PHILOSOPHY: “Find joy” where ever you are and when ever you can

Monday, January 13, 2025

https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/understand-other-people/202011/birthday-musings-life-is-learning

Beverly D. Flaxington
Understand Other People
Education
Birthday Musings: Life Is Learning
Seven practical insights.
Posted November 6, 2020 

*** begin quote ***

6. Find joy. 

It’s so easy to get down and out about what you don’t have. Things have changed dramatically in the world and in each of our lives these last few months. Dealing with isolation, sickness, loss of a job, or worry about how to pay the rent seems to permeate everywhere. These are real issues and they need attention and support, but even in the midst of the darkest days, there is joy to be found.

Are you breathing? Does your physical body work reasonably well to get done what you need to? Do you have even one reliable friend? Are you able to walk outside and feel the breeze, smell the air, and watch a bird fly? Joy is the emotion that comes quickly and often fleetingly, but in the midst of turmoil, it’s worth trying to glimpse it as often as you can.

*** end quote ***

Well, I’m not sure about any of the other 6 but I guess “Find joy” where ever you are and when ever you can is a good one. 

In retrospect, it’s all too easy to see all of our “mistakes”.  But like they say “hindsight is 20/20”.  

“That Which is Seen, and That Which is Not Seen”  — Frédéric Bastiat

We can’t see what might have been.

“It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not weakness, that is life.” – Jean-Luc Picard

“… checked the Eternal Possibilities Machine, which generates all the possibilities for use in creating the alternative worlds. In all those probability lines …” CHURCH 10●19●62 (Vol 1) 978-0-557-08387-9 page 45

Laugh!

One can only remember that at the time, you made a decision  — consciously or unconsciously  —  it was the “best choice” you could see at the time.

So there are no “mistakes”; only choices that worked out badly then as judged now.

Sigh!

So the philosophy going forward is “carpe diem” and don’t look back except for heuristics (“rules of thumb”) that can be useful in the future.  For example, don’t kiss metal poles in the winter.  Laugh!

Argh!

Ahh time is the thief that steals our life.

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NEWJERSEY: We have to get tought on career criminals

Sunday, January 12, 2025

https://mybeachradio.com/ixp/385/p/2-serial-burglars-caught-robbing-new-jersey-homes-police-say/

2 serial burglars caught robbing New Jersey homes, police say
Rick Rickman
Published: January 7, 2025

*** begin quote ***

PERTH AMBOY — Police say they’ve connected a pair of New Jersey men to home break-ins across North and Central Jersey.

Mohammad Abdeljawad, 41, of North Bergen, and Elias Abreu, 38, of Jersey City, face burglary charges, the Paramus police said on Saturday.

Court records showed the recent charges were connected to Bergen, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, and Middlesex Counties.

*** and ***

In 2012, Abreu was charged with burglary and was ultimately sentenced on a third-degree theft charge, according to state records.

Then in April 2020, he was arrested along with five other people — police accused the group of conspiring to steal packages from a Hoboken building and sell them.*** end quote ***

And what are their immigration statuses?

Why are they not in prison?

If they are “citizens”, were they born here?  If so, shame on us.  If not, their “citizenship” should be revoked and deported.  If they come back, emprison them then deport them. 

We have to get tought on career criminals!

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GUNS: When trouble happens, 911 is a long time away

Saturday, January 11, 2025

https://www.quora.com/

*** begin quote ***

AR Dawari’s

Nov 7

At bedtime, the 81-year-old woman said to her 83-year-old husband:

“Listen… I just looked out the window, and I think the garage light is on. Would you get up and turn it off?”

With great difficulty, the old man got out of bed, opened the door, and went outside. He saw five or six burglars tampering with the garage door. He immediately called the police station.

“Look… take down my address. It’s just my wife and me here, and five or six thieves are attacking my garage. Please send a police team quickly…”

The dispatcher replied, “We’ve noted your address. Don’t worry. No team is available right now. I’ll send someone as soon as I can get a team.”

Frustrated, the old man watched the burglars struggling with the garage locks. Two minutes later, he called the police station again:

“Listen… there’s no need to send anyone now. I’ve shot all five of them.”

The police station erupted in chaos. Within five minutes, a police team arrived in the street with a helicopter, paramedics, three doctors, and two ambulances. Soon, they had the criminals under control. Later, the team leader casually walked up to the old man and asked:

“You said you shot them, didn’t you?”

“And didn’t you say no team was available?”

*** end quote ***

I’m not sure if this is true, but it is funny,  Remember you are the “First Responder”.

YMMV

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Just how many federal and state informants or agents were in the January 6th “Insurrection”

Friday, January 10, 2025

https://sharylattkisson.substack.com/p/draft?publication_id=2579146&post_id=154178798&isFreemail=true&r=3snn7d&triedRedirect=true

Now that you know federal informants were in the US Capitol on Jan. 6, watch the videos

  • 4 years later, videos capture odd behavior and scenarios

Sharyl Attkisson  —   Jan 05, 2025

*** begin quote ***

Of course, we can assume we have only a slice of the whole truth, if recent history is our guide. The FBI has not been honest and forthcoming about many of its scandals and failures. To name but a few examples: FBI Director Christopher Wray has given false testimony to Congress about surveillance abuses. The FBI conspired with Democrats and the Hillary Clinton campaign to try to frame Donald Trump for Russia collusion. This included falsifying a document used to get a wiretap against a Trump campaign volunteer— a wiretap that gave the FBI access to Trump’s communications. The IG referred former FBI Director James Comey for criminal prosecution for his mishandling of information regarding President Trump, some of it classified, in his efforts to undermine Trump. (Unsurprisingly, the DOJ took a pass on the prosecution referral.) And the agency used armed SWAT teams to raid homes of cooperative, nonviolent January 6 suspects.

So it’s hard to take at face value anything the FBI may have admitted to in terms of numbers of agents or sources on site, and their supposed role.

*** end quote ***

I’m sure the low information “We, The Sheeple” have no idea that the “insurrection” was a Gooferment instigated false flag.

I’d hope that every agent and informant are put in front of a Grand Jury and asked some hard questions.  As always, convict the bottom of the conspiracy and they will roll on up.  The top tier should go to jail or worse.

Fines and pensions lost seems needed to go along with real jail terms.  No country club prisons for those convicted.

Argh!

Have to send a message to future politicians and bureaucrats about what happens when you betray the nation’s trust.

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SECURITY: Got a pin for an Affirm account I don’t have?

Thursday, January 9, 2025

You have to be kidding me!  They “are aware of the issue”?  I went into full “identify theft” mode.  

“BATTLE STATIONS.  All hands report.  Stand by to fire at any available target.  Notify CIC of any intruders.  You are authorized to fire at any unidentified objects.  THIS IS NOT A DRILL.”

I was ready to trigger password reset on all financial and email accounts.

Argh!

But they “are aware of the issue”!

*** begin quote ***

Dear Fedinand,

Thank you for contacting Affirm!

I’m Alejandra from the Customer Care team, and I hope you are doing well.

If you don’t have an Affirm account, please ignore the text message that you received. We are aware of this issue and working on a fix. Be sure to not give your pin out to anyone. Do not click on any links sent referring to OTP (one-time passwords) if you did not request it.

*** end quote ***

YMMV

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TECHNOLOGY: WhatsApp is the natural choice for comms

Thursday, January 9, 2025

https://www.makeuseof.com/why-do-video-voice-calls-whatsapp/?user=cmVpbmtlZmpAZ21haWwuY29t&lctg=7e6c3cd411d6a815afa18582d54bd455914c43c5f69df1448b8ec20ee4959f71

Why I Do All My Video and Voice Calls on WhatsApp
By John Awa-abuon
Published Nov 20, 2024

*** begin quote ***

WhatsApp is the natural choice for my video and voice calls because it just works—without any fuss. Whether I’m chatting with a friend in another time zone or hopping on a call while switching between devices, WhatsApp keeps everything seamless. Other apps may have their charm, but WhatsApp wins because it stays grounded in what matters: reliable connections, simple tools, and features that feel tailor-made for everyday life.

*** end quote ***

I’ve had it up for years but no one seems to use it even for chat and texts.  With all the mischief going on, seems obvious.

I’ve invited some of my contacts (again) to try it. 

Makes your comms snoop proof; why not.

And it’s completely free and platform independent

What more could you want?

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POLITICAL: I was always addressed by my last name until I got to employment

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

https://thehill.com/homenews/lgbtq/5064235-ohio-first-amendment-lgbtq-case-settlement-450k/?tbref=hp&ICID=ref_fark

$450,000 settlement for Ohio teacher who refused to use students’ pronouns
by David Rees – 01/03/25 8:40 AM ET

*** begin quote ***

MASSILLON, Ohio (WCMH) — An Ohio school district will pay $450,000 to a middle school teacher who resigned for refusing to address two transgender students by their preferred names and pronouns.

Jackson Local School District reached a settlement in December with the teacher, Vivian Geraghty, after she claimed in a 2022 lawsuit that her First Amendment rights were violated when she was told to resign from a middle school language arts position.

*** end quote ***

Interesting.

In my time in Catholic schools, I don’t think I was ever addressed with a pronoun.  It was always last name.

Correction, when I got to Catholic College, I became Mister.

Further correction, I was called “Mister Lastname” when I thought I was going to be expelled.

Ditto for my time in the Air Force, when the Mister was dropped.

Wonder why that form of address was ever dropped?

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HEALTHCARE: How could AI and “big data” change our healthcare

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2025/01/james-anthony/clinicians-should-lead-in-improving-healthcare-by-sharing-big-data/

lewrockwell.com
Clinicians Should Lead in Improving Healthcare, by Sharing Big Data
By James Anthony January 3, 2025

*** begin quote ***

Clinicians’ future practice will use big data, instantly.

A clinician will start with a profile of what’s already known about his customer’s genetics, health history, and lifestyle. He will add his current observations. He will then query to find out, for customers who match his customer either closely or closely enough, what outcomes all other clinicians have seen using their own best practices, from as far back as has been recorded to as recently as has been added.

He will consider what interventions will be his best practice for his customer right now—maybe trying a lower dose that might lessen side effects, maybe trying a higher dose that might increase efficacy. He will add these interventions to his customer’s profile.

Later, if he learns anything more about this intervention’s safety or efficacy, he will add this information to that profile.

Unlike in current practice, in future practice all releasable information that’s known about all customers will be collected, shared, pooled, interpreted, and used to guide the next interventions by the next clinicians everywhere.

The resulting model of customers’ responses won’t be biased by only collecting information about unrepresentative groups of customers and adequate dosing regimens. Instead, the model of all the world’s customers will be all the world’s customers. Also, dosing regimens will be as closely tailored as producers make available to support.

*** end quote ***

Ideally this should be happening now.  BUT, (and there is always a BIG butt), will the current cast of “rent seekers”, grifters, monopolists, oligarchs,politicians and bureaucrats allow this to happen?

An effective and efficient model would squeeze the parasites out of their current “gravy train” cash flow.  After all, if a healthcare professional can see what works best for their patient, then the cost of trial and error to find out is eliminated.  Think of all the redundant and excessive testing that is done now to avoid and defend against malpractice suits.  And where there is “malpractice”, then there would be a road map as to why it is demonstrable.

Again, I see the problem getting to this future is all the entrenched parasites.

Argh!

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NEWJERSEY: Central Planners know best in “affordable housing construction” — not the Free Market!

Monday, January 6, 2025

https://nj1015.com/nj-is-forcing-affordable-housing-construction-and-towns-are-furious/?lh_aid=84349&lh_cid=31sphn37zz&di=e8a157adf7d40ab8ccfa69dbacb1a3f0

nj1015.com
Fury in NJ as state forces affordable housing construction
Rick Rickman Published: December 28, 2024

*** begin quote ***

In a bold and controversial move, New Jersey is forcing its municipalities to build thousands of new affordable housing units — and local leaders are pushing back.

The state’s latest mandate has some municipalities reeling, with mayors warning that the plan is asking too much and threatens to completely change the character of their communities.

Earlier in 2024, the state Department of Community Affairs released its first official list of affordable housing requirements for every municipality. This follows the passage of a new law that forces municipalities to comply with a constitutional obligation dating back decades.

*** end quote ***

Aahhha, yes, the Pepuls Republik of Nu Jerzee kommissars have issued new diktats and you slaves will obey.

Sorry, but this sounds like it should be coming from North Korea or China; not the USA.

The fourth branch of Gooferment is the bureaucrats in the regulatory state.  Hence, the other branches can avoid blame by pointing at the out of control “regulators”.

Argh!

Sorry but does anyone think that these are “good ideas”.  The invisible hand of the marketplace provides what the people want.  If the politicians and bureaucrats would get out of the way, then we could have “utopia”.

The FED, the FHA – FREDDIE – FANNIE, and countless federal / state regulations make building “affordable housing” impossible.  Who in their right mind would get into the rental housing business?

Argh!

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DISCOURAGING: What is the penalty for one or more blatant lies?

Sunday, January 5, 2025

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2024/12/no_author/our-lying-eyes-new-photo-shows-biden-with-hunter-s-business-associates-despite-past-denials/

Our Lying Eyes: New Photo Shows Biden With Hunter ‘s Business Associates Despite Past Denials – LewRockwell
By Jonathan Turley JonathanTurley.org
December 30, 2024

*** begin quote ***

“Lies.” That response was a mantra for President Joe Biden, who denied ever meeting or knowing about his son’s foreign dealings. Despite the pronounced lack of interest by most media outlets in the alleged multimillion dollar influence-peddling scheme, the House and conservative groups have doggedly pursued the matter and found overwhelming evidence that the President has repeatedly lied about his interactions with foreign clients. Now, a new photo further contradicts the President, who recently pardoned his son for any crimes committed over a ten-year period.

*** end quote ***

We have just seen the death of Jimmy Carter, who for all his mistakes, bad policies, and “wrong decisions”, was basically an honest guy.  He always was a “good guy” even at his worst.

Now we have clear photographic evidence that “We, The Sheeple” were lied to on many occasions.  Is there a diktat that punishes such lying?

If we can’t prosecute the befuddled old “king” because he’s senile, can we ask who has been running the country in his mental absence.

Can’t we prosecute those who lied with a straight face about how “sharp” old Joe was?

At the very least, since the Left likes to cancel people, may be brand liar on the foreheads of everyone convicted of the new “crime” of lying to the American people.

Argh!

I’m at loss for words to describe my disgust at these liars.

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GOVERNACIDE: And you expect the Keystone Kops to keep you safe?

Saturday, January 4, 2025

https://wokespy.com/new-orleans-police-superintendent-says-city-had-barriers-to-prevent-new-years-attack-but-she-did-not-know-about-them/

New Orleans Police Superintendent Says City Had Barriers To Prevent New Year’s Attack, But She Did Not Know About Them

9 Comments / By Shay Bottomley / January 3, 2025

*** begin quote ***

New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick confirmed that the city had effective anti-vehicle barriers available to be deployed on New Year’s Eve, but says they weren’t because she was unaware of their existence.

*** end quote ***

If I was a hunch and had to use that as an excuse, then she should fall on her sword and resign so that someone more competent can protect the citizens.

Along with everyone in the chain of command who didn’t take the initiative and deploy them.

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SURVIVAL: Sasquatch hunt by the unprepared ends badly

Saturday, January 4, 2025

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14233227/Two-men-dead-searching-sasquatch-national-forest.html

Two men found dead after searching for sasquatch in national forest
By SAMANTHA RUTT FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
Published: 00:30 EST, 29 December 2024 | Updated: 01:11 EST, 29 December 2024

*** begin quote ***

Two Oregon men who ventured into the woods of Washington state on a Christmas Eve hunt for Sasquatch have been found dead, authorities confirmed on Saturday.

*** and ***

With no signs of foul play or injury, authorities speculate that the pair’s lack of preparation for the extreme weather may have led to their deaths.

The Sheriff’s Office pointed out that the weather conditions and the men’s inadequate gear were major factors in the fatal outcome.

The pair’s ill-fated trip began on Christmas Eve when they set out to search for Sasquatch, the elusive creature of folklore often said to roam the forests of the Pacific Northwest.

*** end quote ***

How many times do we have to read: “lack of preparation”?

Don’t humans recognize how fragile we really are?

And having done a two week USAF survival school in the Pacific Northwest under very carefully supervised experienced instructors, I know first hand it’s no picnic.  I was there in October and I was cold, wet, and hungry for most of the two weeks.  I saw all sorts of rookie mistakes  — can’t build a fire with wet wood, can’t camping a ravine that is really a dry stream, and certainly can’t catch small wildlife or protect from big (hungry?) wildlife.  And this was under very controlled conditions.  

Can imagine just going for a nice December stroll looking for Sasquatch?

What were they planning to do if they found it?

Argh!  Not good to talk ill of the dead, but there is a lesson in this for all such Sasquatch hunters.  Don’t!

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SURVIVAL: Bubble boy at sea rescued — luckily

Friday, January 3, 2025

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14230841/boy-floating-inside-bubble-middle-sea.html

Moment boy, 8, is found floating inside a bubble in the middle of the sea
By ADRY TORRES FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
Published: 22:56 EST, 27 December 2024 | Updated: 00:08 EST, 28 December 2024

*** begin quote ***

This is the moment a boy was found inside a bubble adrift in a Brazilian sea.

Video footage showed a person on a boat strapping a rope around the bubble and dragging it to the shore at Lázaro Beach in Ubatuba, São Paulo, where the child, who is around eight years old, was reunited with his parents.

Rafael do Prado told Metropoles news outlet that the child was in the bubble playing in the beach when its cable snapped and got dragged further out to sea.

*** and ***

The fire department official added that the bubble the boy was found in provides ‘a false sense of security.’

‘For every three deaths at sea, a drowning process begins with floating objects,’ Magalhães said.

‘Whether it’s a surfboard, an inflatable mattress, or these buoys, floating objects at sea are not safe.’

*** end quote ***

Hopefully this story makes an impression on all the beach authorities around the world.  

While I’m not a big fan of beaches in general, I have seen children of all ages on inflatable toys in the surf by themselves.  (Knowing how quick children can get into trouble, I’m never more than an arm’s length away from any that I’m responsible for.  Hate to lose anyone’s.)

Bubbles are for pools.  Elsewhere at risk of tragedy,

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FUN: “We’ll see” … won’t we?

Thursday, January 2, 2025

FROM FARK

https://www.fark.com/comments/13505092/175607260?f=Fbwk_SWHpPoHWXUxWu4P2ImyyIB4OduZrcMdD#c175607260

*** begin quote ***

dryknife   2024-12-25 11:29:28 AM    

There was an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit.

“Such bad luck,” they said sympathetically.

“We’ll see,” the farmer replied.

The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses.

“How wonderful,” the neighbors exclaimed.

“We’ll see,” replied the old man.

The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune.

“We’ll see,” answered the farmer.

The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son’s leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out.

“We’ll see,” said the farmer. 

*** end quote ***

Funny but very understandable.  Wde don’t always see the good and the bad immediately.  If ever.

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INTERESTING: What worked in the past, didn’t really work, and now is part of the problem

Thursday, January 2, 2025

https://www.oftwominds.com/blogdec24/past-solutions12-24.html

What If Solutions That Worked in the Past No Longer Fix What’s Broken?December 26, 2024
“Of Two Minds” blog
Charles Hugh Smith

*** begin quote ***

You see the irony here: the more successful the old solutions were, the greater our compulsion to cling to them even as they fail.

Humans use inductive reasoning to solve problems. If a solution fixed a problem in the past, we assume it will solve the problem again. This is a rational expectation based on prior experience.

But if conditions change, the solution won’t fix the problem. It might even make things worse.

*** and ***

Make America Great Again is an explicit call to return to the solutions that worked in the past, specifically The Reagan Revolution of the 1980s, which was characterized by these policies:

1. The federal government is the problem, not the solution. The solution is to reduce the influence and financial footprint of the federal government.

2. Deregulation of private industries, starting with finance. Loosen regulations to enable financial / market solutions, even if they’re disruptive.

3. Focus on growth. Grow the economy by loosening up credit, drill baby drill, reducing regulatory burdens and taxes, etc.

4. Pursue a muscular global policy of America First. No more wishy-washy playing nice: choose sides, but choose carefully because there will be consequences.

5. It’s morning in America. We can get back on track by unleashing America’s native optimism and vigor.

These solutions from the past are compelling because they delivered decades of growth. Of course reality is complicated, and it wasn’t just these policies by themselves that spawned decades of expansion. Demographics, the “peace dividend” and many other factors helped.

*** end quote ***

“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” — attributed to Einstein, Ben Franklin, and Rita Mae Brown

The Federal Gooferment is “the problem” and it’s made possible by the FED  conspiracy and the “valueless unbacked” paper dollar.

I’m tired of always coming back to the same nagging over and over.  But the fundamental flaw in this problem is an unrestrained Federal Gooferment.  

Until that is put back under control and sharply limited, we have no hope of ever getting out from under the 37T$ debt.

Just silently defaulting by inflation which is what is being done to the detriment of “We, The Sheeple”.

Argh!

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QUOTE: “Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” – Carl Bard

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

QUOTE: “Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”

– Carl Bard

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