Schools in the 1970’s were so funny.
I well remember a Health Textbook…. (I wonder, do they still teach Health class in High School?)… having an entire chapter about pimples. The chapter wasn’t all about pimples, I think that it was about how your body changes as you grow up.
But anyways, one thing that I will never forget…
A warning in a health book in High School warning not to pop pimples in the spot between the eyes as it will cause your to go into some form of mental illness. It was really serious about this too.
Nah. I don’t think so. Neither did our teacher who read it to us aloud; a “Mr. Gooseman”, and he told us to ignore that warning. LOL.
Schools are indoctrination centers. Period.
Now, more than ever, am I aware of that reality.
Today…
Why has America’s ‘kill line’ gone viral in China?
What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?
When I was 38 my slightly older wife took her own life. Needless to say it broke me and I was a bit of a mess. A few days prior to her doing this we had bought some new carpet for our living room, with me planning to fit the following week when I had time off work on leave.
As you can imagine I was in no fit state to do anything, so the roll of carpet was just lying in the hall on the stairs. After the funeral I had to get away out of the house, so I drove up to Scotland with my dogs to see my parents and my oldest friends. When I returned a week later I walked into my house and saw that the carpet had been fitted. It really caught me off guard and due to the rollercoaster of emotions I was still experiencing I cried for quite a few minutes. It turned out my step-daughter and her husband had arranged for a carpet fitter to to fit it as a welcome home present for me. I know it probably doesn’t seem like much to anyone else, but it meant an awful lot to me and I was touched by the act.
Finally, yes the carpet did look great in my living room.
Due To One Mistake Her Date Left Her at the Table Now She Regrets It
Is China really the root of all evil? As an American, I’m getting somewhat tired of my country being beholden to China. Why can’t the U.S just give them the “North Korea treatment”: Decouple,”seal” them off and just avoid war? Can’t that be done?
Laughs, oh wait you were serious? Laughs harder. You don’t know history.
October 1, 1949 when the US pets the KMT were finally defeated by the CPC? The USA put a trade embargo on China no trade with China!
When the Korean war started and China entered? The USA intensified the embargo and put on secondary sanctions.
Secondary sanctions means if SOMEBODY ELSE not the USA traded with China they too would get sanctioned.
Champion Swimmer Harold Holt (Australian Prime minister at the time).
He wanted to break the trade embargo and trade with China.
Harold Holt CHAMPION Swimmer conveniently ‘drowned’ after suggesting that.
Guess what?
After THIRTY YEARS OF EMBARGO. We are still here.
China Blocked Trump’s $11B Deal—It’s Now Worth $0
When in your life did traveling to certain areas of the United States feel backwards and dysfunctional?
In November 2016 I traveled west on Route 250 from Richmond, Virginia to Elkins, West Virginia.
This map does not do this route justice, as I soon found out. Thank Gawd I was traveling in daylight in good weather before the snow started flying.
I was driving classic only-seen-before-in-movies mountain hairpin turns without shoulders, a rock wall on one side and a sheer drop on the other. A West Virginia native has told me it’s called “the hollers.” I crossed the mountains, taking my life into my hands to push 40mph.
There were few signs of civilization and on the rare occasion when I spotted a house, I wondered where the hell they worked or even bought their groceries.
At 30 and 40 mph it took a lot longer to navigate from Monterey, Virginia to Thornwood, West Virginia than I had anticipated. By the time I crested the mountain, I was starting to worry about fuel. When I hit the valley, I was sniffing fumes, and I pulled into the first gas station I spotted.
Three pumps in front of a 10’ square concrete block building. The old-fashioned kind with plastic dials instead of LED digital displays. It was like stepping into a time machine.
Whew!
Except … two pumps were regular gasoline, the other was diesel. I stared for a minute, then went inside. A linoleum floor, a counter with a basket of snacks and a hanging potato chip rack and a cash register, a dorm refrigerator-sized glass doored cooler full of soft drinks. And a young man in a baseball cap who confirmed that he didn’t sell premium gas.
I expressed my dismay, and asked how much farther was it to a gas station that sold premium? I traveled that last eight miles into Barton, West Virginia with my heart in my throat.
I made it.
Barbecue Beef Brisket Sandwiches
Slices of beef brisket steeped in a sweet and savory sauce create a world-class sandwich.
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 (3 pound) beef brisket, trimmed
- 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
- 3/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 large onion (about 1 1/2 cup), coarsely chopped
- 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1/2 cup dark beer (such as porter or stout)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 6 Kaiser or other sandwich rolls
Instructions
- Cook the brisket: Season the brisket with salt and pepper.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the brisket, brown on all sides and transfer to a slow cooker.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker and stir well.
- Cook, covered, on LOW until the meat is very tender,8 hours.
- Remove the meat, place it on a cutting board and let it rest for 15 minutes.
- Reserve the sauce.
- Carve brisket into thin slices and divide it among rolls topped with reserved sauce.
- Serve warm.
Why is the military focused so much on cardio when it is unrealistic to run 10 miles during combat?
Soldiers run for miles and you wonder “Why bother? A marathon it isn’t… War.” Fair point. Here’s the truth though.
Fast brutal and messy is combat. Not jogging in a straight line with all the stuff—you’re carrying gear, you’re dragging people, you’re having to climb over stuff, you’re sprinting. If you know anything about Peak End you may wonder why the long runs. That’s because they build something stronger: endurance. Imagining charging up a huge battery. So slow steady charge so it doesn’t die when it matters.
If you think that kind of training is boring that’s what keeps you going when your body is screaming to quit. No endurance? That means when the going gets tough you’re out of gas — and out of luck.
Obviously you can work hard all the time — sprinting fast, lifting heavy, being active. That burns you out quick however. You hurt yourself. It breaks you down. If you aren’t then you’re no help to anyone.
Base is built by them long runs. They harden your brain. When everything sucks they teach you how to keep going. This isn’t just that you want to fight for a little while and get it over with — this is about being able to survive the whole damn day.
When things go bad and they will, it’s the people still standing that trained for it.
Huawei LAUNCHED Kunpeng-920 Chip for HarmonyOS PCs Destroying U.S. Sanctions!
What’s the greatest experience you’ve had when your flight was delayed?
It was 2012. Ronald Reagan Airport Washington DC.
I was travelling from Washington DC to Toronto to see my daughter on my way back to India from the American College of cardiology meeting. My flight was at morning 6 and so I was at the airport by 5 am. I checked in my baggage, got my boarding pass and stood in the Q for security. It was then that I noticed that my flight departure time was 11 am and not 6 am. I ran back to correct the anomaly and then the airline staff told me that my flight was cancelled and I was rebooked on this flight. Since i had a different roaming mobile number, they could not contact me.
Anyway I went past security ready to spend the next six hours at the airport.
I sat opposite the book store and Bang! Suddenly I had an inspiration to write a book. I pulled out my laptop and started typing.
At 10 the monitor showed flight delayed by one hour, then two and finally my flight left at 6 pm. In these 12 hours my best ever literary work was born.
Today even after so many years when I see it in the top cardiology chart in Amazon and the good reviews ….
I thank United airlines for the flight delay.
I cannot explain but some how boredom brings out the creativity inside me.
The Rain Only Remembers
Written in response to: “Start or end your story with someone standing in the rain.“
Cory Greene
Like before.
The rain slips down his face, carving paths over his cheekbones, his lips. It looks like he’s crying. But I don’t think he is. I don’t think he ever has.
I want to speak, but the words lodge in my throat like stones. My fingers twitch at my sides. I should move. I should run. I should do something. But I don’t. I can’t.
Because I remember.
The first time the rain felt alive, it was the night I met him.
The sky had split open like something had torn it from the inside out. I ducked beneath an awning, heart hammering from the sudden storm. My shoes were soaked through. The cold had crept into my bones. I watched my breath rise in sharp white puffs.
And then—he was there.
He emerged from the rain as if it had created him, as if the storm had shaped itself into a man long enough for me to see.
Not rushing. Not running for cover. Walking through the storm like it was nothing, like it belonged to him.
I remember staring, my breath hitching in my throat. The rain should have soaked him. It should have left his clothes clinging to his skin, his hair dripping in uneven strands. But it didn’t.
The water flowed over him like sentient fingers, tracing paths but never holding on.
I felt something then—a shift in the air, a static weight pressing against my ribs, a certainty that I shouldn’t be seeing this.
“You should come stand under here,” I said, raising my voice over the wind. “You’ll get sick.”
He stopped in the middle of the street and tilted his head back, eyes fluttering shut.
“No,” he murmured, lips parting. “It’s been waiting for me.”
A tremor ran through me. Not from cold.
I should have known then; I should have left.
But I didn’t.
I loved him before I understood what he was. Before I realized the sky never stayed clear when we were together. Before I noticed how he was always strongest, always most alive when the rain was falling. Before I knew, our best moments only happened when the clouds broke. The dizzy, reckless nights running through empty streets. The kisses with water streaming down our faces. The soft confessions murmured into the hush of a storm.
Never in the sunlight.
Never when the air was still.
Only when the rain claimed him.
I should have asked questions. But I was in love, and love makes fools of us all.
The first time I woke up without him, the city was drowning.
The windows shuddered in their frames. Thunder cracked the sky open like a wound. I sat up in bed, breath shallow, something wrong, wrong, wrong.
And then I saw him.
Outside.
Standing barefoot in the street, face lifted to the sky, his silhouette blurred by the sheets of rain.
For a moment, I just watched.
The wind howled through the alleyways, rattling signs, throwing debris into the streets. But he didn’t flinch. The water streamed down his skin, and for the first time, I noticed—he wasn’t wet. Not really. Not the way I was.
My stomach twisted. I swung the door open, stepping onto the sidewalk. The rain hit me like a wall, drenching me instantly.
“Come inside!” I shouted over the wind. “What are you doing?”
He didn’t move. He didn’t even look at me at first.
And then—he did.
I ran to him. I don’t know what I was expecting. An explanation? A reason? But when I reached for his arm—I didn’t feel skin.
I felt water.
Slick, cold, and shifting under my fingertips.
I gasped, jerking my hand back. My pulse roared in my ears.
For a moment, his outline wavered. His body shattered, turning into a clear, shifting form that fought to stay intact.
“What’s happening to you?” I whispered.
His gaze met mine, and my stomach dropped. Because he wasn’t afraid.
“I can’t stay,” he said in a gentle tone.
“Then take me with you.”
He smiled, sad and knowing. “Not yet.”
And then—
He was gone.
Not walked away. Not disappeared into the fog. Gone.
Like he had never been real at all.
I told myself I imagined it. That grief plays tricks on us, that love can feel like something supernatural when it ends too soon.
I almost believed it.
Until tonight.
I stood in this exact spot again, with the rain pouring. And there he was, like he never left.
My breath stutters.
“You came back,” I whispered.
A beat of silence. His eyes glisten. Not with tears, but with streetlight reflections, rippling like water.
“Did I ever leave?”
A gust of wind stirs the downpour. And for a second—his body flickers.
It ripples like a reflection in disturbed water. There, then broken, then something less than whole.
Then he reforms. Whole again.
I step back. Because I understand now. I understand what he is.
“I remember you,” I whisper, my voice almost drowned out by the storm. “But I don’t know if it’s because I want to. Or because the rain makes me.”
He moves closer. The space between us vanishes.
“Does it matter?” he murmurs.
He lifts his hand—touches my cheek. And oh—the touch is real. Warm, solid, human.
But for how long?
I exhale. The rain slides over my skin like a mouth, like a promise, like something I can never take back.
I look at him one last time.
And then—
The storm takes us.
When the rain finally begins to slow, the city is empty.
The pavement glistens, black and slick. The streetlights flicker, humming in the silence.
And somewhere, in the rain, two figures remain. They stand exactly where they always have.
Or maybe just one.
Or maybe none at all.
The rain does not say.
The rain only remembers.
How have the US-China trade tensions affected consumer confidence, and what are people most worried about right now?
US-China trade tensions have little effect on consumer confidence in China.
Confidence has been frayed by other factors, like the poor property market. But things have started to move. China does not import consumer goods from the US. Imports are for stockpile or industrial use. In the case of soybeans, one of the big export items, they are for feedstock not human consumption.
China has alternative sources of supply. Prices are stable. Rises are minimal.
No serious effect on employment, so no negative feedback effect to confidence.
In the US consumer confidence has been badly affected by price rises.
Walmart has announced double-digit price rises to pay for the tariffs. Other retailers would surely follow. 70% of businesses surveyed by the Fed Brown Book said they would pass on the tariff cost to consumers.
Consumer confidence is sinking. The Michigan Consumer Confidence Index in May sank to 50.8 in May from 52.2 in April, the lowest reading since June 2022, the 5th consecutive monthly decline.
75% of respondents said they were worried about inflation.
Sir Whiskerton and the Infinite Loop Barn
Ah, dear reader, prepare for a tale so mind-bendingly repetitive that even the scarecrow started counting his own stitches. Today’s adventure stars Ditto the Kitten, whose echoing habit accidentally turns the barn into a time-looping nightmare—complete with 47 servings of slop, a farmer who’s impressively unobservant, and a lesson in why you should never let a kitten near cosmic forces.
The Echo That Broke Reality
It all began on a Tuesday (or was it Tuesday? Or… Tuesday?).
- Sir Whiskerton was lecturing Ditto on proper detective etiquette. “A true sleuth never echoes. He investigates.”
- Ditto, eager to impress, nodded. “Investigates! Investigates!”
- Porkchop glanced up from his slop. “Kid’s got a real talent for redundancy.”
Then—it happened.
A strange shimmer filled the barn. The air buzzed like a bee trapped in a kazoo. And suddenly…
Everything reset.
Groundhog Slop: The 47-Course Meal
By the fifth loop, the animals noticed.
- Doris the Hen: “Why am I clucking the exact same gossip about Gertrude’s pond boyfriend?!”
- Porkchop: “Wait. Did I… just eat this slop?” (He had. 47 times. By loop 30, he was weeping into his trough.)
- The Farmer: “Huh. Deja moo.” (He wouldn’t fully notice until loop 100.)
Only Sir Whiskerton remained uncorrupted—thanks to his “superior feline intellect” (and also because he’d been napping in a sunbeam during the initial echo).
The Great Escape (or: How to Out-Stubborn Time)
Solution Attempt #1: Stop Ditto from echoing.
- Whiskerton: “Ditto, don’t repeat what I say.”
- Ditto: “Don’t repeat! Don’t repeat!” (Loop resets.)
Solution Attempt #2: Bribe Porkchop to eat time itself.
- Porkchop: “I draw the line at metaphysical slop.”
Solution Attempt #3: Ask the farmer for help.
- Farmer (loop 99): “Boys, have you seen my left boot?” (It was on his foot.)
Finally, in loop 137, Bessie the Tie-Dye Cow had an epiphany. “Dudes… what if we lean into it?”
The Groovy Fix
Bessie’s plan: If time is stuck, jam it loose.
- Jazzpurr played a bongo solo so chaotic, it created a new timeline.
- Rufus howled at a non-existent moon.
- Ditto, finally distracted, yelled: “BORED NOW!”
CRACK.
Time unstuck itself. The barn returned to normal.
Porkchop collapsed over his slop. “If I never eat again, it’ll be too soon.”
The Moral (and the Post-Credit Time Crime)
Moral: Echoes are just lazy time travel. Also, always check your boots.
Post-Credit Scene:
The farmer, finally noticing the loops, scribbles in his journal: “Day 100: The slop tastes… familiar.”
Best Lines:
- “Deja moo.” – The Farmer, philosopher of the obvious.
- “I draw the line at metaphysical slop.” – Porkchop, hero.
- “BORED NOW!” – Ditto, destroyer of dimensions.
Starring:
- Ditto (Accidental Time Lord)
- Porkchop (Slop Martyr)
- Bessie (Groovy Savior)
Key Jokes:
- Porkchop’s increasingly dramatic slop reactions (from joy to existential dread).
- The farmer’s boot always being on his foot.
- Jazzpurr’s “quantum bongos” saving reality.
P.S.
Remember: If life gives you time loops, bring snacks. And maybe a cow.
The End.
I plan on joining the US Army once I finish high school. Army veterans, any advice or little things I should know?
The best kept secret in the Army is that you can go to West Point. Every year there are seats at the academy that are reserved for enlisted soldiers and every year those seats don’t get filled. If you apply as a private, you’re not competing against the superachieving high school applicants; you’re competing against an empty seat. If you’re basically literate, have no criminal record, and aren’t married, you can get in. No one tells you about this and you have to do it very early because you must report before you’re 23 years old. Normally West Point is very difficult to get indy, but the back door is basically unlocked.
$7.6 Trillion Debt Wall Hits as US Scrambles For Buyers
Do American tourists stand out when visiting other countries? How do they compare to local residents of those countries?
Funny story. I was in a boat tour in Thailand once back in 2018. If you’ve ever been in a tour in Thailand, you’ll know that you get grouped with tourists from all over the world. In my boat there were Australians, Koreans, Italians, a bit of everything.
I overheard an Australian guy tell his wife “At least no Americans this time…”
Later on the day, I heard two families introducing each other after one dropped her ID on the ground. “Oh, you’re from California!” And the other one replied “Yes, how about you?” “I’m from Texas.” And they started sharing stories about each other’s experiences living in those two States.
The families looked something like this:
Some signs are really obvious for the trained eye, in my case I could tell right away from the start of the tour they were American because of their accent, their demeanor, their clothing (the little boy was wearing dallas cowboys merch), they way they talked…
For that Aussie guy, he probably thought they were Mexican or something. But in Mexico they would stick out like a tall poppy too.
When foreigners say “Oh, I can tell an American from a mile away” they usually mean one thing only: the White kind that dresses like this and speaks loudly:
But people forget Americans come in all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds, and they don’t all fit the same mold.
it’s actually really easy to identify Americans abroad. Even if they have an Asian background for example, I can always tell when someone is American. Tell signs include: more outgoing, smiles more, doesn’t stare for prolonged time, the way they dress (more casual, relaxed), the makeup is different (more bold instead of soft), the way they laugh, etc.
But around the world, many have the wrong perception that Americans only look a certain way. One that fits a preconceived stereotype they get from movies or TV. And some even doubt when someone says they’re American because they don’t look how they think they should.
And while some Americans do fit that stereotype, it’s only a small portion of the 366 million people that live in that huge and diverse land.
Picture of a famous American with his family on vacation (John Cho):
Pictures
Pen and ink style.
Arrest made in Colleyville porch pirating case
How does China justify continuing to expand its high-speed rail network despite some lines not being immediately profitable?
Railway networks that run efficiently and on a large scale never make overall profits
Railways in China is a Public Service meaning it is funded by DEBT in most of the cases
However the ASSETS ARE ENORMOUS
Land valued at 40,000 Yuan per Acre in 2008 surged to 1.262 Million Yuan per Acre in 2024 because of their massive value addition
The Asset to Debt Ratio of Chinese Railways is a whopping 5.216
This means Chinese Railways have 5.2 times the assets than their total debt incurred and bulk of the HSR debt has crashed significantly
For instance in 2019 – the Debt was 6.17 Trillion RMB and now in 2024 it was 6.54 Trillion RMB
Thus only 370 Billion RMB in 5 years in Losses
By comparison Indian Railways has an Assets to Debt Ratio of 2.76 and it is straining already and desperate to privatize
The Air India model was a disaster because it was a hotch pitch of politics, state ownership and corruption combined
China is an extremely successful Air India model
Where the State owns the Assets and where private Management have full control on everything else
Like Singapore – in China – the State has control decision (Veto) on Quality control, Asset ownership and sale & Expansion
In all the three cases , inputs by Private Management will be taken
However for everything else, the Private Management makes the decisions
Even Employment is governed by Private Management under the five policy structure :-
- Black box – Photo and Name and Place of Candidate get BLACKED OUT and a random number is assigned with qualifications to avoid gender and other bias
- State Human Resource Scoring System is used
- Three Alternative Jobs offered before termination due to redundancies
- State Inquiry for termination due to incompetence at expense of the Railways
- Promotions follow the Seniority plus Performance curve model adopted by China (Inspired from Japan) in 1997 instead of the Performance only model adopted by US and other countries [THIS I FEEL IS THE ONLY FLAW IN AN OTHERWISE PERFECT SYSTEM]. However Seniority has only 30% weightage whereas Merit has 70% Weightage
No “Sarkari Naukri” boasting here
It is a very sustainable model
The Credit for such a model of course goes to Lee Kuan Yew and China studied it and expanded it to their massive massive scale so that credit goes to Deng Xiaoping and Li Peng!!
WARNING: All Cash Transactions Are Now Being FLAGGED
To Form A Stronger Society
Written in response to: “Write a story in which a character discovers that a truth they’ve believed their whole life is either false or not the whole story.“
S.M. Knight
The ward was beautiful; the walls and floors were crisp white. Large windows let in the warm sunlight and covered the sleeping babies. They stretched and cooed in their little nests as the two healers passed. Ava felt butterflies in her chest and couldn’t help but smile at the adorable bundles. Naked faces were so rare outside of the family unit. She hadn’t seen one since her fourth year of school.
“They, of course, make this boring job worth being assigned to.” Debra repeated, her cheeks rising behind her mask. “Are you ready?”
“Yes, I think so.” Ava replied.
“Very good. We will start with this group first.”
The two healers entered a room with 15 cubies filled with babies. They moved in silence between the cribs as they scanned the bracelets of each little angel. Next, Debera reached down and lifted the first baby from their crib. Ava followed them to a table near the window.
Debera held the baby tight in her arms. She bounced and shooshed softly as she laid the baby on the scale.
“Satisfactory, not too small, not too large, and very mild-mannered.” She whispered.
They continued their work. Take the sleeping babies one by one to the table and record their numbers. It was a surreal experience for Ava. She had never seen a baby outside of the school tablets. Babies weren’t released to their family units until they were six months old. It kept society organized and allowed for family units to create nourishing homes. This was the first step in raising productive members of society. To build a stronger society.
The task was easy; each child snuggled into the healer’s chest for their journey to the table. The noisiest of them only cooed softly as they dreamed. When they neared the final few, Ava started to gain confidence. She reached down for the baby in crib number Fourteen. As soon as her hand slipped behind the child’s head, it began to scream.
Ava froze. The cries had surprised her, and she didn’t know what to do. The tablets said babies sometimes cried but never gave an example. She had expected something more civilized. This was primal. The other babies stirred and cried, creating a choir of whines and screams. Debera came to Ava’s ai,d taking the crying baby from her hands.
“Oh, this one is going to be a Strong-minded, I can already tell.” She said to Ava as she hushed number Fourteen as they moved to the table.
“Why is it crying? Did I do something wrong?” Ava asked
“You did nothing wrong, Dear. Some people are just born… fussy is all.”
“But all the others were so sweet.”
“It’s not your fault, Dear; Fourteen has been giving me trouble for the last week now,” Debera said as she laid the screaming child on the scale. “And it refuses to gain weight; it’s amazing; something so unsatisfactory can be so loud, isn’t it?” Debera chuckled as she lifted the baby back to her shoulder and bobbed around the room.
By the fifth day, Ava was doing the rounds on her own. She was in bliss, caring for each of the tiny souls. Almost every one of them was an angel, except for Fourteen. She dreaded interacting with the fussy child. It had crossed her mind on several occasions to skip Fourteen altogether. If it wasn’t for the oath “to form a stronger society,” she would have gladly done that.
She gently placed Thirteen back in their crib. The little baby raised its chunky arms to the sky in a big stretch before falling back into a steady slumber. Ava stood up straight and smiled, satisfied with the child. Thirteen was most satisfactory in every way. Hey never fussed, they suckled their bottle without a fight. Even their diapers seemed to be regular and uneventful.
Ava stroked the good baby’s head one last time. Then she turned to her dreaded patient, Fourteen. She hated the pale little banshee. Its body was so small and frail that it surprised everyone that it could make such a significant noise.
With a long, exhausted sigh, Ava reached down and secured the troublemaker in her hands. Almost at once, it was a fight. Fourteen’s face contorted into a wrinkled mess. Its screams tore through the room, waking the good babies. Its beady blue eyes filled with tears as it swung its scrawny arms wildly. Ava hissed at Fourteen and was reduced to begging for them to hush.
“Please, just stop for once. I’m begging you, why can’t you be like the others.”
Ava was on the verge of tears. Fourteen did not care. The tiny hands continued to strike out at Ava. Twice, the hands made contact, and she could feel the fury in the little hands. Then, after becoming tangled, Fourteen ripped away her mask.
Ava was shocked at the violation. It was illegal for anyone to expose their face after their fifth year. To be exposed like this made Ava’s face twist into a snarl, and her cheeks turned crimson. Before she could yell at the tiny perpetrator, the most amazing thing had happened.
Fourteen stopped crying. They looked up at Ava and began to smile. They giggled and stroked the angry healer’s face with their small, soft hands. Butterflies filled Ava’s chest as Fourteen stoked and giggled, seeing Ava’s face for the first time. Embarrassment settled on Ava, and she quickly covered her face. She looked towards the inner windows, fearing someone had seen what had happened.
Fourteen burst into tears. Ava did not waver; she took the baby to the table and placed them on the scale. Still too thin. Fourteen was not satisfactory, with only 3 more weeks until the decision to move them on with their group or send them to an enhancement facility.
The next day, when Ava came to the sleeping Fourteen, she checked that she was alone and peeled down her mask. She placed a gentle hand on the baby’s chest and began to rub. Fourteen’s arms shot over their head. They extended their legs to their limits. Then, they opened their precious little eyes and smiled up at Ava’s naked face.
The week passed with success. Ava had found her groove, and her time with Fourteen became her favorite. She would secretly show her face and make silly faces to the delight of Fourteen. As the week ended, Fourteen gained a kilo. Ava’s scheme had been working. She finished her shift, rocking Fourteen to sleep while humming a soft lullaby.
By her third week, Ava arrived at the hospital excited to see her little Fourteen. When she arrived for her shift, she took off her bag and looked at the call monitor. Her name was missing. Confused, she went to Debera.
“My name isn’t on the screen.”
“Oh, There you are; the hospital needs your help with the elders today.”
“But I’m a second year.”
“Yes, Dear, I know. Do you mean to tell me you never saw a second year with the elders?”
She reflected on her first year and remembered seeing the Yellow head coverings on the floor. They were always separate from the first years and said little.
“Don’t worry; your role will be a little different from what you were doing there before. This is one of the most important tasks for ensuring our strong society. You’ll make sure that our Elders travel to paradise with safety and dignity.
Ava went down to the first floor and spotted a group of Second-year students with a Master Healer. She passed the First-years without acknowledgement. As she passed the elders in their wheelchairs, she gave friendly little waves.
None of the Elders needed the chairs. Their bodies were still firm and their spines straight. They sat by one another with a friendly buzz of conversation. Ava could hear them laugh and talk about finding friends who had left for paradise the year before. Their joy made her smile.
“The First-years will conduct the necessary injections. You, as Second-years, are to help them and remain with your Elder afterward. We will then help transport the Elders to their necessary destination. Remember the oath you took “For a Stronger Society.” The Master Healer announced to the group of nervous Second-years.
The Elder Ava was assigned to was a sweet man who was very chatty. She had wondered why he hadn’t been chosen to join the colonies in his youth. He was hilarious and had such energy about him that she had to bite her lower lip to keep from laughing.
Her First-year was not finding his jokes funny at all. With shaking hands, they took their syringe and tried to stab the vein on the crook of the Elder’s elbow. Ava could remember the first time she had to administer such a shot. They were necessary for the journey to Paradise. Thousands of injections later, she became a seasoned pro.
“You’re doing great.” Ava whispered to the First-year.
“You really are it only hurts a little I was expecting much worse.” The Elder said.
The First year didn’t look up, and she didn’t respond to either. After the injection, she set the syringe on the metal tray to bid the Elder a happy journey to Paradise and left. Ava could see the sweat soaking through their mask and knew the feeling they were going through. The First year scurried away weaving as they did.
“Now what.” The Elder asked.
“I think we wait.” Ava answered.
“For how long?”
“I don’t know.”
“That’s ok. I’m in no rush. Did you want to be a healer?”
Ava hesitated before she answered. Small talk was not something she was used to. “Yes, I always wanted to be a healer.”
“That’s nice. I was a builder; I built a few wings of this hospital if you can believe it.”
“Oh, which ones?”
“The one on the west side near the forest.”
“I haven’t been in that one yet.”
“It’s beautiful. You can look out those windows and imagine what’s happening behind those trees. I loved building, and I loved making something from nothing. Why did you want to be a healer?”
“I’ve always liked helping others.”
“That’s very sweet. Am I supposed to be feeling a little hot?”
“I think so, yes. It’s the antibiotics.”
“Ah, ok. Can you tell me when you first knew you liked helping others?”
Ava thought for a moment. The memory was so old that she had to dig to find it. “When I was a fourth year, my friend Aiden and I were riding our bikes. Aiden was always a little troublemaker. He had built a ramp to ride his bike off of.” Ava chuckled, remembering the scene.
“Sounds like my kind of kid.” The Elder said with some strain.
“Oh, he was wild. Anyway, he put the ramp at the bottom of a hill. He hit it at full speed and, when he was in the air, put out both his arms like the wings of a bird. Of course, he crashed. I ran over and saw his hurt knee.”
“A little hero.” The Elder coughed.
“I wouldn’t go that far. I just wrapped it with my scarf to stop the bleeding. You know I asked him why he did it, and do you know what he said?”
“What?” The Elder’s voice was little more than a sleepy whisper
“That he wanted to fly like a bird. He was always wild. They labeled him as strong-minded at a young age and even sent him to help at the colonies early.”
The Elder did not reply. A bell from the back of the room rang. The Master healer moved to the front of the room. She instructed the Second years to follow her with their Elders sequentially.
Like a line of ants, they moved down the corridor. At the end, there was a frigid room. They circled inside, and the doors closed behind them. Two Senior-healer hoisted the Elder from the chair. They placed the lifeless body on a metal table and slid it into the wall. The Second-years shifted behind their Elder’s chair. No one spoke a word but stood in silent understanding. Ava’s eyes were fixed on the words opposite her. “For a Stronger Society.”
The next day, Ava couldn’t focus. She held back tears while carrying the babies to the table. She was a Healer. A Healer’s purpose was to heal people. But it was everyone’s purpose to build a strong society. Ava rushed through the babies One through Thirteen. She needed fourteen more than ever. She lowered her mask with tears in her eyes; she made a feeble smile before reaching down to wake her little friend.
“What are you doing!” Debera’s Voice exploded like a cannon.
Ava’s hands shot to her mask, hiding her face once again. She could feel her face turning red and was deafened by the cries of the Crying babies. Debera marched to her like an angered sentry.
“I asked you a question Second-year.” Debera hissed.
“Nothing I was- “
“Were you exposing your face?”
“It was an accident.”
“Do you think I’m stupid?”
“No, Debera, I”
“You are to address me as Master, Second-year.”
“No, Master.”
“I’ve noticed you’ve been paying a lot of attention to this…Thing.” Debera flew a hand toward Fourteen, who was wailing at the top of their tiny lungs.”
“They are not a thing.” Ava murmur
“It is a thing they are a monstrous little strong-minded thing.”
“They’re a baby!”
“Don’t you raise your voice to me, Second-year. That thing is a blight. It is our duty to ensure a stronger society. Remember your oath and know your place.”
“They’re just a baby.”
“It’s a mistake! It does not belong here, so it has been marked to the Enhancement Facility. Then to either the colonies or Paradise.”
Ava’s heart sank. A buzzing filled her ears, and she couldn’t stop herself. She lunged towards Deber, striking out at her masked face with clawed hands. She clawed like a mother bear protecting her cub and tore the mask from Debera’s face.
Guards swarmed into the room and took Ava by the Arms, ripping her from Debera. Ava’s Eyes meet the old face of Debera. The face was framed with silver hair and cheeks marked with fresh scratches.
“Take this Strong Minded away!” Debera demanded
The Guards lifted Ava from her feet and dragged her from the room. With tears in her eyes, she cursed at Debera, “They’re a baby! They deserve a chance!”
“Quite!” Ordered one of the guards.
“There’s no paradise. Did you know that?” Ava screamed as the guards dragged her through the ward.
“She’s crazy.” The Senior Guard told the Junior Guard. “Quite!”
Let’s See What The Hype Is All About… First Time Watching The Matrix (1999) | REACTION & REVIEW
Should Donald Trump allow Russia to become a member of NATO?
Donald Trump doesn’t care two hoots about NATO
Trump and his supporters see Europe correctly as leeches. Unproductive, a bygone civilization
Trump wants to get even America out of NATO. He would obviously not want to strengthen NATO by adding Russia to that group
Up to here, Donald Trump’s thought process is quite good
Where Trump goes wrong is on two fronts
One, he wants to let Israel retain its iron grip over America’s foreign policy
Two, he doesn’t trust China, although China has done nothing but positive things for Americans
Donald Trump wants to bring Putin’s Russia out of its partnership with China. For that, Trump is willing to sit on Putin’s lap and give a dance
This is a huge mistake because Russia needs China and Putin will never give up his iron clad friendship with China based on Trump’s word which can change from day to day
But Trump has begun to shift a bit on China recently. He is now planning to put higher trade tariffs on the EU than on China. No other American leader would have the guts to do something like this
In about ten years, we may see China and Russia forming the most important alliance in the world, with America joining the group as a junior member
If both Xi Jinping and Donald Trump continue to lead their respective countries for ten more years – or they are replaced by leaders of similar capabilities and ideas – we might see this actually happen
Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches
Yield: 12 to 15 servings
Ingredients
- 1 to 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- Cracked black pepper, to taste
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Place onion and bell peppers in slow cooker and top with chicken thighs. Pour chicken broth over chicken.
- Season with cracked black pepper and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours.
- At the end of cooking time, drain liquid from pot and shred chicken.
- Return chicken to the slow cooker and mix in barbecue sauce. Cook for another 30 minutes.
- Spoon mixture into split dinner rolls and top with shredded Monterey Jack cheese.
What are some possible reasons for seniors becoming cranky after retirement?
I’ll talk for this senior.
We’ve lived our whole life. We’ve worked our careers.
Raised our families. Went through all the good and all the bad.
We’ve put up with great bosses and horrible bosses. Same with coworkers. Six or seven presidents. Multiple governors.
Weddings, divorces, birthdays, funerals, raises, promotions, layoffs.
Now we’re retired. We’ve had some time to reflect.
We know BS when were looking at it. 99% of the time we say nothing.
That other 1% gets us labeled cranky.
Like when my niece is explaining to me why her new boyfriend is a good bet. Despite the fact that he just got out of prison. Has tattoos on his face. Three restraining orders from exes. Spare me.
Like when the kids next door is trying to explain to me how his new business is gonna make him rich. There are 20 other businesses in town doing the same thing cheaper with decades of experience and some how he’s gonna put them all out business. Spare me.
The lady in front of me in line at the supermarket.
She spends the whole time the clerk was scanning talking on her cell phone. Didn’t help bagging. Now she can’t find the app on her phone to pay. I mean c’mon! She’s forty years old. I’m retired. I have all day. I just don’t like stupidity. Spare me.
Yeah. I’m cranky. I’ve seen it all before. Hundreds of times. The same shit over and over. It wasn’t all that good the first time. The tenth times was worse. Now the 147th time I say something. Then I get labeled cranky.