27 - Today's News and Our Vacation Summary (#1)

Today's News

I know it's been a while since my last post here at Adams Pond. When I looked at the date on my last entry, I was surprised to find it has been just over a month since it was posted. For three weeks of that time, however, I was on vacation. For the rest---I have to use the lame excuse of recovering from my vacation. Let me start with a quick review of how things are here at Adams Pond.

It's been a relatively cool day today. We hit 100 degrees not long ago, but right now it's 95. Yesterday, when I drove to pick Sandy up at work, the temperature started out at 103. About halfway to her office, it spiked to 109. By the time I got to her workplace, it had settled in at 107. I was definitely glad the car had plenty of gas, because it did an excellent job of keeping me cool during the twenty minutes or so that I waited for her to break loose and escape.

I must admit this heat is really getting to me. I am saddened by the fact that many have died from exposure to it. People who have to work outside are impacted quite a bit, but the elderly and infirm who cannot afford cooling are badly hit. They always have been, and now that I'm in the elderly group, I understand how heat can drain your energy and make it difficult to do anything. Thus, I stay inside the best I can, and I'm glad my wife works for a heating and air conditioning company.

If you haven't checked your HVAC filters lately, give them a looksee. Dirty filters can make it more difficult for your HVAC system to cool, and they can even cause problems that can prevent it from cooling at all. They're an easy fix for many problems, so see what kind you need and see how often your HVAC manufacturer recommends you change them. You can even have an HVAC company come and inspect your system, and you should always do that before summer hits and before winter arrives.

When I do go outside, I sit under our patio cover, watch the fish, water the garden if it needs it, and even give baths to the birds when I'm spraying down the plants. A few days ago, I had a cardinal couple come and bathe in the spray, and it was fascinating to watch.

Vacation Summary

Our vacation this year was special in many ways. First, we planned to drive through a lot of territory we'd never explored before. Second, we'd be taking one of the longest cruises we'd ever taken. And, third, and most importantly, we'd be traveling with our granddaughter, Chloe, and her mother for most of the trip. We've been around Chloe three or four times a year since she was born, but we've never had occasion to spend a significant amount of time with her. Sandy and I both looked forward to getting to know her.

The first part of the journey was theirs. We had them flown from the St. Louis area to Love Field in Dallas. They stayed at our home for a few days before we set out on the grand adventure.

Weatherford, TX, to Albuquerque, NM

Sandy and I lived in New Mexico from 2011 to 2020, and I think we both agree it is probably our favorite place to live. Driving from Weatherford to Albuquerque meant we'd travel through a lot of familiar territory. It was especially nice to see the Sandia Mountains appearing on the western horizon at the end of our first day's travel. We'd planned to stop at one of our favorite eating places, but quite frankly, a ten-hour drive eliminated any desire but to get into the hotel room and collapse.

Albuquerque, NM, to Shiprock, NM

Our second day of travel had three stops. The first was revisiting Shiprock up in the NW corner of New Mexico. You've seen it a million times in movies, but it is impressive up close. Usually it's approached from the south, but we chose to view it from the north this time.

Shiprock, NM, to Four Corners

A few days before leaving, I talked with an friend who lives in New Mexico, and I mentioned the fact we were planning to visit Four Corners. His first comment was, "Well, it's not really in the right location." When we got there, a trip that required a convoluted journey on a lot of back roads, we discovered there was an exorbitant fee just to get into the parking lot. We looked. We agreed we'd seen it. We turned around. It's a nice tourist trap and not much else, though I'm sure the money does go to helping out the Navajo Tribe.

 

Four Corners to Moab, UT

If you've never had occasion to visit Moab, UT, I strongly recommend you make the journey as soon as possible. Moab is nestled in between high cliffs with Monument Valley to the south and Arches National Park to the Northeast. Aside from the natural beauty of the place, there are lots of hiking trails (if you're into that sort of thing). The Colorado River runs nearby, and we drove along it until the road ended and we had to turn around. There are also lots of good eating establishments. I don't recommend going in peak tourist season, however. It can get crowded.

That's enough for now. I still have half the journey to Seattle to recount, as well as our cruise, and the journey home. It will probably take a few posts to get it all said.

Take care. Stay safe.

cma 

26 - Today's News, Trump Indictment, I'm Woke--How About You?, Look! Up In the Sky!

Today's News

We've got three bird feeders and a hummingbird feeder just west of Adams Pond. As far as birds go, we have a fairly good variety. We have Cardinals, Blue Jays, Woodpeckers, Mourning Doves, and a variety of others. Grackles tend to show up when they're in the neighborhood, but they won't come near if the dogs are out. In addition, we've got squirrels that appreciate bird food, so the feeders have to be refilled frequently. My nephew Timmy wants to put some hot spices in the bird food because the birds won't care but the squirrels won't like them, and thus he won't have to refill the feeders as often. Personally, I think it's an idea I'll pass on. The squirrels keep the dogs busy chasing them as they move expertly through the trees and around the trunks. It keeps the dogs exercised, and the squirrels think it's fun. Why deny them the pleasure of a good time?

Sandy didn't get to use her pool again. She didn't get home before the mosquitoes started flying in formation. Our mosquitoes are Asian Tiger Mosquitoes. That's because their bodies are black with white markings. They are aggressive, and they are nasty. That's another reason to keep the birds coming. Some of those birds will eat the mosquitoes. Our fish like them as well. Me--not so much.

Trump Indictment

Donald Trump has been indicted once more. This time it's for his theft of government documents. While he might claim he didn't know what he was doing, or that he declassified them by waving his magic wand in their direction the same way he moved a hurricane with a magic marker, he knew exactly what he was doing. He just got caught. He won't stop his campaign simply because he still believes it's the best way to avoid jail (plus, it keeps his cult members sending him money to fight his court cases--though all that money just goes in his bank account). He still has several potential indictments ahead of him. Like all criminals, he continues to insist he's innocent. Oops. I forgot to put that in CAPS.

Of course, the other Republicans running for office are either trying to distance themselves from Trump, attack Trump, or defend Trump. DeSantis promises to prevent the DOJ from weaponizing its power--I guess that's so he can weaponize things himself. 

We'll just have to wait to see how it all plays out. I suspect he's probably checking with his friends in Saudi Arabia to see if they'll welcome him in for an extended stay in one of their penthouses.

I'm Woke--How About You? 

The Anti-Woke folks don't like Woke folks because they believe the Woke folks are forcing their ideas on them. In the course of their denial, they actually use the tactics they claim are being used on them. They force others to do what they want them to do. They fight ideas they don't like, and they tell others what ideas they should like. They ban books, and they insist that separation of church and state is a bad idea because they should be able to enforce their religious viewpoints by using the government. They even dislike Disney because it dared to use the word gay.

I ran across the following list on Facebook and saved it because I adhere to it completely. I am Woke, and if you're not, you're free to believe what you want to believe. Try reading. Try empathy on for size. Try believing in equality no matter what race, ethnic group, religious group, sex, gender, or whatever you're currently against. I've discovered there are a lot of good people out there being misled by bad politicians, and those bad politicians are misleading them because it keeps getting them elected. They don't care about the people who support and vote for them. They prove it quite frequently. Just listen. Read. Pay attention.

Look! Up In the Sky!

Every generation for nearly one hundred years has grown up with Superman. The first comic was issued in June 1938. After a while, Superman graduated to the big screen with movie serials (they played them before the movie started). In the 1950s, Superman moved to television. Superboy popped in there now and then, as did Supergirl and even Superman's pet dog Krypto. As a child, I bought Superman comic books. He also came in Action Comics and Adventure Comics. He showed up in other superhero comics. Then he made it to the movies again in 1978 when Christopher Reeve did an excellent job of capturing the likeness, personality, and spirit of the Man of Steel. Lois and Clark hit television in 1993, Smallville in 2001, Superman Returns in 2006, and Man of Steel in 2013. Superman and Lois is still on the air on the CW. There have been a lot of other incarnations of the Man from Krypton, and everyone has a favorite. 

The point of all this is we seem to like the guy. Who wouldn't like to be able to fly, leap over tall buildings in a single bound, and move faster than a speeding bullet? Add in X-Ray Vision, Heat Vision, Invulnerability, and a host of other super abilities, and you've got a fellow you better treat nicely. A few years ago, the movie Brightburn came out, and it showed what could have happened if Superman hadn't been a nice guy. It's a disturbing movie because it takes the entire Superman mythos and rips it inside out. It's not one I've been able to watch more than once.

I remember visiting my grandparents on a weekend about once a month, and I'd walk to the corner drugstore to purchase a comic book. One featuring Superman was always my favorite. Then I'd lie on the floor and read it over and over again. By the time I got to the first grade, I was already reading on a far higher level. Words like invulnerable and kryptonite pushed my reading vocabulary upward. 

The folks who chose Henry Cavil to portray The Man of Steel have (in the capricious nature of movie programming) determined he's too old for the role, and they want to start the whole thing over with a younger actor. Since there's a very strong theory that Superman is immortal because of the yellow sun revitalizing him, that might be prudent. On the other hand, it might be nice to see an older Superman.

That's enough for now.

Take care. Stay safe.

cma 

 

25 - Today's News, Who's Running For President?, More Shootings, Linux Update

Today's News

This summer has been interesting in a number of ways, but here at Adams Pond, I can assure you it's interesting because it's June, and it's Texas, and it's almost as if summer hasn't arrived yet. I can remember having our first 100-degree day in April. Thus far, it hasn't happened yet. The forecast promises 100-degree-plus days next week, but that puts us into the middle of June, and that's unprecedented. Personally, I'm not upset over this, but there are a lot of folks out there who are directly affected by it. One of them is my wife, so I am indirectly affected because what affects her ultimately affects both of us. She's in the air conditioning business (in case you didn't know). As an industry, HVAC companies and manufacturers make the bulk of their money over the summer. If you own an air conditioner and it's over 100 degrees outside, the reason is obvious. You want to keep that hot weather OUTSIDE. That results in air conditioners breaking down, which translates into business for HVAC companies. That business translates into work for sales people, service people, and installers. Let's not forget about the people who make money through advertising. It's an industry that keeps a lot of other businesses working. Thus, the cooler weather, whatever its cause, really is something to sweat about.

Sandy has been in her pool only two times since it was set up. That's because the water hasn't warmed up enough. We cut away the tree cover directly over it so the sun would shine on it, but even when it shines, it's not heating the pool up enough. Next week's warmer weather should make that possible, and since our granddaughter is coming for a visit, that's doubly nice as she will get to play in the water with her grandmother. 

Who's Running for President?

This is just a list without political commentary. At present, we have ten people running for President on the GOP side, three on the Democratic side, and one from the People's Party (which I hadn't even heard of until getting the info for this section). I'm already burned out on politics, but that doesn't mean I'm burrowing in and maintaining a blind eye to what's going on. We all need to pay attention, as the future of this country is at stake.

Republicans

• Donald Trump
• Nikki Haley (former Governor of SC and former Ambassador to the UN)
• Vivek Ramaswamy (former biotech executive)
• Larry Elder (conservative talk show host)
• Asa Hutchinson (former Governor of Arkansas)
• Tim Scott (Senator - SC)
• Ron DeSantis (Florida Governor)
• Mike Pence (Former Vice President)
• Chris Christie (Former NJ Governor)
• Doug Burgum (ND Governor)

Democrats 

• President Biden
• Marianne Williamson (Author & Spiritual Advisor)
• Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (Environmental Author) 

People Party 

•  Cornel West (Professor & Progressive Activist)

Obviously, we can expect some to drop off as others move forward. I expect a lot of these folks anticipate making a lot of money from book sales and appearances, and they may even jockeying around a bit for positions with the winner. Pay attention. As I said, this is not your normal America. The changes many of these candidates want to make are going to impact the country and affect you, your children, and your grandchildren.

More Shootings

According to the Gun Violence archive (Gun Violence Archive) there have been 18,431 deaths due to gun violence as of today's date in 2023. The total number of injuries is 15,462. That means you have a better chance of getting killed than just getting injured in a shooting incident. Take a look at the map this website provides:

Also alarming is the following chart:

I often tell people "I was an English major for a reason." That reason was that I discovered sometime in my junior year of high school that although I could handle geometry and algebra, I didn't particularly enjoy them. Thus, I knew I wasn't going to take calculus, physics, or even further explore chemistry because there were concepts I never quite understood. I could memorize formulas, and I could apply them, but I never understood what a sine or a cosine was much less molar values. HOWEVER, these numbers I can comprehend. I can't explain why anyone can look at them and say we don't need to address the problem of guns in this country. I'm reminded of a line from the musical 1776: "Well, in all my years, I ain't never heard, seen, nor smelled an issue that was so dangerous it couldn't be talked about." They were talking about the discussion of independence.

We need to discuss it, folks. We need to get together and just talk about it. All sides. A solution can be reached. It just requires the courage to admit there's a problem. The numbers can't be denied. We're talking about a human toll that needs to be dealt with.

Linux Update

I'll make this section short (maybe) because this entry has already become long enough to put some people to sleep.

"I'm Mike, and I'm a distrohopper." 

If there was a support group for people addicted to moving from one Linux distribution to another, I might have to be a member. There are a lot of us. When you use Windows, you have the current version, an older version, or maybe even a preview of the next version. The same thing goes with a Macintosh. With Linux--well--there are hundreds of versions. Within each version, there may be multiple flavors. Flavors are made up of different types of desktops. For instance, one of the oldest Linux versions is Ubuntu. Ubuntu currently has several different flavors: (1) Gnome, (2) KDE, (3) XFCE, (4) Mate, (5) Cinnamon, (6) Budgie, (7) LXDE, (8) Unity, (9) Kylin, and (10) Studio. Each of those flavors does the same thing, but it may do it differently. It may look entirely different. Just as we don't have just one car model, we don't have just one type of Linux distribution. The big difference is LINUX IS FREE.

Free means there's no reason to stick with just one version. In fact, you can have several at the same time and just select the one you want when the computer boots up.

I think the version I like best is Linux Mint (the Cinnamon version). I keep going back to it when I've been distrohopping (the act of hopping from one distribution to another). However, the current version I'm running is just different enough and just usable enough that I may stick with it for a while. It's got a very unusual name: POP! OS. It's very usable, and it's a little quirky and playful in some of its design. I'll keep it for a while and let you know how it turns out.

That's enough for now.

Take care. Stay safe.

cma 

 

 

 

 

 

 

24 - Today's Report, Things I Don't Understand

Today's Report

Wow! It's June! I'm reminded of that song from Carousel (June Is Busting Out All Over!). Everything is green, the trees and skies are filled with birds, butterflies and dragonflies flitter and flutter about in Sandy's Garden, and a warm wind is helping knock down the worst of the temperatures. It's 84 degrees as I write, and summer heat hasn't even put in an appearance. On one hand, I don't mind that because it means the air conditioning system doesn't run as much and the electric bill stays lower, but it also means Sandy's job is a greater challenge, as she's tasked with keeping the technicians, installers, and sales folk busy at the air conditioning company she works at. Her boss has a favorite saying that in the summer, a drunk monkey can make money in the air conditioning business. Drunk monkeys aside, we're just a couple of weeks away from our cruise to Alaska, and I'm really looking forward to it. 

Over the weekend, Clementine's sister came for a visit. Her name is Bonnie, and the two of them are about the same size, though they are very different in personalities. We were surprised to discover Clementine is extremely shy, and it took her almost the entire visit to quit hiding beneath Sandy's chair. Bonnie, on the other hand, explored the yard, studied the fish, and persistently challenged Clementine to come out and play. We had the get-together because Clementine will be staying with Bonnie while we are away, and we wanted to get them acclimated with one another. Since Clementine can't be left without supervision yet, she needs to be somewhere to stay out of trouble. Puppies are fun, but she's not out of the "What is this, and how does it taste" stage yet.

Today's picture shows Sandy's Pool is almost full and ready for her to move to the next stage of its life in which she gets the water prepared, adds the ladder so she can step over the side and enjoy it, and also spend the first part of her time in the pool cleaning it. I probably won't be making use of it. My balance is too bad to allow me easy entrance and exit. I will, however, sit beside it so we can make our observations of the world while she's enjoying the water.

Things I Don't Understand

This is just a list with very little commentary. These are things that just baffle me. I know why many of them are the way they are, but that doesn't mean I fully understand them.

• Why are bathroom doors so narrow?
• Why do people say "each and every" when one or the other would be sufficient to make the point?
• Why do people think being WOKE is a bad thing?
• Why do we elect politicians to represent us when they don't actually do that?
• Why do we keep electing them?
• Why are there tons of different religions and only one God?
• Why do we go to war and believe God is on our side?
• Doesn't the other side do the same thing?
• Why did anyone in their right mind think it was a good idea to vote for Trump?
• Why do people keep sending a known con artist money?
• In a sporting event, if the losing side had to clean the stadium afterward, would anyone still attend?
• Why isn't education the most important item in the United States' budget? 
• Why aren't teachers paid more?
• Why do we need more pronouns when no one uses the old ones correctly? (This is not a reference to the reason those new pronouns are in use.)
• Why didn't they tell me in my old Latin classes that Latin was probably spoken with an Italian accent? It would have made learning to speak Latin more fun.
• Why are some people proud to say they haven't read a book since they were forced to read in school?
• Why isn't this list longer?

That's enough for now.

Take care, and be safe.

cma 

23 - Today's Report, The Manufactured Debt Crisis, What Influences Us?

Today's Report

I've been absent for a few days, but I've been doing my best to keep one of my legs elevated through this time. The problem area is much better today, and I've got a doctor's appointment to look at it tomorrow, but I shall not push things by staying at my computer too long.

It's nice today. We've had rain off and on, mostly at night, so the grass is growing (much to my nephew Timmy's chagrin). I remember those days quite clearly, and I find myself missing the opportunity to do a lot of the things I once viewed as work. However, when I flip that coin, I also know that I have found retirement to be more fulfilling than I imagined. While it's true I still have daily chores (laundry, dishes, and cleaning up after the puppy decides everything chewable needs to be chewed), I also enjoy sitting outside beside the pond. These days I'm using the time to not only watch the birds and fish, but to also listen to an audiobook or two. 

The Manufactured Debt Crisis

I'm not going to spend a lot of time on this one. When I watch the news, I'm often reminded of the many movies and television shows I've watched through the years when disaster looms on the horizon. There was a time when you still got caught up in it all despite knowing the cavalry would come over the hill at the last minute, and then there was a time when disaster overtook everyone. I really enjoy a well-done disaster movie more because it shows the resilience of humankind than anything else, but I'm also aware that sometimes it doesn't matter how resilient we may be, sometimes that disaster washes over us like a tidal wave sweeps across the lowlands. If you're up on the mountaintop looking down on it all, you suddenly understand the true meaning of helplessness. That's how I feel as I watch the manufactured crisis threatening our country. Hopefully they'll find a way out of it, but the radical right is feeling powerful right now, and I'm not sure invoking the 14th Amendment will be enough to prevent more such nonsense in our future. Where is that cavalry when you need it? Someone blow that horn loud and strong!

What Influences Us?

I saw an article today that said most of us are influenced by information that reinforces our attitudes. For instance, if I believe the GOP is an evil force in today's world (I do, obviously), then I'm pleased to find evidence of that in the news (which I must admit I do more often than I'd like). On the other hand, I find myself longing for the days when people could disagree while also finding the way to compromise. Some of the best things that have happened in this country happened not because one side or the other forced them down the other's throat, but because both sides talked with one another and found a way through to making things better for everyone. 

I'll take one example as proof of my premise.  The Food Stamp Program is also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). While I am astonished that anyone could find a problem with a program that helps people survive as much as SNAP does, I'm amazed at how short-sighted those who oppose it must be to take that position. Here is a program that doesn't hurt anyone. It's a small part of the budget. In fact, it's part of the Department of Agriculture's budget. It supplements the ability of individuals and families below certain income guidelines to keep food on the table. That's why the word supplement is in the program name. Those guidelines are based on the Poverty Level. A large part of those eligible for this program are children, the elderly, and the disabled. There ARE work-requirements for the able-bodied despite what those who oppose it say. I've got more to say on the subject of work requirements, but I'll save it for another day.

When I speak of the power of compromise, I'm talking about the fact that SNAP was supported by both Democrats and Republicans. Together, they took a good idea and hammered out their differences to achieve something that actually helped a large number of Americans.  

Facts that support your attitudes are good facts. Facts that don't support your attitudes are still good facts. Toss the concept of fake facts out the window. Fake facts don't exist. A lie is still a lie no matter how you dress it up, and if you believe a lie without questioning it, your belief is wrong. That's all there is to it.

And that, my friends, is enough for today. It's time to go get my leg elevated again.

Have a nice day.

Take care, and stay safe.

cma 

 

 

22 - Daily Report, Alien Contact,

Daily Report

I've taken a few days off from writing this blog for a couple of reasons. First (and it's the strongest of the reasons in the long run), I was doing a rewrite on one of the chapters in my current book. The original version wasn't bad, but the entire book took a tailspin and changed dramatically after an unexpected idea popped into the story. That's one of the things I love about writing. While the logical side of me knows I came up with the idea, the creative side of me understands that ideas are often snatched out of thin air. It caused me to repurpose a character (or two), and it meant the story changed direction. I find writing is often a journey, and that's one of the reasons I don't outline.

The second reason was I ended up getting older. I don't get too worked up about birthdays, and that's not going to start just because I turned 70 a few days ago. When I was growing up, we didn't celebrate birthdays. They simply happened. No cards. No specific presents. It was just a day when we sang birthday greetings, maybe even gave playful licks, and then moved on. My only birthday presents for a long time came in the shape of chocolate pies. My mother was a wonderful cook, and she made them from scratch. Delicious, flaky crust, smooth and sometimes still warm chocolate filling, and meringue topping, browned along the top edges!!! Wow! I miss those pies! She made one for me, and one for the rest of the family.

Today's picture is of one of our local squirrels. I've decided to name him Secret Squirrel after a cartoon character I enjoyed in my younger days. He is definitely secretive. He's posing on some yard furniture that needs to be moved, and he's doing it as seven dogs patrol the yard looking for something to chase and bark at. Brave fella--Secret Squirrel!

Alien Contact

"The Truth Is Out There!" was a popular quote from the X-Files, and it continues to resonate with many people who believe the truth is known, but it's being withheld for some reason. Over the years, I've paid attention to news about UFOs and Extraterrestrials (Aliens), and I've come to the conclusion that something's going on. I'm not sure what it may be, but I know something is definitely going on. The stories of UFO sightings are just too common for it all to be simply a matter of misinterpreting what folks are seeing when they look into the skies.

Yesterday, while I was waiting for Sandy to come home with some pizzas, I watched a program about UFOs (I believe it was National Geographic), and one of the witnesses described UFO behavior very similar to something I witnessed over thirty years ago. I sat up a little and squinted as I looked at the video, and I thought, "The only thing they left out was a description of the colors." 

So here are my ideas about extraterrestrial life:

• There are no extraterrestrials. (Boring, but it's necessary to keep it handy.) 

• Extraterrestrials are there, but the distances between stars means we'll never meet. (Again, boring, but definitely possible based on our current understanding of physics.)

• Extraterrestrials are watching us but keeping their distance. (Still boring, but it explains UFO sightings, and it probably makes sense. Prime Directive rules aside, contact would be bad for a variety of reasons, including potential biological contamination.)

• Extraterrestrials are watching us but keeping their distance because we're not ready for them. (Not boring, but stupid. There are a LOT of things I'm not ready for, including Donald Trump continuing to be free, but aliens don't make the list. If they wanted to invade, they would have done it a long time ago when we were less likely to destroy ourselves while trying to destroy them.)

• Extraterrestrials have made contact with our leaders who have talked them into not being obvious about being here for political reasons. (I'll buy into this one. Stories of alien contact with our leaders go back to FDR, and I can see how they might deem it profitable to keep the aliens in their pockets. Area 51 comes to mind as potential evidence of this. However, and I must have a however to accompany this one, it falls apart in the long-term. That's especially true after Trump hit the scene. Unless the aliens are picky about who they work with, and they probably are smart enough to steer clear of folks like Trump.) 

• Extraterrestrials are actually invaders. (This one's the fodder for many science fiction movies, but I tend to believe they're not going to send an armada to conquer us if that's their goal. We're too busy doing their work for them. All they need to do is tweak a politician or two, and they can get the results they want without the expense. This one DOES explain Trump.)

There are other ideas, but they're basically variations on the ones listed above. Personally, I don't think we're alone. I do believe they're watching us, and I do believe they're not all bad guys (who said there was just one alien civilization out there?) 

That's enough for now.

Take care. Stay Safe.

cma 

 

 

 

21 - Daily Report, Mass Shootings Continue, Trump Loses Once Again

Daily Report

It's been a few days since my last entry. I was busy writing on other things. It's funny how creativity runs in my life. There are times when I simply can't write fast enough to get every idea down, and there are times when it all just comes in bursts. I write a paragraph, and then I have to move on to something else. Yesterday was focused on getting the laundry caught up and getting dishes taken care of. Then there was cleaning up after Clementine who seems determined to find new ways to turn large things into little things while she takes a break from getting the innards of her dog bed to abandon their nice, pretty outer covers. I've got both a long and a short grabber that allows me to reach down and get most of it without having to bend over, so that's a good thing.

Over the weekend, after the storms came through, I discovered a limb had broken off from one of our trees. Clementine discovered it as well. The subject of today's first picture is her decision that Mother Nature had delivered a new chew toy. 

I also noticed the county was out trimming the trees in our front yard where they overhang the county road. It's a shame we didn't manage to get all the broken limbs that have accumulated over the past month out there so they could cart them off. Maybe next time...

Mass Shootings Continue

I'd originally titled this section "It's All About the Money," and that's still true. I decided the title needed more focus on the effect because the cause has been well-established. I'm not brave enough to get on a search engine and pull up pictures of people who have been shot by weapons designed for the sole purpose of killing people. I've heard they are horrific, and I'm more than willing to accept that judgment. However, a meme popped up today that drove this home, and I'm going to post it here.

 

As someone responded in a post following this: SHE HAD NO FACE!

The impact of those four words ought to grab at you and refuse to let go until it sinks in. It ought to be the thing of nightmares. No. Let me correct that. It IS the thing of nightmares. Friends, we took measures to prevent people from putting poison in medicine bottles. They outlawed lawn darts. We wear seatbelts. We have smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Trucks have a bar to prevent cars from going under them and decapitating people. We have to sign and show ID to get certain medicines. They regulate fertilizer. We have regulations to prevent rivers from catching fire from chemicals being dumped into them. There's a massive lawsuit over using weed killer. I'm convinced posting before and after pictures of the mass murder victims would make all of us throw up, but who's going to be brave enough to post them? Heck, who's going to be brave enough to even look at them? 

The folks who all claim to be Pro-Life need to go look in the mirror and admit they're liars and hypocrites if they believe the 2nd Amendment trumps mass murder. They aren't shootings! They are murder--plain and simple.

Second Amendment adherents are the puppets of the NRA and the firearm industry. Both manufactured the environment we now live in, and they profit from it. They buy politicians through campaign donations and threats. We keep electing people who fall down and worship at their feet. 

It's time to un-elect these sycophants. It's time to do something. Stop supporting those who support the NRA and military grade weapons. Start demanding meaningful reforms.

No one is safe.

Next time, it may be someone you know whose face has been blown off.

It might even be you. 

Trump Loses Once Again

This news arrived a few minutes after I'd originally published this entry, but it couldn't wait for my reaction until later.

Donald Trump was found guilty of sexual abuse and defamation in the civil lawsuit filed by E. Jean Carroll. He has been ordered to pay $5 million in compensation as well as fines. Trump, of course, denied it ever happened, and he was seriously upset over the verdict (no surprise there). While there will almost certainly be an appeal over this, that may take years.

There is also reasonable concern that Trump cultists may attempt revenge by attacking E. Jean Carroll. They were prepared to overthrow our government on his command. I hope she has good security.

That's enough for now.

Take care. Be safe.

cma

20 - Daily Report, Tangled Webs, King Charles, SCOTUS, & Just Piddlin' Around

Daily Report

Yesterday's severe storms fizzled. It got cloudy. I'm almost certain I saw one flash from lightning, but no rain. No hail. No tornadoes. Since we needed the rain without all the rest of that, I guess we were consigned to "take it all or leave it" territory. Sandy and I got up this morning and watered her garden, and the soaker hose just started up a few minutes ago, so the plants should all be doing well.

Today it's supposed to get up to 95 degrees. Right now, it's 88, and since I just returned to enjoy our air conditioning, you may assume without a concern for being wrong that it is hot outside. That's good for Sandy. She works for an air conditioning company, and hot weather is when they do best, though they have branched out into electrical and plumbing work as well as solar. I've also noticed a lot of cottonwood fuzz floating about. If you live near cottonwood trees, be aware that the little white fuzz can clog up the vents on your outdoor unit and cause it to work harder. That means less efficiency and higher bills.

Another consequence of warmer weather is more people are walking past our house. They're either out for exercise, out for the scenery, or walking their critters. Our dogs get their exercise running from window to window then to the side dog yard and all over again as they tell those miscreants they are invading their territory. Then they run to me to see if I'll give them a treat for protecting me. 

Tangled Webs 

We live in a wonderful location. There's a lake within a block of our house. We're in the county and not in the city, so we don't have to abide by the pet limitations, and we also don't pay city taxes. We have cows and horses across the street. 

Parker County, TX, celebrates itself as the Quarterhorse Capital of the World, and they have an annual peach festival. The first Monday of each month also serves as an opportunity for people to come from all corners of the state for a large swap meet. Out here by the lake, we have lots of cardinals, but we also have lots of vultures. The vultures are everywhere, and one house down by the curve on the east side of the lake has a tree they all seem to love. I think I'd move. Another thing we have is lots of spiders. Their webs are everywhere, and that's probably because we have lots of gnats and mosquitos. The web pictured below is outside our back door. It wasn't there yesterday. I'm not sure why the siding is curving around. It's straight, but maybe it finds the spider web icky.

King Charles

Tomorrow is the coronation of King Charles III in Great Britain. We'll never know why his mother didn't abdicate her position as Queen as she aged, and I'm not saying she should have done so. Charles is 74 years old, and it has been 70 years since his mother's coronation. I don't think he can beat her record in terms of time, but I hope he continues her tradition of doing her best to represent the British people.

President Biden is sending the First Lady to represent this country. Some folks don't think she should be going. Some folks are upset that the president isn't attending. Some people! Sigh. We have enough problems on our plate these days. We will be well-represented by the First Lady. That's all we need to know or care about. Beyond that, I just hope they have great security.

SCOTUS 

SCOTUS, also known as the Supreme Court of the United States, is having its share of scandals lately. Actually, in the world as it should be, the justices of the highest court of this country ought to have a ZERO share of scandals. Clarence Thomas is wading hip deep in the muck created by his lack of ethical behavior, and now his wife is showing she's walking right alongside him in muck of her own making. We've got other Supreme Court Justices with similar issues. They ought to be ashamed of themselves. They should each resign. Their decisions past, present, and future are now worth reexamination.

Just Piddlin' Around 

You may not be aware that I have a second blog. It's one that I use to cover items that really don't belong here. Today's entry covers a series I plan to write on musicals. Read my introduction, and I'll try to publish the others on a weekly basis.

The Website is  https://mikes-musings-and-comments.blogspot.com/.

That's enough for now.

Take care. Be Safe.

cma 

 

19 - Daily Report, May the 4th, Can You Spell Bribe?, and Is Your Phone an Open Line to Alien Civilizations"?

Daily Report

It's been a cool, windy day here at Adams Pond. It's 75 degrees, and the promise of severe thunderstorms with hail and possible tornadoes lies just a few hours in the future. The weather radar doesn't show anything close yet, but the predictive radar shows strong storms coming through our area around 5 or 6 PM (Central Time). We can always use rain, but hail and tornadoes need to visit unpopulated deserts somewhere.

Sandy was up most of the night dealing with ATT over router problems where she works. They kept promising someone would be at the building soon, yet soon never arrived. They do VOIP for calls coming into the company, and that means their customers (old, new, and potential) can't call them. She had her call center folks work from home today so they could alleviate that problem. I think she only got a few hours' sleep during the night, and when she got through to ATT again this morning, she was definitely not a happy camper. Hopefully things will get fixed, and hopefully she can take off work early and get home.

And those storms better play nice, or she'll really get mad.

May the 4th

Today is Star Wars Day.

I remember the furor that occurred back in May 1977 when the first Star Wars movie came out. That was before they started numbering them and giving new titles and doing prequels that didn't really capture the energy of the originals (my opinion). I stood in line for over an hour, but I lived in a fairly small town at the time, so the entire population could have been there and I wouldn't have noticed a difference. Then that first burst of music combined with the title appearing and receding from view followed by the bad guys shooting at the good guys and the really bad guy (wearing black, of course) showed up, and then...and then...well, you know the story. Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, C3PO and R2D2, Obiwan Kenobi, the Force, and "that's not a moon" followed by "I've got a bad feeling about this."

Yes. I saw the movie quite a few times. Today is Star Wars Day.

May the Forth be with you. 

Can You Spell Bribe?

News has just come out that Clarence Thomas has a child he's been raising as his son, and that "son" has been going to expensive private schools. His billionaire friend has been paying a minimum of $6000 a month for all of this. Calculations I've seen total over $150,000 in potential payments made for this child. I'm not blaming the "son" for all of this, of course. I do blame Clarence Thomas as well as the system that ignored his unethical behavior. The Republicans have been supporting all of his previous "benefits," and that's partially because they've eaten of that same forbidden fruit.

So, when is a bribe not a bribe?

Evidently when you're a Supreme Court Judge or a member of Congress. 

The solution to all of this is for us to "unelect" these criminals when election day arrives. As long as they have power, they're going to get all their wagons in a circle and shoot at us with budget reductions and more illegal activities. The GOP has effectively become a criminal enterprise.

Is Your Phone an Open Line to Alien Civilizations?  

The cat may already be out of the bag, but are we releasing an entire herd of cats on the universe? That idea relates to the reality that we began broadcasting our presence in the universe the moment radio went on the air. The first jokes of Jack Benny are spreading the news and will continue spreading the news that we're here until the universe drowns them out. But never fear, every time you talk on your cell phone, you're broadcasting our presence.

"The Earth is already anomalously bright in the radio part of the spectrum; if the trend continues, we could become readily detectable by any advanced civilization with the right technology," Mike Garrett, the director of Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at The University of Manchester, said in a statement. He's talking about leaking signals from cell-phone towers.

Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing remains to be seen. I guess it depends on who's listening. 

We're listening as well, and as our technology improves, so does our ability to hear any alien civilizations that are out there broadcasting just like we are. Fortunately for them, we're a long ways from being able to pay them a visit.

That's enough for now.

Take care. Be safe.

cma 

 

 

 

 

 

18 - Daily Report, It's Magic I Tell You!

Daily Report

Our day started out early this morning when Clementine decided the water bowl was empty. Well, it was--right after she took it in her teeth and flipped it over. Sandy got up, threw a towel over the water to soak it all up and prevent a possible slipping hazard, and she filled it up again. She was not a happy camper by any stretch of the imagination. I coerced Clementine to come over to my side of the bed and lie down. She did. I think she knew her mother was angry, and no one wants to make the mother unhappy at four in the morning.

On a much brighter front, the sun came up a few hours longer, and Alexa awakened us to an Electric Light Orchestra tune. After getting up and letting the dogs out, I took Clementine to the cage we have set up for her in the dining room. She's not quite old enough to be left without supervision. She's well trained, though. She runs right into the cage because she knows she'll get a treat afterward. Maybe she's got me well-trained...?

Sandy and I went to the chiropractor, then we grabbed breakfast and went to our doctor (I mentioned her yesterday). When I got home, I turned on the waterfall, and I sat with the dogs as they wandered around the yard doing everything but notice the squirrels trying to attract their attention. One even ran over and perched on top of the waterfall, but he scampered off when I grabbed my phone to take his picture.

We have a lot of birds visiting our bird feeders. And squirrels. Taking care of Mother Nature isn't easy, but it's something we all need to do. Besides, I get the side benefit of watching the wide variety of avian critters who like our birdie buffet. We've got some really large blue jays who've been in attendance, and yesterday I snapped a picture of our resident woodpecker. I'll resist the urge to call him "Woody." Enjoy.

It's Magic I Tell You!

Normally when I think of magic, I think of the sort of sleight of hand that's always been popular in Las Vegas. Back in my single days, I'd take the train to Vegas to see the shows. I've never been much of a gambler, and Branson hadn't attracted my attention. I saw quite a few magicians in those days. The highlight of those experiences was Melinda--the First Lady of Magic. She had one trick I remember quite well, as she disappeared in a cloud of smoke on stage, and then she suddenly reappeared at the back of the auditorium moments later. It was so fast I imagined a certain Scottish engineer had a hand in it. She's still performing from what I understand. At one time she was associated with Rick Little, but that relationship fell apart after she discovered he'd been taping them in bed. The resulting lawsuit made national news and changed my opinion of Rick Little quite a bit. She later married Lance Burton, another Vegas Magician I'd seen in the past. That marriage lasted about as long as her trip from the stage to the back of the auditorium.

Then, of course, you can't mention magic in the current world without mentioning Harry Potter. I've read the books. I've seen the movies. Watching the three kids that started out as Harry, Hermione, and Ron grow up was something we all share in a sense. I'll confess that I had to look up how to spell Hermione, but I've got it committed to my short-term memory now.

In 1975, during my senior year in college, I had the rare opportunity to spend three days with Arthur C. Clarke (the fellow who wrote 2001: A Space Odyssey). I talk about this fairly often because as a science fiction reader and writer, meeting Arthur C. Clarke was akin to meeting Isaac Asimov and Robert A. Heinlein (and shame on you if you don't know who they are!). 

I mention Arthur C. Clarke because he created a concept that's relative to the subject of magic. He said that "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Relate that to UFOs, and you've got an explanation for their ability to make right corner turns in an instant or their ability to vanish right in front of your eyes (I've had that happen).

When it comes to physics, there are a few concepts I understand innately. I can't explain them, and the scientific formulas supporting them look like a foreign language to me, but I understand some of them well enough to get by. Ideas like inertia, for example. The definition of inertia is that an object at rest tends to stay at rest, and an object in motion tends to stay in motion. You have to apply force (energy) to move an object, and you have to remove energy (friction) to get an object in motion to slow down and stop. Think about driving your car. When you make a fast turn, you lean in the direction opposite the turn. You hit the brakes to slow down. Anyway, those are my ideas on the subject. I've got a good friend from college who's probably reading this and smacking his head against the wall right now. He's a retired physics professor. He also helped confirm one of my ideas about time travel not long ago. I expect he'll send me an email correcting my gross over-simplifications.

If you move beyond normal, everyday physics like the laws of motion, gravity, and so forth, you eventually end up in the realm of quantum physics/mechanics. I don't understand enough about either to know if they're two separate things or just parts of the same thing. There's where you get into the hazy, fuzzy, mysterious world that springboards into teleportation and even warp travel. 

Now, there's magic!

That's enough for now.

Take care. Stay safe.

cma 

 

17 - Today's Report, Boebert Babble, Duck & Cover, Star Wars Day

Today's Report

It's May 1st here at Adams Pond. Well, really, it's May 1st everywhere, but the impact of May's arrival has been splendid in many ways. Sandy and Timmy spent some time yesterday trying to vacuum the sludge from the bottom of the Pond, but the sludge was apparently vacuum resistant. They didn't have as much success as desired. They did, however, get the pump working properly, so the waterfall has been revived. That also means the Pond needs to be checked periodically, as the leak is still leaking.

Today's picture features Clementine studying the Mulberry Tree just west of Adams Pond. Memory tells me it's a Mulberry Tree. I'm not really very good at distinguishing trees unless they have some special characteristic that sets them apart. My mother had a magnolia tree in front of our house, and she loved it tremendously. We had a redbud tree in the back yard that served as a perch for me when I was younger. My research has established our tree is a Red Mulberry tree, and that's based on a picture of its flowers, which are extremely annoying in the spring because they have a tendency to fall into the Pond.

Back to the picture. You'll notice Clementine is looking at the tree, but the tree isn't really the object of her attention. What you can't see is the squirrel on the other side. I tried to get a shot of it as it ran in circles around the tree to tempt the dogs into barking, but it was faster than my ability to push the little white button on my phone. So, take my word for it. It's there. On the other side of the Red Mulberry Tree.

Boebert Babble

Lauren Boebert has been doing her best to stay in the news, and she doesn't care whether what she's saying makes sense or not. There are a lot of folks in the GOP that are like that, but she's aiming for the prize. Lately she's been encouraging "patriots" to stand up for their rights and force airlines to throw them off planes. She isn't specific about what rights they're protecting, but that doesn't matter. Just make a lot of noise and babble along like a brook heading swiftly downhill so it can plunge off the side of that hill and make a big splash at the bottom. Everyone say "Oooooh" in unison as they fall. This is the same--shall I stretch the boundaries of reality and call her a lady?--er, person who wore a shirt proclaiming the AR-15 was a "hole-puncher" on the same day as the latest mass murder in Texas. With an AR-15. Five people dead. Killed because their murderer declared he could do whatever he wanted on his own property. Seems he wasn't about to limit himself to his own property. Hopefully the good people of Colorado will remedy the Boebert Babbler's ability to represent them in Congress, but that won't stop the noise level.

Duck & Cover

When I was growing up, the threat of nuclear annihilation was both very real and very frightening. School kids were taught to "duck & cover" as a consequence. The idea was a nuclear weapon would ignore you if you were hiding from it. Today, that sentiment has evolved into sheltering in place if you can't escape the attack of a murderer with an AR-15 and countless other weapons. While working in New Mexico, I had to take annual courses in dealing with active shooter situations. Even in the best circumstances, survival may rely as much upon good luck as taking the right action. Kids now have the option of purchasing bullet-proof backpacks. I can't help but wonder if the same industry profiting from the proliferation of military-grade weapons isn't related to the industry trying to sell things like that. Just as in the crime shows on television, it's always good to follow the money. Who profits by keeping this terrible chaos in place?

Star Wars Day

It's May, and this Thursday is Star Wars Day. As a true Trekkie, I'll hold up my hand with my very best Vulcan salute and say, "Live long and prosper, and May the Fourth be with you."

That's enough for now. 

Be safe. Take care.

cma

16 - Today's Report, Dog Antics, Windows 10 Update

Today's Report

I've been focusing on my writing the last few days, so I've fallen behind in writing for the Pond. One of the things I discovered when I was developing training materials and doing a lot of technical writing/editing, was doing that tended to drain my creativity a bit. I try to strike a balance between the two, and it's easier to do now that I'm semi-fully retired. Tomorrow, however, I've got a lesson plan for the Call Center folks Sandy supervises, so that will take some time to organize.

That said, it's been an interesting few days. I had a follow-up at my doctor's office, and while that might seem as if it's not a lot of fun, Sandy and I have a very good and smart doctor. Going to see her is never an ordeal, and I always learn quite a lot. Every visit is like sitting down with a very knowledgable friend. The focus this time was to test my INR (I'd have to look up what that means, but basically it's to check the thickness of my blood). I take blood thinners because I have AFIB, and my medication occasionally needs to be adjusted based on the results. This time it was borderline on the thick side, so I'm going back in for another follow-up in two weeks. Sandy and I are fairly certain if anything happens which means we'll end up moving, we may have to kidnap our doctor and take her with us.

One of the interesting things about getting older is the number of doctors I get to see, and that runs neck-in-neck with the number of prescriptions I have to take. I can't complain, though. There have been a couple of times when having the right doctor prevented serious complications to my future longevity. If it's been a while since you've been checked over, I strongly suggest making an appointment.

Dog Antics

When Clementine entered our lives, Sandy jokingly said it was her way of keeping me from being lazy. Whether she was serious about that or not, she was right on target. Throughout the day, I find myself yelling, "Clemmie? What are you doing?" or "Clemmie, what are you chewing on?" or the even more serious "CLEMENTINE! COME HERE!" She comes, dutifully wagging her tail and jumping up on my leg so I can rub the sides of her skull. She is slowly wearing me out, but this afternoon she more than made up for it. I saw her stealing an empty bag of fish food from the outside trash, and she immediately ran to the middle of the bag yard to have her way with it. Later in the afternoon, Sandy and watched her stick her head in the bag and get stuck in it. Unfortunately, we'd both left our phones in the house, or you'd see a picture of her wandering around trying to find us so we could rescue her. I know it sounds bad, but it was FUNNY!

Windows 10 Update 

I've talked about my use of the Linux operating system here several times, and I'll probably continue doing it because I really do enjoy it. The fact that it's free, safe from viruses and malware, and pretty good at doing what most people want to do with their home computers is a definite series of pluses. However, I also use Windows to do some things simply because the software is specific to Windows and doesn't work as well in Linux.

However, I'm using Windows 10 because my computer, while only a couple of years old, is not able to run Windows 11 (I've seen something recently that may change that without forcing me to buy a new computer, but we'll save that for later). At any rate, Windows 10 is nearing the end of its support period. Somehow or other, it's getting to be 10 years since it was introduced, so this is not something that is really unusual. It may be time for you to check into upgrading to Windows 11.

If you want to find out if you can upgrade, it's easy. On your computer, click on START, then click on SETTINGS. Select UPDATE & SECURITY, then click on WINDOWS UPDATE. Just follow the directions from there.

That's enough for now.

Take care. Stay safe.

cma 

15 - Daily Report, Genealogy, The Supreme Court, and The Problem with Conservatives

Daily Report

Thunderstorms rolled in during the night. I remember one particularly loud crack of lightning, but it wasn't enough to draw me out of my heavy slumber. I always sleep better in rainy weather. We do, however, have a couple of dogs that are extremely frightened by thunder, and Sandy told me one of them crawled up into the bed with us. I missed that as well, but I wouldn't have minded if I had been aware. Our dogs provide a great deal of pleasure for us. Like many people, we treat them as if they were family, and heaven help anyone who ever causes them harm.

It seems as if I've been doing nothing but laundry lately. One of our dogs was sick a couple of days ago, and he threw up on our blankets and bed sheet. He's okay now, and so are the blankets and bed sheet. The two blankets were too large to go into the washer or the dryer together. The blankets also required two or three turns in the dryer to get completely dry. Thus, I have been moving them about and trying to get them fully ready for use again. I think I'm through now. If only Clementine would quit pulling them off the clothing cart and cuddling up in them.

Genealogy

Sandy has a subscription to Ancester.com, and I've spent a little time here and there researching my family tree. Like all families, you start up one branch, and then it branches out, and that branch splits, and so on, and so on. My dad left when I was ten years old (I never saw him again), and my mother passed away in 1986, so my knowledge of his side of the family has always been limited. I've got first cousins I haven't seen since before my tenth birthday, but thank goodness for Facebook. We've been able to stay in touch now because of its availability. The picture I have included today is of my paternal grandparents: E.P. and Myrtle Adams. She died before I was two years old, so I have no memories of her, and though he passed away when I was old enough to remember him, I don't have any memories of him either. I do, however, have pictures of them, and I've learned a little about them from those pictures.

People posed formally for pictures in those days. This one is unusual because my grandfather tended to show only the left profile in most photographs. He must have believed it was his "good side."

The Supreme Court

It appears the Supreme Court has a serious problem with ethics these days, and it's absolutely inexcusable. I've never been to law school, so I've obviously never been a judge, but my own code of ethics tells me that if I'd ever been placed in that lofty position--a position of high honor and responsibility--I'd know better than to place my honor and respectability at risk. I can only shake my head at the wiggling around they must be doing--not because they have been doing anything wrong, but because they got caught doing something wrong. They are on the highest court in our land! Their ethics should not only be above reproach, they ought to be so lofty no one would ever consider them capable of doing anything unethical. Instead, we get lame excuses like: "Everyone else is doing it" or "We don't have a written code of ethics" or "I see nothing wrong with what I've been doing."

I'm sorry, folks. "Everyone else is doing it" should have been tossed out the window in junior high school. You aren't adolescents. You are adults! You are judges! And who says you need a written code of ethics? You're judges! If you don't know how to behave ethically, why should you be allowed to judge others for their ethics? And if you see nothing wrong with taking hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of gifts from anyone, not just a friend, you should resign immediately for not only a serious lapse of judgment, but from shame.

And Chief Justice Roberts, if you don't do something about this, you ought to step down as well.

The Problem with Conservatives

Okay. Conservatives have a lot of problems. We all do on the face of it, and we certainly need a conservative viewpoint to help balance things when it comes to developing budgets and running the country. Unfortunately, the conservatives of the past who actually were able to play well with others and accomplish good things for America have been shoved out of the way by a pack of unsophisticated hooligans with the temperaments of two-year-olds and the same ability to reason things out.

Not long ago, I read about a fellow who ran a company that generated fake news for profit. He'd create the fake news, and he'd distribute it (usually on Facebook). When asked why he directed that fake news only to conservatives, he said he'd tried to send it to liberals. Liberals, however, researched the "news" he was disseminating. They'd tear it apart with facts, which meant the stories he wrote were never sent further along. They died on the vine. Conservatives, however, never questioned what they saw. It agreed with their positions, and they loved it. They passed those stories along so fast they could have burned up from air friction if they'd been on paper.

So, conservatives. You need to get your act together too. Running this country is not a circus for you to clown around in. You have a responsibility to work together with the rest of us to make this country a beacon of hope for others less fortunate. You need to work with the rest of us to make this country a safe place for everyone to live, and that goes especially for children attending our schools. You need to realize that church and state were separated for good reason. You need to be concerned about facts. Whether you like them or not, they aren't changing. You can't hide your head in the sand and hope the tiger doesn't rip your rear end off because you can't see him. Grow up, guys. 

That's enough for now.

Take care and stay safe.

cma 

 

 

14 - Daily Report, The Importance of Clarity, & False Facts

Daily Report

It's been a couple of days since my last entry, and while there are reasons (maybe excuses) for that, I'm not going to dwell upon them and move on to today's Adams Pond commentary. 

The weather here has been a mixture between delightful and just a bit cool. With the advent of summer lurking in the shadowy future, I'll enjoy the cool rather than complain about it. Today, Sandy and Timmy moved the plants from the corner of our living room to the garden. I have a picture Sandy took to demonstrate their transfer has been successful. The garden looks wonderful once more. What do you think? Can you find the frog?

I spent a little time yesterday working with my Linux laptop. I'm running two different distributions (MX-Linux and Linus Mint). Linux Mint is, by far, my favorite. It does everything I need to do, and it does it in a logical and efficient manner. It's probably one of the best distributions for those who are used to using Windows. MX-Linux is currently one of the most popular distributions, and I installed it to see why so many people were attracted to it. The reason comes down to ease of use. I use a wide-screen TV-Monitor for my primary display, so I keep the laptop closed most of the time. With most Linux distributions (and Windows), getting the system to let you do that without automatically going to sleep is not difficult, but there are three or four settings you have to locate and set just right to accomplish it. MX-Linux simply asked me what I wanted to do when I clicked on the Display setting. I was impressed right away. I'll continue exploring it as time passes.

The Importance of Clarity

Words and the meanings of those words are essential to communication.  When I was in college, one of the classes I was required to take was "History of the English Language." At the time, I considered it to be one of the most tedious classes I'd ever taken, but in retrospect, I have discovered it to be one of the most insightful. Language changes. Meanings change. An example of this is the word "woke."

When you look the definition up online, you receive the following definition: "alert to and concerned about social injustice and discrimination."

So certain folks are trying to insult people who care about justice and discrimination by calling them "woke." Wow! I'm trembling in my boots (I don't wear boots, but you get the point). I'm reminded of the movie "The American President" in which the President of the United States notes that his primary opponent in the upcoming election is deriding him for being a member of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). His opponent views that as a terrible thing, yet the President says the entire purpose of the ACLU is to protect Americal liberties based on the Bill of Rights. He ends by asking his opponent why he considers this to be a bad thing, and why he's not a member himself.

I'd be inclined to say the same argument applies to being woke. If being woke means I'm concerned about social injustice and discrimination, I'm proud to be woke. Where is the insult in caring about how people are treated? I might ask the person hurling this sort of "insult" if they're doing so because they believe social injustice and discrimination are good things? The answer is obvious. They believe it's an insult because they consider social injustice and discrimination to be good things because it protects them from having to care about others (unless they like they are, of course). I'm sorry, guys, you can't insult me by saying I care about things worth caring about. You can't insult me by saying I support things that should never exist in a civilized world, and you certainly can't insult me by telling me I'm right.

So, I am WOKE. If you're not, you're standing on the wrong side of human advancement. 

False Facts

Science has put the idea that we only use 10% of our brain to rest. We use it all, folks. That idea is over a hundred years old, and the ability to study the brain, how it works, and how we use it has simply sent that "fact" into the myth category. What's more important as far as I'm concerned, is how we use our brains.

When I first learned to program in BASIC way back in the mid-80s, one of the first things I programmed was:

10 Print "Mike"

20 Goto 10

When I entered the command to run that wonderfully simple program, the screen printed my name over and over until I stopped it manually. It would run in a loop until the power went off if left alone. We do the same sort of thing with our brains. Certain ideas get stuck in them, and we loop those ideas for so long they're no longer ideas. They're facts. 

This sort of thing is great when the results are good. Not so great if the results aren't good. The devilish part is once we're convinced we're right, we rarely step back and examine our beliefs. Thus, anyone who challenges our beliefs is wrong, and we get angry. We exhibit that anger by trying to insult them.

That, my friends, explains a lot about the previous section on being "woke."

That's enough for now.

Take care and stay safe.

cma