Our Federal Government

How many of you want our Federal Government telling us what to do...  when to do it...  and, how to do it?

For instance,

the Federal Government tells us that we can get an abortion, if we want one, but in order to get that abortion, we have to follow their rules and guidelines...

I have no problems with someone wanting an abortion...  as it is their right and their body...  but, I am opposed to our Federal Government thinking that they are the ones who should be giving us that power...

As far as I am concerned the federal government can stick their heads up their asses...  if I want to get an abortion, I damn well am going to get an abortion...

Tell the government to stay the hell out of our lives...

The larger our federal government becomes, the more powerful it becomes and the more it can control our lives and how we live those lives...

Right now, the federal government says we can enlist in the military at age 18 and under special circumstances age 16 and kill foreigners that we believe are our enemy but in some states we are not old enough to drink alcohol...

And, if I am not mistaken, you have to be age 21 in order to vote.  How can you possibly be old enough to kill in the military and not be old enough to vote in a political election that says it is ok for you to enlist and kill...

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

Why have we given our Federal Government that much power and why do we want our Federal Government to become larger and larger and wield more power?

We need to demand a smaller government.

We need to demand a government with less power.

We need to demand that our government work for us.

Future Concerns

 

While we cannot predict the future with any degree of certainty, we can forecast anticipations and possibilities along with some deep concerns...

Presently,

• We are faced with a Democratic President, House, and Senate...
• Unregulated Illegal Immigration
• Unstopable Inflation
• Supply Chair Shortages
• Increase in Crime & Violence

In November (5 months away)of this year, we have our midterms elections...

and, because of the items listed above, it is highly likely that control of the House and Senate will be the domain of the Republicans...

So, 7 months from now when they take control, there is a good possibility that they will pass legislation that if the President vetoes will be passed over his head so that:>

• We will return to energy independence
• Inflation will begin to decrease
• Illegal Immigration will begin to decrease
• Crime and Violence will begin to decrease
• Supply Chain shortages will begin to decrease

So...  all of that is good right?

Well, two years later, we have another election, and if the Democrats retain control of the Presidency, then there is a good possibility that they will gain control of the House and Senate again, and their policies will return and we will again be facing the same crisis that we are currently facing...

It is the general public, you and I, that elects the President and who we want to serve in Congress.

We favor the other party whenever the current party is causing us problems with our quality of life...  therefore, the general public, you and I, are the ones causing this roller coaster lifestyle that we are living and will continue to live as we flip flop back and forth between parties.

Our society grows but slowly...  however, the wealthy continue to get wealthy and if we are constantly pointing the finger at each other, there is never an opportunity to point the finger at the wealthy which is exactly THEIR PLAN OF ACTION...  THEIR STRATEGY...

Time to wake up America!!!

Momma Bear

 

Alcohol Endangers the Heart

How much alcohol is safe to drink? It sounds like a simple question, but it is hard to figure out from health authorities because there is such a wide discrepancy in advice between different countries.

It can get even more confusing because they don’t agree on how much alcohol is in a standard drink. For example, in Austria, a standard drink is a whopping 20 grams of alcohol, compared to just 8 grams in Iceland. In the United States, a standard drink is considered 14 grams of alcohol, which is around the amount contained in a 1.5-ounce shot of distilled spirits, a 12-ounce beer, or a 5-ounce glass of wine. Of course, you also have to pay attention to the specifics of your drink, because your favorite double IPA may have twice the alcohol content of a regular beer.

And even if you figure it out completely, the recommendations from your health authorities may be too high according to new research. In the study, scientists found that to minimize your risk to the heart, you should limit your consumption to less than 5 cans of 4.5% beer or less than one bottle of wine per week.

Levels of alcohol consumption currently considered safe by some countries are associated with the development of heart failure, according to new research presented at Heart Failure 2022, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

“This study adds to the body of evidence that a more cautious approach to alcohol consumption is needed,” said study author Dr. Bethany Wong of St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. “To minimize the risk of alcohol causing harm to the heart, if you don’t drink, don’t start. If you do drink, limit your weekly consumption to less than one bottle of wine or less than three-and-a-half 500 ml cans of 4.5% beer.”  READ MORE...

Timber

 

Coconut Milk

Due to its distinctive flavor and creamy texture, coconut milk can add a nice twist to coffees, protein shakes and desserts. Although it’s nowhere near as popular as other plant-based milk alternatives in the US, it retains a loyal fan base.  But how nutritious is this drink? And can it bring about any tangible health benefits?

Coconuts are well-known for their high saturated fat content. For decades, this nutrient has been linked to the obesity epidemic and a host of chronic diseases. However, recent years have seen a steep increase in studies(opens in new tab) challenging these findings, and even contradicting them.

If you feel confused, don’t worry. In this article, we’ll discuss the nutritional value and potential health benefits of coconut milk to help you decide whether it is the right plant-based alternative for you.

There are two types of coconut milk – canned and cartoned. Whilst they’re made out of the same ingredient, they differ in terms of consistency, nutritional value, storage ability and culinary uses.  READ MORE...

Cow Ball

 

M & M's Newest Flavor

With today's abundant M&M' options, it may be hard to imagine a world with limited choices when it comes to the iconic chocolate candies. Once upon a time, in all reality, picking up a bag of M&M's could only mean purchasing the plain chocolate variety. 

According to M&M's website, that was the first flavor launched in 1941, and the peanut version didn't come on the scene until 1954.

My, how things have changed! Last year, Mashed was able to rank 20 M&M's flavors, including some more unusual offerings such as coffee nut and key lime pie. 

The ever-evolving brand is continually adding new candy flavors to its lineup like the more recently launched Crunchy Cookie M&M's, which invoke a chocolate chip cookie taste, and limited-release M&M's Munchums, which come in both milk chocolate and salted caramel flavors, are gluten-free, and have an outer shell made from chickpeas (via PR Newswire). 

Now, there's one upcoming flavor that M&M's thinks fans will be particularly excited about.  READ MORE...

Hail

 

Goals and Purpose

Life is about goals and purpose...

• Goals are something that one wants to achieve....
• Purpose comes with achieving those goals...

Some people believe that Goals and Purpose are mutually exclusive and for some, I suppose they are...  but, that does not mean they are mutually exclusive for everyone.

Some of us believe that purpose can only be of a religious or spiritual nature and while that may be true for many, it is not true for all...

A religious or spiritual purpose is brought about because we believe that we were created by God and that God only creates things for a purpose...

While this makes sense...  it does not mean it is the absolute truth.

• Some people may think that their purpose is to learn everything they can.
• Some people may think that their purpose is to earn as much money as they can.
• Some people may think that their purpose is to do no harm to anyone.
• Some people may think that their purpose is to become devoid of desire.

I have a purpose that I am supposed to accomplish something, although I have no idea what that something may be...  I don't know if that something yet to be accomplished is spiritual or not or if it might be connected to some evil or wrongdoing...  I'm not sure that I'll know it even when it is happening...  even though I hope that I would.

So, would this still be considered to have a purpose?

The God of Spinoza

An awesome extract from Spinoza on God and Rationality...


”Did you know that when Einstein attended some conferences in the numerous universities of the USA, the recurring question that the students asked him was:


Do you believe in God?


And he always answered: I believe in the God of Spinoza.


For the ones who haven't read Spinoza, I hope this will give them an idea.


Baruch De Spinoza was a Dutch philosopher, of Portuguese Jewish origin, considered one of the great rationalists of his time along with the French philosopher Rene Descartes. Spinoza was born in Amsterdam in the 17th century of a businessman father who was successful but not wealthy.


This is the nature of the God of Spinoza:


God would have said:


"Stop praying and giving yourselves blows on your chests, what I want you to do is to go out into the world to enjoy your life.
I want you to enjoy, to sing, to have fun and enjoy everything I've done for you.
Stop going to those gloomy, dark and cold temples that you built yourself and that you call my house.
My home is in the mountains, in the forests, the rivers, the lakes, the beaches. That's where I live and express all my love for you.
Stop blaming me for your miserable life; I never told you that you were a sinner.


Stop being so scared. I do not judge you, nor criticize you, nor am I ever angry with you, nothing bothers me, nor do I devise punishment. I am pure love.


Stop asking me forgiveness, there's nothing to forgive. If I made you... I filled you with passions, pleasures, feelings, needs, limitations, inconsistencies... of free will, how can I blame you if you do or say something out of that what I put in you? How can I punish you for being as you are, if I'm the one who made you? Do you think I could create a place to burn all my children who misbehave, for the rest of eternity?
What kind of God can do that?
Forget about any kind of commandments, of any kind of laws; those are wiles to manipulate you, to control you and only to create guilt in you.
Respect your peers and don't do to others what you don't want for you. The only thing I ask is that you pay attention in your life, that your alert status is your guide. This life is the only thing there is, here and now and the only thing you need.


I have made you absolutely free, there are no prizes or punishments, there are no sins or virtues, no one carries a marker, no one carries a record.
You are absolutely free to create in your life a heaven or hell.


I couldn't tell you if there's anything after this life, but I can give you a tip. Live as if there wasn't.
As if this was your only chance to enjoy, to love, to exist.


So, if there is nothing, then you will have enjoyed the opportunity I gave you. And if there is, be sure that I will not ask you if you behaved well or not. I will ask you, Did you like it?... did you have fun ?..What did you enjoy the most? What did you learn?...


Stop believing in me; believe is to assume, guess, imagine. I don't want you to believe in me, I want you to feel me when you kiss your beloved, when you play with your little girl, when you love your dog, when you bathe in the sea.


Stop praising me. What kind of egotistical God do you think I am?
I'm bored of your praise, I'm fed up with thanks . Do you feel grateful? Prove it by taking care of yourself, your health, your relationships, the world around you. Do you feel overwhelmed?... Express your joy! That's the way to praise me.


The only thing sure is that you are here, that you are alive, that this world is full of wonders.


What do you need more miracles for? Why so many explanations?


Don't look for me outside, you won't find me. Find me inside... I'm beating in there for you."


Baruch De Spinoza.”

Learning From Mistakes

What do you know about politics?

Not very much...

Most all politicians lie...  spin the truth to their advantage...  or withhold information...

Don't have much faith in someone who acts like that...

Do you?

I would like to say that I belong to a political party but I don't...  I don't care much for Democrats or Republicans, although, I believe I dislike Democrats more because of what they did to Donald Trump...

Trump was no politician and he said things that he should not have said, but there was no reason to treat him like they did...  and, I will never forgive them for that...

Now, we got progressives who are nothing but a bunch of socialists...  and, socialism leans closer to Communism than it learns towards Democracy...

I enjoy my freedoms too much to allow the government to take control of every aspect of my life...

Governments by definition are neither efficient nor effective...

So, why would I want them to manage all aspects of our lives...

History repeats itself which means none of us learned very much from the first time around...  how many times do we have to do something and fail before we realize we should do something differently.

Socialists never learn from their mistakes...  otherwise, the entire world would be Democratic...

Explanations

 

Amazon River Has No Bridges

Here we see an aerial view of part of the Amazon River – note the lack of bridges. 

(Image credit: mantaphoto via Getty Images)

The Amazon River is the world's second-longest river and one of the planet's most significant waterways. It contains more fresh water by volume than any other river, is home to the world's largest species of river dolphin, and hosts 100 species of electric fish and up to 60 species of piranhas.

Yet, despite its many and varied qualities, there is something that cannot be found on the Amazon River: bridges.

Given the Amazon flows through three countries (Peru, Colombia and Brazil) and more than 30 million people live in the river's basin, according to the World Wildlife Fund(opens in new tab), it seems somewhat improbable that no bridges span the river. So why is this the case? Are there fundamental difficulties with building such structures in a rainforest containing swamps, extensive wetlands and deep, thick undergrowth? Are there financial barriers? Or is it simply not worth the effort?

The Amazon anomaly
When compared with some of the world's other most recognisable rivers, the Amazon's lack of bridge crossings is an oddity. There are about nine Nile-spanning bridges in Cairo alone; more than 100(opens in new tab) bridges have been completed in the last 30 years across the Yangtze, Asia's premier river; while Europe's Danube, which is only one-third as long as the Amazon, has 133 bridge crossings(opens in new tab).

So what's the deal with the Amazon?

"There is no sufficiently pressing need for a bridge across the Amazon," Walter Kaufmann, chair of Structural Engineering (Concrete Structures and Bridge Design) at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, told Live Science in an email.


The Amazon, for much of its 4,300-mile (6,920 kilometers) length, meanders through areas that are sparsely populated, meaning there are very few major roads for any bridge to connect to. And in the cities and towns that border the river, boats and ferries are an established means of moving goods and people from bank to bank, meaning there is no real need for bridges to be built, other than to make trips slightly quicker.  READ MORE...

Cat in Coat

 

Rennaisance Man Da Vinci

Leonardo Da Vinci—arguably one of history’s most resourceful geniuses—was the unwanted result of casual sex between a local peasant girl and a young man from a prosperous family. Both were from Vinci, a small hill town not far from Florence with winding cobblestoned streets, wooden shutters, and spindling trees. It was in this village that Leonardo was conceived and surrendered by his mother as an infant to his father’s family.

In an era referred to as “the age of bastards,” Leonardo’s illegitimate birth would not have involved any injury to his future: his eighty-year-old paternal grandfather set down a few basic details unapologetically.

“A grandson of mine was born, son of Ser Piero, my son… his name was Leonardo.”

The entry of birth, through brief, was followed with the name of the priest who baptized the newborn and a list of the people present at the ceremony.

Leonardo’s grandfather had been a notary of repute, as had his great-grandfather. Leonardo’s father also entered the profession and married the daughter of another notary family. While the couple established their residence in Florence, Leonardo remained in Vinci with his grandparents, whose stolidly middle-class household provided a stability of routine but no formal education. The lack of structured schooling makes the abundant body of Leonardo’s entirely self-taught knowledge almost unfathomable.

He was an irrepressible force of nature and fortunate enough to have been nurtured in a time that was daring his country further and further. Revolutions in the sciences and the humanities tend to occur in clusters of extraordinary individuals: Giotto, Michelangelo, Galileo, Dante, Machiavelli, Marco Polo, and Columbus—all were Italians, each with a key role in paving the way for the future.  READ MORE...

Water Under Rocks

 

Mayan City Discovered

The style of architecture of the buildings at Xiol is more typical of the style 

found in regions further south

Archaeologists working in the Yucatan region of Mexico have revealed the remains of a centuries-old Mayan city, local media reported on Friday.

The city of Xiol — which means "the spirit of man" in Mayan — is believed to have been the home of some 4,000 people between 600 and 900 CE, during the late classic period.

The area was first uncovered in 2018 on a construction site for a future industrial park close to the town of Merida on Yucatan's northern coast. Archaeologists from the National Institute for Anthropology and History (INAH) then took over the site.

The Mayan civilization was destroyed by Spanish colonizers in the 17th century

"The discovery of this Mayan city is important for its monumental architecture and because it has been restored despite being located on private land," delegate for the INAH center in Yucatan, Arturo Chab Cardenas, told news agency EFE.

Palaces, priests, pyramids

The site is of particular interest due to its Puuc style architecture — famously used for the Chichen Itza pyramid — which is more typically found in the southern part of the Yucatan region.

The archaeologists also highlighted the array of palaces, pyramids and plazas found at the site as well as evidence of various social classes residing there.

"There were people from different social classes ... priests, scribes, who lived in these great palaces, and there were also the common people who lived in small buildings," Carlos Peraza, one of the archaeologists leading the excavations, said.  READ MORE...

Searching Cats

 

Unintended Consequences

These consequences can be defined as: In the social sciences, unintended consequences (sometimes unanticipated consequences or unforeseen consequences) are outcomes of a purposeful action that are not intended or foreseen. The term was popularised in the twentieth century by American sociologist Robert K.


EXAMPLES

1. “Three strikes” laws may actually be increasing the murder rate, and not decreasing it.

2. Seat belt laws increase the number of car accidents, and increase pedestrian and cyclist deaths.

3. Banning the insecticide DDT almost certainly has led to more deaths, not fewer.

4. Teaching children not to talk to strangers (e.g. the “Stranger Danger Campaign”) may be making them less safe, not more safe.

5. The lengthy and costly FDA approval process might be causing more, not fewer, deaths.

6. Government regulations that reduced logging in America’s national forests (e.g. to protect the threatened northern spotted owl) may have resulted in more acres of forest being harvested worldwide, not less.

7. Increasing state cigarette taxes may significantly decrease government tax revenues, not increase revenues as expected.

8. Tariff on imports are passed in order to protect domestic industries and jobs from foreign competition, but often end up costing more American jobs than are saved by protectionism.

9. Vegetarianism may lead to an increase in animal deaths, and not a decrease.

10. Thanks to the efforts of animal rights activists, horse slaughter is now banned in the US. But that ban is very likely making the treatment of horses worse, not better.

Now...  all that I ask you here is for you to consider all the unintended consequences of our unmolested illegal immigrant issues at our southern border, in light of the following:

• terrorists entering the US
• illegal drugs entering the US
• undetected diseases entering the US
• Criminals entering the US
• Child molesters entering the US
• draining medical resource