrogant. by John Stossel I assume Fauci Syndicated Columnist is a top-notch scientist. My brother worked with him at the National Institutes of Health and respected him. But power tends to corrupt, and Fauci has been given a lot of power. His department directed tax dollars to the Wuhan Institute of Virology to modify coronaviruses in bats.

When Sen. Rand Paul asked Fauci about funding “gain of function” research, experiments that try to learn more about a disease by making it more contagious or deadly, Fauci denied it, saying, “Sen. Paul, you do not know what you are talking about!” But it turns out that Paul did know what he was talking about. The Wuhan experiments Fauci funded did not directly cause COVID-19. We know that because the molecular structure of the altered viruses is different. But gain-of-function research is risky and deserves public discussion. I like that Paul, unlike most of his colleagues, pushes for that discus-

sion. In my new video, he says he does this because it’s important “not only for assessing what happened and how this pandemic arose, but making sure it doesn’t happen again.” Originally, “experts” claimed COVID-19 came from animals in the wet market in Wuhan. But now “experts” say that COVID-19 might have come from a lab. “This has become so polarized that you’re either completely in the bag with Fauci or completely opposed to him,” says Paul. “There is no one wanting to actually get to the truth of where this came from or understand that this could happen again.” I ask Paul what he thought about

Fauci’s flat dismissal of anyone who criticizes him. “That’s an incredibly arrogant attitude,” replied Paul. “Reminiscent of the medieval church (where) the government representative decided what was science ... Any time you have government dogma saying they are science, or government bureaucrats who claim that ‘this is the one and perfect truth’ ... we should run headlong away.” Today our government wants to mandate vaccines in private workplaces. The administration claims that’s necessary because not enough people are vaccinated. Paul calls that a “big lie.” “We are not stupid. The whole See STOSSEL on 29

Looking Ahead To 2022 The political reverberations following America’s Afghanistan pullout debacle still shake the geo-political landscape from by John J. Metzler U k r a i n e t o t h e Syndicated Columnist T a i w a n S t r a i t s . But shall pending military calculations in Moscow and Beijing take advantage of a perceived power vacuum in the wake of the Afghan fiasco or will diplomacy deflect the sword of aggression? As we enter the New Year 2022, let’s go to the proverbial snow globe and peer into the future. Presi-

dential elections are scheduled in France, Brazil, and South Korea. Now let’s review some global hotspots. Europe. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s possible plans for Ukraine are bound both by a nostalgic nationalism and a murky national mission in reviving and rebuilding spheres of influence into a Greater Russia. Putin’s perception is that the West will talk tough, act macho and then fall back to stern sounding Communiques and tepid economic sanctions. But would the Kremlin attack Ukraine in mid-Winter? Russia’s armor and mechanized infantry units would not be at their optimum in such weather conditions.

Never underestimate General Winter! Moreover, are Moscow’s plans aimed at carving away more of eastern Ukraine, thereby reinforcing an already de facto occupation since 2014, or to seize the entire country? Despite a lack of defense treaty commitments, can the United States and NATO be pulled into a conflict to defend Ukraine? Germany’s federal elections tilted the country to the center-left. For the first time in 16 years a Social Democratic/Green government has assumed power in Berlin. Early indications are mixed, but in a bow to the powerful environmental lobby, the new government wants to close remaining operating nuclear plants

and switch to additional energy supplies from Russia. Germany and most of Central Europe are already intertwined in a dangerous dependency on a web of Russian natural gas pipelines. Now the newest Nord Stream 2 Gazprom link, to which the Biden Administration gave the green light, still needs to get regulatory approval from both Berlin and Brussels. There’s an uneasy nervousness in Germany having supported this new pipe-line. Watch the Balkans. Bosnia’s fragile peace has been quietly unravelling amidst a Serb power grab in the ethnically divided land. The Yugoslav civil war of the 1990’s See METZLER on 27

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by Sara M. Woods Kender Clinical Herbalist & Reiki Master

Are you one of those that indulges just a bit too much during the Holidays? Who doesn’t!? With all the yummy food around, it’s hard not to, but we surely pay the price. This article will explain why you feel so horrible and why typical conventional treatments only make matters worse. Acid reflux or also known as GERD (gastroesophogeal reflux disease) affects millions of Americans in the US and if left untreated can be quite painful and lead to inflammation of the esophagus and even cancer. A diagnosis from your doctor will leave you with a prescription for a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) or an H2 agonist, both of which suppress acid production in the stomach. This is not good. Of course this is what they intend to do, but from a (w)holistic sense, this is exactly what you do not want to do. Keep reading and I will tell you why.

Why is HCL so important? *The role of HCL is to help our bodies utilize minerals and protein, since without adequate stomach acid, we cannot fully breakdown and assimilate these foods. HCL activates pepsin, an enzyme that breaks down protein and if we cannot assimilate protein or minerals properly, this can lead to nutrient deficiencies.. Many biological processes rely on both proteins and minerals to function, namely the liver. *HCL signals the pancreas to excrete more enzymes, so when the stomach empties into the duodenum, the food can continue to breakdown. *HCl induces peristalsis, the contraction of the intestines important for proper digestion. *HCL is needed in order for our bodies to utilize vitamin B-12, important for many bodily functions including brain and nervous system function and the formation of blood. Low B-12 is common in the elderly since HCL levels naturally decline as we age. B-12 shots are typically necessary. *HCL is also the first line of defense our bodies have against pathogenic organisms that can enter our bodies via food. The

acid kills unwanted organisms and is important to deter bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, termed SIBO, (small intestine bacterial overgrowth). This can lead to more digestive issues, leaky gut, and may induce other pathogenic bacteria from growing out of control like C-Diff, which normally live in the gut but kept in check. *The stomach has a second valve, the pyloric valve as mentioned above, that is also reliant upon HCL levels in the gut to open. If HCL levels in the gut are inadequate, the food remains in the gut longer, can cause indigestion, and more pressure on the LES thus compounding the issue. This could be termed ‘slow stomach emptying’ or ‘gastroparesis’. Gastroparesis can be caused by other issues as well, including damage to the vagus nerve, a nerve which regulates the digestive system. What Causes GERD? *Low stomach acid *Eating foods that do not require acid to break down, like sugar, can leave your stomach with inadequate acid. Yes, that’s right, INADEQUATE acid production and if your stomach is low in acid, as I mentioned above, the esophageal sphincter will not close properly. The sphinc-

ter needs the cue from the acid to tighten up and close off. This resulting laziness of the sphincter causes acid to creep up and create GERD. *A diet high in coffee or other drinks loaded with caffeine and/or carbonation can have negative affects on the esophageal sphincter, causing it to remain open...it gets lazy...... during the digestive process. *Smoking and alcohol can also create a lazy sphincter. *Slow stomach emptying and can also cause GERD as this puts more pressure on the esophageal sphincter and can weaken or reduce its elasticity. Many with diabetes suffer from slow stomach emptying and also suffer from GERD. But, as we already know, this is likely due to low stomach acid. Other Causes of GERD: *If you were or are an over-eater, this can stretch the stomach and tear the sphincter. The resulting consequence can inhibit the sphincter from closing properly. This last issue is very hard to treat and may need a visit with the doctor to see if a tear is indeed present. At this point, surgery is an option for treatment and should be considSee KENDER on 26

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 —

New Year’s Resolutions

by Dr. Graham Moneysmith, DC. Contributing Writer

2022 is on the horizon. If you had asked me in 2000, I would have thought 2022 would have been way more futuristic and a lot less pandemic. I mean, flying cars at a minimum. Alas, Elon Musk hasn’t hooked us up yet. So while 2022 hasn’t brought us flying cars, it is a new year and with the new year comes resolutions. Unfortunately, most of us fail at them, pretty spectacularly. Not in the epic, blaze of glory sense, but more like a dud firecracker. We’ve all been there. We set up the resolution. We plan and envision it. Yet, halfway through January or so it has collapsed around us. Or worse, we failed to even start. I believe this happens because when we think of our resolutions, we think of massive goals that tend to be abstract (like “get healthy”) and don’t come prepared with any specific action steps. This makes our goals feel like this great big huge task and it really starts to feel like an impossibility. Overwhelming, in fact. This becomes such a

discouraging process that many people don’t even make resolutions anymore. Further, we often give up on more than our resolutions, in we give up on ourselves. I can totally understand why a person might feel that way but to give up on trying to improve our lives, doesn’t seem to be the answer either! Instead of hating resolutions and being the “I don’t make resolutions” person or “I’m just gonna fail, anyway” person, maybe this is the year to turn over a new leaf. 2020 can be a blank slate. And truly, you can choose any moment for a fresh start, but it just so happens that the New Year is upon us and there is no time like the present to get after your goals. So with that mind, here are some tips to help you along from the American Psychological Association: 1) Start Small: this seems obvious, but it’s not. When we make a resolution we usually choose things like lose 50 pounds, go to the gym daily, and never eat sugar/ carbs/dairy/etc ever again. Read that again, do those statements sound realistic and maintainable? Of course not! Instead, maybe some goals like lose 5-10 pounds, work out 2-4 times per week, or replacing dessert with fruit are significantly more doable and much more easily managed. This is increases your chance of success

and will help you begin to build healthy habits. 2) Change one behavior at a time: so in point #1 we listed three behavioral changes. All are good and all will improve your health. But taking on all three at once could prove overwhelming. Simply choose one. One behavior, one change, and this will become one success. This will help you build positive momentum. 3) Don’t beat yourself up: newsflash, you’re going to fail. This is ok. We don’t need to live in a all or nothing mindset. Do your best, work towards your goal, and if you slip up....so what. Start again. Start again, each time and you will make it eventually.

ily your goal. This will help keep you accountable, but may also help inspire those around you to go for their goals too. In the end the goals can involve things such as finances, mental peace, spiritual health, or whatever else you can imagine. I want to challenge you to sit down today and write a list of goals. Sleep on it. Now choose the one you will focus on. Don’t overthink this. Pick one and go for it. Fulfill this plan and have, perhaps, your best year eve. Okay . Then next year you won’t have to make resolutions, you’ll be too busy enjoying the results of looking good, feeling fine.

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 —

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When thinking about sports massage, do you envision college athletes? Olympic or highly trained individuals? How about an accountant who works out at the gym after work? A mother who trains at home while the baby takes an afternoon nap? Sports massage is for all of these individuals, and more. I believe there is a stigma around what type of massage can be useful to the everyday person, and see this often in my profession as a licensed massage therapist. As soon as the term “sports massage” is used, I often

hear “I’m not an athlete, I exercise when I can but I’m no athlete”. I hope to convey that if you are working on your physical health and find that at times you have muscle aches, pains or just overall muscle tightness and fatigue, this form of massage could help your journey in ways you may not have yet considered. Sports massage can open your eyes to new ways to help heal and train your body. Starting by listening to your goals and the routine you have in place, I listen for things such as if this includes stretching, heating or cold therapies, water intake, and frequency. Next I look at your range of motion, checking to see if one side of your body is compensating for the other, if you walk in favor of a certain side of your body, and what your shoulder

posture is like when relaxed. All of these factors can be important when looking at what form of treatments would be most beneficial for you. I believe in educating my clients in different stretches, possible topicals, heating and cooling packs, as well as ways to utilize self massage at home. Some frequently asked questions about self massage are: “How can I massage my back at home?” Luckily there are many different tools such as a Thera Cane, which is a shepherds hook-like tool that allows you to get a more targeted massage experience at home. There are different styles of these that are sold at various sporting goods stores. Another, less expensive alternative could be to use a tennis ball and roll up and down

along the sides of your spine. You can do this by leaning against a solid hard surface such as a wall while controlling the pressure by the amount of body weight you use to lean into it. It is important not to roll over the spine, but to focus on the muscle located between the spine and shoulder blade. This is where a good amount of neck and shoulder tension can be found. How does a sports massage differ from a traditional massage? Typically the main differences would be the pressure level and the inclusion of range of motion testing, which gives the therapist a baseline of how your body moves naturally before releasing any muscle tension. Manual stretching may also be done by the therapist as well as more targeted work on specific muscle groups and their complementary groups. Sports massage has many benefits, and can benefit you regardless of your perceived sense of your own athleticism. Being able to work on specific muscle groups while having the ability to track the progress first hand can help with future treatments as well as future exercises. I believe that sports massage can help all levels of athletes and individuals looking to improve their range of motion and decrease pain, no matter what stage of the fitness journey you’re in, or what your goals for improved movement are.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 —

Gray Matters On Making Assumptions

by Leslie Gray, LCMHC

Gray Matters Counseling & Wellness

There is an old saying about what happens when you assume. A fun little play on words, though not necessarily appropriate for this venue so I’ll let you ask around if you don’t know it. Albeit ever so slightly crude, the point of the saying is quite apt. Loosely translated, it says that when we make assumptions, we fail to demonstrate critical thinking, common sense, and/ or perspective. Doing so often demonstrates impulsivity, pessimism, and distrust. Let’s face it: the assumptions we make are not typically positive. To begin, let’s be clear about what it really means to assume. The Oxford-English Dictionary defines it as: a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof. Really let that sink in; especially the last two words. (I do like to cut right to the chase.) When we assume, we come to a conclusion about something: what someone meant by what they said or did, what will happen if we say or do this or that, how people will respond, and so on. As-

suming is our feeble attempt at predicting the future, reading minds, or playing detective (or psychoanalyst)... none of which we are particularly good at. I’d like to interject here that it’s important not to confuse assuming with deducing. What distinguishes the two is that with assumptions, the conclusion has no real factual basis. It’s reached quickly and impulsively, sort of a knee-jerk reaction. Deducing, on the other hand, involves looking at the facts, considering the various possibilities, then landing on what seems most logical. If this hits home, consider what kind of assumer are you. Maybe the worse-case-scenario type where your suspicions spin out of control, branching off into more suspicions until you feel completely overwhelmed by the story you just created in your mind. Or the jumping-to-conclusions type where you interrupt people in conversation, assuming you know what they are going to say next. Possibly the manipulative type that paints negative pictures of others for your own personal gain. Or my favorite, the daydream believer who only sees the best in all things. In any case… All aboard! The freight train has left the station. I don’t want to give the impression that making assumptions is always bad. Sometimes we do it because of past experiences. Classical con-

ditioning occurs when one thing happens and another seemingly unrelated event consistently follows. Our brain naturally pairs these events together, creating a shortcut to the anticipated outcome. “What fires together, wires together.” If your partner gets defensive every time you bring up the subject of money, eventually you’ll go into financial conversations bracing yourself for their historically defensive responses. You feel attacked by their defensiveness, causing you to get defensive and counterattack. (No surprise to know that assumptions are hinged with defensiveness.) So, consider how assumptions help you. And by that I mean, do they save you time and energy, avoid conflict, keep you or others safe? I’m a big fan of working smarter, not harder. Sometimes the assumptions we make help to accomplish this. On the flip side, assumptions can certainly be problematic. Making negative assumptions about others can create negative opinions and feelings about that person that aren’t even based on reality. Assumptions can cause misunderstandings and arguments, overreactions, regret. Our nervous system doesn’t know the difference between thinking about something or actually doing it so when we make negative assumptions, our nervous system ‘acts as if’ it is true. The problem? We end

up experiencing stress, anxiety, anger, fear… flooding our bodies with stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. That’s a lot of unnecessary wear and tear on the body. Good or bad, we sometimes assume that others navigate from the same moral compass that we do. What do the assumptions you make about others actually say about you? (One for the couch, possibly.) So, how do we change this habit? Start listening to yourself. If you feel embarrassed when See GRAY on 26

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 —

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pon

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 —

Letters From God ground but the spirit or person will return to me, gently suggested that he begin now to prepare for the day that he would stand before me and begin his eternal life. The young lawyer got the picture and began to make preparations at that time, to prepare to meet me, his God (Amos 4:12). May I remind you that you have been created by me. I created the heavens and earth and placed humanity on it, to be in relationship with me and through that relationship, experience life that will last for eternity. I also formed you in the womb and during the process of assembling the body, I placed the person who would live in that body, your spirit, in you. You would not have life without me, and you cannot live and enjoy life now and for eternity without me. If you hope to enjoy life that will last for eternity you must do some very important work during your lifetime. The work you need to do is to learn to trust and rely on me for your temporal and eternal life (John 6:29). You see your sins or acts of disobedience, have already separated you from me. Because I’m holy I cannot have relationship with that which is unholy. Because you are unable to change your condition and the consequences of sin, I sent my son Jesus, the Messiah, to earth to live among you and die in your place as a substitute. When he died, because he was

Letters From God

QUESTION: Any Suggestions For New Year Resolutions? I appreciate you asking and seeking wisdom from me, your creator God, on important resolutions for the coming year. I could probably suggest a myriad number of ways you can improve your life during the course of this next year, but I don’t have enough space in this letter to discuss them all. So, let me simply reflect on the main thing. You know the key to life is making the main thing the main thing. I’m not sure if you’ve thought about it recently but you will live forever. I created you with a physical body that will one day die but the person who lives within the body will stand before me and begin their eternal life (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Since eternity eclipses the short amount of time you spend in an average human lifetime; it would be wise to consider preparing for that eternal destiny during your years of human existence. I remember listening into a conversation of a young man, who had just passed the bar and was beginning a career as a lawyer. He was speaking with an older lawyer who had retired, and the wise old sage wanted

eternal and sinless, he paid the penalty for your sins. But the pardon that he and I offer you is not a pardon until it’s accepted (John 1:12). If you will recognize that you have made yourself God, and ask me and my Son to forgive you, your sins will be forgiven, and you will be restored to a relationship with me. You will have spent this year of your life and whatever remaining years of your life trusting me and preparing, not just for temporal success, but eternal. If you make the main thing the main thing for this coming year you will be rewarded eternally. Can you think of a better suggestion for a New Year resolution? I Love You, God These letters are written by a New Hampshire pastor.

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to pass on his wisdom. He asked the young lawyer what he was going to do, once he passed the bar? He replied, I’ll begin a law practice and my career. The older lawyer than asked, and what will you do after that? Well, the young man said, I’d like to find the woman of my dreams, marry her and establish a family and the home. Wonderful, said the older lawyer. Then he asked again, what will you do after that? The young man replied, well I guess I’ll have a long and prosperous career and then retire. That sounds great said older lawyer. Then he asked again, what will you do after that? The young lawyer felt a sense of frustration with the questioning but answered by saying, I guess I’ll enjoy my retirement years and do all the things I’ve ever wanted to do in life that I couldn’t do because of my career and family. Excellent, said the older lawyer. Then he asked once again, and what will you do after that? The young lawyer knew where he was going and gave him the answer that the older lawyer expected saying, I guess I’ll just die! Thinking that was the end of the questioning, he was surprised that the lawyer asked yet again, what will you do after that? The young lawyer was speechless because he had never considered making plans after his death. The old man, who himself believed in me and understood that the body will decay in the

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 —

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 —

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A cold wind chased mom into the house as she hurried through the front door, trying to catch the storm door behind her. With only a handful of days before Christmas, she had gone to the neighbors to exchange some holiday treats and gifts. Mom set her bundle down on the dining room table, pulled a small wrapped package from it, and told me to go put it under the tree. ¨Who’s it for?¨, I asked, taking it from her. ¨It´s for you, from Mrs. Shields.¨ ¨FOR ME?!?!¨ It was no longer just a package, it was a present. I was captivated. Already it had begun to tempt me. It was small, heavy, and cylindrical. The top was not completely closed so tissue paper obscured the contents from prying eyes. It was wrapped in a fine mesh, like a sock. Green and red, with flecks of gold glitter, it had a gold elastic cord threaded throughout the top, like a draw-string pull, and tied in a bow so as not to come open before Christmas. But none of that mattered, what did matter was, it was for me. Mrs. Shields remembered me. Not

my brother, not my sister, ME! ¨Eric! Stop worrying the wrapping!¨ I jumped, startled by mom´s voice. Handling presents and preguessing what they were was strictly taboo in our house. Mom would say, ¨Knowing spoils the surprise.¨ ¨But I can´t wait, I really want to know what it is.¨ ¨That takes all the fun out of Christmas.

Now, go put that present under the tree. Christmas will be here soon enough.¨ I reluctantly, slowly, headed to the Christmas Tree with my present. Mom was right, knowing does take all the fun out of the surprise. My sister gave me a Mr. Potato Head toy for my birthday. It seemed as though I played with him for hours… before she ever gave him to me. I don’t

remember how old I was, I was little. But I do recall I would sneak into her room when she and my brother were gone. With the two of them out of the house, Dad working, and Mom occupied with the ironing, cooking dinner, or her Soap Opera´s, I would creep into my sister´s room as if I were a secret agent on a mission. Carefully, like crackSee FEAST on 21

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 —

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Ice conditions may be unpredictable, but safety gear may be the difference between a good day and a tragic one. It’s that time of year, winter is here (sort of) and lakes are beginning to freeze. With ice a bit later this year than most, I feel it’s important to recycle the topic of ice safety. Early ice is one of the most dangerous times of the entire ice fishing season. Since ice never forms uniformly due to varying temperatures, current, and other natural factors, it is important that you never assume ice is safe. Every year many people die and countless more need to be rescued after falling through the ice while ice fishing. Accidents on the ice are preventable, but they

require effort on the part of the user. As we begin to prepare for the coming ice fishing season, a few basic safety tools and techniques could be the difference between life and death. There are many variables when talking about safe ice thickness such as how quickly the ice formed and whether it snowed or thawed during formation. Quickly forming (clear ice) is the strongest, while ice that has partially thawed during formation or had snow temporarily interrupt the freezing process will be weaker as there will be more air trapped inside. The only way to

know how thick and how strong the ice you want to fish on is to check it as you go with a chisel (spud bar) or auger. I have seen ice thickness change from four inches to two inches in just ten feet, so check often. As you check the thickness, listen to the sound the sound bar makes as you chisel. Once you determine that the ice is safe you can drive your spud bar into the ice as you walk. If the sound of the spud bar hitting the ice changes, then so has the ice thickness, and it’s time to recheck. Spud bar isn’t the only item ice anglers

should have to keep them safe. Good traction, such as Kahtoola Microspikes, are a must. Traction not only helps protect you from falling and injuring yourself, but it is essential should you need to help rescue another person. Companies such as Clam Outdoors offer safety throw ropes that can be used to throw a rope to someone who has fallen through the ice, floating safety picks that float up in front of your face where you can easily reach them, ice fishing suits that offer added buoyancy, and other valuable See MOORE on 24

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 —

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I dreaded looking it up, but as it turns out, there was nothing to dread. Let me explain. There are a handful of regular birding columns that I write every year about this time. One is on Christmas gifts for the birdwatcher, one is about the Christmas Bird Count, one is on my birding highlights of the year, and one is on my New Year’s resolutions for the coming year. It is the resolution column that I dread looking back on. There are sure to be many failures and I just hope there are a few successes to go along with it. I was surprised when I looked up last year’s resolution column. As it turns out, I didn’t write one last year after all. Maybe there was too much going on, maybe I figured I wouldn’t stick to the resolutions anyway or maybe COVID’s first Christmas had me so down I just couldn’t bring myself to write a forward-thinking, optimistic column. Well, COVID is still with us and wreaking havoc on another holiday season, but I am not going to let it win this year. So here’s my latest birding New Year’s resolution column. I am going to get reacquainted with ducks. I know that sounds odd, but when I lived near

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A redhead swims alongside a ring-necked duck in New England. Long Island Sound, I would visit the water frequently to see what ducks were around. Ducks became my favorite type of bird to watch and I loved peering through the spotting scope to bring them so close. When I moved a bit north, I lost track of the many ducks that visit New England. Sure, I lived across the street from a small lake, but a few hooded mergansers and ring-necked ducks were about the only fowl that visited. Other than mallards in Canada geese, of course. The pond a short walk away through the woods was a good place to see wood ducks in the spring and fall, but it just wasn’t the same as seeing the large variety of ducks on Long Island Sound during the winter. So I stopped making any effort at all to see

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ducks. Well, 2022 will be different. There are plenty of large lakes around and Long Island Sound isn’t terribly far away. It may take a little more effort than it used to, but it’s going to happen. Secondly, I will get up early more often to go birdwatching. I used to get up before the sun and hit the woods or put the canoe on the water fairly regularly. I wouldn’t say it never happens anymore but it is far less frequent these days. Everyone knows that the morning is the best time to look for birds and other wildlife. Birds are more active, the sunrises can be spectacular and there’s no beating the morning light for photos. Staying in bed, however, is such a strong temptation. This year I will fight the urge to stay under the covers and get out

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normal brand.” -- P.L. in New Jersey * Cookies are so fun to make (and to eat). To save some of your favorites for the new year, simply place dough balls on a cookie sheet and freeze. Pop into a freezer-safe bag, and you can have freshly baked cookies pretty much anytime! -- JoAnn * “I have two carafes that I use for my breakfast bar. I keep coffee in one, and the other holds milk or cream. On holiday nights, I prep the cream carafe and put it in the fridge. In the morning, while the first pot of coffee is brewing, I fill the coffee carafe with hot water and let it sit until the coffee is ready. It keeps the coffee hot longer. Then guests can serve themselves some coffee while the next pot is brewing.” -- D.A. in Ohio * “Wine: Nobody I know is wasting it. But if you’re done before the bottle is, pour the leftover wine into ice-cube trays to save it. You can use it later in recipes or (my favorite) to chill a glass of wine!” -- E. in Florida * A can opener’s crevices can be cleaned by “opening” a length of waxed paper. Kitchen scissors can be sharpened by folding a piece of aluminum foil and cutting through it with the scissors.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 — FEAST from 15 ing a safe, I would open the door to the metal cabinet she used as her night stand. It always teetered a bit on the uneven floor causing it to resonate like a bass drum if you did not place your hand on it. A quick survey of items inside the cabinet and there he was, just like on TV, Mr. Potato Head, smiling at me with eyes popping and that cheesy mustache grin. Reaching in, I would cautiously lift out the box, set it on my sister´s bed, and empty the contents onto the bedspread. Playing with all those little pieces and making funny faces on Mr. Potato Head was so much fun until, ¨What are you doing up there?¨ It was mom yelling up the stairs. Half frightened I would nearly scream, ¨NOTHING!¨ The guilt ridden tone was so obvious as I worked frantically to get everything back into the box and back to its rightful place in the cabinet. ¨You know you are not supposed to be in your sister´s room. Get out of there!¨ How did that woman always know where I was? And if she knew, why did she ask? ¨Okay!¨ I shouted, while shutting the door to the cabinet so mom didn’t hear the metal door squeak. The cabinet had a metal pinch type clasp. You had to push on the door to make it catch. The metal to metal would always make a little chirp like a cricket. That blasted metal cabinet, always off balance, rattled and tattled, letting mom know I was up to no good. Just before my birthday, I again snuck into my sister´s room for one more play date with Mr. Potato Head. I think

she knew I had been in there. At the bottom of the cabinet was a box, about the same size as Mr. Potato Head, but it was wrapped. I began to panic! In my little mind I started thinking back to the last time we played together. In my haste to pick up did I miss something? A mustache? A foot? An eyeball? I´ll probably never know what tipped my sister off to my being in there. Mom was right, knowing before it´s time does take all the fun out of the present. When I saw the familiar wrap, on a box I had handled so often, the wonder and mystery were gone and Mr. Potato Head didn’t have the same appeal as he had before. Äla-Mary-ERIC!¨ It was mom, I was stalling with the present in my hand. Whenever mom was about to blow her stack she ran through all three names before she got to the one in trouble. ¨Mary-Eri-ALAN!¨, Äla-Eri-MARYJANE!¨, and I was ÄlaMary-ERIC!¨. ¨Put it under the tree, now!¨ Her voice was stern. As I neared the tree, the mystery object in my hand, I thought of Mr. Potato Head as I set Mrs. Shields´ present for me under the boughs. And there it sat, waiting for Christmas, always taunting me. Each day more presents were placed under the tree. With each new present, I always found a way to reshuffle them so as not to lose sight of that one from Mrs. Shields. It also gave me a chance to touch that peculiar object. I was sure by now it was a can, but a can of what? What comes in cans for kids? A barrel of monkeys? Tootsie Rolls? YES! That’s it! Candy! But what kind? Tootsie Rolls were cardboard

cans with metal ends. This was a metal ca… ¨ERIC!¨, mom´s classic foot stomp, clapping on the hardwood floor for added effect, she had caught me, again. This time, rearranging presents. ¨Stop playing with the presents! Good things come to those who wait!¨ It was an admonishing tone. ¨But I want it now!¨, I sounded like spoiled little Veruca Salt from Willy Wonka. ¨Patience is a virtue.¨ Mom retorted. That was totally lost on me. ¨Who´s Patience? What´s a virtue?¨ ¨Curiosity killed the cat!¨ Mom quipped. ¨Satisfaction brought him back!¨ I had dad to thank for that one, and it almost cost me a butt warming. ¨Watch your tone Little Man!¨ Finally, Christmas morning arrived and

with it three kids thundering down from our rooms like wild horses let out of the gate. Our parents´ bedroom was at the foot of the stairs. Mom could see us coming down. She slept facing the stairs to guard against early risers. A groggy voice called out from the darkness, ¨You can only open stockings before breakfast and not until your father and I are up.¨ The decree was met with a collective groan from the three of us Christmas is the only day I have two pieces of toast, and no, I do not waste time with cinnamon and sugar. The sooner breakfast was done, the sooner we could sail into presents and I wanted to know what Mrs. Shields gave me. The moment I had been so eagerly anticipating was finally here. I picked up the present and placed it on

mom’s lap. I had some trouble with that gold string bow but eventually it gave way to my attempts. I opened the top and took out the tissue paper that covered the object. It was indeed a can. The top was a drab metallic earthy color. Mom cautioned me, ¨Be careful, you don’t know what it is.¨ I reached into the bag but could not get my hand around the can. I was almost jumping with frustrated excitement. I had to know what was in that can. As if working a sock off, I began to wrinkle the cloth bag down the side of the can and letters began to reveal the contents as more and more of the label appeared. Everyone began to laugh as they figured out what the letters spelled, while I, not until the bag was off, seeing the picture

on the label, realized what it was. My eyes lit up, a smile from ear to ear across my face. On that Christmas nearly 45 years ago, little did I know then, but Mrs. Shields had given me one of the most memorable gifts I have ever been given. Not only did she give me one of my most favorite foods, she provided me with a Simple Feast that, while admittedly, perhaps, may be a bit embellished to entertain the reader, gave me a lesson that has lasted the test of time. She taught me that Christmas is not about the present, it is the thoughtfulness behind the gift that matters most. Oh, and those letters on the can that everyone laughed about: BL-A-C-K O-L-I-V-E-S.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 —

RAMBLES from 1 flect upon the accents that poets in all ages have referred to the mystic sprites inhabiting the deep recesses of the grove, and derive much happiness therein. But in a wintry ramble through the wold and wood we are apt to find our ear greeted by voices proceeding from creatures more material than the dryads of the forest. As

we walk along today a red squirrel salutes us from a tree. He is on a ramble himself. In an apple tree from which he barks and chuckles at us is an occasional decayed specimen of last autumn’s fruit, and the seed can furnish a palatable variation of his wintry diet. In our quiet perambulations we should not have noticed him but for his inevitable disposition to announce his pres-

ence by his voice. We will kindly give him a moment’s passing attention. The trait of some wild animals to salute their natural enemies with a voice that is peculiarly deriding in its suggestions is worthy of a considerate notice. The little animal before us doubtless conceives of man as a hostile being, so many representatives of the squirrel race having fallen vic-

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tims of human predatory instincts. Then why should not this red squirrel in reason steal away from us in silence and cultivate perfect concealment? The inquiry suggests an anomaly in nature that is often manifested. Those creatures that by nature are peculiarly exposed to danger often seem to have a corresponding instinct of daring and defiance. This fact is even true of the human family. Who has not abundantly observed the disposition of boys to court the nearest possible proximity to danger that can be made with safety? Let us remain perfectly quiet and likely enough this squirrel will creep cautiously forward until he is almost within reach of a hand, all the time keeping up his voluminous

barking and chuckling. Yet, if we move he will dart away with a degree of speed that is nothing less than phenomenal. May it not be that he is simply daring and defying us? In view of an apparent disposition of exposed natural life, we may assume that without a corresponding instinct of courage such life would be speedily exterminated by its enemies. We pass by the squirrel in the apple tree and take our way to an evergreen shade. Here our ear is greeted by the note of a tiny bird. In the higher branches of the pines and hemlocks the little, sprightly, black capped titmouse salutes our hear with his “Chickadee-dee-dee!” His frequent peculiar refrain has given him the popular name of chickadee. He is too far up in the branches to justify us in the conclusion that has certainly indulged his chant this time on our account. But why did he indulge it at all? We have observed a titmouse with his feathers raised upon his head while chanted his “Chickadee-dee-dee with an emphasis that seemed to breathe unmistakable anger. If this is his way of hurling defiance at real or imaginary enemies, he is, apparently, very much of the time out of his of temper. The chant which has given him a name appears to be a vocal feature of all seasons of the year. Yet this bird also has a soft refrain of two notes—one higher and one lower—which he sings betimes in summer and winter, to the delight of our ear. A blue jay screams from a high treetop, but he is apparently too busy with his own affairs to convey an impression of interSee RAMBLES on 23

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 — RAMBLES from 22 est in the humbler matters of the earth below. The blue jay is an active bird, seemingly ever hopping from bough to bough or flitting from tree to tree. Like the titmouse, he stays with us all the year, and he also screams, apparently, in every season. Yet different birds seem to have a more restricted range of vocal tones in winter than in summer. It may be that in winter these birds utter only those notes that imply a struggle for existence, while in summer they have a greater latitude of purpose and voice. In winter in this region a woodpecker will chirp loudly and shrilly from a tree where he clambers up, down, and around in search

A blue jay screams from a high treetop, but he is apparently too busy with his own affairs to convey an impression of interest in the humbler matters CHRIS BOSAK PHOTO of the earth below.

for a grub or two in the dead wood of a defunct branch. He stays with us the year round. Occasionally a hawk will scream from the higher regions of the air, but not often. Now and then a crow will caw from the top of a tree, and then he is popularly esteemed the harbinger of a warm wave of the atmosphere. This is, doubtless, because here in New Hampshire we are only a relatively short distance from the ocean, by whose brink the crow can easily abide all winter if he chooses. Being often by the sea and in comparative proximity to his summer haunts, he is tempted to fly inland betimes. In the instance of one of his wintry visits the sound of his familiar

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caw is a cheerful reminder of the returning warm season, and its associations easily afford a conception of prophecy. We now return homeward. As we pass a cluster of young pines we hear a “Quit!” and a number of ruffed grouse whirr away on wings of thunderous sound. The grouse is apparently a timid bird and flies quickly on the approach of danger. Hark ! a peculiar sharp yelp is heard on the hillside. A fox barks. We are not interested enough to contemplate the motive. This evening, when the sky is heavily curtained with dark, the owl will likely enough hoot in the forest, but we shall not be out.

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MOORE from 18 safety products specifically designed with the ice angler in mind. In today’s hi-tech world, there is no need to take risks. There is a tool for every job, and safety should come first. You will never see me using a snowmobile or ATV on the ice that doesn’t have a Nebulus Flotation Device attached. The Nebulus is an emergency flotation device that, once deployed by pulling the large yellow handle, will inflate in 60-seconds and offer 1000-pounds of buoyancy. Once inflated, my snowmobile will hang in the water below the device, allowing occupants to climb into the inflated life raft. If you’re concerned about 1000-pounds of flotation being enough

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for a snowmobile and it cant other who may be he covers don’t. everything skeptical of your fishoccupants, The from politics to health ing expenses. Don’t get weight of an objecttointechnology complacent this season water is reduced by This to shopping and more. your lakes and theisweight of thesampling water when the perfect of it displaces, making ponds begin to freeze. his unique humor which has 1000-pounds of flota- Our friends and famientertaining readers liesofare far more importionbeen more than enough The Weirs Times and Cocheco for most snowmobiles tant than a day spent or ATVs. Times for twenty years.on a block of ice trying Ice safety gear isn’t to outsmart a fish. If Order your autographed copy can’t today for $13.99 afford to take always inexpensive, but you $3 for shipping. (Also available on Amazon advantage of some of it’splus hopefully the least andlocal bookstores used piece of ice fish- the newer safety gear the ing gear you willorpurSend checks money on orders formarket. $16.99 to Stick with the chase,Brendan and the easiest Smith and mail to: Best of a basics F.O.O.L., and use common to justify to that signific/o The Weirs Times, PO Box 5458, Weirs, NHsense. 03247. A

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little common sense goes a long way, and your loved ones will appreciate it. As you head out onto first ice this season, remember that there is no such thing as safe ice and always proceed with caution. SIDE NOTE: I will be giving a free ice fishing seminar, discussing three of my favorite species, at the NH Fish and Game Department in Concord on January 5 at 7pm. No RSVP needed, but space is limited. Tim Moore is a fulltime professional fishing guide in New Hampshire. He owns and operates Tim Moore Outdoors, LLC. He is a member of the New England Outdoors Writers Association, and the producer of TMO Fishing on YouTube and the Hooked with TMO Fishing Podcast. Visit www. TimMooreOutdoors.com for more information.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 — SMITH from 3 mas, December 20, 1942, when the B-17 in which DeWolf was the bombardier was flying over France towards Germany with the object of striking targets there when the plane came under enemy fire and was shot down. The young bombardier remembered flying over Paris and looking down at the Eiffel Tower before the event that would dramatically change his life for the next 29 months occurred. The B-17 Flying Fortress was headed for Romilly-on-the-Seine, a large German airfield, and was over Melon, France when it was attacked by Folk Wolf’s German fighter planes. The pilot tried to es-

Fletcher and Doris DeWolf.

DeWolf with his Mother and Wife. cape by returning to their home base, flying down the river towards the west, but the plane, which was on fire, crashed. DeWolf said that the tailgunner on the plane was killed by the enemy’s assault just before the plane crashed, and three other crewmen were lost in the river. Those who survived the crash tried to hide from the Germans in the forest, but after the Nazi soldiers sprayed machine gun bullets over their heads they gave themselves up and became prison-

ers of war. War-time instructions for the American airmen were that once they were on the ground that they were to be non-combatant and surrender their firearms. So DeWolf and many other American airmen who were shot down by the Germans in World War II became POW’s and subject to the often inhumane conditions in the prison camps. The procedure for dealing with prisoners of war was to first take them to process-

ing centers where they were interrogated before being shipped in boxcars to be held for the duration of the war in barracks in the prison camps. Fletcher Dewolf was taken first to Lamsdoff, Poland and then to Moosburg, Germany before being shipped to Stalag 17. The name was shortened from Stammlager Luft, meaning prison camp for airmen, and 17-B, because it was the second prison camp in the German 17th military district. One of the things that seemed vital to survival of the imprisoned airmen was that they looked after each other’s welfare, according to DeWolf. He told a newspaper reporter that while he was at Moosburg a Russian paratrooper gave him a bag of apples when he told him that the prisoners were not receiving their Red Cross packages. Those apples, he said, helped them to survive. At Stalag 17 DeWolf was a barracks chief

overseeing 120 men. He said that the television show “Hogan’s Heroes” was not a true portrayal of Stalag 17, but the movie about the prison camp was more accurate as to the real conditions there. DeWolf did indicate that they had a guard named “Struck” who was a Sergeant Shultzlike character from the television program. Sgt. DeWolf was given strict warnings against

trying to escape, which he didn’t attempt to do, but he did try to help others to escape. The poem at the beginning of this article seems to be an accurate account of the miserable conditions the POW’s experienced in the Nazi camps. German guards were said to have been trigger happy and DeWolf said that the guards would sometimes shower the barracks with bullets

while the men laid on the floor at night, and in the morning the sunlight would shine through the bullet holes in the walls. In return the prisoners did what they could to make things difficult for the guards. Other sections of the camp housed British, French, and Italian prisoners, and a section for Russian prisoners who were said to have been treated worse than other Allied prisoners, resulting in many deaths. After doing all they could to maintain their dignity in the prison camp, in April of 1945 the 4,000 or so American airmen in Stalag 17 were marched into the woods and were eventually freed by General George Patton’s 13th Armored Division. Fletcher DeWolf returned to a welcome home ceremony in Bristol, then made his home with his wife, the former Doris Remick. in Alexandria. While in Alexandria he served as a selectman. The family moved to Bristol in 1999 where DeWolf served on the School Board. Sergeant DeWolf passed away in the year 2005.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 — KENDER from 8 ered. *Hiatal hernia is also a big risk factor for acquiring GERD as this causes a disfunction in the sphincter due to the change in position of the esophagus, so this should be considered as well. Treatments are available to fix this issue. This is explained below. *Bad posture while eating. Sit up straight so you don’t kink up the works and cause pressure on the LES. *Some medications can cause low stomach acid production, likely because of these drugs depressive action or stress on the liver: anxiety medications and antidepressants, antibiotics, blood pressure medications, nitroglycerin, osteoporosis drugs, and pain relievers (which can actually damage the parietal cells). What Causes Low Stomach Acid? A diet high in processed foods loaded with sugar....so, SUGAR. Stress - adrenal stress and dysfunction can lead to elevated cortisol which

can disrupt digestive processes. Chlorinated water consumption Carbonated beverages - these beverages can damage the parietal cells and inhibit gastric juice production. Poor methylation of the liver. This detoxification pathway is where the liver processes many drugs. A methyl group is added by the liver too many common toxins directing these toxins to be eliminated by the body. When this process is overwhelmed because of medications, poor diet and over-all environmental pollution, this can lead to poor stomach acid production. What Can You Do About It? Simple natural interventions to consider: Bitters - artichoke leaf, burdock root, dandelion root, yellow dock- These herbs stimulate bile excretion and keep things moving. You can drink in tea or take as a bitter spray before meals. These also support liver function and can help support digestion.

Demulcents Marshmallow root, slippery elm, aloe these herbs will reduce inflammation and take away some of the symptoms, but should not be used long term as these will also reduce stomach acid due to the high sugar content. Carminatives - Celery seed, cardamom, fennel, chamomile, catnip, ginger, anise many others that can help to relieve symptoms and support the bodies own ability to secrete acid. Healing herbs comfrey leaf, plantain - these herbs contain allantoin, a compound that can heal tissue by its ability to increase cell proliferation. These work great, but comfrey should not be used long term. 1 to 2 cups a week is the limit and take a break for a week as well. This is why I like plantain here too. Plantain can be taken daily with no negative side effects. Real Fermented Vegetables - Eating fermented vegetables with main meals helps the body digest better and supports the digestive process by introducing the same

bacteria that live in our gut. Fermented vegetables added to any diet improves transit time, reduces digestive issues, increases absorption of vital nutrients, helps the lower bowel produce needed vitamins, and reduces the risk for disease like diverticulitis. Use DGL licorice. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice is available at your local health food stores and can help restore the mucosal lining in the stomach. It is also nice to take for prevention and can be used to reduce inflammation on or near the LES to relieve symptoms of GERD. Sara M. Woods Kender is a Clinical Herbalist, Reiki Master, and Psychic Medium offering an array of medicinal and culinary herbs, spices, and teas; syrups, skincare, and magical items too. Sacred Tree Herbals, 169 DW Highway, Unit 1, Meredith, NH. www. sarasherbs.com 603279-2779.

GRAY from 11 you answer the phone with an attitude assuming it’s a telemarketer only to learn it’s someone returning your call, or you feel like a jerk when you blow your horn at the guy in front of you only to find out he stopped for someone in the crosswalk, I say good! It means you have a conscience inside trying to encourage you to be a better human. A ‘wait and see’ approach can be helpful at avoiding pointless assuming. Challenge yourself to slow down. Ask clarifying questions. Reflect it back to the other person to see if you got it right. Consider what else could be true by adjusting your mental lens. Life is a kaleidoscope. One tiny shift in your view can create tremendous improvements in your outlook, mood, and experiences. Leslie A. Gray is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and operates Gray Matters Counseling & Wellness, PLLC in Laconia NH. Feel free to submit responses or requests for subject content to: askgraymatters@gmail. com.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 — METZLER from 7 should be a lesson but stealth plans by the Bosnian Serbs could reignite this Balkan powder keg. East Asia. The pendulum for now has shifted from the divided Korean peninsula to the long overlooked Taiwan Straits separating communist China from the democratic island of Taiwan. Over the past few decades despite massive economic links between the two Chinas, the perception emerged that military threats were nearly nil. But Beijing has never renounced the use of military force to retake its “renegade province” and has militarily bullied Taiwan for over a year with airspace intrusions and provocative probes by 940 military jets. The Winter Beijing Olympics offer a chapter break; China’s communist regime must stay on best behavior until after the Games. Is this the moment for the forced “reunification” with the communist Mainland through a military attack on democratic Taiwan? Probably not quite yet. Nonetheless grey area warfare and an incremental squeeze on the small island may increase with additional air force and possibly fishing fleet probes into Taiwan sovereign airspace/territory. What is the U.S. response? Jimmy Carter abrogated the formal U.S. defense treaty with Taiwan back in 1979. The United States has many serious options but no legal military commitment to defend Taiwan. Still there’s strong bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress and the Biden

Administration to protect Taiwan in some manner; it used to be called “strategic ambiguity” as to keep the Chinese communists guessing. Washington’s policies are no longer so nuanced. The Biden Administration’s appalling pullout from Afghanistan spilled blood in the water tempting aspiring aggressors.

than during 2020 before there were vaccines. Covid has inflicted massive human, economic and psychological stress and suffering globally. But beyond Covid concerns there’s rising inflation, higher gas and fuel prices and national malaise.

Middle East. The ongoing conflicts in Syria and Yemen churn on with War, refugees and humanitarian crises being the bloody byproduct.

John J. Metzler is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He is the author of Divided Dynamism The Diplomacy of Separated Nations: Germany, Korea, China.

Latin America. The political win of the presidency by the hard Left in Chile, a fairly prosperous and democratic country, follows a similar electoral victory a year earlier in Argentina. Will upcoming elections in Brazil and Colombia continue this trend? Covid Pandemic. More than 5 million people have died worldwide from the virus with more than 816,000 in the USA alone. Ironically during 2021 more Americans died from Covid

Our era has a very 1970’s feel to it.

BOSAK from 19 of directors and I’ve helped several other conservation organizations with publicly and in other ways, so it’s not like I haven’t given back at all. But it’s time to step it up a notch. With so many local organizations, it shouldn’t be too hard to find one that needs a hand. Speaking of hands, this resolution includes getting my hands dirty on trail restorations, eradicating invasive plants or doing something else to improve a piece of land. Maybe I’ll make my boys join me too. So there it is. The return of my resolution column. I’ll check in next year and let you know how I did. Do you have any nature-related resolutions? Drop me a line and let me know. Chris Bosak may be reached at chrisbosak26@gmail.com or through his website www.birdsofnewengland.com

MOFFETT from 4 and the Bucs were shut out. You’ve got to be kidding me! There will never be a “Lock of the Week,” so long as players can still fumble, get hurt, drop passes, or miss tackles. So on Dec. 19, after that 9-0 Saints win, I resolved to make a New Year’s Resolution to stop the madness and quit betting on NFL games. Our education system would have to survive without me. Except I just have this feeling about a certain team that I feel is a lock to win the Super Bowl. So my New Year’s Resolution won’t go into effect until February. And that, my friends, will be a LOCK! Sports Quiz Which of the following Ivy League schools was NOT aided by lottery revenues in their early years? Harvard. Yale. Princeton. Columbia. Dartmouth. (Answer follows)

Born Today That is to say, sports standouts born on December 30 include pitching great Sandy Koufax (1935) and star quarterback Kerry Collins (1972). Sports Quote “Gambling is the child of avarice, the brother of iniquity, and the father of mischief.” – George Washington Sports Quiz Answer All the aforementioned Ivy League institutions largely depended on gaming revenues in their formative years. (This was before the federal student loan program.) State Representative Mike Moffett was a Sports Management Professor for Plymouth State University and NHTI-Concord. He coauthored the award-winning “FAHIM SPEAKS: A Warrior-Actor’s Odyssey from Afghanistan to Hollywood and Back” which is available on Amazon. com. His e-mail address is mimoffett@comcast. net.

— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 —

MALKIN from 6 lice union president Nick Rogers blew the whistle on how top brass (led by a police chief who marched arm in arm with BLM last summer) issued a retreat order while the mob trampled our constitutional rights to free speech and peaceable assembly. But despite Tiegen’s preparation, better police presence and barriers that kept rioters from invading the plaza, one man didn’t make it out alive: You. Lee Keltner. Lee, you weren’t able to see or know that an agitator named Jeremiah Elliott had been antagonizing your fellow patriots throughout the end of the event as they walked back to their cars. From multiple pieces of video footage

and from witness accounts I gathered, Elliott was menacing and hateful. He had a history of left-wing agitation, including leading an anarchist antifa/ black bloc mob outside a Denver police station a month before the Patriot Muster. As I previously reported, Lee, while Elliott trailed you, a Trump-hating Occupy Denver radical named Matthew Dolloff and a local NBC affiliate investigative producer for Denver’s 9News named Zack Newman conferred with each other nearby. At some point, Dolloff handed his cellphone to Newman. Minutes later, photographers and videographers filmed the agitator aggressively daring Keltner to deploy a can of bear spray

he was holding to protect himself as Dolloff and Newman stood by closely. At first, Lee, you resisted engaging in any physical brawl as the agitator escalated. Mere seconds later, you walked away from the agitator only to walk right into what appears to be a deadly ambush with Dolloff. In an instant, Dolloff appeared to grab for something on your chest while you slapped defensively at his face. Dolloff then immediately whipped out a gun and shot at your face as you sprayed the repellant in self-defense. I repeat the questions I asked in the aftermath of what I believe was a media-political assassination, Lee, so they and you will not be forgotten: What did Newman

and Dolloff discuss as they shadowed you and Elliott? Did they have beef with you? Did Newman or Dolloff know Elliott? Was Newman, who works for a station that routinely demonizes conservatives as violent racists while whitewashing the left-wing trashing of downtown Denver, aware of Dolloff’s extensive social media footprint calling Trump supporters “racist” “fascists” and posting “Rise Up” Communist revolutionary propaganda? Lee, your friend Steven Wright, who was with you in your last waking moments, continues to push for truth and justice in your case. He told me recently: “Lee Keltner and I specifically discussed

you, Michelle.” Steven said you told him that “no one will hurt her again” and that the riot at the July “Back the Blue” event “had a significant impact on me and Lee Keltner.” Lee, I will never get to say “thank you” to you. But I vow in 2022 to make sure that “never again” is your legacy and that your name and courage are not forgotten. God bless you, patriot.

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Michelle Malkin’s email address is MichelleMalkinInvestigates@ protonmail.com. To find out more about Michelle Malkin and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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SHAPIRO from 6 will only happen when Americans abandon the cultic worship of government and return to reality. And Biden and Democrats will fight such blasphemy with every weapon in their arsenal. Ben Shapiro, 37, is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and editor-inchief of DailyWire.com. He is the author of the New York Times bestsellers “How To Destroy America In Three Easy Steps,” “The Right Side Of History,” and “Bullies.” To find out more about Ben Shapiro and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 — STOSSEL from 7 idea of collectivism is that people are too stupid to make their own decisions. Individuals will make rational decisions and do.” I push back. “Some people are stupid. Is there no point when the government does have a right to force a vaccination?” “I’m not for ever forcing someone to take medical care,” says Paul. What about kids? “The death rate

among children is less than the seasonal flu,” Paul points out. “We never mandated that kids get vaccinated for the seasonal flu, (even though they get) like 49 different vaccines. Can we not leave some choice for parents and kids?” I hope so but push back again. “What if it’s airborne Ebola? Does government ever have the right to say, you must take this medicine?” “No,” says Paul. “Once you let govern-

ment in the door to make these decisions, they make onerous decisions.” They do. I’m a libertarian. I want government out of my life. But an epidemic is the rare exception where some government force may be appropriate. If a disease is vicious and contagious, and a medicine clearly reduces the spread, I want government to protect me from reckless people, like it protects me

from murderers. Not to say that America needs a vaccine mandate. There’s been far too much government force during this pandemic already. It’s good to question the government’s rules. I’m glad Paul does that. But when it comes to epidemics, I won’t say: never.

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John Stossel is creator of Stossel TV and author of “Give Me a Break: How I Exposed Hucksters, Cheats,

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 —

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 —

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October 2, 1936 Spanky’s first attempt to create “Our Gang”. -David Doyon, Moultonboro, NH.

Wendell’s ‘dolled up’ lady friends stood out unmoved by his boyish charms!. -Jean Cram, Pittsfield, NH.

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— THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, December 30, 2021 —