I could pick from several subsets in this topic. But there is one that hugely impacted my life and all the decisions and events that followed

My health fell apart 16 years ago. It forced me to make hard evaluations about how I was living and spending my time. I had been at a low point. Suddenly there was a strong impetus to take my problems apart and work out sustainable solutions. It felt like my life might be over. So my wife and I made a sort of pact to weight all our decisions (within reason) in favor of health.

The result was a collective loss of 170 lbs (115 for me, 55 for her). We've maintained that now for over 14 years. Also, a resolution of obesity related health issues for me including diabetes, hypertension and nafld.

This required major overhauls of lifestyle, changes in self-definition, ongoing trial and error and lots of research.

Prior to that, we had many abortive attempts at weight loss that were never sustainable until we were properly motivated to imagine what it would take to put that kind of emphasis on our health indefinitely.

In addition to matters of health, it was an opportunity to see clearly the most important things to us and reorder our priorities accordingly. We chucked the mortgage we had applied for and opted for a much simpler lifestyle, avoiding debt and living in the boondocks where the cost of living is lower.

And Clinton's campaign is certainly responding to this threat. Today, my social media feeds are blanketed with blurbs questioning Sanders participation in the civil rights movement and alleging he dodged military service.

Interesting if it bears out. Unfortunately it doesn't seem as though the actual study can be viewed - by me anyway.

As a formerly obese person who must devote not insignificant attention to remaining fit, I would like to see more research as to why it is such an uphill effort. Just look at the relapse rates. My body does physiologically want to be obese again.

As to why it might be more difficult now than in past decades... Could be microbiome related. If so microbiome transplants might help. If this proves to be a concrete phenomenon, I'm more inclined to believe it could have more to do with compositional changes to staple foods. Obesogenic compounds might also be a thing.

The bottom line is folks seem to be having a really tough time controlling their weight, losing weight and a positively terrible time keeping lost weight off. The health benefits alone have made it well worth it for me. But there is an investment of time and attention that is honestly out of step with the expectations of the general population. I don't believe most people understand what they are up against when they embark on a significant weight loss that they of course wish to be lasting.

Children of Men. Soylent Green. Planet of the Apes (original). They Live.

One of those is the choice of least resistance.

Exercise. Especially challenging hikes in wilderness areas. This is easy because we live in a forest. It's like a meditation.

Face to face interaction with people. Because we choose to live in solitude the impact of interacting with others when the opportunity arises is striking.

Time with my dogs. When I question my sanity or wonder about the future of humanity, I play with my dogs.

I've had to give alcohol and most all of caffeine a miss for many years. They're no longer compatible with my health. I sort of miss them sometimes. I do partake of some decaf green tea for the theanine, which has a noticeable effect on mood and improves my quality of sleep. Proper sleep has a huge impact on mood and outlook.

Music/literature that moves me.

I understand Volkswagen has a job offer for you.

A lot of this techno-utopian stuff seems seriously unlikely.

Marshall Brain wrote an interesting short story that tries to contrast some worst and best scenarios for technological development.

Sadly, I feel the former is far more plausible than the latter.

You can read it here: http://marshallbrain.com/manna1.htm

That seems increasingly likely with social media PR featuring him at jury duty this week, chumming it up with the working class.

"Tiger got to hunt, bird got to fly; Man got to sit and wonder, 'Why, why, why?' Tiger got to sleep, bird got to land; Man got to tell himself he understand."

Tiger! Tiger! or The Stars My Destination is really an amazing read.

They even strip the bark from young trees here in winter. Lots more coyotes/hybrids here now too despite it being open season on them year round. And while not the primary problem, everyone I know has had collisions with deer here. There are just too many. They dart out of woods right into traffic. On country roads, attentive and slow driving with your hand on the horn can help. But they often cross busy highways with predictable results.

Kim Davis and lots of other folks make me sometimes embarrassed to be from Kentucky. On the deer issue though... There are so many deer here (and I assume in Indiana state parks) and so few natural predators that they are a legitimate hazard to driving. If they were not subject to some population control, it is very likely large numbers would starve in winter. Which solution is more kind? And folks seem disinclined to reintroduce predators that would keep the exploding population in check without direct human intervention.

Yep. Don't have much to add, but I see a real decline in optimism about the future. Even here in economically blasted Appalachia where you might figure folks are used to this sort of thing. Political ads are more rabid than ever to resonate with that sort of dissatisfaction. "Who can be blamed? Immigrants, minorities, slackers, socialists?"

Expected Appalachia to be generally lit up, but population density being comparatively low, there are just points here and there. And likely less complete data for communities under a certain size.

I have noticed lately that when using a tablet or phone, Wikipedia tries to shunt me to the download of an app. It's possible that lots of people, just trying to quickly look something up, are saying "screw it", rather than jump through the hoops.

Awesome. Where's my Seatbelts U.S. tour?

Wow, look at all the cyclones currently in and around the Pacific.

We do this at times. A good omelet makes for a decent dinner, IMO. Often when running low on other staples, eggs will still be on hand.

Not a coffee aficionado, being medically prohibited from much caffeine for a very long time. Now I find myself able to enjoy the equivalent of about a cup of coffee a day. I find some popular styles taste like poison. Starbucks tastes scorched to me. So I have no problem with the quick and easy instant solution.

Tea, on the other hand has been a useful and enjoyable beverage. So many beverages we call tea. I like the red (rooibos) for something different with a couple fingers of almond milk. Decaf green tea provably helps me sleep. Likely because of the L-theanine it contains. And now that I can do a bit of caffeine, genmaicha is pretty awesome in the day.

Having been without coffee and now allowed a bit again, I make the following observation; folks able to take advantage of the drug caffeine have a decided productivity advantage over those unable to use it. Don't take that boost for granted. You might not always have it.

Speaking of YouTube relaxation and sleep inducers, I'll often put on an Alan Watts lecture. This has to be one of the most recorded guys of his time. Must be 1000's of them. Well worth listening to while alert I'm sure, but I find I drift off pretty quickly if reclining.

Would certainly never buy a new car. It's an awful investment. If I lived in a decent city or even a walkable village, I might consider not having one at all. To my eye, Uber and it's ilk seem exploitative. Mostly residing in one boondock or another, we prefer to buy gently totalled autos at auction and have them patched up.

I dunno. Here's my favorite absurd perennial candidate:

I'm on Diaspora. It seems to be a hard sell to get other folks I know on board.

I've quit it for stretches. But here's the thing, we often live in really very remote locations. It maintains some simulacra of connection with friends and family. Which I suppose is also it's function for lots of other folks in more densely populated, but socially cocooned urban/suburban lifestyles.

As much as I hate to say it, it's tough to get along without it. It's unfortunately the most reliable means of contact for a lot of people I know.

Where is the more authentic and privacy enhanced fork of Facebook that I can talk my friends/colleagues into?

Thanks for the video! That's a cool glass crock she's using. I've never seen one with a water-lock made of glass. Ours is the german-style ceramic cylinder.

We've experimented a lot with various ferments. Usually chop up kimchee and kraut somewhat finer than this. Have not found the bag over the water-lock necessary. Nor the brine quite that concentrated. Probably a matter of taste.