Adam Snapple

@carleolson My son says much the same. If he has his way, I’ll be getting a tube amp and a turntable.

@NeighborRosicky That is an album that, having heard it for decades on CD, sounded markedly different (better!) on vinyl. Hard to pinpoint, but certain details, as well as depth, and that elusive sense of warmth.

So, @carleolson, it looks like my oldest son is a double convert: Van Morrison and vinyl. 😄

@carleolson Congratulations to your folks! May God continue to bless them.

I was in Plains, Montana, this past weekend for my parents' 60th wedding anniversary celebration. Despite the crazy heat and humidity outside, it was a most enjoyable gathering, with many relatives attending from far (ND, SD) and far (WY, NE). They were married in a hospital room (!) in South Dakota, and soon moved to Montana, where I was born in 1969. When I was three years old, my father began working full-time as a self-employed gunsmith, and he never looked back. When I was five, they co-founded a small Bible chapel (the expanded, remodeled version was the site of the anniversary festivities), where they continue to attend today. I entered the Catholic Church in 1997, and my sister became Eastern Orthodox about a decade ago. Family gatherings are always interesting, but they are never contentious, thankfully. My parents' faith in Christ and their devotion to each other are two great gifts that I appreciate more and more as time passes. God grant them many years! (The photo of my parents at their 60th was taken by our daughter @felicityrolson.)

@carleolson The dock shot is great, but my favorite is the window shot at the gunsmith’s shop (family relation, I’m assuming). I like shots like this because they have a story to tell.

A few random pictures from western Montana.

@athenaeumbc Back when I was working, my boss gave me one of the nicest, backhanded compliments. He sd: “Why is it that every time you send me an email, you use words I never heard of before and I have to stop and look them up?” 😝

Orwell's most brilliant observation in "Nineteen Eighty-Four" was that reducing a person's vocabulary also reduces his capacity to think. Reading old or difficult literature will unleash the full potential of your mind. Great video 👇

@HumbleFlow @athenaeumbc My adult son and some friends started a book club. Even though I’m twice their age, I asked to join. Discussing books with these young men is the highlight of my month. I’ve read a lot of the selections previously, but the insights I learn from these guys are tremendous.

Everyone should be part of a book club. Learning with a great group of people makes the experience so much better. Follow this account and join us!

@carleolson What an odd claim. Granted, Australia is huge. But, even in my (sad) State of IL, it’s 6 1/2 north to south. Plus, once you get south of I-80, there’s not a lot to see except miles and miles of cornfields.

I grew up in Montana. It's 250 miles deep and 640 miles wide. By the time I was a teenager, I'd been on 8, 9, 10 hour drives that never left the state. And while MT is the fourth largest state, AL, TX, and CA are notably bigger.

@TylerJRoney You need to get out more. 😎

Dear New York Times, Today’s Wordle was awful. Sincerely, Everyone P.S. Is that even a real word?

@BreeSolstad Ridiculous take. Jesus is the Savior, not a therapist encouraging group hugs.

Please give me your honest take on this quote. The context is the Feeding of the 5,000 with the multiplied fish and loaves. Thank you. 🙏 "The multiplication of the loaves and the fish happened while sharing: that is the miracle!”

@tii_bag Reminds me of a family member. Back in the day, I had a 5-line cellphone plan. One of my kids left and I had an extra line. Fam member wanted to use it. I sd “No”. Wife says “let them on”. OK. Soon, they’re using majority of mins and texts. Wouldn’t quit so I canceled the line.

I shared my wifi password with my neighbour and he's been using it for 5 months. Today I asked to be added to their Netflix but he said that its his wife who pays for the Netflix and she refused. Well,I cut them off from my wifi, a few minutes pass by and he comes to my house...

@BreeSolstad @CatholicFQ Yep. I know a Carmelite. She really dislikes that quote.

@CatholicFQ This is deeply offensive to nuns. They really despise this quote. It’s his worst one.

“Hearing nuns' confessions is like being stoned to death with popcorn.” ― Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

@BeccaBecsBec @Eric_Smith08 Not tough at all. I’d rather support my local pharmacy; the pharmacist knows me and takes good care of me. It’s like having another professional doubling checking my doctor. I don’t waste time playing video games. The free books are garbage titles no one wants.

Amazon Prime costs $139/year. Most members use 2 features: free shipping and Prime Video. That's a $139 subscription doing the job of a $5.99 delivery fee. J.P. Morgan estimates the actual value of Prime benefits at approximately $1,430/year more than 10x the membership cost. But most of that value sits unclaimed behind tabs, menus, and pages 200 million members have never opened. And 4 of those benefits expire monthly. If you don't claim them by the end of the month, they're gone. Amazon resets the clock. You paid for them. You lost them. Amazon is counting on you not knowing. Here are the 12 Prime benefits most members have never activated including the 4 that vanish every 30 days 🧵

@BavarianHorse @Eric_Smith08 Yep. That’s why I canceled. Prime makes it way too easy to do impulse purchases of junk that’s not needed. I just cleaned out my study and threw away several items I’d bought on a whim and never even opened or used. What a waste of money!

@Eric_Smith08 Cancel Prime and you will save more than 1,430 - you will just save by not ordering all this stuff that in reality in most cased is not needed and will not be missed.

@jamiekwil @Eric_Smith08 💯 I no longer even bother checking; I just delete the Amzn email with that month’s offerings.

@Eric_Smith08 I use Amazon free shipping enough that it pays for my membership. Everything else is gravy. Good thing, too, because most of the rest, especially first reads, is crap.

@Eric_Smith08 - I don’t do gaming - First Reads books always suck. - I don’t do Grubhub. - No Rush shipping. Why bother? - Prime Reading books always suck - I don’t do pharmacy. - Even with 10% off, Whole Foods still crazy expensive. - Amazon Day delivery. Why bother?

The uncomfortable truth: Amazon designed Prime as a bundle so massive that no member could possibly use all of it. That's the business model. You pay $139. You use $160 worth. Amazon keeps the other $1,200+ in value locked behind pages you never open. The 4 monthly expiring benefits are the worst part. Games you paid for gone. Books you earned unclaimed. Delivery credits evaporated. Grubhub+ membership lapsed. Amazon doesn't send you a monthly reminder: "Hey, you forgot to claim your free games, your free book, and your $3 shipping credit this month." Because a member who claims everything is a member who costs Amazon more. A member who forgets is pure profit. 200 million Prime members worldwide. The vast majority are subsidizing the benefits of the 5% who know where to look. Stop subsidizing. Start claiming. Set a calendar reminder: 1st of every month. Open Prime Gaming. Pick your First Reads book. Check your Grubhub+ link. Spend your No-Rush credits. 4 minutes. Once a month. The $139 membership starts earning its $1,430.

@CheapSeats411 Anyone who’s driven down 294 has heard of Alsip. It’s hard to miss that water tower.

When they say “Chicago suburbs,” everyone thinks of Naperville. But have you all heard of Alsip?

@danyay They probably heard you were drinking Butt Lite and figured you were easy prey. 😝

Visited Chicago for a few days and had a great time. Was hoping to write a tweet about how safe it is and how its reputation is undeserved. Then on the walk home on the final night, River North area from Mom’s Place around 2:30am, a black guy rapidly approached my friend and I asking about subway directions. I figured something was up since I assume the subway doesn’t run at that hour. As we walked faster, we saw two other guys at the corner staring at us, probably accomplices. “Be prepared to run,” my friend said. We must have walked faster enough, or maybe we misread the situation, but I won’t go around saying “Chicago is so safe!” Rather, be vigilant and you’ll have a good time. Still love the city.

@Eghtyslady Absolutely. She would be laughable except for all the pain and chaos she causes. She needs therapy, prayers, and maybe an exorcist.

Candace is pure evil, and I believe a woman scorned. That's how she acts, and it's if it weren't so demonic, it would be funny.

@carleolson Ella 👍

Some recent finds*. Which one are you playing first?