Country Living Revisited

 

Don't get me wrong...  when I talk about country living, I don't mean living on a farm or living on a ranch...  I just mean outside of the city...  so, we could be talking about the suburbs...  or, perhaps even farther out where you don't have many neighbors but you are still not living on a farm or even close to a farm...  You are just living in a area of wide open spaces totally devoted to whatever mother nature wants it to be...  like the above photo...

The above photo is taken from the East Tennessee Valley...  in the back ground, you can see the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains where the fishing and hunting are excellent and where some of the best marijuana in the country is grown...  that area is also the home to some of the best moonshine in the country as well...  although that distinction is also shared with western North Carolina...

Living in the country is not associated with living with rednecks nor is it associated with inbreeding although there is a standing northern sentiment that most all southerners are inbread...  of course, most all southerners feel that New Yorkers are arrogant assholes whose only saving grace is that they are rude to everyone because they cannot distinguish between individuals...

Personally, I don't think either opinion is valid or accurate...  that is until someone proves it to be accurate and valid...  and, I am sure that happens all the time.

People who live in the country pretty much like to have space around them.  They like to feel the sun and not have it blocked by buildings.  They like to feel safe and secure.  They want their children to feel safe and secure.  They want privacy sometimes and they want to feel like they are part of a community...

Faith is a big part of country living and while one's faith is strong, country dwellers are tolerant of other people's views towards faith and respectful if it does not agree with theirs.

Of course, there is always the exception...  but, they say that the exception proves the rule...  I don't know about that...  but what I do know is that I like living in the country...

Let's Be Clear Here...

 

Just Deleting a Text on Your Phone

When you save or send photos, videos, texts and other digital messages on your devices,

that data is extremely difficult to remove, even if you delete it from your phone or computer.  

Nicolas Tucat/AFP via Getty Images

Texts and other electronic messages from the U.S. Secret Service have become a point a controversy after the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general told Congress that those records were deleted after his office had requested them. But can a text or other digital messages ever truly be erased from existence?

People delete text messages and other electronic messages for many reasons: to free up room on their device; to break contact after a sour conversation; and, from time to time, to wipe out a conversation, for one reason or another.

But deleting a digital correspondence isn't as easy as you might think. For starters, depending on the program you're using, the recipient still has a copy of the message you sent them. And that data might live on in cloud storage.

Alfred Demirjian, founder and CEO of TechFusion, has spent the past 35 years in digital forensics and data recovery in Boston. He said that once you hit send, that information will likely exist forever, especially if the government wants whatever you've sent.  READ MORE...

Horse & Rider in Water

 

NASA Releases Images

We might not be able to travel to space, but as of last week, we at least have the most high-definition images of the universe ever taken. The images shared by NASA were rendered with the new James Webb Space Telescope (JBST). 

JBST began its science operations six months ago when launched into space at the end of December 2021. However, its first batch of images are among the most stunning and clear celestial pictures we have of space so far. 

The images reveled five neighboring galaxies called Stephan’s Quintet and the Carina Nebula.  The JWST is considered the most powerful telescope ever built revealing that not all galaxies are invisible. 

During the NASA press conference held on Tuesday, Eric Smith, the program scientist for the JWST mission, said JWST’s first photos are “especially phenomenal because they were technically nothing more than practice runs.”

The first image rendered showed the galaxy cluster SMACS 0723– as it appeared 4.6 billion years ago, with many more galaxies in front of, and behind the cluster.  READ MORE...

The Pond

 

Native American Medicine Effective

Researchers have found that several traditional medicines commonly used in South Asia 

are effective in maintaining blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Several traditional medicines commonly used in South Asia, are effective in maintaining blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a new study led by experts at the University of Nottingham.

Many South Asian countries, including India and Nepal, have been using the Ayurvedic natural medical system for thousands of years. Some of the herbs included in this traditional medical system are also used in other parts of the world including Iran, China, and Mexico – to name a few.

It features a multi-pronged and individualized approach to managing health conditions that can include lifestyle modification (including diet), Ayurvedic detoxifying and purifying therapies (e.g. Panchakarma), and Ayurvedic medicines (containing plant, animal, or mineral-origin ingredients – single or in combination).


In this new study, published recently in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology, experts conducted an in-depth review to show that these medicines are effective in blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes. Other beneficial effects were also demonstrated in the research, including improvements in body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and other diabetes-related parameters.

According to the scientists, it is the first comprehensive systematic review of any traditional medicine (including Ayurveda), which included a wide range of Ayurvedic medicines. The research was led by Dr. Kaushik Chattopadhyay, Associate Professor in Evidence Based Healthcare in the School of Medicine and the Nottingham Center for Evidence Based Healthcare (A JBI Center of Excellence) at the University. The team members have expertise in Ayurveda, diabetes, and this type of research, and are based in top institutes in the UK, India, and Nepal.  READ MORE...

Antartic Penquins

 

Vanilla Cappuccinos

Back in the late 1990s when my dad was in the hospital at the Norfolk Naval Hospital, my brother introduced me to Starbuck's Vanilla Cappuccinos...  there was an immediate desire to have another and then another...  the barista made all of the coffees perfectly.

It was not until a Starbuck's Kiosk moved into West Town Mall in Knoxville that I decided to have another one several years later...  and, while it was substantially more expensive than the ones I purchased in Norfolk, it was still worth the price.   

My wife noticed my interest in Starbucks and began giving me gift cards for my birthday and Christmas and suggested that same gift for other members of our family and soon I had over $100 in Starbuck's gift cards, stored in the car to be used.

Not too long ago, a Starbuck's kiosk opened up at a Food City grocery store about 7-10 miles from the house and recently I discovered that the Vanilla Cappuccinos were just as good there as in Knoxville for about $1 less in price.  The Starbuck's in Knoxville is about 40 miles from the house.

A NO BRAINER is what a decision of this kind is called...

Sunday Morning Valley Thougts

 

I enjoy living in the East Tennessee Valley and have been doing so since 1990 (32 years) so one might ascertain that I understand (at least somewhat) what life is like in the Valley...

July in the Valley is hot and muggy and is a time for either staying inside with the airconditioner on or staying outside in a pool of water either in-ground or above ground...  since being in the water is the key...

My pool water temp is 84 degrees which makes lowering myself into the pool is rather easy and relatively comfortable, especially since I am more sensitive to the cold.

We are receiving cucumbers, tomatoes, squash, zucchini, and bell peppers from our garden...  most of which are cooked and eaten as they are harvested while some, but very few, are frozen for later.

Cooking these veges in a frying pan with olive oil, black pepper, and soy sauce is a delicacy and a daily treat.

My comfort zone surrounds my retired life with the knowledge that I have been debt free for over 15 years, but that I have saved enough money the handle this bullshit inflation through which we are currently living.  I don't spend money needless but I have everything I need...  

I AM NOT WEALTHY...  I WOULD CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE LOWER MIDDLE CLASS...  and, want for nothing...  mainly because I planned for my retirement and so I knew what I was getting myself into and made all the necessary preparations to live like I wanted to live...

I live simply and don't spend money foolishly...  It is safe and secure in the Valley...  We buy in bulk whenever we can...  We don't overeat and we exercise daily...  We don't buy anything we don't need...  we save coupons...  we buy when there are discounts...  we vacation in the off season...   we vacation during the week avoiding the high priced weekends...

PLEASE DON'T MOVE TO THE VALLEY AND SCREW THIS UP FOR ME...

Politicians and their Agendas

We basically have two different types of politicians:  those that work for the State and those that work for the Federal Government...  and of the two, those that work for the Federal Government and by far the worst kind of individual as they lie, cheat, steal, withhold the truth and don't give a rat's ass about the general public, except when they are trying to get re-elected.

Why do I feel this way?

The problems that we were trying to solve in the 1960s and the same frigging problems we are trying to solve in 2020s...  Are we simply not smart enough to figure this shit out...  are we so smart that we don't want to figure this shit out?  Either way, it does not look good for these Federal Government politicians.

The other issue with these "good for nothing" politicians is that they are more interested in what the party wants than they are interested in doing what is good for the general public.

Here's a good example of what I mean...

The Democrats were so set on getting Trump out of office that they elected a man who does not know his ass from a hole in the ground.  On the first day of office, he killed the Keystone Pipeline and then use his influence to pass one stimulus package after the other...

Results:

• Worst inflation in 40 years
• Worst Illegal Immigration EVER
• Afghanistan Withdrawal - a global embarrassment
• Perpetuating racism through BLM & CRT
• Mainstream media censoring the news
• ran on the idea he would unite the nation

IRONICALLY, only a little over 50% voted for him which mean only a little under 50% did not vote for him...  THEREFORE, he had no mandate to do what he did...  he let the party rather than the people influence him...

THIS IS POLITICS AT ITS BEST/WORST...

His policies caused INFLATION which has now caused a RECESSION...  there is no telling how many years it will take us to climb out of this recession...

STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES...

CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE GOOD FOR ME???

Country Living

Many people associate country living with the SOUTHEASTERN US...  but that is as misleading as President Biden announcing that our economy is healthy and growing...

Country living is life in an area...  any area of the US...  that is not considered in the city...  in other words, country living can take place in any state...  and, it is also safe to say, that those folks living in the country will always be different than those folks living in the city...

WHY?

• Less congestion
• Less traffic
• Less crime & violence
• Less polution
• Less waiting time
• Less stress and anxiety
• More friendly
• Help each other

It is the people living in the city who are a pain in the ass to live around and who would just as shoot you as they would smile at you...

Country living folks can walk around their communities just about anytime of the day or night that they want to.

Country living folks can have vege gardens in their back yards if they want to.

Country living folks can have pools in their back yards if they want to.

Country living folks can cook food on a grill in their back yards anytime they want to.

Country living folks can play outside in their yards with their children anytime they want to.

Country living folks can ask their neighbors for help without concern they will be charged a fee or robbed.

During my 74 years of life, except for the first 2-3 years, I have always lived outside of the city and have never once wanted to move into the city because I thought it might be a better place to live.  I have always had an acre of land or more on which I could do anything I damn well pleased.  I always shared my vegetable garden with my neighbors.

Maintaining the outside yard as one gets older becomes a tad more difficult but it gets you outside and being outside is better than staying inside...

Country living is not living off the grid...

Under Water

 

Made in America

American manufacturers are increasingly bringing production back to the US to reduce their reliance on global supply chains that proved vulnerable to disruption such as the pandemic.

An overwhelming majority of American companies with production operations in China have already moved some back to the US or plan to do so in the next three years, according to Kearney's 2021 Reshoring Index.

Almost four in five corporations companies have already shifted production to the US and at least 15% are considering it due to high tariffs and ongoing supply chain challenges, Kearney's report shows.

However, imports from low-cost Asian countries to the US still increased last year.

"Reshoring" manufacturing has also been spurred by geopolitical disruption triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war.

General Motors announced in January it would spend $7 billion on four plants in Michigan. Last year it spent almost $40 billion buying parts from some 5,600 US suppliers.

The manufacturer behind Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and Hummer announced its biggest investment to increase its battery cell production to achieve its aim of becoming North America's biggest electric vehicle producer.

GE Appliances is also investing on expanding US production to make products closer to customers and create more American jobs.  READ MORE...

Classic Sunday Morning Newspaper Cartoons

 

Your COVID Protection

A used mask is seen on beach at marine protected area located in St. Martin's Island, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh on March 13. Greater COVID transmissibility due to Omicron variants means greater transmissibility in any setting, indoors or outdoors—even if outside is still safer, experts say.

MOHAMMAD SHAJAHAN—ANADOLU AGENCY/GETTY IMAGES

The outdoors have always been a sanctuary—even more so since the advent of the pandemic.

Spreading COVID outside was possible, but not probable, experts advised in 2020, urging cooped-up citizens to turn to Mother Nature as an antidote to the isolation of lockdowns. Events, dining, and even entire classrooms were moved outside, when feasible.

But Omicron was a game changer, in more ways than one.

The original Wuhan strain of COVID-19 had a reproductive rate—also known as an R0 or R-naught value—of around 3.3, meaning that each infected person infected another 3.3 people, on average. That put COVID-19 among the least transmissible human diseases.

Slightly less transmissible were the 1918 pandemic strain of flu, which had an estimated R0 of 2, as does Ebola. On the higher end of the spectrum, mumps has an R0 of 12; measles tops the list at 18.

In order to outcompete, successful COVID variants have become more transmissible with time. Delta had a slightly higher reproductive rate of around 5.1. Then came Omicron, with an reproductive rate almost twice as large: 9.5.

So called “stealth Omicron,” nicknamed for its ability to evade detection on PCR tests, was about 1.4 times more transmissible than BA.1, so its reproductive rate was around 13.3, Adrian Esterman, a professor of biostatistics and epidemiology at the University of South Australia, recently wrote on academic news website The Conversation.

New studies suggest that BA.4 and BA.5, currently sweeping the U.S. and countries around the globe, have a growth advantage over BA.2 similar to the growth advantage BA.2 had over BA.1. Thus, the latest dominant COVID subvariants have a reproductive rate of around 18.6, tying or surpassing measles, the world’s most infectious viral disease, according to Esterman.

Greater transmissibility means greater transmissibility in any setting, indoors or outdoors—even if outside is still safer, Maimuna Majumder, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and a computational epidemiologist at Boston Children’s Hospital, recently told NPR.

Upping the ante is the fact that recent subvariants like BA.4 and BA.5 are the most immune-evasive yet, with the ability to dodge antibodies from both vaccines and prior infection.

All this to say your protection outdoors isn’t what it was in 2020—and it may be time to begin thinking more critically about outdoor gatherings.  READ MORE...

Sliding Cat

 

The Myers Briggs Type Indicator

If you've never taken the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, it's a personality assessment that groups people into one of 16 personalities or types based on their preferences. And in the case of ENTJs, this powerhouse personality type is known for getting things done—just don't expect them to be sensitive about it. Think Gordon Ramsey or Steve Jobs.

Here's what to know about the ENTJ personality type.

The ENTJ personality type.

ENTJ stands for extroverted, intuitive, thinking, and judging. According to John Hackston, head of thought leadership at the Myers-Briggs Company, they make up just 1.8% of the population, and they are more likely to be men.

"These natural leaders can be described as curious, energetic, self-confident, pragmatic, creative problem solvers, and decisive," Hackston tells mbg, adding, "Those who have personality preferences for ENTJ are verbally fluent and get energized by interacting with people, exchanging ideas, and making things happen."

Take entrepreneur Bill Gates as a prime example of an ENTJ. This type isn't discouraged by a challenge. In fact, they love it and have had historical success in making great achievements in everything from politics to business.

When under extreme stress, however, Hackston notes they can feel alone, underappreciated, and overwhelmed with self-doubt. Even still, "They won't openly show their feelings," he says.  READ MORE...