Pelosi Calls Republicans COWARDS

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., blasted Senate Republicans as cowards who refused to stand up to former President Trump and find him guilty in the impeachment trial.

She said these Republicans were more concerned about their political survival than protecting the constitution.

"What we saw in that Senate today was a cowardly group of Republicans who apparently have no options, because they were afraid to defend their job, respect the institution in which they serve," Pelosi said of the majority of the Senate GOP who found Trump "not guilty" of incitement of insurrection.  SOURCE:  Fox News

However, Pelosi said absolutely nothing regarding the constitutionality of the impeachment process after a President leaves office...

Just a minor detail intentionally overlooked by the Democrats and the Media...

Instead of trying to get our children back in the classroom, and our restaurants and businesses open, Capital Hill Democrats perceived that the TRUMP NARRATIVE was of paramount importance.

Personally, I don't give a rat's ass about what the Democrats think of Trump...   I did not vote for him in 2016 nor did I vote for him in 2020.

At 73 years of age, I don't really care about the technology changes that will take place in 2030, nor do I care if China's economy becomes larger than ours by 2028...  My future is pretty much fixed in terms of what I can or cannot do...

The rest of you who are apathetic regarding what our country does or does not do will have to live the the FALLOUT from making bad decisions...  Oil and Gas are not going away in the next 10 years, even though more and more electric cars will be on the highways...

How much will it cost to build charging stations across the USA to accommodate the electric cars?

But, think about this...

Would you want to fly in an electric airplane?

How will AMERICANS travel outside the USA?

Airplanes

Cruise Ships

How will the military function if they cannot fly electric airplanes fast enough to destroy enemy aircraft who have not gone GREEN...   and, have no plans to go GREEN...

FREEDOM... of speech...

Conservative Views are being suppressed on College Campuses...

Mainstream Media is censoring conservative views from the public...

Congress is trying to destroy conservative views forever...

According to the US Constitution and our Bill of Rights, the First Amendment protects our FREEDOM of SPEECH and FREEDOM of RELIGION...  and, while that is true, there are still people and institutions that do not want to listen to opposing points-of-view especially when they do not agree with their point-of-view...  and, that attitude defeats the original purpose of not just our First Amendment, but the FREEDOMS on which our country was founded...

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According to our online dictionary, freedom is defined as:  the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.

Yes...  I can say whatever I want to my next door neighbor and to some stranger at WalMart without fear of being shot by a handgun or put in jail or losing my job...  but, that is not true for SOCIAL MEDIA...  I have been told by several people that they were KICKED OFF OF FACEBOOK because of their conservative views and claims that they were inciting violence.

Yes...  I agree that violence should never be incited...  even though the history of the United States is based entirely upon inciting violence against Great Britain.

Throughout my entire lifetime up until the Presidency of Donald Trump, I was allowed to voice my opinion...  but, now conservatives are being censored and their voice suppressed and this is not the kind of freedom for which I stood when I was in the military.

Rugby Australia

Rugby Australia has offered to host this summer's British and Irish Lions series against South Africa.

The Lions are due to visit South Africa in July and August with a three-Test series against the world champ.  But issues around Covid-19, including the emergence of a new variant in South Africa, has led to uncertainty over the viability of the tour.

"We're here to help," Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"What we learnt from the Tri Nations last year and the tennis that's happening now is that Australia can successfully stage global tournaments in a Covid world.

"It's particularly tough in the UK and South Africa at the moment and I believe the more international rugby that gets played here, the better."

McLennan says profits from the tour would be split between the Lions and South Africa, with Rugby Australia covering their costs.

The Lions board have been discussing contingency plans in the event the trip has to be abandoned, including the possibility of hosting games in the UK and Ireland.

Crowds have returned to watch live sport in Australia, with up to 30,000 fans allowed to watch next month's Australian Open in Melbourne.

East TN Snow

NOWADAYS...  I don't particularly mind if it snows in this area or not, especially since I am retired and especially since I hardly go anywhere during the winter months other than doctor's appointments.  But sometimes, especially this year for some reason, it has snowed more in this area than what has been recently normal...  however, 30 years ago when I had first relocated to East TN, one could count on 2-3 winter snows each year, all of which would remain on the ground for 2-3 days before melting away.  For the last 15-20 years, these winter snows have reduced down to 1-2, all of which would remain on the ground 1-2 days...  our climate in this area has changed...  it has become MILDER.

Starting early in 2021, we have had several snows so far and it is only half way through February, but these snows melted away the very next day...  and in 1 or 2 cases, it was warm enough not to stick at all while it was falling, not on the road, ground, or trees which is rather unusual to say the least.

I cannot imagine any longer living in an area where the snow falls 1-2 feet deep or 3-5 feet deep and remains on the ground several days or even all winter.  As a child, I faintly recall LOVING the snow and can still imagine going outside (all bundled up) to play all day with my friends in the neighborhood.

Keystone Pipeline OUT -- Trucks, Boats, and Trains IN

Running nearly 1,200 miles from Alberta, Canada, to Nebraska, the KXL (Keystone Pipeline) would be a sizable structure. But it would account for under 0.8 percent of the 150,000 miles of oil pipelines already spread throughout the country. In addition, there are 2.5 million miles of natural gas pipelines, along with more than 100 major refineries, further supporting the distribution of the nation’s various petroleum products.

A Web of Oil and Natural Gas Pipelines Already Crisscross America Linking Up Customers and Refineries

U.S. Shale Production Currently Dwarfs What the Keystone XL Could Ultimately Carry

Railroads, in Particular, Are Increasingly Filling the Gap for Oil Movement

SOURCE: Brookings.Edu (2014 Data)


Never underestimate the power of old data to rear its ugly head and bite you in the ass because it was ignored... Also, look at all the byproducts of Petroleum Crude Oil. And, do you really think that Americans are willing to give up their cars and airplanes and plastic containers?

IRAN: Tehran's Nuclear Deal

 According to Aljazeera:

Iran’s foreign ministry has rejected any new negotiations or changes to the participants of Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers, after French President Emmanuel Macron said any new talks should include Saudi Arabia.

“The nuclear accord is a multilateral international agreement ratified by UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which is non-negotiable and parties to it are clear and unchangeable,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh was quoted by state media as saying on Saturday.

Iran began breaching the deal’s limits on uranium enrichment activity after Washington withdrew from the pact in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump and re-imposed economic sanctions on Tehran.

President Joe Biden’s new administration has said it will rejoin the deal but only after Tehran resumes full compliance with its terms.

But Iran has rejected US demands to reverse its acceleration of the nuclear program before Washington lifts sanctions on Tehran.

Saudi Arabia and its ally the United Arab Emirates have said that Gulf Arab states should be involved this time in any talks, which they say should also address Iran’s ballistic missile program and its support for proxies around the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia, which is locked in several proxy wars in the region with Tehran including in Yemen, supported Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran.

Taking A LOOKSEE

 

Kill or Murder

KILL is defined as 

to cause the death of (a person, animal, or other living thing).

MURDER is defined as 

the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another.

King James Version of the Bible

Commandment #6  --  Thou shall not kill

Hebrew Version (Exodus) of the Bible

Commandment #6  --  You shall not murder

  

There is a BIG DIFFERENCE both the the Hebrew language and in the English language between the words:  KILL and MURDER...  and the KEY WORD that is absent in one definition but present in the other is the word:  PREMEDITATED.

It would appear that in the original version of The Ten Commandments, the word MURDER was used instead of KILL...  which means that one should not kill when that killing is done from the standpoint of being premeditated...  as opposed let's say to being involuntary as in the case of an accident.

SO...

why would words be changed or different words be used when translating Hebrew into English unless it was  the translator's premeditated intent to use different words thereby creating different outcomes for the reader and anyone who tries to put The Ten Commandments into action.

Education

While I did not care too much for additional education after high school and avoided it by enlisting into the military...  it was actually the military that quickly convinced me that getting more education was important...  otherwise, I would more than likely continue to live like I was currently living...  and, I just did not want to be treated like that anymore.

Consequently, I earned not only a BA degree but an MBA as well...  and while my grades were not ever below a "B", I did not make STRAIGHT "A's" as many students do today.

Bear in mind, that I think grades are important but making straight "A's" because one memorized for the test and retained very little knowledge is, in my opinion, rather STUPID.

Let me explain...

I worked for 45 years and worked for about 10 employers.  My career for the most part, revolved in and around EDUCATION...  and, on several occasions I was actually HIRED TO TEACH...   

BUT...

not once did any of my employers ever make the decision to hire me based upon my GRADES.  In fact, my transcript was only requested after I was hired...  and that was done solely for accreditation purposes.  

AND...

during my 45 year career, I went through several accreditation processes with SACS and ACICS and NEVER did those auditors look at GRADES to see what kind of intelligence was being hired.  All they wanted to see was that there was a degree/transcript on file.

Employers don't give a rat's ass about grades.  Employers want an employee who can perform and achieve appropriate outcomes and goals.  Grades are meaningless.  IN FACT, I have seen a straight "A" student fired and a "C" student kept because the former COULD NOT PERFORM.

Quantum Computing Concerns

More than half (54 percent) of cyber security professionals have expressed concerns that quantum computing will outpace the development of security technologies, according to new research from the Neustar International Security Council (NISC). Keeping a watchful eye on developments, 74 percent of organizations said that they are paying close attention to the technology’s evolution, with 21 percent already experimenting with their own quantum computing strategies.

A further 35 percent of experts claimed to be in the process of developing a quantum strategy, while just 16 percent said they were not yet thinking about it. This shift in focus comes as the vast majority (73 percent) of cyber security professionals expect advances in quantum computing to overcome legacy technologies, such as encryption, within the next five years. Almost all respondents (93 percent) believe the next-generation computers will overwhelm existing security technology, with just 7 percent under the impression that true ‘quantum supremacy’ will never happen.

Despite expressing concerns that other technologies will be overshadowed, an overwhelming number (87 percent) of CISOs, CSOs, CTOs and security directors are excited about the potential positive impact of quantum computing. The remaining 13 percent were more cautious and under the impression that the technology would create more harm than good.

“At the moment, we rely on encryption, which is possible to crack in theory, but impossible to crack in practice, precisely because it would take so long to do so, over timescales of trillions or even quadrillions of years,” said Rodney Joffe, Chairman of NISC and Security CTO at Neustar. “Without the protective shield of encryption, a quantum computer in the hands of a malicious actor could launch a cyber attack unlike anything we’ve ever seen.”

“For both today’s major attacks, and also the small-scale, targeted threats that we are seeing more frequently, it is vital that IT professionals begin responding to quantum immediately. The security community has already launched a research effort into quantum-proof cryptography, but information professionals at every organization holding sensitive data should have quantum on their radar. Quantum computing's ability to solve our great scientific and technological challenges will also be its ability to disrupt everything we know about computer security. Ultimately, IT experts of every stripe will need to work to rebuild the algorithms, strategies, and systems that form our approach to cyber security,” added Joffe.  SOURCE:  ContinuityCentral.com

Rockin' in East TN

This third round of stimulus checks will give my wife and I either $600/person or up $1,400 per couple depending upon variables that are not totally clear to me at the time...   but, the money is coming....   and, to be quite BLUNT, neither my wife nor I NEED THE MONEY...  even though we are retired and living on Social Security...  we fortunately managed to SAVE MONEY while we were working and that saved money combined with Social Security will see up through until we are both 95 years of age...

And...  while Medicare and Humana Supplement does not pay for everything, we are still in a pretty solid financial situation because of family and friends but especially because of where we live...  here in East TN.

• There is no BLM movement in East TN
• There is no ANTIFA here in East TN
• There is no white supremacists here in East TN
• Schools are open here in East TN
• Businesses are open here in East TN
• Restaurants are open here in East TN
• Climate is moderate here in East TN
• Cost of living is lower here in East TN

My wife and I have been debt free for over 10 years now and it has had a dramatic influence on our finances and budget.  We saved money for future cars with the understanding that we would soon go to having only one vehicle...  Our last two vehicles were paid for in cash and were not bought new but were leased vehicles with low mileage.

My 2015 VENSA for example was a year old when purchased and had just a few miles over 5,000 miles when I purchased it.

I can have a perfectly cooked 8 ounce salmon with broccoli and a baked potato for $13 before taxes, right around $20 with taxes, unsweetened tea, and a tip...  which is about what it costs for me to fill up my gas tank with gasoline.     

When the third round of the stimulus checks are received via direct deposit, we will simply transfer the monies over to savings and continue with our lives as if nothing was received at all.

My wife and I feel fortunate that by the time our national debt grows to the point that our government will finally pay attention to it, that it will be future generates that will be forced to BITE THE BULLET, not US...  And, while this may sound a little selfish...  it is nonetheless true as neither political party wants to deal with the growing debt.

The Three ISMs

 

Stimulus Checks

In 2020, when the COVID virus was finally detected in the USA, my wife and I cancelled all of our
vacation plans for a couple of reasons:

• we were in an older age bracket
• we had compromised immune systems

My wife and I had been retired for over 5 years and were living off of Social Security and a Trust Fund that would eventually end, putting us in a situation where we would have to start drawing down on our SAVINGS.  However, and based upon our lifestyle, we had plenty of money to continue living exactly as we wanted to live and had been living for the last 5 years.  Our needs were simple and we had no DEBT and we pretty much could do whatever we wanted to do...  as long as we could drive there in a car...  if air transportation was involved, it was a slightly different story, even with our Delta Frequent Flyer Point that we were receiving each month.

SO...

when the stimulus checks arrived...  the first one was $2,400 and the second one was $1,200 we simply put that money into our savings account as we did not need it.  We DID NOT SPEND that money to stimulate the economy and we did not use that money to pay for any vacation because we were not going anywhere anyway.

My wife and I both felt like OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOOLISHLY sent us money and while we had no problem accepting that money...  it was not needed.

NOW...

the LIBERAL DEMOCRATS want to spend more money so that our Federal Government can grow larger and larger...

In my 73 years of life, I have NEVER SEEN OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT manage anything well regardless of political party.  Governmental BUREAUCRACY simply MAKES EVERYTHING WORSE...   and, when people know that they are not going to be fired from employment, then their quality of work DECLINES proportionately with their attitude.

Ouch...!

 

Mushrooms

 

The First RAP MUSIC LYRICS Song

Bob Dylan NOT DYLAN THOMAS wrote and sung the below song...   and, if you were to listen to this song, you would have no choice but to agree with me that BOB DYLAN actually released the FIRST SONG with RAP MUSIC LYRICS...

Released 1965 

SUBTERRANEAN HOMESICK BLUES by Bob Dylan

Johnny's in the basement
Mixing up the medicine
I'm on the pavement
Thinking about the government
The man in the trench coat
Badge out, laid off
Says he's got a bad cough
Wants to get it paid off
Look out kid
It's somethin' you did
God knows when
But you're doing it again
You better duck down the alley way
Lookin' for a new friend
A man in the coonskin cap, in the pig pen
Wants eleven dollar bills, you only got ten
Maggie comes fleet foot
Face full of black soot
Talkin' that the heat put
Plants in the bed but
The phone's tapped anyway
Maggie says that many say
They must bust in early May
Orders from the D.A. Look out kid
Don't matter what you did
Walk on your tip toes
Don't tie no bows
Better stay away from those
That carry around a fire hose
Keep a clean nose
Watch the plain clothes
You don't need a weather man
To know which way the wind blows
Oh, get sick, get well
Hang around a ink well
Hang bail, hard to tell
If anything is goin' to sell
Try hard, get barred
Get back, write braille
Get jailed, jump bail
Join the army, if you fail
Look out kid
You're gonna get hit
But losers, cheaters
Six-time users
Hang around the theaters
Girl by the whirlpool
Lookin' for a new fool
Don't follow leaders, watch the parkin' meters
Oh, get born, keep warm
Short pants, romance
Learn to dance, get dressed, get blessed
Try to be a success
Please her, please him, buy gifts
Don't steal, don't lift
Twenty years of schoolin'
And they put you on the day shift
Look out kid
They keep it all hid
Better jump down a manhole
Light yourself a candle
Don't wear sandals
Try to avoid the scandals
Don't want to be a bum
You better chew gum
The pump don't work
'Cause the vandals took the handles

Komic Korner Kartoons

 

Counting Calories -- Weight Loss

I was not concerned about my weight until right around 1990.  Prior to that year, I ate whatever I wanted to eat, I ate as much as I wanted to eat, and I did not care about sugars, fried foods, or the consumption of alcohol.  However, prior to 1990, I was extremely active in my daily life.  I was exercising regularly and very physical in everything that I did...  For example, I would travel down to the Outer Banks of NC and spend 4-6 hours body surfing without stopping.

In 1990, I was 43 years old and had stopped smoking cigarettes (cold turkey) at the age of 40 and had gained 30 pounds which was starting to bother me.  To stop the weight gain, I started counting my FAT GRAMS each day and after 3 months realized that if I ate above my AVERAGE INTAKE, I gained weight and if I ate below my AVERAGE INTAKE, I lost weight.

While this was going on, I was also running 5 miles a day, 7 days a week, until my knees started to hurt, then I continued the exercising by walking as fast as I could.  My weight went up and down and never really stabilized...   After a year or two, my weight loss concerned were all but ignored and I ate whatever I wanted to and in whatever amounts.

At the age of 60, my weight loss concerns resurfaced and I tried all sorts of diet plans, some of which were very restrictive, while others were not really enjoyable due to what it was that they wanted me to eat.  My exercising at the gym was off again/on again as well...   and, my weight went up and down but more up than it went down.

A nurse told me during one of my chemo treatments that exercising was not really responsible for weight loss...  that the only way to lose weight was to simple EAT LESS whether or not that food was healthy did not really matter; however, eating healthy would lay the foundation to prevent diseases and help me live longer....  and, that diets were, for all intents and purposes, a waste of money.

It took a couple of years for that to sink in, but today, I follow NO DIET PLAN(S)...  and while I do exercise when I can, my main focus is COUNTING CALORIES with the intent of eating LESS...  and my food intake is HEALTHY.  

• No sugars.  
• No friend foods.  
• No processed foods.  
• No alcohol.

When I first started my calorie intake was OVER 2500...  I got it down to 2500, the down to 2000, then down to between 1500 and 2000.  I tried to got down to between 1200 and 1500 but that reduction was too extreme and seemed to make me feel worse, so I am maintaining 1500 to 2000 and actually closer to 1500 to 1800.

Over a 10 month period of time, I lost 30 pounds and while that may seem like a long time...  it was what worked best for my body and mental attitude about eating and not being very active.  The older one gets, the less active (on average) one becomes and losing weight is more difficult.  Being less active also tends to put people in a position of eating more because they are bored...   so, keeping busy was important too.

I was 250 pounds.  Now I am 220 pounds.  And, I would like to get down to 200/205 pounds which is the weight I was before I quit smoking at age 40.

WOMEN ONLY: Wearing a bra

 

Random Thoughts on a Friday

FRIDAY MORNING HERE IN EAST TENNESSEE

One would say that I am a North Carolinian by birth but I have only spent about 35 years in that State and the other 38 years outside of that State.  Tennessee is the next longest place in which I have lived with 30 years, going on 31 and it would appear that my life will end in this State as well.

Unlike the rest of the State, East TN, is a different place to live...  not really similar to Chattanooga, Nashville, or Memphis.  One might say or make the claim that we are closer to Western NC than the rest of Tennessee.  We are mainly a rural area with people who love to hunt, drive muscle cars, make moonshine, and smoke a little weed when the mood to do is upon us.

We don't much care for Government interference in our lives or telling us what to do and we have had very little respect for law enforcement, especially the highway patrol ever since I moved here in 1990.  But, what we do care about around here is our faith...  of which I am very supportive other than the concept of "BEING BORN AGAIN."

I have been Baptized twice in my life...  once by my parents when I was less than a year old and once by ME when I was in my 60's...  and, neither time, did I actually feel "born again," even though I BELIEVE...  and, have living examples of that belief by the shear fact that I have lived with CANCER for over 12 years...   actually, two cancers:  Lymphoma and Melanoma.

I am not a Democrat nor am I am Republican.

I am not a Conservative nor am I a Liberal.

However, I am a conservative liberal...  who supports both 1st and 2nd Amendments to the US Constitution...  and who does not believe that he was raised on WHITE PRIVILEGE...   I do not support the white supremacist movement nor do I support the black lives matter movements...  as both are an insult to our DEMOCRACY.

I BELIEVE ALL LIVES MATTER...

I am AGAINST illegal immigration

I am in favor of LOW TAXES

I am in favor of a STRONG MILITARY

I am in favor of STATES RIGHTS

I am in favor of a small federal government

AND...  while the northern states are up to their butts in snow and cold weather, East TN is in the high 40's low 50's today...  and, this area has everything open for business...  restaurants, schools, malls, stores...  etc.

We have no burning of our cities... and, probably never will...  we are different than the rest of the country which is one reason why I am here.