DISCOURAGING: Google URL Shortener links will no longer be available

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

https://developers.googleblog.com/en/google-url-shortener-links-will-no-longer-be-available/

Nie mój cyrk, nie moje małpy . . . literally, “not my circus, not my monkey;” figuratively, “not my problem.” — Polish saying

 I guess monkeys are “problems” in Poland, and circuses are where “problems” come from. If it’s not your monkey, and it’s not even from your circus, then it’s not your problem. — https://goo.gl/X7VEKG

# – # – # – # – # 

Google URL Shortener links will no longer be available

JULY 18, 2024

*** begin quote ***

In 2018, we announced the deprecation and transition of Google URL Shortener because of the changes we’ve seen in how people find content on the internet, and the number of new popular URL shortening services that emerged in that time. This meant that we no longer accepted new URLs to shorten but that we would continue serving existing URLs.

*** end quote ***

Once again a demonstration of the Internet axiom, “If you’re not paying of a product, then you are the PRODUCT.”  Sometimes even if you are paying, it still gets “deprecated”  —  a fancy word for “FU, we don’t need you”! For example, Pocket from Mozilla.  In this case, a service is disappearing.  

https://umatechnology.org/what-does-it-mean-when-an-app-gets-sherlocked-by-apple/

Being “Sherlocked” is a term that encapsulates the dramatic and often ruthless dynamics between smaller developers and larger tech companies like Apple. It serves as a reminder of how innovation and competition can shape the tech landscape, sometimes to the detriment of those who initially paved the way.

Not just APPLE, but GOOGLE and MICROSOFT do it as well.  Without the decency of acquiring the original developer.  Not that “guaranties” the product or service will survive. Some are acquired to kill the competition.

There is no doubt in my mind that Google intended to SHERLOCK BITLY (https://bitly.com/pages/products/url-shortener) but for whatever reason they decided not to.  I suspect that there was not margin in it for Google.  So after “pushing” it, like so many other GOOGLE “products and services” they give it the FU treatment and  “deprecate” it.

Sad for the Users who used it and good for BITLY.

And, for anyone who still “trusts” Gooferment to be a fair referee with respect to anti-trust issues, why do you think “corporations” “contribute” aka payoff politicians and bureaucrats?

Now I have to go and replace all “goo.gl” uses in my blog.  Argh!

—30—


ConspiracyTheories: Was Biden cloned or used doubles?

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14769003/Trump-shares-theory-Joe-Biden-DIED-2020-replaced-clone.html

Trump shares theory that Joe Biden DIED in 2020 and was replaced by a clone
By JAMES GORDON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
Published: 01:42 EDT, 1 June 2025 | Updated: 11:21 EDT, 1 June 2025

*** begin quote ***

President Donald Trump shared a bizarre theory on social media Saturday night that suggested Joe Biden died in 2020 and has since been replaced by a ‘clone.’

The Truth Social post, which has since gone viral, stated bluntly that the former president of the United States had somehow been dead for years while still in office.  

‘There is no #JoeBiden – executed in 2020. #Biden clones doubles & robotic engineered soulless mindless entities are what you see,’ wrote the user named llijh. ‘#Democrats dont know the difference.’

*** end quote ***

Hard to believe but anything is possible.

Checking the Conspiracy Theorist “thermometer”  — I’d rate it as: 

Currently  “7. Unlikely” and  “Political” pending further real evidence.

I guess that future Presidents will have to sign bills into law and pardons in person in front of Congress!

—30—


MONEY: ZELLE’s use case doesn’t fit me at all

Monday, June 9, 2025

https://www.zellepay.com/

What’s Zelle®?

Zelle® is a great way to send money to friends and family, even if they bank somewhere different than you do1. That means it’s super easy to get paid back, or split the costs of things like dinner. With Zelle®, the money goes directly into your bank account. And when money goes into your bank account directly, you can live delightfully. Zelle® is already in lots of banking apps, so look for it in yours today.

# – # – # – # – # 

So, it all works great  —  sort of — if you have one bank, one cell phone, and one email account.

What happens when you have Bank#1, Bank#2, Bank#3, and one cell phone?

Chaos!

I’ve had to enroll in Zelle three times.  Bank#1 and email#1, Bank#2 and email#2, and Bank#3 and email#3. Good luck keeping that all straight.

Argh!

—30—


INTERESTING: NOTEBOOK LLM review of RFL blog. for May 2025 — pretty accurate from my POV

Monday, June 9, 2025

NotebookLM Logo

Sources

Chat

Studio

😤

Reinke Faces Life: May 2025 Entries

1 source

 

The sources consist of blog posts from “Reinke Faces Life,” a blog where the author shares content they find interesting, amusing, or enraging. The topics covered are varied, including the shutdown of the Pocket app, thoughts on the elimination of the penny and its connection to inflation, a review of a World War II movie, a discussion on corrosion-resistant steel for infrastructure, and advice on security for Bitcoin holders. Other posts address potential issues with government agencies, the ethics of selling scanned public domain books, a survival story, a software bug, the controversy surrounding President Biden’s physician, and concerns about Google’s search algorithms. The author also reflects on Memorial Day, offers a resource for free e-books, and criticizes government involvement in energy and air travel.

 

What is the overarching sentiment towards government and authority across these sources?

Across the provided sources, the overarching sentiment towards government and authority is highly negative, critical, and deeply distrustful. The author frequently expresses frustration and anger regarding the actions and perceived failures of government entities and individuals involved in politics and bureaucracy.

Several sources explicitly criticize governmental bodies and their impact:

The US Treasury and Federal Reserve are blamed for inflation and the devaluation of the dollar, with the Federal Reserve described as a “private cartel of the elite banks run for their benefit and that of the entrenched politicians”

. The author views the decision to stop circulating one-cent coins as a sign that “We, The Sheeple” will be forced to recognize the inflation caused by the Federal Reserve printing “so many ‘dollars'”. The author advocates for ending the Federal Reserve entirely, citing reasons such as its inability to accomplish objectives, acting against the public interest, generating unfair tax, encouraging war, destabilizing the economy, and being an instrument of totalitarianism. The author contrasts the current fiat money system with a gold standard, which they believe led to lower prices and predictable life, arguing that fiat dollars enable the “Gooferment” in endless spending, “forever wars,” and welfare

.

Politicians and bureaucrats are generally portrayed as untrustworthy and lacking incentive to solve problems

. In the context of infrastructure, the author suggests that bridges are failing because the “Gooferment” is involved in their construction and that an entrepreneur would build bridges that last longer because politicians and bureaucrats “have no incentive to solve the problems of the world”

.

The author questions the role of government in areas like air travel security and air traffic control, suggesting the TSA and FAA should be ended and these functions turned over to airlines, arguing that government involvement adds unnecessary overhead that could be better managed privately

. The author sees government programs, like the temporary ones Jeff Thomas discusses, as becoming permanent and overbearing

.

In the context of Bitcoin, the author expresses concern about “Gooferment involvement,” specifically mentioning the IRS wanting to report capital gains and coercing crypto exchanges to cooperate via KYC rules

. They highlight the ability to transfer assets without “Gooferment involvement” as a valuable use case for Bitcoin

.

The author is highly critical of perceived government cover-ups and lack of accountability, such as questioning President Biden’s physician and staff, and suggesting they should face repercussions for statements about his competence

. This situation is labeled a “national disgrace”. The author calls for reforms like term limits, age limits, and citizenship requirements for politicians and bureaucrats

.

The New Jersey “Pepuls Republik of Nu Jerzee Gooferment” is criticized for a significant increase in electric rates and the lack of competition in energy

. The author states the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) “ain’t looking out for the consumer”

.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is described as “unscientific” and accused of unnecessarily culling birds

. The author questions the motivations of bureaucrats in such agencies, imagining them justifying their paychecks without adding value, and states a strong dislike for politicians and bureaucrats

.

The 1986 SHIELD ACT is heavily criticized for shielding vaccine manufacturers from lawsuits, which the author believes leads to a lack of safety testing and contributes to health issues

. The author calls for its repeal

.

The author frequently uses the derogatory term “Gooferment”

 and the exclamation “Argh!” to convey frustration related to government actions or perceived failures. The sentiment is further reinforced by headings like “GOVEROTRAGEOUS” and topics listed in the sidebar such as “Political,” “Ranting,” “TYLER DURDEN,” “tyranny,” and “VICTIM DISARMAMENT”. The focus on “Conspiracy Theories” and the mention of perceived “crimes committed by the Political Class” also contribute to this negative view

.

The sources suggest a preference for private sector solutions over government involvement, as seen in the discussion of infrastructure

, airline security/air traffic control, and energy competition. There is also an emphasis on self-reliance and skepticism of authority, exemplified by the advice to “TRUST NO ONE, EVER” in the context of Bitcoin security and government involvement, the suggestion to save in gold and silver, and the inclusion of a quote about an armed society

.

In summary, the sources consistently portray government and authority as inefficient, untrustworthy, detrimental to individual liberty and economic well-being, and often acting against the public interest for the benefit of insiders

.

1 source

NotebookLM can be inaccurate; please double check its responses.

—30—


GLOBAL: Maybe some arrows painted on the roads?

Sunday, June 8, 2025

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4kqq8dw00o?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark

Rise in crashes caused by tourists driving on wrong side of road
9 hours ago
<<No author cited>>
<< EDITOR ADDED DATE 2025-05-31>>

*** begin quote ***

The UK is one of few countries in Europe where vehicles drive on the left

The number of crashes caused by visitors to Scotland driving on the wrong side of the road has increased by 46% in a year.

Figures released by Transport Scotland showed there were 35 collisions caused by “inexperience of driving on the left” in 2023, up from 24 the previous year.

Campaigners have described the rise as “disappointing” and called for additional signage and prompts to be put in place as a reminder for tourists, particularly in rural areas.

Road Safety Scotland said there was no clear reason for the increased frequency of crashes.

*** end quote ***

I’d suggest some arrows painted on the roads.  

Some countries have optical illusions or wavy lane lines to slow drivers.

You’d think that paint would be a cheap solution.  

Certainly around cities and maybe on tourist routes to scenic viewpoints.

Just a thought.  Not that drivers in the Pepuls Republik of Nu Jerzee are any example to follow.

—30—


ENGINEERING: What other hidden disasters don’t we know about?

Saturday, June 7, 2025

https://nypost.com/2025/05/28/us-news/nyc-citicorp-tower-skyscraper-was-almost-toppled-by-winds/

This famous NYC skyscraper was almost toppled by winds — and the people who worked inside it had no idea of the danger they were in

By Steve Cuozzo 

Published May 28, 2025, 4:44 p.m. ET

*** begin quote ***

The Citicorp Tower has been a Manhattan skyline icon for nearly a half-century with a glimmering silhouette and unique, prism-topped roof. 

The 54-story skyscraper was dedicated on Oct 12, 1977, by Gov. Hugh Carey and Mayor Abe Beame. Less than a year later, chief engineer William LeMessurier found it had a 1 in 16 chance of toppling over in hurricane winds. 

*** end quote ***

Fascinating read.  And what about all the occupants would would have been killed if the wind blew in the “wrong direction”?  Notice that the elites in the know never told “We, The Sheeple” that they were in mortal danger.

Argh!

Special place in hell fo those in the know.

What other hidden disasters don’t we know about?  Can we trust anyone, any institution, or anything?

—30—


VETERANS: 81 Years Ago Today

Friday, June 6, 2025

https://legalinsurrection.com/2025/06/d-day-81-years-ago-today-the-greatest-generation-pulled-off-a-miracle/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=d-day-81-years-ago-today-the-greatest-generation-pulled-off-a-miracle

D-Day: 81 Years Ago Today the Greatest Generation Pulled Off a Miracle

Posted by Mary Chastain  —  Friday, June 6, 2025 at 11:00am 

*** begin quote ***

The Greatest Generation accomplished one of the most unbelievable military victories in history.

The odds were stacked against them, facing certain death. The Allies had 160,000 troops, 5,000 ships, and 13,000 aircraft.

*** end quote ***

upload_2025-6-6_0-19-23.

How soon we forget.  While “We, The Sheeple” fritter away the advantages they secured for us.  

Homeless vets, a VA hospital system that tries to kill its patients, and perfidious politicians that use “patriotism” to embroil us in the endless creation on new vets are all examples of what’s wrong.

GBA 

—30—


HEALTH: Fried foods are really “greasy”

Friday, June 6, 2025

Personal Observation:

Got some take out last night and it came with French Fries.  My better half today gave me all the fries to break up for the birds.  In the process of doing that, my hands were covered with “grease” and some of it leaked out on the bottom of the dish.  

Yuck!  

I’ve come to the conclusion somewhat very very belatedly, that all that “grease” can’t be good for our health.  Some of it actually congealed at room temperature into globs.  Clearly that can’t be good for veins and arteries.

Now I love McDonald’s French Fries when they are hot as well as KFC.

(Was the name change from Kentucky Fried Chicken to KFC because they took the “chicken” out?)

But no more, too much grease in  anything “fried”?

YMMV FWIW

—30—


GOOGLE: Google photo’s people identification … …

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Google photo’s people identification … …

… … does it, can it, transfer to someone else’s “google photos”? Sort of like how contacts with a gmail account will pick up their contact card image if they have one.  

In my case, I identified all the people I can in my google photos. I’d like to send her a picture of a group shot from a wedding WITH my identification and have her fill in what she knows.

Doesn’t seem like a far fetched request.

I’ve been unable to find any answers.  Would appreciate any meaningful comments.

— 30 —


ENCOURAGING: A local champion and educator for proper childhood nutrition overcomes challenges

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Nurse Swaps Medicine for Mangos After Epiphany: Patients Were Malnourished While Fruit Rots All Around

Nurse Swaps Medicine for Mangos After Epiphany: Patients Were Malnourished While Fruit Rots All Around

By Andy Corbley – May 23, 2025 

*** begin quote ***

In Uganda, a nurse was excited to start practicing medicine, but realized only afterwards that his patients didn’t so much need pharmaceuticals as proper nutrition.

14 years ago in northern Uganda’s Yumbe district, Francis Asiku was riding home from that nursing job having witnessed a four-year-old suffering from acute malnutrition. It was a disturbing experience he admits, but while passing by some mango trees in the village of Midigo, he saw birds feasting on mangos that were rotting on the ground.

A question stopped his pedals and his mind: why were the birds eating that nutritious fruit? Why was it left to rot? The epiphany which followed gave rise to the Mango Project, a local-led initiative to preserve mangoes from the two harvests per years, and get them into the mouths of the least-fortunate children.

*** and ***

“Should we wait for the government to come to our rescue, and yet the situation keeps getting worse?” he remembers asking his earliest colleagues on the Mango Project.

*** and ***

Asiku has become a local champion and educator for proper childhood nutrition, armed with an orchard of 310 hybrid mango trees bred to resist fruit flies and erratic weather. He knows that mangos alone can’t resolve the problem: for example they contain virtually no protein or iron, vitamin B2, B1, choline, or zinc.

So in response to the interest in the project from donations, Asiku managed to squirrel away enough money to afford a solar-powered drier, with which he dries okra and eggplant, adding sources of vitamin K, B1, magnesium, and calcium.

He hopes to obtain a government license to distribute his foods further afield.

*** end quote ***

Amazing what one human can accomplish from a simple observation and follow thru.

I was shocked at his realization that Gooferments really don’t help and often frustrate solutions.

If the fellow had a GOFUNDME, then I’d have chipped in.  A few dollars may translate into saved lives.

Never underestimate the power of one motivated individual.

“Everything is theoretically impossible, until it is done.” — Robert A. Heinlein

“Give me the place to stand, and I shall move the earth.” Attributed to Archimedes of Syracuse (c. 287 BC – c. 212 BC) was a Greek mathematician, philosopher, scientist and engineer. 

This fellow found his lever, his place, and moved the world!

—30—