Why do we want to be rich? If today you won a million dollars, what would change tomorrow?

I would like to be rich because I never have been and it would be nice to not be constantly afraid to spend anything over and above the essentials. It does seem that every time I drop $300 on a birthday trip to a theme park that I end up needing a set of tires or my cat needs surgery the following week.

I have lived hand-to-mouth and paycheck-to-paycheck all my life, and 2008 was a ten-year-long financial disaster when we lived at less than hand-to-mouth and suffered soul-sucking genuinely painful poverty. We came this close to being homeless. Being rich would mean I could stop being afraid and maybe we could actually join the rest of Middle America and not feel guilty over the occasional restaurant meal or movie and visit a doctor once in a while. Other people take vacations once in a while; what would that be like?

What would I do tomorrow if I won a million dollars today?

I will answer assuming that there’s no scam here. In real life, if I received notice today that I had won a million dollars, I would do absolutely nothing until I had verified, and as far as what I would do tomorrow, I would do absolutely nothing until the check had been cashed and the money was in my account. No take-backsies.

I won a million dollars today, scam-free, for real and for true. What would I do tomorrow?

A great deal of hardship, hard work, and sacrifice has resulted in my current financial situation. A victim of chronic corporate abuse for my whole career suffering CPTSD and now ageism, I am unwillingly “semi-retired” in that I accept just-over minimum wage temporary assignments every couple of months when they are available while I have been unemployed for six years. I have officially given up and finally accepted that I will probably never again have 40 and benefits.

Fortunately, we learned our lesson in the 2008 debacle and when we shopped for real estate out of state in Florida, we did not buy a house that required two paychecks to meet a mortgage. Since moving to our modest home in a vacation-destination Atlantic coast beach town and my subsequent unsuccessful search for permanent employment, any money I do earn is flush money. My husband’s paycheck meets our bills. There’s not a lot left over, but again, 2008 taught us how to live on almost nothing.

Last year, I received an expected inheritance unexpectedly early, and I paid off our mortgage. We have no car payments, no house payment, all of our credit cards are zero balance. Our “daily driver” credit card is treated as if it is a debit card in that we pay as we go versus once a month, and I pay off our credit card in full every payday, no balance, no interest, no due date. The money we used to spend paying the mortgage is deposited into savings and retirement accounts. I refuse to allow our lifestyle to expand to meet our income. Windfalls as small as $2 toothpaste mail-in rebate checks to as large as our income tax refund and my husband’s Christmas bonuses and merit raises are banked.

We are completely debt-free. In this current economy, we have even further limited our always-limited dining out. Restaurants cost more now than I’m willing to pay. I pay our monthly utilities, our gasoline and grocery expenses, I deposit budgeted amounts into separate accounts every month so that when the annual bills for the car insurance and personal property taxes are due, I have a year’s worth of earmarked savings to pay them in full.

In the past, when we used to fantasize about the lottery and had the water cooler talks about how we would spend if we won, I was always the boring one: I would pay off our mortgage and our parents’ and my brother’s mortgages; we would pay off all the cars and buy new ones for ourselves and our parents and my brother; we would contact a financial advisor to determine how best to fund our inadequate retirement accounts.

But today, at our age, all of our immediate family are already mortgage- and car payment-free. There aren’t any more major bills we could pay with lottery winnings. And as far as our retirement accounts, well, we are approaching retirement age now and if we don’t go crazy buying yachts and golf courses, we can comfortably retire on a million dollars.

After all, I’m not interested in upgrading to a new house that’s too big for me to take care of. My modest little paid-for house three miles from the ocean is just fine. In fact, by this time next year, it will be more than fine. We are victims of October 2024’s Hurricane Milton and our house flooded.

The house needs stripped to the studs and completely restored. New roof, new floors, new drywall and paint, new ceilings, new appliances and kitchen and bath cabinets. When the claims are paid and the construction is complete, our house will have been completely repaired and upgraded and will be nicer and worth more than when we bought it.

So what would I do tomorrow if I had a million dollars today?

I lost my 1989 Corvette to a hit-and-run in 2017. I still miss that car.

The local Chevrolet dealership is less than two miles from our house. I would buy two brand-new Corvettes cash-on-the-barrel off the lot. Then I would drive two more miles to the Polaris dealership and buy that tricked-out Slingslot I’ve been dreaming of.

Then my husband and I would go get seafood for lunch.

When the dust settles, eventually we’d add the second bathroom with a Victorian clawfoot tub and climate-controlled “attic space” to the back of the house, with an outdoor beach shower stall on our backyard patio. And we’d probably drop the couple of grand for a Disney Caribbean cruise and our dream vacation in London.

But after that? Yeah, we’d just retire comfortably and quit stressing over splurging on a Chinese buffet once in a while.

After all, a million dollars doesn’t mean I would stop shopping the thrift stores on weekends. It just means I’d stop stressing over the bills.

Guess I’m still boring.

The Sad Life Of The Average American Is Unbearable

Terribly accurate. Real talk.

For the Record

Written in response to: “Write an open-ended story in which your character’s fate is uncertain.“

“He Got a Video of Me With 3 Guys From Years Ago—Now He’s Acting Like I Lied About Who I Am”

Chicago Style Italian Beef Sandwiches

Ingredients

• 1 (4 pound) chuck roast
• 3 cups water
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
• 2 beef bouillon cubes
• 3 pepperoncini peppers, seeded and sliced
• 2 teaspoons fennel seed
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 sliced and seeded green bell peppers
• 1/4 cup pepperoncini juice
• 1 to 2 cans good beef broth (if needed)
• Hot crusty Italian beef buns or hard rolls

Instructions

1. Put chuck roast and water in slow cooker.
2. Cook on LOW for 8 to 9 hours, until meat is tender.
3. Pick through meat and remove all fat. Shred meat.
4. In a large pan add meat, broth from slow cooker, oregano, sesame seeds, beef bouillon cubes, pepperoncini, fennel seed (do not omit this), salt and pepper, green peppers and pepperoncini juice from peppers. If you don’t have enough broth from the slow cooker, add 1 to 2 cans of good beef broth to the meat.
5. Heat for about 30 minutes.
6. Serve on hot crusty Italian beef buns or hard rolls.

Easy Chicken Tacos

Ingredients

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 envelope taco seasoning or 2 tablespoons homemade Taco Seasoning
• 1 cup chicken broth

Instructions

1. Combine ingredients in slow cooker.
2. Cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours.
3. Remove chicken from slow cooker and shred with a fork. Spoon a bit of the juice over chicken if desired.
4. Serve on warmed tortillas with salsa, sour cream, black olives, lettuce, tomatoes, etc.

Pictures

Near-Death Experience UNCOVERS Secret Energy Web Around Earth

• 00:11 – Kaia Tam describes her NDE at age 15 due to hypothermia during a New Year’s Eve party. She collapsed in the snow and was taken to the hospital.
• 07:00 – She experiences being outside her body, observing a shimmering spiderweb-like energy grid in the sky which she interprets as a consciousness structure keeping energies on Earth.
• 09:00 – Feels calm and realizes it wasn’t her time to die. Later, she wakes up in the hospital, feeling partly disconnected from her body for weeks.
• 17:00 – Her NDE opens up multidimensional memories: past lives on Earth, as animals, and in other star systems. Many of these recall death moments as integration points for the soul.
• 24:00 – Kaia believes she can also see future timelines, which appear when she’s in a heightened or meditative state. She describes seeing her own future death in a car crash.
• 38:00 – She discusses her contact with extraterrestrial beings and ships, including Arcturian memories where ships are living AI-organic consciousnesses.
• 48:00 – Kaia believes everyone is a starseed. Some feel homesick because their true bodies or souls remain elsewhere, connected to ships or other realities.
• 52:00 – She recalls a life on Mars, ending in planetary destruction, shared by others with similar memories.

What Falls

Written in response to: “Start or end your story with someone standing in the rain.“

“Trish… Trish!!”

“Oh, yeah?” Tricia’s eyes returned her to the present, where Jessica was staring at her, waiting for her response.

“I said, can you please get those orders out for me??”

“Ah, yes, I’m sorry,” she answered. “I’ll get them right now!”

Tricia mentally smacked herself for daydreaming yet again—and on the job, of all places. Yet, she especially couldn’t stop her mind from going there today—the day when she was that much closer to finally be able to afford a dream for which she had been saving up for years.

After she brought the dishes out to the customers, her mind briefly returned to that rainy day all those years ago. She couldn’t believe it had been 57 years since that six-year-old girl had pranced around on that lawn, enjoying the shower from above without a care in the world.

If only she’d known.

On the other hand, even if I had, she pondered, would it have made any difference? Clearly, I was already really enjoying myself then, so nope, probably not. And I definitely wouldn’t have been able to change anything…

“Here you go,” said her last customer as he unknowingly interrupted her thoughts and handed her seven dollars.

Tricia’s eyes widened, her face overcome with joy. The man was taken aback, considering the tip he’d given her, but he also was appreciative that she seemed so appreciative. And she was.

“So, did you crack the big threshold tonight?” Jessica asked Tricia as she was closing out the register later that night.

“Yes! I did!! Thanks to the cheap older gentleman towards the end of my shift. He gave a $7 tip on a $125 total, but I don’t even care. I could’ve kissed him!! I was so psyched.”

Jessica laughed. “Wow, $7? ‘Cheap’ is right. He knows he was wrong for that!”

“Hey, it might as well have been $7,000. It puts me right where I need to be.”

Jessica smiled. “Well, that’s good. I’m really happy for you, Trish. You deserve it.”

Tricia returned the smile. “Thank you, Jess. I’m so excited.”

“So! When are you going?!? I’m surprised you haven’t already left!”

“Ha ha, I wish. I have to close out tonight, and remember, I’ll still need this job when I get back. But you better believe, I’m packing my bags as soon as I get home and hitting the road first thing in the morning!!”

Jessica chuckled. “That’s wonderful. You’ll have to tell me all about it. I’ve heard really great things but have yet to be able to afford it, myself.” She paused for a moment as she tilted her head in thought. “I actually think you might be the first person I know who has done it, so be sure to take lots of pictures, and don’t leave out any of the details when you get back!!”

The dry heat smacked Tricia in the face so hard as she left the building, it felt like an assault. Having been so excited to end her shift and get home, she suddenly realized she’d forgotten to take off her clothes before coming outside.

She looked around, placed her tote bag on the nearby curb, pulled off her shirt, and stepped out of her pants, making her shoulders, chest, stomach, back, and legs the next wretched victims of the heat’s violence.

Still. Better, she thought.

Barely better, but better.

She surveyed her surroundings again before picking up her bag. She wasn’t worried about anyone harassing her as she walked as an older woman at 2 in the morning in just her bra and panties—it was a scene much more common than seeing someone more traditionally clothed—she just didn’t want to risk anyone swiping her bag with her precious accumulated prized earnings of the night. Her tips, including those precious final seven singles.

She needed those seven singles.

After making it to her car safely, she read the temperature on the dashboard: 108°F. Tricia exhaled in exasperation and then turned on her headlights to illuminate the road ahead.

That next morning, she almost tripped darting out of bed. After a quick shower, she put on her comfy bra, underwear, flip-flops, and black shades, and slathered on her 50 SPF sunscreen lotion. With her packed suitcase and big thermos full of ice cubes, she raced out the front door.

As she sat the suitcase alongside the several cases of water—mostly her monthly allotment from the government—in her trunk, she thought again about how much she wished she could afford tint on her windows. It was a luxury only the wealthy could afford. She would have to save up many more years, sacrificing other luxuries such as this trip, to even come close.

She grabbed one of the water bottles, and then set out on the 15-hour-long drive, figuring she would split it up over two days. Soaking her handkerchief with the dew quickly accumulating on her forehead, Tricia took a sip of water and read the dashboard temperature: 112° F.

The ice cube she pulled from her thermos practically disappeared as soon as it hit her skin. Its remnants drizzled down her brow, barely grazing her nose before it plopped onto her bra. That drop was joined by what little was left of the cube, as she slowly rubbed it on her neck and chest, letting the rest melt entirely.

“I know we’ve been suffering a bit out here, folks,” said the radio meteorologist. “…With the highs in the 130s the last few weeks, but fret not, reprieve is coming! You might be able to cover up a bit more than usual, as we can soon expect single digits! And maybe even as low as 98!! Starting just next week.”

“Ah, thank God,” Trish exhaled and dapped her forehead again.

Trying to keep her eye on the road as much as possible, her mind couldn’t help but drift off to where it had been tens of thousands of times before—imagining what it will be like, for the first time in all those years. She could see it, feel it, smell it, even taste it.

It was a few hours before she took another sip of water, always trying to ration what she had, not knowing when she’d get more. She eyed the dashboard which now read123°F. What little breeze had helped her save gas for the first part of the trip had gone completely. She finally rolled up the windows and turned on the air conditioner.

Two days later, Tricia car pulled into the parking lot of the building which displayed giant blue letters:

The Oasis: An Interactive Experience Museum.

She couldn’t believe it. After so many years and so many sacrifices—financial and otherwise—she was finally here.

After dragging her suitcase out of the trunk and towards the building, she soon encountered a smaller sign, in black letters, which read: Please do not bring any bags or luggage inside. Dress as needed before you enter.

Before you enter?!? she thought. That can’t be right. What are they trying to do, roast us?! That should be illegal.

Still, she hurried back to her car, pulled from her suitcase the single shirt and pair of pants she’d brought, and put them on. Then she began excitedly sifting through to find the most important items—those which she’d ordered months ago and had been resting comfortably in her suitcase mostly since.

And there it was. The pretty, pink raincoat with white and yellow polkadots throughout that she had tried on and paraded in front of her bathroom mirror like a little girl in her mommy’s dress clothes nearly every day since it arrived.

Nestled under it were her also-“new” matching rain boots—additionally gently broken-in, thanks to her personal at-home fashion shows.

She stepped in them after kicking off her flip flops but waited to get inside before she put on the coat. She reasoned, no need to die of heat exhaustion just a few feet and minutes away from fulfilling one of her dreams!

Last to grab was her adorable new umbrella. She already had a black one but thought she would treat herself for the occasion. Although she’d seen an umbrella that matched her coat and boots, she’d decided to go a little different for it and instead ordered one that was light-blue and featured “raining” cats and dogs. She’d thought that was so cute.

And now, she was ready. She left the luggage in her car and headed back to the building.

After she was checked in at the front desk, signs led her to the exhibit she had come and paid all of her savings for. On her way, she couldn’t help but notice another standout exhibit that had an incredibly long line of people waiting to get in—even longer than the one she was headed towards. The door that led into it featured a big picture with countless little white balls. She felt a mixture of excitement and sadness as she thought to herself, I’ll have to save up another five years, maybe more, for that one.

Finally, she arrived to her long-awaited exhibit. It didn’t take long for her long line to be ushered by their tour guide into the door with the picture of countless diagonal blue slits.

As they entered, the guide gave Tricia and the other visitors a pair of special glasses. “Put these on,” he said, “And I’ll give you further direction once we get inside. Remember to keep them on to remain in The Experience.”

Tricia put her glasses on and walked through the door, and suddenly, it suddenly was as if she was in the living room of someone’s nicely decorated home. The fireplace roared on one wall. She could almost feel the heat.

And then she turned to her right. And there it was.

She slowly walked towards the open window, taking in the scene as she stepped. Slits of water shot down in a slightly diagonal direction and soaked everything it touched: the concrete and grass below, the trunks and leaves of the trees, the flowers, the bench on the left side, and some colorful playground equipment in the distant right. A jogger running by, seemingly unfazed by the onslaught, while a group of kids jumped around in a big puddle, the mud splashing on their clothes and laughter echoing from them. The occasional car drove by on the road nearby—the water falling and sliding down on each side. Two black, plastic bars swung back and forth on the front window, furiously pushing the water to each side and clearing the driver’s view.

Tricia tried to remember what those things were called. ‘Scrapers,’ I think? ‘Scrapers’ or …’scrubbers’? ‘Rubbers’? ’Swipers’? Oh, wait! That was it. ‘Wipers.” They were called ‘wipers.’ Windshield wipers.

Tricia could hardly contain herself as she approached the home’s front door. She opened it and took in the outdoor scene once more, bracing herself for what she was about to feel. And then, she stepped forward.

Pitter patter, pitter patter, pitter patter sounded off on her raincoat.

Splashes on her legs as she stepped with her boots, which suddenly felt slightly heavier than before to lift.

“Welcome to The Rain Experience,” said the guide. “Up until a little less than three-quarters of a century ago, this was what it felt like when enough precipitation would build up above. It would rain. We would go outside, and water would literally fall from the sky… Just as you’re seeing and feeling now.”

“You’re welcome to keep your raincoats on and use your umbrellas, or you can ditch them both for the full wet experience,” he grinned enthusiastically. “I’ll share some information and history about rain, and I’m happy to take pictures of you at key locations throughout the tour—walking down the sidewalk, sitting in the park, standing next to a building or statue or a car—whatever you want. There will be lots of opportunities!”

Tricia continued walking slowly, nearly pinching herself to confirm this was reality as she listened.

“You can continue to use your earphones to tune into my commentary or mute or remove them as you’d like to more fully immerse yourself into The Experience,” the guide went on. “It’s up to you. Some people come on separate days — once, to hear the full narration, and the other for the non-audio, immersion experience. Of course, an additional visit will require a separate ticket,” he chuckled briefly. “But if you’re able to swing that, it is highly recommended. Otherwise, you may want to split the time accordingly during your visit today. Make it count!”

Tricia kept her earphones in for the moment.

“Back in the days of rain, it sometimes would be on the lighter side, which is what you’re feeling now, to help you to get used to it. They would call it ‘drizzle’ or ‘light showers.’ Other times, it would be a lot more—something they would call a ‘downpour.’ Hang tight and have your umbrellas ready, as we’ll give you a sense of that shortly.”

The tour guide continued, “If it got cold enough in the sky, instead of rain, you’d get snow, which you probably saw the exhibit for on your way in. Cool stuff! You should check it out some time if you haven’t.”

“But back to rain… Back in those days, they sometimes would even have these things called thunderstorms and hurricanes, where certain conditions would make rain powerful and even deadly. You’d see electricity, called ‘lightning,’ in the sky, or the rain would team up with wind and knock down trees and power lines! Those were the hurricanes. Those would get so bad that they could, and would, take out whole towns!”

Tricia’s and the other visitors’ eyes and mouths widened.

“Yeah, I know, right?” the guide continued. “Those hurricanes actually were the last of what we experienced before…getting to where we are now. For centuries, they were pretty infrequent — less than 50 around the world per year. But in the decades leading up to the endless drought, that number had soared to an average of 250 a year! It got to be where there was a different hurricane somewhere around the world each week—some places, each couple of days! And each year, they became more intense than the last. At the same time, more water sources were drying up at rapid speeds. As quickly as the hurricanes were picking up, those sources drying happened even more quickly, which soon thankfully put an end to the hurricanes entirely. No more hurricanes! But not so thankfully, it also meant less and less rain, until it stopped raining completely. And, well, you know the rest. We now have very limited water sources around the world and have largely had to manufacture most of the water you drink, use for cooking, bathing, and so on. But! Unfortunately, one thing they have yet to figure out how to manufacture…is any water-related weather. And hence the founding of The Oasis and what we’ve brought to you here today and have amazed the world with the past 25 years!”

She removed the ear pieces and put them in her pocket. She wanted to enjoy some of the experience of it by itself. But still couldn’t get away from the interruptions entirely.

“Did you ever experience the real thing, Mr.?” a little girl visiting with her parents asked nearby.

The tour guide laughed. “No, I’m only 24. That was way before my time.”

“Oh,” she said.

“But my grandparents experienced it… when they were younger.”

“Yeah, my parents did, too,” the little girl’s mother said.

“Really?” beamed the young girl. “Pa and Nana were alive for real rain?”

Her mother nodded, smiling.

“What did they say it was like?”

“Well, probably just like this. We get to feel what they did back then.”

Tricia looked up towards the virtual rainy sun and tried to tune out the voices around her as the falling water soaked her. Even knowing it wasn’t real, she’d never seen a sun so beautiful. It looked different behind a watery haze. She closed her eyes and let her mind take her back to the lens of her 6-year-old self running and giggling around her family’s yard. Except, this time, instead of just seeing it in her mind, she was able to feel it. Her lips stretched further than they ever had.

Even though she was soaked, Tricia felt a sort of warmth. And not the kind of sweltering “warmth” she and the rest of the world had long been plagued with outside. It was a comforting warmth. A peace. And her heart decided this was the last thing she’d ever want to feel.

Tricia stood for there for a few more minutes, enjoying the downpour as it drenched her from hair to heel.

As the fall slowed, so did her body, until it became limp.

The tour guide and other visitors rushed to her. “Somebody call an ambulance!” were the last words her ears captured. Beyond them, just ahead, her narrowing eyes landed on the much-raved-about display set to conclude The Experience, an arc spectrum of all the colors.

As my readers know, one of my current fiancés is ursine oil rigger, Ben Jackson, whose hairy chest made me the envy of many readers. Here is another photo of furry Ben, who not only adores cats but also has a lovely house, which one day I aspire to share with him.

Although his chest is invisible, the hair on his legs indicates that the rest of his body is similarly hair-covered. So when Ben and I tie the knot, he will be my very own teddy bear.

My romance with Ben has now become very serious. Indeed, my dearest darling has exhausted all the typical format questions about favorite foods, colors, movies, flowers, and so on. He has also told me about his difficult life, the time spent in orphanages, his only son, and his evil ex-wife.

Not surprisingly, his father died in a “military war,” though he has never had the time to figure out which war it was. Since he has gone through every script question that I have ever heard during my research project, he has run out of words. He has finally reached the commitment phase of our relationship, as reflected in the promises formulated below.

• I’m short of words and I feel like a teenager now falling in love again. I promise to protect you, cherish you, take good care of you, honor you, love you forever and to always give you the attention that you deserve for the rest of our lives. (Oilrigger Ben Jackson committing himself to me in the Norwegian Sea.)

My Ben is now on the verge of completing his last contract, and until yesterday, his only problem was that he had not yet opted for a specific type of scam.

However, yesterday, before accepting his marriage proposal, I decided to tell him about Lucas, my youngest son (and accomplice). I informed my love that Lucas had stage-4 cancer and that I was taking care of him. (As many of you know, this happens to be true.)

And then Ben underwent a radical transformation and suddenly started writing like a different person. For example, he called me baby (an endearment that I abhor), and his texts had fewer grammatical errors. He continuously asked about my financial situation, what I earned, what the treatments cost, and how much I was paying for them every two weeks.

• Are they giving him a good treatment over there, have you ever thought of flying him to another country for treatment? (Oilrigger Ben Jackson in the Norwegian Sea worrying about my son.)

So now, at last, my love had found his scam. You see, Ben just happens to know a prestigious doctor who spends his time jetting between India and California. The name of this renowned medical professional is Dr. Friend (the perfect name for a doctor).

• I’ll drop a message to my Dr Friend in India to know when he’s coming to the United States. But first I’ll like you to tell me exactly what happened and how it happened so I can make him understand. He has his own private hospital in the United State Of America. (Oilrigger Ben Jackson in the Norwegian Sea solving my problems.)

Lucas and I then sent Ben what he had requested, namely, a blow-by-blow description with pictures of medicines, hospital, chemotherapy… the works. My love was very impressed and, in a sudden attack of generosity, promised to teach me how to drive and even to buy me a car.

• Beautiful woman like you will need a beautiful car. Do you like jeep? SUV. (Oilrigger Ben Jackson in the Norwegian Sea, gifting me a car.)

Ben and I then had to work on taking Lucas to the USA and staying at Dr. Friend’s private hospital in Los Angeles, California, where Lucas would receive the best and most expensive treatment in the world. Ben would pay for it all.

• I’ll take care of the expenses baby. I don’t need to be a millionaire before I help you I don’t mind selling a few of my houses in the United States i just want to make sure you’re happy 😊 (Oilrigger Ben Jackson in the Norwegian Sea, selling off his mansions, just to make me smile.)

What woman would not fall for such a thoughtful man? Ben asked me to request a month off from work to travel to the USA. Dr. Friend planned to be back from India on Wednesday.

• On Wednesday he’s coming and he wants you to register with the hospital before he fix a date for you to come with your son and he said you guys will stay for a month and 2 weeks so he can get better fully before you live to Spain. (Oilrigger Ben Jackson in the Norwegian Sea, planning a trip to the USA.)

However, I would first need to register with the hospital, and there would be a fee. As you know, I am the ultimate expert on fees, which are a constant in my online life.

• Now you’ll have to register with the hospital so they can keep a room for your son. Ok registration fee with the hospital.. quit expensive I’m still begging him to take it down a bit. (Oilrigger Ben Jackson in the Norwegian Sea, fighting to bring medical fees down.)

Ben has still not gotten back to me with the exact amount of the “fee”. However, this morning, I looked up the prestigious hospital on the Internet, where we would be staying. Much to my amazement, Central Valley Indian Health really exists, and as Ben told me, it indeed caters to Indian patients in the USA. In fact, their goal is to improve the quality and quantity of health care services to the Indian people of Fresno, Madera, and Kings Counties. Their website even includes a photo of their typical clientele:

However, as you can see from the photo, Ben requires a substantial infusion of cultural knowledge …. though in the grand scheme of things, his error is understandable. There are precedents. As you may recall, in 1492, Christopher Columbus made the same mistake when he was seeking a route to the Indies.

Thanks to Ben, I now have a whole new understanding of how Indians dress in India. (Gandhi would doubtlessly have been more colorful if he had worn a headdress with a few feathers.) The bad news is that my dearest love resoundingly failed the culture test, and I hadn’t even set a trap for him. In the immortal words of Judge Judy, “Beauty fades, but dumb is forever.”

The Working Poor In America Are About To Lose Healthcare, Housing, And Go Hungry.

China is now firmly entrenched in the world as a RIVAL TO THE USA

Whether in Military, Economy or Technology

China is now in a position to CHALLENGE the US and is no longer a country that can be bullied or threatened by the US because the US no longer has leverage against China

The US HATES that

The best example of this was RUSSIA

Russia was in deep trouble because of the Sanctions that cut off 80% of their industrial semi finished products & bulk of their consumables from Europe and UK and US

Enter China into the equation

Russia had massive flow of Goods and their factories ran smoothly and now Russia is utterly INDEPENDENT off US and Europe and has a mutual symbiotic relationship with China

Russia can’t exist without Chinese supplies and affordable goods and Components while China needs Russian Railways and Russian Energy to stave off any blockades if imposed by USA

They deal with CIPS now

The US tried to destroy Huawei

Back in 2019, Huawei Chips were in infancy

Today they are stacked up with superior architecture and superior innovation that a 7 nm Process can deliver the same quality as a 5 nm TSMC process chip albeit at 83% higher cost

It’s not just Huawei

It’s Hua Hong, Cambricon, LE Fung and multiple Chip makers who have entered the Chip Ecosystem of China

Huawei Data Centres are used in 21 Countries including Malaysia, Brunei & Thailand

---

US tried to scuttle Chinas space program

Instead they have accelerated with Communication Satellites, Rovers on Mars & Lunar explorations

---

Whatever the US does , China counters, resists, experiences temporary pain and COMES OUT STRONGER AND BETTER

---

So the US are obviously the angriest at China

The Establishment is very angry and the Gullible people are very angry

Not at Communism – They don’t care about Vietnam

Not at Autocracy – They have no problems with Saudi Arabia

The US hates China because China is taking over slowly and making the 40 year Unipolar World into a Bi Polar / Multi Polar world

Doctors: Have you ever diagnosed another doctor who was not aware of their problem?

A2A.

Yes. Another doctor was casually discussing with me his recent blood count result. He was increasingly fatigued and concerned he might be getting anemic. Proudly he reported that his clinical instincts were as sharp as ever. His lab work revealed that he was indeed anemic. And it was easy enough to fix, just start taking iron, right? Problem solved.

I squirmed and went cold.

This was my mentor.

The man who had taught me “there is no substitute for a thorough history and physical.”

I knew a lot about his history. And i knew there was something far more insidious causing anemia—and weight loss— in a 60 year old male with a strong family history of gastrointestinal cancers.

“Dad. No. You have to get a colonoscopy. Please.”

A few very large surgeries, a long run of chemotherapy and 15 years later my dad is still alive. I am so lucky.

The New Google AI is Some Scary Sh*t Man …