What I've Learned Over My 72 Years

Repost (I'm Now 78)

People are hard wired in only two ways. Those willing to self reflect and accept new information. Those who simply will not. The latter cannot be reasoned with and most likely project who they are as if it were the other who were doing what they themselves are guilty of. There's no changing this. As for the earlier of the two (willing to self reflect accepting new information) it is they who are in the minority. There's plainly no compromising between the two. Anyone attempting to bridge this gap will serve only to frustrate themselves. At this point I'm willing to accept this for what it is. It's a lot less stressing. You are you and I am me. It is what it is.. a fact of life.

When we where young we all did stupid things. Few of us (if we had to do it all over again) would do some of the stupid stuff we once did. Especially over the influence of raging hormones with our relationships. Also some of the chances we took never realizing how physically vulnerable we were.

Life's a crap shoot. All too often good things happen to bad people. While on the other hand bad things happen to some really good people. All this seems to defy our best efforts or intentions. What seems to console us is to accept what we can change and accept those we cannot.

Ideologies cannot be changed at the point of a gun. Countless people have died for their beliefs which they carried to their graves. I guess it's just part of the drama of life. This cannot be changed..

Music uses another part of the brain. One which everyone unites if only for the moment. Some forms of music appeals to one segment. Not to another. What each has in common, all intellectual reasoning's are temporarily suspended bringing people together if for a little while. Entertainment (including comedy) is perhaps the best path to uniting us with what each of us have in common with one another.

Political leaders may influence us when we pay attention to them. However most of us, by ignoring them, will find our differences are far fewer. By nature these are largely self serving individuals who depend on our weakest animosities for their livelihoods.

Nearly every comment on social media is a game of competition. Rather then supporting others most of these insecure lowlifes depend on fueling their egos via how much they can impugn another's beliefs. Ignoring them only increases their anguish causing them to take it up another notch. Their anguish increase my pleasure. So there's that.

Progress cannot be measured how many more structures we build or how many more people can be stuffed into a certain area. Rather how much more lives can be improved within an existing community. Neither can technology improve one's life without being able to simplify it. All too many times technology makes it more difficult. The goal software programmers and others should be to make things less complicated then they were before. This is not happening. Most likely because many would prefer to profit from such things.

Religion is making a huge profit off invisible products. Bad health, death, natural disasters, financial loss, accidents, earthquakes, fires.,, whatever misfortunes.. They're all suppose to be part of God's mysterious plan. We're suppose to believe God sits on his throne everyday taking millions of prayer requests Meanwhile religious leaders are enriching themselves. I don't care how many times these guys do the hokey pokey around the alter or how much money people throw at the cause it isn't going to change one damn thing. Indeed God may exist, but he/she/it isn't going to become subservient to mankind's foolish wishes. How many more thousands of years and catastrophic events will it take before people figure this out?

I also figured out my life or opinions are no more meaningful then any others. This blog only serves to vent my thoughts at the moment for the day. Some of these could change as I grow older. Now that I shared mine how about yours? 

Assuming no one responds it will only serve to validate my belief people could care less. None the less let it not be said I wasn't forthright and willing to share some of my inner most thoughts with the world.

Are you willing to do the same?

Check back often. Better yet subscribe. You never know what you'll find next on this blog. Entertainment, science, technology, humor, everything in between and more.

Dishonesty Getting Worse

Repost With Reedits

It seems every time I turn around someone is trying to scam the system or some other individual. 

 

Most all of our nation's troubles boil down to taking personal responsibility. Too many fail to realize what happens when our only concern is our own being. By not taking into consideration others who have to live on this planet too we are only making it worse for ourselves.

When it comes to the common environment we all share the well being and fair dealings with other people it seems too few are able to understand how we all are interconnected.

There's no amount of religion, laws or regulations that can fix this. I'm not sure if education can solve this either. This is something that either is or isn't in the hearts of people. I'm not sure there is even a way. Nor understand the source of the reasons for this. One thing I am certain of... garbage in equals garbage out. No matter how well intentions are if people don't carry those intentions through to action we're all screwed.

Selfishness is like a disease. It spreads itself starting with one person whom the next says they did to me so the hell with them. Soon others then justify their actions telling themselves everyone else is doing it so why shouldn't I?

Everyone seems to be pointing the finger at everyone else. There's too few left able to see their own reflection in the mirror as to how they are part of the problems they helped create.





Everyone of us make mistakes. The important thing is to admit in most instances many of the bad things that happen are a result of them. Nobody's perfect that's for sure. But this constant finger pointing and justifying as a excuse to continue doing them is carrying ignorance to the extreme. This will neither benefit individuals nor this nation

No one should expect someone outside of themselves will come to the rescue at the end of the day. The bottom line is we are each accountable and will suffer the consequences thereof if we don't care about others as well as ourselves.

It's Impossible To Date The Age Of The Universe

Repost

Presently scientists assume our universe began with a big bang around 13.8 billion years ago. This assumption can be quite easily disproven in several ways.

First we need to understand this figure is entirely based on the "observable universe". This is where questions begin to arise. Whichever direction we on Earth look the farthest light and packets of energy reaching us today are no older then 13.8 billion light years away. This is how long it took for them to get here.



Discarding the big bang "theory" for purposes of this discussion, just what if we on Earth existed several billion years earlier. This would have allowed light and energy the time necessary for it to reach us from far greater distances. Thus the "observable universe" would be far larger and older then what is presently assumed.

There some rather peculiar scientific evidence which supports this. The oldest quasar we can observe in the universe dates back to nearly 13.5 billion years ago. Observations determined it contains many times the amount of iron then that in our own solar system. Here's the rub. It's takes quasars many generations of supernovas over billions of years to form iron. Meaning it had to be around a whole lot longer then 13.5 billion years.

One must also take into account another proven scientific fact. The universe is expanding at an ever increasing rate. Assuming some undiscovered super clusters emitting light were born far earlier then 13.8 billion years ago their continued acceleration would place them near the speed of light. Thus it would take a much greater time to reach here. Quite possibly billions and billions more then 13.8 billion light years. Indeed close to never for some.

The way we express time in the physical universe is the comparison of two "things" in relation to one another. Science has proven the states of physical matter and energy can transform into one or the other and does so all the time. No one need look no further then experiments with these supercolliders to accept this as fact. Energy itself functions beyond physical matter therefore outside of how we measure time. Because of the universe's continuous transmutations between energy and matter it's therefore impossible to express the universe's true age or if it even has one.

I Don't Have A Clue

Repost

My credit card company sent me the latest changes to the terms of my credit card.

It's four pages long front and back.

The best part is where they wrote these or any other changes could be made anytime at their discretion. So why am I bothering to read this if they could change any of what I just read... I Don't Have A Clue




:

Got a email from my ISP I might be infected

I run Microsoft's malicious software removal tool, Norton anti virus + power eraser and a disc cleaner. None of these found anything wrong... I Don't Have A Clue


This on top of a recent notice I received from YouTube which warned me some of my videos may require "closed captioning" to conform with the "Americans With Disabilities Act"... HUH?


Everything's getting so damned complicated.

As to why I'm having trouble understanding all this gobbledygook?
I Don't Have A Clue
Do You?

A Bigger Lehigh Valley Isn't Better (Repost)

When bigger isn't better

For decades we've had it drummed into our heads growth will make the Lehigh Valley a better place to live. This has always defied my reasoning. We construct more buildings. More people come. More people means build more buildings in a never ending circle.

Initially transplants located here to enjoy the rich rural scenery and enjoy a lower paced life style then the one they left behind. Many purchased single homes away from the hustle and bustle. A few years later dozens of homes popped up around them no longer offering the tranquil settings they once enjoyed.


Soon larger highways were needed. Larger highways with better accessibility began to attract larger business. Shortly thereafter industrial parks began to spring up around them. More industrial parks attracted more people. More people needed more homes.

More people meant more stores. More stores meant ever more traffic headaches and yes more people too.

As result the Lehigh Valley has become nearly identical to what many tried to escape from. Five miles outside of town where farm fields once were plowed there are now townhouses, apartments and single homes spread twenty feet apart in ever increasing numbers. One industrial park after another is continuously being built. Accident prone highways are now jammed at rush hours despite the ever continuous expansion of them.

Quality Over Quantity
Allentown once attracted 10,000's to Hamilton Street long before we had these humongous eyesores built downtown. If you look at today's pedestrian traffic on Hamilton Street it should become obvious to everyone no matter how many or how tall you build them new people arriving here are going to fill up more of what's left of former farmers' fields before considering a visit to downtown.

One would think with all this fabulous growth schools and local government funding would benefit. Instead both are faced with ever increasing budget deficits. Despite the figures we've been told, do people feel safer then they did before all this growth no matter the area?

In short all this growth nonsense is a bunch of hooey in my view. All one need do is look at who's promoting and benefiting from it.

We had all we needed. Trains, farm orchards, amusement parks, etc.

It wasn't as though we lived in the dark ages.

Something I Noticed About Electric Consumption

Rep[ost

Over the hot spell I noticed that my electrical voltage dropped back to around 115 volts in the day. At night it returned to around 120 volts. Now it may seem like 4.17%. isn't a big deal, but consider this. The average 10,000 air conditioner uses from 8 to 10 amperes. The wattage (that which you pay for in your electric bill) used is between 960 watts and 1,200 watts to power this size air conditioner when voltage is at 120 volts. However at 115 volts the power consumed then becomes between 920 watts and 1,150 watts. (Power=Voltage x Current).

When the utility company reduces power the wattage that you are billed is reduced accordingly. This on the surface seems fair since I am getting less I am therefore paying less. However here's the rub. At 115 volts you are getting only 9,583 BTU's worth of cooling out of the 10,000 BTU's the air conditioner was designed to deliver. OK, so you say what's the problem with that, the AC will run 4.17% longer to get to where it needs to go. NOT SO!

I don't want to get all technical, but the fact of the matter is that electric motors lose efficiency (horsepower) when their voltages are reduced. This isn't in direct proportion to the 4.17% we are discussing. It exceeds that.



Air conditioners lose further efficiency in another way. Again without getting all technical. There is a certain amount of refrigerant allowed to flow between the high side (condensation coil) and the low side (evaporation coil). If this flow is reduced (by less horsepower coming from the compressor motor) there is further reduction in an AC's cooling efficiency in most home units.

As you can see when the power company drops back just 5 volts AC's suffer. The compressor motor not only produces disportionately less horsepower, in turn delivers less refrigerant at lower differential pressures then it does when voltages are at 120 volts (where it was designed to run most efficiently). This results in less cooling even if it runs 4.17% longer.

It may very well be that power companies need to protect their grid with 'brownouts'. But it doesn't hurt their bottom line either if customers are using more electric then they would have otherwise at 120 volts. Summertime also is usually the time they shut down turbines for maintenance. Maybe this helps pay for that, eh?

Yin Yang And Everything In-Between

Repost

The opposites of Yin/Yang could be defined in several ways. In science as electrons/protons. In politics conservatives/liberals. In biblical terms good/evil. The colors of black/white. However in this world nothing is simple. One force that does remain constant between the two is balance. Newton's 3rd law states "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." This is the premise I will build on.

Since the beginning evil or goodness has tried to overcome the other. For every steadfast believer in liberalism there is another who will match them on the conservative side. All mankind's problems begin when one becomes radicalized into disbelieving components can coexist in-between I'll give you a few examples.* None of our programs like Social Security, unemployment and labor laws could have never come about without the conservatives cooperation. Radical liberals constantly try to play conservatives as the boogiemen. When things go wrong or the programs have flaws radical conservatives paint a target on liberals.

* Radical Christians want to make war with Muslims. Radical Muslims the same against Christians & Jews.

* Some radical cops blame the public for the uptick in what we're seeing. Others believe cops are instigating it.What each have in common is intolerance of the other as if this world only consisted two dimensionally. All problems arise when one extreme force meets the other. Scientifically speaking if we took the electrical energy on one side of a generator and crossed it with the other the resultant force would create a damaging short circuit. However when passing the current through an intelligently designed device it then produces something useful. In other words by eliminating the extremes to either side a good outcome can be produced.

Unfortunately there will always extremists in this world. It's just the way this world is and always has been at it's core. The question we each need ask ourselves are we the Yin, the Yang or somewhere in-between composed of both? Do we want to live our lives as extremists or doing something useful in-between the two?

Nothing Is Just A or B
Not all cops or those interrogated are innocent.
Not all religious beliefs are righteous.
Neither political party can completely represent their members views..
There are women/men and those in between.

Ancient religion describes life's travel through karma as a circle (much like the Yin/Yang symbol you see here) . You leave at the top. Travel through the circle ending up on the opposite side from which you started. That religion is trying to tell people not to pick up too much karma (Yin or Yang) on the way back to the beginning of our journey. At the same time warning us if we cut our life short (because of extremism) along the way we've not completed life's journey. Whether someone wishes to believe or not, it's still good advice.


Maybe they were on to something. Ever notice how all the galaxies, planets and suns are all circular?

Who Made God?

Repost

Simple question it is not. Scientist and theologians pretty much agree on this explanation which falls short. They both point out creation was formed containing both time, matter and energy. The problem is we get bogged down with this word existence. Existence is where we live. Existence itself is a product of this intelligent force. Not the other way around. Hence why labeled the creator of all "things".

Imagine if you will someone creates the most intelligent computer in the world. One that never existed before. It then sets out to discover it's creator by whatever limited means were given to it. Would it one day be able to become coequal. Perhaps it's possible over time it might be able to somewhat comprehend it's maker. Even become a close companion, but it's impossible for me to imagine it becoming human. Look, I enjoy the Story of Pinocchio as much as anybody, but really?

I think realistically this is the fix us humans find ourselves in. Just perhaps even the "creator" itself. Could it be possible this creator found itself wondering the very same thing. "Where did I come from"? Since the "eye cannot see itself" just suppose he/she/it set all this in motion hoping we'll come up with an answer. Could this be the motivation behind all of this?

It's been said "God" is complete and has all the answers. Does he/she/it? Hellva assumption from how little we understand. Lonely alone not knowing would be a hellva motivating factor for going to all this fuss. Perhaps we have a lot more in common then anyone's willing to believe. Not just curiosity but possible vulnerability as well in the not knowing.

We can safely assume is there's not a old grey bearded guy sitting on a throne fretting over every little detail of some 7 billion peoples' lives currently living on Earth. The proof lies in the fact millions upon millions have killed each other since leaving the womb... NOTHING. Governments and their leaders find no favor (despite what you heard). Storms, fire, earthquakes meteor impacts... NADA either.

We need to take a logical approach. One which assumes God isn't coming in a flaming chariot with a booming voice. If indeed this intelligence lies beyond "our existence" we need to focus on it's goals. If our purpose is for the creatior to greater understand itself it's seems to me we best align ourselves with that if we wish to remain useful.

The Universe Drives Me Crazy

Repost

Whenever I indulge myself on scientific reasoning when it comes to the universe three thoughts comes to mind. (1) Whatever the craziest thing is you can imagine, it is possible. (2) No human is capable of visualizing just how large or how old the universe is scientifically or otherwise. (3) When it comes to the universe, science can be a faux game of math.



My Mental Masturbations On this SubjectLet's start with number (3). Mathematical formulas can be fudged to make them work out. Take for example 'dark matter'. No one has ever physically been able to find it. Quantum physicists have made this math expression up and used it in their mathematical formulas to make their final results work.

It's sort of like incorrectly stating 2x3 equals 5. So someone (in error) rewrites the formula to (2x3)+1= 6 to make things come out right based on their limited math skills.

Moving on to number (2), the age of the universe. I believe that science has incorrectly dated the age of the universe. Today's present scientists have pretty much agreed that the universe is 14 billion years old. Here's my problem with that. That number has constantly evolved over the years as optical instruments have improved. To date our instruments are capable of seeing nearly all there is to see going back 14 billion light years. Emphasis on 'light years'.

This number may be correct in-so-much as dating "our" universe because of our own solar system's current location. To my way of reasoning this is not an absolute regarding the actual age of the universe. Here's why. This age was derived by the farthest observable light reaching us. In this case, 14 billion light years. Just suppose for a moment that we lived elsewhere in another planetary system. One that was older then 14 billion years.

Logic dictates that if that planetary system was around longer then 14 billion years, they'd observe things differently. Suppose they existed 40 billion years before us. That would mean light would have 40 billion more light years to reach their location. Hence they'd be convinced the universe was 54 billion years old. Why not 100 billion or even 1 trillion depending on their point of reference ? Who's to say there is even a limit on how old the universe is!

Now, speaking to number (1). When it comes to the universe and our understanding of it. I relate to it to Carlos Castaneda words in his series of books, 'Sorcerer's Apprentice'. In one of his books he described the 'tonal' world as one in which everything is known. On the other side of the coin there is the 'Nagal'. Defined as all things unknown. The 'Tonal' being a infinitesimally small fraction of all that is possible. In short the manifested and what has yet to be manifested (the unlimited infinite possibilities).

Stocks-- Most Americans Don't Benefit From Record Highs

Repost From 2018


When it comes to stocks they're not a great way to measure American incomes I'll explain why.

Only about 54% of Americans are invested in them through their retirements plans (like the 401's), mutual funds, pensions and so forth. Meaning some 46% are foreign owned. So when the stock market does well nearly half of it's wealth benefits investors in other countries.

92% of stocks are owned by 20% of the wealthiest investors. This means 80% are left to divvy 8% of the remaining wealth between themselves throughout the world. Since only 54% are American investors it appears not as many as we're lead to believe are benefiting.

Therefore I conclude the stock market does very little to benefit the average smuck unless they're in upper management receiving a profit sharing plan.

A Word About 401K Plans
In 2018 employees were allowed to contribute up to $18,500 a year. To my way of thinking workers are giving a good chunk back to the corporations. These companies can use this tax free money right now, On the other hand employees have only a piece of paper with numbers on it until they can start withdrawing their money at retirement. A lot can go wrong between now and then.

In my case I chose to keep my money, pay taxes on it now instead of later. Then using it to pay down ahead on my 30 year mortgage while setting some aside in FDIC insured savings accounts. The average return on of the S&P between 1973 and 2016 was 11.69%. That's all fine and dandy but when you're 70 1/2 and are forced to start taking money out (paying taxes on it) better hope it isn't a year stocks take a tumble or if tax rates should go up over what they are now.

Here's how I benefited on the mortgage alone.
My original 30 year mortgage was around 10%. Compounded over 30 years it would have totaled 315.92%. Divided evenly over 30 years it would have averaged 10.53%. Even if the average S&P' returns were 11.69% it wouldn't have included the fees I'd end up paying. Plus I wouldn't be able to get at my money to do what I did.

After a few years I refinanced the remaining balance on my mortgage at 6%. Instead of keeping the extra $700 I saved monthly I put in on the new mortgage. Hence being able to pay it off 10 years before retirement rather then still be paying on it for 8 years into my I retirement. Since it was paid off 10 years before I retired I was able to then use a chunk of that former mortgage payment for savings. Besides, who wants to pay a mortgage or ever escalating rents when they're on a fixed income if they can buy a house early enough?

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Maybe someone is comfortable with a finance company holding their deed over them for 30 years while they gamble on the stock market. I wasn't. After I wised up I rolled over what ever little I had of my 401K into a no fee, no risk FDIC insured IRA savings account years ago. Good I did or it would have taken a shellacking in 2008. This along with some regular savings. This doesn't mean I'm well off by any means but it sure beats allowing others to manipulate what little assets I've accumulated.

My New Year Resolutions

Well actually I have only one resolution. The same one I had for the last ten years or so-- Not to make any. This for a couple of reasons. First off if I don't MAKE any I can't BREAK any. The second reason--I kind of figure after 77 years I ain't gonna change anyways. Why kid myself. I've always smoked, drank and sweared. Made it this far. So why not?

With that said-- here's to hoping 2026 will be a more compassionate caring and empathic world then the one we've experienced in 2025.






Happy New Year From LVCI

Transferring Money Slow As Molasses On Winter Day

Repost

I notice when I charge something online my credit card records it in a matter of seconds. An alert is sent via email within a few minutes. Yet when I transfer money from one of my banks to another it takes up to seven days!

Why Is That?
Well according to Ben Steverman @ Bloomberg banks only transfer once a day at a certain time and only on regular business days. Whereas credit cards operate instantaneously 24/7/365. I'm sure banks are not too hot on changing this since according to the article banks make $30b annually in fees.

I imagine many people do not realize the differences between 'current balance' and that of the 'current balance available'. My bank no longer uses the word pending. Instead those two terms which can be a real gotcha'.

Budget.. Budget.. By All Means Budget !
This is why I'm very attentive to budgeting for bills well ahead of time. Failing to digest the fact the same bills come in the same time every month seems to be a way too common ailment among bill payers. Failing to take these transfer account times between banks into consideration is especially bad for someone like me who depends on the direct deposit from Social Security every month. My bank for several months creates the illusion I have a certain balance ('current balance') when it's actually still pending.

By not budgeting one's money it can put someone between a rock and a hard place. They have two choices. Pay the bill and hope the 'available balance' becomes available before the biller attempts to cash it. OR Let the bill slide until there's enough money actually available. Both are bad choices. If the money bounces a payer can get hit with both the $30 overdraft fees plus those of the biller. Letting it slide is a poor option as well. Payees will get hit with late fees and if it's a credit card could see their credit interests rates go up 10% or more.

The thing that ticks me off is having to wait up to 7 days (if it's a weekend) for banks to transfer my money, but if it's 1 minute after midnight (on the moneychangers end) you get hammered. Bankers' on the other hand doing their money trades on the market are measured in milliseconds. It's their game and they get to make the rules. The only option we are left with is to carefully plan ahead and budget wisely. There's simply no other tool available for consumers.

Why some people continue being surprised every month (year after year) by the same utility and credit card bills is beyond my comprehension.

Some Of Our Favorite TV Shows Went Poof

Repost From September 2016

Each week I compile a list of shows we want to watch. In a few weeks new and returning shows will begin airing. Looking over my list the following won't be coming back. Downton Abbey
Mr. Selfridge
The Good Wife
The Mentalist
Rizzoli & Isles
Forever
King & Maxwell
Castle
Perception
Person Of Interest
Forever
Mysteries of Laura
Back In The Game
Franklin & Bash
Extant
Bones
Haven
White Collar
Unforgettable
Fairly Legal
Common Law
In Plain Sight
By nature I hate change. I know we liked these but not sure which of the new ones are going to be worth watching. You almost dread becoming attached to any of these new ones realizing another whole batch of these will be cancelled no matter how fond you grow of them after only a few episodes.

Syfy has become the slasher channel for tweens. History channel has become home to pickers, pawn stars and a couple of goofy alien programs that ask more questions then it answers. About all USA airs is reruns and WWE. It seems the majority of cable channels owned by the major networks don't know what to do with them. Instead they park their old reruns and other shows which wouldn't even meet the standards for free channel access by local cable companies.

I'm still brooding over the loss of 'The West Wing', 'Boston Legal', 'Stargate' and several other extremely well written shows. Networks today don't want to invest the money for educated writers who not only entertain but are well versed in the background of scripts they create. Looking back over my list there was something which could be learned from them because there was some sort of background substance in them.

In other words any show which might cause people to think a little bit has been replaced by inexpensive so-called reality and competition shows.

The kind of programming that requires neither writing skills nor cause anyone to get a headache from having to think too much. << Putting it kindly

About Apartments' Heating Efficiency

Repost

There's been an argument made regarding how apartments are more efficient to heat then homes. Years ago (in the 70's) the wife & I helped manage and did maintenance involving four apartment complexes. One was in Salisbury Township, another in Catasauqua and two more in Bethlehem. These totaled about 400 units. All of them were either electric forced air or electric baseboard heating.

I'm here to tell you that in many ways (per square foot) these apartments were less efficient then many of the newer single homes of that day. The reason is they were designed knowing renters would be paying for their own electric. When the builders constructed the apartments they did so in the least expensive way.

The insulation, doors and windows used were far from the most efficient available at the time. In three of those complexes' buildings they didn't use insulation between the walls of adjacent units. This meant there was additional costs to someone living next to a empty or someone living next to an occupant who ran their heat (or air conditioning) at a lower setting then their own. Yes there were fire walls, but they were only installed on every other unit. In one case the firewalls didn't even extend beyond the units up to the commons attic roof. This created a draft (summer & winter) from one end of the building to the other end across the top of their ceilings.

It may be true that some apartment complexes may be more efficient then single homes, but that's not always the case per square foot. Some friends we had at the time owned homes several times larger who's heating bills ran lower then some of our single bedroom apartments. Not only because of the way the buildings were constructed, but also because the homes didn't rely on electric heat (which is the most expensive form of heat).

In my particular case the owners built these apartment complexes as cheap as possible then sold them right after to another group of investors. Then leased them from the new owners for the next 5 years (gaming the tax advantages). They were never built to last over the long haul for the new investors nor with tenants utility costs in mind. The point is, don't buy into what some promoters of urban growth tell you regarding apartments always being of greater efficiency.

What one should also keep in mind is the thermodynamics. It always cost more to cool upper level units more then lower ones. Heat rises. The higher the number of stories a apartment is located, the more it will cost to cool it. Which means sometimes it will cost more to cool a 4th floor apartment then it would to cool an average two story single home.

This is an example of another kind of myth that urban proponents constantly perpetuate against single home ownership which tends to aggravate me.

TV Is Crappy These Days

Repost From November 2013

Except for about two dozen shows aired at various times throughout the year, TV has become about as entertaining as a power outage. It's a shame when I find infomercials for the old Carol Burnett Show or the Dean Martin roasts more amusing.


Even some of the shows I've watched for several seasons are becoming more dark. A few weeks ago 'Covert Affairs' featured a horrific torture scene much like 'The Mentalist' did during the same week. These like 'The Good Wife' no longer feature the 'good guys'. I'd given up on 'Burn Notice' long before it was cancelled because there were no longer any good guys on either side and became so gory it was no longer watchable either. Each of these are competing lately to be more malicious then the other.

Sitcoms with their canned laughter drives me crazy along with their zooming jiggling palsy like camera work.

I've just about totally have given up on so-called cable news altogether. Hosts news readers are spending time trying to make a fool of vice president Biden or bashing the oval office, past or present depending which flavor political party you favor. The good news is most of the viewers in the United States aren't even watching these B.S. artists. Take for example Bill O'Reilly. He consistently has the highest rated cable news show with around 3.5 million viewers. A little over 1% of the population of the United States. Shows like NCIS and 'Person Of Interest' draws between 13 million to 18.5 million viewers. So it's very obvious about 99% of the United States viewers don't give a flying fig what they are saying. So thank God they're not representative of what most Americans are thinking (although they'd like you to believe they are). They're like the side show carneys you see at the fair... all hats, no cattle!

Can't stomach C-span either much these days which is presently covering the Senate & House hearings. "Hearings"? That's a joke. They've become tribunals. Department heads are suppose to appear so members of Congress can respectively ask them questions in order achieve a better understanding of what kind of legislation is needed to fix problems. They are not there to be bashed, accused and demeaned. This by congressional members who have more dirt in their own closet then there is sand on a beach. Every time I see them I can't help but thinking of the saying, "he who is without sin.." .

Then there was the big award show of the week. The CMA's. I already knew I wasn't going to watch the same old tired predictable year after year (they all sound alike) country performers. Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, George Strait and so forth.

You could take any one of their hits and have the other perform them and who'd know the difference?


None of them have a unique style like the older country performers. To name a few, Dolly Parton, Dave Dudley, 'Whispering' Bill Anderson, Hank Williams Jr., Tammy Wynette, Johnny Cash and so forth. These were vocalists who listeners would instantly recognize for their own distinctive vocalizations and style.

As if the so-called award show weren't phony enough there was the performance by Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley who took cheap shots at the glitches with Healthcare Reform.

Before some criticize me for not having a sense of humor let me explain. The CMA's were handed out for 47 years and never in those past 46 years has it become political until this year. This is suppose to be about country crooners. Not about their political beliefs. It wasn't done to George Bush (1 or 2). Not to Bill Clinton. Not to any other administration. I don't give a damn how these yodelers feel about Washington politics. This so-called fixed award show was suppose to be about country music and it's performers.

When news, comedy and entertainment shows (including SNL) take to political satire they inevitably piss off one side or the other. Entertainment is suppose to make people feel cheerful, not piss people off. Which is exactly what I find TV has become. More annoying then entertaining. Programs are interjecting their political hogwash more and more when all I'm trying to do is get away from that very kind of B.S.

FINAL THOUGHTS
The music entertainment industry has become one giant corporate controlled mega machine pumping out narrowly defined vocalists and musicians. The days when truly unique sounding artists like Little Richard, Elvis, The Beatles and countless others could walk in the front door are over. Rarely will you see a female singer with her pants on anymore. What's with that?


TV comedies no longer are filmed before a live audience. If they are, there are numerous retakes if they deviate from the script unlike the days of Red Skelton or Jack Benny.

Do me a favor. Watch American Idol, the X-factor and dozens of other shows where they flash to the audience. Look at their mouths. Are they screaming or just applauding? No shows including 'The View' and other day time shows are real. All use enhanced audience audio tracks with people screaming a cheering. PHONY.. BALONEY!

Do me another favor. Pay attention to what you're watching on TV. Whether it's a reality show, drama or comedy... is the main element dependent on creating entertainment at the expense to another character on the show? Each are becoming increasingly alienating towards it's other characters. Whether it's a show based on competition. A drama that kills/tortures the bad guy or a comedy that derives it humor from putting down someone else. They all have one thing in common. The alienation between two sets of groups or individuals.

Now think back to comedy shows like Milton Berle, Jack Benny, Red Skelton, Jackie Gleason and Carol Burnett. Or the highly charged politically balanced TV show 'All In The Family. What each had in common was they made fun of themselves. Not others.

Think back to the drama shows that didn't use graphic blood, guts, torture and killing to make their point. Shows like Murder She Wrote, Baretta, The Rockford Files, Columbo, McCloud, Kojack, McMillion & Wife and about a hundred of others. All of which were wildly successful without using blood stained tortured corpses, action packed explosions or machine gunning down the bad guys.


Are there shows left that I do enjoy?
Damn right there are!
Shows like the PBS's 'Masterpiece Theater" series which rely on writing excellent scripts rather then shoot em' ups. TNT's ' Rizzoli & Isles' who utilize levity. ABC's 'The Middle'. Anyone who's ever had to live from check to check and had kids can relate to that show. USA's 'Necessary Roughness' which takes us for a behind the scenes look (ripped from the headlines) at what is going on in today's world of sports teams. These to name few.


Which brings me to why I haven't blogged lately as much as I used to over the last few daysIt seems wherever I look people are more against things and other people rather then for them. Congress is against themselves. People are criticizing nearly everything and everyone else these days. "Gotcha" seems to be the hottest theme in today's social media and the news. I'm finding it increasingly difficult to source material for this blog that doesn't contain an element of that.

I look through 200 or 400 RSS feeds a day and visit a bunch of other internet sites. What I'm finding is either most of the material coming through is either fluff, self promotion or he said she said bickering. If the mood strikes me that something becomes available that promotes a positive aspect and outcome for others I will pass that along here. Right now I'm not seeing much of that coming through.

I want for this blog and myself to be a greater force for uniting and imparting useful information then what I've been able to come across over the last few days. If that requires fewer posts, so-be-it. But I felt a compulsion to share my views as to why I've not been around for a few days. There's no point joining the chorus around here lately bitching about things or one another. Besides throughout my entire life I've always changed course from where the rest of the fish are swimming. I pride myself on that.

Gee I can hardly wait to see what I will post next
How about You?

:-)

pt>

15 Comments Since January 1, 2025

Gee ain't that swell. Now you know why I'm doing reposts. Why should I spend and hour or two researching with links things that are important to me if nobody gives a shit. I could say a lot more but what's the point?

A Nation Of Renters

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We're becoming a nation of renters. I don't see this as a good thing. Car and home ownership is becoming out of reach. It's always better to own rather then be subjugated to the terms and conditions set by others who have their own best interest in mind. It's almost like being beholden to a master.

New vehicles have become so expensive many are opting to lease instead. There's a few problems as I see it. (1) In two or three years lessees are forced out of their much needed transportation. Sometimes costing them more at the end for things they haven't factored in such as exceeding mileage or vehicle wear. (2) If one purchases a vehicle they can determine when they can best afford another one. Who knows in two or three years what one's financial situation might be. Maybe hanging on to a vehicle for a few years longer would be someone's best option to avoid financial difficulties. (3) Scheduled maintenance is not an option for a lessee. I'll give you one bad example. My son leased a van. The dealer forced him in for an oil change. They overfilled it causing the engine to blow out the crankshaft oil gasket. They demanded he pay $300 for the repair.

Housing rentals are a terrible option.(1) Some charge extra or won't allow pets. (2) Nuisance complaints are handled by the property owner rather then police. Police can't evict people for noise complaints, outside decorations and the all so many restrictions apartment owners come up with. (3) Mortgages payments are spelled out contractually. Apartment owners can raise them to most anything they desire. (4) Twenty or thirty years after paying rent you are entitled to nothing. Owning something on the other hand means you have a tangible asset of value. (5) Even crazier yet is to "buy" a property and still be obligated to pay condo fees. In most cases it's a hellva lot cheaper to pay contractors for repairs and maintenance only when necessary

Don't think for a moment government isn't encouraging this. Some cities have relaxed their single housing zoning requirements. Here in Pennsylvania there have been a number of multimillion government grants to help developers convert so-called historic structures into rental units (including right here in the Lehigh Valley).

While I'm on the subject-- why become a rental employee? I'm talking about being hired by a firm subcontracted to employ workers for a company. Companies are required by law to follow certain rules for their employees. Companies are able to skirt many of these protections by the use of a subcontracted third party jobber. In other words legally speaking, temp agencies. Others hire their labor as independent contractors. Both which means such a worker is being rented out to them on a day-to-day or hourly basis under whatever terms of their choosing.

Seems to me...
We should never buy a new car we can't afford. Buy a used one instead. Hang on to it till you can afford a better one. Rather then rent try to find a mortgage that would be in line with what you now pay in rent. For a long time people bought a "starter home. After a few years flipped it for something better as their earnings grew along with the value of their home. As far as jobs are concerned-- no one should ever settle for less then being actually hired by a firm itself. Perhaps at the same time seeking to make themselves more attractive by acquiring greater skills. It wouldn't hurt to start up a little side business on your own either.

The point is all too many of us are allowing ourselves to become enslaved by making wrong choices. Anytime we allow ourselves to be indebted we become beholden. In order to free ourselves as much as possible we need to release those ties which allow others to control us by financial means whenever possible.

Broadway A Look Back: 'Minnie's Boys'

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According to the Internet Broadway Database this On-Broadway musical played at the Imperial Theatre, (3/26/1970 - 5/30/1970)

There were a total of 64 previews and only 80 performances.

"Minnie's Boys" starring Shelly Winters was considered a Broadway flop because it lasted liitle more then two months on Broadway. It opened on March 26, 1970 and ended it run May 30, 1970.

The musical was based on a behind-the-scenes look at the early days of the Marx Brothers and their mother's strong determination for her boys.

None the less I think the musical score was outstanding and put together a musical compilation video I hope you will enjoy.

The album is now considered a collector's item that sells for round $15-$30

Concord Theatricals still rents the script for this musical.

Who Made God?

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Simple question it is not. Scientist and theologians pretty much agree on this explanation which falls short. They both point out creation was formed containing both time, matter and energy. The problem is we get bogged down with this word existence. Existence is where we live. Existence itself is a product of this intelligent force. Not the other way around. Hence why labeled the creator of all "things".

Imagine if you will someone creates the most intelligent computer in the world. One that never existed before. It then sets out to discover it's creator by whatever limited means were given to it. Would it one day be able to become coequal. Perhaps it's possible over time it might be able to somewhat comprehend it's maker. Even become a close companion, but it's impossible for me to imagine it becoming human. Look, I enjoy the Story of Pinocchio as much as anybody, but really?

I think realistically this is the fix us humans find ourselves in. Just perhaps even the "creator" itself. Could it be possible this creator found itself wondering the very same thing. "Where did I come from"? Since the "eye cannot see itself" just suppose he/she/it set all this in motion hoping we'll come up with an answer. Could this be the motivation behind all of this?

It's been said "God" is complete and has all the answers. Does he/she/it? Hellva assumption from how little we understand. Lonely alone not knowing would be a hellva motivating factor for going to all this fuss. Perhaps we have a lot more in common then anyone's willing to believe. Not just curiosity but possible vulnerability as well in the not knowing.

We can safely assume is there's not a old grey bearded guy sitting on a throne fretting over every little detail of some 7 billion peoples' lives currently living on Earth. The proof lies in the fact millions upon millions have killed each other since leaving the womb... NOTHING. Governments and their leaders find no favor (despite what you heard). Storms, fire, earthquakes meteor impacts... NADA either.

We need to take a logical approach. One which assumes God isn't coming in a flaming chariot with a booming voice. If indeed this intelligence lies beyond "our existence" we need to focus on it's goals. If our purpose is for the creatior to greater understand itself it's seems to me we best align ourselves with that if we wish to remain useful.

Nobody Here But Us Earthlings

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I went down this path before. Thought I'd do a revisit on this subject. Yeah I know.. it ain't healthy to think this much :-)

It's been estimated by some there are 300 billion stars in our Milky Way with some 30 billion planets orbiting around some of them with another estimated 100 billion galaxies for lo these many billions of years.

So where the hell is everybody !


Some theories are: (1) Technological advances made it possible to wipe themselves out in warfare before reaching into space. (2) Religious dogma or government over lords prevented their advancements into the sciences. (3) Their planets might have made life unsustainable before they were able to evolve. (4) We're more evolutionary advanced then any other planet for some reason despite these billions of years and the number of them. (5) They're so advanced they've been able to evolve beyond the physical limitations we're mired in and consider us not worth associating with..

Whatever the reasons one thing's for sure.. if they's around ain't nobody's got evidence of em'. Yeah sure some claim to have seen, been abducted or photographed space visitors. I'm calling bullshit on this. Show me one piece of physical hard evidence. All these years and there's not one piece of alien space junk. Don't even try and tell me about a government cover up. Governments are lousy at keeping secrets. Too many people with big mouths. It can't be done. We've had satellite radio and visual telescopes searching high and wide for decades yet nada..

Face it we are like guppies living in this fish bowl. A few miles beyond this Earth's our body's bone structures w/o gravity begin to deteriorate. Radiation begins to take it's toll no matter how well a capsule's design. The time factor to get from here to anywhere is impossible as far as we know in a person's lifetime. All these would have to be overcome for they just as it would for us. So far it appears nobody's been able to pull off this stunt.

Even If We Were Recognized
Civilization far advanced beyond our own could go one of three ways. (1) They are far more civilized then our own making them consider us barbarians unworthy of participating or sharing in their knowledge. This would be similar to star trek in nature in following the prime directive thus ignoring us. (2) Their culture was ruled under a total 100% complete totalitarian state which disallowed any dissention. (3) Robotic machines replaced their creators having no need any longer of food, water oxygen or other essentials required of flesh Woe be to us if it were the latter two.

Here's What I Concluded
Whoever/whatever the originator of intelligence is finds it's place in whatever is available merely as a reflection of itself whatever he/she/it may be. Hence has no need for mirror images to communicate among itself. If some wish to refer to this creative intelligence as God so-be-it. Hence there may never come a time we'll ever experience other beings.

There's no evidence anyone from our distant future was able to bridge time either. Since intelligence is a function beyond the constraints of physical time which is unto itself may very well be merely a reflection within whatever exist would also account for the lack of necessity for this intelligence to communicate unto itself in this way either.

If someone has a better explanation why no one's around I'd be interested in their explanation as to why not.