Well, this is another disturbing development. Called waste of taxpayer money. The Navy is already considering decommissioning nine of their Freedom class variant Littorals according to a Task&Purpose web article. There are 11 commissioned so far, the earliest in 2008 and the latest just last month. One is already decommissioned. Also, two of the Independence variation Littorals are already decommissioned. Those were commissioned in 2010 and 2014. Wikipedia has a list of the two Littoral variants for those interested. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Littoral_combat_ship  I thought ships were supposed to be built to last a little longer than that. And how come it took them this long to discover they are not up to snuff for anti-submarine detection?

MarsGal...Enjoyed your YOUTUBE link about the Alignment of the Planets. Have you ever heard of an IPhone app entitled SKYVIEWLITE?   There is a free version that allows you to view the Planets, International Space Station, Hubbel Telescope among others, day or night.

My question about the Littorals is are they being replaced by anything? --- Or are we just having another "Piece Dividend". My quick research (unreliable) indicated they are just not working out. The expense of keeping them going is too high. I do hope we are not working ourselves into a defenseless category. Russia heading for South America ?  ?  ?

According to our weather map, it looks like it will be hot and dry for several days.  It is 10:30 pm and it is 82° and feels like 93°.  Thank goodness for the AC.

Our daughter had kyphoplasty several weeks ago And will be starting her chemo on Wed.  This is a very difficult time for us all.  We are just hoping and praying for the best.

Marilyne, Thinking about you these last several days.  I finally got my Mr. Coffee out of storage for a good cup of coffee.  I told my husband I hadn't had a good cup of coffee since I started using those Kcup things.  I said goodby to the Keurig and am enjoying my Mr. Coffee again.

Jenny I sure hope you can get some information from your doctors that will help with your hip situation.

I enjoyed the CNN series about Watergate that finished tonight.  However, I don't think we have learned what we should have from that period in our history (my opinion).

Hope all of you are well and enjoyed reading the posts.

Rammel, found this article today. Since it was published before the USN ship Minneapolis-StPaul was commissioned, I don't know what its status is regarding the failed submarine detection program. The article does state that the rest are being build and fitted out for a different mission. Those that are already built and commissioned are going to be too expensive to refit. https://news.usni.org/2022/03/29/all-freedom-littoral-combat-ships-in-commission-tapped-for-early-disposal

MarsGal - Thanks for that link. Years ago, when my son was a young one (Teen/early 20s - now in 60s) he was very much into the USNI. He is no longer a "Member" but still interested in anything of historic nature. I recall that somewhere in this house we have a set of glasses he got from the USNI. When I earlier mentioned the Littoral Class problem, he was already aware of it. So, he'll be interested in the link you just posted.  I was pretty much a failure at history, but he could probably teach a class without much preparation.

MarsGal - I also looked at your link this morning, and found it to be interesting, and extremely sad.   I'd never heard of the Littoral Combat Ships, but now I will be following the story, as to what the ultimate outcome will be.   The waste of billions of Government dollars, is shocking, but not surprising.

Rick - Be sure to read the comments at the end of the article, from those who have been following the story of these ships from the very beginning.   Puts it in perspective, and tells it like it really is. 

Another news item I ran across last evening made me even less happy about the LCS-Freedom fiasco. Nicaragua and Russia have signed an agreement to allow Russian troops into the country.  Apparently, it is a temporary thing though, which wasn't stated in the article I read yesterday. This one explains things a little better. I don't know if I feel better about it or not after reading this article. https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/nicaragua-authorizes-entry-russian-troops-planes-ships-85329515

I boxed up and moved more stuff out of my kitchen cabinets today. What I wanted to do was mow the front yard. It got a little too warm before I remembered that I wanted to mow today. Maybe tomorrow if it doesn't rain in the morning.

Jean, I did the same thing.  Besides Kcups being really bad coffee they cost more and we have a terrible polution problem in this world and don't need to add to it with all of the used Kcups that are made from plastic and do not compost.  They just glut the landfills and remain there for untold eons!  We need to reduce pollution, not add to it!  I pulled my programmable coffee maker out of storage, bought a can of Folgers, or Peets, coffee and I get up at 7 a.m. to a really good, fresh and hot cup of coffee.  Pure heaven!  I can't understand why I put up with that inferior and expensive Keurig for so long. 

My Keurig sits on the kitchen counter, with a little rack of KCups underneath it.  I have tried almost every permutation of Keurig coffee; but liking my coffee so much, I have my programmable 12 Cup, Black&Decker coffee maker on the other counter.  It is used EVERY DAY with my Folgers or, more recently, my Peet's (awesome!) Now that is a bona fide, real, authentic, genuine cup of coffee!  The aroma of the ground coffee in the bag is a wake-me-up call.

Where do you buy peets coffee..never heard from it....guess I need to get out more...my coffee pot is also B&D programmed coffee pot...some of my kids have the Keurig....CC

...of not from lol

Cottoncandy - Peet's Coffee is from a California Company, and is available both from their website or some Markets. Amazon, Staples, and probably others have it. While some here didn't care for Keurig made coffee I find it pretty good. I only make/need one cup when I have coffee so don't want to make 4 or 6 cups in a pot. Maybe it depends on the Blend.  I use Major Dickason KCup - a hearty blend. They also have regular ground coffee and many blends.
https://www.peets.com/

Any of the affiliated Kroger Stores have Peet's.  Since you're here in Texas, you should be able to find it.  I'm sure Albertson's, H-E-B, Tom Thumb, any of those should have Peet's.

...I will check at HEB...next time I'm there...would like to try it...Thanks guys

As does Rammel, I only like one cup of coffee in a given day. And, again like Rammel, I like the pod coffees and cocoas.  I still stick to a teabag, but Chip has ordered the tea pods from Amazon, and likes them.  I buy all of our coffee and cocoa pods from them, as well, as I have found none cheaper, so far.  A cup of coffee comes to thirty-three cents for me this way, which beats anything else anywhere else so far for me.  Oh, and Peets just knocks me over, it is so superior.  I wish I had paid attention to the raves long before I finally did!

CottonCandy - I'm also a big fan of Peet's Coffee.  Major Dickason blend is my favorite, followed by Big Bang.   The only problem is that Peet's, like Starbuck's is quite pricey, compared to the regular grocery store brands.  Don't let that stop you . . . It's worth it, and you're worth it! 

My favorite coffee maker is still Mr. Coffee.  Always reliable, and always makes a perfect pot of approximately 8-10 cups, every morning.

Jean -  Good to see your message here last night, and especially good to read that Gigi will be starting her chemotherapy on Wednesday.  I will be thinking about her, and praying that this treatment will work for her.  I know it takes six to eight weeks to complete a course of chemo.  It seems like a long wait, but it will pass quickly.  Please keep us posted, as to how she is doing.  My best to you and Larry, and to Gigi's husband.

Yeah  Phyllis and everyone else who is paying attention
to making good coffee and concern with pollution. 

You can probably get any of the Peet's through Amazon. I buy it at Kroger, as they have Digital Coupons that reduce the price a LOT.  The run the Peet's and the Folgers about every 3 to 4 weeks on the digital sale.  It takes what they call Kroger Savings off, then the digital coupon for another $2.00 so I ended up paying $6.99 for the 10.5 oz. bag or the 10 KCups. I usually pay $6.99 for a large container of Folgers, which is my fall-back brand.  A lot more coffee, but I'm stuck on the Peet's!!

I'm a tea drinker and found these reusable pods in the Miles Kimball catalog.  A measuring spoon comes with them that can be used for loose tea or coffee.  I cut/tear open a regular tea bag and add the grounds.
Discovered the pods should NOT be put in the dishwasher so I rinse grounds out under running water.  They will wear out eventually.
(Don't use the same pod for coffee and tea; the result will taste yucky.)

Reusable pods from Miles Kimball

My new Kurig can do pods or ground coffee with the proper coffee holder (which they did not provided). My plan is to us up the pods I have then switch. It is one of the reasons I got it, I can make coffee either way. There are compostable coffee pods out there. Not surprisingly, you can get them at Amazon. If your trash hauler accepts them Keurig K-cups are recyclable. I don't think a lot of people bother to recycle them, however.

As much as I hate going out in this heat, I really need to get the front yard mowed. I've been putting it off long enough. Fortunately, it is a small front yard and flat. It is the backyard that is on a slope and a royal pain to mow.
 

My son recycles our Pods. It is a bit pesty prepping them, but not hard.

We off and on talk about the freedoms we had as children to wander about without anyone hovering near us, the term was "free-range child". I forget who first used that term. I got a big kick just a few minutes ago when I ran across a book titled Tales from a Free-Range Childhood. Donald Davis wrote it as well as other mostly family-oriented storytelling books and recordings. He performs at storytelling events and festivals throughout the US and holds seminars on storytelling. Sounds interesting, so does his audiobook Christmas at Grandma's.

Reading about Davis and his storytelling, reminds me of the old Ideals periodicals with their homespun tales, poems and recipes, and perhaps things from Yankee Magazine. Gee, I haven't thought of them in years. They are both still in print. Ideals is no longer available for subscription, but you can buy them individually. Yankee magazine does have a print subscription only. I saw some complaints of too many ads and that it isn't like (or as good as) it used to be. Sad to read that. I loved those two mags when I was young. 

Talking of books, i grew up being given and reading " Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories " each different story in each book taught us children about morals and values....

Jackie, I will always remember two of the books sent to us from relatives in Wales. Mine was Reginald Rabbit and Marmaduke Mouse, and Sue's was Water Babies. The other "big book" we had was a book of Mother Goose stories.

My reading "career" went on to Black Beauty, several Black Stallion books, and the children's version of The Three Musketeers (I never got around to reading the adult version). As I grew into teenhood and high school, my reading included several Max Brand westerns, Owen Wister's The Virginian, Red Badge of Courage, Run Silent, Run Deep, and Is Paris Burning?. My interests widened from horses and Westerns to the Civil War in Jr. High, and WWI and WWII in Sr. High School. I was never big on romances but Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice found their way into my memorable reading somewhere during that period. Those are just the ones that have stuck in my mind all these years. My favorite Shakespeare read is The Tempest which I read on my own, not school related. In school we read Julius Caesar, Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth (We took a field trip to the theater as well to see Macbeth). Since high school I have been all over the map with my reading.

Anyone interested in seeing my opinion of what I am reading these days can join us over in the Library Bookshelf. https://www.seniorsandfriends.org/leisure-activities/library-bookshelf/

Jackie  - Good to see your message!  I also had a book of bedtime stories, but I don't remember if  it was "Uncle Arthur's"?  Many books for children  back then stressed moral values, good behavior and empathy toward others.   I wonder if today's books for children teach the same values?

MarsGal  - How nice, that you received books from your relatives in Wales.  I remember "Water Babies"  - a beautiful fantasy story for children.   I had lots of fairy tale books like,  Hans Christian Anderson and Grimm's Fairy tales.   Most of the stories in those books had a definite moral, although they  didn't all end  happily-ever-after.   Some of them were downright tragic.

I was also fortunate to have aunts and uncles, and both grandmothers, who gave me books as birthday and Christmas presents.  I still have a few Oz books here,  as well as poetry books by Robert Louis Stevenson, and James Whitcomb Riley.   The Riley poetry is fascinating to read now.  Some of them are very sad, like  "The Little Crippled Boy".  Others,  that  teach  good polite and obedient  behavior for children, are downright scary!  "The Goblins Will Get You If you Don't Watch Out"!,   probably would be considered too frightening for the protected children in today's world. 

Marilyne, - Would that book have been "Uncle Wiggily".  That rings a bell.

Rick -  I remember the "Uncle Wiggly Stories".  Not sure if I had any of the books or not, but remember reading them, maybe from the library?   I only recall that Uncle W, was a wise old rabbit, with a walking cane,  who listened to all the children's troubles and problems, and helped them to make the right decision as to what to do.

Does anyone remember the book,  "Blue Willow", by Doris Gates?  I received it as gift, around 1940 or 41?  I loved that story so much, and must have read it dozens of times.  I would love to buy the original hard cover illustrated book that I had back then, but have not been unable to find it in any of the vintage book stores online, or on eBay.  It's still in print, but of course is only in paperback now.  Just curious if anyone remembers reading it?  It sure did make a lifelong impression on me.

Marilyne, I found you one.. Gargoyle Books in La Mesa, CA has a 1st Edition 2nd printing of Blue Willow if you really want it. They have their own website now so you can contact them directly. https://www.gargoylebooks.net/  I called her directly because Google has the store listed as closed. The lady says she has been trying to get Google to change that. She also lists on ABEbooks and Biblio websites. BTW, in the ABEbooks website, it is listed as in "near perfect condition" and has a picture of it.
Don't faint at the price. It is probably worth it at 82 and near perfect.

https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=30927227169&cm_mmc=msn-_-comus_shopp_used-_-naa-_-naa&msclkid=3d817d30f7581b3ebb291f9b553ee76c

Quote from: MarsGal on June 16, 2022, 05:39:34 PMDon't faint at the price. It is probably worth it at 82 and near perfect.

MarsGal - First I fainted! . . . Then I went directly to the website and ordered the book!      Sounds just about perfect to me.  First Edition, Second Printing is better than I ever hoped to find.
Thank you so much for finding it for me.  I'll let you know when I receive it!