Ruined

 

Racist

 

Animals

 

Going GREEN

 

Yesterday, I was at a UT Medical Center facility near my home getting my monthly infusion of IVIG.  While I was there, there was an enormous amount of wind and the power in the facility went out.  Seconds later, the lights came back on because of the back-up generator.

Another client in infusion area asked the question:  Don't generators operate on gasoline?

That got me thinking and since I had already written and posted my Saturday and Sunday articles, I was left with no choice but to schedule this posting for Monday, today.

So, here was what I was thinking about.  There are literally, I would assume, THOUSANDS of medical facilities, many of which are critical care facilities...  and many of which are located in environments where solar energy is not always available.

THEREFORE...  would we not need gasoline powered generators when the power goes out, especially since we may not have access to BATTERIES???

ANYWAY...  how many back-up batteries do we currently have out there that customers have purchased or need to purchase?

I would think that there are some but not that many.  Especially not that many to cover the ENTIRE USA, Alaska, Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rice.

STRANGE...  how these GREEN enthusiasts have not mentioned the need to BATTERIES...

Somewhat Political

 

Quantum Basis for Conciousness

A groundbreaking study has provided experimental evidence suggesting a quantum basis for consciousness.

By demonstrating that drugs affecting microtubules within neurons delay the onset of unconsciousness caused by anesthetic gases, the study supports the quantum model over traditional classical physics theories. 

This quantum perspective could revolutionize our understanding of consciousness and its broader implications, potentially impacting the treatment of mental illnesses and our understanding of human connection to the universe.

Exploring the Quantum Basis of Consciousness
For decades, one of the most fundamental and vexing questions in neuroscience has been: what is the physical basis of consciousness in the brain? Most researchers favor classical models, based on classical physics, while a minority have argued that consciousness must be quantum in nature, and that its brain basis is a collective quantum vibration of “microtubule” proteins inside neurons.

New research by Wellesley College professor Mike Wiest and a group of Wellesley College undergraduate students has yielded important experimental results relevant to this debate, by examining how anesthesia affects the brain. 

Wiest and his research team found that when they gave rats a drug that binds to microtubules, it took the rats significantly longer to fall unconscious under an anesthetic gas. 

The research team’s microtubule-binding drug interfered with the anesthetic action, thus supporting the idea that the anesthetic acts on microtubules to cause unconsciousness.      READ MORE...

Brooks & Dunn - Boot Scootin' Boogie (Live at Cain's Ballroom)

I'm An American

 

As far as my heritage is concerned and according to the historian Henry Louis Gates, Jr. there is a paper trail of my family's heritage that can be linked to Charlemagne.

BFD, is my comment.

The point here is that I am from Europe, plain and simple and my ancestors settled here and gave birth to people who eventually gave birth to me and my siblings.

We are original Americans so to speak...  and I AM NOT REPONSIBLE for slavery, nor is my daughter responsible for anything that I might have done.

I have lived through several presidents going back to Eisenhower who I barely knew but remember his name being thrown around at the dinner table.

Some of these presidents were good, others not, most were just mediocre, since the Congress is really what gets the work done, up until the presidents realized they could sign Executive Orders and bypass the Congress.

Wonder why they needed to do that; I wonder???  LOL

Since 2016, I have heard people say that if a certain person gets elected president that they are going to leave the USA out of disrespect for that president.

I cannot understand why any American would feel that way and continue to seriously refer to themselves as American.  Americans support this country regardless of what she does or does not do because they are Americans.

I did not support the Vietnam War, but I still enlisted in the military in 1969 and served until 1974.  Because of that enlistment, my entire college education was paid for, no student loans.

I am not a liberal, a democrat, or a socialist but I will remain in this country and support her even if one of them gets elected in November.

Why?

Because I am an American!!!

Sunday Blues

 

It has been a long-standing tradition for Americans not to work on Sunday since it is considered to be a HOLY DAY.

However, these days don't matter, if you work in healthcare, law enforcement, news media, retail, entertainment, sports, or the military.  In short, pretty much everyone works on a Sunday.

For me and others like me, who are retired, every day is a Sunday so to speak.  Each day that we wake up alive is a special day and a day for which we should be grateful, whether we are 8 or 80.

Most of us don't think about each day as being special or that we should be grateful for it, we just think it is another day.  I'm sure this is true for people in prison or those who only have a few days or hours left to live.

However, it should not be that way for the rest of us.

Some of us are alone and have no one with whom to share our life and for them, every day is not so special.  It is true that having a companion is better but altogether not necessary.  It is up to you to find your own joy; a companion cannot find that joy for you.

I find joy in writing.  I can write whether I am with someone or if I am alone and become absorbed in that writing.  Being out and around nature also provides me with a similar degree of joy.  I don't need a companion to walk through a wooded area and appreciate what is around me.

Find your own joy and graciously accept what life has given you.

Our House

 

We have been in this new house of ours for 15 months now, after living in our last one for 22 years.

We downsized the house and yard and have been very satisfied with our decision to do that.  It now takes me an hour to do lawn maintenance that before took three hours, which included mowing, trimming, and weed eating.  We are also on one level.

What I miss most is my HOT TUB.  I would get into that hot tub about 2-3 times a week, all year long, and relax in the 102/103 temperatures for about 20 minutes.  You would still be so warm in the winter once you got out, dried off, and put on a robe, that you would not really notice the cold, except maybe on your face.

This new house of ours is well laid out, better than our previous one, and we are really enjoying the difference.  My wife, spends her days out on the sunroom while I remain in the living room.

We have two spare bedrooms, both of which have been designated to our three cats.  One bedroom with the bed, is used for them to sleep and the other one is where their food and litter box resides.  They spend most of their time on the bed that was put there for guests, although, we never expected to have guests.

Every room has a fan except for the laundry room and bathrooms and garage.  Our garage is big enough for two cars and some storage against the walls and there is a small 20X20 foot area underneath the house for storage that also has a crawl space.  The yard is slopped so that you can gradually walk down to it.

There are trees on two sides of the house, a road in front of the house, so we only see the house of one neighbor.  The cats like the layout of the yard because it makes them feel surrounded and protected.

The house is very easy to cool in the summer and very easy to heat in the winter - well insulated, except for the sunroom which we are gradually working on.

Our neighbors are better than the ones we had before, and we are really pleased that we decided to move here.

In The NEWS

At least 39 killed, millions without power from Hurricane Helene.

Helene ripped through Florida and Georgia Friday after reaching Florida's Gulf Coast Thursday night as a Category 4 hurricane. By Friday morning, Helene downgraded to a tropical storm. Helene triggered floods across the Southeast and knocked out power for roughly 4.5 million people. See photos from the aftermath here.



Israel says it struck Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut.

At least six people were killed and at least 90 wounded, according to Lebanon's health ministry. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was reportedly the target of Israel's airstrike, which was aimed at Hezbollah's central headquarters in Lebanon's capital, Beirut. It is unclear if Nasrallah was killed. The news of the attack came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly, vowing to continue fighting against Hezbollah.



New York Mayor Eric Adams (R) pleads not guilty to federal charges.

Adams entered the plea Friday in a Manhattan courtroom a day after prosecutors unsealed charges against him. Adams allegedly accepted illegal campaign donations and undisclosed gifts in exchange for favors for Turkey’s government and Turkish business owners. Adams is the first New York City mayor (of 110 total) to be charged with a federal crime while in office. See our previous write-up here.



FDA approves first novel schizophrenia drug in over 70 years.

The Food and Drug Administration approved Cobenfy, a twice-daily pill from Bristol Myers Squibb that influences dopamine levels in the brain by changing levels of another neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. Schizophrenia affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves; symptoms include hallucinations and difficulty in organizing thoughts (watch overview). About 3.7 million US adults live with schizophrenia.



Kentucky sues Express Scripts for alleged role in fatal opioid crisis.

Kentucky accused the pharmacy benefits manager of contributing to the opioid epidemic by failing to properly monitor and report suspicious opioid prescriptions. Express Scripts allegedly placed opioids on preferred tiers and neglected to impose limits in exchange for rebates and other payments from opioid manufacturers. Visualize the opioid crisis here. Watch 1440's overview of opioids here.



Japan's ex-defense minister to become next PM after five tries.

Japan's governing group, the Liberal Democratic Party, elected 67-year-old Shigeru Ishiba to become the nation's next prime minister beginning next Tuesday. Ishiba defeated opposing candidate Sanae Takaichi by a party vote of 215 to 194. Ishiba will replace outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who announced last month he would step down amid record-low approval ratings.



Fed's key inflation gauge rises as expected in August.

The core personal consumption expenditures price index, which measures costs consumers pay across a wide swath of items, excluding food and energy, rose 2.7% year-over-year and 0.1% month-over-month. Both figures were mostly in line with analyst estimates. The index is the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation measure; the central bank targets 2% annual inflation. Learn more about the index here.

SOURCE:  1440 NEWS

Amazed by JOURNALISTS

 

The first time I remember hearing about a journalist who had not executed their job properly was DAN RATHER at CBS who did not verify sources.  CBS removed him from his news anchor slot after that SNAFU.

Since then, there has been a gradual transition from journalists like Dan Rather to journalist who don't give a shit what they publish and if it is accurate or not.

For example:

• Russia Hoax
• Hunter Biden's laptop

It seems like misinformation is the norm but only conservatives, the Democrats say are responsible for publishing disinformation.  That in and of itself is misinformation.

But we also have a problem with journalist making something out of nothing just so they might be able to increase their readership.

Case in point:

I recently saw an article entitled, "Where did it go wrong for Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever?"

Basically, one could say, it went wrong when the Indiana Fever played a superior team.

As I understand it, the Indiana Fever were lucky they got into the playoffs as the last team selected so unlike MARCH MADNESS in college basketball, the WNBA was pretty much not expecting any upsets.

NOT EXPECTING are the key words here.

But Caitlin Clark who is the Rookie of the Year, was expected by the media no doubt, to pull sometime out of her bag of tricks and take the Indiana Fever to number one.

It ain't gonna happen folks.

So, this ambitious writer had to make a big deal out of the loss by direction the reader's attention to where it might have gone wrong.

IT'S ALL ABOUT BEING A SUPERIOR TEAM...

and damned if it isn't just that simple.

Somewhat Political

 

Carbon Footprint of CRUISES

Cruising, a popular form of vacation, has long been scrutinized for its environmental impact, particularly its substantial carbon footprint. As the world becomes increasingly eco-conscious, the cruise industry faces the challenge of adapting to sustainable practices. This article delves into the factors contributing to the carbon footprint of cruises, compares it with traditional air and hotel vacations, and explores the potential of new fuels in steering this sector towards a greener future.

Factors Contributing to Cruise Carbon Footprint

Fuel Consumption and Emissions: The primary contributor to a cruise ship’s carbon footprint is its fuel consumption. Most ships use heavy fuel oil, notorious for high carbon emissions. The enormous size of cruise ships and their constant operation, including powering onboard amenities, exacerbate this issue.

Energy Usage: Beyond propulsion, the energy needs for lighting, air conditioning, and entertainment onboard cruise ships are colossal, directly impacting their carbon emissions.  READ MORE...

The Moody Blues perform "Nights in White Satin" and "Late Lament" at the...

Despicable Journalists

 

Adolf Hitler was a totalitarian dictator who established absolute control over Germany through the Nazi Party, utilizing propaganda, violence, and a cult of personality to maintain his power, ultimately leading to the horrific atrocities of the Holocaust; his leadership style is considered extremely authoritarian and autocratic, where he made all decisions with no meaningful opposition allowed.

SIX MILLION JEWS DIED IN THE HOLLOCAST...

There are journalists in this country, the USA, that are making the CLAIM, using the power of their positions that DONALD TRUMP IS JUST LIKE HITLER.

I find these comments MORALLY REPUGNANT to say the least...  and these journalists should be held accountable for their damaging and negatively influencing comments.

Their journalistic style is inflammatory and intentionally designed to create a Trump persona that is going to be incredibly damaging to this country...

They have also gone as far as saying that Trump will destroy DEMOCRACY as we know it...  but their comments about Trump are destroying the fabric and the intent of the FIRST AMENDMENT.

Since 2016, mainstream media has been after Trump in an effort to destroy his credibility with:

1. A false Russia conspiracy document
2. Impeachment proceedings
3. Destroying the credibility of his family
4. False stories about infidelity
5. Felony charges that appeal courts will overturn
6. Trying to bankrupt him personally and his businesses
7. False stories that he will destroy democracy
8. Silencing his voice by the courts
9. Blaming him for our illegal immigration problems
10. Trying to destroy his business empire

Donald Trump keeps hanging in there and at least 50% of Americans support him either publicly or privately.

During his presidency:

• There was no inflation
• We had a healthy economy
• Taxes were lower
• Employment was up
• A space force was created
• The USA was the top oil producer in the world
• There were no global wars
• There was low illegal immigration

It is time, to force these journalists to start telling us the truth, so that we can decide which direction we want to take this country and stop slandering people's names by making false comparison to historical figures.

WORLD WAR THREE

 

Many of you who will read this posting will not believe that a WWIII is in our future.

Why?

Because nobody wants a nuclear war and you just don't believe that our leaders have the "BALLS" for war anymore.

Let me remind you, that most wars are healthy for an economy because of all the military stuff that has to be made and sold and afterwards, all the engineering companies that will be involved in the rebuilding.

Based upon this logic, our world needs a war.

Will that war be nuclear?

Some say a nuclear war is survivable.  While that may be true, what type of life would you have?

• Living underground for decades
• No internet or computer service
• No vegetable produce or meat
• No sunlight, rain, ice, or snow
• and there is a lot more...

Therefore, WWIII will be a conventional war, fought with drones, satellites, soldiers, ships, missiles, bombs, and maybe a few robots.

• There will be shortages in food supplies
• There will be shortages in gasoline
• There will be shortages in medical supplies
• There will be thousands of people killed
• Terrorists will already be inside the USA
• There will worse inflation than today
• Crime and violence will increase from illegal immigrants
• There will be an enormous amount of fear

The military branches in the USA are understaffed, undertrained, and our ships and aircrafts need to be upgraded.

Our strategic petroleum oil reserves are HALF of what they were when Biden took office.  Our military needs fuel.

Our national debt is so high that the USA will have no choice but to print up more money which will devalue the US dollar.

If attacks are made on US citizens inside the USA, over half of the American people are obese and unable to defend themselves.

There are numerous military strategists who believe that because of:

• Ukraine and Russia
• Israel and Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran
• China wanting to invade Taiwan

that the world is ON THE VERGE of WWIII...  Of course, this is military speculation, but China has made it publicly known that they seek to dominate the world both economically and militarily.

It is also very interesting to know that CHINA OWNS one third of US National Debt.   How do you think that happened?  We needed money to pay for social programs and China made itself available.  The US looked short term.  China looked long term

In The NEWS

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> 2024 MLB regular season wraps this Sunday; see latest playoff picture (More) | Oakland Athletics plays final game in Oakland; A's will play in Sacramento through 2027 ahead of permanent move to Las Vegas in 2028 (More)

> Ultimate Fighting Championship agrees to settle class-action lawsuit for $375M over alleged antitrust practices within the mixed martial arts industry (More)

> Hoda Kotb to depart NBC's "Today" show next year for new role at NBC News (More) | English rock band The Cure releases first new song in 16 years, announces upcoming album release (More)


Science & Technology
> OpenAI to restructure into a for-profit company, give CEO Sam Altman equity for the first time; decision comes as key executives depart, including CTO Mira Murati (More) | What is OpenAI? (More, w/video)

> New study pinpoints cellular mechanism in killifish allowing the animal to regrow its tail after injuries; discovery sheds light on how some species are able to regenerate lost limbs (More)

> Scientists discover carbon bond using only one of its six electrons to connect atoms; results improve understanding of common carbon-based materials ranging from charcoal to diamond (More)


Business & Markets
> US stock markets close higher (S&P 500 +0.4%, Dow +0.6%, Nasdaq +0.6%), with S&P 500 closing at new record after weekly jobless claims fell more than expected and final government data showed the US grew at 3% annualized rate in Q2 (More)

> Super Micro Computer shares close down 12% after US Justice Department reportedly opens probe into the company; comes after short-seller Hindenburg Research accused Super Micro of accounting manipulation (More) | Alphabet to invest $3.3B to build two data centers in South Carolina (More)

> Southwest Airlines shares close up 5% after airline unveils revamp plan and $2.5B stock buyback; changes include introducing assigned seating in first half of 2026 and offering red-eye flights (More) | Stock buybacks 101 (More)


Politics & World Affairs
> Cable news channel Newsmax settles with voting machine company Smartmatic over 2020 election claims (More) | Rudy Giuliani (R), former New York mayor and ex-attorney for Trump, disbarred in Washington, DC, over 2020 election statements (More)

> Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits the White House to bolster US support for Ukraine's defenses in its war with Russia; the US announces roughly $8B in military aid (More) | See war updates (More)

> World's longest-serving death row inmate—an 88-year-old former boxer in Japan—acquitted in 1966 murders after evidence found to have been fabricated (More)

SOURCE:  1440 NEWS

Feeling ALIVE

 

What is it that makes you feel alive?

I am sure that it differs for each one of us.

Some might think it is just waking up each morning is enough while other might think counting their assets each day makes them feel alive.

I would also imagine for the religious that praying to their God/god/creator is what motivates them to continue their lives.

Some are alive when they:

• write
• paint
• sculpt
• engage in sports
• play music
• have sexual intercourse
• drink beer with friends
• smoke marijuana

I am confident that whatever you do that makes you feel alive is going to be somewhat different than my list.

I feel alive with the following:

• being around nature
• being around animals
• being around loving people
• being alone with myself
• fantasizing about life

My list has changed over the years which I think is obvious for most people.

Bear in mind that what makes you feel alive is not always what motivates you.  For example, as my daughter began to get older and older, I was motivated to earn more money so I could buy stuff for her.  Earning money, did not necessarily make me feel alive.

Being in my daughter's presence when I gave her a gift made me feel alive.

Somewhat Political