Retrieving Dog

 

The Good Ole US of A

 

Despite all of its flaws, and there are many of them, the United States of American (US of A) is still the best country in the world to LIVE...

• We have the highest quality of life
• We have the highest salaries and wages
• We have the most natural resources
• We have the strongest military
• We have the most personal freedoms
• We have the right to bear arms
• We have a fantastic system of professional sports and entertainment

HOWEVER...

We do have our problems:

• failing education
• increasing national debt
• increase in illegal immigration
• inflation
• politically divided country

STILL...

I would not live anywhere else in the world other than the US of A and inside the US of A, I would not live anywhere else other than EAST TN.

1. I don't need a lot of fancy restaurants
2. I don't need to attend Broadway plays
3. I don't need a subway system of transportation
4. I don't need to deal with lots of vehicle traffic
5. I don't need a bunch of higher education
6. I don't need a bunch of crime and violence
7. I don't need a higher quality of life

I own my home

I am debt free

I live on social security

I have fantastic neighbors

My day is spent writing

I have no worries or concerns

My community is safe and crime free

While the Good OLE US of A is changing, and while I am concerned that this change is more negative than positive, I have reached an age in life where I DON'T GIVE A DAMN ANYMORE what happens.  Whatever problems we encounter now belong to the next generation to solve.  If this next generation wants to move closer and closer to SOCIALISM that is fine with me because whatever they decide to do with impact me only slightly.

Sailing

 

Magic Balls & the US Power Grid

High-voltage power lines in the United States will soon be monitored by “magic balls” from Norway.

Heimdall Power is rolling out unique technology in the form of sphere-shaped sensors that have increased power-line capacity by 30% in Europe, according to a story on the tech from Electrek.

Better yet, early users of the sensors are reporting that they are saving money because transmission lines are better utilized in their networks.

“This summer … We were able to disconnect one of two parallel lines and ‘overload’ the other because we had full control of the temperature,” Trond Are Bjørnvold, department manager of Network Development at Arva in Norway, said in a Heimdall press release.  READ MORE...

Lucky Man

 

Who Are You?

 

The Race to Humanoid Robots

The race to perfect the humanoid form factor will be one of 2024’s defining tech stories. Last year saw the category heat up, as companies like Tesla, Apptronik and Figure debuted their systems, while Agility inched closer to the finish lining, announcing a warehouse pilot with Amazon.

1X is a name (well, a number and letter) that surprisingly doesn’t get as much column space as most of the above. I say “surprising” because the Norwegian firm entered the conversation with a splash back in April, announcing a $23.5 million round. This is one of those fundraising cases where the who arguable matters more than the how much.  READ MORE...

In The NEWS

IOWA CAUCUS
Former President Donald Trump enters the day as a significant favorite, with the closely watched Iowa Poll showing him with 48% of the vote. Former Gov. Nikki Haley (SC) and Gov. Ron DeSantis (FL) are in a tight race for second, polling at 20% and 16%, respectively. The next closest candidate, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, sits at around 8%. See poll averages here.


Today marks the 100th day of the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, a conflict sparked by an Oct. 7 Hamas raid into southern Israel, during which almost 1,200 civilians were killed.


An estimated 24,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since fighting began—roughly 1% of the preconflict population—according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. The number does not specify how many were Hamas combatants. More than half of the structures in Gaza are believed to have been damaged or destroyed, with 1.8 million people displaced inside the Philadelphia-sized region.



The 75th Primetime Emmy Awards to be presented tonight (8 pm ET, Fox); see predictions for major categories (More) | "Mean Girls" film musical hauls in $31M to lead holiday weekend box office (More)


NFL and Disney in early talks for NFL to buy stake in ESPN (More) | NFL postseason's Wild Card Round wrapping tonight; see latest playoff bracket (More)


Bill Hayes, "Days of Our Lives" star for over 50 years, dies at 98 (More) | Joyce Randolph, best known for starring role in "The Honeymooners," dies at 99 (More) | Alec Musser, star of "All My Children," dies at 50 (More)


Federal health officials recommend reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I to Schedule III drug; move would ease federal restrictions on the substance, decision on reclassification expected in coming months (More) | Drug scheduling 101 (More)


Peregrine lunar lander reaches the moon's orbit, continues to send back data despite springing a fuel leak shortly after launch; final plans for the private spacecraft to be determined (More)


Study links skin microbiome—the collection of bacteria and fungi present on the skin—to signs of aging, including wrinkles, moisture loss, and more (More)

SOURCE:  1440 News

Sharing Medical History/Update

I am sharing my medical condition for the SOLE PURPOSE of providing information to those who may be in a similar situation or who might know someone who is in a similar situation...

Since 2008, I have been dealing with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and since 2009/10 I have been dealing heart disease as a result of a heart attack in 2009 and 5 stents inserted into my heart arteries instead of a triple bypass.  Since 2013, I have been dealing with Melanoma that started on the bottom of my left foot, moved to my groin and then to my neck.  

In 2022, I have 5 lumbar disks fused which has limited my mobility and the way that I walk.  I have lost the ability to walk up steps without using a handrail to help pull me up.

I have had over 150 chemo infusions to treat my cancers, 6 doses of radiation, and two surgeries.  I have lost my immunity; I am anemic; I live with constant fatigue and nausea, and am very susceptible to contracting other diseases.  Recently, I had a CT scan that showed my Lymphoma has started to aggressive grow.

Eighteen months ago, my weight was between 250-260 and now it is between 212-215.  Some of this weight is intentional but most of it is the result of medical conditions that caused me to be hospitalized for a week on two separate times.

At the age of 40 (now 76) I quit smoking, quit drinking alcohol, quit eating red meat, sweets/sugars, and fried food.  From age 40-70, I actively exercised either at a gym or by walking around my community for 60-90 minutes.

I DON'T THINK ABOUT MY MEDICAL CONDITION UNLESS I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO, LIKE HEARING THE RESULTS OF MY CT SCAN.

My days are spent on my hobby of writing and are not spent thinking about my back, my heart, or my cancers.  I focus on my diet every day, but I don't think about why I am eating that kind of a diet.

MY FOCUS is on doing what I want or need to do on a daily basis,  My father lived until 88/89 and my mother lived just shy of her 96th birthday. My mindset is to live until my 96 birthday or longer.

I am annoyed that my fatigue, colds, sinus infections, and nausea keeps me from walking but I don't think about why I have those conditions unless I am writing an article like this.

My life changed dramatically at the age of 60 after being healthy all my life and never needed to see a doctor except for an annual checkup.  If you want to think about that, one might think it is SAD, but I just think that I am living a different way and enjoy life based upon that new way.

I SEE NO REASON AT ALL TO LOOK BACK.  WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE TODAY IS WATER OVER THE DAM.  WHEN TOMORROW ARRIVES IT IS ALWAY TODAY AND THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS.

Performing

 

A Cosmological Mystery

Astronomers have discovered a cosmic "ring" that's so enormous, it defies explanation with our best theories of the universe.

Named the Big Ring, the gigantic spiral of galaxies and galaxy clusters is 1.3 billion light-years wide and has a circumference of 4 billion light-years, making it one of the largest objects ever seen.

Because the Big Ring is so far from Earth — 9 billion light-years away — its light is too dim to be viewed with the naked eye. But if it were brighter, it would appear 15 times the size of the full moon in the night sky.  READ MORE...

Against the Wind

 

HEADLINES

 How many of you read the headlines each day to see what is going on locally, around your state, around your country or around the world?

I would venture to say that only about 20% of the people in the USA do this and it is mainly the older citizens rather than the younger ones.

Americans under 35-40 typically don't give a damn about what is going on in the world either domestically or internationally because they perceive there is not a damn thing they can do to change it...  not even voting is really going to change what happens in Washington DC.

Believe it or not, politicians count on that apathy which is why many of them have been re-elected for 20+ years.

Politicians love to hear themselves talk and they love to promise the voters all sorts of things that they have no intention of fulfilling...

WHY IS THAT?

Because once, a politician gets to Congress whether it is on the House side of the fence or the Senate side of the fence, they VOTE ACCORDING TO WHAT THE PARTY WANTS and not according to their constituents who voted for them.

At 76 years of age and being involved with politics in the 60s thanks to JFK, I have realized that the problems we had in 60s are the same problems we had in 2020 and the same problems we are still having today.

NOTHING CHANGES, except the party in charge of making the decisions...  and while you my think that is a great idea, let me explain it to you this way.

When Biden won the presidency from Trump, through Executive Orders, he undid everything that Trump had put into place.

Now, when Biden loses the presidency to a Republican, they are going to UNDO everything that Biden put into place.

THIS IS NOT PROGRESS...

THIS IS JUST POLITICS...

And while the politicians get more wealthy the longer, they stay in Congress, the American people get more apathetic, lazier, and poorer financially.

BUT NOTHING HAPPENS.

WHY?

NO ONE CARES ABOUT THE HEADLINES...

100 Days of WAR

 

In The NEWS

DOJ to pursue death penalty against Buffalo supermarket shooter.

The Justice Department said Friday it will seek the death penalty against the shooter who carried out a racially motivated mass shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, in 2022. The shooter is currently serving life in state prison for killing 10 people and wounding three others in the attack at a supermarket in the city's predominantly Black East Side neighborhood.



Ancient cases of sex-development disorders identified.
Analysis of DNA from the remains of multiple individuals who lived as early as 2,500 years ago revealed chromosomal conditions including Turner (when females have only one X chromosome instead of two), Jacobs (males with an extra Y chromosome), and Klinefelter (males with an extra X chromosome) syndromes.



Patriots to promote Jerod Mayo to replace Bill Belichick as head coach.
The news comes a day after Belichick announced he was departing the New England Patriots after 24 seasons, which included winning six Super Bowls. Mayo, the Patriots' current linebackers coach, will be the team's first Black head coach. Mayo played eight NFL seasons and won a Super Bowl ring while playing with the Patriots in 2014.




Citigroup plans to cut 20,000 jobs.
The investment banking company said it was slashing 10% of its workforce by 2026 to help reduce costs by at least $2.5B over the long term. The move comes after the company posted its worst quarter in 15 years; its stock rose 1.3% on the news.



Western airstrikes in Yemen continue.
The US and Britain continued targeted strikes from the air and sea against Houthi rebels in Yemen, an effort meant to stem attacks from the militants on vessels traveling in the nearby Red Sea.

SOURCE:  1440 NEWS

Running Cow

 

Energy Resources

 

American Weakness

 The United States of America has the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons than any other country in the WORLD...

It for this reason that America's enemies have made the wise decision not to MESS with this country.

INTIMIDATION THROUGH NUCLEAR POWER

The United States of America is trying very hard to no longer be a global BULLY as evidenced by the Liberals in this country wanting to push a WOKE AGENDA.

The United States of America would rather increase the national debt by giving more and more social programs to its citizens than building up a military to protect the country from other countries that we have PREVIOUSLY PISSED OFF.

Nuclear Powers:  USA, UK, Russia, China, India, Iran, North Korea

On the side of the LIBERALS are the following:

• mainstream media
• the DOJ/FBI
• WOKE company's
• public education (K-12)
• Higher Education

IF push comes to shove, will the BILLIONAIRES bail out the USA's national debt to make it a stronger country?

I DOUBT IT

Biden does not see CHINA as a threat even though CHINA has declared publicly that they want to take power and global control away from the USA...

Why does he have that point of view?

In addition to our high national debt, the following issues will further weaken this country:

illegal immigrants - consuming financial and medical resources

ending fossil fuels - moving towards green energy, EVs, wind, and solar

humanoid robots (AI) - will end 80% of the jobs and without wages who will buy goods and services?

Three Friends

 

An Invisible Force

A new study reveals that sea squirt oocytes use internal friction to undergo developmental changes post-conception, drawing an interesting parallel to a potter shaping clay. Ascidians, or sea squirts, serve as key models for understanding vertebrate development, sharing similarities with humans. Credit: SciTechDaily.com

Scientists examine how friction forces propel development in a marine organism.

As the potter works the spinning wheel, the friction between their hands and the soft clay helps them shape it into all kinds of forms and creations. 

In a fascinating parallel, sea squirt oocytes (immature egg cells) harness friction within various compartments in their interior to undergo developmental changes after conception. 

A study from the Heisenberg group at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), published in Nature Physics, now describes how this works.  READ MORE...

Smothers Brothers

 

PLEASE CLICK OH THE LINK BELOW AND WATCH THE VIDEO

https://services.brid.tv/previews/index/1414275/37168/#fb

Somewhat Political

 

Mythologies

While every country has its own mythologies, the four most popular are:  

• Greek
• Roman
• Norse 
• Oriental

There are Five Major Myths:

1. Creation 
2. Humanity
3. Animal & Plant
4. Natural Disaster
5. Hero/Trickster

The Oldest Myth is the:  Epic of Gilgamesh and is from the Mesopotamian Era.

There are three types of myths:
Aetiological

Historical

Psychological

All mythologies deal with gods from the heavens coming down to earth and interacting with human.  In some cases, these gods mate with humans and their offsprings are somewhere in between gods and humans in their abilities.

Christianity, by some, is considered to be nothing more than a mythology because it has all the common elements that all mythologies posses:

• a creation story
• a great flood
• a virgin birth
• miracles performed
• crucifixion 
• resurrection
• devils & demons
• life after death
• heaven/hell
• gods from the sky

What is interesting to me is the fact that in all these mythologies there are gods who descend from the skies.  Today, we would call those creatures extraterrestrials, not gods.

Car Wink

 

CHINA Leading EV Exporter GLOBALLY

There's a new king of the global auto market. The global shift to electric cars, signified by companies like Tesla and BYD, has helped China's carmakers potentially reach two important milestones, unseating once-dominant players and unnerving legacy automakers in Europe, Japan and the U.S.

Chinese carmakers exported 3.83 million passenger cars in 2023, a 62% increase from the year before, the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) estimated during a press conference on Tuesday. That would mark the first time its exports have surpassed those of Japan—Japanese carmakers exported 3.5 million cars between January and November, according to Reuters. The CPCA estimated that 5.26 million vehicles in total were exported from China, compared to 4.3 million from Japan.

Chinese brands also outsold foreign carmakers inside China, taking 52% of the domestic market, up 4.6 percentage points from the year before.     READ MORE...

Copperhead Road

 

Traveling Sophia

Sophia, One of the world’s most advanced humanoid robots, whose name means ‘wisdom’ in Greek, is set to visit the Greece’s city of Nafpaktos to attend a panel titled artificial intelligence and ethics.

In October 2017, Sophia was granted Saudi Arabian citizenship, becoming the first robot to receive legal personhood in any country.

It has been reported that the ‘Meet Sophia Conference’ will be taking place on March 10 at the Nafpaktos International Conference Center, which is housed within the Monastery of the Transfiguration of Christ,
in Skala Nafpaktia.  READ MORE...

Household Robot

In a significant leap forward for the world of robotics, the EVE Android, developed by Norwegian company 1X, is changing the landscape of household and industrial chores. This advanced robot employs a modified version of GPT-4, akin to the software powering ChatGPT, to perform various tasks, from suggesting recipes to meticulous dishwashing. Backed by OpenAI’s investment, the EVE Android is paving the way for a future where robots take on an increasing share of our daily tasks in homes and warehouses.  READ MORE...

Children