After my mother died, I spent a few months living in her (our) house and taking care of it, and arranging probate issues. It was a difficult time, as my second wife (the wife from Hell, and BTW…the person who worked for MAJ to “retire” me), demanded that she gets the entire estate “or else”.

So, I’m dealing with all these stressers.

Those in the “know” also know about this point in time. My fate forecast; I am entering my “triple black” inauspicious time, and I lost my job, my wife, my mother… and soon (though I didn’t know it yet) everything else.

But at this moment in time, I was in the house, and my brother came over with a close friend of his (ours).

We were all in the kitchen drinking. My mother had collected all sorts of wine that sat in racks in the kitchen / dining area, and they decided to open them up and start drinking.

And I stepped out to go onto the “sun room”.

After the first bottle, my brother said “corked”.

If a wine is “corked”, it means that it has been tainted by the cork, or rather a chemical compound which can be found in natural corks. This contamination gives off a very distinct smell and taste, which can be described as musty, earthy, wet cardboard, wet newspaper, or even wet dog. The term ‘corked wine’ refers to a wine contaminated with cork taint, which can happen if the wine is bottled with a TCA-infected cork.

Which means that the wine had been sitting too long, and somehow the wine went bad. Now, this might be a term used by aficionados, but for us “regular folk” (and I know, I drink one FUCK of a lot of wine) it was just fine.

I tasted the wine.

It was fine.

I was in the other room, and when I went into the kitchen, imagine my horror when I watched my brother and his friend draining out about 35 bottles of (very expensive) wine down the sink. Claiming that it was “corked”.

They weren’t “corked”. Not in the least.

Sheech!

…

As a wine lover, and as a wine aficionado, I still remember that moment with aghast horror. Such a pity! Such a waste. And what is really horrific, is that he has no idea… none… not one iota what he did.

Everyone… what ever you do, don’t though out wine unnecessarily. Even if corked, it can still be used for cooking! Sheech!

Today…

What was the moment you cancelled the friendship with your best friend?

Don’t know about my “best” friend but I remained close with an ex. She didn’t like my partner for (mostly) racist reasons. But they were civil together when we met up.

I didn’t tell her we were expecting. But at 20 weeks my partner experienced severe pain and was hospitalised for 4 days. This came up in conversation. She deduced that we were expecting.

She pushed me to ask for an abortion.

She then posted it on Facebook to around 2000 followers, asking for advice about persuading someone to get an abortion. To a group I was a member of.

I blocked her on all meeja and we haven’t spoken since.

She did send a message apologising. Not for the sentiment, but for taking it public. That really doesn’t address the core issue, which is that she wanted my beautiful daughter – the love of my life – executed because of her hatred of my partner. It’s going to be difficult to remain friends after that.

Copeland’s of New Orleans Crawfish Etouffee

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

• 6 cups water
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon lobster base
• 1 pound fresh crawfish tail meat
• Pinch black pepper
• Pinch white pepper
• Pinch cayenne
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon peanut oil
• 1 cup chopped yellow onion
• 4 teaspoons all-purpose flour
• Salt to taste
• 1 cup chopped green onions
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
• 6 cups cooked white rice

Instructions

1. Prepare a stock by bringing the water to a boil. Add bay leaves and lobster base. Allow to boil for about 20 minutes or until the water has reduced to 5 cups of stock. Hold aside.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the crawfish tails with black, white, and cayenne pepper.
3. Add the paprika and stir together well.
4. In a medium-size pot, heat the peanut oil at a near high setting. Oil should be hot but not smoking.
5. Add the chopped yellow onion and stir until translucent.
6. Add the crawfish tails and stir until they are heated and cooked through and have attained a good bond with their fat.
7. Add flour and mix well.
8. Pour in stock gradually, stirring constantly, until sauce achieves a substantial thickness and consistency.
9. Season with salt to taste.
10. Add the green onions, garlic, and parsley. Reduce the heat to a medium setting and simmer for about 10 minutes more.
11. Serve over a bed of cooked white rice.

Notes

If desired, you may stir in 2 to 3 tablespoons of butter to completed etouffee for added richness.

Attribution

Posted by GayleL at Recipe Goldmine 9:17:49pm 4/19/03.

The New Thai Tax Law that EVERYONE is Talking About

Big news in Thailand. This new tax law has everyone talking, and a bit scared. I will detail the rules and how it might affect you. So if you’re ever considering relocating to Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Samui or anywhere else in Thailand, there’s lots of information in this video.

What is the most inappropriate experience you had with a debt collection agency?

Years ago I bought a USB “dongle” for Internet access, through a company called Orange.

It was a pay monthly arrangement.

The bloody thing never worked, their customer services eventually admitted that the area I was in had very poor access and it wasn’t going to improve soon.

I said let’s just cancel.

They said no, you signed up for a year.

I said fine, and cancelled the regular payment, after sending them a letter explaining why, with my contemporaneous notes from a series of calls.

They kept sending demands. I said jyst take me to small claims court, we’ll see what the judge says. My view was, if the thing doesn’t work I ain’t paying for it. Contractual obligations go both ways.

Eventually they gave up, but clearly sold the debt (iirc around £250) to some agency.

The agency got in touch, but their phone number was a premium rate one. I sent a letter explaining my side, inviting them to small claims.

At around 6 month intervals for 2 years, different debt agencies tried- presumably these guys sell debts on?

Eventually, a reslly aggressive debt agency agreed to try it in small claims. They were based in London, I live 180 miles north.

I turned up, they didn’t. Well, not on time- some flustered legal junior arrived as I was leaving, and got a proper bollocking off the judge.

Judge awarded me, and my expenses/lost day’s pay, were to be covered by DebtTwat ltd.

I wasn’t expecting them to ever pay up, but i certainly wasn’t expecting them to send me a demand for flustered legal bloke’s train fare, taxi, and fee.

Obviously i tore this up and sent it back without a stamp.

Getting old in China

When did you realize you’re an asshole?

We once took my son and his family out for a meal. The bill was £150, and I paid it with a card. I asked the waiter if I could add a tip and he proffered the card machine to let me do so. I added £20 and paid and we left.

As we got to the car park I glanced at the receipt and realised I’d actually given him a tip of 20p, clearly defining me as tight-arse, so I proceeded back into the restaurant, spotted our waiter, in a group of two or three of them at the bar, apologised for my mistake and gave him a £20 note. Smiles all round. I’d clearly done the right thing.

However as I left for the second time, I couldn’t resist adding “By the way, I’ll take my 20p back next time I’m here”

This caused a roar of laughter, and on subsequent visits has made us memorable and very well looked after. As I pay – more carefully with the tip – I am asked “Will you take your 20p now, Sir?”

The Standard Female Delusion Chart – a tool to reduce dating drama

Technology has enabled countless millions of desperate and morally bankrupt men to constantly shower mediocre women (there’s nothing wrong with being mediocre — most of us are) with attention. Naturally, women assume that this attention is higher-quality than it actually is, because “why wouldn’t people like me?” It’s an understandable mistake. We all want to believe we are “worth it.”

Simply put, a huge wave of sleazy, short-term, hookup-level interest from men is being mistaken – by the women who receive it — as akin to marriage proposals, and they are subsequently developing deeply emotionally and ego-rooted beliefs that they are all 9s, which is mathematically impossible. They then proceed to reject men who are far more likely to treat them well and pursue men who see them as nothing but cheap conquests, resulting in avoidable emotional damage, which they then take out on men in an intensifying cycle of resentment.

I must stand against this, and all I have is a voice. The only power that a man has to stop this cycle is to stop playing the game of letting women think he wants to be with them for real, when he knows he doesn’t. Shame on you. Stop that.

The only power that a woman has to stop this cycle is by being realistic about her actual value and finding men who are most likely to give her the maximum return for what she offers. Stop letting yourself believe that users love you.

That’s a delusion.

These diagrams are only roughly based on non-scientific data, but they are heavily rooted in real-life experience that proves itself true again and again.

I am confident that if women use them to identify the correct men and get to know them, they will have better luck starting relationships that last, and that will cause much less drama, heartbreak, confusion, and wasted time.

Also, my content does and always will contain humor to clarify and intensify the points that I’m making. Try to not take my content as being in competition with formal science, but rather as evidence-and-experience-based advice to avoid common dating problems. I tripped over a lot of rocks so you don’t have to. Best luck out there.

As a doctor, what is the biggest mistake that you’ve made?

I had scheduled a young woman for a very long (easily 12+ hour) surgery on a deep-seated brain tumor right next to her brainstem. Having explained the risks and benefits of the surgery at length like I usually do (including significant risks of death, coma and stroke), she was more concerned about how much of her hair I would remove to do the surgery.

The night before surgery, I got a terrible flu – fever to over 103, malaise, joint and muscle pains, the works. In the end, I had no choice but to cancel her surgery and schedule for another day …

… expecting she would understand … I mean, who would want to undergo such a massive and dangerous surgery if the surgeon were that ill?

Well I was wrong. The patient became furious, hostile, angry, blamed me for inflicting emotional distress … demanded that I immediately find another surgeon to do the surgery that morning (not possible) … later lodged complaints up and down the hospital system … filed complaints with the medical staff … threatened to sue me … it took weeks to calm her – and our hospital – down.

It was the first time I had ever canceled a surgery in >20 years.

It’s what you get in a society that demands more than it understands. A society in which people live their lives in imaginary worlds conjured up by media (including doctor stereotypes) far removed from any sense of real humanity.

ADDENDUM:

A few Comments made me realize that not everyone understood my Answer, and I should perhaps clarify a few things:

• the tumor was not near any part of the brain that would affect intellect or emotions
• this patient was not “dying of a brain tumor;” while the surgery was going to be long and dangerous, it was far from urgent
• I gently passed her care on to another neurosurgeon (it’s never a good idea to operate on someone who lacks faith in you), who operated on her a few weeks later; I heard she did well (though her attitude remained problematic)
• there are no “back-up surgeons” waiting in the bullpen in case a surgeon gets sick: nowhere in the U.S., nowhere in Europe and nowhere in the world. Not like TV.
  • this is especially true of small sub-specialties like Neurosurgery
  • the all too common 60+ hour neurosurgical work week is packed full of patient responsibilities, and it is unrealistic to expect a colleague to abandon their own patients just to fill a gap like that at the last minute
  • no patient would want to undergo a huge brain surgery by someone they just met that morning – nor would most surgeons want to do a “surprise surgery” at the last minute. Neurosurgeons must do a lot of preparation before embarking on big, complicated cases. It’s not at all like you see on TV.
• of course the hospital and its committees understood my situation completely (any reasonable person would understand that doctors can get sick), but they are obliged to investigate every complaint – hence a whole lot of unnecessary time and effort

To be honest, what I found most disconcerting about some of the negative Comments was how easily some people could make major assumptions about this story instead of simply asking me questions to clarify the situation.

Such Comments are just another example of: “demand more than understand.”

Why I’ll Never Move Back To America…

The American Dream… Is it dead or alive? In this video, I share THREE reasons why I don’t foresee myself ever moving back to America and why moving to the Philippines was potentially the best decision my family has ever made. Enjoy!

What is the hardest thing you have ever done?

At the age of fifteen, thirteen days after my fifteenth birthday to be exact, I went out on my first real date. He came to my door and picked me up and we walked to a party. We had so much fun. He walked me home and he kissed me goodnight and he asked me to be his girlfriend. This felt like the greatest night in the whole world. Nothing could bring me down from my giddy and excited teenage crush!

….except for what happened the next morning.

I was awoken by my mother shaking me gently but urgently saying, “Honey? Erin. You need to get up now sweetie. Daddy’s going to die today…”

Those words ripped me out of any dreams I was having and back into the waking nightmare that had become my life for the last two years. I lived in constant fear that I was going to lose the bravest, strongest, most honourable, incredible man this world had to offer, but never really truly believed in my heart that it could happen. For me, to believe that he was really dying would be a betrayal to my hero. I would be giving up on him, and you never give up on your hero, not ever.

I learned that day that no amount of wishful thinking or prayer can change your circumstances.

The hardest thing I’ve ever had to do is to tell my dad that it was okay for him to die. He was hanging on with everything he had but it was time for him to go. I told him out loud that it was okay to let go, that we would be okay. We all told him that he had permission to die and to stop struggling so hard. And as soon as we said those things to him he passed away.

I held his hand as he took his last breath.

I watched my hero lose a terrible battle with cancer and I didn’t really know if I would be okay. I may have just lied to the person I loved most in this world. But I still believe I did the right thing. Setting my dad’s mind at ease was the most important thing to me that day, not wondering whether I’d be okay.

And to tell the truth I’m not sure I ever have been okay since that day. Something inside of me changed forever and I haven’t been able to get the old me back.

But I let my dad believe we would be okay because that was what he needed to move on. And I’d do it for him again in a heartbeat.

What is the best case of “You just picked a fight with the wrong person” that you’ve witnessed?

I had an uncle who was mildly retarded. It wasn’t Down Syndrome, it was probably lack of oxygen at birth, but people could tell just by looking at him that he was different.

That may be why 3 18 or 19 year old teens thought that they would jump my uncle and my grandmother while they were walking through their neighborhood in Bridgeport, Connecticut. What could an old lady and a 30 year old “retard” do to them?

I haven’t mentioned it yet, but my uncle was the youngest of 11 children. 9 of those kids were boys. So even though his brothers had taken it a little easier on him because of his mental disability, he was still used to playing rough and fighting. A lot. So when these teens threatened him and his mother he snapped. He hospitalized all 3 kids. He wrapped one of the kid’s arms around a tree backwards, the opposite direction of the kid’s elbow.

When the first officers showed up they put my uncle in cuffs, thinking he had initiated the carnage. My grandmother set things straight. My uncle had just defended his mother and himself.

The American Child vs The Chinese Child || 美国孩子 vs 中国孩子.

What was the biggest scandal at your high school?

A student got sassy with a teacher about a grade and the teacher kicked him out of the room. The student grabbed a pencil and stabbed the assistant teacher in the room. Just in the hand, but still.

So the teacher goes rage mode and physically marches the student down to the deans office. Everyone is initially furious at the student, he’ll be expelled for sure. Assistant teacher is shaken but fine.

Daddy was a big donor to the school and the kid was on the state championship bound Football team. Daddy argued with the school, who reverses the expulsion and instead fires the teacher for “laying hands on a student.”

There were walk outs, several other teachers quit, the local news picked it up, the whole nine yards. Nothing changed. The school kept the little asshole to keep Daddy happy and fired a very, very good teacher.

When were you hilariously wrong about something?

When I was a cocky, long-haired punk and could get girls just by walking up and talking to them, I saw what I thought was two women getting in a car. I went up to the driver’s side and said something to the girl behind the wheel involving the word “ladies”. The long-haired dude in the passenger seat leaned over and said “Ladies?” he was annoyed I had tried to hit on his GF, but we laughed it off.

Entitled Women Make First Date List, And It BACKFIRES

I was at McDonald’s and I noticed that customers were choosing to wait in line to order with the cashier, instead of using the available kiosks. Why do you think that is?

I’m 61. My husband is 69. We can’t figure out how to use the kiosk. This morning, we added what we wanted to our order, but couldn’t figure out how to check out. The only icon that looked like it was a possibility was “Review Order” and it was greyed out. So, we were stuck. We backed out of it and left the restaurant. Also, when we saw the “login” prompt, we thought we might have to create an account which we don’t want to do. It’s just one more login and password we would have to remember. Nobody was at the counter to provide assistance. I’ll be diplomatic here. McDonald’s doesn’t sell weed. They sell shitty fake food. There’s nothing in their stores that I can’t live without…for the rest of my life. So, if they’re not willing to assist an old couple by taking their order, we won’t go into their restaurant(s) anymore. We went home and made a veggie omelet, hash browns, and cantaloupe. It was superior to anything on the McDonald’s menu and cooking it was less stressful than trying to figure out that fucking kiosk. Fast service that’s easy is basically all McDonald’s has going for it these days. And, they won’t even do that anymore. Plus, they’re using these non user friendly machines to phase out workers. Fuck ‘em.

What is the dirtiest fine print you’ve seen in a contract?

I was going to download my banks, banking app, I always read the fine print. They want control of my camera, and they want permission to edit my contacts list.

I said “No” they said that the app wont work without access. I access my bank over the Internet, through their website directly, without going through the app. It works fine. Yet they don’t have access to my camera or contacts, funny about that.

Hot Signs

When were you hilariously wrong about something?

I was on a subway train in DC. I had my five year old son with me, plus a few bags. I’m sitting on one end of the car, paying attention to the stops because I really don’t want to miss ours. A young black man grabs a seat on the other end of the car. I’m thinking gang member. Bandana. Gold jewelry. Baggy pants. Mind you, there were enough people on the train I certainly wasn’t concerned… that was just the impression I had. Anyway, we’re approaching our stop. My son has fallen asleep. The car isn’t jam-packed but it is kind of full. I’m wondering how I’m going to pick up my son and our stuff and make it to the door before the doors close.

As I struggle to get to my feet and head for the door, I see a foot casually hooked around the door, so it can’t close.

Yep. The black kid with the bandana and jewelry. As I look over, he flashes a smile.

We got off the train with no problem. A few people moved out of our way, but I didn’t see anyone else attempting to actually help.

Was he a gang member? Who knows. Who cares. At that moment, he was kind and helpful to a stranger. That’s all that mattered.

Stress

What was the shortest interview you’ve had that led to a job offer?

I went to apply for a job one time, and when I got there, the lead hand introduced himself to me while shaking my hand.

I had never been to this place before.

As he was shaking my hand this other guy jumped out from behind a machine, and in a gleeful, boisterous tone yells out to the lead hand, as he’s pointing to me, “There’s the guy! There’s the guy right there, that’s going to show you how to work that machine!”

It was a guy that I worked with at a previous job. He was a helper that was assigned to me whenever necessary.

I couldn’t believe it.

The lead hand looks at me, and that second I knew I was in.

What’s the fastest you’ve wiped a smirk off of someone’s face?

I was in an elevator on a cruise ship. Some wiseacre saw my polka-dot suspenders.

He smirked, “Nice suspenders. You from Wisconsin?”

I replied, “No. Ever since my cancer surgery, I can’t wear a belt.”

His smirk instantly evaporated. The elevator doors opened on my floor, and I got out.

Soft tissue sarcoma caused by Agent Orange in Vietnam, They took out 1–3/4 pounds of me from my groin to my beltline. It left a notch where a belt would sit, so I can’t wear a belt comfortably.

About Women body-count…

Good equivalent.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rT4UA3j8Fbg?feature=share

Why does the education system of China and Singapore work so well while India lags behind?

The Legendary Mao in 1954 felt that any party member whose kids studied in Missionary Schools run by Western ideology , could not be trusted

In 1964, he felt such party members were Collaborators and Enemies

Thus every CPC member wisely decided to ensure his kids studied in Local Chinese schools and so the Party built more and more and more and more Schools all across China

Since their own members kids would study in these schools, the quality of these schools were higher and the subjects better

In 1996, Jiang Zemin after 42 years decided to repeal this old rule from Maos time and allow CPC members to send their kids to private schools

Then they discovered something

They discovered that Private School Quality was LOWER than Government School

Nobody wanted to send their kids to Private School.

Math, Science, Physics was of a tougher standard and teachers were the best

Thus even if it was due to fear of being branded a Collaborator, the fact is due to Mao – Chinas Education System became one of the best and it’s Government run schools became top notch

Indias misfortune was India never had a visionary like Mao or Deng

We did have Kamaraj but he was too localized

In India, Children of Politicians studied in the finest schools and later typically in UK Or US or Canada and foreign Universities

As a result there was NO REASON for Politicians to focus on quality education

India is a cesspit democracy

Long term vision was replaced by Short term election strategies

As a result, India focused on the BARE MINIMUM for State Or Centre sponsored Education

China and India were both equally pauper nations in the 1970s , in fact India was a tad bit richer

Yet China spent more on Education due to it’s long term vision , spent more on training teachers, spent more on sending teachers to foreign countries for enhancing their knowledge

India?

Politicians lined up their pockets

They duped the public

They openly stole public money and lined their coffers

---

Still even in 1992, there was some hope

Reservations destroyed it

The principle that a Moron Dullard was entitled become a Neurosurgeon or Doctor merely because Great Grand Daddy was oppressed a few decades ago

Plus the fact that this system was exploited even further when the genuinely oppressed weren’t at all given the chance

Instead a handful of wealthy persons took advantage of loopholes and drove quality into the Ground

China meanwhile had Crisp, Lovely, Meritocracy

A Son of a Sweeper could become an Engineer if he had merit, or a sweeper if he didn’t. Only Ability mattered.

---

By 2014, China was at a place India couldn’t reach with a hundred ladders

Then under Modiji, we all hoped things would improve

• That at last we would have an AFFORDABLE EDUCATION ACT
• That at last Modi would set a National Education Program and do what Mao did in 1954

Didn’t happen

Private Education raping the average Indian family with absurd tuition fees

Modiji focusing on Language policies, Sanskrit, Vedas and changing India to Bharat and removing Chapters on Mughals

The Average Chinese focusing on Python and Technology. The Average Indian on Ram, Laxman and some made up lies about how Modi is a superhero

---

It’s why, the Top 5% or 10% Chinese and Indians are similar

Yet the Average Chinese can swallow the Average Indian for breakfast, lunch and dinner

The Below Average Chinese os more than a match for the Average Indian

The Below Average ‘Educated’ Indian is on the lowest rung

---

Plus Indias biggest problem is the AVERAGE INDIAN

He doesn’t realize there is a problem at all

Realizing there is a problem means needing to work on a Solution and needing to recognize failure

Sorry. We are India. We are the best. We have no weaknesses.

Our Education system is flawed

Most refuse to agree. Some who agree make excuses including blaming Manmohan Singh. Some talk ‘Practically’ and say India needs to do nothing but everything will magically happen

---

Like I said, India is heading to a point where it would end up as a hotch potch, mish mash of uneven growth, a kind of Tumor rather than a crisp engine of growth with a Vision like China or even Vietnam

The $ 10 Trillion India would be a Huge Tumor rather than a nice neat rocket

Unless India buckles up and begins basic structural reform of Education, Healthcare and Liberal Laws

A Respectful manner

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/USGM2dxmJac?feature=share

What are some deep truth you must learn now or never?

1. Everyone is insecure about something. It’s not just you.

2. You will never be 100% sure about decisions you made. But always make a decision because it’s better to go back and fix it than to never make it at all.

3. There is always someone better than you. So there’s no point to compare.

4. There’s nothing in life you can really control except your own thoughts and actions. So always hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

5. Nothing lasts forever. Things change, people change. And YOU can change anytime too.

6. Life is not a fairy tale. That’s why it’s always exciting and you’ll never be bored.

7. Hard work doesn’t guarantee success. But that’s what makes it challenging.

Just stay at home and don’t even try…

What was your weirdest date ever?

Going anonymous on this one, sorry about it, I just don’t think I can face being associated with the story I am about to tell.
It will be a bit long-winded but one of the weirdest encouters ever happened in my life. And as it happened in a date, so…

Here it goes:

I signed up for a free dating site and started chatting to several guys. One of them, seemed like a nice and decent person.

When we started talking, it was about usual topics, interests. The conversation was flowing, as they say. I gave him my mobile number and he sent me texts every day, just some niceties. One of them was “I think we are on the same wavelength”
“I hope so” I responded.
I haven’t the slightest known yet, how wrong I was on assuming so…

After a week of talks, we set up a real life date.

He lived around an hour train ride from me and came to the station to pick me up. When I entered his car, he looked up to the sky and said:
“do you find those clouds a bit weird?”
There were no clouds, only condensation trails from airplanes.
I said: “these are not clouds”

To which, he responded: “exactly” and had an expression on his face as if he just had said something really meaningful.
Bit of an odd exchange, but I shrugged a shoulder and we did not mention the “not-clouds” again.

To my surprise, the date he set up was not the usual movie or restaurant combo with drinking, instead he took me to the riverside on a boat ride. I was enjoying it a lot, we both did a bit of rowing, it was sunny, we chatted nonchalantly.

We were talking about building styles in the UK (I am a foreigner) and I told him my impressions about buildings and differences to my home country.
I also added that my dad is a bricklayer, so I have seen many houses being built.

To this, he said: “I have built something too”
I asked: “What did you build?”
“It is very unique. You will see it once, I hope.” – he said mysteriously.
“What is it, a bunker?” – I joked and we laughed out loud.

The first date was over. I thanked him for the pleasant time and laughs. There was not much chemistry between us but I thought, what the hell, I will give another chance. So, when the next day he asked me for a second date, a dinner in his house, I said yes.

We drove to his house, where he lived alone. A nice and big family home.
He had a wine chilled and invited me to look around. Everything was tidy, clean and stylish. I was impressed. We settled and he poured me some wine.

Out of the blue, at one point, he told me to go outside and check his car.

The following conversation happened:

“Do you see the scratches on the side?” – he pointed on the side, where large, faint scratches were running.
“Of course I can see them”
“What do you think caused them?” – he asked again.
“I suppose branches or grass, or other cars, maybe some metal objects, a key maybe?” – I said hesitantly unsure where this conversation is going.
“Let me tell you: Satan did these scratches…” – sounded his response.
“Pardon?”
“Satan scratched my car.” – again that sort of meaningful expression.
“You mean figuratively I think, mean people maybe with evil motivation?” – I tried to deter the distrubing turn.
“No, literally, the Satan itself.”- he said dead serious.

Uh.ooo….

Do you know the feeling, when suddenly the world seem like upside down and the fear hits you momentarily to make you nausetic and words froze inside you?
I had that, combined with one of the biggest WTF moment.

“Is this guy crazy or what?”

We went back inside, my alarm bells were set off after this, I tell you.
I was like a hawk, watching for little signs of anything unexpected.
Little did I know that the real fun starts later….

He suggested we go to the kitchen and eat dinner. At least something normal, right?
Right.
You would think that someone inviting you over would prepare something. This was not the case. He suggested we eat soft boiled eggs.
I happen to like boiled eggs very much, so ate 4 of them with bread. No problem, I am not fussy. So far so good.

After dinner, we went back to the living room and I relaxed a bit as Satan and scratches, the weird clouds and non of this crap was mentioned again.
However, around a half hour later, again without any transition he says:

“Let me blindfold you, so I can show you what I built”

My mind went screaming: NO.F**.WAY!
Adrenaline rushed through my blood I could sense it.
Right then, I became concerned that this guy wants to kill me.
In the same time I decided he won’t have an easy task to do so as I will fight like hell.
I am not timid and rather strong and quick, so I was sizing up my options to run to the kitchen, grab a knife and defend myself if it comes to that.
At this point, I’m wondering who was crazier, me or him?

Amazingly this is what I responded to him without even thinking:

“You know what? You are not going to blindfold me. Reason is, I think you are plotting to kill me. I know. And I also want you to know that you are not going to succeed. I will fight until my last breath.” – I sounded very calm, which amazed me even further.

His eyes opened wide and seemed genuinely surprised.

“Ok, ok, I can see you are nervous. Calm down, I am not planning anything. Just wanted to surprise you. I can see it backfired, so let’s just go as we are. No blindfold, I promise!” – he said.

Even though I was scared, I was also curious, so I responded:

“Right. I will take a look, under two conditions.
First: You go in front of me and
Second: I will take a knife from the kitchen and walk behind you.
One bad move and you are dead. Did I mention I do martial arts?”

He agreed to my conditions.
So, here we are, walking out the backdoor into the dark garden.
The wind is blowing, trees and bushes rustle ominously as we walk the path.
Him in the front with a light, me behind him, armed with the biggest kitchen knife I have ever seen. Just a perfect picture of two batshit crazy lunatics.
As a matter of fact I have never fought in my life, I’m absolutely terrified, I lied about the martial art thing as well, I don’t know what I’m doing here, who is this insane person with me, not a single soul knows I am even here – I think about my life, my family far away, my stupidity.

We reach the shed in the back, well away from the house.
There is only me and him, the bushes, and complete silence.
Around us and as in front of us, as much as I can tell, just some woody areas and meadows and… a garden shed.

“This is it” – he says standing in front of the shed.
Just a normal wooden shed, with 6 locks on the door.
“This is what you built? Well, good one, now we can go back” – I am almost relieved.
“No, the one I built is inside. Do you allow me to open it?” – I realise he must be scared of me a bit too.
I nod.

He removes the locks and opens the door.
The first thing I saw is a big ass axe on the floor!
I jump away and pull the knife in front of me defensively.

“I knew it! Is this your murder weapon?!” – I shout. I can feel my heart beating so fast.

“Sorry, sorry! This is not meant to be here, I will put it away, ok? There.”-he says quickly.

“Give me that axe. Handle first.” – I order.
He did.

“Now, look inside” – he asks and steps aside.

Very slowly, keeping an eye on him, I look inside the shed.
Nothing.
No rotting corpses, no torture chamber, just a few gym equipment, gardening tools, completely normal.
I sigh… maybe I imagine too much into this…until.. from the corner of my eyes I notice something on the floor.

This!!!!!!!!!!!!:

A submarine hatch door.
Holy crap, like a bloody rollercoaster! My gut is churning again.

“You really built a bunker…” – this is all I can say. What? How? Why?
Words would fail to describe my thinking processes.
“Yes” – he says bluntly and asks me to allow him to open the hatch door.

Next thing I know is we are looking down into a hole with concrete stairs, thick concrete walls, going down few meters. A nuclear bunker.

I am thinking, “if he kills me now and closes the door, nobody will ever find me”

Let me tell you the end quickly.

I did went down and looked around in the nuclear bunker of his design. He wanted to know what I think of it. I pointed out that no air filtration, pollution measurement equipment and surveillance system was installed so I was not sure if it is of any use (apart from hiding dead bodies). He agreed it needs improvement.

After the tour, we went back to the house. As you can guess, I was exhausted and weary from the whole evening but a bit calmer as I was still alive.

I thanked him for everything and requested to leave.
He cried and told me he never met such a cool person as I am…

I was happy I only met a lunatic and not a serial killer.

TL:DR

A guy took me for a second date and showed me the nuclear bunker he built driven by his ideas on an upcoming doomsday fight between evil and good.

Fitness before business

Or not. Hum…

Why do Iran’s leaders threaten the United States so often? They never threaten England, Mexico, or Canada. Why is that?

Is refusing to be submissive and subservient to the U.S. threatening the U.S.? To you it may be, but to the rest of the world it is call standing up to their right!

Lets defined threat. If Iran say it will bomb Washington, LA, New York, Miami or Hawaii, that will be considered a threat. Did Iran do that? So far it is the U.S. that funded and supported Saddam Hussein to fight a war with Iran in the 1980’s and murder General Solameini an Iranian scientist by a drone in Iraq! That is threatening. But it is the U.S. threatening Iran!

Seriously unless you are blind, deaf or dumb could you asked such a ludicrous question! Come on man be real. The U.S. ought to know that, Americans must surely know that. And you by asking this question is seen by 7.5 billion out of 8 billion or world inhabitants as a fool to even ask this question.

The U.S. threaten Iran and half the world to be bomb into smitten daily. And anyone that refused to be submissive and subservient to them is their enemy. Such behaviour belongs to Ghengis Khan or Atilla the Hun, or the Vikings not a 21st century nation! Call a spade a spade! Make the world a better place.

Humans need contact

Will China cut off rare earth exports to Western, South Korean, Japanese and Taiwan chipmakers in retaliation for US sanctions on Chinese chip technology?

In my opinion yes, but not now. I looked at the numbers about this. As I suspected, the main reason why China extracts and processes this much rare earth metals is its industry demands it. It is not because of low labor costs or lax environmental regulations.

Few relevant numbers:

Chinese mine production was 210,000 tonnes in 2022, limited by Chinese law for environmental reasons.

Global mine production was ~300,000 tonnes. Which means the Chinese share of global production was 70%.

China’s share in the processing of rare earth ores was 85%. This means around half of the non-Chinese production was imported to China for processing. We can conclude from here that China processed around 255,000 tonnes of rare earths in 2022.

China’s export volume was 48,000 tonnes in 2022. For the value of this trade, the last data is from 2021. And it is 653 million USD. Completely insignificant for China, especially when you consider that it is coming at an environmental cost. When you look at the volume, you see that China’s exports are barely higher than its imports (in terms of weight after the processing of the imported ores). China’s own industry uses almost as much as China extracts from its own soil. Really, it looks like this monopoly only emerged because the scale caused by domestic demand resulted in much lower prices compared to the rest of the planet.

If this monetarily insignificant trade is this important for countries who are trying to kill entire sectors of the Chinese industry, then China should stop this trade. Let them deal with years of shortages. But it is not a good time to do this now. Export controls should be timed so that non-Chinese shortages should coincide with the emergence of Chinese products that compete with the products of Western companies (primarily US, SK and Japan) suffering from the shortages. This is important because commodities are rarely irreplaceable.

Passport guys make sense

What is the most outrageous “fee” you’ve ever been charged?

It’s not technically a fee, but…

When I moved into my first apartment, it was one of those fancy newer buildings that offered incentives on move-in. In my case, it was a low deposit and a free month of rent! Because I was signing for a mid-month move-in, they pro-rated their amounts. At this stage was when I started eating the big bucks working crypto-forensic analysis and scam tracking jobs for Coinbase.

I wrote my check, moved in, and all was well for about 2 years.

A few weeks after I got tossed a notice about the building’s management being changed, I received a new notice taped to my front door. It told me I owed the front office <insert blank> amount within 3 days or they would begin eviction proceedings.

I’ve paid rent on time my entire life so I couldn’t imagine what on earth I would owe. Then I read the amount typed into the <insert blank>.

$0.01.

Yes. One cent. One one-hundredth of one dollar. One penny, and they wanted it NOW or they were going to evict me. What the hell?!

I went down and talked to the nice people in front of the computers in the leasing office. They looked through the files and told me that the new management was going through the books and making the final debt collections in order to start the new term on solid bookkeeping. They were rounding up all the outstanding fees and demanding payment. My fee, it appears, had been hanging around for two years. Yep: a rounding decision on that pro-rated rent amount.

asked them why they didn’t waive it. They said they couldn’t. I wasn’t about to lose my home over a rounding error, no matter the principle. I dug into my pocket to get the damn coin and hand it over. They held up their hands.

“I’m sorry, we don’t take cash.” I am sure the look on my face was comical but inside I was boiling with baffled rage.

They made me write a check. In order to keep my apartment, I used a $0.10 sheet of specially coded paper to hand over to salaried employees to collect in a deposit bag to go into a bank to cover a rounded calculation that had been irrelevant for 2 years but was now suddenly the difference between shelter and the streets.

tl;dr I was nearly evicted over a penny.

Super Real Truth

If you could financially afford it, would you hire a house cleaner to clean your house once or twice a week, or would you prefer to do it yourself?

Once upon a time, I was a stay at home mother. My home was spotless, my daughter taken care of, dinner was ready when her father walked in the door. I was happy and felt fulfilled. I truly loved giving of myself to my family.

Until I found myself alone and I had to find work. I did what I had to. I work long hours. Some say I work too many hours. But they aren’t responsible for me or my daughter, so their opinion is irrelevant. That responsibility falls on me, and even if I ever did remarry, I would never expect anyone else to be responsible for her, other than myself.

I prefer to do all of the “domestic arts” myself. I enjoy them. But the hours I work and the responsibilities I carry outside of work necessitate that I delegate some things to others. I don’t mind paying someone to clean if it means it’s one less thing for me to worry about.

Why is the US dollar used as a standard currency? What would happen if another currency was used instead?

Well, for this, we have to go back to the closing years of World War II. Although Germany and Japan were still fighting, it was clear they were going to lose, but that meant cleaning up the economic mess that had been created by the war.

Now, historically, the British Pound Sterling had been the most common reserve currency due to its stability and the ability to convert paper money into gold. However, the British government had to go heavily into debt for the war and suspended conversion of paper money into precious metal. However, it hardly mattered as British gold reserves were under pressure as it borrowed more and more money.

Now, the United States was in debt too, but back in 1933 they had already suspended the ability to convert paper currency into gold (you could convert it to silver until 1964) and had made the ownership of gold illegal. They then consolidated all the gold held by the various regional Federal Reserve banks and all the private gold they confiscated (and gave paper money for) into a single depository next to Fort Knox in Kentucky. Moreover, most countries had finance their debt int he United States as their own markets collapsed. In other words, the United States was swimming in gold.

So in July 1944 all 44 allied nations met at a hotel in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire and worked out the new world monetary order. At the top of the agenda was avoiding expensive and potentially destabilizing transfers of large amounts of gold which would allow nations devastated by war to have capital to rebuild.

The scheme essentially took gold entirely out of the market and fixed it to the U.S. dollar, with $35 U.S. being the equivalent of 1 ounce of gold. Nations in the compact, called “Bretton Woods”, would agree to buy all the gold they had at that rate. Each nation would be able to fix the value of their currency against the U.S. dollar (for example, 5 francs to the dollar) but would have to guaranteed that exchange rate for intercountry transfers (i.e. the U.S. could buy all the francs it wanted for dollars at that rate). Countries could change that rate (Canada did in the 1960s when it dropped the rate from $1.00 U.S. for $1.00 Cdn. to $0.975 U.S. to $1.00 Cdn.) but had to stand by it. In other words, gold would not routinely change hands, U.S. dollars would.

There was a catch. Even though people couldn’t exchange dollars for gold, countries could. Most countries held U.S. dollar reserves, which were largely from surplus exports to the U.S. If they wanted to, they could “take delivery” of gold, assuming they wanted to securely transport it from Fort Knox themselves.

As such, the U.S. dollar standard replaced the gold standard, as the U.S. dollar became the common currency for all the countries in the compact.

Of course, this only lasted until 1973 when Richard Nixon pulled the United States out of the agreement. From that point forward, there was no fixed rate between currencies and they traded on the open market. The U.S. also ended the prohibition against owning gold and started selling some or theirs on the open market.

A Golden Eagle, a roughly 1 ounce gold coin that the U.S. government sells at the current market price of gold, plus a small premium.

Most countries still use the U.S. dollar as their “reserve” or “exchange” currency, but that’s changing. For example, Argentina just moved from the dollar to the Chinese yuan, which is also quite stable because the Chinese government manipulates its value

Get your act together guys

What’s something you’ve never told anyone?

I am 21 years old. When I was in 10th grade there was a girl A in school. Just like typical teenagers she had many rumours surrounding her. I ignored those and went ahead and made friends with her.

In some months we started dating. We were head over heels for each other. We had everything going great so shown in movies. One day when we were on a date, after coming out from washroom she gave me her phone. There she had written something which changed all my views on her. She wrote that she was raped at the age of 14 by a guy who forced her to be his girlfriend so that other people won’t suspect a thing.

Fearing society and her parents, she didn’t tell it to anyone. But had to undergo therapy. Her parents were totally unaware to real reason behind her behaviour. She lost a ton of weight and was living on medicines. This was really shocking for me. Then I had flashback of all the times when she had certain insecurities and why she required so much time to trust a person. She also had intimacy issues because of this. And that person had told her to shut her mouth or he’ll leak the tape which he had recorded. This rumour was spread in our school by her friends isolating her.

But now she’s a healthy person pursuing her career in engineering and I am a proud boyfriend.

America Warns China To Obey As US Debt Auction GOES BAD

What’s a modern convenience that we take for granted?

I woke up in a haze in a hospital bed.

My stomach had ruptured due to an ulcer, causing my stomach to spill acid on an artery near the lining of my stomach.

I was lying in a hospital bed post surgery in the intensive care unit.

This would be the beginning of a full week-long stay.

First, I was happy to be alive. I could have died.

I had IVs in my arm keeping fluids going into my body. My nurse came in.

I asked when I’d be able to eat.

She said, “Doctor’s call. It will probably be a couple of days.” (So my stomach wound could heal.)

A couple of days turned out to be just over 4 days without eating anything.

I can remember being so hungry that I literally was fantasizing about eating ice. I remember begging the nurse to have ice.

“Please let me chew on some ice…I’m so hungry…”

It was this nagging aching pain all the time.

Eventually, they let me eat some bland crackers and Jell-O. and it was the best food I’ve ever eaten in my life.

But to answer the question, I think that we take for granted our easy access to cheap food.

There was a time where we had to forage or kill to eat. And if those two missions failed, we simply starved to death.

When you experience true starvation, all of your other problems begin to rapidly shrink.

What is it like to be a poor student at a very rich university or high school?

I didn’t think I was a poor student until I arrived at USC for my MBA program. I had worked hard and saved up $150K, which was to last me exactly through the $100K in tuition for two years and $50K for basic living expenses. I had a 9 year old Lincoln and thought I was set. My naïveté lasted for about 10 minutes.

As soon as I pulled into the student parking lot, I could see all the late model cars, many of them luxury marks. This was the undergrad parking area. One blond undergrad roared her shiny white Cadillac Escalade down the ramp as I looked for a spot.

During our casual meeting time with fellow students, productively labeled as networking, I heard about the kind of massive homes in exclusive neighborhoods that were the norm. Many of my classmates had gotten new luxury cars just for school and had fancy upscale condos for partying during school. But, that was just stuff. What really blew my mind was their attitude about money on a daily basis.

Many would invariably go to night time parties two or even three times a week, all during some very intense course work. While I looked for ways to stick to my $25 daily food budget, they had no problem splurging a few hundred dollars a night each time they were out. At the same time, I knew they were taking out massive student loans to fund their gratuitous consumption, along with tuition and basic living expenses.

Their lack of concern about repaying an extra $50K just surprised the heck out of me. I wasn’t dead broke and could tag along, but I just didn’t see the benefit of such free spending. Eventually, I settled into a more middle-class normative life-style and was comfortable.

Then I saw how naive I truly was.

One of my classmates had gotten to attend the MBA program on a merit and needs-based scholarship. He didn’t have any money. While his tuition was waived, he still needed to pay for daily expenses.

Instead of a fancy high floor condo or even a modest downtown condo, he lived in one of the roughest neighborhoods just off campus. I lived nearby and can hear the police patrols and random gun fire where he lived. My place wasn’t much but at least it was secure. He lived on a couch in a shared room right in the middle of regular gang and drug activity. Running water wasn’t always available, but it was cheap, just a few hundred bucks a month.

Obviously, he didn’t have a car and relied on brisk walks to get anywhere. He didn’t have many friends as he couldn’t afford to go hang out with anyone. When we hung out, I made sure we didn’t need to spend any money.

He couldn’t even afford food, so he worked part time at university food service to make a few dollars and grab leftovers for meals. While others dined in fancy Beverly Hills and Hollywood hot spots, he was scraping pots for a bite. But, he never complained about the squandered money of our fellow students. He knew his values and was content on focusing on his goals.

He certainly kept me grounded as I felt like a spoiled brat using money so freely and buying myself a burrito whenever I felt hungry.

So, here I was moping ridiculously about my relative paucity; he showed what real determination and pride in the midst of deprivation looked like.

And, even at the MBA level, there’s a bias to spend money. My freespending classmates all got six-figure jobs right out of school from their “networking” efforts and were able to quickly pay off their huge student loans. Meanwhile, my poor friend is still struggling financially.

Cheating Wife Stories, Husband’s Cruel Revenge For Cheating

“It doesn’t matter if she ” started to fall back in love with you “…SHE’S HAD ANOTHER MAN’S BABY !!! …that’s it…its over , no if and or buts it’s over…any man who’d accept that is NOT a man , he’d be a lil bitch , I don’t think I could have been with her the 9 months and not starting IMMEDIATE divorce proceedings could cost him child support…remember some sick states automatically declare a husband the ” father ” …even if you have medical proof and D.N.A proof…you must also have written statements by the mother and possible father…if mother can’t find other guy or he refuses to get involved you owe that affair baby 18 yrs of child support.. ( disgusting they’d punish a innocent man just to save a few percentages of tax rates for business and the rich…yet they have the harshest anti- abortion laws…total scum…but then again any man stupid enough to still marry in those states is criminally ignorant and brings it on himself…so no sympathy for those or this idiot..no one or no law forced him to marry…he put himself into his predicament….so keep lining up to sign up for marriage…I get a kick out of your pain and suffering”

What are Taiwan’s chances if Mainland China goes to war with it?

Zero and here’s the fun bit.

Nobody says we have to accept their surrender either.

Also the precedent has been set! In Ukraine and Iraq.

Western powers have literally said you can’t surrender to aircraft or drones.

Do you think the China International Import Expo is successful in attracting foreign capital to China?

Attracting foreign capital to China?

According to CIIE organizers, this year’s expo has attracted a record 289 Global Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders, with over 3,400 exhibitors and 394,000 professional visitors registered for the event.

Now read carefully the name for the expo – it’s an IMPORT EXPO meaning the exhibitors are EXPORTERS from all over the world traveling to China to meet Chinese IMPORTERS to buy from them.

This is not about these people investing in China. This is about exhibitors interested to sell to the world’s largest consumer market.

What is the one text message that changed your life?

The number I got belonged to a Michael before.

I received a text addressed to him and asking him to call back the very next day after I activated it.

“Who’s this?”

“Mom.”

“I think you have the wrong number,” I answered. “My mom’s half way across the planet.”

“Sorry.”

“Hope everything is okay with your son/daughter!”

“Thanks! All the best!”

The messages didn’t stop there.

Reminders to pick up his car from the mechanic’s, friends wanting to get beers over the weekend, or talking sports and venting about frustrating relationships.

A woman he used to see asking if they can reconnect.

And I diligently replied saying that it’s no longer his number.

Except the more I replied, the more I felt some inexplicable connection with Michael. As if every message I received made me understand him a bit better. Identify with him. Even root for him as he navigates through the challenges of life.

Then things went quiet and I thought he must have let everyone know about changing his number and I almost forgot about the whole thing.

Until I started getting a different kind of messages.

Prayers. Is-there-anything-I-can-do. Please-know-we’re-there-for-you.

We love you.

You’re in our thoughts.

And then it was spelled out in one message: “I heard your mom got diagnosed with cancer.”

The same mom who sent me my very first message on that phone.

I wrote back to one person saying that even though it’s not his number, I’m deeply sorry about the news and that I’m sending healing prayers.

He/she was so touched they said the kindness of a stranger brightened their day and restored a little bit of faith.

And I felt even closer to Michael.

Like we have something greater in common than just having shared a number. I’ve *been* through shit with him. I’ve thought about his problems and commitments.

And now his mom has cancer.

Michael, I don’t know you and we’ve never spoken, but I want you to know that I *am* there for you. That you *are* in my thoughts. That I *do* care.

That I love you and your mother and I hope you all get through this.

Why is China so desperate to compete with the US when the world knows it can’t?

Ali Moco, use your common sense.

China can do manufacturing and the U.S. cannot. China is the global supply chain hub. China is the one with the perrenial trade surplus with the U.S. Militarily, China has the world’s largest naval fleet while we can’t construct any new naval assets while those “active” assets spent more time in repair than out on duty.

So who is the one desperately trying to compete?

Arguments

What was your strangest experience while visiting the U.S.?

Yesterday in the Charlotte, NC airport I decided to spend my last few dollars on a beer before my flight to Munich.

Before me in line stood a man well into his seventies. He ordered two red wines.

The server asked him for his ID and that of his equally aged wife who was sitting at a table with a cane propped between her knees.

He thought it was a joke. So did I.

It wasn’t. He had to walk back to the table and fetch his wife’s ID.

This was not only strange, it was the stupidest rule I’ve ever seen.

Sixty-year old me was next. And yes, I needed to prove I was twenty one.

Edit: I keep getting comments about how this is normal and the server is just doing their job. I understand and don’t hold it against the server, their management or even the legal system that makes them so careful.

All that said, the rest of the world finds it very strange (and a bit sad perhaps) when 80-year old people must be carded to prove they are 21.

How do I tell my parents that I know they put a camera in my room?

Take a small, clear bag and fill it with a certain white substance. Hide that bag somewhere in your room.

Every morning before you leave for school, and every afternoon when you get home, take out the bag of white substance, and cut a line.

Take a piece of paper, (like a dollar bill), roll it up, and pretend to snort the substance.

You don’t actually have to snort it. You can do this trick where you use the side of your hand to brush the substance off to the side.

Just make sure you do all of this in the camera’s sight line.

Repeat this process for as long as necessary.

Eventually, your parents will see you do this on camera and think you’re snorting cocaine.

They’ll go to your room, find your bag of “cocaine”, and pull it out.

But what they’ll find instead is a bag of flour or sugar, and a note from you that says, “I know you put a camera in my room.”

The thrill of spying on you will be gone, and hopefully they’ll remove the camera.

Either way, they’ll know you know what they’re up to.

5 Unexplained Moments Caught on Live TV That Were Never Solved

My neighbor picked all the peaches off my tree last year without my consent. I’ve never met them as every time I’ve tried, they’ve made themselves unavailable. How do I go about protecting my fruit this year without seeming passive-aggressive?

If you are 100% sure you know who did it, and the peaches were all inside the boundaries of your yard, you have several options – none passive.

1. Coming from compassion – Offer to share some – not all – if they “need” some.
2. Let “all” neighbors know you have plans for the fruit this year. Request everyone stay out of your yard unless invited.
3. Put up a Beware of dog sign – even if you don’t have one.
4. Put up No Tresspassing signs. Warn that anyone caught tresspassing is subject to being arrested.
5. Get security cameras on your place – yard and front and side areas.

And if they get caught trying to do it again have an estimate for value of the crop and press charges for theft. If it’s over $500 it’s a felony in many or most states. Tresspassing and theft could mean jail time. Those peaches better be worth it to them.

Growing up we had grapes along our back fence. Three different neighbors over 25 years all asked first before taking the grapes poking through to their side. Every year my family told them to take any on their side of the fence.

Point is good neighbors “ask.”

Something is weird with your neighbors.

China’s Growing NAVAL POWER Can Destroy the USA in 30 Seconds

Technological advancement is a cornerstone of China’s naval dominance. From the development of cutting-edge submarines, such as the Type 095 and Type 096, to the deployment of advanced naval aviation capabilities, China has demonstrated an unyielding dedication to innovation. Its naval prowess is complemented by a formidable array of anti-ship missiles, naval defense systems, and electronic warfare capabilities, placing it at the forefront of maritime technology.

What is the most outrageous thing you have seen a diner do to get out of paying for their meal?

I was enjoying a meal of spaghetti with marinara sauce in a pleasant Italian restaurant. I noticed two women, around 40, eating at the other side of the small restaurant, conversing and eating heartily. When they had finished, the waitress came to take their plates, and asked if they wanted anything else. They said no, and she asked “If you are ready, I will bring your bill.” The ladies said, no, they would not pay because the food was very bad. They claimed the spaghetti was undercooked, the sauce was thin and salty, and the rolls were not fit to eat. Their coffee was much too strong, too. They were not rude or really loud, but were adamant they did not think they should pay for such bad food. The waitress said, “Why didn’t you tell me? I would have taken the food and gotten you a better meal. And besides, why did you eat it all and then tell me it was so bad?” The ladies realized the sense of the waitress’ words, accepted the bill, and paid.

Did you ever say something very simple that had a profound impact on someone in an unexpected manner?

Early during my intern year in San Francisco in 1973, I took over care of a comatose alcoholic patient. I discovered her electrolytes and metabolic tests were all out of wack.

I corrected them and she woke up.

The first thing she asked upon awakening was “Who’s taking care of my cats?”.

She was in a panic.

I called her contacts and got a neighbor to get her cats and care for them.

I then told my patient that if she kept drinking, the next time she ended up in the hospital she would surely die and there would be no one to look after her cats. They would die a terrible death of thirst and starvation.

I remember her looking at me with grave concern.

About a week later she was discharged and I didn’t see her again until very near the end of my internship. I saw her walking in the corridor of the hospital going for a clinic visit. She looked like a different person, well dressed and made up.

She told me that she hadn’t had another drink in almost a year because her cats depended on her.

It was one of the most rewarding moments in my long career and one of the rare times I succeeded in getting a hard core alcoholic to get and stay on the wagon.

Cheesecake Factory Cajun Jambalaya Pasta

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

• 4 ounces butter
• 2 teaspoons Cajun spice mix
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
• 1 pound fresh linguini pasta
• 1/2 cup clam juice
• 2 ounces green bell peppers, cut into thin strips
• 2 ounces red bell peppers, cut into thin strips
• 2 ounces yellow bell peppers, cut into thin strips
• 4 ounces red onions, cut into thin strips
• 1/2 pound fresh medium shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails removed
• 1/2 cup diced tomatoes

Instructions

1. Place the butter into a sauté pan. Allow the butter to melt slightly. Add the seasoning into the pan and stir together with the melted butter. Add the chicken into the pan and continue to cook until the chicken is about half done.
2. While the chicken is cooking, carefully place the pasta into boiling water and cook until al dente.
3. Pour the clam juice into the pan. Add the peppers and onions. Cook for another minute, making sure the vegetables are heated through and the chicken is almost done.
4. Add the shrimp into the pan. Toss the ingredients together and continue to cook until the shrimp are almost done.
5. Add the tomatoes into then pan. Continue to cook mixture until both the shrimp and chicken are thoroughly cook through.
6. Place some pasta into each bowl. Spoon equal portions of the jambalaya mixture into each bowl over the pasta.

Invest in yourself

Do children of parents who were close to or over 40 when they were born wish they had younger parents?

My dad was 22 years older than my mom and in his mid-fifties when I was born. He retired while I was in elementary school which meant I essentially had two stay at home parents as my mom didn’t work. My dad never showed his age and was as active and involved as any of my friends dads but more so because he didn’t have work. When I was younger my dad would come to elementary school and eat lunch with me. He helped with boy scouts and came camping with me. He attended all sporting events and school activities. In the summer we would spend full days at museums or going on trips; he was a regular chaperone on school field trips. When my bus stop was far away he’d come pick me up every day.

I was always sadly hyper aware that he was older and losing him was a regular fear; I lucked out and had him with me until he almost hit 97 and I was 42; my mom passed 15 months before him. I just had my first child at 43 and have no idea how my dad managed 4 kids, with my brother and I just two years apart, and not complain or show any signs of age at all. I wouldn’t say I ever wished for younger parents as it is all I ever knew.

Do children of parents who were close to or over 40 when they were born wish they had younger parents?

My dad was 57 when I was born and my mom 43. My mom passed away 2 days after I was born. My dad was my world. He learned to cook to make me my favorite meals. I was a picky eater as a kid.

He woke me up each morning with fresh squeezed orange juice which I love until this day. As I got older, he would play tennis with me and taught me to play softball. He had played baseball in Cuba and he was a great hitter even in his sixties. I did everything with him.

When I was 5, he was on his way to pick me up at day care when he got into a terrible car accident where an ambulance was called to treat him. He was less than a a tenth of a mile from the day care, he told the ambulance workers he had to pick up his daughter before he could be taken to the hospital. He walked and picked me up with a head injury and took me to a neighbors house before being transported to the hospital. I will always remember this day.

When I was 10 he retired from work and started picking me up from the bus stop every day after school. He always had a snack ready for me and we sat and talked about our day.

At 15 he taught me to drive. He was patient and made sure I knew the rules of the road. For my 16th birthday, he took me to get my drivers license. A few days later he bought me a car. We were poor and I had no expectation of a car. He had put aside money to buy me a 3 year old Toyota Camry. He drove a 13 year old car.

A few months after my 16th birthday he was not feeling well and I thought it was a cold. He passed away 20 days later of a double pneumonia and acute leukemia. My world was shattered. I didn’t know how to pick up the pieces and keep going. To this day, I think about him every day.

Did I wish he was younger? No, I wouldn’t change him but I do wish I had more time with him.

Women are in the horns

What people are shining examples of the power of authenticity?

Joe Rogan.

He’s never run any commercials promoting his podcast. Never bought any billboards, any print ads. He never went on any late-night shows to promote his podcast.

I’ve always known about him from watching UFC’s, so I knew he had a podcast.

But eventually – he began popping up more and more on my YouTube suggestions. I figured – can this podcast really be any good? I know he’s a decent comedian and a great fight commentator.

Steadily – over years, he continued plugging away at his podcast, getting more and more guests.

Finally, I gave in – and I’m hooked – along with millions of other people.

The podcast is a blend of funny/smart and is just people having conversations. No acting, no-nonsense.

Just humble, intelligent conversations with a wide variety of people from all walks of life.

Joe now has one of the most popular podcasts in the world and he just did it by being his authentic self and enjoying conversations with people.

What is the best example of people who cheated death?

Mike Day.

He was a Navy SEAL serving in Afghanistan. During a mission in 2007, he went into a room first, leading his team. Unfortunately, it had insurgents in it, waiting with automatic weapons.

He was shot 27 times. While 11 rounds were blocked by his body armor, 16 rounds managed to hit him in the torso, arms and legs. He was also hit by a grenade which exploded and sent shrapnel through his body.

And then, he managed to kill three enemy fighters near him with a pistol and without killing any of the women and children in the room.

His recovery took two long years.

And he later became an advocate for wounded warriors and those living with PTSD—because he had it bad.

Sadly, he was haunted by the things he went through in war. This past March, he couldn’t bear it anymore and was found hanging in his room.

He cheated death narrowly for 16 years, but the demons were the ones Mike couldn’t escape. Rest in Peace warrior.

Toxic social media

Why does Russia refuse to give up on its only aircraft carrier?

The Admiral Kuznetsov was and actually still is the flagship of the Russian Navy.

Yes, she’s not seaworthy, but it doesn’t matter. This is really a matter of national pride. If the Russian Navy can’t keep their flagship in service, that does not look great.

As a side-note, the Kuznetsov was built at the Black Sea Shipyard in what is now Ukraine. Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few years, you’ll know why docking it in Ukraine is not exactly an option. Russia lacks any shipyards large and capable enough to properly service or build something this big, which is why they’re having so much trouble refitting the ship.

Do you feel Home Depot and Lowe’s are nothing but chain stores that bought out the little guy? Please note, my question does not imply I think so.

It may happen now and then but I have never heard of of a big box company buying out the little guy. They usually just open up a store and drive the little guy out of business – maybe. Read on. Sometimes a smaller chain will be bought out but seldom a single store.

Mom and pop hardware stores tended to do better than, say, grocery stores because of the expertise offered.

In 1976 I got a position in Rochester NH as a bank trust officer and we bought a beautiful cape cod with a center chimney built in 1853.

A neighbor chatted to me and asked me if I had experience with working on houses. Our previous home we had bought brand new so I had to confess that I had not. He told me I should expect this home to require endless work. He suggested to me that I should patronize Warburton’s Hardware just down the road from me. He said I would go in for a dollars worth of nails and come out with ten dollars worth of advice.

He was right on both counts and I took his advice.

Brownie Warburton retired and it was bought by the Boucher family and they are still there. It was a happy day for me when he invited me to call him Brownie. The locals were not usually that accepting of blow ins.

So the mom and pop hardware stores can compete.

Now just about anyone will be familiar with this logo

ACE Hardware

You might think that Ace is a chain but you would be wrong. Ace stores are individually owned or parts of small chains – a bit liked McDonald’s. The big difference is that Ace Corporation is owned by the store owners – it is a cooperative. Ace started up in 1924, long before big box hardware stores and they seem to be thriving. They do so in the same way that Brownie Warburton did: by providing service and expertise. Edit. I did not intend this to be an ad for Ace but it sure resonated with readers. Read the comments.

This is not to say that big box stores have no place; they clearly do but so do smaller, locally owned stores.

Be the best that YOU can be

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What’s the most “life works in mysterious ways” experience you’ve ever had?

I’m a Christian and would change it to God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform “ as an old hymn says.

When I was younger, I was asked at the last minute to delay my holiday as someone else wanted to go to the Henley Regatta and we couldn’t both be away from work at the same time. I was furious!

When I arrived finally on holiday, this vision in a blue dress appeared. She also not only shouldn’t have been there that week, but shouldn’t have been there at all. She had been going to Switzerland earlier but developed appendicitis and couldn’t go and some weeks later was invited to join her sister and some friends and so we met.

We married a year later and remained together for 63 years until her death.

What’s the fastest you’ve wiped a smirk off of someone’s face?

I used to work for a large rehab company. I was a licensed occupational therapist. One year, we had a new girl start there, who was from Europe. She was also also a licensed therapist, but had two years of additional training. She was also on a work visa. At first she was friendly and agreeable, but soon began to show her true colors. She started making snide comments about people behind their backs, and then proceeded to say them to their faces. She told me that where she came from, I wouldn’t be considered a real therapist, because I had only studied for two years.

We had a few Rehab assistants that she proceeded to lord over, because she had a college degree and they did not. But they worked hard and did their jobs. One day she sat with us at lunch; myself, and two rehab assistants. She proceeded to make rude comments about certain ethnic groups in the company, claiming that they had chips on their shoulders. I told her that her remarks could be construed as racism, and that she had better knock it off. She scoffed, and went on making rude comments. When she left the room with a big smirk on her face, one of the aides told me that she had been making unflattering comments behind my back, too. I decided that she needed to be taught a lesson. I contacted our clinical director and reported her behavior, especially the racist comments.

An hour later, she came walking down the hall, smirk replaced by copious tears. She had been warned that if she continued with her behavior, she would be shipped right back to Europe.

Addicted to lifestyle