ENCOURAGING: Xenotransplantation–the use of animal organs instead of human ones

Sunday, September 6, 2026

https://www.forbes.com/sites/the-prototype/2026/09/04/pig-kidneys-yield-life-changing-independence-from-dialysis/

Pig Kidneys Yield ‘Life-Changing’ Independence From Dialysis
The Prototype By Alex Knapp, Senior Editor.
Sep 04, 2026, 02:45pm EDT

*** begin quote ***

A little over two years ago, biotech startup eGenesis hit a major milestone–one of its genetically engineered pig kidneys was transplanted into a living human for the first time.

This week, it announced more milestones. Not only have those kidneys found their way into five patients now, two of those patients have subsequently received human transplants. The results for one patient were published in the medical journal The Lancet. And now the company is about to embark on a clinical trial of more than 30 people in order to get a final approval from the FDA.

“This is hugely motivating for the field,” eGenesis CEO Mike Curtis told me.

Xenotransplantation–the use of animal organs instead of human ones–has generally been seen as a “bridge” by doctors, a way to keep patients alive until they can get a human organ transplant. This is particularly urgent for kidney patients, where there is an acute shortage of organ donations, who are otherwise treated by dialysis: where patients have their blood regularly cleaned by machine. That process creates other health complications and has a high mortality rate.

*** end quote ***

Truly amazing.  A family member was on dialysis for five years until he was finally “exhausted” and decided to stop and slide away across that “rainbow bridge”.  I can’t imagine if this was available to him back then how things would have been different.  At least, he’d have had a chance. Sigh!

There’s so much “we” don’t know and things like this demonstrate what is “possible”. 

Hope these folks have more and better “discoveries”. 

— 30 —

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POLITICAL: Fetterman sounds like a shirker, a slacker, an image without substance, and … … 

Saturday, September 5, 2026

https://tuckercarlson.com/morning-note

TCN Morning Note: The End Of John Fetterman?

Commentary

The End of John Fetterman?

*** begin quote ***

A new Wall Street Journal report published Thursday might mark the official death of Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, a pro-Israel ogre who has cast a spell on far too many Republicans and conservatives by appearing on Fox News praising the only policy overlap between him and President Trump: WAR.

The WSJ revealed several damning text exchanges between Fetterman and his staffers.

For starters, the guy barely worked. Fetterman devised a system with his staffers to work as little as possible, according to the WSJ. During hearings, he sent a staffer to make sure he was seen by the Senate Clerk, then he would dip out early. He was marked present for 26 out of 31 full hearings of his assigned committees, but in 20 of them he didn’t even say a word, the WSJ reported.

*** end quote ***

Sounds like a shirker, a slacker, an image without substance, and a grifter all at once. 

Very disappointing.  

I too, thought that the D’s had finally found someone of substance that was not a crazy loon.  I could even look past his manner of dress (i.e., casual slob).  He almost had everyone fooled.

Argh!

Send him off to the “no zip” sorting bin of future historical odd-balls before he does any real damage.  

p.s., sitting silent in a committee meeting isn’t the worst sin; skipping out on disabled vets and deceased firefighters is unforgivable.  You go even if you carry a barf bag and shit your pants.  After all Joe did it.

Argh! Argh! Sigh!

— 30 —

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AI: Hard not to read this article and NOT be concerned.

Friday, September 4, 2026

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/01/wake-up-call-for-congress-lawmakers-get-a-big-brother-warning-on-ai-01054087

Own a gun? Go to church? Do yoga? AI can find out in seconds.

  • A series of demos on the Hill has both Democrats and Republicans alarmed about artificial intelligence’s ability to plumb commercial databases for information on Americans.

By Alfred Ng

09/01/2026 04:45 AM EDT

*** begin quote ***

Republicans and Democrats across Capitol Hill are getting a glimpse of artificial intelligence’s latest power: its ability to churn out instant dossiers filled with details about ordinary Americans, from a gun store owner’s leaked email passwords to a church member’s yoga workouts to people’s visits to abortion clinics.

*** end quote ***

Hard not to read this article and NOT be concerned.  

With all the Karens and other crazies out there that seem to think killing people is “socially acceptable”, everyone needs to be concerned.

Hell, I won’t even react to “driving bullies” on the road.  Who knows what will be the result?

Argh!

p.s., while POLITICO is a left-leaning progressive site, in this case, I think they have done a great job “nailing this to the politician’s office door”.  Well done!

“I never learned from a man who agreed with me.” — Robert A. Heinlein

Important to keep an open mind and open ears even to those who you assume are just always “wrong”.

— 30 —

 

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HEALTH: Don’t become complacent about pesticides?

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

https://www.theepochtimes.com/article/toxic-paradise-6073241?utm_source=morningbriefnoe&src_src=morningbriefnoe&utm_campaign=mb-2026-08-31&src_cmp=mb-2026-08-31&utm_medium=email&est=teEoJVyot8aHXYqZREa2UbuT4aGTiaBr4jpqNS3E5%2BR%2BpNNXZPKKJAL1BvjEsKUD5wUh

theepochtimes.com
An Idyllic Enclave in California, and a Mysterious Cancer Problem
Beige Luciano-Adams

*** begin quote ***

LADERA RANCH, Calif.—In 2019, Kara Bell began firing off a series of emails to her homeowners association, hoping to find out what kind of herbicides gardeners were using on the many sports fields, pocket parks, and schools that pepper the hillside community of Ladera Ranch, a private enclave in the southeastern corner of unincorporated Orange County.

*** end quote ***

Hard to imagine being lulled to “sleep” only to be “awakened” by being in a “cancer cluster”.  Can’t imaging the reaction of husbands, fathers, mothers, parents, and just plain old ordinary folks.  Time to get out the pitchforks and torches.  In this case, there is a litany of “bad guys” —  the landscaping company, the HOA, the Gooferment’s Gooferment Skrules (i.e., they should be very very interested in ANY chemical used around on their grounds and especially sports fields), and let’s not forget the “Skrule Board” of highly paid politicians and bureaucrats, the many City, County, State, and Federal “regulators”.  Argh!   I suggest that all “Skrule Board” meeting be held in and on the freshly spray “sports” fields; wonder if the politicians and bureaucrats would be then very interested in what they were sitting on —  other than their own arses!

Argh!

— 30 —

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RANT: No taxation without representation?

Monday, August 31, 2026

https://reason.com/2026/05/18/taxes-and-government-fees-make-up-25-percent-of-car-rental-fees/

Taxes
Taxes and Government Fees Make Up 25 Percent of Car Rental Fees
Travelers make easy targets for revenue-hungry officials.
J.D. Tuccille | 5.18.2026 7:00 AM

*** begin quote ***

Travelers make for easy marks, since they rarely vote in the places that soak them for revenue. The taxes and fees add up. Last year, Tennessee’s WSMV4 reported that at Nashville International Airport, car renters are hit by “multiple taxes and daily charges that can add hundreds of dollars to vacation expenses.”

*** and ***

“In nearly every case we examined, airport fees exceeded the combined taxes charged on a rental contract,” add Hoffer and Macumber-Rosin. “The largest total airport fee is charged at Newark Liberty International, at 40.67 percent—over $101 on a $250 car rental.”

Those fees are usually justified as funding airport operations. But in 2014, The Wall Street Journal’s Heather Haddon reported that “a tax on travelers who rent cars at Newark Liberty International Airport is helping to fund an animal shelter, a park and a jobs program in New Jersey’s largest city.” She added that “rental car companies, tax groups and travelers associations say the taxes unfairly tap people who don’t live in a locality to pay for services that benefit others.”

*** end quote ***

Wasn’t one of the rallying cries of the American revolution?  Carried over from the English Civil War around 1760’s. The principle was “the government should not tax a populace unless that populace is represented in some manner in that government”.

Readers of my blog will remember the many many times I ranted about just this very issue when I had to pay “property taxes” in a different Pepuls Republik of Nu Jerzee county that the one I voted in.  I have zero voice in that “levy”.  And, since it was a “vacation destination” with only a few full-time year round VOTING residents, taxes were unfairly pushed on “absentee landlords and property owners” via “inflated assessed valuations” by the local real estate “appraisers”.  Wonder where their loyalties were?  Of course, ALL properties were assessed at the “same rate” to pretend “fairness”.  And, of course, those that rented their properties paid “business rates” regardless of incorporation status.  A few rentals were owned by “churches” who got even more of a break since those rentals were for the “poor”; “wink, wink, nod”. Argh!

Here too “the vultures” (local politicians and bureaucrats as well as <highly paid> “authority bureaucrats”) all feast on the “bleached bones” of those who can’t vote locally to protect themselves from being “fiscally raped”.

Argh!

A plague on all their houses!

(“A plague o’ both your houses!” is a catchphrase from William Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet. The phrase is used to express irritation and irony regarding a dispute or conflict between two parties.)

This is a real tragedy and should be a violation under the “Equal Protection” clause.  (Where is some bright young lawyer, like a Patrick Henry, looking to strike a blow against the Leviathan for freedom?)

I recently learned of another “fee” imposed on anyone renting a car who is over 70?  Where is the AARP or such protecting seniors from “age discrimination”?

Argh!

— 30 —

 

 

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RANT: I think that taking it for “charity” isn’t right!

Sunday, August 30, 2026

https://nypost.com/2026/08/14/lifestyle/builders-find-10-million-in-gold-during-brewery-renovation/

$10M of gold found hidden in brewery cellar while laying sewage pipe
By Ben Cost
Published Aug. 14, 2026
Updated Aug. 14, 2026, 7:54 p.m. ET

*** begin quote ***

They turned crap into gold.

A routine renovation job in Belgium took an unexpected turn on Tuesday after builders happened upon a gold hoard worth over $10 million while installing a sewer system.

“Our first reaction was actually disbelief,” an 18-year-old student worker named Kobe told local media outlet VRT while recalling the unexpected haul. “Of course, we hadn’t expected to find gold.”

*** and ***

Under Belgian law, the rightful owner has five years to lay claim to the fortune. If they don’t, the forgotten gold can be divided between the finder and property owner provided it’s not associated with a crime.

*** end quote ***

What’s wrong with “finder’s keeper’s”?  I sure wouldn’t tell anyone what I found. Sorry, but I can see all the politicians and bureaucrats, grifters, and “do gooders with your stuff” crowded around to “dip their beak” in your find.  To use an expression from the movie “The Godfather”.  I think the Mafia was better than the Gooferment!  Five years is a long time for the “rats to eat the seed corn”?

Argh!

— 30 —

 

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APPLICATION: MS WORD on MACOSX can’t adjust the columns on file view

Saturday, August 29, 2026

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ps74q80xt5kq5zmrc6v9y/Screenshot-2026-08-27-at-6.19.26-PM.png?rlkey=a29lcbtzt758j6r7j15f1lbja&dl=0

how can I adjust microsoft word columns on their document list?

CLAUDE AI says

*** begin quote ***

That’s the Word “Open” file browser, not a Finder column view — so there aren’t per-column headers to drag like in Finder List View. What you can adjust is the width of each pane by dragging the thin vertical divider lines between them.

*** end quote ***

Guess when they were copying UI they forgot to steal” the idea of adjustable column sizes EVERYWHERE!

Sigh! Argh!

— 30 —

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SAD: Our pet bird died this morning … … 

Friday, August 28, 2026

… … Clementine died this morning.

AMH found her in her cage when she brought Birdadette in to me so she could take a shower. Sometime between 9 and 9:45.

No idea why? AMH upset. Daniel will be devastated when he comes home from school. Clementine was just letting him pet her this morning for the first time.  He was so exited and happy. Now even I’m sad.  I try never to get emotional; or at least too emotional.  (Can’t take the highs and lows on any “emotional roller coaster!)

Sigh!

What a rotten way to start the day.

We’d had just taken her to the vet for beak trim and they did a workup on her to make sure she could take the anesthetic.  Every thing was fine.

A lot was invested in her.  Broken leg, beak injury, … … I never kept “haircut records” on her guess I should have.

Argh! Sigh!

Now the “big bird” Birdadette is sitting in Lemonade’s cage?  And the other bird Clementine is just sitting quietly and not moving around.  Could they “know” or just sense that something is very wrong?  Do they have a “knowledge” of death?

IDK. 

Jut making me sad, when I was having a pretty good morning.

Yeah, I know it’s not a serious national disaster — inflation, fiat money, the warfare / welfare state — or a tragedy like a lot of people dies in a flood or fire, terrorist attack — even the slow starvation in third world countries, children dying for lack of food, medicine, or even clean water — it’s nothing that serious!

BUT, (and there is always a BIG butt), I see how it touches AMH and I know how absolutely devastated Daniel will be, … … and it makes me sad.

Guess I’ll just have to watch America’s Funniest Videos, some BBT (Big Bang Theory) episodes, some Road Runner While Coyote ‘toons, or some Carol Burnet show skits to get me out of this funk.

Argh!

Upon reflection, “they say” —  whomsoever “they” are —  that death comes in threes?  Dolly Parton, Clementine, and who’s the third.  That’s a macabre thought putting those two together and expecting a third? 

— 30 —

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DISCOURAGING: “We” lost a beautiful soul

Thursday, August 27, 2026

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c0ry0yzxeyxt

Dolly Parton. 
Requiescat In Pacem

My “Dolly memory” was playing “facts in five“ in a small camper with two old friends and my first sainted wife as teams. 

It was a cutthroat competition. The object of the game was to predict your partner’s answer. So we’re down to the final question  —  neck and neck  —  and the question was “who is the smartest business person your partner admires?“. 

Frau Reinke got a huge smile on her face and said loudly: “We got this one!“ and scribbled down her answer. (I had just finished my MBA and she had suffered with me along for the ride.)  When the big reveal came my answer was Dolly Parton“ she was flabbergasted. 

She had written down “Warren Buffett“. A good answer, but not the smartest. 

She ranted and raved for at least two weeks about this bitterest loss to our best fries but arch game rivals. 

How could I pick Dolly Parton and I kept giving her the same list of reasons:

#1 She never forgot a roots;

#2 she never got full of herself with all her success; and 

#3 She was the most charitable celebrity I had ever heard of up to that time
and probably since that time. 

God bless you, Ms  Parton. 

I hope all of your journeys are now trouble free and that, sometime, we’ll meet in the ever after. I’d like you to tell me all the things that I’ve done badly, wrongly, and stupidly.

Dona Nobis Pacem

Sadly. 

p.s., FWIW Warren Buffet was my third choice.  My second choice was (I forget the fellow’s name) who owned and ran a Kentucky minor league baseball team (I forget the team’s name) that had three times the profitability of any minor league team in any sport. I had done my MBA “graduation paper” on the fellow.  But, I was always super impressed with Ms. Parton.

•• ••• 2026-Aug-25 1500

— 30 —

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RANT: Customer Service is a euphemism for ‘please just go away’!

Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Dear Lowes and Angi and cloudflare:
 
*** begin quote ***
 
Your email says “connect with my installer” (forwards to Angi) and “view booking details” (forwards to Lowes)
 
BOTH angi and lowes web access blocked by cloudflare
 
email “the site owner” who? @angi, @lowes, @Cloudflare
   With Cloudflare Ray ID: a30afb02fcf02c27 • Your IP: 37.221.112.214 •
 
Angi doesn’t allow an alternative keyboard
 
No angi email
 
Lowes doesn’t allow an alternative keyboard
 
No lowes email
 
Find Lowes install number  … … 
 … … 888-516-1010
 
Call Lowes  … …
<<AI>> — who are you … Customer
<<AI>>– about cabinet?  … NO!
<<AI>>– wait for a real person … Argh!
<<<short wait  —  minute or so>>>
 
<<LOWES PERSON>>– I’m xxx on a recorded line yada yada training purposes
 
<<LOWES PERSON>>– What’s your name … Sigh!  Me Llamo se … <<just joking; they didn’t say press 1 for engrish>>.
 
<<LOWES PERSON>> — What’s your phone number
 
 … … thinking what no caller id? Sigh!
<<ME>> Uno, dos, tres,  … … 
 
<<LOWES PERSON>> —  What’s your problem 
 
… … thinking other than lowes, inflation, fiat money, the warfare / welfare state .. Nothing serious!
<<ME>> I go into my description
 … … install scheduled on 8/26 @ 10
  … … somehow it became 8/26 @ 6
 
 <<LOWES PERSON>>… … “no idea how that happened>. Argh!
 … … let me call installer … Brief hold?  
 
<<ME>>Sure Argh!
 
 … … << some number of minutes later >>
 
<<LOWES PERSON>> … … installer says scheduled on 8/26 @6
 
<<ME>> so who or what changed it?
 
<<LOWES PERSON>> … … when would you like it done 
 
<<ME>> … On 8/26@10am as originally scheduled
 
 <<LOWES PERSON>>… … let me call installer … Brief hold?  
 
 <<ME>>Sure Argh!
 
 … … << some number of minutes later >>
 
 <<LOWES PERSON>>… … installer says can’t do that; when is “convenient” for you?
 
<<ME>>  … …  … …  On 8/26@10am as originally scheduled
 … …  … … I have to coordinate with other people.
 
<<LOWES PERSON>>… … let me call installer … Brief hold?  Sure Argh!
 
 … … << some number of minutes later >>
 
 <<LOWES PERSON>>… … installer says “earliest possible is Friday 8/28 at 10AM”
 
<<ME>>  … …  … … I say “fine. What choice do I have”
 
<<LOWES PERSON>>… … let me call installer … Brief hold?  
 
<<ME>>  … … Sure Argh!
 
<<LOWES PERSON>>… … confirmed and apologizes
 
<<ME>> Why should you appologize? You didn’t screw it and us up.  Thanks. Bye
 
Argh! Argh! Argh!
 
*** end quote ***
 
Doesn’t address all the fun problems getting to this basically unsatisfactory solution.
 
Sigh!
 
— 30 —
 
 
 
 
 
 

On Mon, Aug 24, 2026 at 9:47 PM reinkefj via gmail <reinkefj@gmail.com> wrote:
 
WTH!!!

Ferdinand J. Reinke
16436 ADMIRALS COVE LN WINTER GARDEN FL 34787
571-218-6647
reinkefj@gmail.com

———- Forwarded message ———
From: Angi + Lowe’s <lowes@book.angi.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 24, 2026 at 18:04
Subject: Reminder | Your next assembly booking is coming up on Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at 6:00pm!
To: <>
Please Note: Your Lowe’s booking emails will come from Angi.
Angi Walmart
Hi Ferdinand,
Your assembly booking is coming up soon.
We’re excited to get your project started.
Get in touch with your pro.
Connect with your pro →
 
Patio Set Assembly (4 – 6 pieces)
Booking ID #27220869
address 16436 ADMIRALS COVE LN, Winter Garden, FL 34787
 
date Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at 6:00pm
Item hasn’t arrived yet? You can easily reschedule your booking here. Please note: you may reschedule or cancel any appointment 24 hours in advance for free.
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—

from my mac osx desktop
 
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
 
“You know me, I’ve got Irish Alzheimer’s, I forget everything but a grudge,” — Pat Fitzmaurice Chicago Fire Department
 
 —  
Ferdinand J. Reinke

16436 ADMIRALS COVE LN
WINTER GARDEN, FL 34787
Phone 571-218-6647

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