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July 20, 2026  Wine Making -- We shall Drink No Wine Before Its Time

Aged homemade Dandelion and Apricot Wine.   Wine fermentation and aging first began in 2021 for my initial homemade wine project.  It was followed up in 2022 with a second batch consisting of another 12 quarts using a slightly higher concentration of dandelions,  apricots, raisins, and sugar which produced a darker color.

The wine has been aging four and five years in a cabinet on a rack near the basement floor. Temperatures hover year around at about 58 degrees F.   According to homemade wine making experts, they have aged long enough--perhaps too long.

I have removed two quarts from both the 2021 and 2022 batches and placed them in the mini fridge.  Before doing that, I unscrewed the lids to open each for a few minutes to give the wine a chance to breathe and release some of the trapped odors--which were not all that disgusting.  I then screwed on the lids and placed them in the mini-fridge (see below).

After the wine has chilled, two of the jars will be carefully decanted and sampled.  If you don't see any further updates on this website, you'll know that I did not survive.  I will evaluate each batch over the next few days and God willing, follow up with the results.

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamas
Representing Inquiry, Not Opinion

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Comments:

Details about the 2021 batch  can be viewed in the 2021 Archived Homepage--May 31, 2021 post.  The 2022 batch was similar, but improvements to the overall set up and processing were made.  Additionally, there was a better crop of dandelions in 2022--more spring moisture and ideal growing conditions.

July 18, 2026  Text to Image Generation -- brandstudio.com (trial version)

Today's project was created using a submitted image and a description of our Annie who is now in heaven.

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamas
Representing Inquiry, Not Opinion

In Memory of "Annie"

July 17, 2026  Conversation with AI Overview – Impoverished and Knowing It

I asked:

“What is the mindset and thought process of impoverished working class individuals who are trapped in their environment as they view affluent people and the very rich seemingly enjoying luxuries they can never imagine, experience, or even see for themselves?”

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus
Representing Inquiry, Not Opinion

AI Overview said:

The psychology of impoverished and working-class individuals observing extreme wealth is primarily shaped by scarcity, fatalism, and relative deprivation. Rather than viewing wealth with simple aspiration, they often experience a complex mix of chronic cognitive burden, psychological distancing, and systemic resignation. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Psychologists and sociologists identify several core dynamics that define this mindset:

• The Scarcity Mindset and "Tunneling": The constant stress of living paycheck to paycheck consumes mental bandwidth. This induces a "tunneling" effect, where individuals focus exclusively on immediate, urgent needs (e.g., rent, food, bills), losing the capacity to engage in long-term planning. Wealthy individuals with long-term security can plan generations out, whereas the impoverished mind is often forced to focus on the immediate present. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  
  

• Relative Deprivation: As detailed in Social Class in the United States, individuals compare their circumstances to those around them. Observing the ultra-rich enjoying unimaginable luxuries highlights the vast inequalities in society, leading to a profound sense of exclusion, injustice, and diminished self-worth. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  
  

• Fatalism and "Why Bother?" Mentality: When hard work consistently fails to yield upward mobility, people often develop an external locus of control. They may view the system as rigged, attributing success to luck, generational connections, or exploitation rather than just merit. This can result in fatalistic resignation—the belief that no matter what actions they take, they cannot escape their environment. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  
  

• Psychological Distancing: To cope with the emotional distress of watching luxuries they can never attain, individuals may emotionally disengage from the upper class. This can manifest as cynicism, viewing the affluent as out of touch, or even romanticizing their own working-class community to protect their dignity.

July 15, 2026 Conversation with Gemini – Movie Stars

I asked:

“Were children of famous Hollywood actors, for example, the Carradines, Fairbankses, Sutherlands, Douglases, Fondas, and many others, resented among other talented actors who had to struggle from the ground up to be discovered?”

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

Representing Inquiry, Not Opinion

Gemini said:

The phenomenon you are talking about—often referred to today as the "nepo baby" debate—touches on a classic tension in Hollywood:  the contrast between inherited Hollywood royalty and the "ground-up" strivers . . . Click Here to continue reading.  (PDF file, 1,219 words, 5 pages).

July 12, 2026  Conversation with Gemini – Short Essay:  Admiration and Praise

I asked:

“Please rewrite the attached short essay . . . . Provide better flow, make it more engaging with an improved choice of grammar and vocabulary.  Please keep the original meaning intact.”

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus
Representing Inquiry, Not Opinion

Gemini said:

Admiration and Praise

While I am not particularly lavish with praise, I still find myself capable of deeply admiring people for specific qualities— Click Here to read on.  (PDF File, 932 words, 3 pages).  Original Draft and Gemini rewrite included.

July 11, 2026 Conversation with Gemini -- Text to Image Generation -- Digital Art -- The Morning Breakfast

I asked:

“Draw a colorful photorealistic scene of a morning breakfast inside a 1960s truck stop cafe. The scene is viewed from a seated position at a booth near the wall that focuses on the order of food placed on the table in front of the viewer. The breakfast order consists of a generous serving of scrambled eggs, fried bacon, and hash browns with a side order of toast cut diagonally in half and served on plain off-white large and small plates—the small plate is for the toast.  Next to it is a cup of hot black coffee and a glass of water. A fork, knife, and spoon are placed on a white napkin and at the end of the table next to the wall is a shiny table jukebox, a shiny paper napkin holder, salt and pepper shakers and holder, along with a syrup, sugar, and cream dispenser.  Also, include in the background the usual activity of people and a waitress going about their daily lives. The focus is on the food where the image is also attempting to evoke the aromatic as well as visual sensation produced by the breakfast meals--the scrambled eggs, hot black coffee, and bacon, etc. and on the opposite side of the table, a similar order except instead of hash browns, scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon, there is a stack of pan cakes served on a breakfast plate topped with a pat or two of melted butter and drizzled with maple syrup. There is no person seated across from the viewer at this moment.”

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus
Representing Inquiry, Not Opinion

Gemini Created:

July 10, 2026  Convseration with Elfsight Virtual Assistant (this web site)  -- Knoppix Linux Updates

Unfortunately, there dosen't appear to be any new releases for free Knoppix updates in the U.S. at this time.  I began using version 9.1 about five years ago.  It was relatively easy to download and install on a thumb drive.  I've been using Knoppix Linux off and on for over   20 years and  version 9.1 has been the easiest to navigate thus far.   Below is the link to my most recent information.  You can also query Elf Chat Box located in the Menu at the left to explore more Knoppix posts from earlier dates.

I asked:

"Could you locate the most recent post regarding Knoppix Linux distributions in the U.S. that was previously posted on this website?"

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus
Representing Inquiry, Not Opinion

Elfsight Virtual Assistant said:

June 25, 2021 — “Flash Knoppix 9.1.0—For Windows 10 USB Port”

To access the 2021 archive where that post is stored, use:

New Google Sites 2021 Archive (Link is located at the bottom of this website's Home Page):   New Google Sites 2021 Archive

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Comments: 

All of the links still work after 5 years; however,  technology has changed since then and required apps for installation may not be compatible with newer computers, possibly due to security-related issues, unless they have been updated.

July 9, 2026  Conversation with AI Overview -- Controversy surrounding the Acquisition of Air Force One

The following conversation takes a critical look at how the new temporary Air Force One came to be and whether it follows ethical and legal guidelines regarding its acceptance, use, and ownership.  As the devil's advocate, I asked the tough questions.

Click Here to read more (PDF File,  1,707 words,  6 pages).

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus
Representing Inquiry, Not Opinion

July 5, 2026  History of the Flying White House

Click here to visit the National Museum of the United States Air Force website for its complete history.   Using the magic of Gemini AI, the first Flying White House has been compared to the most recent Air Force One (see images below).

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus
Representing Inquiry, Not Opinion