Thursday, October 3
A Sense of Disproportionate Disbelief
Here I am at 76, the least successful (according to most standards and methodologies) of my brother and sister and more than likely the smartest based upon adolescent tests.
Neither my sister nor my brother has experienced what I have experienced:
- time in the military
- fired from employment
- a triple bypass level heart attack
- non-Hodgkins Lymphoma - 16 years ongoing
- reoccurring Melanoma - 12 years ongoing
- radiation treatments
- chemo and immunotherapy treatments
- IVIG infusions to boost immunity
- torn rotator cuff tendons in both shoulders
- five lower back disks fused
Under the following conditions:
- quit smoking for 36 years
- quit eating red meat for 36 years
- quit alcohol for 36 years
- have eaten fish, chicken, turkey, veggies, and beans for 36 years
- exercising 60 minutes a day for 36 years
- eating healthy for 36 years
CAVEAT: I have had 1-2 glasses of wine a year every other year or so. I have eaten steadily about 4 pizzas a year and maybe 1-2 cheeseburgers a year, and a hotdog on the 4th of July.
I have no desire for my brother and sister to go through what I have gone through, but I am wondering why ALL OF THIS happened to me and nothing to them and we had the same parents.
While I don't believe in religious punishment, I do wonder why I have been singled out, outside of luck of the draw or coincidence, because I don't think much of either concept.
This may not seem like much to you, and I am sure that my brother and sister have experienced medical issues that I have yet to experience, but they do not always share their medical conditions with me anymore.
BTW, my brother is younger, and my sister is older if that makes any difference at all.
There are reasonable explanations for all my illnesses, and I understand and accept those explanations, but that still leaves me wondering why some people encounter these situations and others do not.
My life experiences allow me to appreciate my life each day rather than wish I had a different life. It is what it is, and I accept that. I am mentally better off for it as well.
In The News
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Sean "Diddy" Combs to face 120 new allegations of sexual assault spanning over 20 years (More) | Lauryn Hill faces lawsuit from Fugees bandmate Pras Michél for fraud and breach of contract related to tour cancellations (More)
> Twenty-five finalists for the 2024 National Book Awards announced; winners in each of the five categories to be announced Nov. 20 (More) | CNN launches digital paywall, charging $3.99 per month for unlimited access to web articles (More)
> Frank Fritz, "American Pickers" star, dies at age 60 after suffering stroke in 2022 (More) | John Amos, Emmy-nominated actor known for roles in "Roots" and "Good Times," dies at age 84 (More)
Science & Technology
> Breast cancer rates in women increased 1% annually over the past decade, with the steepest increase in women under 50; overall deaths have decreased by 44% since 1989 (More) | See report (More)
> MIT spinoff Liquid AI debuts "Liquid Foundation Models," a type of AI platform with a different computing architecture than existing industry leaders like OpenAI and Anthropic (More) | Generative AI explained simply (More, w/video)
> James Webb Space Telescope detects carbon dioxide on Pluto's largest moon; findings confirm theory Charon was formed from same proto-planetary disk as Pluto (More) | Why Pluto is no longer considered a planet (More) | James Webb 101 (More, w/video)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets close lower (S&P 500 -0.9%, Dow -0.4%, Nasdaq -1.5%) as price of US crude oil rises over 2% on Middle East tensions (More) | US job openings rose to three-month high of 8 million in August, per Labor Department report (More)
> Frito-Lay owner PepsiCo to buy tortilla-chip maker Siete Foods for $1.2B—its first food acquisition in five years; deal expected to close in first half of 2025 (More)
> CVS Health to lay off 2,900 workers amid reports of healthcare giant potentially separating its retail pharmacy chain and Aetna health insurance business (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> Rescue crews continue searching for survivors for fifth day as confirmed death toll from Hurricane Helene rises to at least 150 people across six states (More) | Helene, other storms dump over 40 trillion gallons of rain on Southeast US in five days—enough to fill 60 million Olympic-sized swimming pools (More)
> Shelter-in-place ordered for residents east of Atlanta as massive smoke plume lingers from Sunday factory fire at chlorine plant in Conyers, about 25 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta (More)
> Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico's first female president and Jewish president, sworn into office (More) | Shigeru Ishiba confirmed as Japan's new prime minister; Ishiba unveils his cabinet, calls for snap election (More)
SOURCE: 1440 NEWS
SPIRITUAL Philosophies
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BELIEF - is an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists.
Currently, there are 12 major religions/philosophies listed in order of the number of participants:
- Christianity
- Islam
- Hinduism
- Buddhism
- Judaism
- Sikhism
- Taoism
- Jainism
- Baha'i
- Confucianism
- Shinto
- Zoroastrianism
Some of these 12 consider their truths to be a philosophy and not a religion.
All of these 12 beliefs or faiths have:
- a creator
- good and evil battles
- a heaven concept
- a creation story
- a crucifixion story
- a resurrection story
- miracles
- disciples
- life after death
- principle by which life is to be lived
- a message of love and brotherhood
Then we have mythologies. Every single country, even though that country may no longer exist, at one point in time had similar stories, INCLUDING Native Americans.
If all of these stories, concepts, beliefs, faiths, etc., are similar, then how could all of them be wrong except for ONE?
This is what amazes me about Christianity. The stories in the Bible are not unique, they are just a little different from other stories, but convey the same parables from which we are supposed to learn and improve our lives.
INTERESTINGLY, all of these faiths/philosophies have GOOD/EVIL in a constant battle for dominance. Does this mean that good and evil and different in each one of these faiths or philosophies or is each one talking about the same good and evil?
I don't remember hearing anyone discuss that. So, if good and evil are the same, why couldn't each of these gods/God be the same???
Now this one is going to be a bitch to ponder.
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...
Wednesday, October 2
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.
- We have been debt free for over twenty years.
- We buy year old cars that have been leased
- We buy only what we need hardly ever what we want
- We save all the time and invest not in the stock market
- We only eat out once a week
- We maintain cars properly so they will last
- We vacation on the off season as it is cheaper
- Birthday and Christmas presents are what the house needs
- We buy only those clothes we need
- We don't smoke or drink alcohol
- We drink water in restaurants
- We buy in bulk when we can
- We maintain 70 degrees in summer and 78 degrees in winter inside the house
- We buy homes with no extra space other than for two
- We are constantly looking/shopping for deals on what we need
- 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...
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