2011 WAS QUITE A YEAR !

Wow! An awful lot happened in 2011 and it happened fast. Geniuses died, wars ended, monsters were killed, earthquakes and tsunamis killed thousands of people, fruitcakes tried to occupy Wall Street, extreme weather events plagued the world, technology continued making unbelievable advancements, and heroes accomplished amazing things.

Comparatively, I did not accomplish very much but I am pleased with my progress. I enjoyed another year of being a part of a large loving family. I continue to refine and develop my own personal beliefs and Philosophy. Through all the ups and downs, fears, stresses, and common humanity that are a part of life, I have learned that absolute truth is evasive. There are many angles from which to approach events and ideas. I have become acutely aware of the relativity of things. Your point of view is different from mine and I have learned to respect that.

Each year, I become a different person, essentially in flux, always open to new discoveries and insights. I have discovered that everything you were sure is right could be wrong. I have ceased to take things for granted. I have evolved from moral certainty to existential doubt; it was a painful journey but incredibly liberating. I have encountered many people worthy of respect regardless of their opinions and beliefs. I do not despair of the future though it may seem bleak at times. I will continue to pursue interest that stimulate my mind and I am convinced that what is most important is how we relate to one another; how we can be more supportive and help each other live a kinder, fuller, more loving life. Happy new year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR 
Thanks for following my blog

BETTER THINKING THROUGH CHEMISTRY?

Brain chemistry or neurochemistry is the complex system which allows the brain to function with the use of chemicals known as neurotransmitters which move information around in the brain. Every person's brain chemistry is slightly different, and a number of factors can play a role in the levels of various neurotransmitters in the brain, and how those chemicals affect the brains function. Scientist believe that variations in brain chemistry may explain a variety of behavioral differences, such as political and religious beliefs. Environment and genetics can influence the levels of neurotransmitters and their receptors in the brain. Using functional magnetic resonance color coded imaging, scientist are seeking to determine if there is a God spot and a political philosophy spot in the brain. They are on the verge of being able to determine if a person believes in the existence of God and if a person is politically conservative or liberal, just by the color of their brain images. At the recent Society For Neuroscience Conference in Washington, D.C., some unprecedented 3D images of the brain were displayed. They indicated that scientist are close to accomplishing their goal!

Some interesting questions come to mind: Is God a delusion created by brain chemistry, or is brain chemistry a necessary conduit for people to reach God? Are people born to be inclined toward belief in God or toward atheism, depending on their brain chemistry? Does brain chemistry affect political beliefs? If so, this puts a whole new spin on the question, "How is your brain wired?" If chemicals in the brain determine what you think, do we really have free will? Can we adjust the chemical balance in a person's brain and change their opinions? Neuroscience is a fascinating but scary new scientific field. I will be following it closely in order to figure out how and what I think!

DISCLAIMER AND DISCLOSURE STATEMENT:
I am not a member of the Society For Neuroscience and I am not a brain surgeon. I do not guarantee that I know what I am talking about. This blog post is strictly my own uninformed opinion. I do not intend to malign any religion or political philosophy. WARNING: Do not, I repeat, do not try to use your refrigerator magnets to take magnetic resonance images of your brain. I tried it and it dose not work!

INTERNET BROWSER RECOMMENDATION

You like the mute button on your TV remote control so you do not have to listen to all those obnoxious advertisements. Well here is something even better! An app called Adblock Plus that eliminates all the advertising from the Internet on your computer screen. It is a free extension available on the Google Chrome Browser and Firefox. I use it on Chrome and it really works. No advertisements to distract you or to slow down your computer. It blocks  pictures, video, and sound that are advertisements. I love it! IMO, Chrome is by far the best browser on the Internet. Now that it is out of beta mode, it is fast and easy to use. Check it out at:   https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/gighmmpiobklfepjocnamgkkbiglidom

There are literally thousands of extensions available for Chrome that enable you to tailor make your browser to suit your needs. To see all the apps and extensions that are available for free, go to the Chrome Store:https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/home?hl=en
The Web is getting more useful and easier to use. It is truly amazing!

MY FRIEND IS GREATLY MISSED

A dear friend died suddenly this week and I already miss her. For 5 years she suffered and fought against cancer to stay alive for her husband, her children, and her friends. She loved all of them and she loved life. Always cheerful and optimistic, even through surgery, radiation, and chemo; She was a strong person but a gentle person who knew how to live in the moment. She did not complain about the past and she did not worry about the future. She just did the best she could for today. Sadly, for her husband, children, and friends, she ran out of todays. I am grateful for the extra time that she was with us because of her determination to live. We had great times together and many laughs. Barbara Anne Teller was a jewel of a friend!

URANTIA FOUNDATION

I am in Chicago this week to celebrate Thanksgiving. Coincidentally, the World Headquarters of the Urantia Foundation is located at 533 Diversey Parkway in Chicago. I Just recently learned of its existence and I am going to tell you about this unusual religious organization. In the 1920s, a respected Chicago psychiatrist, Dr. William S. Sadler, had a patient who would go into a deep trance and begin writing a complex, philosophical story about the origins of humans and their place in the Universe. These communications appeared to come from beings who were from another planet. Over a 19 year period, Dr. Sandler collected these hand written notes produced by this man under the influence of celestial visitors. He compiled them into a large book called, The Urantia Book.

This book became the basis for the Urantia Foundation which is not a complete religion but it explains the origin of the Universe and tells stories about the advanced beings that populate it. It includes descriptions of an interplanetary community with a complex history, philosophy and guidance from the "superhuman Planetary Government of Urantia". For believers, it is a space age update of all the world's religions. Pretty fascinating, don't you think?!

SOMETHING IRONIC IN THIS MODERN WORLD

Dumb people have smart phones. Smart people have dumb phones. Dumb people play with their phones and are oblivious to the world around them. Smart people say there’s more to life than apps and games. They enjoy interacting with people around them and savor the sights and sounds of their environment. Oh yeah, and once and awhile they make necessary but brief phone calls with their dumb phones. My dumb phone works great and it cost $10. I get service for $6.67 per month. A smart phone cost about $500.00 and the service, including a voice plan, a data plan, and a text messaging plan, cost approximately $80.00 per month. So, let’s see, the smart phone and 12 months of service cost $1460. My dumb phone and 12 months of service cost me $90.00. $1460.00 - $90.00 = $1370. With the amount I am saving, I can buy a new Kindle Fire and a new iPad 2 which comes with two cameras, a 1GHz dual core A5 processor, an improved operating system, a better browser, HDMI capability, and a bunch of other stuff. The Kindle and the IPad are light enough and small enough to carry in a briefcase or a very small backpack or a purse. So, I save $80.00 per month in future service fees and have $670.00 left over to buy a year’s worth of beer.  Plus, I have twice the capabilities of a smart phone to use in the comfort of my home or anywhere that has Wi-Fi.  In conclusion, I think smart phones are pretty darn dumb!

Obituary for a smart phone addict: He has gone to meet his final caller up in the microwave sky. Tragically, he stepped into an open manhole while checking his messages. He loved to upload and download and surf the web. But his favorite pastime was constantly talking on his phone to other dumb people about inane, boring subjects like, “Honey, I am in the supermarket. Do you think I should buy crunchy peanut butter or smooth peanut butter?” He will be sadly missed by other dumb people who are avoiding reality by playing games on their smart phones. Talk is cheap unless you have a smart phone!

AMERICA'S SECRET ILLNESS

Over 10 million men and women have this disorder and it is difficult to live with. Many famous, accomplished people have had to deal with it their entire life. In fact, it is believed by some to be a mark of genius. It is easy to see why the connection is made when you look at the list of famous people who have had to live with the complaint: Mark Twain, Kurt Vonnegut, William Faulkner, Winston Churchill, Abbie Hoffman, Edgar Allen Poe, Beethoven, Van Gogh, and Isaac Newton. The world would not be the same without these and many other famous people with bipolar disorder.

If untreated, bipolar disorder can be a catastrophe. Many times it can lead to suicide. The symptoms are difficult for other people to deal with. It takes tremendous understanding, patience, and love to live with a bipolar person. The illness causes extreme shifts in mood, energy, and functioning. Common symptoms are: Elated, happy moods followed by severe depression. Increased talking and rapid speech. Ambitious and often grandiose plans. Impulsive activity. Increased feelings of anxiety. Feelings of guilt and hopelessness. If you know someone who acts in this manner, treat them with respect and understanding. I have a bipolar friend that I respect and admire. I love the guy!

TRUST ME

The Web has enabled anyone to publish ideas and information online. Web logs, commonly referred to as "blogs", can be personal diaries, rants or opinions, free information, advice from experts, or anything. They can be published by individuals, groups, service providers and companies. They may contain accurate information or completely false information. There is no oversight or regulatory authority to supervise them. They are free speech much like a conversation on a street corner. So, use a trusted source to double check accuracy and truthfulness. There are now more than 300,000,000 blogs on the net. Mine is the only one you can trust. I would not lie to you and my opinions are reasonable. Thanks for following my blog!

BILLIONS OR THOUSANDS? TRUTH OR FICTION?

The age of the Universe is said to be 13.7 billion years. According to scientific research, Earth was formed 4.6 billion years ago. Since then, it has been estimated that 106 billion people were born, lived, and died on Earth. Bible scholars estimate that Genesis, the first book of the bible, was written about 3,456 years ago.  I wonder where God was and what he was doing for the 4,599,996,544 years prior to him beginning to inspire the writing of the Bible after he created Earth?  Maybe he was busy creating other planets?  Or, maybe time is measured differently by God and he was just taking a nap. Anyway, it is becoming more and more difficult for me to reconcile the difference between how the Bible measures time and how science measures time. The Bible talks in terms of thousands of years but science talks in terms of billions of years. I admire and marvel at people who have enough faith to bridge the gap.

Radiometric dating, which was invented a century ago, has been greatly improved to the point that the error margin is less than 5%. It does not require Star Trek technology or a leap of faith. The underlying physics is as clear and understandable as the sunrise or the change of seasons. There is a big discrepancy between science and the Bible. The Bible portrays an Earth only a few thousand years old. Science proves that the Earth is billions of years old. In a choice between believing scientific findings or an ancient book that claims to be the infallible word of God, I choose the scientific findings. In summary, I do not believe that the Bible is the literal, infallible word of God. Yes, it is a great book of Judeo-Christian history and knowledge. It uses figurative language (not literal) to teach about God and morality. Sadly, because most Christian churches still maintain that the Bible is literally true, they lack credibility in this age of enlightenment. Consequently, Christianity is losing members and churches are shrinking.

Christians would help their cause by admitting that the Bible is filled with symbolism, poetic language, allegory, and figurative language. It would be better to address the question, “Is there any truth in the Bible and, if so, what is it?

“Be not curious in unnecessary matters: for more things are shewed unto thee than men understand”.__(King James Bible) Ecclesiasticus 3:23

FACTS CAN NOT CHANGE MINDS.

Most people believe that their opinions have been formed over time by careful, rational consideration of facts. In realty, we often base our opinions on our beliefs, not facts. And rather than facts driving beliefs, our beliefs can dictate the facts that we choose to accept. They can cause us to twist facts so they fit better with our preconceived notions. Worst of all, they can lead us to uncritically accept bad information just because it reinforces our beliefs. This reinforcement makes us more confidant we are right, and less likely to listen to any new factual information. That is why it is almost impossible to win an argument even if you are 100% right and your friend is dead wrong.

Researchers at the University of Michigan found that when misinformed people were exposed to corrected facts, they rarely changed their minds. In fact they often became even more strongly set in their beliefs. Facts were not curing misinformation. Like an underpowered antibiotic, facts could actually make misinformation stronger. It is absolutely threatening to admit you are wrong! We already have beliefs and a “set of facts” lodged in our mind. The problem is that sometimes the things we think we know are objectively, provably false. In the presence of correct information, we do not change our mind. We just become more entrenched in our original belief. I’m right, you’re wrong!! Wait, maybe you’re right and I’m wrong?? Only the shadow knows.

NO WORDS, JUST PICTURES

https://picasaweb.google.com/109708321807542809934/Autumn2011

I LOVE ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC

I can't sing and I can't dance but I love to listen to bluesy rock from the 1950's. It makes me want to be "Wild Again". It is "Powerful Stuff" and "Tuff Enuff" to make me want to boogie on down to "Kokomo" , Aruba, Jamaica, Bermuda, Key Largo, Montego Bay, Martinique, and Port-au-Prince. Love to party in the Caribbean! "Since When" am I too old to do "The Hippy Hippy Shake"? I get "All Shook Up" when I hear Buddy Holly's "Rave On". Hey Little Richard, "Oh, I love you So" when you sing "Tutti Frutti". Oh yeah, "Don't Worry Be Happy". I'm talking mixed drinks with mixed songs from the great sound track album from the 1980's movie COCKTAIL. Listen to it and be happy! If you do not have the CD, you can buy it at Amazon. Rock on, man.

A LOST OPPORTUNITY

The National Commission On Fiscal Responsibility And Reform was called the Moment of Truth. It completed its study and made sensible recommendations in December of 2010. The final paragraph of its preamble said: "After all the talk about debt and deficits, it is long past time for America's leaders to put up or shut up. The era of debt denial is over, and there can be no turning back. We sign our names to this plan because we love our children, our grandchildren, and our country too much not to act while we still have the chance to secure a better future for all our fellow citizens".


This moment of truth report on the deficit was an opportunity to begin needed reform. But the proposal died because our selfish political leaders were too ideologically rigid to take on subjects like tax reform, which involve combining Republican and Democratic ideas. The failure to seize that moment was one of the Obama administration's worst errors! Our president failed to lead the way to necessary reform. Our nation is on the brink of disaster because of failed leadership. Let's remember this when we next go to the voting booth.

A RANDOM THOUGHT

While staying in the city for a week, I noticed that most people on the street and in public transportation refused to make eye contact with me. I, on the other hand, always look at peoples' faces and if they make eye contact with me, I smile and say a friendly greeting. Then, I noticed that most of the people who made eye contact were people who were panhandlers, crazy street people, religious fanatics, and lost tourists who were seeking directions. "Aha", I said to my self. So that's why no one looks at me. They are afraid I will ask them for spare change, directions, or help, or give a sermon. I was saddened by this revelation but then I wondered if I might be one of the crazy people. And it was then that I stopped being friendly and just ignored everybody like the rest of humanity. And that's too bad.  

REMARKABLE EVENTS ON THIS DATE.

On today's date, 3 years ago, I was in Cusco, Peru. My two sons, Micah and Marcus, and I were having lunch on the the balcony of a second floor restaurant which overlooked the Cusco town square. We were reminiscing about our successful trekking trip to Machu Pichu. We climbed 30 miles on a rugged mountain trail to the Hidden city of the Inca Indian nation. It was an exciting adventure that I will remember as long as I live.


Today I am in Chicago celebrating the birth of my 10th grandchild. We now have 5 girls and 5 boys. This is another event that is exciting and memorable. My new grandson has been named Evan Christopher Riley. He is a healthy, handsome boy with a great future ahead of him. Marcy and Stephen are lucky to have had him and he is lucky to have such wonderful parents. Also, Evan is lucky to have a loving big sister, 3 year old Emily. Life just gets better and better.

Thomas Sowell Editorial

This editorial by an economist that I trust is great. You can read it by clicking on his link.


Thomas Sowell

stream-of-consciousness

Lady  Gaga all agog over presidents job bill. Pew Report says it stinks. EU says Obama’s Job Bill is a step towards joining the bankrupt European Union. Spend more and tax more is the answer?? How about spend less and reform the tax code? Wouldn’t that eliminate the deficit and reduce the debt? Isn’t that what we are all worried about? Obama doesn’t get it. Government tinkering with the economy has been proven to make things worse. Artificial means of adjusting the economy only postpone disaster. Let’s attack the root cause of our problem instead of throwing borrowed money at it. Yes, I know it is not Wednesday but I could not stop thinking about this subject. I wish that our elected officials would start thinking about what is best for the nation instead of giving away my money so they can be reelected. I am agog at the terrible results that would follow this Job Bill. EU and PU, what can we do?

LIFE CONTINUES TO BE INTERESTING

Just got an email report from my son Marcus. He just got off Korean airlines on the other side of the Pacific. He and his wife, Jules, are on the first leg of their adventure to Indonesia and Nepal. So far, so good. I am jealous!

Just got an email from my good friend, Pat Fero. It contained a photograph of me hitch hiking when I was age 25. Wow, can't believe I was ever so young!

Just finished dinner and bridge with our good friends, George and Barbara Teller. As usual, it was very enjoyable.

Just finished a cigar at the end of our dock. Beautiful sunset after- glow on a lovely September evening. I continue to marvel at how lucky I am to be married to Nancy.

Just started reading Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography. He was one of our country's great founding fathers. Fascinating fellow. Among many accomplishments, he created our first library and our Post Office. He lived a virtuous and moral life (except for an illegitimate son) but did not attend church. He spent Sundays studying and reading books.

MY FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOOD IN CHICAGO

Lincoln Square is a neighborhood on the north side of Chicago that is filled with young families and even though it is surrounded by a huge city, it seems like a friendly small town. The business district has unique  European-style cafes, delis and specialty stores. You can get virtually anything you need within walking distance of where you live. Surrounding the business district there are quiet, tree-lined streets where close-knit residents gather for events year around in the area's parks, churches and public squares. They have a Summer Concert Series, Folk and Roots music festival, and a German/American Festival that draws people from all over the midwest.

My daughter Marcy, her husband Stephen Riley, and her 3 year old daughter Emily, are lucky residents of this lovely area. I am visiting them this week to help get things ready for the arrival of a baby boy. Marcy is pregnant and due to deliver in two weeks. It is an exciting time in the life of the Riley family. Yesterday, Marcy and I had lunch on the outside patio area of a quaint cafe called Selmarie. It is located next to the beautiful downtown square. We had an enjoyable discussion about how life will change for them upon the arrival of Emily's baby brother. It was perfect weather, a delicious lunch, and a stimulating conversation about one of life's great events! Life is good.

SINCERE GRATITUDE CAN CREATE AN ABUNDANCE OF WHAT YOU WANT IN LIFE.

I recently bought a train ticket and the first words on the reservation were “Thank you for choosing Amtrak”. Almost all services and products have a “thank you” on the receipt. There is a reason why companies and people express gratitude. It is a powerful emotion that creates more business for companies and more benefits for people. In fact, psychologists tell us that it can create wealth and happiness. Gratitude has been said to have one of the strongest links with mental health of any trait. Grateful people are more likely to have higher levels of happiness and lower levels of stress and depression. There are positive consequences from being a more grateful person!

So, how can we develop more of this valuable attitude that unleashes blessings? To begin with, we should all be grateful for the adventure that is life, including all of its twists and turns. When you feel grateful for existence itself, it becomes part of your identity. You are broadcasting gratitude all the time. Ultimately you attract circumstances that are beneficial for you. Developing an attitude of gratitude is one of the most important things you can do for attracting the things you desire into your life. According to Cicero, “Gratitude is not only the greatest of the virtues but the parent of all others.”   Hey, thanks a lot for listening! I am very grateful. 

CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECTS_POLITICS & RELIGION

Last Wednesday I discussed politics. Now, I will discuss the other taboo subject. Religion is a very touchy subject that people either avoid or hide their true feelings. It is not a matter of what you know but it is a matter of what you believe. And what you believe depends on who your parents were and what experiences you have had. Both atheist and theist are usually dogmatic and unyielding in what they believe. No matter how reasonable your argument, you are not going to change what another person believes. You can’t reason a person out of a position that they didn’t reason themselves into in the first place. It’s just what they believe or have faith in. And that is why it is a subject that is usually avoided. It is a difficult subject to discuss. Nobody is going to change their mind so don’t try to win an argument. You are just wasting your breath!

I find agnosticism to be a perfectly respectable and tenable position. It is not dogmatic and makes no pronouncements about the ultimate truths of the universe. It remains open to evidence and persuasion; lacking faith it, never the less, does not deride faith. Atheism, on the other hand, is as unyielding and dogmatic about religious belief as true believers are about their faith. It tries to use scientific reasoning to demolish something that is not built upon reason but is built on faith. That ain’t gonna work! It has been my experience that there are good people in all the religious faiths as well as atheism. So let’s live and let live! That is my philosophy. Amen.

I TOLD YOU SO!

What a mess we are in. I tried to warn that this would happen but nobody listened. On May 18, 2010, my blog was written about the dangers of too much debt in our government. I said a crisis was coming and a time of reckoning: http://freelancethinker1.blogspot.com/2010/05/mysterious-dumbness-in-our-land-why.html   “Fueled by President Obama’s huge stimulus package, the US budget deficit is projected to exceed $1.6 Trillion! Spending, borrowing, and debt are out of control. This is a dire situation. This is an unmanageable burden on future generations. We must stop the dumbness in Washington.”

We are now on an unsustainable path with a credit rating reduction and a crashing stock market. The only good thing about it is that we have hit bottom. When a drug addict hits bottom, he is usually ready to reform and kick the habit. Let’s hope our representatives are now ready to kick the debt habit. If they don’t, let’s hope our citizens are ready to kick their collective ass!! I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take any more dumbness from Washington. How about you?

WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS

This past week I attended a wedding reception and a funeral. Both were emotionally moving experiences. The wedding was for a young friend and the funeral was for an old friend. The young friend’s event reminded me of my own wedding.  I was excited, worried but hopeful that everything would turn out alright. Everything turned out more than alright. My lovely bride and I have had a terrific marriage that has produced 5 children and 10 grandchildren (so far). To say that we have been blessed would be an understatement!

The old friend’s event was expected but still sad. She was an 88 year old woman who had been a good friend of my wife and my wife’s parents. The parents are gone and so is their friend. The dear departed one had many friends and a large loving family. I have many fond memories of some good times with her and my wife’s parents. Part of the joy of marriage comes from involvement with your spouse’s family. Families joining other families through marriage can be a very good thing!

HAVE YOU ATTAINED SUCCESS IN YOUR LIFE?

Success is subjective. It is different for everyone. What is your definition? To some it is creating a multi-million dollar business. To others it is a fulfilling career as a respected teacher. Usually it is a combination of things—health, happiness, material prosperity, love of family and friends, wisdom, influence, and fulfillment of goals. And to still others it is simply, am I leaving this world a better place? Some people think success is providing for their family and imparting a legacy of love and integrity that their parents gave to them. Shared happiness is a form of success. And feeling comfortable and right in your own skin brings peace of mind which is a kind of success.

There are many definitions but my favorite one, and the one I have made my own, is Ralph Waldo Emerson’s definition of success: “To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”  I am still working on it. How about you?

SOME VICES IN MODERATION ARE GOOD FOR YOU.

Frontier Bullet Bourbon with a Troya Clasico cigar from Nicaragua enjoyed on a bench at the end of my dock on a perfect summer evening at sunset on a beautiful lake made me feel like Mark Twain. No way can that be bad for you. In fact, it was pretty damn good! It enabled me to reminisce about how lucky I am to be where I am at this point in my life. Maybe I made some good decisions but mostly, I have been very lucky and I am thankful for that. Living on a lake and having the love of a wonderful wife and large family is a terrific thing. My children and grandchildren make me happy by visiting and enjoying our lake house. My first born son, Micah John, has stirred up some new excitement for us by acquiring a ski boat that now sits on the side of our dock. It is a Master Craft Prostar Signature Ski Boat with a Corvette, 8 cylinder, engine. It is a fast, hot boat that will require careful attention to safety and proper operation.

Because it is an inboard engine, anyone who operates it must be extremely careful about the potential explosion hazard created by gas fumes in the engine compartment. Prior to starting the engine, you must open the engine box and check the engine compartment and bilge for gasoline and oil vapors; you must operate the blower for at least 4 minutes. Failure to do so may result in an explosion that could blow you to kingdom come! That would really spoil our fun. Many boating accidents are caused by the operator’s failure to follow basic safety rules or written precautions. Most accidents can be avoided if the operator is completely familiar with the boat and its operation. That is why no one is allowed to use this boat until they have read the owner’s manual and been instructed on proper operation. It’s going to be a lot of fun but we must be very careful!!

GET DNA FROM EVERY AMERICAN?

DNA testing is associated with crime detection but it can be used to improve the life of a person. By using the Life Map determined from their DNA, it is possible to determine various things that will benefit that person. DNA testing permits individuals to find out what diseases they are most likely to develop, which can allow them to take preventative steps and avoid the onset of the diseases. One of the most promising aspects of DNA research is the concept of so-called "personalized medicine," which would permit doctors to custom-tailor a medication to fit a person's unique genetic makeup. This could greatly reduce complications and increase the effectiveness of treatments. Every American could be required to have a DNA test, with the results stored in a national database. Of course, there would have to be protection against the use of this information by employers and insurance companies for purposes of discrimination.

A national database could be cross-checked against DNA found at crime scenes to help find persons guilty of rape and murder. It could also be used to clear innocent persons who have been wrongly accused. A DNA database with strong privacy safeguards could actually make Americans more secure against erroneous prosecutions and attacks. If one of your neighbors is secretly having sex with your horse, you could determine who it is. Or if an inebriated new mother pulls out her breast and squirts you with her breast milk, you can prosecute her. Yes, these two incidents were recently in the news. Bizarre but true! It would be easy to collect the DNA by requiring a swab of the inner cheek when applying for a driver’s license. Should we do it? What do you think? Please let me know.

GUEST BLOGGER CARLO ROVELLI

Physicist, University of Aix-Marseille, France; Author, The First Scientist: Anaximander and the Nature of Science

The Uselessness of Certainty

There is a widely used notion that does plenty of damage: the notion of "scientifically proven". Nearly an oxymoron. The very foundation of science is to keep the door open to doubt. Precisely because we keep questioning everything, especially our own premises, we are always ready to improve our knowledge. Therefore a good scientist is never 'certain'. Lack of certainty is precisely what makes conclusions more reliable than the conclusions of those who are certain: because the good scientist will be ready to shift to a different point of view if better elements of evidence or novel arguments emerge. Therefore certainty is not only something of no use, but is in fact damaging, if we value reliability.

Failure to appreciate the value of the lack of certainty is at the origin of much silliness in our society. Are we sure that the Earth is going to keep heating up, if we do not do anything? Are we sure of the details of the current theory of evolution? Are we sure that modern medicine is always a better strategy than traditional ones? No we are not, in none of these cases. But if from this lack of certainty we jump to the conviction that we better not care about global heating, that there is no evolution and the world was created six thousand years ago, or that traditional medicine must be more effective than the modern medicine, well, we are simply stupid. Still, many people do these silly inferences. Because the lack of certainty is perceived as a sign of weakness, instead of being what it is: the first source of our knowledge.

Every knowledge, even the most solid, carries a margin of uncertainty. (I am very sure about my own name ... but what if I just hit my head and got momentarily confused?) Knowledge itself is probabilistic in nature, a notion emphasized by some currents of philosophical pragmatism. Better understanding of the meaning of probability, and especially realizing that we never have, nor need, 'scientifically proven' facts, but only a sufficiently high degree of probability, in order to make decisions and act.

IT’S REALLY QUITE SIMPLE

 Complexity in government is bad. Simplicity is good. We should tell our representatives to “keep it simple, stupid!” There is nothing good to be said about a convoluted and incomprehensible system of health-care administration and tax collection. For instance, the current complex tax system has thousands of inequities. The politicians line their pockets by continually tinkering with the tax code to benefit special interest groups. We should scrap our confusing, unfair tax code and replace it with a simple flat tax of one low rate with no deductions or special interest loopholes. Unlike the current system, a flat tax is simple, fair, and good for growth. Instead of the 893 forms required by the current system, a flat tax would use only two postcard-sized forms: one for labor income and the other for business and capital income.

You should never underestimate the power of a simple idea. Sometimes very simple ideas are the best solution to some of our most complex problems. When your next challenge arises, look around for a simple idea that may end up being the best and the cheapest solution to your problem. “They say the world has become too complex for simple answers. They are wrong!” _ Ronald Reagan “The business schools reward difficult complex behavior more than simple behavior, but simple behavior is more effective.” _Warren Buffett  “All the great things are simple, and can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.” _ Winston Churchill  “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”_ Leonardo da Vinci  “Simple beats complex”_ Harry Teets.                                               

WHERE HAS OUR SENSE OF ADVENTURE GONE?

This age of technology seems to have reduced our desire for adventure. That is a shame because in order to live life to the fullest, we need a passion for it. Adventure is the element of a full life that is most neglected in modern society. We need adventure to help us find ourselves. It is not the discovery of new things that is important. It is the understanding of ourselves which we acquire through high adventure. Adventurous people ask questions, seek answers, and take risks. They do it for the pure joy of knowing what it is like to have journeyed into an unusual experience. An unexpected, exciting course of events is very stimulating and helps one to become a better person. If you are curious and love to learn and discover new things, then you should go on an adventure!

And that is exactly what my son, Marcus, and his bride, Jules, are going to do for their honeymoon trip. They will be flying to Jakarta, the capital of Java which is the most densely populated island in the world. It plays a dominant role in the economic and political life of Indonesia. It is always warm there and they have just two seasons_the wet season and the dry season. Its main religion is Muslim but it has a history of being Hindu and Buddhist. There are many ancient temples to explore. Marcus and Jules will be experiencing a sunrise at the impressive Borobudur Temple. Then they fly to Delhi, India and from there to Kathmandu, Nepal. This is the country with eight of the world’s ten tallest mountains including Mount Everest which is the highest point on Earth. No, they will not attempt to reach the summit but they plan on some treks in the remote mountain country. Their honeymoon is a serious adventure!!

CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR POLITICAL BELIEVES?

Do you consider yourself to be a Democrat, Republican, Independent, Libertarian, or what? Are you a conservative or a liberal? Do you participate (vote in elections) in our political system? I think most of us, and our society as well, would benefit from some self examination. I recommend that you try to articulate your beliefs and then decide which political party platform comes the closest to seeking what you would like the government to do. Which political candidate has goals similar to yours?  Yes, I understand that it is not easy. Most political platforms are vague and most candidates make it difficult to ascertain where they stand on issues (they can be dishonest and lie a lot.) It is best to check their past actions and history to see what they believe in.

Personally, I consider myself to be a combination of: conservative republican, independent, and libertarian. I want the government to use taxes for infrastructure, national defense, public safety, law enforcement and public education. I would eliminate all federal subsidies to private corporations. I am opposed to any new entitlement programs. All long term welfare programs should be reformed to only provide help for those who really have a need. Yes, I know it is difficult to determine legitimate needs but surely we can do a better job then we have in the past. Historically, the government has done more harm than good when it tries to tinker with the economy. The government should use regulations to protect the public but otherwise, let the free economy do its thing.

HOBBIES ARE GOOD FOR YOU!

Do you have a hobby? If not, you should consider getting one. The benefits are enormous. They are an oasis in the desert of life. They provide nourishing facts of knowledge along with an escape from monotonous life. Life would be very boring without hobbies. They are a diversion, a passion, and can give a sense of purpose. I have enjoyed a bunch of hobbies: Sailing, mountain hiking, reading, chess, bridge, gardening, blogging, stamp collecting, wood carving, wine label and cork collecting, water colors, sunsets, and poetry.  Hobbies have played an important role in my life. They helped to pass spare time and gave me pleasure, peace of mind, and relaxation. I think they have had a positive effect on my health. They say that hobbies help you to avoid Alzheimer’s disease and to have a long life. The best benefit of a hobby is new friendships! People who collect empty toilet paper rolls just naturally become friends of people who have the same interest. Who wouldn’t like to have more friends?   

WE NEED PUBLIC EDUCATION REFORM

Today's public education system is a failed, bureaucratic mess controlled by powerful teachers’ unions. The mission of the M.E.A. and the N.E.A. is to protect the liberal benefits and jobs of the teachers regardless of their effectiveness. They give lip service to improving education but that is way down the list of importance. Tenure has proved to be a barrier to getting rid of ineffective teachers. The cost of eliminating a tenured teacher with a poor performance record is more than $100,000.  And there is no incentive to expedite the process which is drawn out to the point that few schools ever try to implement it. We need education reform to change the ways we evaluate and reward teachers. Rich benefits, June, July, August, and tenure without effectiveness should not be the only incentives to take up the job of teaching.

The unions have done a great job for their members (but not for the public education system). They would have you believe that teaching is the most important profession and a difficult one that deserves special compensation. In reality, no profession is more important than all others. Society needs a variety of “important” professions to run smoothly. And many of them are just as demanding, or more so, than teaching. Public education is only one of the things that have made us a great nation. Yes, teachers who are capable of competence and performance are extremely valuable for our future development. Let’s do more to attract and keep them in the profession. Also, let’s do a better job of urging the ineffective teachers to try another occupation. Here is a final thought to be considered: If you reflect on many professions, the best and the more qualified individuals are the ones who can teach and practice in their field. Maybe we need more educators like that!

SOMETIMES I AM HAPPY__ SOMETIMES I’M NOT.

I am very happy with our new Michigan Governor. He is making all the right moves to balance our budget and attract business to Michigan which will create jobs. He is implementing a simpler and fairer system of taxation which attempts to have everyone share the pain. Of course the unions, the public employees, and the school teachers don’t think that they should share the pain. The private sector employees (who still have jobs) have already suffered benefit reductions. Why shouldn’t the teachers and public employees do the same? Governor Rick Snyder is exactly what Michigan needed. He is a financial genius with the experience and education needed to get us back on track.

Now, let me tell you what I am not happy about. The Obama administration is seeking to give $3 billion in aid to Pakistan for 2012. $20 billion in aid was given to Pakistan in the last 1o years while our national debt has increased to $12 trillion!! Has this magnanimous (and ill conceived) gift helped our American security interests? HELL NO! They were hiding Osama 35 miles from their capital. They consider us enemies and hate our guts. If the current administration gives them more money, I think it is time for impeachment proceedings. Please_no more aid for Pakistan!

GET FREE FOOD STAMPS!

It is easy to apply (you can do it on line) and it is easy to meet the eligibility requirements. Half of the city of Detroit is using food stamps. 45 million Americans are receiving benefits, according to a report from the U. S. Department of Agriculture. This federal-assistance program is costing the tax payers $60 billion and is increasing at the rate of 14% per year! After you qualify, you can sell your food stamps and use the money to buy booze and cigarettes. What a country! You can eat well without working. It is such a great program that generations are using it. It has created an entitlement mentality for millions of people. Once people get on food stamps they tend to stay on them for the rest of their life.

The program has gone way beyond its original intent and become a general welfare program with significant abuse and fraud. The government has become too involved in helping those who do not really need help. Adversity is a good thing that helps people to learn how to take care of themselves. Yes, there are people who genuinely need temporary help. These people can be helped by private charities and churches. The federal food stamp program should be abolished. We should constructively think about designing a program that eliminates/minimizes fraud and abuse. Does this country really have 45 million people who need help buying food? I don’t think so!!

TOO MUCH MEMORY IS NOT A GOOD THING.

One of the keys to happiness is a bad memory. I am a very happy person. I’m perfectly happy to have a memory like a sieve. It lets the waste drain away and leaves the valuable stuff behind. I can forget the unpleasant and painful memories. Friedrich Nietzsche said, “The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time.”  Another advantage is that I forget my stupid mistakes and bad experiences. I can’t remember who I wanted revenge against for mistreating me.

Some memories can damage your ability to concentrate on important stuff. They can also build up personality problems like insecurities, inferiority complex, and low self esteem. These memories can slowly destroy you! In order to survive, baseball relief pitchers are advised to develop a bad memory when it comes to blown saves. Whatever happened last night, happened last night. Today’s another day; tonight’s another game…and all that. The Buddha said, The secret of health for mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.”  The mafia says, “forget about it! 

WE ARE IN DEEP SHIT !

Politicians and economists are in cahoots. They use unrealistic and unverifiable theories to attain their goals. They are politically aligned, power hungry individuals, who use their collective influence to manipulate our government into doing their bidding. They have created a huge government debt that threatens to topple our government. A few weeks ago, Pimco, the world’s biggest bond fund, said it is eliminating its holdings of government debt. Standard & Poor is threatening to downgrade the credit rating of the United States! The International Monetary Fund has said that a creditable strategy to stabilize the U.S. national debt is “urgently needed!” Our greatest asset, the fact that the U.S. is considered the world’s safest investment, is about to evaporate. President Obama does not seem to recognize the seriousness of our situation. He says his plan will reduce the deficit by 4 trillion dollars over the next 10 years. In other words, the fiscal insanity will continue for another 10 years. The term “deficit reduction” is disturbing. What we need is “debt reduction” which cannot happen with mere deficit reduction. For debt reduction, there cannot be any deficit. Mr. Obama’s plan is to continue spending more than we have which in 10 years will add another $10 trillion to our national debt!

Politicians continue to try and hide the debt crisis created by government economists. It is said that Christopher Columbus was the first economist. When he left to discover America, he didn’t know where he was going. When he got there he didn’t know where he was. And it was all done on a government grant. The government’s plan is to fight the sour economy by borrowing and spending more money and worry about the debt problem later. This is an insane economic theory that will fail and result in an inflationary disaster. Every day the U.S. government needs to borrow $15 billion to fund the deficit. Someone has to buy all that and more important, the U. S. has to repay it. Servicing this staggering debt will require large increases in taxes. The government will have less money to spend and so will all of the citizens. Please urge your congressman to wake up and balance the budget, create a surplus, and start paying down our national debt. This is a wake-up call that needs immediate action! We need help from the “Invisible Hand”.

BORED WITH YOUR HOBBIES? TRY COON HUNTING!

Get a gun, some coonhounds, a hardhat with a powerful light, a four wheel drive pickup truck, and a hunting buddy. Then, let the hounds loose in the woods after midnight. There are few things as much fun as being out on the trail in the middle of the night, with your dogs bellowing in the distant forest. Raccoons are a delicacy to eat, and you can sell their pelt for a lot of money. Or, you can make a great looking hat for yourself just like Daniel Boon’s. As a side line, you can make money by raising and selling coonhounds. A good stud can be sold for as much as $35,000!

Another benefit of the sport is that you can stay out all night drinking moonshine with wild women and tell your wife you were chasing raccoons. The camaraderie of coon hunting goes beyond thrashing around in the woods. You can take your dogs to competitions where you have a chance to win cash prizes if your dog barks up the right tree. The bottom line is, this kind of hunting is a great sport and offers the opportunity to profit when you catch a good coon. There are a lot of people out there who have tried it and became hooked for life. You should try it!

THE INFORMATION THEORY BOGELS MY MIND

Of our time here on earth, our species spent 95% of it in the preliterate past. We were hunters and gatherers until language was developed into the written word. The invention of the alphabet was the beginning of technology. It moved us from oral history to written history. History and logic are the products of literate thought. The written word is the mechanism by which we know what we know. It organizes thought. The information age began with the alphabet. Letters became words, words became thoughts and the dead were able to speak to the living, the living to the unborn. Over a few thousand years our culture has been developed to its present state by the written word. The alphabet is the greatest invention in the history of man.

All information is recorded as letters, words, and numbers which are encoded into bits. These iddy bitty bits (zeros & ones) are crammed into your computer from the Internet. Amazingly, you have access to all the known information in the world. I have just summarized the current “Information Theory”. It is a branch of applied mathematics involving the quantification of information. It is the key to reliably storing, compressing, and communicating data. One measure of information is known as entropy, which is usually expressed by the average number of bits needed for storage of communication. If you want a more thorough understanding of this topic, I suggest you study thermal physics and quantum computing. It is way beyond my comprehension!

I AM ON VACATION

Thanks for checking in. I will be back next Wednesday with an exciting blog about negative entropy and the Information Theory. Bet you can hardly wait!!

FAILURE IS A NOBLE VIRTUE

Some people think failure is a disgrace and try to do everything in their power to avoid it. Actually, it is one of the best learning experiences that you can possibly have. It is not something to be avoided but rather something to be embraced. We can learn as much from something that does not work as from one that does. That is a lesson from science that can benefit your daily life. You should aim for success while being prepared to learn from a series of failures. A failure tolerant attitude liberates success. Something is learned each time things fail. You might say, it is a matter of failing forward!

Wrapped up in the idea of embracing failure is the related notion of breaking things to make them better. Often the only way to improve a complex system is to probe its limits by forcing it to fail. For example, software is improved by engineers systematically finding ways to crash it. Eventually, it is very difficult to make it fail. That is a part of the quality control process. The habit of embracing negative results is one of the most essential tricks to gaining success. So stop worrying about making mistakes. Get out there and break something! Have a failure and turn it into success!!

CAN IT GET ANY WORSE?

Natural disasters, Middle Eastern revolutions, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, bankrupt local and national governments, lingering economic recessions, and freezing rain this morning. Can it get any worse?  The answer is, yes, it can. There have been worse times in the history of the world. Life has always been an adventure with ups and downs. You get your good times and your bad times. Hope springs eternal for the human race and Spring- time makes me feel hopeful. I believe that better times are coming. Since the beginning of time, progress has been made by taking two steps forward and one step back. The future is bright and it is time for two steps forward. The tulips are up and we will be OK!

SUB-CONSCIENCE THINKING CONTROLS YOU

David Brooks, columnist for the New York Times, has written a new book entitled, The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources O Love, Character, and Achievement. I just finished reading it last night and found it to be very interesting. Mr. Brooks did a ton of research about the unconscious mind. His resources were geneticists, neuroscientists, psychologist, sociologist, anthropologist, and many others. He claims that the latest scientific studies indicate that we are not the products of our conscious thinking. We are products of thinking that happens below the level of awareness. The unconscious realm of emotions, intuitions, biases, longings, genetic predispositions, character traits, and social norms are the things that shape are character and motivate us. The unconscious mind does all the work and our conscious will may be an illusion. Maybe Flip Wilson was right, “the devil made me do it”.

Anyway, it is a fascinating theory that seems to prove the importance of passions and perception that are instilled in us by family, friends, and teachers and our beginning environment. “Just as Galileo removed the earth from the center of the universe, this intellectual revolution removes the conscience mind from its privileged place at the center of human behavior. Mr. Brooks has some ideas about what this means for our future. Parents, educators, and political theorist should read this book and pay attention. It is kind of scary but, “we may know more than we know!”

IN HONOR OF FAT TUESDAY

A friend of mine has a theory about why Americans are overweight. It makes so much sense and made me feel so good that I am going to share it with you. With time, we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren’t heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy. Now, when I look at my backside in the mirror, I think, good grief, look how smart I am!

So you see, we do not eat too much. We just have information overload. Doesn’t that make you feel better? We need to cut down on information and maybe exercise a little more. The smartest man I ever did know was Victor Buono. He said, “Show me the light that I may bear witness, To the President’s Council on Physical Fitness.

I had my paczki; did you have yours?

WHO WAS TOLSTOY?

I am sure you know that Leo Tolstoy was one of the world’s greatest Novelists. His masterpiece, War and Peace, gave a vivid depiction of 19^th-century Russian life and attitudes. It was extraordinary realist fiction. But did you know that his ideas on nonviolent resistance had a profound impact on Mahatma Gandhi? Gandhi acknowledged in his autobiography that he considered Tolstoy “the greatest apostle of non-violence that the present age has produced”.

Tolstoy started out in life as a wealthy member of the Russian nobility who dropped out of university after his teachers described him as “both unable and unwilling to learn.” After leaving his studies, he ran up heavy gambling debts and joined the army. His conversion from a dissolute, privileged society boy was brought about by his experience in the army. He served as a second lieutenant in an artillery regiment during the Crimean war. His experiences in battle helped stir his later pacifism and gave him material for realistic depiction of the horrors of war.

Tolstoy’s Christian beliefs, particularly the injunction to turn the other cheek, moved him to pacifism, nonviolence, and nonresistance. Eventually, he became a wandering ascetic who abandoned his family and wealth. He also became an anarchist who described the state as, “the wicked ones, supported by brutal force. Robbers are far less dangerous than a well-organized government.” My favorite quote from Tolstoy’s work is: “Seize the moments of happiness, love and be loved! That is the only reality in the world, all else is folly.”

PLEASE, NO MORE ICE!

Don’t give me ice on roads and trees,

Just give me ice in Scotch, oh please,

Don’t give me ice on walks and drives,

Just give me ice on rinks, high fives,

Don’t give me ice on lines and poles,

Just give me ice on food in bowls,

Please, no more ice that kills our juice,

Just give me warmth and Doctor Seuse!

Greenland is covered with a one mile thick slab of ice.

I am not going there cause, to me, that don’t sound nice!

“I meant what I said and I said what I meant. Please, no more ice”

TRADE WITH CHINA --- GOOD OR BAD?

There are many working class Americans who have lost their jobs because of China’s ability to manufacture durable goods at a cost that is less than we can produce those goods. So, is trade with China a bad thing for our country? Maybe for the short term but trade with China is a necessary and good thing for the future of our country. The trend towards a global economy is unstoppable. Trade protection and tariffs are short term remedies that will quickly fail and be bad for the future of the U.S.A.  History proves they do not work.

The U.S. led the world through the industrial era and it will lead the world through the information era. Technology and ingenuity were important for the age of machines and manufacturing. But now, they are even more important for the vanguard of the information era. Overall, we are currently a net exporter of services with a surplus of $136 billion. Now, our most important product is intellectual property. In spite of the recession, exports of financial services were $230 billion last year. Microsoft, Google, Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and Twitter, shows that we are now the technological leader of the world. Imagination and knowledge will continue to be our strength in the future. Our present economic migration from a material- based industry to a knowledge economy of intangible goods such as, software, design, and media products is a realty that we all must get on with in order to survive. We are no longer the cheapest producers of physical products!

SOMETHING TO GET YOUR MIND OFF WINTER

Biting winds, subzero temperatures, unassembled snowmen, winter-weary depression, makes you wish the recession had not destroyed your get out of here and go south funds. You need something to think about that takes your mind off your misery. Well, try to get you mind around the “Big Bang Theory”. It will get your mind off winter’s stranglehold on you.

Biogenesis is what scientist call the study of the origin of life. The Big Bang is the event that they say led to the formation of the universe. A little tiny speck, the size of an atom, incredibly dense, filled with energy, under super extreme high temperature and pressure, blew up and created a universe filled with homogeneous and isotropic dense energy. Are you with me so far? O K, now, this ever expanding universe, consisting of quark-gluon plasma and elementary particles, starts to smash everything together at speeds faster than the speed of light, which created particle-antiparticle pairs which caused a baryogenesis reaction resulting in quarks and leptons which resulted in the predominance of matter over antimatter. Voila! Our Universe is born! Then, it was just a matter of time (14billion years to be exact) until our solar system came together with earth smack in the middle of a Goldilocks zone, not too close and not far from the sun. Then, a single cell evolved into 30 million species (including human beings) co inhabiting our lovely planet. That only took 4 billion years to happen. I wonder what’s going to happen next?!! 

A BOOK REVIEW

It has been awhile since I have reviewed a book. I just finished reading a series of books that were so good, I have to tell you about them. These books grabbed me and kept me reading until I had finished all three. They are called the Millennium-Trilogy and consist of: THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, and THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST. The author, Stieg Larsson of Sweden, died at the age of 50 shortly after completing the three novels. Because he was so talented, it is a shame that he died so young. His books have become the second biggest sellers in the entire world.

Larsson’s background in journalism seems to have helped him to become an outstanding novelist. I went from one book to the next as fast as I could. I was led into a world that I knew nothing about and found it to be captivating. His characters are so vivid and complex that they seem real and believable. The imaginative plot kept me completely absorbed. I was delightfully entertained by this author. I wish I could read more of his work but he is gone from this world.

I AM A SENSITIVE KIND OF GUY

But my wife is more sensitive to cold than I am. The thermostat setting in our house is the only thing we ever argue about. In the winter, the energy saving experts suggests a setting of 68 degrees. My wife says she can’t be comfortable at less than 72 degrees. I maintain that if she would dress appropriately, she would be comfortable at 68. She says if  I would take off some cloths I would be comfortable at 72 (degrees not age). We have argued about this for a very long time without reaching an agreement. I will quietly sneak it down. She will surreptitiously turn it up. Using a heating contractor’s formula, I determined that the additional monthly cost for increasing the temperature from 68 to 72 is $20. I have decided to spend the extra $20 per month in order to make my wife happy. It is better to be kind than “right”. It only took me 44 years to capitulate. Yes, I’m a sensitive guy but a little slow! 

REDICULOUS, STUPID HOLLYWOOD AWARD SHOWS

Did you watch the Golden Globe Awards show? I am embarrassed to admit that I watched some of it. It struck me that it was a group of attractive, shallow, egotistical, celebrity, rich people giving themselves awards, gift baskets, and telling each other they are God’s gift to the planet. There was no ground swell of support from fans who want to show actors how important they are. It was another night of silly people patting themselves on the back for doing their pretend jobs. They spent millions of dollars on designer gowns, fancy hair dos and plastic surgery so that they could strut and pose while telling each other how great they look. Almost made me gag! They do this 3 times every year. There are the Emmys, The Golden Globe Awards, and the Oscars. How come retired geezers like me can’t have an award show? With my plaid shirt and striped pants, I could win the “best dressed” award for the geezers. Then, I could give a speech thanking all my relatives for helping me to become such a snappy dresser.

I say cancel all those stupid Award Shows and use the money to buy food for poor people. If the Hollywood actors did that, I would applaud them instead of make fun of them!

BLACK OR WHITE? TRUE OR FALSE?

What is truth and what makes it true? It has been a slippery topic for thousands of  years. It can depend on a point of view or an opinion or a theory. The basic idea is that what we believe or say is true if it corresponds to the way things actually are—to the facts. The problem is, we don’t  always agree on how things actually are. For instance, is there global warming and if so, is it caused by the activity of the human race? What we perceive is not always what is happening. For example, does the sun go around the earth or does the earth go around the sun? Iron clad facts have been known to change into falsehoods.

The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, used to be an oath given  by a witness in a court room before testifying. You had to raise your right hand and place your left hand on the Bible. Did you know that practice has been done away with? Now, it is only necessary to make an affirmation to tell the truth to the best of your knowledge. Times are changing and so is the “truth”. During the Medieval period convicted felons were branded on the palm of the right hand. Thus the custom of displaying your right hand came into practice because felons were disqualified from making an oath. 

Truth is the end of inquiry. But we never reach the end of inquiry. Truth is ever evolving and changing because of new discoveries and new facts. Keep that in mind before you call someone else’s truth a falsehood. Keep an open mind and be willing to consider another person’s point of view. Let’s be rational and civil! 

IT’S A BRAND NEW YEAR

At the beginning of a new year you think about self improvement. Resolutions are made to develop good habits and drop bad habits. Then, you expect instant results. Too bad it does not work that way. All things worth attaining take time. Developing new character traits will take patience and hard work. In order to succeed, you must be motivated. So, the question is, “how do you get motivated?” Visualize achieving your goal and its benefits. What your mind conceives you can achieve! Wow, you will look great after losing some weight. After sticking to an exercise program you will have more energy to do the things you want to do. Sticking to a better diet will keep you healthy for a longer life.

Remember to start with simple, easy goals and then progress to a little higher goal. Reward yourself for attaining a goal. Look for ways to make the activity fun and enjoyable. Keep a diary to remind you that you’re making progress. Be flexible about your routine. If you’re too busy or don’t feel up to it, take a day or two off. The important thing is to get back on track as soon as you can. Follow these tips and get moving! You will soon be a perfect person like me. Actually, I am still working on it. It has been a challenging 71 years. Don’t let anyone tell you that life is easy_it’s not.