u/Neat-Cold-3303

When we get up in the morning, our dogs go out to potty, then they are fed, their water bowls refilled, and the bedspread on the sofa, their favorite snooze place, is changed. When all that is done, then and only then do we get to shower, dress, and have breakfast. Same thing in the evening! Is this what happens in your day? Also, we're watching a movie, here comes the big climax, and.....a four-footed friend is at the door with that 'I've got to potty NOW look! Do you pause the movie? Or do you say, 'Hold on, just a minute! ?? Do these hair-shedding, barking at the vacuum, got to go out now, vet bill budget breakers, always come first all the time at your house? What's your routine?

I just purchased an Oscar Schmidt Sympdonette Zither on eBay. The label says 'SYMPHONETTE, Regular Price $22.50, Patent Applied For, Manufactured by Oscar Schmidt, Inc., Ferry Street, Jersey City, N. J.

Does anyone have any information about this model of zither, and when it might have been manufactured? Google has not been much help so far. It appears to have 50 strings. Don't have a photo as I have not received it yet.

Donald Trump is hell-bent on outlawing voting by mail-in ballot. However, TRUMP, HIMSELF, VOTES BY MAIL-IN BALLOT!!!!! Is this an 'ok for me, but not for thee' thing?? Do you have a plan to vote if mail-in ballots are eliminated by Trump?

I vote by mail-in ballot. The last time I went to a voting place, there were probably a hundred people crammed into a hallway in two lines, in a church fellowship annex. I could hardly breathe! Before we got in the building, we stood in line in the cold outside I It was not a good scene. Do you vote by mail? What will you do if that is no longer possible? Will you vote no matter what!??

The Trump administration plans to lower tariffs on 300,000 metric tons of beef trimmings used to make ground beef. Won't say which countries these shipments are coming from. Ranchers are furious. Will consumers buy this?

We have a convicted felon, former tv host, mysogynistic, racist for President. We¹ have a vaccine denier, former cocaine addict, and wanna-be medical guru for Secretary of Health & Human Services. We have a former Fox News weekend tv host with no organizational training, very limited military experience, no experience in government, and a former drinking problem as Secretary of Defense. We have a billionaire for Secretary of Commerce, whose apparent attitude is, 'Just be quiet! We rich ones are speaking'!!!

What has happened here? Do you feel safe with these people making decisions that affect your life? Do you want your son/daughter enlisting to fight in a needless war, and possibly lose their life? Are you happy with our neighboring countries being chastised and alienated, as well as our allies overseas? Are the insane now running the asylum? But then again, some people voted for all this.!! What are some things that we can do? What do you think of the state of our country right now? Can it be turned around? How?

Apparently Sec. of Defense Pete Hegseth's wife is his closest advisor. She attends high level meetings, conducts staff hiring interviews, and was included in that infamous Signal messaging app debacle. But, apparently she does not have a verifiable security clearance. She also was apparently instrumental in barring reporters from the Pentagon, though that was not totally successful. If she has all this access, should she not have a verifiable security clearance? Is this thus compromising national security? Apparently, Trump's 'executive assistant', Natalie Harp, went for over a year without a security clearance. What's going on here? Is national security at risk? Just who else in the inner circle doesn't have a security clearance? Do you think it matters?

Our First Lady, Melania Trump, rarely appears in public now. When she does, there's always an icy, plastic smile in place, and she rarely if ever interacts with the press or the public or her husband, for that matter. This is such a stark contrast to other First Ladies. What do you think is going on here? Do you think being thrust into her position for the second time has irreparably angered her? Is there really a personality under that icy smile? Is she merely a trophy wife and is waiting for a big pay-out? Does she hate her "job" ?

Luigi Mangione has now admitted to the murder of CEO Brian Thompson. Why do you think some people are congratulating Mangione on his crime, and even donating money to his defense? What do you think should be Mangione's fate? Do you support him?

Shock gloves? Shocking a person when they're touched? Gestapo with a different name? If, IF, a Democrat is elected president in 2028, what do you think they will do to rein in ICE, Immigration, & Customs Enforcement? Do you think those Latinos who voted for Trump are regrettiing their vote now?

Today, Dr Anthony Fauci appeared before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security. This committee is headed by Rand Paul, who seems to have made it his personal goal to crucify Dr. Fauci and blame him for every wrong move made by Donald Trump during the covid pandemic. The republicans are hell-bent on absolving Trump of any wrong moves. Senator Ron Johnson even brought up the debunked ivermectin cure, waving papers about as he claimed that there was plenty of evidence that ivermectin did work. It didn't, and doesn't. MAGA wants Dr. Fauci, a man who dedicated his life to public service, referred to the Justice Departnent for criminal prosecution. For what.??? Is this all the republicans can come up with to occupy valuable time? Time that you, the tax payer, are paying for?! What about the economy? What about reigning in Trump's war? What about the rise of hate and racism? God save us if there's another pandemic and republicans are in charge! What do you think??

Every day on the news I see that Trump has appointed an election denier to this or that post. In Arizona, MAGA election deniers are running in the primaries for governor, secretary of state, and attorney general! In local elections, MAGA election deniers are being elected to school boards, city councils, and election commissions. Trump is out there ordering the seizure of election ballot boxes. Six years! SIX YEARS! And, they just can't admit that Donald J. Trump lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden. Can you explain why Americans are still voting for election deniers, giving these MAGA liars a voice, a say in the direction of this country. Why is this happening? Why are Americans still voting for these people? What is happening here? Is this what Americans really want? What do you think?

In an interview with Trump, Jr., Dr Oz revealed that Donald Trump believes that diet soda kills cancer cells!!!! Trump says that diet soda kills grass when poured on it, so therefore diet soda must kill cancer cells!!!??? He has also indicated that fast food may be better for you than regular food!!!!!!! So!! What say you about Trump's diet soda and fast food diet???? Genius? Muy loco? Goes with the rest of his persona?

In the last 24 hours, Trump announced that the U.S. will open the Strait of Hormuz and charge ships to pass through it!!! Before Trump's War the strait was open to all. Now gas prices are already climbing again!! What gives the U.S. the right to essentially take over the strait and, incredibly, charge ships of the world to pass through? Piracy under any other name? Punishment for countries that refused to join Trump in this folly of a war? Just what do you think?

Within the last 48 to 72 hours Trump, at a news conference with Ukranian President Zelensky, kept pointing at Zelensky and saying, 'Does anyone have a question for President Putin?' Huh?? President Putin??? Then, he made a comment about ' The Islamic Republic of Japan'. Islamic republic of JAPAN????. This person has the nuclear codes??? This person is in charge of a war?? Of risking peoples' lives? I truly hope that the people in this country who voted for Donald J. Trump are proud of themselves for what they put in the White House! What do you think? Is the 80 yr. old Trump losing it? Has Trump already become just a figure-head, with others calling the shots? Do you feel safe? Don't hold back! Let's hear it !!!

Our illustrious president has now interfered with a soccer referee penalty call? He called the FIFA ceo and got them to reverse the call! Now, as I listen to his news conference, he casts aspersions on the referee! So, they reinstated the American player! Now, if USA wins, will their win be suspect? I, personally, am pissed off by this political intervention by a wannabee dictator. What do you think?

I am really interested in what the people of Reddit have to say about Trump's latest blunder. Give or take 14 million dollars to drain and then paint the bottom of the reflecting pool? These were millions of our tax money, of course! And now, the coating that was used is coming loose and the pool is full of algae? It was vandals, Trump says. Innocent bystanders who were there to gawk at Trump's folly are receiving citations claiming they vandalized the reflecting pool? Jonathan Karl,, renown journalist and broadcaster, is having his name somehow inserted in this mess? Well, you know, vandals are vandals! Please excuse the graphic language, but what-the-fuck is going on here? Is it time for the 25 Amendment? Please tell me what you think!

Would like to learn to play the hammered dulcimer. Already play several other stringed instruments as a hobby, and would like to find a gently used hamnered dulcimer that wouldn't blow my budget. Can order a Roosebeck 12/11 on Amazon, Songbird has a 13/12 for under $500, and McSpadden has inexpensive models, but would prefer a gently used one. Cannot travel much out of the Tidewater area if Virginia. Have checked Craigs List, etc., to no avail. Should I just go for a less expense new one? Any suggestions!

Does anyone have any experience with a Roosebeck hammered dulcimer? For those of us who are unable to invest 2K and up, would the Roosebeck, which is in the 500 to 600 dollar range, suffice as a beginner instrument? I am aware that 'you get what you pay for', but sometimes budget takes precedence.

I have a small battery-powered speaker/amplifier that uses a cable for instruments that don't have a built-in port. This cable has a 3.5mm plug on one end and a specialized clip on the other end. Plug the 3.5mm plug into the speaker, using an adapter if necessary, then clip the other end to some part of your violin. Ouila! Your violin is amplified. I use it with my bowed psaltery and autoharp, also. My question is, where can I get another one of these cables?? My nephew wants one to use with his violin.