Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Resistance (Weight) Training for Beginners


I thought about calling this "Resistance Training for Dummies", but my Mama didn't raise no dummies, and knowing my readership, yours didn't either! But you may not have been exposed to any formal weight training, and while you're "sheltering in place", this could be your introduction to getting started. Resistance training is different than "cardio". Ideally, your workouts should be a combination of cardio and resistance. Walk or bike a minimum of 20 minutes a day for cardio vascular benefits. Some of you may be into step aerobics, kickboxing or pole dancing (I don't judge!) But a minimum of twenty minutes to get your heart pumping. On resistance training, some of you are already ahead of me. I noted the other day that every free weight above 2 lbs. was sold out at my local Target.

First, the benefits of weight/resistance/strength training. It can help you look better. Ladies, this isn't to turn you into the Incredible Hulk, but face it: firm looks better than flab! Guys, you can start taking your t-shirt off at the pool without embarrassment, too. It will make you feel better. Weight training releases endorphins which enhance your mood. There is a sense of accomplishment as you lift heaver and heavier weights. Plus, there are health benefits. Studies suggest that resistance training can aid in the control and prevention of diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with type 2 diabetes start a strength training program to help with blood sugar control.

* For people with diabetes, strength training helps the body :
* Respond better to insulin.
* Improve the way it uses blood sugar.
* Lose weight.
* Lower your risk for heart disease.

Another plus to starting at home is that some of you never wanted to go to the gym in the first place, because you didn't want to sit down on a weight machine, looking for a setting less than ten pounds, while the guy in the next station is bench pressing a Volkswagen. I get it. It's like the folk who clean the house before the cleaning lady arrives, because you don't want her to judge. So let's get started. Whether you have linguine arms or look like Charles Atlas, I'll bet there's something here you can learn.

There are four types of resistance. Weights, springs, resistance bands and isometrics. Weights are pretty self explanatory: dumbbells, kettle bells, and weight plates and bars.
Springs could be a hand grip*, sold in different levels of resistance or gizmos like the Thighmaster, a spring loaded device to work your thigh muscles.

Resistance bands can be as sophisticated (and expensive) as a Bowflex machine, or as simple as the  resistance bands frequently used in Physical Therapy (PT) sessions. These, too, come in different colors, representing differences in their elastic resistance. You can get a set on Amazon for 12 to 20 dollars. They are generally targeted to very specific muscle groups and joints, and there are a wide variety of exercises that utilize the lighter weight of their resistance. Very helpful if you have an extreme weakness, with the added benefit of not denting the floor, the furniture or your foot if you let go with one hand!

Isometrics are where you pit one muscle group against another. No equipment necessary, you are, if you'll excuse the pun, your own dumbbell!

We're going to look at free weights today. To me, form is very important. For a bicep curl, for example, find a weight that allows you to lift 10 repetitions (Reps) at a time, without undue straining or loss of control. Start with your arms fully extended down by your side, and working one arm at a time or both, curl your arm upward and then extend it all the way down. Some gymrats like to cheat, because it's a little easier to lift the second time, if you don't let the weight all the way down. But, full extension tones the entire muscle, not just the middle part. Do three sets of ten reps.

If you don't have weights, and you don't have access to a gym, start with a soup can. Or peaches, whatever you feel comfortable with. The last few reps of the last set should be difficult.
If they aren't, try more reps or a heavier weight. After I master three sets of ten reps with any given weight, I'll add another two to three reps per set before moving to the next larger weight. Try for smooth motion, full extension, and a feeling like you're happy to stop after that 30th rep.

Full control. Full extension. You are competing against yourself, not the gymrat next to you. This is important: any time you use a muscle group, give it a day of rest. When I'm in the groove I like to alternate bicep curls and tricep curls, working a different muscle group every day, allowing to muscle you've worked to rest, repair and grow.

Try some tricep curls, too. For really buff looking arms you really have to work the tris! Start with your elbows pointing straight up, with the weights resting on your back. Then straighten your arm straight up and back. If you alternate bicep and tricep curls every day, you give each muscle group a day off between reps. (Lazy millennial muscle groups!)

And that saying "No pain no gain"? Depends a lot on what type of "pain". As your muscles become fatigued, they will release lactic acid.

Lactic acid is produced in your muscles and builds up during intense exercise. It can lead to painful, sore muscles. Lactic acid buildup due to exercise is usually temporary and not cause for a lot of concern, but it can affect your workouts by causing discomfort.

So, you may experience a mild burning sensation, or aches or discomfort, sometimes showing up, up to 48 hours after your workout. This is normal. Extremely sharp or piercing pains are not. Do not try to "muscle" through them. Stop what you're doing immediately with the onset of any sharp pains. Take your arm through the motion without the weight. If the pain is still there, you may have pulled or strained something. You may need to see a doctor. If the pain is not intense, kwitcher bellyachin' and drop and give me ten!

If this has been helpful, let me know and I'll work up some more exercises to take you through. If the Cheetos dust on your keyboard is clogging the keys, I won't bug you any more about it. Maybe.

You can buy free weights on Amazon. If you think you might not stick with it, accessorize your house! Buy an antique flat iron on ebay, the kind your great grandma used to use, and use it like a kettle bell!  Then, set it on your hearth!

But, stay safe in there!




*If you have a hand grip, try this: Instead of simply doing ten reps, take a dime, squeeze the handles togeter until they grip the dime and then just hold it 'til it drops. It'll drop before you release it, because your muscles will get a little shaky towards the end. Repeat to try to increase the time.

Classic KiRKWOOD



Original art by John Cox. More at John Cox Art

Quote du jour

"No amount of practice makes you taller."
-Madeleine "Maddie" Bosch, on women's sports

Monday, March 30, 2020

The Beatles Updated


In the town where I was born
Lived a man who liked to sneeze
And he told us of his life
In the land of quarantine!

So we sailed up to the sun
'Til we found a rubber boot
And we lived alone and raved
In our yellow biosuit

We all live in a yellow biosuit
Yellow biosuit, yellow biosuit
We all live in a yellow biosuit
Yellow biosuit, yellow biosuit

And our friends are all aboard
Many more of them live next door
And the band begins to play

We all live in a yellow biosuit
Yellow biosuit, yellow biosuit
We all live in a yellow biosuit
Yellow biosuit, yellow biosuit

As we live a life of ease
Everyone of us has all we need (except TP!)
Sky of blue (sky of blue) and sea of green (and sea of green)
In the land of quarantine (quarantine, ah ha)

We all live in a yellow biosuit
Yellow biosuit, yellow biosuit
We all live in a yellow biosuit
Yellow biosuit, yellow biosuit
We all live in a yellow biosuit
Yellow biosuit, yellow biosuit
We all live in a yellow biosuit
Yellow biosuit, yellow biosuit

(With apologies to Ringo Starr)

I Survived the Great Toilet Paper Shortage of 2020 - And You Can, Too!


Just, not exactly the way I'd planned! I'm writing this in case I get hit by a bus or something in the next few years and my next of kin stumble across my remaining toilet paper holdings and think that I was carried away by the corona virus panic of 2020. I was not. It was more of a different kind of panic, which started maybe six years ago...

In the years leading up to my retirement, the economy sucked. (Thanks, Obama!) One of the uncertainties I faced was the cost of healthcare. I had a great plan at the company where I worked, but figured I would have to purchase coverage in the aftermath of the Obamacare apocalypse. Wasn't sure how much to budget for. Plus, investment opportunities matched the economy. Interest on savings accounts were less than one percent. CDs were maybe 3% if you wanted to tie your money up for five years, so I used a different strategy: I would invest in household goods and food.

I had raised five children on a single, sub optimum salary, so I know a little bit about shopping for value. I looked for purchases that would give me a better than 3% return on the investment. Plus, if my income really sucked in retirement, I still wanted to eat, have the luxury of TP and whatever else I could squirrel away. So let me tell you about my adventures and misadventures in investing for my retirement. (This was all in addition to my 401K contributions, so it wasn't completely squirrelly!)

First of all, you have to pay off all your credit cards. If you are paying 20% interest and making minimum payments, you need to buy everything at 20% off just to break even. The first month. With credit cards, compound interest is not your friend. All my credit cards were paid off and paid in full every month. That's the only way one should ever buy groceries with a credit card, if you can avoid it. With five kids, who expected to eat regularly, that wasn't always the case with me. Get there. Pay off the card with the lowest balance and then start applying that payment to the next lowest balance until you are out of debt. Rinse and repeat.

With that in mind, you need to know what a good price is for everything you buy. The store advertises its sale prices, but they probably mark up other things so they can make a good profit. If you're pinching the pennies until Abe squeals, you need to know the difference. Also realize that driving five miles to save a nickel a can on something won't save you money either!

So, scout a couple of markets if you need to. Compare the prices on stuff you normally buy. Consider buying stuff you DON'T normally buy. I'd never bought "wax beans" until about six months ago, but they were cheaper than green beans and taste about the same. Variety is the spice of life, right?

First, I would wait until the supermarket had a genuine sale on what I wanted to buy.

I would combine that with a manufacturer's coupon, if available, or a store coupon, or both.

I would buy at a market with a cash back incentive, a "club card", if you will.

And I would make the purchase on a credit card that gave me cash back.

When applicable, I would add items, that met the criteria, to obtain bonuses the markets would set for a minimum purchase.

There was nearly always a Manufacturer's coupon on my favorite brand of TP, and my local store was big on incentives to spend a minimum amount, so I'd often add a pack of toilet paper to my list to get the additional discounts. That's the good news! Multiple discounts on every purchase added up!

Now, the down side: inventory control. Or the lack thereof. I had a special place to store Kleenex. I would buy it at the lowest possible price and store it in the hall closet. Turned out to be about a two year supply. I've purchased Kleenex twice since running out. I bought a lot of canned pasta before I retired. Stored in my kitchen cabinets. Chef Boyardee ravioli. Heat up in the 'wave with some shredded cheese across the top. Ate canned pasta for about two years. All gone.

Toilet paper, on the other hand...storage was a little more casual. After I retired, I decided that all the TP should be in one place, so I started gathering it. Seems I'd placed it in at least six different closets, the garage and the family room. Much more than I remembered buying. I did not contribute to the panic buying of 2020, because I haven't bought TP in the last two years. And will not again in the immediate future!

Overall, I haven't had any money problems in retirement. I make my insurance payments on time and my mortgage payments ahead of time. I have not lacked for material goods and have had enough left over for giving to charity and gifts for my children and grandchildren and I was even able to buy a new car last December, all while eating regularly!

I would not typically recommend buying household goods and food as a cushion for your retirement, but sometimes, you have to make the best of a bad situation. I will continue to shop frugally, because then, that frees up cash for the things I enjoy. Just don't ask me if I need any toilet paper!

Quote du jour

"The good news is the bad news. The bad news is people know me. The good news me is they know me. "

-Joe Biden

Sunday, March 29, 2020

A Little Sunday Night Music

I Am Thine O Lord - Rick Foster and Jonathan Roth

Classic KiRKWOOD



Original art by John Cox. More at John Cox Art

Quote du jour

How is it with your heart this morning? Are you in the lowest depths of sorrow? Does corruption rise within your spirit, and grace seem like a poor spark trampled under foot? Does your faith almost fail you? Fear not, it is neither your graces nor feelings on which you are to live: you must live simply by faith on Christ.
-Charles H. Spurgeon

Saturday, March 28, 2020

A Little Saturday Night Music

Nat King Cole - Nature Boy

Classic KiRKWOOD



Original art by John Cox. More at John Cox Art

Best of the Web*


*…that Dave and I have seen all week!

(BTW, if you wonder where any of the links will take you, hover your cursor over the link.)

Political/SocioEconomic
Obama Admin Depleted Stockpile of N95 Masks, Never Restored

Only the ‘Crooks’ Can Save Us Now





Photoshops/Cartoons/Graphics

Cartoon of the Day – NRO

Flopping Aces -Sunday Funnies

Sunday Funnies, 03-22-20

Friday Funnies

Today's Toons 3/18/20, Today's Toons 3/19/20, Today's Toons 3/20/20

Today's Toons 3/23/20, Today's Toons 3/24/20

Days That End in 'Y' - editorial 'toons & memes






Linkfests:
In The Mailbox: 03.23.20

Larwyn’s Linx: Democrats Block Coronavirus Bill That Provides Lifeline To Economy, Families

In The Mailbox: 03.25.20 (Morning Edition)


Larwyn’s Linx: Trump Is Fixing the Mess The Globalists Left Behind

In The Mailbox: 03.25.20 (Evening Edition)

Larwyn’s Linx: As Trump’s Poll Numbers Rise, Media Begin Censoring Press Conferences


In The Mailbox: 03.27.20 (Afternoon Edition)

Larwyn’s Linx: Dems Outraged That Illegal Alien Foreigners Aren't Getting American Stimulus Checks

In The Mailbox: 03.27.20 (Evening Edition)






Dave's Rule Five Roundup:

Proof Positive - Vintage Babe of the Week - Tonight's Vintage Babe is Betty Grable.
and Best of the Web

Political Clown Parade - Flowing Curves Of Beauty

By Other Means - Tuesday Tap Rack and Bang, BeCos(play) It's Friday and Seeing Red

Evi L. Bloggerlady - Siegfried: Deborah Voigt

Ninety Miles From Tyranny - Hot Pick, Girls With Guns, Morning Mistress and Blogs With Rule 5 Links

Grouchy Old Cripple - Saturday Boobage

Irons in the Fire - Friday Data and ... Saturday Data Overflow

The Feral Irishman - I hope everyone has plenty of these two "necessities" during these days of social distancing

The Daley Gator - Daley Babe

Diogenes Middle Finger News - A Good Monday Morning and She's teasing us again with Fishnet Friday

A View from the Beach - Fish Pic Friday - Yellowtail Snapper and Rule 5 Saturday - Hooray for Bollywood - Deepika Padukone

24 Femmes Per Second - Merry Anders

Knuckledraggin My Life Away - I’m sure she’s taken, men And ... I’ll leave you with this

American Power - It's Lindsey Pelas

Woodsterman - Rule 5 Woodsterman Style

The Other McCain - Rule 5 Monday

The Pirates Cove - If All You See ... and Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup

Wired Right - A Beautiful End to the Day

The Right Way - Friday Babe and ... Rule 5 Saturday LinkOrama



Use the comments as an open thread on any of these topics. Please send links of news, commentary, or choice humor to: Proof.Positive@Hotmail.com

Quote du jour

It occurred to me, that "social distancing" has given a whole new meaning to "spitting distance".
-Mike B

Friday, March 27, 2020

The Journey There and Back Again


So, yesterday, I left my Hobbit hovel to venture forth into the big, wide world. I had a prescription ready at Target, so I thought I would expand the search parameters.
I started off at a grocery store, where I bought some groceries and a few Christmas gifts for the grand kids. Across the street and down the block to the grocery outlet, that had the canned beets in stock that they were totally out of the week before. Bought some socks.

Then, to the pharmacy next door to pick up some more grocery items, then jump on the freeway to the department store where I picked up my prescription. Since I was there, I bought a few more groceries, a couple of odds and ends, and I passed by the sporting goods section. I noticed a display of two pound hand weights. A couple dozen of them, but no other weights. Every dumbbell over two pounds was out of stock. Now, I'd bought a few pairs a couple months back, when I realized I was going to need to do some more rehab on my arm. At that time,they had a wide variety of weights up to at least 25 pounds. One of two things come to mind: The weights are made in China (at least mine were) and the supply chain is running behind because of COVID-19. The other, that anticipating not being able to go to the gym in the immediate future, home fitness gear flew off the shelves.

Today, I went out to pick up a replacement screen for my bathroom window. I hadn't really thought of glass and window repair/replacement as an "essential" service, but there they were!
So, that was five attempts to stimulate the local economy, in addition to Amazon drivers, in the last two days. I kept my social distance, or what I now recognize as "spitting distance" and washed my hands when I came home.

Y'all keep cool hunkering in the bunker!

Classic KiRKWOOD



Original art by John Cox. More at John Cox Art

Quote du jour

“What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated.”

-Thomas Paine

Thursday, March 26, 2020

Vintage Babe of the Week

Tonight's Vintage Babe* is Betty Grable!
(*a.k.a. Rule Five Thursday)






Classic KiRKWOOD



Original art by John Cox. More at John Cox Art

Quote du jour

Bernie’s view that drug-company executives are “crooks” betrays his Marxoid belief that profit is a form of theft... Yet these companies routinely create medical miracles. Yes, they make money doing it, but the profit motive is the reason they exist in the first place. There’s a reason we introduce more new therapies than any country in the world.
-Rich Lowry

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

The Changing View From My Back Yard

Day whatever of the COVID-19 quarantine, er, social distancing! This was the view from my back yard yesterday at 9 AM.


This is today at 9 AM. If you notice the pool is a little less blue, that's a portion of the sawdust produced. My neighbor's pool looks at least as bad. I ran the filter for thirty minutes last night, the extra large capacity basket was already full of wet sawdust, packed in to break the basket.


Three pines, occasion home for hawks, squirrels and racoons are gone. The clean up will be a pain, short term, but long term, the source of the tiny pine cones that drop into the pool and clog the sweeper year round will be gone.

Oh, and the neighbors made sure the hawks were no longer there before serving the eviction notice!

Classic KiRKWOOD



Original art by John Cox. More at John Cox Art

Quote du jour

The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest men of past centuries.
-René Descartes

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Classic KiRKWOOD



Original art by John Cox. More at John Cox Art

Quote du jour

“People have completely forgotten that in 1972, we had over 1900 domestic bombings in the United States. People don’t want to listen to that. They can’t believe it. One bombing now and everyone gets excited. In 1972? It was every day. Buildings getting bombed, policemen getting killed. It was commonplace.”
-Max Noel, former FBI agent

Monday, March 23, 2020

Classic KiRKWOOD



Original art by John Cox. More at John Cox Art

Quote du jour

Republicans label all the news they don't like as Fake News while Democrats label all the news they don't like as Fox News.
-Argus Hamilton

Sunday, March 22, 2020

A Little Sunday Night Music

God Will Make A Way - Acapella - Christian Vineyard Music


Quote du jour

“You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.”

– C.S. Lewis

Saturday, March 21, 2020

A Little Bonus Saturday Night Music: RIP Gambler

Legendary country singer Kenny Rogers dies at 81

A Little Saturday Night Music

Jimmie Rodgers - Honeycomb ( 1957 )

You Don't Always Get What You Font

Coronavirus, Allergies or Flu?

As a public service announcement for all you hypochondriacs out there, a list of symptoms, compliments of USA Today

Allergies
Runny nose
Sneezing
Red, swollen eyes
Itchy eyes
Itchy nose
Tickle in the throat
Rarely a fever

Cold
Runny nose
Sneezing
Sore throat
Aches and pains
Mild dry cough
Rarely a fever

Strep
Sore throat
Painful swallowing
Fever

Flu
Fever is common
Dry cough
Quick onset
Headache
Sore throat
Fatigue
Sometimes a runny nose
Sometimes diarrhea

New coronavirus, COVID-19
Shortness of breath
Fever (above 100 degrees)
Dry cough
Gradual onset (two to 14 days after onset)
Sometimes headache
Sometimes aches and pains
Mild sneezing
Sometimes fatigue, but it’s not predominate like the flu
Diarrhea is rare

Now, go out there and...stay where you are!

Best of the Web*


*…that Dave and I have seen all week!

(BTW, if you wonder where any of the links will take you, hover your cursor over the link.)

Political/SocioEconomic
Democrat Debate #11: The Democrat Party Is Dead

All Immigration To The U.S. Should Be Halted Immediately!





Technology
Empty Shelves? – Understanding Supply Chains, Logistics, and Recovery Efforts…



Photoshops/Cartoons/Graphics

Cartoon of the Day – NRO

Flopping Aces -Sunday Funnies

Sunday Funnies 03-15-30

Today's Toons 3/11/20, Today's Toons 3/12/20, Today's Toons 3/13/20

Today's Toons 3/16/20, Today's Toons 3/17/20

Friday Funnies





Linkfests:
Larwyn’s Linx: Trump's Ultrasonic Whistle Exposes Vermin Infestation

In The Mailbox: 03.16.20

Larwyn’s Linx: Have The Japanese Come Up With A Coronavirus Cure?

In The Mailbox: 03.17.20

In The Mailbox: 03.18.20

In The Mailbox: 03.19.20


In The Mailbox: 03.20.20






Dave's Rule Five Roundup:
Proof Positive - Vintage Babe of the Week - Tonight's Vintage Babes is Lauren Bacall!.
and Best of the Web

Political Clown Parade - Flowing Curves Of Beauty

By Other Means - Tuesday Tap Rack and Bang, BeCos(play) It's Friday and Seeing Red

Evi L. Bloggerlady - Everyone Was Kung Flu Fighting!

Ninety Miles From Tyranny - Hot Pick, Girls With Guns, Morning Mistress and Blogs With Rule 5 Links

Grouchy Old Cripple - Saturday Boobage

Irons in the Fire - Friday Data and ... Saturday Data Overflow

The Feral Irishman - Please, Wash Your Hands For 20 Seconds

The Daley Gator - Daley Babe

Diogenes Middle Finger News - A Good Monday Morning

A View from the Beach - Rule 5 Saturday - The Girl Who Broke Wikipedia - Denise Milani

24 Femmes Per Second - Jean Seberg

Knuckledraggin My Life Away - I’m sure she’s taken, men And ... I’ll leave you with this

American Power - It's Lindsey Pelas

Woodsterman - Rule 5 Woodsterman Style

The Other McCain - Rule 5 Sunday

The Pirates Cove - If All You See ... and Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup

Wired Right - A Beautiful End to the Day

The Right Way - Friday Babe and ... Rule 5 Saturday LinkOrama



Use the comments as an open thread on any of these topics. Please send links of news, commentary, or choice humor to: Proof.Positive@Hotmail.com

Quote du jour

If every crooked official from the Obama administration was behind bars, they could hold the next Democratic convention in the prison cafeteria!
-Mike B

Friday, March 20, 2020

"Works Pretty Well, Doesn't It?"

A man is sitting on a park bench, tearing his newspaper into strips and throwing them in the air, when a policeman walks up to him and asks what on earth he is doing. The man replies, "Keeping the elephants away of course!"

The policeman replies, "That's absurd, there are no elephants here!" To which the man replies, "Works Pretty Well, Doesn't It?"

I'm reminded of that old joke when I hear that Gavin Newsom is predicting that 56% of Californians will be infected with COVID-19 in the next two months. When the outbreak is done, so long as the number infected is less than half the state, Newsom will contend that his leadership "Works Pretty Well, Doesn't It?"

Classic KiRKWOOD



Original art by John Cox. More at John Cox Art

Quote du jour

Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you're a thousand miles from the corn field.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Vintage Babe of the Week

Tonight's Vintage Babe* is Lauren Bacall!
(*a.k.a. Rule Five Thursday)

Classic KiRKWOOD



Original art by John Cox. More at John Cox Art

Quote du jour

Five hundred million dollars, divided by 327 million people, comes out to roughly $1.52. To make everyone in America a millionaire, you would need $320 trillion (with a “tr”). The total world gross domestic product — that means the total value of every good and service generated by every human being on the planet for an entire year — is about $92 trillion.
-Jim Geraghty

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Love in the Time of Covid 19

Classic KiRKWOOD



Original art by John Cox. More at John Cox Art

Quote du jour

Forte (fort) and forte (for-TAY) do not mean the same thing and are, in fact, borrowings from different languages: The one-syllable word indicating something you are good at comes from French, while the two-syllable word meaning to pound the piano keys with emphasis comes from Italian. They both have an underlying connotation of strength. But here you will see the limits of prescriptivism: The mistaken usage of forte has become so common that if you say it correctly, people will correct you.
-Kevin D. Williamson

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Quote du jour

Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods of joy.

-William Butler Yeats

Monday, March 16, 2020

Be Careful What You Wish For

In Praise of Price Gouging


Price gouging is a good thing. Honestly. And not in the whole "Greed is good" kind of thing. Price gouging, as many call it can be quite beneficial to society. Let me give you a few examples:

Unless you've been hiding under a rock for the last few weeks, you've seen countless pictures of empty shelves, where stores of toilet paper used to be. Maybe you've seen pictures, or witnessed in person, scenes of people buying pickup trucks full of toilet paper or bottled water. Panic buying. You often see it around hurricane season on the coast. People buying plywood to board up windows, building supply companies running out of plywood. As they used to say, "What's a mother to do?"

Now I want you to imagine that you are second in line to buy these necessities. The guy in front of you at Wal-Mart bought their last twenty cases of water, because, even though it was a bit excessive, he could afford it easily. You gaze longingly at the empty shelf and ask if they have any left in the back. No joy.

Same situation, but this time, the retailer dares to raise the price of water, from what it had been the day before, with no further investment on his part, and "gouge" the customer by doubling the price. Tripling the price? Now the guy in front of you says, "That's outrageous! That's price gouging!". But because he really needs some water, buys a case or two anyway, and mirabile dictu, there is water left on the shelf for you and your family and maybe a dozen others. Sure, you'll all complain about the price, but if you need it, you'll buy it, and people will be, in most cases, less likely to hoard it.

I used to get really ticked at gas stations, whenever the price of gasoline went up, they jacked up the price, even though the quantity they already had in the tanks had been purchased at the lower price! They were "profiteering" off the circumstances, weren't they? Not really, because their cost of refilling their tanks the next time was going up and they'll need more cash to buy the product. Would you rather they sold the gas in their tanks, lower than what it would cost to refill them and then risk the possibility of your inconvenience if there's no gas there in the future? Afterwards, when prices fluctuate down again, they'll have to sell that gas they bought at a higher price for a smaller margin, or at cost, as prices come down again.

So, "price gouging" can work as a form of economic rationing, a deterrent to hoarding, to customers, and can flatten spikes in cost to the retailer... is there anything else that might be helpful?

Higher prices can also mitigate risk. What if the retailers were to take it upon themselves to increase the supply to help meet the demand? You order something from Amazon, maybe they ship it to you in a week or two for free. But if you want it overnight, it costs you more. If the retailer hires some guy to make a special trip to get extra product to his customers, over and above his usual delivery, why would he do that if not for monetary consideration. If it provides the necessities his customers need, even if they begrudge him the prices, does it not serve the greater good of the community?

So, how much is too much? Hard to say. That's going to vary. There are some people, like that clown in Tennessee who drove all over the state clearing out stocks of hand sanitizer in every store he visited, hoping to score big. There will always be exceptions to the rule. Obviously not ALL gouging will be good, but penalizing retailers who raise prices in times of shortage can be detrimental, too.

Classic KiRKWOOD



Original art by John Cox. More at John Cox Art

Quote du jour

"Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue."

-Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz

Sunday, March 15, 2020

A Little Sunday Night Music

Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery - Matt Boswell and Boyce College Choir

Classic KiRKWOOD


Original art by John Cox. More at John Cox Art

Quote du jour

"The Christian shoemaker does his Christian duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes but by making good shoes because God is interested in good craftsmanship."

- Martin Luther

Saturday, March 14, 2020

A Little Saturday Night Music

Please, Mr Custer - Larry Verne

NSFW - Politically incorrect. If you are offended by racial stereotypes of the 1960's, move along, there's nothing to see here.

Classic KiRKWOOD



Original art by John Cox. More at John Cox Art

Best of the Web*


*…that Dave and I have seen all week!

(BTW, if you wonder where any of the links will take you, hover your cursor over the link.)

Political/SocioEconomic
New Jersey Cops Arrest Security Guard for Permitted Pistol, ‘Lawful’ Ammo

Supreme Court Allows ‘Remain in Mexico’ Rule to Remain in Place

Canada's wait times break new record - 21.2 weeks: Fraser Institute


Science/Technology/Health
Immune cell that kills most cancers discovered by accident by British scientists






Photoshops/Cartoons/Graphics

Cartoon of the Day – NRO

Flopping Aces -Sunday Funnies

Sunday Funnies 030920

Today's Toons 3/4/20, Today's Toons 3/5/20, Today's Toons 3/6/20

Today's Toons 3/9/20, Today's Toons 3/10/20





Linkfests:
Larwyn’s Linx: Here It Goes – DNC Says Joe Biden Needs Chair and Desk for Next Debate

In The Mailbox: 03.09.20

Larwyn’s Linx: Rep. Maxine Waters: ‘I don’t know’ if Biden has what it takes to beat Trump

In The Mailbox: 03.10.20

Larwyn’s Linx: Prescient Trump

In The Mailbox: 03.11.20

Larwyn’s Linx: Democrat’s Wuhan Coronavirus Bill Is Disgraceful, Partisan Trash

In The Mailbox: 03.12.20

In The Mailbox: 03.13.20



Dave's Rule Five Roundup:

Proof Positive - Vintage Babe of the Week - Tonight's Vintage Babes is Pamela Hensley.
and Best of the Web

Political Clown Parade - Flowing Curves Of Beauty

By Other Means - Tuesday Tap Rack and Bang, BeCos(play) It's Friday and Seeing Red

Evi L. Bloggerlady - Sophie Grégoire Trudeau

Ninety Miles From Tyranny - Hot Pick, Girls With Guns, Morning Mistress and Blogs With Rule 5 Links

Grouchy Old Cripple - Saturday Boobage

Irons in the Fire - Friday Data and ... Saturday Data Overflow

The Feral Irishman - Tuesdeyes

The Daley Gator - Daley Babe

Diogenes Middle Finger News - A Good Monday Morning and Finally it's Fishnet Friday Again.

A View from the Beach - Rule 5 Saturday - Down Under with Natasha Oakley

24 Femmes Per Second - Suzanne Pleshette

Knuckledraggin My Life Away - I’m sure she’s taken, men And ... I’ll leave you with this

American Power - It's Lindsey Pelas

Woodsterman - Rule 5 Woodsterman Style

The Other McCain - Rule 5 Sunday

The Pirates Cove - If All You See ... and Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup

Wired Right - A Beautiful End to the Day

The Right Way - Friday Babe and ... Rule 5 Saturday LinkOrama


Use the comments as an open thread on any of these topics. Please send links of news, commentary, or choice humor to: Proof.Positive@Hotmail.com

Quote du jour

Congress should pass a law "grandfathering" in all firearms made using technology invented over one hundred years ago. If it wasn't a problem a century ago, it probably isn't the cause of the problem today.
-Mike B

Friday, March 13, 2020

Quote du jour

My religious beliefs teach me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time of my death. I do not concern myself with that but to be always ready whenever it may overtake me. That is the way all men should live, and all men would be equally brave.

-Stonewall Jackson

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Vintage Babe of the Week

Tonight's Vintage Babe* is Princess Ardala herself, Pamela Hensley!
(*a.k.a. Rule Five Thursday)







As Buck Rogers was heard to say, "Nice horns!"

Classic KiRKWOOD



Original art by John Cox. More at John Cox Art

Quote du jour

"I had used the firearm as an example to prove the legislation was not targeting ‘military-style assault weapons’ as the media, prime minister, and her cabinet repeated ad nauseum.”
-Dieuwe de Boer, on New Zealand law enforcement's warrant to seize his .22 lever action rifle

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Classic KiRKWOOD



Original art by John Cox. More at John Cox Art

Quote du jour

“Education is useless without the Bible. Moral principles and precepts contained in the scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws.”
-Noah Webster

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Classic KiRKWOOD



Original art by John Cox. More at John Cox Art

Quote du jour

“I don’t know what’s a more ignorant statement - believing that socialism works or that farming is easy.”
- Mike Pence