The telegraph, the internet, and governmental censorship

While the internet is of very recent vintage, we find that communications that allow people and organizations to quickly communicate their thoughts and news from one entity to another have been around, since the implementation of the telegraph in the 19th century.  At the time, when the telegraph was invented, this permitted those who desired to communicate the option to utilize a device that would allow near instantaneous communication from one part of the country to the next.  This meant that news or other items of interest could be disseminated pretty much in real-time, along with providing areas of the country that were limited to timely information being just local in nature, to get a perspective beyond their provincial town and to hear that which was of national interest, instead.  Indeed, part of what makes news so newsworthy is the timeliness of such, and when this is as close to real-time as possible, it makes that news not only to be more actionable but of much more interest.

 We find then that when the South seceded from the Union, and even before, that the South made it its point, to censor news from Northern newspapers as well as mail communications from Northern enclaves that were reaching the South, so that they could control the narrative of what they wished to disseminate to the Southern population.  This meant that the South censored, suspended, criminalized, and intimidated all those that stepped out of line, of what those that were the powers that be in the South, deemed to be damaging to their cause. 

 So, when it came to the telegraph, it was imperative for the South to take control of the information being transmitted because unlike a publication or a letter, which must first be printed or written and then still needed to be delivered to its destination, the telegraph, which could be equated to a sort of Victorian internet, permitted news to be sent nearly instantaneously, and therein lies the rub.

 What the South did back then, is similar to what certain governmental agencies are attempting or desiring to do in the present age, which is to control what is disseminated to the general public and therefore to suppress any and all information that does not follow the orthodoxies of those that are in power.  While there may be legitimate reasons why certain information, needs to be suppressed, such as in times of war, the bottom line is that once it has been decided that the government should have an agency, so labeled as the “Ministry of Truth,” and that all such being posted on social media and the like, must first be approved by that Ministry or their minions, then freedom of the press, and freedom of speech, has been vacated, and therefore the people are not free.

 Indeed, freedom can be messy, and not everything read or disseminated is constructive, true, or of merit, but to permit governmental agencies to determine or to suppress or to intimidate those that are gateways of that information being available to the general public, is anathema to any people, that would be free, or desire to come to their own thoughts, without undue interference.

Repent!

There are plenty of Christians, who just want to go to church, and never to be challenged to be a better person – perhaps because they consider themselves already to be a good person, but also more likely because they don’t want to be reminded of their faults and their failings.  Yet, all of us have room for improvement and therefore all of us have character faults that we need to repent from, especially those faults which are detrimental not only to our own being but to other people, as well.  Yet, through it all, few people actually want to own up to their sins, and even fewer want to do something constructive to correct them.

 We read in the Holy Scripture, “Jesus answered them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5: 31-32).  So clearly part of Jesus' mission, if not the main part, was to awaken the people to change their wicked ways so that they would rise up and therefore do right, and not, therefore, to fall down and continue to do wrong.

 This world is a proving ground, and all those who believe that simply accepting Christ as their savior, will somehow be good enough to reach Heaven, have sadly got it wrong.  What we think, say, and do always has consequences, not just for ourselves, but also for those that we interact with, day by day, which is why we need to repent from our sinfulness and determine to do better and thereby to be of benefit for those that we congregate with and influence.

 To somehow believe that Christ entered this world, never to challenge us to become what we ought and should be, is to misunderstand the mission of Christ.  Christ came to awaken us from the errors of our ways, and thereby to make us better people, which is why we need to not only to recognize our sins and errors but also that we have an obligation to overcome them.  Indeed, it is never too late to do the right thing, though time may be short, and even though there are those sinful things that we have done or have occurred that cannot be changed; yet, our attitude and our doing can be changed for the better in the present, and the sooner that we do so, the better it will be for us.

 All those that believe in an easy Christianity, in which, not much of anything is demanded of us, and pretty much we’re considered to be okay, if we behave civilly, most of the time, have got it wrong.  Christianity is an active faith, which necessitates us actually doing something of merit for ourselves and for others, and fundamentally this requires us to repent of our sinfulness, and when weak we are advised to lean upon others of good moral strength, so as to build the good character to be a better person, so that we can become that which we were always meant to be, which requires good purpose, sacrifice, and the staying on the straight and narrow, through our conscious repentance that doing of the wrong thing, is never going to be right.

The return of the white world

There are plenty of people who are concerned that America is turning its back upon the amalgamation of the races, because there is a subset of unenlightened white people, who want this nation to be a nation of, for, and by whites, which clearly the orthodox body politic has distanced itself from in recent decades.  Further to their point, these prejudiced whites believe that the very reason why America seems to be in decline is because these non-white people have taken over America, or are being coddled by the American governance, of which, everything would be a-OK if America simply became all white again.

 While America has never been completely white, mainly because of the presence of American Indians and blacks, it absolutely was exclusively run by whites, and only in the 20th century, did things really begin to change, of which, when that change came -- America did change.  That said, all those who are prejudicial for whites and only whites, seem to feel though that it’s not too late, for America to become all white again, as well as there are plenty of people in Europe who feel that their European nations should also return to being all white. 

 What seems to be forgotten, though, for those that seek an all-white America, and therefore of the belief, that everything that ails America presently, would be resolved if it was all white, is the history of America.  When we look at that history, we see that the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War I, and World War II, consisted primarily of whites fighting against other white people. In other words, as much as white people want to currently believe that whites just love each other, history tells us that this isn’t true, at all.

 Indeed, what people tend to forget, is that wars and disputes are seldom fought on a strictly color line, but are more akin to dealing with disputes about religion, or class status, or just for lucre and exploitation, which signifies that as much as whites want to believe that they are all similar, the fact of the matter is, that they aren’t, and if there truly was a white America, that somehow magically re-appeared, there would be plenty of things for whites to complain and fight about amongst themselves, which typically would come down to the same things, that annoy so many whites today, such as opportunity, religion, education, fairness, and money.

 To believe that somehow if everyone was of the same skin color that there would be thereby a Shangri-la in America, is to believe in a myth that will never occur. This should be fairly obvious when we see the territorial fights between present-day whites, such as at football games, or on the streets, or just the general disdain that those that have, display against those that have not, and of more poignancy, the believed necessity that those that have, need the poor and disadvantaged, to exploit and to take advantage of, so as to maintain or to augment their status. This is why an all-white America, will never be a land of non-conflict and happiness, because humankind will always find something to war about until there comes that day when it recognizes that the inherent equality and unalienable rights of all, is the creed to truly live by.

What one word sums up the credo of America

Plenty of people believe the best words encapsulating what America represents are words such as liberty, freedom, justice, or many other words of the same general uplifting ilk.  Yet, as appropriate as these words might seem, they don’t really encapsulate what America is all about because America was founded on not just great principles, but also established through the violence so directed against their English oppressors.  So too, America has a history of enslaving peoples, which is hardly becoming of a land of liberty, of which, those so enslaved, were not freed, through peaceful means, but actually this necessitated a brutal and bloody civil war to accomplish such.

 Indeed, when we look at the incarceration rates in America as compared to other Western nations, and the violent crime, so of, it has to be admitted that America doesn’t even seem all that civilized, which seemingly makes no sense, for a country that is supposed to represent the bastion of freedom, liberty, and opportunity.

 Instead, it has to be admitted that America despite all of its well-reasoned laws and great principles, has never been able to successfully shake off the fact that time and time again, America just can’t help itself, and thereby dismisses treaties and diplomacy to reach for its guns, as if to say, that justice comes through the barrel of a gun, which obviously is something not becoming of a nation known for its rule of law, and supposed tolerance of other peoples and nations, in their having the right to sovereignty and self-determination.

 It would be desirable that this land would actually live up to its creed to be a “sweet land of liberty” but all the evidence demonstrates that this is patently untrue.  Rather, America asserts again and again, that might makes right, and proves that point by the utilization of its military throughout the world, as well as controlling its own population when it is becoming uncivil, through an iron fist, that oppresses especially those people who are the furthest away and with the least amount of hope to ever fairly obtain the American dream.

 This is a nation that has clearly lived by the sword, since its inception, and while knowing what the right thing to do is, insists upon ignoring such, so as to simply take care of business through its guns, to thereby take control of whatever it doesn’t desire to engage with in a civil conversation, or to establish any real form of justice with.  Rather, America makes it its point, to shoot first, and ask questions later, which is quite unfortunate -- for a true leader of democracy and freedom, would conduct itself in a way and manner that would be consistent with a mature and balanced view of the world along with contributing to accomplishing the appropriate interactions which would reflect that very thing.

 In truth, “guns” is the word that sums up America, appropriately, for it is those guns that fought for American independence, and it is those same guns, that kept the Union together.  No doubt, a strong argument could be made that this was appropriate – yet, what has been forgotten throughout all this drama is that America still has its guns and still uses them, and seemingly won’t relinquish its hold on those guns because it is those guns that America truly lives and stands by.

For the love of family

While there are those families that seemingly can’t get along with one another or are dysfunctional in some fundamental way or another – it has to be admitted that many a family really appreciates and loves one another, which makes for a far more satisfying life, for the knowing that our family members truly have our back.

 One of the seminal things about great family units is that they are not “fair-weather friends” to us, but rather, accept us foibles and all, as we are, and thereby deal with us along the lines of unconditional love, which includes patience, empathy, and concern, which thereby helps us greatly to maintain our sensibility and to have thus the appropriate perspective when it comes to the trials and tribulations that life presents to all of us in one form or another.

 The attributes of a great family structure include qualities such as trust, acceptance, friendship, and a general caring for one another.  This means that when something goes wrong, or when there is an argument, we find that because we have trust between one family member to another, and an understanding that each of us is flawed and has our own weaknesses, that we don’t give up on one another, but rather we help and aid the other, in the sure knowledge that when we need their assistance, that they will be there for us.  Indeed, forgiveness and an appreciation for the other, are necessary attributes for families to maintain their balance and to thereby be good to one another.

 That said, the great fault that we have in societies, is the inability for so many of us, to treat one another, more along the lines that we are all an integral part of the family of God’s creation, and thereby because we are all one big family, created by the same immaculate hand, we need to be more patient, to be more tolerant, and to be more caring, one to another.  That is to say, the best of the qualities that we demonstrate with our family members, should not ideally be exclusive just to our family but rather needs to be spread around with others that we congregate with, and by doing so, we will help make this world a better place for our good connection one to another.

 We love our family because we know them, and we understand, though imperfect, that they are lovable, all the same.  This is a sort of gracious characteristic we need to develop more in the society that we are an active member of, where we see the good in the other, and help to make things better, where we can, as opposed to not wanting to be involved in the troubles that we come across, or even worse, to contribute to those troubles, by our misbehavior.  While it is good to be good to those that we know, care for, and love, it is to our everlasting credit when we do our level best to provide that same care and consideration to those that we interact with, so that we can be seen as good and faithful servants to that which actuated us, in the beginning.

Traffic lights need to get even “smarter”

We live in a day and age in which there are traffic sensors and cameras that provide real-time information to traffic signals so that those traffic signals can thereby adjust from red to green in order to enhance traffic flow.  While this has been a material improvement to those “dumb” traffic lights, there is still ample room for improvement, because those traveling along our streets in which there isn’t any other cross traffic impeding their forward motion, are averse to wanting to stop at a traffic signal for apparently no good reason, which is why traffic light efficiency needs to and should improve even more.

 No doubt, there are plenty of times during the day when traffic is heavy and so drivers are going to have to stop at traffic lights, and may even have to cycle through a traffic light sequence more than once to cross an intersection.  Drivers understand this, and while they might be somewhat frustrated, they correctly comprehend that busy intersections are an exercise in patience and of which there isn’t much that can be done to improve that flow, except for those traffic signals adjusting to whatever direction at the intersection seems to have more traffic than normal.

 However, there are plenty of times during the day, such as in the early morning hours, or the late evening hours, or upon those stretches of road in which there never really is heavy traffic, that drivers typically do not desire that they therefore have to slow down and come to a complete stop when there isn’t any cross traffic in sight.  To alleviate this type of situation, traffic signals should incorporate any and everything that would help to make the traveling of those roads more efficient for drivers, such as overhead cameras that pick up vehicles at a greater distance from the light than currently done or devices embedded in vehicles which communicate through GPS or similar with traffic lights, as well as more strategically place sensors embedded in the road.

 No doubt, the best way to improve that traffic flow would be to experiment with just about anything that reasonably comes to mind that would represent something that is both reliable and cost-efficient to improve traffic flow, which in its own way, would also help reduce carbon emissions, along with providing to drivers of vehicles a more pleasant driving experience, as well as the appreciation of the efficiency and smartness of those traffic signals.

 Look, it has to be said, that drivers believe that they are in command of their vehicles, and therefore whenever they come across an obstruction that seemingly doesn’t seem right, such as a red light, when there isn’t any cross traffic, they rightly feel that their implied right of way has been impeded.  So then, in an era of hi-technology, it would behoove governmental authorities to do their level best to see that traffic lights serve their intended purpose better by being more efficient in their duties, which thus makes for a better experience for those so traveling the roads.

Let there be Light

Even those that do not read the Bible, or care not for it, are familiar with this passage from Genesis 1:3 “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”  Indeed, not only is there light, but God is that Light, and from that Light everything good and just commences.  In the Holy Scripture, it is important to comprehend that light should be seen as a metaphor for God  That is to say, Light represents God, and all those that are within that Light and answer to that Light, are in harmony with God; whereas, those that are in darkness, are those that are either ignorant of God, or have willfully turned their back upon God, of which, by doing so, they suffer the fair consequences of their ill-advised actions.

 The great thing about light is the fact that we can be in the darkest of darkest rooms, or in the deepest of deepest dungeons, and seemingly without hope of ever seeing or being in light, again – but when we find the metaphorical switch for that Light, or have someone bring that Light to us, the darkness and despair which has overwhelmed us, will be gone in a flash, and will thereby be as if it never existed.  This thus signifies that God is as close to us, as we are willing to accept God, and that those that have made error after error, and mistake after mistake, need not fret, that all is lost, for the eternal Light which is God, is that Light, that illuminates forever and ever, without end.

 Indeed, this world is our testing ground, and the challenges that each of us faces are never to defeat us, but rather serve as a thorn in our side, or a spur to our being, to awaken us from the delusion that so often takes us away from that which is Light, so that, we can thereby remove ourselves from not seeing clearly the brightness and clarity of that Light.  God cares for each and every one of us, and abandons none, no matter the time and space, that seemingly separates us from that brilliant Light.

 So then, it is vital for each one of us to not make the error of identifying so strongly with that which represents our mistakes, regrets, and errors in life, without seeming to recognize that so much of what we think is permanent and therefore unchanging, is not, in essence, actually true.  No matter the great distance between us and the God who created us, we are not ever alone, and never are we abandoned.  The key to our enlightenment then is at our disposal, through the usage of our free will, and our desire to do our good part to rediscover the Light that is within and without us, and the sooner that we do that, the sooner that we will realize that as a special creation of God, that we are ourselves beings made of Light, meant to merge with that one Light, so as to bring illumination and insight to all those that have lost their way, and thereby need the Light that we help provide to find their way back home.

To lose a democracy

There is a general belief in America, that this is a nation, of, for, and by the people, of which, through the democratic process of voting upon our legislators as well as the propositions presented, the people thereby control the direction of the nation that they are ostensibly in charge of, through that representative government.  That said, the fact of the matter is that the people’s voice is pretty much an irrelevancy when it comes to what does or does not occur from subsequent governmental actions and decrees, of which, despite having the vote, it has to be recognized that voters are often being manipulated to vote against their own interests basically, made easier because many voters have not successfully developed the insight to understand the actuality of what is truly going on.

 The first thing to recognize when it comes to power is because the United States has the most fearsome military might in the world, while also having the biggest economy and worldwide footprint, is that those powerful entities that are most intimately involved with politics, government, or business, do not desire to see their hegemony infringed, especially by people, that don’t seem to recognize their appropriate place.  This is why, those who hold the levers of power, whether visible, or behind the scenes, are absolutely determined to see that they continue to get their way, which is why, they use the political process to make sure that those being voted into office will toe the appropriate line, and further that the legislative laws so contemplated and passed are in tune with what the true actuators of this nation, deeply desire.  Sure, it is recognized that there will always be some pushback from the people or from certain politicians, but as long as those entities are in the minority, what needs to be done, will continue to be done.

 So too, while religion appeals to many people of many different faiths, for many a reason, it has to be noted that those who are typically most inclined to be religious, aren’t the biggest movers and shakers in society, who are often more practical or pragmatic, but rather religion appeals primarily to those that are the least amongst us.  In other words, a lot of people turn to religion, because their life isn’t where it ought to be, and see religion as a way to buttress themselves, so as to when not readily able to change their circumstances, to at least change their perspective. This thus indicates, that the powers that be, for a certainty, have an abiding interest in the religious faith of the people, not though from the perspective of being of benefit to the people, but rather as a way and means to get more people to accept their lot in life, and to understand that rebellion of any sort, should be seen as anathema to all those of any religious faith.

 Indeed, the principle point of those that are the most powerful personages in America, be that political, business, or the military, is to take what is ostensibly a democracy with the right to vote equally applied and see to it, that the people are manipulated into voting for that which those powers desire, which takes the concentrated effort to effectively mold people through applied political and religious pressure to see things that are in harmony with what those powers desire, which basically thereby subverts what a true democracy should be about.

Beyond finiteness

There are many people who believe that life is finite.  That is to say, we are born and we will invariably die, and thereupon our existence will permanently end.  This is only true in the sense that nothing finite, can ever become infinite, so that, because physicality is finite, and because this earth as presented is material, we cannot escape the prison of being finite, of which, therefore there is a known beginning and thereby there will be a known end, because that which is finite is subject to the laws of space and time.  On the other hand, to believe that we are finite beings is to be ignorant of the fact that we are not actually finite, because our true identity as soul is infinite, for God has begotten us, and God is not limited by anything and never will be, for God has no beginning and God has no end. 

 This signifies that for all those who are so caught up in this world, of which, they sincerely believe that this is the be-all and end-all of their existence, must surely recognize that since they cannot preclude physical death, nor can they bring forth infinite life to any other progeny or student, then they are stuck within the belief that could be stated, that life has no real significance, for it has no infinite continuum.  Indeed, this philosophy is foundationally wrong, and we intuitively know this, because out of nothing, no life, as we know it, could ever exist, or be imagined, or be birthed into existence.  That is to say, there must not only be a First Cause, but the First Cause could only exist outside of time and space.

 How a given individual desires to devote their time in this worldly existence, is up to them, for they have been gifted the unalienable right to free will, and therefore are privileged with thinking and thereby doing whatever that they wish, subject to humankind's laws, and the limits of that free will that meets up with those that are utilizing their own free will in their own way.  The object of the exercise when we incarnate into human beings on earth, is to not only to develop our skillset so as to become closer and more in harmony with the valued attributes of our Creator, but to challenge ourselves to take what we know to do, and to thereby do those very things, to therefore make society a better place for our good participation in it.

 Indeed, the sooner that we recognize and acknowledge what we truly are, the better we will be able to traverse that which is time, so represented as the changes that we see transpiring all around us, as well as to deal forthrightly with the divisions that seemingly divide us, which regrettably leads so many of us to war upon one another, verbally or physically.  We are meant to see the bigger picture and to recognize that this world is our proving ground, to take that which has been unproven by our character, and to thereby mold, through fire and ice, to become that which eventually becomes a great pillar in the palace of God, thereby presenting ourselves as a mature being that will not ever waver, come what may, in the vicissitudes of any other conscious existence.

Standing on the shoulders of giants

We are told that what we have learned in previous generations and through earlier great and visionary personages, permits us to take that knowledge and thereby to make continual progress in the understanding of our world and thus we can take the resources of this world, along with our insight, to make this world a better place than it so was in the past.  Indeed, humankind has made such great progress in recent generations, that the material things that we so often take for granted today, are oftentimes that which didn’t even exist at any previous time in human life, and of which, a lot of what we most appreciate in having, are those vital items that are of very recent vintage and are utilized daily.

 It might be fair to state then that all we know readily comes forth from our previous understandings, garnered through organizations and people, that have thereby opened the doors to knowledge that previously was unknown or even fathomed by us.  That said, when we look at mythology we find that gods and goddesses have been around societies and humankind for eons, of which, while this can just be dismissed as folklore or superstition, there is however a fairly reasonable theory, that perhaps what we now have designated as myth, has its origins in that which has far more to do with historical truth, then modern humankind seems willing to give any actual credence to, whatsoever.

 That is to say, the galaxy is large and vast, which presupposes that advanced civilizations, that desire discovery or to be of aid, may have previously come to this planet, and may even at this late day, still visit us from time to time.  In fact, when we look at history, and the storytelling that we read, we find that oftentimes past human civilizations, believe that some of the most fundamental things that were learned came forth, not from sudden insights from human beings, but rather that this is something that the gods above, brought down to us on earth.  While many of high intellectual status and high education dismiss this as something not becoming of their time or energy, it shouldn’t be, because in fairness to past civilizations, it has to be recognized that even people today have noted that both UFOs and extraterrestrials seem to actually exist; even though this seems to be suppressed by governmental agencies, for the supposed protection of the people, so as to not interfere perhaps in long-held beliefs that might upset religious creeds or scare unduly those that would believe that extraterrestrials mean us harm.

 Yet, when we fairly ponder upon this point, we find that those societies who consider themselves more “civilized” typically propagate to those who seem more primitive and thereby less advanced, what we know about medicine, health, food, transportation, and the like so as to help those that seem to be lacking those good things, to have therefore a better and more fulfilling life – for the enlightenment that we bring to their communities that have seemingly been left far behind to the accouterments of this modern age.  In other words, we are giants to those who lack the educational foundations that we have in abundance which we duly pass on to others so that they can advance their communities.  This then seems in harmony with what a god or goddess from above theoretically first provided to us, eons ago, to help therefore the human race and civilization to progress.

Life is a proving ground meant to transcend our errors

A lot of people either don’t know the purpose of life or have it basically wrong.  The very first thing we ought to want to do is to figure out the purpose of our life, and then live to that principle purpose.  That said, even knowing what we should do, is not ever the same thing as actually doing those things, for many a person, seems to have faults within their psyche, or with their discipline, or have various other issues, which seemingly precludes them from making good decisions consistently, and what we do day in and day out, defines who and what we are in this material experience.

 The object of the exercise is to take who we currently are and to thereby transcend our errors so that we grow into becoming what we were always meant to be.  This definitely means that we will be challenged time and time again for how else can it be fairly determined that we have taken our lessons to heart if we aren’t tested upon those lessons?   Indeed, when we are schooled, the way that a teacher ascertains that we have learned our lessons and have successfully applied them is to test us, upon such, and those who pass those tests with flying colors are those who grow and have proven their merit; whereas those that have fallen short, know that they have yet to fully develop their skillset.

 One of the most difficult things to overcome in this world, is bad habits, for bad habits are deleterious to our being because these have become seemingly ingrained within our thinking and our doing, which therefore means that we keep doing the same stupid or erroneous things again and again, that produces no benefit for us, yet we seem either not to care about such, or can’t seem to overcome or shake off these bad habits, but this is though the very thing that we need to overcome so as to transcend our errors and to thus develop into a better person.  That is why, those who point out our errors, are typically doing us a service, because the very first step in correcting that which is wrong, is the recognition of it, and the next step is to do something constructive about such so that we can be of better character.

 So then, life is a challenge, of which, each of us has our challenges to overcome and conquer.  That doesn’t mean, though, that we need to go about it alone, for those who work in collaboration, can strengthen themselves to collectively get to where we all ought to be, which is why a team that works together to overcome obstacles helps all those that participate in achieving that overriding objective.  How far we go in any given life, really comes down to our effort, our thinking, and the prudent usage of the tools that we have at our disposal, along with the grit to get it done.  Those who keep their nose to the grindstone and behave in a manner in which nothing is more important than resolving what needs to be successfully resolved are the same who transcend their previous errors so as to obtain the only prize truly worth winning

The decline of efficiency at the USPS

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has been in a steep decline in the efficiency of delivering individual first-class mail since 2020 and seems no closer to resolving its delivery inefficiencies today than it was yesterday.  Look, it has to be said, the average customer is not so concerned about premium services provided by USPS and how good or great that they might be, but definitely cares about the mail that they send out or receive from family, friends, and the like, of which, because so many families and friends end up living some distance away from one another it is thereby imperative that mail being sent is received by our valued friends and family in a timely manner.  Yet, disappointingly, this isn’t occurring even close to an acceptable level, of which, the USPS just offers excuses, that at the end of the day, don’t register with individuals because they know that the USPS has previously proven that it can deliver mail on time.

 It shouldn’t have to be this way and it shouldn’t be this way, because the one thing about America, is that companies, all over this great nation, are constantly innovating and getting better at performing what they need to perform, day after day.  Further, it isn’t like the USPS doesn’t have competition, because it does, from the likes of UPS and FedEx, so that it would behoove the USPS to rise up and to be competitive against these private enterprise companies that quite frankly are far more reliable and dependable than what USPS presently represents.

 It is to  USPS’s lasting shame that it offers nothing but excuses for why it can’t perform what it needs to perform, as compared to coming up with needed innovations and thinking outside the box to better perform its valued service.  Those who make excuses, and complain about this and that as the reason why USPS can’t do better, don’t seem to recognize that, unlike private enterprise companies that are consistently making profits and doing well by the shareholders, that USPS can’t even come close to breaking even, but rather in fiscal year 2023, lost an incredible $6.5 billion.  To believe, somehow, that USPS can’t right its ship because there isn’t any profit in the delivering of goods and mail, is belied by the fact that private enterprise companies are proficient at doing that very thing.  Further to the point, it’s aggravating to the taxpaying citizens of this nation, to recognize that there isn’t any real guarantee that what they send out via first-class mail will arrive on time, which is not only embarrassing when it comes to seminal events such as a wedding, a birthday, or an anniversary, but it seems that this happens far too often with nary a concern or care at USPS.

 There is definitely something that needs to be fundamentally fixed with USPS, and fixed soon, because what USPS represents at the present time to those that it is supposed to competently serve, is far short of acceptable, and it isn’t trending in the right direction, either.

The fixed 30-year mortgage at a competitive rate is the only way to go

It does seem sort of strange, that banks would willingly issue 30-year fixed mortgages in America, in consideration that this sort of commitment by a bank could be disadvantageous to banks when inflation is persistent and high. Still, a 30-year fixed mortgage is the norm in America and has been for quite some time.  We find though that there are other options available for home buyers, such as the 15-year fixed mortgage which might even be a better fit for certain individuals, as well as there being also Adjustable Rate Mortgages which many a person is enticed into taking.  There are, indeed, quite a few options that consumers can avail themselves of when it comes to getting a mortgage, but in short, a 30-year mortgage is often going to be the best bet for most consumers and there are some very valid reasons why.

 An important issue when it comes to a mortgage is the understanding that inflation is part and parcel of the American economy at this point and is not going to go away, anytime soon.  Additionally, governments, the world over, do not want deflation to ever be a norm within their economy, because deflation means that goods are getting cheaper over time, and when this is the case, consumers are going to be patient and purchase what they need to purchase, later as compared to sooner, which is why we don’t see deflation, and instead see inflation.  Additionally, America has for nearly a century seen its dollar depreciate in value because of that inflation. 

 So then, it is important to recognize that inflation is here to stay, of which, the Federal Reserve is comfortable with 2% inflation, though in recent times, inflation has been significantly hotter than that, in addition to the salient fact that the government has a massive deficit which needs to be serviced, which puts pressure on the dollar and its worth, and thereby plays its own influence upon the overall inflation rate.

 The very good thing about a 30-year mortgage is the fact that the payment coupon each month does not change, whatsoever, for 30 years.  It is the same amount of money, year in and year out, which signifies that for all those consumers who believe that their income will surely go up and at least match the inflation rate, or do even better than that, they will intuitively recognize that the paying of their 30-year mortgage as time goes on, will get progressively cheaper.  That is to say when a person’s income doubles over a period of time, but their mortgage payment coupon remains the same, the amount of one’s salary thus being dedicated to that mortgage payment has been slashed significantly.  This is why a 30-year fixed mortgage is so beneficial to the consumer, because that debt first incurred, is going to get progressively cheaper, because of inflation, and therefore their ability to pay that mortgage will get progressive easier; whereas, for those that have signed up for an Adjustable Mortgage rate, they are stuck within a construct in which higher inflation, necessitates a higher mortgage coupon payment, which is something that they should want to do their level best to avoid.

In defense of the rolling stop

In America, there seemingly is an endless procession of stop signs, of which, for virtually any trip that a driver makes, they will encounter one of those ubiquitous stop signs and the law states, that at a stop sign, the vehicle needs to come to a full and complete stop which is defined as being no forward momentum at the designated stop sign marker, and to proceed only when they have ascertained that there is no oncoming traffic or pedestrians that have the right of way over them.  One might think, since everyone has taken a driver’s test, that everyone would not only know what the law is regarding what is appropriate for a driver to do at a stop sign but that the general public would unquestionably obey it, pretty much every time.

 Not too surprisingly, to ascertain whether or not drivers are consistently coming to a full stop at just about any stop sign, that isn’t incredibly busy, we discover that a significant percentage of drivers, do not come to a full and complete stop.  Rather, they come to a rolling stop, of which, when they see that there are no pedestrians or cross traffic, they proceed along their way – and if they do see a pedestrian or cross traffic, they will almost always stop, but typically not behind the designated stop sign marker.

 Look, it has to be said, that when people are driving they don’t like having to come to a complete stop, mainly because that keeps them from making progress to their intended destination, and knowing that a full stop is equivalent to making no progress, they find it to be a bit irritating.  Indeed, in a lot of cases at a significant amount of stop signs, there isn’t any cross traffic and there aren’t any pedestrians, of which, when traveling at five miles per house or less, the field of vision for the driver is adequate to take in this information, which is why many a person, does not come to a full and complete stop, but rather makes a rolling stop, which is defined as slowing down when approaching the stop sign, but never completely stopping the vehicle’s forward motion.

 The fact of the matter is that violating the stop sign rule and thereby when ticketed by a police officer, for such, will mean that the driver has to pay a monetary fine and will also suffer the penalty of a point or more being added onto their driving record, which could mean a higher car insurance rate.  Yet, a rolling stop, in which, nobody was endangered, whatsoever, but the driver is ticketed, just seems unfair.  Not only that, but any police officer, strategically placed where the officer’s view of the stop sign is unobstructed, could issue ticket after ticket after ticket for rolling stop sign violations because it happens so frequently.  This would presuppose that there should be more flexibility in the law, about what constitutes a legal stop, especially in those intersections in which there hasn’t been an accident in years, which would better reflect that a rolling stop is not nearly as dangerous as the busybodies might so imagine or fear.

Driver’s license should include a side view profile picture

In consideration, that for many a person, our Driver’s License, is not only our main form of identification, but also is utilized all of the time to identify ourselves, it is somewhat surprising that the physical information that makes up a Driver’s License is typically provided by the individual so applying or renewing such, and further to the point, that the main photo is always a face shot and no more. 

 The main issue with providing height and weight is the seminal fact that people are prone to exaggerate or reduce these numbers, respectively, so what has been recorded is not an accurate depiction of their height or weight.  Additionally, the face shot while being consistent in the sense that the applicant is instructed to stand in a certain place when the photo is taken, it isn’t as consistent as it could be, for most States allow the applicant to smile, which thereby changes the structure of the face.  However, the biggest thing which is missing from Driver’s License photos is that there is not presently, another photo taken of the side view.

 It is somewhat surprising, that despite all the advances in the scheme of technology and the monitoring of the population, the Driver’s License protocol has not yet mandated that a side view profile, basically akin to what a perpetrator must endure in their mugshot, has not become part and parcel of a Driver’s License, for a side view is going to do a much better job of providing the perspective to better see the bone structure and jawline of a given individual, along with providing telling information in regards to those certain individuals, that have tattooed something on the side of their neck.

 It isn’t so much that a side view profile is absolutely mandatory when it comes to a Driver’s License, but rather has a lot to do with providing more information for identification purposes, and therefore for law enforcement, for many a person, claims that their Driver’s License photo does not truly convey what they look like in real life, leading to the fact that because weight and height are taken as being true, it is therefore not only conceivable but probable that some people are now carrying Driver Licenses that are not actually their own; whereas, a side view profile, would reduce this type of trickery of getting over on law enforcement and similar.

 Indeed, if the purpose of a Driver’s License is for identification, then an additional photo that provides telling facial information would make eminent sense.  Also, it isn’t like the general public would be up in arms in protest because, at the end of the day, they need their Driver’s License in order to drive and to provide fair identification of who they actually are.  It would seem, therefore, that in this day and age of ever more intrusive governmental monitoring that something as straightforward as adding a side view profile picture would be something that governments, the world over, would surely begin to embrace.

The Limits of Scientific Discovery

There is a field of thought that whatever science does not discover, reflects doubt upon the existence of things that have not been discovered or have yet to be discovered.  That is to say, there are far too many people, even those of high intelligence who believe that if there isn’t any scientific proof behind a contention or a theory, then whatever that it is, does not exist or is essentially irrelevant.  So then, for these people, it is discoveries so made through science, that prove things, and that which remains unproven or undiscovered is seen, at best, as a theorem, yet unproven, and therefore of suspect validity.

 Indeed, to limit ourselves to the belief that science determines what is real as compared to what is unreal or a myth, is far too limiting, because not only does science limit itself to what it can see, measure, and theorize about, but science does not do a good job, nor is it the best instrument to do such, when it comes to that which is spiritual in nature, and all that which is similar to that sort of domain.  So then, for those who believe in nothing other than what is tangible, or that can be measured or successfully theorized through scientific means, much of all else is considered to be almost irrelevancy.

 So too, scientific theories, even those of long-standing, as well as scientific discoveries, along with the meaning of such, are very much subject to change, when new and relevant information thereby comes into play, which heretofore was not given any credence, or simply wasn’t something that had been measured or noted.  This thus indicates that science and the discoveries that are made are in certain aspects, in a state of flux, because the certainty of what has been discovered or theorized, is subject to change, when discoveries or new theories that make more sense or are more comprehensive, are discovered.  This though doesn’t reflect that science is somehow flawed, but rather that our knowledge is subject to being incomplete, and therefore subject to being changed – in addition to the salient fact that there are unknowns that when they become known, or if they become known,  can change our perspective on many a previous discovery.

 Because science is ever investigating, and to its credit, willing to change when it receives information that is contrary to a previous belief, we live therefore in a day and age, in which we have not yet discovered everything that is there to be discovered, and therefore to understand everything that needs to be understood.  Humankind has a quest to comprehend their place and their meaning in life, and to the degree that science and its discoveries can help in that quest, all to the good.  The mistake, though, that can be made, is those that limit themselves to believing that if science cannot prove it, or has not discovered it, or even theorize about it, then this thing cannot or should not exist, which thereby seemingly closes the book -- on a book, that should not be closed, because to believe that science and science alone, answers all questions, is clearly to misunderstand and miscomprehend all that there really is.

Note-taking has its place

There are times when we are told that we need to take notes, such as in a classroom, at work, or during a lecture or sermon.  While, no doubt, those who impress upon us the value of good note-taking have the best of intentions, it has to be admitted, though, as well, that when we take notes, we are also taking our attention away from what is being spoken or written, to concentrate on that note-taking, which may or may not always be beneficial.  In truth, some people don’t take all that many notes but are just as sharp or sharper than those who have taken notes.  The difference is that those who are engaged but are not note-taking, are relying upon their memory to take in information and to thereby process it, and because of this, they don’t need to take in nearly as many notes as others.  Further to the point, the reason behind note-taking is essentially to jog our mind into remembering the salient points of what we have been taught, or, for example, the order that we need to do things to accomplish a given task, in which, at the end of the day, note-takers, end up absorbing into their memory, as well, the most important points that they needed to learn.  So then, it could be argued, that note-taking for at least some people, is akin to utilizing a crutch, for the object of the exercise is to learn what we need to learn, so that only infrequently, will we need to subsequently look something up, or refer back to our notes.

 In ancient times, only a small elite of people were literate, which means that the processing and the passing on of information and stories was done verbally, and because these people were not literate, they, therefore, had to develop their minds and their memory in order to absorb not only the salient points of what was being addressed but also to pass on such information in a way and manner, that the information or the story was true to what was first explained or told to them.  That is to say, those who were illiterate had little choice if they were to advance and to become valued members of society, but to use their memory as their own form of a library, from which they could thereby draw a wealth of information from.  This would more than imply, that as much as we might impress upon the other, the great value in note-taking, that society should not, therefore, neglect that the exercising of our memory and thereby our mind to remember and thereby store information has immense value, as well.

 Indeed, our mind and our memory are ours, and are ever with us, as compared to the internet or our notes, which may not always be there, especially when we need to draw upon them, in an exigent circumstance. That is why, we should have classes in which no notes are even permitted to be taken so that we can develop the memory of our mind, and perhaps learn the value of something that we are not therefore utilizing as much as we should or ought.

America is not so white

We read at Wikipedia.org, that the share of people in the United States who identify themselves as non-Hispanic white and no other race has declined from 83.1% which is what it was in 1980, to 61.6% in 2020, and in the decade of 2010-2020, this same white population actually declined in numbers.  This would surely indicate that not only do our eyes not deceive us, but that the direction that America is on, is one of more diversity and far less of whiteness, which seems to be a trend that won’t change anytime soon, if it even changes, because the immigration of white people to America is fairly minimal, along with the salient fact that the white birthrate has declined significantly over the decades.

 So then, the population mix of races in America has definitely changed in recent times, of which, America as a nation, still exists, and seems to be doing just fine, with its more inclusive racial mix.  Further to the point, those desiring that America return to the absolute supremacy of the white race within America, are slow to comprehend, that America is becoming more colorblind in its institutions, and has legislated into its laws that which does not permit discrimination based upon racial characteristics or of that of national origin.  This signifies that the powers that be, which at present are not purely white, and haven’t been for a while, have adjusted to the new America, with the sure recognition, that it is far better to judge a person upon their character and accomplishments, as opposed to judging someone based solely upon their racial makeup.

 So too, America seems to be set upon proving that it can exist and persist as a “melting pot” of racial classifications, and there may so come that time, when the race of a given person, isn’t given the primacy that so often has been the case, in the past.  Indeed, not only are the times they are a changing, but the times have already changed, for this is the way that it is going to be, which in the scheme of things, makes for not only a better society, because it is more inclusive, but makes for a better world because the world is filled already with plenty of people that do not identify as white.

 The fact that America is not so white, should give solace for all those of sound mind, because it proves the point, that surface characteristics are not so important as has been the case in history past, and is also indicative that seemingly set traditions and fixed mindsets are actually subject to change, which reflects that a nation that has an open mind is a nation that is able to adjust with the times and to thereby keep its golden door open, as opposed to a country that has set its course, that it thereby will not change, and has thus shackled its golden door.  This then is symptomatic of a nation that is making progress and staying true to the fact that all men are created equal with the same unalienable rights.

Leading by example

There are a multitude of people who know not only the right thing to do, but also express that belief in actually doing the right thing, but the problem that a significant amount of people have, is that their words so spoken correctly, are not consistent with their actual actions, which is quite disappointing, to all.  It is disappointing because anytime that a given person knows what the right thing to do is, but actually doesn’t do it, it is far worse than someone who is confused, stupid, or just plain lax in their moral code.  It is also disappointing because all those who listen to words being fitly spoken but then see that the actions are not in accordance per such, are going to lose respect for that person, as being, quite frankly, a hypocrite, or else, someone that doesn’t have the internal fortitude or discipline to do the right thing, when they certainly know what they ought to be doing.

 Indeed, we are primarily judged not upon what we say and write, but rather upon our actual actions, for those actions have more meaningful consequences than the words we speak or write.  In the end, it is the actions that we take that define who and what we really are, and when there is an inconsistency between what we say and what we do, the default judgment is going to weigh much more heavily on what we do because it is those actions, that represent our actual character.  So then, just knowing what is right and wrong isn’t ever going to be good enough -- for there are many a person who knows the importance of preaching righteousness and then doing right, but alas goes about and does wrong, anyway.

 So too, as much as we might want to believe that our actions don’t influence anybody, the bottom line is that children and young people are impressionable, and heck, even many adults are impressionable, too. So that, our actions can easily influence how another person consequently acts, in their own life.  This thus signifies that not only do we owe it to ourselves to do the right thing, but doing the right thing, can end up making a material difference in how others end up behaving, as well.  In truth, there are many a child who does look up to us, and when they discover that their mentor is not just flawed, but flawed in a way in which the words that they speak that are sensible and wise, aren’t followed up by corresponding actions, that this will impact them, negatively, for they may just think, that if this is fine for my mentor to do this, then it certainly must be fine for myself, too.

 In life, we will be challenged, to ascertain as to whether what we profess is something that we really believe in, or else whether we are fair-weather people, who say the right things, but when push comes to shove, take the lower road, instead.  Each of us, whether or not we want to acknowledge such, leads by example, which signifies that what we should be keeping cognizant of, is whether or not that example, is for the betterment of society, or not.

Planet of the Apes, or is it?

We live in a day and age in which it is postulated to those of reasonable intelligence and of learning, that humankind has evolved or descended from apes, first brought to the general public’s attention through Darwin’s seminal book “The Descent of Man” in 1871.  Plenty of people as well as esteemed scientists believe that this is true, and not only that, but it has to be true, for various reasons so explained through genetics, fossils, and other scientific means.  This thus signifies that it is only in the most recent of times, that humankind, at least in Western civilizations, is considered to be on par with the ape family, and that we are descendants of, or have in common, what apes so represent, no more and no less.

 Obviously, not everyone believes that we are descended from apes. Still, the scientific case seems to be all but closed, and that therefore those who do not follow the orthodox belief that we as human beings have evolved from apes, are thereby suitably placed in the category of those types of people who are pretty much ignored, stigmatized, and considered to be irrelevant.  Yet, it is still somewhat surprising that this most recent of beliefs of who and what we supposedly are is proselytized to students all over Western nations, when there are not only numerous other theories that could be considered, such as Intelligent Design, Creationism, and other things of this general sort -- so that, it comes to mind that there needs also to be a logical reason why this very governance is so enamored over us being considered to be apes.

 That reason though is actually quite obvious and has a lot to do with warfare and colonialism, and pretty much anything that supports that we are not divine in origin, and because we are considered not to be descended from the gods, then clearly anything goes in regards to how we treat our fellow neighbor because in the animal kingdom, it has been written that only the strong and clever survive, thereby signifying that all of the hate crimes, all of the genocide, and all of the warfare that humankind has put upon the other, makes logical sense. After all, as a species, it is best, that only the superior should survive and thereby, they alone should propagate themselves and all those that are weak, should be eliminated.  In other words, governments love the “fact” that we are descended from apes because this means that there are zero unalienable rights and that whatever rights that humankind has, are rights that are gifted to humankind from its government.

 Historically, however, we find that this belief that human beings are really akin to apes is a belief, that the history of every known civilization prior to around 1871, has never supported, whatsoever.  In fact, not only history, but mythology, again and again, proposes that we are descended not from apes, but from the gods, or the God.  This is consistent throughout every civilization and is consistent with our intuitive belief that we are more than our physical makeup and that if there is to be justice, there needs therefore to be an inerrant Lawmaker, and further to the point, that as human beings so created by God, that each of us is not only equally created, but that we all have unalienable rights.  This then is the belief of enlightened and reasonable people; whereas, those that believe that this is a planet of the apes, that deny the immortality of our soul, or even the existence of one, have done themselves and society, a terrible disservice.