A Mysterious CREATURE

There’s something intriguing, even frightening, about the image of an ancient horned serpent roaming across the land. Thanks to some suggestive fossils and legends of old, talk of such a creature isn’t a new concept. But the recent discovery of 200-year-old rock paintings found in South Africa now has scientists hypothesizing that this ancient creature may have been far more than just a legend.

The first formal scientific descriptions of this horned serpent—a supposed member of the dicynodont group—appeared in 1845. Considering the abundance of dicynodont fossils found in the Karoo Basin in South Africa, some have pondered whether this long-thought mythical horned serpent is rooted in reality. 

The discovery of rock art dated to between 1821 and 1835 adds even more credence to the legend, as the painting is older than the first formal reference to the dicynodont. If we’re lucky, it could provide further clues as to just how intertwined this horned serpent was with South Africa’s indigenous San culture.          READ MORE...

The Doobie Brothers - Listen To The Music (Reprise) [Live From The Beaco...

Our Financial Security

 Our financial security is predicated upon several factors of which is most important is not that easy to determine.

We are:

• debt free
• spend wisely
• look for savings
• don't need much
• don't by wants
• simple lifestyle
• save where possible

I mention "we" because it takes both partners in a marriage or any kind of living arrangement for that matter, to make this happen.

1. We have been debt free for over twenty years.
2. We buy year old cars that have been leased
3. We buy only what we need hardly ever what we want
4. We save all the time and invest not in the stock market
5. We only eat out once a week
6. We maintain cars properly so they will last
7. We vacation on the off season as it is cheaper
8. Birthday and Christmas presents are what the house needs
9. We buy only those clothes we need
10. We don't smoke or drink alcohol
11. We drink water in restaurants
12. We buy in bulk when we can
13. We maintain 70 degrees in summer and 78 degrees in winter inside the house
14. We buy homes with no extra space other than for two
15. We are constantly looking/shopping for deals on what we need
16. We maintain a healthy lifestyle to minimize doctor visits and out of pocket costs for medicine

MOST IMPORTANTLY, we don't think that we are missing out on anything or short-changing our enjoyment or pursuit of happiness.

The only expenditure that might be frivolous is our desire to have three cats and make sure they are healthy and see the vet regularly.

OUR FUTURE

 

Personally, my wife and I have saved enough money that along with Social Security can pay our bills and modest, simplistic lifestyle until we are 95 years of age, maybe more, maybe less which includes several years of intermittent nursing care.

We are one of the fortunate couples in the lower middle class to be able to do this.

HOWEVER...

It is not just the cost of living or inflation that is knocking on our door that threatens American lifestyle and their ability to pursue happiness.

What about all the ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS???

Let's just suppose, a Democrat controlled CONGRESS makes them all citizens...  what then?

• Immigrants will not become Americanized
• Immigrants will maintain their own culture
• Immigrants do not care about aesthetic beauty
• Immigrants are not immunized
• Immigrants do not speak English
• Immigrants do not have employable skills
• Immigrants pursue criminal activities
• Immigrants draw down medical supplies

There will be numerous places in the USA where immigrants will change us into a THIRD WORLD COUNTRY.

Fortunately, again, it WILL NOT BE where my wife and I currently live.

At 77/72 years of age respectively, my wife and I do not really care about either the FIRST or SECOND Amendments...   whatever happens there will not change our culture or lifestyle.

In a couple of years, at the most, my wife and I will stop taking vacations so we will not be bothered by that problem either.   With all the illegal immigrants and crime and violence moving around the USA, soon our resort areas, including Myrtle Beach, SC will become hotspots for crimes against tourists.

SO...

illegal immigrants even when made citizens will change the complexion of the USA forever and RIGHT NOW, it is my opinion that either the liberals don't see this or see it and don't want to admit it...  hoping they are wrong in the long run.

The other issue that liberals are not addressing that will change the USA is the LOOMING THREAT FROM CHINA.  Experts believe that confrontation with CHINA is inevitable and if and when the CHINESE economy surpasses that of the USA, we will digress into a one of the lesser superpowers.

That loss of status will impact our relationship with all global countries and those who support the USA should a war break out.

While Global Warming impacts the entire world, the entire world is not ready to spend the money or what it might take to correct the situation.  If it is just the USA that goes green and very few other countries follow, then we will have wasted our money and ruined our economy for nothing.

Our weakened economy will allow CHINA to surpass us...   only our economists can predict what might happen to us then.

Perhaps, this post should be titled YOUR FUTURE because none of this will seriously impact the future of my wife and me.

Current Events Still Current

FIRST:  I watched part of the debate between the two VPs and was not impressed with either one but turned it off, after I realized the MODERATORS WERE BIASED.

One of these days, the USA and its democratic based media will come to terms with how undemocratic they have been...  and it is all because they fear the influence of TRUMP....  my opinion.

SECOND:  Russia continues to wage war against Ukraine and the world should take notice because RUSSIA has been UNABLE to defeat their opponent without using NUCLEAR WEAPONS.  This should tell the rest of the world that RUSSIA IS NO LONGER the big threat that they claim to be.  Their soldiers are either poorly prepared, poorly trained, poorly led, or just don't want to fight anymore.

Bullies are no longer bullies when they cannot back up their threats with actions.  Russia reminds me of my third grade where some taller boys were beating up on the shorter boys because they could, only to be stopped by other taller boys who thought their actions were wrong.

THIRD:  Israel has the RIGHT to defend herself and is doing so with remarkable elegance, efficiency, skill, and determination.  All of this is done with being totally supported by the USA.  In fact, that support has fallen so short of expectations, that Israel NO LONGER shares its plans with the USA.

However, the USA is forced by prior agreements to support Israel should they be attacked like they recently were by IRAN.

While this conflict is escalating, I am not sure if the MAJOR PLAYERS really want to engage in an all out WORLD WAR III.  If there is a WWIII, then more than likely it will be non-nuclear because of the destruction a nuclear war would cause.

Additionally, a world war would only HURT ALL THE GLOBAL ECONOMIES and many of these countries also fear regime changes and the loss of power.  For some reason, most people like to live inside GROWING ECONOMIES.

FOURTH:  The longshoremen strike on the east coast will eventually backfire on the longshoreman even though in the short term, they might win a few concessions.

Biden refusal to intervene shows his ignorance or the anger he has for his own party for forcing him to step down from the race.  

WHY?

Because this strike will hurt the economy and influence the November election only a few weeks away.

On the longshoremen side of the equation, if they get higher wages, it will simply PUSH UP INFLATION due to the higher costs that the companies will pass along to the consumer.

Also, the longshoremen don't want AUTOMATION, but AUTOMATION is coming, and these workers are not going to be able to stop it once GLOBAL PRESSURE is place upon American Ports to improve their efficiencies.

Manpower does not change the economy as much as the economy is changed by TECHNOLOGY.

Resist all you want but change is INEVITABLE...

Homes

 

CEO

 

Two Genders

 

Trans

 

In The NEWS

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> MLB postseason kicks off today with the Wild Card Series; see playoff preview and predictions (More) | ... and WNBA playoff semifinals are underway; see latest playoff bracket and schedule (More)

> Gavin Creel, Tony-, Grammy-, and Olivier-winning stage actor, dies of cancer at age 48; Creel was known for roles in "Hello, Dolly!," "Hair," and "The Book of Mormon" (More)

> Oasis announces North American concert dates for their reunion tour; the band announced in August they would be touring again after a 15-year hiatus (More)


Science & Technology
> Last operating coal power plant in the UK shutters; country has no coal-fired power for the first time since 1882, completing shift to a mix of natural gas, renewables, and nuclear (More)

> New analysis suggests Viking cultures traveled thousands of miles to the Arctic to hunt walrus, with the resulting ivory transported through medieval trade networks as far as the Middle East (More)

> Engineers develop headset to noninvasively predict the risk of stroke; device uses lasers to measure blood flow in the brain (More)


Business & Markets
> US stock markets close higher (S&P 500 +0.4%, Dow +0.0%, Nasdaq +0.4%) after Federal Chair Jerome Powell signals further, smaller rate cuts (More) | Chinese stocks rise in biggest single-day rally in 16 years after Beijing last week unveiled sweeping economic package (More)

> DirecTV buys Dish TV, Sling TV from EchoStar for nominal fee of $1 plus the assumption of $9.75B of debt to create largest US pay-TV provider with 20 million subscribers total; AT&T sells its stake in DirecTV to private equity firm TPG (More) | Explaining nominal fees, plus other $1 deals (More)

> AI chip startup Cerebras Systems files for initial public offering in bid to take on Nvidia; Cerebras last valued at roughly $4B in 2021 (More) | What are IPOs? (More)


Politics & World Affairs
> Vice presidential candidates Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) and Ohio Sen. JD Vance (R) to debate tonight (9 pm ET, CBS) in New York City (More) | Former President Jimmy Carter (D) turns 100 today; he is the longest-living former president in US history (More, w/photos)

> Israel begins limited ground raids against Iran-backed Hezbollah militants near the border in Lebanon ahead of its imminent ground invasion (More) | See updates on the Middle East conflict (More)

> Georgia judge strikes down state's 2022 six-week abortion ban (More) | Biden administration tightens asylum restrictions from June, says border crossing seven-day average must be under 1,500 per day for 28 days before restrictions can be lifted, rather than a week (More)

SOURCE:  1440 NEWS

LIFE... LIBERTY... PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

 

Americans were given these rights back in 1776 and for 245 years, not one of our citizens questioned those rights...  until now.

LIFE - is obvious.  If and when we are born, we automatically have life and live on this great earth of ours for 80-100 years, unless some disease, illness, wars, or some unexpected tragedy takes our life prematurely.

LIBERTY - is nothing more than freedom.  The USA was the only country in the entire world that had COMPLETE FREEDOM.  However, this freedom or liberty is now in question because the Democrats want to SILENCE their OPPOSITION.  The Democrats also want to control the flow of information, which underscores our Liberties and Freedoms.  

We are now at the point where the general public is not sure if they are being told the truth, misinformation, or disinformation and to make matters worse, when one side tells the truth, the other side says it is FAKE NEWS.

Our liberty and freedoms as we know them to be are about to come to an end...

Sadly, we will never know what we had until it is gone and too late to retrieve.

PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS - has now become an illusion and for the most part unattainable unless you are WEALTHY.  Now, I don't mean wealthy like a multi-millionaire or billionaire, but wealthy is now 3-5 million dollars or more.

However, that amount of money depends on one's geographical location.

• 2-5 million may be good in the South
• 5-7 million may be good in the Middle of the USA
• 7-10 million in the West and North and East

Although, the generality varies in each of these areas as well.

It is all but certain that if you have 10-20 million, then happiness is no longer illusive no matter where you live.

Calculation:  

• $100,000 yields about $400/month
• $1,000,000 yields about $4000/month
• $5,000,000 yields about $20,000/month
• $10,000,000 yields about $40,000/month

Like Einstein's Theory of Relativity, these amounts of money are relative, because, if you only had 10-20 million, then you could not own:

• a private jet
• a 200-foot luxury yacht
• a 20,000 square foot mansion

BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT LIFE, LIBERTY, AND PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS IS NO LONGER A VIABLE CONCEPT FOR 80-90% OF AMERICANS...

And while, 80-90% is a substantial majority of Americans, these Americans have NO DESIRE to do anything about it.

Somewhat Political

 

NASA's InfraRed Delivery

NASA’s TBIRD (TeraByte InfraRed Delivery) demonstration and its host spacecraft — the PTD-3 (Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator-3) — have completed their technology demonstration. 

The TBIRD payload spent the past two years breaking world records for the fastest satellite downlink from space using laser communications.

NASA’s PTD series leverages a common commercial spacecraft to provide a robust platform for effective testing of technologies with minimal redesign in between launches. 

After launch in May 2022 on the SpaceX Transporter 5 mission, the PTD-3 spacecraft entered low-Earth orbit and shortly after TBIRD began sending laser communications signals to an optical ground station in Table Mountain, California.     READ MORE...

Crosby Stills and Nash - Suite: Judy Blue Eyes - Live 2012

Conflict in the Middle East

 

It would appear that IRAN has decided to belly up and challenge Israel to a duel.

Iran had decided to show its proxies (Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, and Syria) that it no longer hide behind closed doors.

TAKING SIDES

With Iran and its proxies will stand:

• Russia
• China
• North Korea

With Israel, will stand:

• USA
• UK (?)

Note:  Israel is not a member of NATO but is considered one of its allies.

Another interesting development about Israel and its incursion into Lebanon is the fact that the USA WAS NOT INFORMED OF ITS PLANS...

That is to say that Israel has mad the decision, right or wrong, that the USA can no longer be trusted to support Israel in its actions...

AND YET,

US warships in the Mediterranean Sea helped destroy the missiles that Iran recently sent into Israel.  So, there is some type of agreement, perhaps under the table, of US support.

ANYWAY,

If there is an undeclared war or a declared war between Iran and Israel, the USA will more than likely support Israel.

This is especially true, if Russia and China lend a helping hand to Iran.

CAVEAT

Iran and North Korea are damn close to having a nuclear weapon and when they do, Israel will be the first place that a bomb like that will be deployed...

If and when that happens, the world will have taken a GIANT STEP TOWARDS WWIII.

Make no mistake, a WWIII will be one to remember especially with all the ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS already in the USA...  maybe of which are ISLAMIC TERRORISTS...

For The Good of the WHOLE

This is going to be the toughest question that our government will have to answer for its citizens.

Do we protect an individual's right to work and therefore have inflation forever and be seen as ineffective, inefficient, and unproductive...

<OR>

Do we do expedite automation and robots with AI and bring the USA to a competitive position with the res of the world...

Currently, there is a longshoreman strike on the east coast for HIGHER WAGES and to STOP AUTOMATION which includes robots.

Manpower is LESS PRODUCTIVE than automation and therefore will increase prices and allow inflation to continue which will slow down our economic growth.

I understand what these longshoremen are going through with all these high prices but if they want higher wages, then other worker's groups (unions) will demand more money as well.

This is not good for the USA...

What these people do not realize is that higher wages create higher prices, and you are right back where you started.  

UNIONS cause companies not to be able to layoff but a certain number of workers, so these companies have no choice but to raise prices to the consumer.

While it may not be totally understood by the general public, it will become the role of government to make sure what is BEST FOR THE WHOLE takes precedent.

Actions are PROOF

 

MAGA

 

Pro Life

 

Bulge