Monday, June 17

For Other Cancer Patients

 

Prior to age 60 and after outgrowing all normal childhood illnesses, I never had a reason to go see the doctor other than an annual physical and checkup.  I never even had a cold or the flu.


As a freshman in high school up until age 60, I lived an active life playing sports, lifting weights, swimming, walking, running and eating a healthy diet.  At age 40, I gave up smoking, drinking alcohol, and red meat, except for a cheeseburger once or twice a year.  I was never over-weight for my height and age.


However, that all changed at age 60, when I was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer and had a heart attack.  Four years later, I contracted melanoma that could have resulted as a byproduct of my lymphoma treatments.  Two years ago, I have five lower back disks fused because of spinal stenosis.


So...

for 15 years, I have had monthly infusions of cancer drugs, cancer removal surgery, and radiation all of which has been able to keep my cancer in check.


AM I LUCKY TO STILL BE LIVING?

I think so...  but I have an excellent Oncologist who is aware of the latest treatment and drugs.  Fifteen years of treatment has left me with a damaged thyroid, anemia, no immunity, daily nausea, and constant moderate to extreme fatigue.


My latest drugs are Opdivo for the Melanoma, Venclexta for the Lymphoma, and IVIG for the low immunity and anemia.


I continue to eat healthy, and I continue to stay as active as I can mowing the lawn, weed eating, trimming bushes, power washing house and deck and moving around if I find myself sitting in a chair for over two hours.   


If there is a drive to Myrtle Beach, SC for a vacation then I stop every two hours and walk around for about 10 minutes or so.


In addition to all of the above, I have managed to keep a POSITIVE ATTITUDE throughout all of this and have never felt sorry for myself because I am the only family member to have cancer, heart issues, and spinal stenosis.


This post is for others who may have cancer or have yet to begin the journey.  Stay on top of your illness, ask questions, do your own research, keep records, and talk to other cancer patients.  


My Siamese cat lost one of his eyes a few years back and has never let that slow him down either inside or outside of the house.  My Siamese cat is an inspiration to me and a constant reminder that I still have a lot of life to live.







Wild Boar

 

It's All Black and White

 

I was born white, raised white, am a white veteran, married two white women - divorced one, spent 45 years working for a white man, retired white, and will probably die white as far as I know.


I am not wealthy, paid for my own college education, worked in the south where wages are intentionally low, and never had anyone pull strings to find me employment.  I have been fired 10 times for standing up to the white man because I did not think what he was doing was right.


For the most part, I treat everyone the same until they prove me wrong through their lack of honesty, integrity, or inappropriate actions.


I am not racist, but I know racist people.  The racist people that I know are both white and black.  Some believe that only white people can be racists, but that simply is not true.


Blacks WILL NEVER be in a position to control the United States of America because they represent only 12% of the overall population.  Whites represent 60% of the population or about FIVE TIMES the black population.  In fact, more Hispanics will be in positions of control than blacks because Hispanics represent 18% (before illegal immigration) of the overall population.


Will that make Hispanics racist???


If Blacks want to ever control the USA:

  • they must increase their population
  • stop selling drugs 
  • stop committing crimes
  • get educated better than anyone else
  • get involved with politics
  • learn the political system
  • change system legally

To expect the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT to give blacks whatever they want whenever they want it because they are black, and descendants of slaves is preposterous - 60% of the whites will never vote for that.

Don't look for HANDOUTS!!!

Learn to work the system from within and procreate as often as you can.

Somewhat Political

 





About Einstein

Albert Einstein is a name synonymous with genius and groundbreaking scientific discovery. His theories of relativity revolutionized the way we understand the universe, fundamentally altering our concepts of space, time, and gravity. In this article, we’ll delve into Einstein’s life, his pivotal theories, and the lasting impact of his work on modern science.

Early Life and Education
Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879, in Ulm, Germany. His early years were marked by a curiosity about the natural world and a rebellious streak against traditional education methods. Despite struggling in a rigid school system, Einstein excelled in mathematics and physics, developing a passion that would shape his future.

Einstein’s family moved to Munich, where he attended the Luitpold Gymnasium. Later, he enrolled at the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School in Zurich, where he met several friends and mentors who recognized his potential. Despite not being the most diligent student, his brilliance in theoretical physics began to shine through.

The Miracle Year
1905 is often referred to as Einstein’s “Annus Mirabilis” or “Miracle Year.” During th
is time, while working as a patent examiner in Bern, Switzerland, he published four groundbreaking papers that would change the course of physics:
  • Photoelectric Effect: Einstein proposed that light could be described as quanta of energy, or photons. This idea laid the foundation for quantum theory and earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921.
  • Brownian Motion: He explained the random movement of particles suspended in a fluid, providing empirical evidence for the existence of atoms.
  • Special Theory of Relativity: This theory introduced the concept that time and space are relative and not absolute, fundamentally altering our understanding of the universe.
  • Mass-Energy Equivalence: Perhaps the most famous equation in physics, E=mc2E = mc^2E=mc2, established that mass and energy are interchangeable.

Interstellar Travel

 

Sunday, June 16

In The NEWS


Catherine, Princess of Wales, offers update on cancer diagnosis.

In a written statement posted to social media, Catherine said she is still undergoing cancer treatment but will make a public appearance today at a ceremony celebrating King Charles' birthday. The public appearance will mark Catherine's first since she underwent surgery in January. The message was accompanied by a new photo of Catherine. See the statement and photo here (via X).



South Africa's ruling party strikes coalition deal with its largest rival.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was elected to a second term yesterday after his ruling party, the African National Congress, agreed to form a new unity government with its main opposing party, the Democratic Alliance. The deal between the two rival parties is the first such agreement in 30 years and comes after the ANC lost its majority in general elections last month.



Justice Department declines to prosecute Merrick Garland.

The Justice Department said Attorney General Merrick Garland won't be prosecuted for contempt of Congress because his refusal to hand over audio recordings of President Joe Biden's classified documents interview is not a crime. The response comes after the House voted this week to hold Garland in contempt. Biden previously asserted executive privilege in blocking the release of the recordings.



Demolition begins for site of 2018 Parkland school shooting.

Excavation crews started tearing down a building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, yesterday, six years after the deadliest high school shooting in US history. Fourteen students and three staff members were killed on Valentine's Day, along with 17 others wounded after a shooter opened fire. The families of victims have suggested replacing the building with a memorial.



USA advances to Super 8 stage at cricket's T20 World Cup.

Team USA's advancement comes after its Group A match with Ireland was called off due to the weather in Florida. USA, which is playing in the T20 World Cup for the first time, is seen as the underdog. Team USA will now face South Africa, the West Indies, and either Scotland or England in the tournament's second round next week. The top two teams from that second round group will move on to the semifinals.



Medical data firm Tempus AI raises $410M in initial public offering.

Shares of Tempus AI closed up around 9% yesterday after the Chicago-based healthcare diagnostics company debuted on the Nasdaq stock market. Tempus AI has a market value of $6.1B at its current IPO price. Learn how an IPO works here.


SOURCE:    1440 News

Our Future

 

We are living in the year 2024 and many of us ARE NOT thinking about the year 2025, let alone 2030 which is only 5 & 1/2 years away.


If you have a child that is entering high school or college in 2025, they will be graduating in 2030.


What is going to happen in 2030?

  1. Robots will be doing lots of the work
  2. Drones will deliver mail and packages
  3. Autonomous Vehicles will be available
  4. Advances in wearable technology
  5. Everything will cost more
  6. Illegal Immigrants will work for less money
  7. Crime and violence will continue to increase
  8. Racism will continue to escalate
  9. EV technology will improve
  10. The world may be at war

Questions:
How will Americans survive?
Will there be enough jobs for human beings?
Will a college degree matter then?
Will the government draft citizens to fight a war?
How much money do you have in savings?
How much debt do you owe?
Do you want to marry and have children?
Do you even watch the NEWS?


No one knows what is going to happen in 2030 and certainly no one knows what is going to happen in 2025, let alone the six or so months left in 2024; but one can think about being somewhat prepared.


Most people DON'T PLAN, they just wait for something to happen and then react and while that option works, it will not work all the time.
  • Carpenters measure twice or more and CUT ONCE. This is called planning.
  • Project Managers are taught or learn from experience they need to be prepared for the positive as well as the negative.
  • Special Forces always develop contingency plans.
  • Japanese companies make plans for 5-10-20 years into the future that are obviously revised.


When I was growing up in the 1960s, I really did not care about work because if I was fired from one job, I could just walk down the street and get a job at another company.


That freedom was certainly not available to the American worker in the 1990s like it was in the 1960s and it damn sure isn't available in the 2020s.


What jobs that are not taken by robots will be HIGHLY COMPETITIVE and if you don't have the right skills or are not available at the right time, YOU AIN'T WORKING.

Somewhat Political




 

New Solar Technology


UIC engineers developed a method to produce hydrogen from water using solar power and agricultural waste, cutting energy needs by 600%. This process uses biochar to lower electricity requirements, achieving high efficiency and offering potential net-zero emissions.



UIC engineers have introduced a groundbreaking method for producing hydrogen gas using solar power and agricultural waste, drastically reducing energy consumption and enabling net-zero greenhouse emissions.

Engineers from the University of Illinois Chicago have developed a novel method to produce hydrogen gas from water using solely solar power and agricultural byproducts like manure and husks. This technique slashes the energy required to extract hydrogen from water by 600%, paving the way for more sustainable and environmentally friendly chemical manufacturing.

Hydrogen-based fuels are one of the most promising sources of clean energy. But producing pure hydrogen gas is an energy-intensive process that often requires coal or natural gas and large amounts of electricity.         READ MORE...


Secret UFO Rsearch

 

Saturday, June 15

In The NEWS


Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> The Florida Panthers take 3-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Final after holding on to defeat the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 in Game 3 (More) | The Dallas Mavericks look to avoid being swept by the Boston Celtics tonight (8:30 pm ET, ABC) in Game 4 of the NBA Finals (More)

> The 77th Tony Awards take place Sunday (8 pm ET, CBS); see predictions for each category (More) | Disney drops lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) after the state and Disney reach land development deal for Disney World (More)

> UEFA European Championship kicks off today from Germany; see preview of all 24 teams (More)


Science & Technology
In partnership with Incogni

> Earth's inner core is slowing down in its rotation relative to the planet's surface, scientists confirm; phenomenon began in 2010 after an estimated four decades of moving slightly faster than the surface (More)

> Engineers combine AI learning model with robotic exoskeleton to develop a suit that learns to adapt to a user's movements, helping them save energy while running, climbing stairs, and more (More)

> Soaring birds like eagles and falcons use air sacs in the lungs to add extra power to their flight; study sheds light on the evolution of long-distance flight in animals (More)


Business & Markets
> US stock markets close mixed (S&P 500 +0.2%, Dow -0.2%, Nasdaq +0.3%); S&P 500, Nasdaq close at records for fourth consecutive day (More) | US weekly jobless claims rise to 242,000 for week ending June 8; figure is greater than estimates and the highest level since August 2023 (More)

> Tesla shareholders vote to reinstate CEO Elon Musk's previous $56B pay package and move Tesla's incorporation from Delaware to Texas; shareholder vote does not override a Delaware court's January order to rescind the pay package (More)

> Supreme Court sides with Starbucks in labor dispute involving the firing of seven Memphis-based employees amid unionization efforts; ruling restricts National Labor Relations Board's authority to intervene during contested labor practices (More)


Politics & World Affairs
> US Justice Department investigation concludes Phoenix police department routinely violates rights, uses excessive force, and discriminates against Black, Hispanic, and Native American people (More) | Read the report (More)

> Roughly 1.5 million people journey to the Muslim holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia as the annual Hajj pilgrimage begins today (More) | What is Hajj? (More)

> Argentina's Senate passes watered-down legislation aimed at overhauling the country's troubled economy as police clash with protestors; legislation heads to lower house of Congress for final approval (More)


SOURCE:  1440 News

Mankind Struggles

 

It seems very odd to me now after several thousands of years that mankind has lived on planet earth that there are still some people who still believe it is necessary to conquer other cultures...


It also seems logically obvious to me that our global leaders realize that there is no way to survive an all out nuclear war...

However, some of these ignorant leaders believe that it is possible to survive a nuclear war...  but, if there are some people who actually survive, what will life be like on earth?

Let me tell you that it will not be pleasant and nowhere near what life was like before the nuclear war.


Despite our mutually assured destruction capabilities, there enlightened people who have more intelligent concerns with which to deal, like:

  • Proving we exist
  • Determining life's purpose
Existence obviously comes first since finding one's purpose is meaningless if we don't exist.

For thousands of years, scholars have struggled with these two concepts with the latter one a tad easier to answer.

There is no way to prove that we exist nor is there any way to prove that we do not exist other than what we perceive to observe.
Let me refer you to the movie THE MATRIX for part of that explanation.

Not even those with the highest IQs could do anything more than SPECULATE or THEORIZE on this issue.

HOWEVER...
purpose is in a different category altogether as it can be definitively viewed from several different perspectives.
Obviously, the first perspective is religious or spiritual.
But, once you qualify the concept of religious as being fictious, then that perspective no longer applies, even though some of the points do make since.
Other Perspectives:
  1. Wealth (acquiring assets)
  2. Power & Control
  3. Achievements/Accomplishments
  4. Legacy Left
  5. Family & Friends
  6. Living Simply/appreciating life

One's perspective is influenced by one's environment and sometimes changes as one grows older...  however, one must be careful that one's changes are real and not simply a rationalization of one's circumstances.
For instance - I know I will never be rich...  therefore...

My purpose when younger was to acquire education and achieve a leadership position.  I achieved my purpose.  I was not concerned with wealth or power and yet, I had some of that with my roll as a leader.


My purpose has changed as I got older and retired and now, I just want to be seen and treated as a good person.  At the same time, I know that I will never be more than I already am, so that influences my purpose as well.


My purpose does not revolve around religious or something spiritual, although I do believe in a creator that set everything in motion and has taken a hands-off approach.   I do not seek an afterlife with this creator as any kind of life at all after death will be in SPIRIT FORM.   There is a slight possibility that my spirit will enter another body but that is more science fiction than reality.  If it does, I will not be aware that it has happened.

somewhat Political





 

Geometry of Spacetime

When speaking of our universe, it's often said that 'matter tells spacetime how to curve, and curved spacetime tells matter how to move'. This is the essence of Albert Einstein's famous general theory of relativity, and describes how planets, stars, and galaxies move and influence the space around them.


While general relativity captures much of the big in our universe, it's at odds with the small in physics as described by quantum mechanics. For his PhD research, Sjors Heefer explored gravity in our universe, with his research having implications for the exciting field of gravitational waves, and perhaps influencing how the big and small of physics can be reconciled in the future.


A little over a hundred years ago, Albert Einstein revolutionized our understanding of gravity with his general theory of relativity. "According to Einstein's theory, gravity is not a force but emerges due to the geometry of the four-dimensional spacetime continuum, or spacetime for short," says Heefer. "And it's central to the emergence of fascinating phenomena in our universe such as gravitational waves."         READ MORE...

Muscle/Race Cars

 

Friday, June 14

In The NEWS


Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Jerry West, Basketball Hall of Famer and 14-time NBA All-Star who was the inspiration for the NBA logo, dies at 86 (More) | Sports world reacts to West's death (More)

> Sony Pictures acquires Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, becoming first major production company to own a movie theater in 75 years (More) | Françoise Hardy, iconic French singer-songwriter and actress, dies at 80 (More)

> The 2024 US Open men's golf tournament kicks off today from Pinehurst, North Carolina; see full preview and schedule (More) | World Cup 2026 reveals knockout stage schedule for hosts the US, Canada, and Mexico (More)



Science & Technology
> Child sacrifices in ancient Mayan city of Chichén Itzá focused exclusively on males, often involving twins or close relatives, new DNA analysis reveals (More) | Findings suggest potential link to the Popul Vuh, which includes the Mayan creation myth; learn more here (More, w/video)

> Key brain signal in long-term memory formation shown to deteriorate during poor sleep; discovery helps explain link between sleep quality and memory retention (More)

> Researchers map the 5,500-year history of the evolution and spread of the two deadliest malaria-causing parasites; study tracks the disease's transmission through wars, trade routes, and European colonialism (More)


Business & Markets
> US stock markets end mixed (S&P 500 +0.9%, Dow -0.1%, Nasdaq +1.5%), with the S&P 500 closing above 5,400 for the first time (More) | Cryptocurrency payment platform Terraform Labs agrees to $4.5B fine in US civil fraud case (More)

> European Union to impose tariffs of up to 38% on Chinese electric vehicle imports, citing "excessive" Chinese subsidies; the US imposed 100% tariffs on Chinese EVs last month (More) | International Energy Agency forecasts an oil supply glut by 2030, with outlook projecting supply to outpace demand by 8 million gallons per day (More)

> Tesla shareholder meeting begins today, with vote on $56B compensation package for Elon Musk scheduled; the package was previously voided by a Delaware court (More)


Politics & World Affairs
> House votes 216-207, mostly along party lines, to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt for withholding audio of President Joe Biden's interview in classified documents case; Biden has asserted executive privilege over audio (More)

> Hezbollah launches rockets targeting northern Israel in retaliation for an Israeli airstrike that killed a senior commander of the Iran-backed militant group; no casualties were reported in Israel (More) | Russian warships arrive in Cuba ahead of military exercises in the Caribbean; Cuba is a longtime ally of Russia (More)

> Southern Baptists vote down formal ban on churches with female pastors; official guidelines still restrict pastor roles to men (More) | US court finds banana company Chiquita liable for eight deaths resulting from its financing of paramilitary groups in Colombia from 1997-2004 (More)


SOURCE:  1440 News

Today's Marketing

 

The fact remains, we need marketing and advertising for a variety of reasons:

  1. to sell products
  2. to promote a new company
  3. to hire workers
  4. to sponsor shows and events
  5. to grow the economy
  6. to influence opinions
  7. to change beliefs
While I am sure you can think of several reasons I did not list, the fact remains that marketing and advertising has been part of our lifestyle for decades.

However...
what you may or may not understand or BELIEVE is that marketing and advertising has never been designed to BENEFIT YOU.

That may not be easy for you to accept but it is the truth.

Companies do not advertise to help you and your family out, they advertise to MAKE MONEY and specifically to MAKE A PROFIT...

BUT...
they can only achieve this goal if YOU BUY!!!

If a product benefits you, that is a happy unintended consequence for that company.

For example,
my cancer medication is $12,000 each month for 30 pills.  My cancer meds do in fact benefit me because they are keeping me alive.   The cost of each pill is $400 and it does not cost that much for the company to manufacture.
  • Demand for that pill has caused it to increase in value.
  • R&D on the pill was expensive and the company wants to pay itself back for that investment.

What makes this situation worse is the fact that we manufacture products to need to be replaced in about 5 years.  Repeat business via replacement also helps the manufacturer to make money.

When I was in grad school, my marketing class taught us the concept of BUILT-IN OBSELESCENCE...  in other words, build it so that it does not last long and will need to be replaced.

In so doing, companies are benefitting themselves FIRST and you second...

US Companies take advantage of the ignorance of the general public.

Somewhat Pooitical