We are now 13 days into a government shutdown in the United States. It is hard to imagine that any group has the power to simply "shut down" governmental operations. Worse yet, it is even harder to imagine that any group can do so while pushing an agenda counter to legislation that has already passed into law. But I digress.

Politics in the United States have reached new levels for acrimony, disrespect, and a general disdain for the desires of the constituency. What is most annoying - and, frankly, downright disgusting - is how legislators can claim to quote the values of the Constitution while failing to provide context in the process. But as we all know, words without context bear greater power for instilling fear - and fear is a great motivator.

So while we all wait to see if the country will go back online, it's time for Episode 77 of the Rhubarb Report.

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The struggle is real. The struggle against gravity, that is. Every day, we’re fighting the forces of gravity and their impact on our anatomy and physiology throughout the health continuum. Young and old, in sickness and in health, we are all attempting to adapt (or not) to the imposed demands of daily function - and working against gravity is of primary concern to live on planet earth successfully.

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It is a phrase that will put a smile on your face and warmth in your heart no matter what the context:

"Welcome home".

It is a phrase that I heard repeatedly over the past 5 days. Why? As time would have it, 2013 is the 25th anniversary of my graduation from Queen's University. That being the case, it was time for a homecoming reunion.

I can tell you with great certainty from my experiences while on campus that they take reunions seriously at Queen's. This year was no different.

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With all due respect to the Tragically Hip, I’ve got a vast catalog of unplucked gems - musings, rants, and semi-completed posts - sitting in an archive waiting to see the light of day. I have finally returned to a place that offers enough mental space to consider the art of publication once again. However, several questions present themselves. Do I pick up where I left off? Do I dive deep into exploring the vast terrain of unpublished ideas, or do I start anew with renewed vigor? Where do I go now that I can actually, you know, go?

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