Last Day In Destin

Everything that we do has a beginning and an ending without fail and today represents out last full day on the Gulf Coast of Florida.  Northern storms have finally found their way down south and have impacted this area adversely with falling rain.  For the last several days, we have been faced with overcast skies and afternoons where the sun unsuccessfully tried to break through...  but, it never rained, and we remained under the umbrella all day...  watching the rhythms of the Gulf crash along the shoreline.

As mentioned before in previous posts, my wife and I are not impressed with this area even though we like the deep white sands.  The restaurants are more expensive than other areas we have visited and remind us of prices you find UP NORTH in cities like WashDC and NYC...  and, while we have enough income to pay these increased prices when we want to, we would rather visit coastal areas like Myrtle Beach, SC where restaurants have cheaper prices and the cooked food is just as good.  Higher prices does not necessarily mean better taste.

It takes my wife and I over 8 hours to drive down to the Gulf and if you are wealthy, you can fly in 3 hours...  but, a better area for us to visit with LOTS TO DO is Myrtle Beach, SC which we can drive to in a little over 6 hours...  The beaches adjacent to the shorelines are about the same as are the living accommodations but the price to rent a condo is a couple hundred dollars less and the meals cost $10-20 less which includes at 15-18% tip.  The road traffic is about the same as well

THE BIG DIFFERENCE between these two resort areas are THE THINGS TO DO whether or not my wife and I want to take advantage of them...  they are still available to us whereas this is not the case in Destin.

GOOD BYE FLORIDA...

Cinco de Mayo Foods

Cinco de Mayo (the Fifth of May) is a traditional Mexican holiday created to commemorate the unlikely 1862 victory of the Mexican army over French adversaries at the Battle of Puebla. Since the Franco-Mexican War, people on both sides of the U.S.-Mexican border have celebrated Mexican resiliency through hosting Cinco de Mayo parties featuring traditional and not-so-traditional Cinco de Mayo food. Our collection of Cinco de Mayo food ideas features Mexican cuisine favorites and Cinco de Mayo recipes inspired by Mexican traditions and cultures. From appetizers to desserts, the following list of Cinco de Mayo food options will help you plan your Cinco de Mayo party menu!

1. Guacamole



You can't have a Cinco de Mayo party without guacamole! This easy guacamole is the perfect appetizer because it only takes 15 minutes to make and is extra delicious.

2. Fresh Salsa Recipe with Tomatoes



Similarly, no Cinco de Mayo party would be complete without some salsa! This sensible salsa recipe can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 8 hours before serving.

3. Fresh Corn & Avocado Salsa



Combine the main ingredient of salsa with that of guacamole and you get delicious avocado salsa. This corn, tomato and avocado salsa recipe is ready for dipping in just 10 minutes. Don't forget the tortilla chips!

4. Shrimp Ceviche



Supplement your scoopable starters with Shrimp Ceviche. This Latin American-inspired seafood recipe features cooked shrimp and can be prepared in advance.

5. No-Fuss Chiles Rellenos Skillet



Roast some poblano chiles to make this delicious meatless main dish. You can also include some rice or corn tortillas on your menu to pair with your stuffed pepper skillet.

TO SEE ALL 15 FOOD CHOICES, CLICK HERE...

1967

In 1967, I was in my second year of college and had purchased a 1967 Plymouth Barracuda Convertible with my father who purchased a 1967 Plymouth Barracuda Fastback.  We got both cars for $6,000 each because we purchased two vehicles at the same time.  The contract I made with my father was to pay him back for the vehicle with monthly payments but without interest.  Even thought I was attending college, I worked full time in a Hosiery Factory dying socks.  My car was paid off by the time I graduated.

1967 was an interesting year for me...  because it started during the second semester of my Freshman year and ended after the first semester of my Sophomore year, neither of which were good semesters for me as far as being course-work entertaining.

In my second year in college, I moved off campus into a trailer with a classmate of mine that I had met that year...  even though I do not remember the circumstances under which we first met or became friends...  but, I had only 2 friends in college...  the second friend was an accounting major that after graduation became my CPA for 40 years.

I recall that about 20 miles away from the college I was attending was an all female university to which we drove to regularly and had no problems meeting other women in the local drinking place called THE APPLE CELLAR.  Actually, I think every college campus city has an apple cellar somewhere close by.  I met an Art Major there with whom I dated for the next several years...  She graduated before I did and moved out-of-town, never keeping in touch with me.

1967 Rock

 From Far Out Magazine...

1967 is the year that the ‘Summer of Love’ fully blossomed into a psychedelic flower. The epicentre of the golden age of counter-cultural psychedelic rock began in San Francisco but found its influence spreading all over the world like wildfire.

The heart of the movement found its perfect symbolic representation on March 31st when Jimi Hendrix burnt his guitar on the stage for the first time. Setting yourself apart in 1967 was no easy feat, perhaps Hendrix knew this and decided to go through with an outrageous act, or perhaps he knew he was teetering on the precipice of greatness, and needed that extra nudge to free-fall with the gods and goddesses of rock.

In March, Jimi Hendrix was on a British tour with an eclectic mix of acts, including The Walker Brothers, Englebert Humperdinck, and Cat Stevens. The tour had made a stop at Finsbury Park Astoria in London and Hendrix was hanging out backstage with his manager and ex-Animals bass player, Chas Chandler, along with music journalist, Keith Altham. After Altham had suggested to Hendrix that he include his song ‘Fire’ in his setlist that night, a roadie was sent out to fetch lighter fluid according to Ultimate Classic Rock; Chandler had suggested to the fledgeling rock god that he literally set fire to his guitar.

After Jimi Hendrix and his fellow Experience band mates, Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding burnt through an electrifying set of ‘Fire’, Hendrix distracted the crowd while Chandler doused his white Fender Stratocaster with butane. Shortly thereafter, Hendrix knelt beside the sodden axe and performed his timeless act. The stunt wasn’t without consequences, however. Hendrix burnt his hands, as well as burning the emcee who went to extinguish the fire.

More than that, however, the most defining consequence was that rock ‘n’ roll had witnessed an apex of rock perfection, a stunt that was truly hard to outdo at that point.

Perhaps it was because of impassioned acts like this that incentivised the best musicians of the time to create their masterpieces. Jefferson Airplane had released their sophomore Alice-in-wonderland esque masterpiece, Surrealistic Pillow; Jim Morrison and The Doors changed the musical landscape by allowing people the means to expand their minds; The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were going at it head to head to see who could create the worlds greatest ‘summer of love’ paragon. 

Ultimately, it was unanimously decided that The Beatles won that title, with their defining record, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, beating out Pink Floyd’s kaleidoscopic debut, and Love’s dystopic yet liberating message of Earth’s imminent demise in two years; an album whose title defies the boundaries of time and space, called Forever Changes.

It was no easy task creating this definitive list of the six best albums released in 1967, and by no means will everyone agree with it, simply because there are too many great albums from this year. Nevertheless, below you’ll find the list.  TO SEE THE TOP 6 ALBUMS FOR 1967, CLICK HERE...

Day 3 at Destin

Yesterday was incredibly overcast and rather chilly on the Gulf Coast at the panhandle of Florida...and once again I am up at 7:00 am and after drinking a couple of YETI cups of coffee with Cappuccino Mix, I prepare 2 eggs with green onions, green peppers, turkey sausage, and mini tomatoes while watching FOX News on the local cable that is provided free-of-charge with the rental agreement.  And, once again I am inundated with the stupidity of the Democratic Party as I listen to unbiased news...  because I took the time to also compare my intake of news with CNN and CBS and have once again seen with my own two eyes and heard with my own two ears, a biased version of the news with much of the news omitted from broadcast...

And that censorship pisses me off, especially since I am a LIBERAL who thrives on TRUTH regardless of whether or not I like it or approve of the TRUTH...  as heard and understood.

I am fundamentally IN FAVOR OF providing goods and services to the poor and disadvantaged...  but, I am also fundamentally OPPOSED to going into debt in order to do this which includes TAXING THE WEALTHY to pay for this.  The wealthy should not be penalized financially simply because they are wealthy and lived their lives with the intent of becoming wealthy unlike those who lived their lives in order to avoid becoming wealthy.

If the wealthy want to share their wealth well that is altogether different.

We have a crisis with:

• Illegal Immigration
• National Debt Increase
• Citizens using illegal drugs
• A struggling economy
• A divided country
• Piss Poor Education K-12
• China's building military
• China's building economy
• China/Russia/North Korea Alliance
• China/Russia/Iran Alliance

Not Our Fault

There is a crisis at our Southern Borders with the influx of Immigration from Mexico, Central and South America, many of whom cross over into the United States illegally and President Biden says that it is not my fault...  even though it is on his watch that it is happening...  and, even though he has reversed all the restrictions that the previous administration had imposed...  yet, it is not his fault...

I don't mean to be rude, but that is a careless, reckless, and a totally irresponsible and illogical statement to make...

How many days, months, years will it take for the present administration to STOP BLAMING THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION?

AND...  how long will it take for mainstream media to come to their senses and realize how stupid these comments really are because it does not reflect the reality of the situation...

The irresponsible mainstream media believes beyond a shadow of a legal and reportable doubt that:::>

• Liberals good
• Conservatives bad
• Democrats good
• Republicans bad

💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛

The Liberals, Democrats, and Progressive Democrats basically believe that a large Federal Government is good while a small Federal Government is bad...  and that everything that society needs should be paid for by the wealthy regardless of whether or not the wealthy approve of that logic.

First...  let me state that government bureaucracy is more incompetent than it is competent.  Government workers are not effective or efficient in their output because being fired or reprimanded is never going to happen so why should they work hard?

Second...  the wealthy for the most part is not stupid or ignorant and knowing that they are going to be heavily taxed by the Democrats, understand that they MUST HIDE THEIR MONEY in tax shelters to substantially reduce their tax burden.

Third...  the rest of the world does not give a shit about our internal problems other than the fact that it is easier to take over and/or surpass a divided country than it is a united country.

Fourth.... having a little debt is necessary and offers a certain degree of financial leverage but having a lot of debt is financially irresponsible and will eventually bite those in debt in the ASS and that bite is like a snapping turtle...  it ain't about to loosen its grip.

Optical Illusions

 
Michael Bach explains...

They also teach us about our visual perception, and its limitations. My selection emphazises beauty and interactive experiments; I also attempt explanations of the underlying visual mechanisms where possible.

»Optical illusion« sounds derogative, as if exposing a malfunction of the visual system. Rather, I view these phenomena as highlighting particular good adaptations of our visual system to its experience with standard viewing situations. These experiences are based on normal visual conditions, and thus under unusual contexts can lead to inappropriate interpretations of a visual scene (=“Bayesian interpretation of perception”).

If you are not a vision scientist, you might find my explanations too highbrow. That is not on purpose, but vision research simply is not trivial, like any science. So, if an explanation seems gibberish, simply enjoy the phenomenon...  TO SEE THE VARIOUS EXAMPLES, CLICK HERE...

Komic Korner Kartoons

 

Preparing to Retire

East coasters are best positioned to retire with flush nest eggs than Americans in other parts of the country, according to new data.

Connecticut residents have the highest retirement savings account balances out of the entire country with an average of $523,568 saved per household, according to data from Personal Capital, an online financial advisor and personal wealth management company. The analysis is based on balances of IRAs, Roth IRAs, 401(k)s, and 403(b)s of 2.8 million anonymous users across the country.

Other New England and Mid-Atlantic states follow Connecticut, such as New Hampshire (No. 2) with an average of $494,562 saved, New Jersey (No. 3) with an average of $489,664, and Virginia (No. 5) with $468,579 saved. The geographic outlier is Alaska (No. 4) with an average balance of $489,070.  READ MORE

Sandpipe Cove - Destin, FL

First Impressions on First Arrival...

We had been here before so we knew where the arrival desk was located and we knew that we had to check in at the Guard Desk to get our parking assignment and access codes...  so, none of that was a surprise to us...  and we knew how the condos were numbered so it was a simple matter of finding the right road that began with our number group.  But, what we did not expect was that the keys that we were given did not work...  and, the office manager that came to our rescue brought over about 6 different sets associated with this property and none of them worked either.

The office manager knew the condo had been inspected and the cleaning crew had gotten access so our very apologetic office manager called the crew, found out where they were and went to retrieve the key.  That key worked but we have gone into 90 minutes of wait time after our initial arrive.  We unpacked the car and got things situated inside...  now we are waiting on the office manager to return with our new set of keys...  and the waiting time before we can do anything has jumped to over 2 hours.

We were not in a hurry this morning when we left Montgomery, Alabama where we spent the night to break up our 8 almost 9 hours of drive time...  but, in the course of conversation with the office manager, we heard that our unit was good to go yesterday which mean we could have gotten into our condo upon arrival.

The weather forecast changed and we arrived at Destin in a barrage of afternoon showers which were not predicted yesterday or the day before when we checked...  however, Mother Nature can never be held accountable for anything that she does or does not do for vacationers.

Americans and Politics

 

Most Americans...  and, I use that word liberally...  don't give a rat's ass about politics...  that is to say that they are either liberal or conservative but they do not let the opposing party's leadership negatively influence their day-to-days lives...  They work and play regardless of what party is in power and regardless of immigration and regardless of taxes or the cost of living...

Most Americans simply try to do the best they can, given their opportunities and limitations and don't piss and moan if things do not go their way...  like a lot of these BLACKS are doing...

Most Americans are white (60% of the population) but they do not think their lives have been based or predicated upon WHITE PRIVILEGE...  although, they do believe that the WEALTHY WHITES have been living a life based upon or predicated upon white privilege...  but, there is really nothing that they can do about it...  so they just GO WITH THE FLOW...

Personally...  I really don't give a shit about the wealthy whites or black lives matter or cancel culture, the WOKE Mob, the tearing down of Confederate Statues, Slavery, or the Defunding of the police...  in fact, I hope the police are reduced or re-indoctrinated or restructured...  BUT what I cannot tolerate is TAX INCREASES...

If illegal immigrants move into my location, I will simply ignore them as I have always done...  My retired life will continue regardless of what happens here...  if America changes...  then, it frigging changes...  Life goes on for me...

Made in America

This morning on FOX News, it was reported that in Biden's first State of the Union Address to Congress. in addition to pushing his extremely bold and costly spending agenda and not really mentioning the crisis at the boarder, he articulated in no uncertain terms that his administration was going to push made in America or purchased in America which is somewhat redundant; however, it is the same rhetoric that was originally used by Donald Trump about which the Democrats and the liberals would not support...

Many of us should find that ODD INDEED.

Destin, Florida

I am watching FOX News in the breakfast room of Days Inn in Montgomery, Alabama because my wife and I are on our way to a vacation at a private condo with a private beach in Destin, Florida... and driving from TN to this location took us about 5-1/2 hours instead of the 8-1/2 it would have taken if we had driven straight through.  As we get older we understand and respect the fact that we can no longer drive long durations without stopping.

I awoke first and decided to have breakfast while my wife continued to sleep which brings me back to the origins of this post.

My breakfast consisted of several cups of coffee which always seems to taste better away from home than at home and a couple of tiny bran muffins that were sprinkled with oats on top.  The bran muffins were perfectly cooked and tasted better than most that I have had as I recall...  and, while I ate my breakfast, I watched FOX News on the screen mounted on the wall.

The trip to Montgomery was for all intents and purposes uneventful except for a couple of areas where driving through congested cities slow the traffic down a "tad," but for the most part, the vehicles on the interstate drove no slower than 80 mph and most of them were clipping along at 100 mph and wanted you out of their way immediately as they approach you from the rear.

Since we were not in a hurry, I maintained a speed of 75-80 mph which was still 5-10 miles over the posted speed limits  while most of my fellow drivers took those posted speed limits to be a suggestion rather than the law.

No matter where we stopped...  either at a rest area, a fast food, or a gas station, NO ONE was wearing their facemasks...  except us...  even though my wife and I have had both our COVID shots and it has been a month since our second one.

This morning we are going to remain at the Days Inn until we have to check out because the rest of our journey is only going to take 3 hours and we cannot check in until 5:00 pm so even if we left at noon, we would still have a 2 hour wait until we can get settled in...  knowing that, we decided that we would probably do our grocery shopping while we waited.

This is our first vacation in over a year due to COVID, the 3-4 maybe 5-6 that we normally take each year were cancelled or not booked because of COVID.  We are hoping that the weather will be nice on the Gulf Coast.

Black Market Grass

Noxon, whose name has been changed, started selling weed about eight years ago in Dutchess County.

His legitimate job barely paid rent and bought food, but the discretionary income from selling weed and concentrated cannabis, including THC vape cartridges, which he said are diverted from the legal market in California, gave him what he called “a quality-of-life cushion.”

He has no plans to stop.

People don’t like paying taxes, Noxon said of the prospect of competing against legal adult-use cannabis in New York, especially when they already have an established black-market connection.

Noxon, and the black market as a whole, is one of the many wild cards in determining how many cannabis consumers in the state begin to purchase marijuana legally once dispensaries open. But a low tax rate on cannabis could shift consumers to the legal market more successfully than states like California.

After years of starts and stops, legislation legalizing adult recreational marijuana was signed into law by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on March 31. The Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act [MRTA] was intended to make up for a $15 billion budget shortfall, nearly all of which will be filled by the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, though the law is still on the books.  READ MORE

Intelligence or Not...

Psychologists and other experts have come up with many ways of looking at human intelligence.

You’ve probably heard of IQ (intelligence quotient) tests. These assessments are specifically designed to measure aptitude and ability.

But intelligence isn’t all about IQ, and here’s why:

• IQ tests measure specific skills like reasoning, memory, and problem-solving. They can’t capture the broader picture of your capabilities overall.
• IQ tests don’t assess important traits like creativity or emotional skills.
• People from different backgrounds have varying levels of familiarity with test concepts and structure, so low scores may not always represent actual intellectual abilities.
• A 2016 research reviewTrusted Source suggests people with autism often have higher intelligence than standardized IQ tests indicate. This intelligence is simply imbalanced in ways that can negatively affect social interactions and task performance.

Many experts believe a single test can’t give a clear picture of intelligence, in part because there are multiple types of intelligence to consider.

One popular theory, introduced by psychologist and professor Howard Gardner, suggests nine different types of intelligence exist.

Wondering how intelligence shows up for you? Here’s a look at 11 signs of varying types of intelligence.  READ MORE

Democrats and Liberal Progressives

 As far as I am concerned, these people can do whatever the hell that they want to as long as my taxes do not increase that much...  a little increase in taxes is fine and can be easily accommodated  but a substantial increase in taxes should only be directed towards the wealthy.

Conservatives believe that if you tax the wealthy they will not put as much money back into the society as they did before the tax increase in terms of jobs, investments, and donations...  I find that to be a load of horseshit...

The wealthy are going to invest their money regardless of their tax burdens into ventures and investments that are going to make them more money...  because they are financially greedy.  And...  their greediness will never slow down or stop...  it is their nature.

Since I am no longer working in the marketplace, I don't give a damn if jobs go to the unqualified or not...  yes, it does mean that the US will no longer be as competitive but that trend started a long time ago when this country lost its STEM focus.

While Democrats are fighting Republicans, and Liberals are fighting Conservatives and Blacks are fighting Whites, CHINA is gaining SUPERIORITY over the US in both the economy and in the military...  and, no doubt, it will soon be seen in SPACE as well.

Just HOW STUPID ARE WE?

Visualize

 

A Relationship With Creativity

People under the influence of psilocybin — the active component of magic mushrooms — report having more profound and original thoughts, but tend to score lower on cognitive tests of creative ability, according to new research published in Translational Psychiatry. But the findings indicate that the psychedelic substance can still boost creative ability in the long-term.

The study also collected functional magnetic resonance imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy data, providing some new insights into the underlying neurobiological mechanisms associated with creative ability.

“Creativity is an essential cognitive ability linked to all areas of our everyday life, allowing us to adapt to an ever-changing environment and come up with ways to solve problems,” said lead researcher Natasha Mason (@NL_Mason), a PhD candidate at Maastricht University.

“Importantly, as well as being an essential process for everyday functioning, the (in)ability to think ‘outside of the box’ has also been associated with psychological disorders, such as depression and anxiety. These individuals can get stuck in maladaptive thought patterns, which can facilitate habitual (negative) behaviors. Thus, finding a way to enhance creativity is of broad interest.”

Scientists had found some preliminary evidence in the 1960s that the psychedelic drug LSD could enhance creative problem-solving. There was also some evidence that the psychedelic state induced by LSD could harm creative ability. But the issue has received little scientific attention since then.

“Over the years, a number of anecdotal reports have accumulated suggesting that the consumption of psychedelic drugs, like LSD and psilocybin, can enhance creativity,” Mason said. “Famous examples of psychedelic-affiliated creative breakthroughs include Kary Mullis’ discovery of the polymerase chain reaction, the 1960’s California-based computer industry, and the literary works of authors, such as Aldous Huxley and Ken Kesey. That said, although there are a large number of claims that psychedelics do this, no one has investigated this in a placebo-controlled experimental trial.”  READ MORE

Telling You What To Do

 Do you want our Federal Government telling you

 what to do...

how to do it...

and when to do it???

This is what bothers me more than anything else about the DEMORATS and the PROGRESSIVE LIBERALS...

I am my own person and I don't need the Federal Government telling me what to do with my life...  and, controlling my behavior with MONEY...

If I want to drink alcohol, I will...

If I want to use illegal drugs, I will...

If I want to support abortions, I will...

If I want to own a firearm, I will...

If I want to support the transgendered, I will...

If I want to overeat, I will...

If I want to work or not work, I will...

If I want to steal, I will...

If I want to get more education, I will...

I understand that the wealthy have a fundamental right to become wealthy but I do not think it is appropriate for our Federal Government to take money away from them just because they are wealthy...

If the wealthy want to share their money on their own, then they should be allowed to do that...  and, if the wealthy want to donate money to a political campaign to influence elections then they should have the right to do so.

Relax...

 

Expanding Into What?

The universe is everything, so it isn't expanding into anything. It's just expanding. All of the galaxies in the universe are moving away from each other, and every region of space is being stretched, but there's no center they're expanding from and no outer edge to expand into anything else.

But that doesn't mean that the universe is infinite. That brings us to the long answer. To understand how something could be finite but have no edge, think of the fabric of the universe as the surface of a balloon. As the balloon inflates, the surface stretches and every point on that surface moves away from every other point, but a tiny being on the surface of that balloon could walk forever and never run into the edge of its balloon universe. There's no edge, yet that balloon universe has a finite volume.

The Shape of the Universe
But the balloon is just one example. Scientists aren't actually sure whether the universe is finite or infinite, or even what shape the universe is. There are three options: spherical, flat, or hyperbolic (that is, it curves upward). Evidence from the earliest light in the universe suggests that the second option is on the money, and the universe is, in fact, flat.

Even if the universe is flat and not balloon-shaped, however, it's still easy to think about how it could be finite with no edge. Think about a flat piece of paper. You could take two opposing edges and make them touch, creating a cylinder. If a tiny 2-dimensional rocket ship traveled from one of those edges to the other, it would arrive back where it started. You could do the same thing in the perpendicular direction: Connect the two ends of the tube to each other (pretend this is magically stretchy paper, for the sake of argument) and create a donut shape, also known as a torus. Now your 2-dimensional rocket ship could travel anywhere it likes, and it would never encounter an edge — even though your paper torus has finite volume.

But wait, you might be saying. Paper is flat; a torus is curved. Isn't that cheating? No, and that's because scientists have a very specific definition for the word "flat." When they say flat, they mean "Euclidean," which means that parallel lines always run parallel and the sum of the angles of a triangle is always exactly 180 degrees. This doesn't happen on a sphere or a hyperbola, but it does on a cylinder, a torus, and any other shape you can make out of a flat piece of paper.

This suggests something kind of exciting: If we live in a flat universe, you could potentially travel in one direction for long enough (or build a telescope that can see far enough) to end up right back where you started. Even cooler things happen when you think about other weird shapes — shapes that twist back on themselves could make you arrive back at a mirror image of where you started, for example.

But no matter what shape the universe is, it's not expanding into anything. There's nothing outside of the universe because the universe has no edge.  READ MORE