My Beliefs

Not many people fully understand their own beliefs because they generally follow the crowd because it is easier.

I was raised in a Chistian home and inside the United Methodist Church.  I no longer believe in institutionalized religion...  for a variety of reasons but mainly because the BIBLE is not only inaccurate but wrong.

However logically, there must have been and might still be a creator of some sort as our Universe could not just come into being from NOTHING.  The evidence points to the BIG BANG but again, in order to have a big bang, something had to be there in the first place - so from whence did it arrive?

Another dilemma is the fact that our universe is still expanding...   BUT INTO WHAT IS IT EXPANDING?   And where did it come from?

Scientists have grave concerns that human beings have evolved faster than they were supposed to have evolved according to historical data.  Therefore, someone must have tampered with our DNA to accelerate the process.

While I have no idea what happens to us after death, it seems rather pointless to live for 80-100 years and then cease to exist for the rest of eternity.  If that was truly the case, then logically religion was created to give us something to look forward to.

THEN THERE IS PURPOSE...

This concept results from why I was born in the first place.

It is obvious that our purpose is not POWER, CONTROL, WEALH, and ACHIEVEMENTS because that is what everyone to trying to accomplish.  Since everyone is moving in that direction, then that direction is obviously wrong.

So, what else is there?

• Creating, nurturing, and teaching our children
• Taking care of our parents
• Helping our neighbors (being respectful)
• Living life with integrity and honesty and simplicity
• Caring for animals
• Understanding one's limitations
• Enjoying everyday of our life
• Appreciating everything that is free
• Acknowledging that our life is a gift

Somewhat Political

 

Dwarf-like Creature Lurking in Venezuela

High up in the mountains of Venezuela, a “dwarf”-like creature tucked itself in for the night. The small animal was blanketed by the darkness and hidden in the leaves — but not well enough.

When scientists spotted the lurking creature, they discovered a new species.

Researchers ventured into the Andes Mountains in northwestern Venezuela on two wildlife surveys in 2015 and 2016, according to a study published March 1 in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa. Day and night, they searched for frogs, toads, snakes and lizards.

During their searches, researchers found seven tiny geckos hiding in the leaves, the study said. They took a closer look at the “secretive” lizards and realized they’d discovered a new species: Pseudogonatodes quihuai, or Quihua’s dwarf gecko.  READ MORE...

Engineers

Understanding Engineers 1

Two engineering students were riding bicycles across a university campus when one said, "Where did you get the great bike?"

The second engineer replied, "Well, I was walking yesterday, minding my own business, when a beautiful woman rode up on this bike, threw it to the ground, took off all her clothes, and said, 'Take what you want.'”

The first engineer nodded approvingly and said, "Good choice: The clothes probably wouldn't have fit you anyway.”

Understanding Engineers 2
To the optimist, the glass is half-full. To the pessimist, the glass is half-empty. To the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

Understanding Engineers 3
A priest, a doctor and an engineer were waiting one morning for a particularly slow group of golfers The engineer fumed, "What's with those guys? We've been waiting for fifteen minutes!”
The doctor chimed in, "I don't think I've ever seen such inept golf!”
The priest said, "Here comes the green-keeper. Let's have a word with him.”
He said, “Hello, George. What's wrong with that group ahead of us? They're rather slow, aren't they?”
The green-keeper replied, "Oh, yes. That's a group of blind firemen. They lost their sight saving our clubhouse from a fire last year, so we always let them play for free anytime!”
The group fell silent for a moment.
The priest said, "That's so sad. I'll say a special prayer for them tonight.”
The doctor said, "Good idea. I'll contact my ophthalmologist colleague and see if there's anything she can do for them.”
The engineer said, "Why can't they play at night?”

Understanding Engineers 4
What is the difference between mechanical engineers and civil engineers? Mechanical engineers build weapons. Civil engineers build targets.

Understanding Engineers 5
The graduate with a Science degree asks, "Why does it work?”
The graduate with an Engineering degree asks, "How does it work?”
The graduate with a Commerce degree asks, "How much will it cost?”
The graduate with an Arts degree asks, "Do you want fries with that?"

Understanding Engineers 6
Normal people believe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Engineers believe that if it ain't broke, it isn't sufficiently complex yet.

And Finally
Two engineers were standing at the base of a flagpole, looking at its top. A woman walked by and asked what they were doing.
"We're supposed to find the height of this flagpole," said Steve, "but we don't have a ladder.”
The woman took pliers from her purse, loosened a couple of bolts, and laid the pole down on the ground. Then she took a tape measure from her purse, took a measurement, announced, “21 feet," and walked away.


Steve shook his head and laughed, "A lot of good that does us. We ask for the height and she gives us the length!”

Both engineers have since quit their jobs and have been elected to Congress.

In The NEWS

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> NCAA women's basketball tournament first round tips off today as men's first round continues (More) | See latest women's bracket (More) | ... and men's bracket (More)

> Global music revenue hit $28.6B in 2023, a 10% rise from 2022 and the highest sales figure since 1999, unadjusted for inflation (More)

> Warner Bros Discovery to launch Max streaming service in 25 European countries beginning in May (More) | M. Emmet Walsh, character actor known for roles in "Blade Runner" and "Knives Out," dies at 88 (More)


Science & Technology
> Scientists perform first successful transplant of a genetically edited pig organ into a living human recipient; operation was the first to be carried out in person, not in a coma (More)

> Analysis of recovered documents suggests that religious text previously attributed to William Shakespeare's father was written by the famous playwright's sister, Joan (More)

> Researchers develop method to create artificial chromosomes, a potential breakthrough in delivering gene therapy treatments (More) | What are chromosomes? (More)


Business & Markets
In partnership with The Ascent

> US stock markets close higher (S&P 500 +0.3%, Dow +0.7%, Nasdaq +0.2%), reaching new record closing levels (More) | Reddit shares soar 70% intraday in Wall Street debut before closing up 48% at $50.44 per share, from initial public offering price of $34 per share (More)

> US existing home sales unexpectedly rise 9.5% month-over-month in February, the largest monthly gain in a year; median home price of $384,500 is up 5.7% from a year ago, marking highest median home price for any February on record (More)

> Swiss National Bank becomes first major bank to cut interest rates, moving ahead of the European Central Bank and US Federal Reserve (More) | Turkey's central bank raises key interest rate to 50% to curb annual inflation of 67% (More)


Politics & World Affairs
> House to vote on $1.2T federal funding package; deal would head to the Senate ahead of tonight's midnight deadline (More) | See what is in the bill here (More) | Sen. Bill Menendez (D-NJ) to resign after current term ends in 2024; Menendez under indictment for bribery charges (More)

> US CIA Director William Burns heads back to the Middle East to join Israel-Gaza cease-fire talks (More) | See updates on the war here (More)

> Two suspects remain at large following escape from Idaho prison after shooting and injuring two officers; state officials issued a $2M bond for the primary assailant (More)

SOURCE:  1440 News

Are You Better Off Under Biden???

 It is difficult for me to answer that question since I am retired and basically, I am living no differently (financially) under Biden than I was living under Trump and Obama.

My wife and I retired in 2015, debt free, with two year old cars with low mileage, social security, and a savings account.  We had a budget that paid our monthly expenses and allowed us $500 each month to use on vacations.  We also had 500,000 frequent flyer miles on Delta to use as we needed.

As a result, we went on about 4-5 vacations a year from 2015 until COVID hit.

While our monthly expenses have increased about $1,000 since Biden became President, our overall Budget has not been impacted because we simply take only two vacations to Myrtle Beach, SC which is fairly inexpensive for a week.  Our need for gasoline has decreased as well since we no longer drive as much as we used to.

We are not invested in the Stock Market, so we have no gain/pain there and there is no need to update our wardrobe since we are no longer working.  Our home has been downsized, we have eliminated cable, and our phones are with AT&T which is the lowest we've paid in years.

The illegal immigrants are not really coming in droves to East TN and the fact that the conservative voice is being censored does not really bother us either at our age.  The double standard of legal justice has TRUMP BY THE BALLS but does not really impact us either.  It does not bother us that our military is declining in power nor does it bother us that CHINA is not seen as our enemy.

We strongly believe that ALL POLITICIANS ARE:

• liars
• cheats
• thieves
• make hollow promises
• care only about re-election
• only care about the people when it is time to vote
• and likes power and control over honesty & integrity

My wife and I have saved enough money to take care of our simple needs and lifestyles for the next 20-25 years regardless of inflation and regardless of who might be the President.

Others are not so lucky as we have been.

HOWEVER, I will never vote for Biden or the Democrats because they are not only trying to destroy Trump but they are trying to destroy this country so that they will always have power and control.

Our OLD USA is gone and my wife and I will join her soon.

Somewhat Political

 

Atomic Secrets of Photosynthesis

New research reveals the atomic secrets of photosynthesis, providing insights into the complex process of chloroplast RNA polymerase transcription. This advancement holds promise for improving crop resilience and understanding plant growth mechanisms. Credit: SciTechDaily.com







The mysteries of photosynthesis have been unveiled at the atomic level, providing significant new insights into this plant super-power that transformed the Earth into a green landscape over a billion years ago.

John Innes Centre researchers used an advanced microscopy method called cryo-EM to explore how the photosynthetic proteins are made.

The study, published in Cell, presents a model and resources to stimulate further fundamental discoveries in this field and assist longer-term goals of developing more resilient crops.

Understanding Photosynthetic Protein Production
Dr Michael Webster, group leader and co-author of the paper said: “Transcription of chloroplast genes is a fundamental step in making the photosynthetic proteins that provide plants with the energy they need to grow. We hope that by understanding this process better – at the detailed molecular level – we will equip researchers looking to develop plants with more robust photosynthetic activity.”     READ MORE...

Mission Impossible

 

Grand Funk Railroad

 

Deciphering the Dark

Dark energy’s role in propelling the universe’s accelerated expansion presents a pivotal challenge in astrophysics, driving ongoing research and space missions dedicated to uncovering the nature of this mysterious force.

Some 13.8 billion years ago, the universe began with a rapid expansion we call the Big Bang. After this initial expansion, which lasted a fraction of a second, gravity started to slow the universe down. But the cosmos wouldn’t stay this way. Nine billion years after the universe began, its expansion started to speed up, driven by an unknown force that scientists have named dark energy.

But what exactly is dark energy?  The short answer is: We don’t know. But we do know that it exists, it’s making the universe expand at an accelerating rate, and approximately 68.3 to 70% of the universe is dark energy.     READ MORE...

Water Cavern

 

In The NEWS

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
In partnership with NativePath

> NCAA men's basketball tournament first round tips off today with the women's first round beginning tomorrow (More) | See latest men's bracket (More) | ... and women's bracket (More)

> Superstar Shohei Ohtani leads his new team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, to victory over the San Diego Padres to open the MLB regular season from Seoul; the season begins in earnest March 28 (More) | Dodgers fire Ohtani's interpreter amid allegations he stole millions from Ohtani to cover gambling debt (More)

> "The Crown" and "Black Mirror" lead all nominees for the 2024 BAFTAs, or British Academy Television Awards (More)

Science & Technology
> Princeton math professor Michel Talagrand wins 2024 Abel Prize, one of the field's most prestigious awards, for his work on analyzing random processes (More)

> Archaeologists discover oldest-known arrowheads, dating to roughly 74,000 years ago in what is now northern Ethiopia; time period coincided with the Toba super-eruption, which spread ash and gas worldwide (More)

> First-ever "quantum tornado" created by scientists in superfluid helium, which experiences near zero friction; phenomenon is meant to mimic and shed light on the dynamics of black holes (More)

Business & Markets
> US stock markets close at record highs (S&P 500 +0.9%, Dow +1.0%, Nasdaq +1.3%) after Federal Reserve keeps interest rates unchanged, signals three rate cuts this year (More) | Reddit expected to start trading today at $34 per share (More)

> Chipmaker Intel secures $19.5B in federal funding ($8.5B) and loans ($11B) to build and expand facilities across Arizona, New Mexico, Ohio, and Oregon (More) | Memory chipmaker Micron Technology shares rise over 14% in after-hours trading after it announces better-than-expected quarterly results (More)

> Chipotle Mexican Grill shares briefly surpass $3,000 for first time after board approves 50-for-1 stock split (More) | Paramount Global shares close up 12% on report of Apollo Global's $11B offer to buy Paramount's Hollywood studios (More)



Politics & World Affairs
> Four of six former Mississippi law enforcement officers sentenced for charges related to their roles in the January 2023 beating and torturing of two men during a warrantless home search; sentences so far range from 17.5 years to 40 years in prison, with two remaining officers to be sentenced today (More)

> Former Marine Daniel Penny to stand trial beginning Oct. 8 for charges of second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide for fatally subduing Jordan Neely on a New York City subway last May (More)

> Vietnam President Vo Van Thuong resigns one year after taking office after reported unspecified violations of the governing Communist Party's rules (More) | Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar to step down after successor is chosen, citing personal and political reasons (More)

SOURCE:  1440 News

Nuclear War

 ON THE BEACH was a movie that was first released in 1959 at the peak of the COLD WAR.  In 2020, there was a remake of the classic movie, but the plot and conclusion did not change much except to give it a more modern twist.

The movie was about the aftermath of a nuclear war where all of humanity, animals, and plants died as a result of nuclear radiation.  The last place where radiation death occurred was in Australia.  They were able to survive about 60-90 days longer.

The global cold war was a field day for spies on both sides but mainly between Russia and the USA.  While the spies played around with stealing secrets and creating double agents, the military was busy building nuclear weapons.  The race to build nuclear weapons was predicated upon the idea of MAD - Mutually Assured Destruction.

In other words, there were no wars of any consequence because each side had enough nuclear bombs and missiles to destroy the world.  Of course, this idea of MAD has changed a little based upon three concepts.

First - more and more countries are developing nuclear weapons, and these countries are far from stable and would just as soon as destroy the entire world than to keep the other side from winning.

Second - there is the belief that humans can survive a nuclear war if they do so underground.  However, it would be hundreds of years before mankind would be able to revisit the surface.

Third - some countries like the USA, Russia, and China, believe that we can postpone the development of a nuclear war long enough to build colonies on Mars or some other planet.

NOTE:  this third concept is enhanced humanoid robots with AI that will serve as flight crews of the spaceships, and builders of the colonies.

Dog & Kittens

 

Cleaning Up Uranium Mines

NAVAJO NATION, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) — There are an estimated 140,000 abandoned hard rock mines in the country, including more than 500 uranium mines across the Navajo Nation. If they aren’t cleaned up, they could bring serious health and environmental risks to Arizona and indigenous communities.

Arizona senator Mark Kelly introduced the bipartisan bill ‘Legacy Mine Clean-up Act 2024′ last week. The bill would create the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains (OMDP).

Kelly said the office would help speed up the cleanup process, implement best practices, work with state and tribal partners, and prioritize federal funding. “Abandoned hardrock mines pose serious environmental and public health threats to Arizona communities and tribal nations, but the cleanup of these hazardous sites is too often delayed,” Kelly said in his press release.

The EPA opened a Flagstaff office last year that is focused on uranium mine cleanup across the Navajo Nation. Jacob Phipps is the section manager at the Flagstaff EPA office and said the uranium mines have been a focus of theirs for over a decade. They began touring and assessing mines in 2009.    READ MORE...

Take it Easy

 

Foxy Lady

 

New Method of Producing Hydrogen Energy

A new method for efficient hydrogen production that separates oxygen and hydrogen generation, developed by researchers in Sweden, eliminates explosion risks and the need for rare Earth metals, with a 99 percent efficiency rate. This innovation promises easier integration with renewable energies and has significant potential for commercial application.


Scientists in Sweden have developed an innovative method for generating hydrogen energy with enhanced efficiency. This process separates water into oxygen and hydrogen, eliminating the hazardous possibility of the two gases combining.


Developed at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, the new method decouples the standard electrolysis process for producing hydrogen gas, which splits water molecules by applying an electric current. In contrast with prevailing systems, it produces the resulting oxygen and hydrogen gases separately rather than simultaneously in the same cell, where they need to be separated by membrane barriers.     READ MORE...

Somewhat Political