More Odds and Ends . . .

 December 4, 2025  About Colors -- Cloud Dancer, 2026 Pantone Color of the Year

The Pantone Color of the Year 2026 is Cloud Dancer (PANTONE 11-4201), described as a "lofty white," and its approximate Hex Code is #F0EEE9 . . . .

Based on their Hex color values and RGB components,  Here is how Cloud Dancer numerically compares to Alice Blue and to White:

• For #F0EEE9 (Cloud Dancer), they are R: 94.12%, G: 93.33%, and B: 91.37%.

• For #F0F8FF (Alice Blue), the RGB percentages are R: 94.12%, G: 97.25%, and B: 100.00%.

• Both have the same red intensity, but Alice Blue has higher green and blue intensities. 

• For #FFFFFF (White), Decimal Values 255, 255, 255 =  R: 100%,  G: 100%, B: 100%.

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How to Convert 2 digit Hex values to their Decimal Equivalents
Decimal Value = (First Hex Digit's Decimal Value × 16) + (Second Hex Digit's Decimal Value × 1)

Identify the decimal equivalent of each hexadecimal digit:
0-9 remain 0-9.
A = 10
B = 11
C = 12
D = 13
E = 14
F = 15

Apply the formula:

• • 1.   The first (leftmost) hexadecimal digit is multiplied by 16 (since it represents the 16^1 place).

    2. The second (rightmost) hexadecimal digit is multiplied by 1 (since it represents the 16^0 place).

    3. Add the two resulting products to get the final decimal value.

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How to Calculate the Percentage Values for RGB Components

(As listed above)

Percentage = (Decimal Equivalent of Hex Value pairs  ÷  255) × 100%

 #RRGGBB

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By the way, if you ever see an 8-digit Hex code in conjunction with color, it likely represents a color value with a level of opacity associated with it and is expressed as RRGGBBAA where AA is the mysterious and ghostly Alpha Channel value that ranges from 00--FF levels of opacity. That is, 00 is completely transparent--clear and FF is completely opaque--a solid color.

Source: Google Labs | AI Overview

Lastly, color swatch visual comparisons of shades of white are proivided at the  end of this post along with a layered swatch that contrasts opacity levels for Bright Green.

Comments:

Slight variations in exterior or interior lighting make the colors shown below indistinguishable.  In addition, over time, paint cures and pigments may gradually fade.  Side-by-side contrasting colors also influence how we perceive shades of white as well as other colors.  Textiles and most man-made objects exhibit similar properties, wherever and however color is seen. 

The mood set by interior lighting and decor, or whether a lamp has been dimmed or turned off, changes what you see.  Because of their neutrality, whites are an excellent color choice that invoke a sense of spaciousness and continue to please and illuminate throughout the day.  They have weathered the test of time.

There is substantial science  that support at least some of my comments:  Spectrometer vs Spectrophotometer: How Are They Different?   (All spectrophotometers contain a spectrometer. The latter measures the radiated matter of light while the former measures the color it produces.) . . . is a topic explained at the following website:  Datacolor.com and then follow its links.

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

November 26, 2025  Credit Card Debt--Its Origins

Brief History of Debt and Credit Cards
Key Factors and Observations  

Today’s short essay/compilation takes us back to laws pertaining to Credit Card interest rates. These laws, enacted in 1978 and further regulated in 2009, have impacted the lives of the average U.S. household—for better or for worse, I do not have the answer.

Nearly 50 years after the enactment of the laws governing credit card interest rates, an average U.S. household’s ongoing credit card debt is $10,958 onto which high annual interest rates are applied.  Many others struggle with “Maxed Out” Credit Card Debt that far exceeds the national average . . .  

Continue Reading:   Debt and Credit Cards  (PDF file, 2,754 words, 11 pages).

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Comments:

Every generation has an opportunity to experience the fact that life is not always a bed of roses.

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

November 20, 2025  ChatGPT Embedded Code -- My First Wrist Watch Had a Radium Dial

Here is the embedded code for the wrist watch that you see below.  The project is detailed in the ChatGPT conversation completed today that is linked below.  It considerably more elegant than the wrist watch I received for my 11th birthday--It had a black dial with glowing hands and markings that were visible outside at night or inside with the lights off.

There's an interesting story about how the radium treated paint was applied to the face and hands of the watches when they were sold years ago.  You can read more about this by consulting Gemini AI.

The story goes that the watch factory workers were instructed to wet the tip of the fiine paint brushes between their lips and then dip the brush  into the radioactive paint--this  procedure would continue throughout the day, day after day . . . etc.   (The sale of Radium Dial Watches and Clocks was discontinued in the 1970s.)

Later on in the project, Gemini helped with smoothing out a few kinks with the double-ticking Platinum version of the wrist watch.

The audio controls code was re-used from a similar post made several years ago. The audio will tick for 10 minutes when started at either 60 or 120 bpm.  The ticks were generated by Audacity and exported as mp3 files that are linked in the audio code.

Getting everything to work properly was not a straightforward process.  Several earlier attempts  did not display everything in the correct place or not at all.   After a few more prompts, ChatGPT generated the code for the replica of an old fashioned radium dial watch as shown below.

The instructions for ChatGPT were to form the case, dial/face,  hands movement, and  crown/stem.  The Extended portion of the circular watch face was a custom touch I added by increasing the  length of the circular outer case to make it appear longer and was curved simply by distortion--not any specialized code  (Original settings were: x axis = width 300px, and y axis height 300px.  I  changed the watch case y axis dimension to a height of 660px).   Notice below how the once-circular watch case has been elongated.

For the  embedded code and other information:  Click Here (PDF file, 766 words, 5 pages).

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Comments:

Lastly, it doesn't taken a coding expert to play around with the code.   For example,  a novice such as myself, can  locate sections of the html, css, and javascript code that has been very well documented by ChatGPT and Gemini (who are definitely experts) with Comments or what were called Remarks many  moons ago.

Gradient values for changing colors of the watch cases and crowns, for example, are completed by simply swapping six digit values for color combinations that appear in sets of two (see comments at the end of the post).  That is, in the two watches below, a  six-digit Hexadecimal value representing the color of gold (#ffe88c) was blended with a six digit value for black (#000000).

For the Platinum Case I blended (#000000), which represents Black, with (#ffffff) for white.  When the gradient value is set for circular, it creates a better visual image than a single solid color.

You can also use the GIMP photo editor to try various color combination to find gradient values that you could apply to your code.  The six digit numerical values (Hex) can be found in GIMP's Color Selection Box--any color you pick will reveal its code near the bottom of the  box.

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

 --- It Glowed in the Dark ---

       Gold Wrist Watch Audio Controls . . .    

Platinum Wrist Watch -- Two Ticks per Second
Embedded Code for watches created with the assistance of ChatGPT and Gemini

 Platinum Wrist Watch Audio Controls
Audio generated by Audacity  

November 18, 2025  A Conversation with ChatGPT -- Illusion or Reality

Question for ChatGPT,  November 18, 2025

You said:

"Could you provide an informed opinion:  based on empirical evidence concerning wealth distribution in the United States, might it be possible to assume that rule of law favors the rich, that the concept of  “One Man One Vote” does not apply to the law, that politics is simply a distraction, and the concept of representation and reformation is an illusion controlled by the richest individuals -- either secretly or publicly. It appears that the large majority of U.S. citizens are destined to be trapped in various levels of poverty and debt while beholding to the wealthy for the little they get in return for their labor. I realize this is strong language, but common sense tells me some aspects of this may be true."

Chat GPT's Response. Click this link:  Illusion or Reality (PDF file, 2,448 words, 7 pages).

_______________________

Comments:

• ChatGPT indicates that parts of the opening statements are oversimplifications with too broad of implications.

• Many others have prepared scholarly papers that address similar issues on which there is wide debate.

• Today's project was a "thought experiment" as AI, calls it.  It doesn't reflect my views on the topic--just curiousity.

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

November 16--17, 2025  Conversations with Gemini AI -- The Carbon Footprint Tax / Ethical use of AI

The following post consists of two conversations with Gemini AI.  The first is based on a (very) rough draft of an essay about a proposed carbon footprint tax imposed on everyone--individuals, households, landlords, and businesses--large and small.  My usual disorganization and rambling sentences have been cleaned up by Gemini--it no longer reads like anything written by me. 

As the conversation progressed, I continued to ask questions relating to Gemini's responses and eventually asked Gemini to create another writing based on everything it had presented.  Gemini introduced some challenges toward my proposals including one that stated the weathly can afford to "pay to pollute."  I therefore asked Gemini to respond to the concept of limits placed on everyone and to consider it a serious criminal offense for noncompliance instead of treating it as a mere infraction or violation where fines are imposed.  Gemini's finished essay is presented on pages 13 and 14 of the PDF file linked in the next parargraph that addresses the re-thinking (societal shift) and restructuring of the law.

Here is the first link to the Conversation with Gemini dated November 16:  The Carbon Footprint Tax (Pdf file, 4,752 words, 14 pages).

Next, this is so very cool -- An Audio Overview created by Gemini where a man and woman discuss the following related topic:

Listen to Jail Time for Carbon Criminals -- Ecocide Law (Link to Mp3 Audio file, Nov. 16, Length:  3:59)

The second part of this post which extends into November 17 concerns the Ethical Use of AI in numerous ways including policy enforcement, privacy invasion, and improper application of AI by users who seek to mis-inform others.  These aspects along with others were cited in the Noteworthy Comments section below and have been critiqued by Gemini at the end of this post.

___________________________

Noteworthy Comments:

• After a good night's sleep, I woke up with a couple of thoughts the next morning about the previous day's post concerning The Carbon Footprint Tax.   The submitted short essay was intended to be a projection into the future that envisioned the establishment of a Carbon Footprint Tax needed to repair and further protect the environment.  It suggested using the capabilites of AI to track fossil fuel consumption nationally and globally and identify those responsible for overuse. 

• Gemini was able to convincingly create a dialogue that made my conjecture sound very much "matter of fact information."

• In some instances Gemini's Audio Overview quoted passages directly from my response to Gemini's statement that the wealthy can afford to "Pay to Pollute."  My follow-up suggestion, was to designate over-consumption and misuse of natural resources (i.e. fossil fuels and others) a criminal offense subject to penalties including impoundment, forfeiture of property, and even imprisonment of the violators who were deemed guilty.

• Gemini blended in factual information concerning "Ecocide"  that made the original essay sound more convincing.  AI in this application seems to be a tool, if maliciously applied, could spread misinformation, or at least provide a false commentary on mainstream views of reality.  These would be in tune with the wishes of the user, perhaps.

• Lastly, I enjoyed Gemini's development of today's post, but worry about how technology such as this is influencing what we read and hear.
  
  

Ethical Use of AI

I will now ask Gemini to assess the merits of the above bulleted items with regard to today's post:

"In yesterday's post concerning the "The Carbon Footprint Tax" I asked you to develop and refine my initial draft of an essay. You also prepared an excellent Audio Overview. This morning I woke up and with a fresh outlook on yesterday's conversation, wrote down several noteworthy comments concerning the content and implications of the project--these are attached. Please expand on the merits of my comments and then in a single paragraph summarize what you have determined. "

Here is the second link to the results of the more recent conversation with Gemini dated November 17):  Merits of Comments (Pdf file, 4 pages, 1,213 words).  Gemini also included a list counter-measures to prevent misuse as mentioned in the last two bulleted comments above.

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

November 15, 2025 ChatGPT Interaction – ¡Hola!

Here is a very practical application for AI that you and your family may find beneficial.  I haven’t tried it, but it sounds like a can do.

Today’s Question for ChatGPT:

“If I connected a headset with a microphone to my computer, could ChatGPT provide Interactive conversations for learning to speak Spanish for Beginners and also serve as a speech coach who can detect my mispronunciations and other grammatical errors? And can this be done as we are conversing right now, with only a brief delay instead of resorting to other resources?”

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

ChatGPT’’s Reply:

Yes — you can absolutely do that, and you don’t need any special external software beyond what your browser and ChatGPT already support.

Here’s how it works and what to expect:  Click Here for the Complete Conversation with ChatGPT (PDF file, 976 words, 4 pages).

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Music Appreciation:  Links to Spanish Language Vocalists on YouTube:

Perfidia (Linda Ronstadt)  |   Beautiful Maria of My Soul (Antonio Banderas)  |  Fugitivas  (Los Milos)

November 13, 2025  ChatGPT --  The Process of Land Acquisition, Home Building, and Occupancy

Most people will encounter one or more aspects of today's post whether it involves home ownership or  renting.

Prompt for ChatGPT:

In regard to land acquisition, home building, finishing, furnishing, ownership, and occupancy, describe and elaborate on the following list of job titles and the role of each entity.  Also, reorder and renumber them as required from the point of concept to completion and occupancy.

  1.    City Planner

  2.    Surveyor

  3.    Excavator--demolition as necessary, clearing land, landfilling, leveling, and grading.

  4.    Home Planner

  5.    Architect

  6.    Interior Designer

  7.    Contractor

  8.    Construction Forman

  9.    Concrete, Foundation

10.   Laborer

11.   Brick Layer

12.   Stone Mason

13.   Roofer

14.   Rough Carpenter

15.   Plumber

16.   Electrician

17.   Finished Carpenter

18.   Painter

19.   Flooring Installer

20   Carpet Layer

21.   Appliance Installation

22.   Artisan

23.   Door and Window Installer

24.   Locksmith

25.   Security Specialist

26.   Interior Decorator

27.   Lawn and garden

28.   Arborist

29.   Realtor

30.   Abstract or/Title Abstractor

31.   Real estate Mediator

32.   Homeowner

33.   Landlord

34.   Renter

35.   Lessor

36.   Lessee

37.   Home Inspector

38.   Utilities Provider

Click Here for ChatGPT's Response:  The Process of Land Acquisition, Home Building, and Occupancy

From Concept to Completion (PDF file, 950 words,  5 pages).

_______________________

Comments:

• Home Financing, Property Taxes, Homeowner's Insurance, Lease Agreements, and Renter's Insurance are reserved for future discussions.

• Another aspect of home building and ownership that was not mentioned above is securing trustworthy and licensed contractors--with a good performance record.   Knowledge of your rights  and duties as specified in a signed, witnessed, and notarized contract is critical.  Consult with an attorney who specializes in real estate transactions.

• Deal only with reputable real estate and insurance agencies.  One of the benefits of living is small communities is personally knowing who you can trust and who to avoid.  Nevertheless, signed contractual agreements are imperative when dealing with real estate, construction timelines, and large sums of money.

ThoughtsOFThomasNotNostradamus

November 12, 2025  More Poetry from ChatGPT -- "Blackbird --Fly with the Sparrows"

A lone blackbird was perched on the edge of our bird bath today.  He looked old and probably knew he could not keep up with the other birds as they migrated to escape the harsh winter ahead.  I've seen him flying with the resident sparrows--and in many previous years, there have been other lone blackbirds accompaning them.

Prompt for ChatGPT:

"Compose a poem titled “Old Blackbird—Fly with the Sparrows” that is based on the following premise:

Once, his feathers glistened in the Sun with an iridescent blue head atop his shiny black feathered body.

How he did strut with his beak pointed skyward.  But now old and alone he cringes in the fading light of the oncoming winter.

Left behind by his flock of thousands who journey south for the winter, he remains destined to fly with the sparrows in the cold and to huddle among their kind for warmth.

Likened to him, I gaze upon this solitary bird and accept the fact that he and I will soon be gone."

ThoughtsOFThomasNotNostradamus

Here are two solemn poems created by chatGPT that reflect on the thought. 

Version 1:

Old Blackbird—Fly with the Sparrows
(by Tom Bolton/ChatGPT, 2025)

Once, your feathers caught the sun—
A monarch cloaked in midnight’s hue,
Your proud blue head, your shining breast,
A king among the morning dew.

But now you cower in the gray,
Where winter steals the waning light;
Your flock has vanished to the south,
And you remain to face the night.

Among the sparrows—meek, not proud—
You find their warmth, their humble song;
And I, who watch you from the crowd,
Know I too shan’t be here for long.

So fly, old blackbird, as you must—
The sun grows dim, the sky turns narrow;
In fading light we both find trust—
Old blackbird, fly with the sparrow.

               __________________

Prompt for Version 2.  Version 2 has a minor change in the instructions:  

Compose a similar poem based on the same premise; however, identify the bird earlier in the poem.

ChatGPT version 2:

Old Blackbird—Fly with the Sparrows
(by Tom Bolton/ChatGPT, 2025)

Old blackbird, once you ruled the dawn—
Your feathers gleamed with sapphire fire,
A glinting crown, a royal guise,
The air itself your proud empire.

You strutted bold on garden stones,
Your beak uplifted to the sun;
Each shimmered wing a boastful tune
That every rival’s gaze would shun.

But now, alone in autumn’s chill,
You crouch beneath the paling skies;
Your thousand kin have long since flown—
Their southern call your heart denies.

Among the sparrows now you blend,
Their humble warmth your last reprieve;
And I, who watch your twilight bend,
Know soon, like you, I too must leave.

So rest, old blackbird, in the cold—
The night comes soft, the stars grow narrow;
Your flight is done, your tale is told—
Old blackbird, fly with the sparrow.

November 10, 2025   Psychology and Learning -- Logic Problem Woes (Self Help and Remedies)

I have never fully understood why I dislike logic problems such as the one stated below.  This explains it.

1. "Why are logic questions that are more involved than the following  so difficult to solve?" For example, "If Johnny is 5 years old and Mary is twice as old as Johnny and she is 1 year older than Me, How old am I?”
   
   

2. "Because verbal logic problems are so difficult to solve in your head, is this why they are easier solved in Math Class?”
   
   

3. “Does Working Memory Limitations vary from person to person, if so what are some of the factors that cause this?”
   
   

Click Here to Continue Reading for more information and remedies (PDF file; 2,116 words, 8 pages).

ThoughtsOFThomasNotNostradamus

November  9, 2025   Text to Video --  First Look at Flow/Veo and  Hailuo AI/MiniMax

Video AI apps have become more plentiful in a very short time.  Trial versions previewed over the past year have been somewhat quirky and made numerous errors, even though instructions were very basic and clearly stated. Coming from someone with limited knowledge or experience in ai video production, I cannot be too quick to judge each app's overall performance.

Earlier reviews of text to view apps were posted this year on January 10 (Artificial Intelligence web page) in which similar observations and examples of short videos are linked--Luma.Labs.AI Dream Machine, today's videos contain numerous anomalies and artificats floating around where they shouldn't have been.

I've played around with several more image/text to video apps in the past few days and found the following produced high quality videos based on images submitted and text instructions:

Flow/Veo from Google (Trial Version) was easy to jump right into and produce high quality video resolution and audio.  I submitted an image of a Pool Table that I had first drawn in SketchUp and Rendered with Twilight Render Extension.  I then instructed Gemini to add a background of the interior of a pool hall, and then submitted it along with instructions for Flow  to incorporate people shooting pool into a short video (with audio added by Flow).  Each of these steps were completed at various stages over the past two years.

• The Four Pool-related images below illustrate the evolution of the video beginning with the SketchUp Design and modeling (Optional) of the pool table, billiard balls, and cue.  A photograph or drawing would have sufficed--it didn't have to originate in SketchUp.  Also, the Twilight Rendering step can be skipped because Gemini will render everything on its own from the initial image or drawing--if you leave out some of the detail, Gemini may even add it for you.

• See for yourself--The video below was the first attempt that seemed to be better than three additonal failed attempts.  All versions contained errors in orientation, anomalies, and artifacts as mention before.

• Considering the technical aspects of shooting pool, pool ball interaction, and background movement, Flow did an excellent job for the limited time I dedicated to the video production.

Hailuo AI/MiniMax (Trial Version) did not automatically add sound in their trial version (or I may not have located the option).  The subject matter for Hailuo AI was also a model from SketchUp--a 1949 Hudson Automobile.  The car was rendered and modified using Gemini to add a car dealership background. 

• Repeated unsuccessful attempts to get the corrected scaling of image components  with Flow was frustrating and a dissapointment. 

• The Text instructions for Hailuo AI was to add a husband and a wife that were shopping for the car dressed in clothing appropriate for the 1940s.

• In another version a third person was added representing a Car Salesman.  Regardless of how I stated the instructions,  the people were not scaled to the height of the car and towered over the top of the roofline by about two feet.  It seems that the applied scale would be o.k. had it been for a modern sports car; but along side of a 1949 Hudson, the people appeared to be unusually large.

• After researching the exact height of the 1949 Hudson, I noted that the vehicle's was 65 inches from its top to the ground. The height the car and each individual--car salesman, 72 inches, husband, 75 inches, and the wife, 68 inches were included in the text/instructions.  That instruction regarding scale was either ignored or overlooked (maybe the ai app could not distinguish who each person was).

• A snippet from the Car Dealership v1 video was painstakingly edited with GIMP photo editor by rescaling the husband and wife to a more suitable size (see image below).  Compare that to the Car Dealership v1 video below.  Car Dealership v2 has a similar issue.  

Again, I cannot be too critical of the performance of Flow or Hailuo AI considering the  complexity of movement and integration of all elements.  The clarity and movement of the generated videos were sufficient to provide a peek at what each app can do.

From a beginner's standpoint, the trial versions provide helpful, hands-on tutorials on this aspect of ai.  Try several of these apps before deciding what premium/subscription package(s) would be best for you.

Here are links for today's short video's:

Pool Hall v1     |     Car Dealership v1     |     Car Dealership v2

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

November  7, 2025   Globalization -- Manufacturing Consumer Products in the U.S.

Google AI Overview and ChatGPT  have provided some interesting data regarding the Manufacturing of Consumer Products here at home and in foreign countries.  The time frame used for today's inquiry is between 1965 and 2025.

Click the following link for a detailed analysis:   Manufacturing in the U.S. (PDF file 4,560 words, 16 pages). The report contains estimates of total consumer products available to purchase as well as trends regarding their manufacturing locations. Also provided is an estimated time requirement for reversing the effects of globalization on the U.S. manufacturing sector--for that to become a reality.

Here are a few of the estimations and facts revealed from several questions that I asked both ai apps:

• Estimated Retail SKU volume (Store Keeping Units) are now counted in the Billions compared to in the Millions in the mid 1960s.  That is, the total number of unique products available for purchase.

• Due to invention, innovation, technology, growth, and demand, product availability has risen by an estimated 4,900%

• It is estimated that it will take 20 years to return to pre-globalization manufacturing capacity relative to meeting the demand.

I have shared pertinent information, some of which is formatted as  tables and graphs that was gathered by AI Overview/Gemini and ChatGPT.  My only contribution was to ask the questions and compile the responses for this post.

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

November 6, 2025 Google Labs |  AI Overview--Troubleshooting Computer Glitches.

Windows 10 has over the years been very reliable, but last week I encountered a problem when attempting to open the Documents folder.  The folder has thousands of files in many folders and most of my activity  will sooner or later be saved there or in the Pictures folder.

Remedy (that worked for me)

Ask Google Labs | AI Overview for Help.

• Begin by stating the problem:  “My Windows 10 Documents folder will not open. How can I fix it?”  (Link working as of 11-01-2025.)
  
  

• From there, AI Overview provided a list of things to try. Beginning with Disabling the Quick Access History using Task Manager (open as administrator).
  
  

• Since that didn’t work, I moved to their next suggestion involving running the System File Checker that required opening DISM Tools, again using the administrator Login.
  
  

• At this point, AI overview walks you through the steps required to access the Command Prompt with specific instructions for what to type.  Sure enough, by successfully completing these steps which includes  steps like   “scf/scannow”,  followed by “optimize this folder”, and “apply to all sub-folders”, etc., you’re in the right place.
  
  

• The only thing that was a bit tricky, I suspect, depends on what Windows 10 version is being used. Some of the locations or options had been moved slightly and may not be exactly as it was described by AI overview--either due to updates or lack thereof.  Just keep looking if they are not immediately located.
  
  

• After I had run the scan and continued as instructed, a message was returned that stated “corrupted files had been found and were repaired.”  This took a few minutes to complete.
  
  

Thereafter, following a re-boot, the Documents folder opened as usual.

___________________

Comments:

Using the Command Prompt is not required most of the time, but should the need arise, don't be intimidated by it.  It is a method to communicate with your computer outside the realm of Windows or the GPU.  However, have reference material to guide your steps.  Very much like entering URLs, Command Prompt instructions are unforgiving regarding spelling and spacing as well as using symbols such as /, \, or |.

In the days before Windows and GPUs and during the pre-mouse years, all commands were launched from a DOS prompt (Disk Operating System).  There was also machine language but that was an entirely different "ball of wax".  The average user need not be concerned with its core operation--this was more for computer technicians, programmers, coders, and those who many refer to as nerds.

Even after early personal computers became a household item, the intention was to make them user friendly and machine language and coding did not fit that description.

When poking around using the command prompts or tampering with the registry, be sure you have reliable reference materials at hand.  The slightest miscue could crash your computer operating system or software (or maybe even burn up your power supply or motherboard by overclocking).  If you're wondering why some files are hidden from view, that's why.  The best advice is to exercise caution and restraint.

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

November 4, 2025  ChatGPT -- Shakespearean, Elizabethan, and Modern Poetry

Once again, ChatGPT has composed poetry based on my brief instructions:

First Poem Instructions:

"Please compose a poem in the style of William Shakespeare about a one-hundred year old man who has outlived everyone else on earth and has been alone for nearly twenty years. In his final hours he laments and expresses sorrow about not having a funeral, a burial, a headstone, and nobody to say a prayer over him."

Second Poem Instructions:

"Please compose a poem in the style of William Shakespeare that elaborates on the premise that Yesterday and Tomorrow do not exist. We live in the Here and Now."

ChatGPT also offered to create Elizabethan versions of both poems.  They are shown below written on parchment paper which was another option.  PNG image files were created for the two individual poems that were then downloaded and resized to fit the facing pages border.

The fancy page borders were reused from an earlier project completed August 30 (Scroll down to read more).

Lastly, I requested modern English translations for both poems.  They can be read by clicking the following link that also includes the entire ChatGPT conversation for today's project.

Click Here:  Today's Poetry (PDF file, 8 pages)

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

November 2, 2025  Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Education

Question for Google Labs | AI Overview:

“Is ai stifling humanity’s desire to improve language and thinking skills because ai’s responses and answers are faster and generally superior to those who are just learning or are in the process of developing their skills?”

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

Google Labs | AI Overview:

Research suggests that AI has a complex and dual impact on human learning, with both potential to enhance and stifle language and thinking skills. While the immediate superiority of AI can demotivate some, the negative effects appear to stem more from over-reliance and the misuse of the technology than from its existence alone. 

The risk of cognitive offloading 

When AI offers a fast, superior answer, it removes the "productive struggle" that is essential for deep learning and critical thinking. 

• Discouraged critical thinking: Studies have found a negative correlation between frequent AI use and critical-thinking abilities. Heavy users tend to delegate complex reasoning tasks to the AI, leading to less independent analysis. A 2025 Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University study found that greater trust in AI correlated with less effortful critical thinking.

• Stunted creativity: In creative tasks, some students who used AI showed improvements in basic fluency but experienced "cognitive fixation," where they relied too heavily on the AI's suggestions and lowered their creative confidence.

• Diminished motivation: Research shows that while human-AI collaboration can improve task performance, it may also reduce intrinsic motivation when the AI is removed. Over-reliance can erode confidence, causing some students to feel less willing to engage in difficult tasks without technological support. 

The opportunity for enhanced learning

• If used properly, AI can be a powerful educational tool that boosts learning and skills development. The positive effects depend heavily on the context, the user's approach, and the quality of the AI system itself. 

• Personalized learning: AI can tailor educational content and pace to an individual's needs, keeping them in an "optimal challenge zone" where they are challenged enough to stay engaged but not so overwhelmed that they give up. This can increase motivation.

• Enhanced performance: Some studies show that AI can improve performance on certain tasks. When used as a creative partner in an iterative loop of drafting and editing, AI can help humans generate better content.

• Augmented human skills: AI systems can excel at data-driven, high-volume tasks, freeing up humans to focus on higher-order, uniquely human skills such as creative thinking, empathy, and complex problem-solving. For example, AI can help accelerate idea generation, which humans can then refine and contextualize. 

• The human element remains critical 

While AI can present a temptation to avoid mental effort, the human brain's ability to engage in effortful, reflective thinking is what allows for true skill mastery. The ultimate impact of AI appears to depend on a user's intentionality and discipline. 

• Awareness is key: Experts emphasize the need for digital literacy and critical engagement with AI technology. Students and workers must be aware of AI's limitations, biases, and the risk of over-reliance.

• The "path of least resistance": As one researcher noted, "It is likely that a portion of society will opt for the path of least resistance" by letting AI do the thinking for them. For those lacking intellectual ambition, the existence of a superior, faster tool can make the hard work of learning feel pointless.

• Intellectual humility: For those with ambition, however, the comparison to AI can fuel the desire to learn skills that machines cannot replicate, such as nuanced judgment, emotional depth, and creative originality. 

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

October 29, 2025   Evolution of Digital Art

It has been six weeks since the final post was made to the Artificial Intelligence section of this website.  At that  time, I bid farewell to dedicating a page to the emerging technology feeling that it was no longer necessary.  It seems that ai has crept into every other facet of this website.

My capacity to produce digital art has always been limited to the use of computer tools such as 3D modeling with SketchUp, rendering with Twilight Render Extension, and original works using a digital camera or enhancement of old photography or imagery with a graphics editor such as GIMP (PhotoShop substitute).

In an effort to be original with my ai instructions, no matter how hard I try, my generated images do not appear to be unique--thousands of similar examples--nearly identical to my own--can be found on the internet.

Even essays and poetry I've written and then edited with ai seem to be repackaged versions of something else.  Grammatically perfect in comparison to my original, it lacks the raw meaning and seems to be missing something, that as the author, I cannot identify.

When ai creates text from a brief or detailed description, however, it can untangle complex sentence structure and provide a clearer and more coherent message.  It can also produce several versions from which to choose, and is also extremely fast at what it does.

Much of what ai produces appears to be too perfect, too clean, and without flaws, all of which lack the human quality of imperfection.  That, too, can be remedied by instructing ai to create a few obvious flaws in works of art or prompts to insert a few grammatical errors in generated text.

In closing, publishing digital art on a recreational level has been ongoing for about 30 years--my skills have not improved, but the tools have, for better or for worse.

Comments:

This post has not been edited with ai.

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

October 10, 2025  Back yard Pergola--Pencil Sketch and Gemini AI

After sketching another crude image today, a Pergola, I uploaded the image to Gemini and requested it to create a new image based on the following instructions:

"Draw a photo realistic  image of a Pergola with backyard lawn, shrubs, and a few trees in the background.  Follow the approximate design as shown in the attached pencil sketch.  Make corrections to the perspective as needed.

The pergola should be anchored to a concrete floor that measures 15 feet x 15 feet.  The main structure is assembled using post and beam construction.  The base of the pergola measures 9 feet wide by 12 feet long.  Its height at the bottom of the rafters measures 8 feet.

The four upright posts measures 8 feet from floor to the headers made of the same material.  Four  upright posts and 4 horizontal beams around the perimeter at the top are square posts measuring 6” x 6” and cut to length as needed.  There are six rafter made of 1” x 12” fabricated material (all weather plywood). Each rafter has been sawn in a curved fashion resembling the attached image.

The rafters are also notched on the bottom to permit them to be anchored across the horizontal headers—the 6” square post material.  Each rafter should be spaced 2 feet apart with a 1 ½ foot overhang on each side.  The wood structure should be stained with a natural wood finish.

To achieve the required length for spanning the 12 foot length, the 6” x 6” material may require lamination in the real world; however, for this image, one continuous length will suffice.

A small, round table with 3 chairs can be placed inside the pergola with a pitcher of lemonade and 3 glasses on the table.  The sun is shining."

See images below.

________________

Comments:

• Gemini deviated from my initial concept considerably and used far superior construction methods substituting double 2" x 10" planks for the horizontal supports instead of 6" x 6" wooden posts.  At the same time it solved the problem of spanning a 12 foot length instead of laminating two posts.

• In addition, Gemini's version added a second tier of rafters running at right angles to the bottom tier (see image below); plus a couple of 2 x 3's around the top of the overhang to make the roof look complete.  This is definitely a more rigid and sturdier design.

• Where my initial plan was to conserve on materials and simplicity of design, Gemini's version would require about a half of forest's worth of trees to complete and a lot more sawing and labor for assembly.

• Gemini should be complimented on better looking joinery--an artist I am not.

Source:  Gemini
ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

September 22, 2025  Cartoons -- GIMP and Gemini

After sketching and coloring a crude image, using GIMP, the Filters>Artistic>Cartoon setting was applied (see below).

Later, Gemini was used to include other subject matter.  First, I uploaded the cartoon created with GIMP for Gemini to process.  Next two versions were generated.  The first shows a man wearing a straw hat and double suspenders, a barn, and farm animals.  The second generated image includes two sheep plus a front view of the husky man that I did not specifiy; but was o.k. since it represents less repetition.

• Show a closeup of this cartoon figure standing in a barnyard facing an old red barn in the background along with  some chickens, a goat, a couple cows, and a horse that are also all cartoon figures.

• Show a closeup of this cartoon figure standing in a barnyard facing an old red barn in the background along with  some chickens, a goat, two sheep, a couple cows, and a horse that are also all cartoon figures.

Source:  GIMP and Gemini
ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

September 21, 2025  Today's Conversation with ChatGPT -- Biased News Feeds

You said:

Are internet news websites further polarizing U.S. citizens by customizing news feeds for them based on their personal interests, search history, and political affiliation that results in biased reporting of events, etc.

ChatGPT said:

Yes—there’s strong evidence that internet news websites and platforms can polarize U.S. citizens through customized news feeds. A few key points:

1. Algorithmic Filtering (Filter Bubbles):
   Most news feeds are cusrated curated by algorithms that prioritize content users are more likely to click on, based on search history, likes, shares, and past reading behavior. Over time, this can trap people in “filter bubbles,” where they mostly see stories that reinforce their existing beliefs.

2. Echo Chambers:
   If someone has a clear political leaning, the algorithm often keeps feeding them material aligned with that leaning. This can create an echo chamber effect, where citizens are exposed less often to opposing viewpoints and more often to partisan framing.

3. Biased Framing:
   Personalization doesn’t just filter which stories are shown—it also affects how those stories are presented. Two people could read about the same event but from sources that frame it in ways that align with their ideological preferences, reinforcing bias.

4. Engagement Incentives:
   Platforms profit from attention. Content that sparks strong emotional reactions—often outrage—tends to get promoted more. This nudges coverage toward more extreme or sensational perspectives, widening divides.

5. Uneven Exposure:
   While some people actively seek out diverse perspectives, most passively accept what their feed delivers. That uneven exposure amplifies polarization at the population level.

That said, research also shows that exposure to some opposing viewpoints online can occasionally backfire, strengthening people’s preexisting beliefs instead of moderating them—so the effect is complicated, not one-directional.

Short answer: Yes, personalized internet news feeds often deepen polarization in the U.S. by reinforcing biases and limiting cross-perspective exposure.

Source:  ChatGPT 5o
ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

September 20, 2025  Today's Conversation with ChatGPT -- The Future

You said:

In theory, could the human race ever attain the sophisitcation of acquiring a "cashless" society without the need for monetary exchange" and life as we know it would not be driven by the almighty Dollar where the concept of tangible value no longer exists?

ChatGPT said:

That’s a really deep question. Let’s unpack it in theory.

Human societies depend on systems of exchange to allocate resources, coordinate labor, and motivate innovation. Money has been the most efficient and scalable system so far, because it is:

• A universal language of value (a loaf of bread, a car, an hour of work).

• Portable and divisible (a dollar, a cent, a digital transaction).

• Trust-based but verifiable (backed by governments, markets, or even decentralized systems like crypto).

A society without money — or without any notion of "exchange value" — would require something else to handle those same functions. Here are some theoretical pathways:

1. Post-Scarcity Society (Star Trek model)

If technology advances far enough (e.g., unlimited clean energy, advanced automation, replicators/nanotech that can produce any good instantly), then material scarcity disappears. If everything you need can be created on demand, money becomes unnecessary. People contribute out of curiosity, social belonging, prestige, or purpose — not for income.

• Possible? Theoretically yes, but only if technology eliminates almost all forms of scarcity (food, shelter, healthcare, energy).

• Challenge: New forms of scarcity (e.g., attention, creativity, unique experiences) may still exist.

2. Resource-Based Economy (Jacque Fresco’s Venus Project idea)

Instead of money, society manages resources scientifically. AI and global systems allocate goods and services according to need and sustainability. You don’t “buy” a car — you use one when needed, shared and tracked by an intelligent system.

• Possible? More realistic than post-scarcity, since it’s an extension of existing trends (AI, automation, sharing economy).

• Challenge: Requires global trust in centralized or distributed systems — and a cultural shift away from ownership and profit.

3. Reputation / Contribution Economy

Value is measured not in dollars but in reputation, contribution, or social credit. You “earn” by contributing to society (knowledge, art, service, care), and you gain access to resources based on that. This is partially happening today (e.g., open-source communities, Wikipedia, even “likes” on social media).

• Possible? Yes, in digital or niche communities.

• Challenge: Risks inequality based on popularity, influence, or manipulation of reputation systems.
  
  

4. Pure Altruism or Utopian Anarchy

In theory, humans could transcend self-interest and live cooperatively, giving and sharing without formal systems. But this assumes a complete rewiring of human psychology away from competition and toward universal altruism.

• Possible? Highly unlikely at scale — human societies evolved under scarcity and competition.

Bottom Line

In theory, yes — a “cashless” society without monetary exchange is possible. The most plausible paths involve:

• Technology eliminating material scarcity (post-scarcity abundance).

• AI and automation coordinating resource distribution without money.

• New systems of social value replacing dollars.

But unless scarcity disappears entirely, humans will probably always use some abstract system of exchange — whether it’s money, reputation, or resource credits — to mediate access and fairness.

💡 So, the deeper truth may be: humanity won’t just “end money” — it would evolve money into something unrecognizable by today’s standards.

____________________

Would you like me to sketch out what daily life might look like in one of these futures (say, the “Star Trek” style post-scarcity model)?

You said:

"Make it so," Captain Kirk.

ChatGPT said:

Aye aye, Captain! 🚀 Let’s imagine daily life in a Star Trek–style post-scarcity society, where money doesn’t exist and material needs are no longer tied to "the almighty dollar."

A Day in the Life Without Money

You wake up in your home — not purchased or rented, but simply yours because every person has access to comfortable housing. The walls adjust light and temperature automatically, powered by virtually limitless clean energy.

Hungry? You head to the replicator, which materializes your favorite breakfast — eggs Benedict, alien fruit, or something entirely new — instantly and at no cost. There’s no bill, no grocery run, no worrying about whether you can afford it. Food is just… available.

For “work,” you don’t clock in for a paycheck. Instead, you contribute to society in whatever way inspires you. Some people explore the stars, some do research, others teach, heal, or create art. Your motivation isn’t survival or profit, but curiosity, prestige, purpose, and passion.

Need a ride? You don’t “own” a car. You request transport from the shared fleet — perhaps a shuttle, a pod, or a teleporter. No insurance, no loan payments, no gas stations.

Healthcare is universal, not because you "pay into the system," but because advanced medicine can heal almost anything and society sees no reason to let anyone suffer.

And when evening comes, you can spend it in a holodeck — a fully immersive simulation. Want to experience life as a medieval knight, dance with alien species, or relax on a beach under three moons? Just walk in and program the experience. No ticket price required.

⚖️ What’s Changed?

• Scarcity is gone. Energy, food, and goods are abundant.

• Value is cultural, not financial. Reputation, knowledge, creativity, and discovery matter more than wealth.

• Work is redefined. You do what you love or what helps humanity advance — not what pays the bills.

• Inequality shifts. No one is rich or poor, but some are admired for brilliance, leadership, or artistic genius.

It’s not a utopia without problems — human conflict, ego, and ambition still exist. But the struggles of today (rent, debt, hunger, healthcare) no longer dominate life.

In short: we no longer live to earn… we live to learn, explore, and create.

Source:  ChatGPT 5o
ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

September 13, 2025  Potential Danger--Lightning Strikes

This morning I was awakened by the sound of thunder.  Many people these days are connected to CPAP machines while they sleep to assist with proper breathing. Some devices use electrically heated air hoses that extend between the CPAP machine and the user's face mask. 

"Is there any danger associated with using  a CPAP machine while sleeping when it's lightning?"

Google Labs | AI Overview stated . . .

Yes, a CPAP user should be concerned and should unplug their CPAP machine and avoid using it during a severe thunderstorm with lightning, as it is an electrical device connected to the power grid, creating a potential risk for electric shock, similar to other electrical appliances. While CPAP machines are designed for safety, direct or indirect lightning strikes can cause power surges and spikes, which could harm the user or the device.  

_________________

I then followed up with this Question:

"Am I being a worry wart if I fear wearing my CPAP mask when it's lightning while sleeping and have no knowledge of the weather outside?"

AI Overview

It is very understandable to have anxiety about wearing a CPAP mask during a lightning storm, but the risk of an electrical shock is extremely low. Most of the risk during a storm is to the machine itself from a power surge, not to you. 

Why your mask is safe

• Non-conductive materials:  Your CPAP mask and hose are made of non-conductive plastic and silicone. A direct lightning strike would not travel through these materials to you.

• Better paths to ground:   If lightning were to strike your home, the electricity would follow the path of least resistance to the ground, such as metal plumbing or your home's electrical wiring. There is no direct, easy electrical path from your machine to your face.

• Even heated hoses are insulated:  While some hoses contain a heating element, the wire is well-insulated and encased in plastic, posing no threat of an electrical shock. 

Protecting your equipment

The most significant risk from a lightning storm is a power surge that can damage or "fry" your machine. To protect your equipment: 

• Use a surge protector:  Always plug your CPAP machine into a reliable surge protector. While no device offers 100% protection from a direct lightning strike, a good quality surge protector can guard against common power fluctuations.

• Unplug during severe storms:  If you know a severe storm with frequent lightning is approaching, the safest measure is to unplug the machine from the wall outlet.

• Consider a battery backup:  If you are worried about missing therapy during a storm, you can purchase a backup battery. You can then unplug your machine from the wall and run it safely on battery power. Some people who live in areas with frequent storms already do this for peace of mind. 

A note on sleep apnea

It is important to remember that the health risks of untreated sleep apnea often outweigh the minimal risk of using your CPAP during a storm. If you choose to unplug your machine during a storm, reattach and resume your therapy as soon as the danger has passed.

____________________________

Comments:

• Depending on how you ask the question, you'll get responses that vary in the degree of precaution that should be taken regarding lightning.

• The second response contains an endnote that directly addresses the potential danger of lightning. The last sentence almost seems to be a contradiction as well as a disclaimer for all previous advice listed.  "If you choose" could just as well be applied to . . . "I'm a good jumper. Is it safe to jump over a downed power line?"  Well if they're wrong, you'll never have to worry about it again. (fortunately for this one, the response was a definite No.)

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

September 1, 2025  Word Clarity and Punctuation

Combinations of word choice in the English language is almost unlimited and with it, our minds can communicate our thoughts in a manner that can be understood by others.  It is important to note that the English Language has evolved over time in such a way that many words have multiple meanings and applications.

When formed into complete sentences that communicate clearly, well placed punctuation is vital to prevent ambiguity or misinterpretation by the reader or listener.  The reader may also interpret meaningss of certain words they hear “out of context “ compared to their intended meaning.  That is why it is important to listen or read carefully.  Presentors should read with expression as conveyed by punctuation marks to guide the way until the sentence or message has reached its end.

When listening, punctuation is conveyed by pauses and voice pitch of the speaker.  In some instances the speaker adds facial expression, volume fluctuation, or hand and body movement to emphasize meaning or to engage the listener.

For better communication, it helps immensely if the reader has some knowledge of what they are reading—not just converting printed text into sound. This is sometimes the case when news is being delivered by a newscaster on radio or television.  Newscasters are usuallly not experts regarding the topic, nor should they be expected to be.  Astute listeners should not be too critical in this instance and may hear occasional pronunciation errors or misapplications of nouns and verbs should they attempt to interject a comment.  However, when a commentator is hosting the broadcast, they are expected to be more informed about the subject matter being discussed.

We sometimes take for granted the words we use that flow from our thoughts by way of pen or mouth will be understood.  That is not always the case.

Today’s post is limited to just two words that have a miniscule role within the totality of the English Language. These words are being examined for two different reasons that will be explained later.  Lastly, punctuation involving the placement of quotation marks is addressed in the final segment.  Their role is also small, but like the two words, make communication through language more complete. . .

Click Here for the Continuation of this Post  (pdf format). 

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

August 30, 2025  Writing Styles -- Shakespeare

The following instructions and information were given to ChatGPT 5.0:

"Please write in the style of William Shakespeare, written in first person--a soliloquy told by an elderly man who is talking about his past, his current view of life , and what the future has in store for him.

He talks about his younger days when events of his life were rapidly unfolding, many of which were unexpected and challenging with some successes and failures along the way.  He further states that he has lived a normal life and to this day has not experienced neither chaos or turmoil.

He then states that he was able to maintain a degree of stability by exercising good judgement and common sense. But, in many instances fate had much to do with living out his life--and life was not without its  ups and downs where there were times of happiness and great sorrow.

He elaborates on the fact that he has seen the passing of his entire family who had succumbed to old age and speculates that his time will be coming soon.

He further compares his present life of being home bound and following a never changing daily routine where he devotes much of his time to thinking about and talking about his experiences from his past--about the life he used to have when he was a young man, who was curious and ambitious, who looked forward to the times when he would seek out new paths and explore life while possessing curiosity, ambition, strength, and good health.

And in moments of solitude he wonders about his final hours and what will happen then."

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

______________________________

Here is the soliloquy in the style of William Shakespeare:

                    Upon the Last Leaf 

In younger days, when Time was fleet of foot,
My life did burst with swiftness unforeseen;
Events came crowding, sudden, manifold,
Some bless’d with triumph, others marr’d with fall.
Yet through such trials, chaos touch’d me not,
For common sense and judgment clear did guide
My vessel through the shallows and the storms.

And yet, I know, not all was wrought by me—
For Fate, that secret hand, did mark the course,
And oft my choice was but a shadow’s play.
Thus life bestow’d me joy and piercing grief,
Both light and darkness woven in one thread;
A measured span, not more, not less than most.

But lo, the years have borne away my kin;
All those I cherish’d now to dust return’d.
Their laughter once did gild the air with song,
Now silence holds their place, and I alone
Remain to walk the slow decline of age.
How long till I am call’d to join their rest?
How long till Death extends his patient hand?

These present days, confin’d within my walls,
Move ever in a circle, changeless, pale.
Each dawn brings forth the same unvaried round,
The selfsame meals, the selfsame chair, the hour
Wherein I muse on what my youth had been.
For once I was a man of eager heart,
Curious to seek out roads untrod by men,
Ambitious, strong, with health my loyal friend,
Who look’d upon the world with hungry eyes.
O how I lov’d to chase the beck’ning wind,
To carve new paths through forests yet unknown!

But now my journeys dwell within my thought;
I walk the past more than the present field.
And in the hush of solitary hours,
When shadows lengthen and the fire burns low,
I ponder on my final earthly night.
What dream awaits when last my breath is spent?
What silence—or what light—shall close mine eyes?
Such thoughts do haunt, yet not with fearful pang,
For I have liv’d as plain and honest men,
Untroubled by disorder or despair.

So let the Fates unroll what scroll they will;
When my last act is call’d, I shall depart.
Yet till that summons comes, I sit and muse,
And speak with memory as with a friend,
Of life once bold, of hope, of grief, of love,
And mark with patience what remains of time.

Lastly, here is the link to the complete ChatGPT Conversation that includes variations written for stage and performance as well as examples of :

• blank verse

• free verse

• condensed version

• couplets

• epitaphs

• and five suggested titles--of which I chose the recommended title shown above.

Soliloquy by ChatGPT

August 15, 2025  The Sports Industry--Its Effect on Society

The purpose of More Odds and Ends . . . is to leave no stone unturned.  It is hard to imagine a world and country without sports.  Where would all the energy that develops in humanity go if it weren't for Sports--War? This post will delve into ai's opinion based on the premise of this rhetoric.

Sports affects all age groups.  It involves all aspects of Sports that goes beyond the "Game."  I have provided a list of related elements where sport is  in the forefront

I  have compiled  a list of these elements in no particular order of importance.  I will ask ai to elaborate on each topic and its combined overall effect and their interplay in our sociey as it exists in the United States today.

The complexity of this query is too difficult and disorganized for me to reconcile.  I would like ChatGPT to offer its opinion regarding Sports in America:

• • The Sports Industry and its affect on the economy for both the industry and its targeted audiences.

  • Construction and Maintenance of sports facilities at all levels

  • Spectators and Fans

  • The Players and Athletes

  • Training--instructors, coaches, facilities, and related equipment,

  • Uniforms and sports apparel.

  • Team Sports at all levels including the youth to the professional teams.

  • Organizations, Tournaments and the need to determine champions

  • Admissions at every level

  • Transportation to and from the games, training and practice

  • Food and Lodging for fans and particpants.

  • Referees, Umpires and Score Keepers

  • Sports Medicine and rehabilitation

  • Salaries vs amateur status

  • Signage and Scoreboards

  • Sports Advertising and films

  • Health benefits vs. injuries

  • Sports Psychology

  • Passive vs. aggressive behavior--outlet for agression

  • Positive and Negative effects on both particpants and spectators

  • Elite Athletes

  • Effects on winners and losers including players, teams, coaches and communities

  • International Sports

  • Sports for the disabled

  • Sports in Schools, Colleges and Club Sports.

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

_____________________

Here is ChatGPT's Response:

Got it — you’re asking for a structured, detailed exploration of the entire ecosystem of sports in America, looking at each of the elements you listed and showing how they interact to influence the U.S. socially, culturally, and economically.

Here’s a well-organized breakdown that covers each point and ties them together into a full picture.

Sports in America: A Multi-Layered Influence

1. The Sports Industry & Its Economic Impact

• Scale: A multi-hundred-billion-dollar sector encompassing ticket sales, media rights, merchandising, and sponsorships.

• Ripple Effect: Boosts tourism, local businesses, and job creation.

• Audience Targeting: Engages youth, collegiate, and pro markets differently, fostering lifelong loyalty.

2. Construction & Maintenance of Sports Facilities

• Local: Community fields and gyms build pride and participation.

• Professional: Large stadiums can revitalize or burden cities.

• Maintenance: Year-round employment for skilled and unskilled labor.

3. Spectators & Fans

• Culture: Shared experiences unite diverse groups.

• Economics: Fans drive spending on tickets, concessions, and merchandise.

• Psychology: Fandom can be both a healthy outlet and a source of rivalry.

4. Players & Athletes

• Development Pathways: From local youth leagues to professional stardom.

• Challenges: Pay disparity, short careers, physical and mental strain.

5. Training Infrastructure

• Facilities: Specialized gyms, practice fields, performance labs.

• Staffing: Coaches, trainers, and sports scientists.

• Equipment: Evolving gear to improve safety and performance.

6. Uniforms & Sports Apparel

• Identity: Strengthens team unity and brand recognition.

• Commerce: Sportswear companies rely heavily on both athlete and fan demand.

7. Team Sports at All Levels

• Youth: Builds discipline and teamwork.

• College: Balances academics and high-level competition.

• Pro: Entertainment-driven but also tied to civic pride.

8. Organizations & Championships

• Structure: Coordinates leagues, schedules, and tournaments.

• Impact: Creates seasonal rhythms like March Madness or the Super Bowl.

9. Admissions & Ticket Sales

• Revenue Source: Critical for team operations.

• Accessibility: Rising prices can reduce inclusivity.

10. Transportation

• Teams: Charter buses, flights, and logistics planning.

• Fans: Public transport, road trips, and rideshare use.

11. Food & Lodging

• Fans: Sports tourism benefits local hospitality industries.

• Teams: Hotels and travel arrangements support performance needs.

12. Officials (Referees, Umpires, Scorekeepers)

• Role: Maintain rules and fairness.

• Challenges: Recruitment shortages at youth levels.

13. Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation

• Prevention: Training and conditioning to reduce injuries.

• Treatment: Specialists handle everything from sprains to concussions.

14. Salaries vs. Amateur Status

• Debate: Compensation for college athletes remains controversial.

• Pay Gap: Significant differences across leagues, genders, and sports

15. Signage & Scoreboards

• Function: Provide live updates and enhance fan engagement.

• Revenue: Prime advertising space for sponsors.

16. Advertising & Films

• Marketing Power: Athletes endorse brands; events sell advertising slots.

• Cultural Impact: Documentaries and films immortalize sports moments.

17. Health Benefits vs. Injuries

• Positives: Physical fitness, improved mental health, social engagement.

• Negatives: Injuries, burnout, and long-term health consequences.

18. Sports Psychology

• For Athletes: Focus, confidence, motivation, and coping skills.

• For Fans: Emotional highs and lows tied to team results.

19. Passive vs. Aggressive Behavior — Outlet for Aggression

• Healthy Outlet: Sports channel competitive instincts into controlled environments, reducing real-world aggression.

• Potential Risks: Overemphasis on winning or overly aggressive coaching can encourage hostility or violence.

• Social Impact: At the community level, sports can replace destructive conflict with structured competition, contributing to public safety and social cohesion.

• Interplay: Strongly tied to sports psychology, fan behavior, and positive/negative social effects.

20. Positive & Negative Social Effects

• Positive: Builds character, teaches teamwork, fosters inclusion.

• Negative: Can fuel unhealthy rivalries, gambling issues, or elitism.

21. Elite Athletes

• Influence: Shape trends, inspire youth, and speak on social issues.

• Downside: Pressure, media scrutiny, and short career windows.

22. Winners & Losers Impact

• Athletes: Success can bring contracts and fame; loss can mean career setbacks.

• Communities: Victories spark pride; losses can dampen morale.

23. International Sports

• Global Connections: Olympics and World Cup bring nations together.

• Politics: Acts as soft diplomacy or political statement.

24. Sports for the Disabled

• Inclusion: Paralympics, Special Olympics, adaptive programs.

• Innovation: Technological advances in prosthetics and equipment.

25. Sports in Schools, Colleges & Clubs

• Education Link: Encourages student engagement and academic performance.

• Development: Creates pipelines for higher-level competition.

The Interplay

This ecosystem thrives because each element supports and influences others:

• The economy benefits from fans, facilities, and events, while those depend on media, players, and advertisers.

• Psychology and behavior influence performance, fan culture, and community well-being.

• Health, training, and infrastructure connect grassroots participation with professional performance.

Without sports, these interconnected benefits — economic, social, psychological, and cultural — might not only vanish but could be replaced by less constructive outlets for human energy and competition.

________________________________

If you want, I can also create a visual diagram that shows how all these elements interconnect in U.S. society. That might make the “too complex to reconcile” problem easier to grasp. Would you like me to do that? 

You said:

Yes, prepare a visual diagram please.

If you want, I can also prepare a second diagram showing a hub-and-spoke model with the Sports Industry in the center and all these elements radiating outward. That would make the relationships easier to read than the network tangle. Would you like me to make that?

Ask ChatGPT

You said:

Yes, prepare a second diagram please.

ChatGPT said:

Here’s the hub-and-spoke diagram with Sports Industry & Economy at the center, showing all the other elements radiating outward to emphasize how they connect back to the core economic engine.

ChatGPT Summaries:

• Multiple Paragraph Summary

Summary – The Sports Industry and Its Impact on Society
Sports in America form a vast interconnected ecosystem that influences the economy, culture, health, and social cohesion. The industry generates billions through events, merchandise, media rights, and tourism, while supporting jobs in facility construction, maintenance, transportation, hospitality, and sports-related services.

Players, coaches, officials, and fans are linked through shared experiences that build identity, civic pride, and community bonds. Training systems, sports medicine, and technology drive athlete performance and safety, while uniforms, branding, and advertising shape public culture. Sports promote physical fitness, teamwork, and discipline but also bring risks like injuries, rivalry, and exclusivity.

From youth leagues to professional franchises — including adaptive sports — the industry connects local communities with global events, acting as both entertainment and a constructive outlet for human energy and competition. Without sports, many of these economic, psychological, and cultural benefits could be lost or replaced by less positive pursuits.

• Single Sentence Summary

Sports in America form a massive, interconnected system that drives the economy, shapes culture, fosters health and community bonds, and channels human competition into positive outlets from local youth leagues to global events. 

Organizatin and Editing by ChatGPT

More Odds and Ends . . . 

August 15, 2025  The Sports Industry--Its Affect on Society

The purpose of More Odds and Ends . . . is to leave no stone unturned.  It is hard to imagine a world and country without sports.  Where would all the energy that develops in humanity go if it weren't for Sports--War? This post will delve into ai's opinion based on the premise of this rhetoric.

Sports affects all age groups.  It involves all aspects of Sports that goes beyond the "Game."  I have provided a list of related elements where sport is  in the forefront

I  have compiled  a list of these elements in no particular order of importance.  I will ask ai to elaborate on each topic and its combined overall effect and their interplay in our sociey as it exists in the United States today.

The complexity of this query is too difficult and disorganized for me to reconcile.  I would like ChatGPT to offer its opinion regarding Sports in America:

• • The Sports Industry and its affect on the economy for both the industry and its targeted audiences.

  • Construction and Maintenance of sports facilities at all levels

  • Spectators and Fans

  • The Players and Athletes

  • Training--instructors, coaches, facilities, and related equipment,

  • Uniforms and sports apparel.

  • Team Sports at all levels including the youth to the professional teams.

  • Organizations, Tournaments and the need to determine champions

  • Admissions at every level

  • Transportation to and from the games, training and practice

  • Food and Lodging for fans and particpants.

  • Referees, Umpires and Score Keepers

  • Sports Medicine and rehabilitation

  • Salaries vs amateur status

  • Signage and Scoreboards

  • Sports Advertising and films

  • Health benefits vs. injuries

  • Sports Psychology

  • Passive vs. aggressive behavior--outlet for agression

  • Positive and Negative effects on both particpants and spectators

  • Elite Athletes

  • Effects on winners and losers including players, teams, coaches and communities

  • International Sports

  • Sports for the disabled

  • Sports in Schools, Colleges and Club Sports.

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

_____________________

Here is ChatGPT's Response:

Got it — you’re asking for a structured, detailed exploration of the entire ecosystem of sports in America, looking at each of the elements you listed and showing how they interact to influence the U.S. socially, culturally, and economically.

Here’s a well-organized breakdown that covers each point and ties them together into a full picture.

Sports in America: A Multi-Layered Influence

1. The Sports Industry & Its Economic Impact

• Scale: A multi-hundred-billion-dollar sector encompassing ticket sales, media rights, merchandising, and sponsorships.

• Ripple Effect: Boosts tourism, local businesses, and job creation.

• Audience Targeting: Engages youth, collegiate, and pro markets differently, fostering lifelong loyalty.

2. Construction & Maintenance of Sports Facilities

• Local: Community fields and gyms build pride and participation.

• Professional: Large stadiums can revitalize or burden cities.

• Maintenance: Year-round employment for skilled and unskilled labor.

3. Spectators & Fans

• Culture: Shared experiences unite diverse groups.

• Economics: Fans drive spending on tickets, concessions, and merchandise.

• Psychology: Fandom can be both a healthy outlet and a source of rivalry.

4. Players & Athletes

• Development Pathways: From local youth leagues to professional stardom.

• Challenges: Pay disparity, short careers, physical and mental strain.

5. Training Infrastructure

• Facilities: Specialized gyms, practice fields, performance labs.

• Staffing: Coaches, trainers, and sports scientists.

• Equipment: Evolving gear to improve safety and performance.

6. Uniforms & Sports Apparel

• Identity: Strengthens team unity and brand recognition.

• Commerce: Sportswear companies rely heavily on both athlete and fan demand.

7. Team Sports at All Levels

• Youth: Builds discipline and teamwork.

• College: Balances academics and high-level competition.

• Pro: Entertainment-driven but also tied to civic pride.

8. Organizations & Championships

• Structure: Coordinates leagues, schedules, and tournaments.

• Impact: Creates seasonal rhythms like March Madness or the Super Bowl.

9. Admissions & Ticket Sales

• Revenue Source: Critical for team operations.

• Accessibility: Rising prices can reduce inclusivity.

10. Transportation

• Teams: Charter buses, flights, and logistics planning.

• Fans: Public transport, road trips, and rideshare use.

11. Food & Lodging

• Fans: Sports tourism benefits local hospitality industries.

• Teams: Hotels and travel arrangements support performance needs.

12. Officials (Referees, Umpires, Scorekeepers)

• Role: Maintain rules and fairness.

• Challenges: Recruitment shortages at youth levels.

13. Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation

• Prevention: Training and conditioning to reduce injuries.

• Treatment: Specialists handle everything from sprains to concussions.

14. Salaries vs. Amateur Status

• Debate: Compensation for college athletes remains controversial.

• Pay Gap: Significant differences across leagues, genders, and sports

15. Signage & Scoreboards

• Function: Provide live updates and enhance fan engagement.

• Revenue: Prime advertising space for sponsors.

16. Advertising & Films

• Marketing Power: Athletes endorse brands; events sell advertising slots.

• Cultural Impact: Documentaries and films immortalize sports moments.

17. Health Benefits vs. Injuries

• Positives: Physical fitness, improved mental health, social engagement.

• Negatives: Injuries, burnout, and long-term health consequences.

18. Sports Psychology

• For Athletes: Focus, confidence, motivation, and coping skills.

• For Fans: Emotional highs and lows tied to team results.

19. Passive vs. Aggressive Behavior — Outlet for Aggression

• Healthy Outlet: Sports channel competitive instincts into controlled environments, reducing real-world aggression.

• Potential Risks: Overemphasis on winning or overly aggressive coaching can encourage hostility or violence.

• Social Impact: At the community level, sports can replace destructive conflict with structured competition, contributing to public safety and social cohesion.

• Interplay: Strongly tied to sports psychology, fan behavior, and positive/negative social effects.

20. Positive & Negative Social Effects

• Positive: Builds character, teaches teamwork, fosters inclusion.

• Negative: Can fuel unhealthy rivalries, gambling issues, or elitism.

21. Elite Athletes

• Influence: Shape trends, inspire youth, and speak on social issues.

• Downside: Pressure, media scrutiny, and short career windows.

22. Winners & Losers Impact

• Athletes: Success can bring contracts and fame; loss can mean career setbacks.

• Communities: Victories spark pride; losses can dampen morale.

23. International Sports

• Global Connections: Olympics and World Cup bring nations together.

• Politics: Acts as soft diplomacy or political statement.

24. Sports for the Disabled

• Inclusion: Paralympics, Special Olympics, adaptive programs.

• Innovation: Technological advances in prosthetics and equipment.

25. Sports in Schools, Colleges & Clubs

• Education Link: Encourages student engagement and academic performance.

• Development: Creates pipelines for higher-level competition.

The Interplay

This ecosystem thrives because each element supports and influences others:

• The economy benefits from fans, facilities, and events, while those depend on media, players, and advertisers.

• Psychology and behavior influence performance, fan culture, and community well-being.

• Health, training, and infrastructure connect grassroots participation with professional performance.

Without sports, these interconnected benefits — economic, social, psychological, and cultural — might not only vanish but could be replaced by less constructive outlets for human energy and competition.

________________________________

If you want, I can also create a visual diagram that shows how all these elements interconnect in U.S. society. That might make the “too complex to reconcile” problem easier to grasp. Would you like me to do that? 

You said:

Yes, prepare a visual diagram please.

If you want, I can also prepare a second diagram showing a hub-and-spoke model with the Sports Industry in the center and all these elements radiating outward. That would make the relationships easier to read than the network tangle. Would you like me to make that?

Ask ChatGPT

You said:

Yes, prepare a second diagram please.

ChatGPT said:

Here’s the hub-and-spoke diagram with Sports Industry & Economy at the center, showing all the other elements radiating outward to emphasize how they connect back to the core economic engine.

ChatGPT Summaries:

• Multiple Paragraph Summary

Summary – The Sports Industry and Its Impact on Society
Sports in America form a vast interconnected ecosystem that influences the economy, culture, health, and social cohesion. The industry generates billions through events, merchandise, media rights, and tourism, while supporting jobs in facility construction, maintenance, transportation, hospitality, and sports-related services.

Players, coaches, officials, and fans are linked through shared experiences that build identity, civic pride, and community bonds. Training systems, sports medicine, and technology drive athlete performance and safety, while uniforms, branding, and advertising shape public culture. Sports promote physical fitness, teamwork, and discipline but also bring risks like injuries, rivalry, and exclusivity.

From youth leagues to professional franchises — including adaptive sports — the industry connects local communities with global events, acting as both entertainment and a constructive outlet for human energy and competition. Without sports, many of these economic, psychological, and cultural benefits could be lost or replaced by less positive pursuits.

• Single Sentence Summary

Sports in America form a massive, interconnected system that drives the economy, shapes culture, fosters health and community bonds, and channels human competition into positive outlets from local youth leagues to global events. 

Organizatin and Editing by ChatGPT

August 11, 2025  School Organizations' Impact on Youth

History of YCL (School Organization, Young Citizens League 1927 — 1971)

While the organization had lofty goals regarding promoting good citizenship, its underlying premise was organized as a mini-government entity within elementary schools at the county level, and statewide.  More information about its history can be found by clicking this link:   Young Citizen's League (YCL).

YCL instilled the concepts of honesty and good  citizenship.  It provided a sense of cohesion among participating schools by holding annual county conventions for every member, as well as a state convention held at the Capitol for county delegates.  Ideals like good citizenship as well as the function of government in a democracy became part of every child’s life.

I still have my YCL County Convention project made in the Sixth Grade:   A Pencil-Etched wooden plaque of the classical pose, Theodore Roosevelt on Horseback (see image below).  Seriously, I have always tried to uphold the YCL Pledge throughout my life. YCL was a worthwhile experience.

The Young Citizens League (YCL) Pledge

"I hereby pledge my active devotion to my country by a study of its ideals and by a constant interest in the general welfare of my state and nation. I shall strive to do something each day to improve the standard of my home, my school and my community, and thereby endeavor to promote better citizenship,"

_____________________

Comments:

• In the 1950s, the way of life was more conducive for conveying idealistic goals to the youth of the nation.  Today, there are too many distractions and what is important is clouded over by a multitude of activities, much of which is frivolity.

• A few years later in school--Junior High School or during the Freshmen year, depending on the school or state requirements/structure--classes like "Our State" or "Civics" provided further education in the workings of government.

During my Freshmen year, I had the opportunity to attend school in both North Dakota and Florida and to study both state's governments.  What was remarkable, it seemed through the eyes of a ninth grader, was that while separated by thousands of miles, both state governments were very similar--just the names,  dates, and places differed.

_______________________________________

Character Counts (School Organization 1992 – Present)

Character Counts Link:  Character Counts Week.

Locally, Character Counts was introduced to our school in the early 2000s by the Guidance Counselor.  It was an effort to instill the Six Pillars of Good Character and overall, resulted in positive outcomes.

Character Counts is responsible for helping many students in elementary, middle, and high school get on the right track.  While mature thought is not expected at an early age, elementary student, benefit from organizations like Character Counts by  learning right from wrong--and by and learning about good character through practice and by example. 

As student grow older, their perception of "self" diminishes as they become more aware of the needs of others.  Yet, there will be many older students who have difficulty accepting the six pillars of character (for countless reasons) as well.  Character Counts is especially helpful for them.  Their behavior, self worth, and role in society becomes much clearer.

Schools with Character Counts have sometimes been criticized for overstepping their educational mission.  It is the right of parents to complain. For example, complaints about Character Counts for being an intrusion on family nurturing, or an indoctrination into a specific set if values contrary to parental beliefs, have and do occur.  The role that schools play in the development of a child's value system remains an issue that is open to debate.

_____________________

______________________

Commenst:

• As one parent shared while pointing their finger at me, "You teach them to read and write, we'll do the rest."

Editied by ChatGPT

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

August 3, 2025  An Unexpected Visit Revisited -- Poetry and Composition Styles

The images below depict futuristic men travelling back in time and possibly from a distant planet that are being greeted by William Shakespeare.  The account of the meeting is described in a writing shown further down the page that was posted March 20, 2025.  Click here to read it.  The writing was created using ChatGPT that was prompted to rewrite my fictional draft as if it had been written by Shakespeare.

The Images below were created using Google ImageFX by providing a brief description.

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

July 30, 2025  Economics 101 -- Six Questions  about Supply and Demand and Social Order

Today, Google Search Labs | AI Overview  has been asked to respond to six basic questions encompassing some of the issues that have been in the forefront of the news--issues that affect the economy and people world wide.  More specfically, these relate to circumstances that affect present-day supply and demand and the economy.

In additon, several assumptions have been posed to which  Google's AI Overview provides enlightening  and factual information as well as speculative responses with regard to hyphothetical future events.

Here is how Google's Search Labs  | AI Overview responded:   Supply and Demand and Other Issues.  (This compilation is 2,550 words -- 10 pages.)

______________________

Comments:

AI has the ability to give clarity to muddled thought.   It is concise and does not waste any words in conveying meaning.  Responses are well organized and have a logical flow.

AI is unlike interpreting messages from human beings who become distracted by listening to themselves speak or interject non-vital information and emotion.

AI's responses are generally enlightening and meaningful, but sometimes it seems, if questions are phrased in a certain way, they parrot what the users believe may be true as to be non-offensive in tone.  That is, AI remains polite, truthful, and professional while humans may be condescending, untruthful, and inconsiderate.

But let us not forget that  humans were the creators of the large language model and algorithm that drives AI.

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

July 30, 2025  Nostalgia Revisited . . .  How it was

• "Ditto That." --  Before the days of Microsoft Word.  Watch this YouTube Video to fully appreciate MS Word's features.  When it comes to offiice work, the good old days were not that good.

• Saturday Night at the Roller Rink -- 1950s (See Google FX images below).  When I got big enough, I wore my sister's white shoe skates.  They were better than the clamp on skates with leather straps that alway fell off when the skating action got wild.  In our town, just grown up individuals and couples who liked to roller skate or skate dance would invest in shoe skates.

Older kids and adults skated in second session 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.  The little kids skated the first session--7:00 p.m. to about 9:00 p.m.  A  few younger girls had their own white lace-up shoe skates but seemed to quickly grow out of them.

At the age of 21 (late 60s), I managed Saturday Night Skating, (Tending to admissions and handing out skates, as recreation director including summer baseball coaching sponsored by the American Legion. The Legion owned the newly constructed skating facility which everyone called the Legion Hall  or sometimes referred to as the Memorial Hall as it appears with its official name and post number on the sign out front.

The Legion Hall was the hub of community activity, including public dances, school proms, school carnivals, basketball games, indoor physical education classes, and of course, Memorial Day oberservances.  Before the doors had been installed on the rear exits, my dad and I clamped on roller skates and gave it a spin.  At the time, we lived only a few feet away from the construction site.  I have to admit we were some of the first to skate on it.

 Skating was a summer event--basketball backboards were removed after the season had ended in March to signal it was time to move on to the next sport.  Then, prior to the approaching basketball season the floor was refinished and given a new coat of varnish/floor finish and baskets were reinsalled before basketball practice resumed.  This process continued until the School built a new gymnasium in the late 60s/early 70s.

Small town life goes on.  The school has closed, but I'm not sure if roller skating still continues.

• Bicycle Ride --1950s (See Google FX images below).   Playing cards attached to the bicycle spokes with clothes pins revved up the noise like a motorcycle.  We never had paved streets in those days and the balloon tires were fatter for a smoother and safer ride.  Some sidewalks could be used; however downtown, near business places, it was not allowed or frowned upon to prevent collisions with pedestrians. 

We were always patching tires and fixing broken chains.  We became good at it.  Coaster Brakes were standard--no Caliper Brakes.  English Bikes (with narrow tires) were difficult to ride on gravel roads.  Streets were all level--no hills to climb, shifting gears was non-existent, but it could have helped out on windy day.  There was  just one  front and rear sprocket.  If the bike had to chain guard, we'd roll up our right pants leg.

My first bicycle was a 26" Hiawatha girl's bike (my sister's hand-me-down).  I had to have blocks on the pedals so I could reach them and most of the time I could only pedal standing up because I didn't weigh enough to depress the pedals while sitting down.  One year later, everything was o.k.

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

July 2, 2025  Let's Pay All College and University Athletes Who Compete

Here is a wavering discussion on the merits of paid college and university athletes:

Recent Division One NCAA  athletes can now be paid for their participation. Athletic payments will be distributed by each institution at a prescribed amount allocated by each schools. In addition, athletes can also be paid for name recognition, appearances, autograph signings, and merchandise endorsements and sales income from private sources. 

Apparently, trophies and medals are no longer sufficient.  Love of the game and competitive spirit for groomed elite athletes are no longer enough. 

Large university coaches recieve annual salaries that measure in the millions of dollars at some institutions.  There is great pressure on everyone to produce winners.  The stakes are high with massive stadiums takiing in milions at every venue for the major sports.  The price of admission hasn't been $2 for a long, long time.

With all that money flowing into the universities, some individuals have seen an opportunity to cash in--and why not?  The elite few in every sport deserve something other than a pat on the back. 

Collegiate sports require dedication, hard work, time commitment and an element of risk involved regarding injury and travel.  Every practice or conditioning session as well as competitive events could be a career-ending experience.  Risk of pain, suffering, physical therapy, and recovery looms in the back of every athlete's mind.  Travel to and from events involves utilization of transportation over thousands of miles.  Naturally, there are risks of fatal or serious accidents.

It is a legitimate argument that  no one is being forced to participate at the college level. There are many less fortunate athletes (perhaps not the champions or as greedy) who, given the opportunity, would play for free.  They, as in the past, would apprecitate an athletic scholarship to offset personal sacrifices and to help pay their way with college expenses--but not for monetary gain.   Monetary Gain distinguishes professional sports from amateur sports.

There are no laws or policies that state that colleges and universities should limit one's ability to make money.  Famous paid actors can attend college if they so desire.  An internet or cryto entrenpreneur can attend college.  An NFL football player can play football and get an on-line degree, etc.

__________________________

Comments:

In my opinion the rules resticting  athletes from receiving money (other than for "throwing a game") are outdated.  It seems fair to pay athletes, although I think that the portion allocated by universities be distributed equitably for every participant based on their time committent, not their fame, scoring, or specific sport.  GPA eligibility, attendance, and a consistent code of conduct must be applied equally to all university enrolled students.

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

June 21, 2025  Nomophobia -- A New Word!

Google Search Labs Query:

"Are some people who rely heavily on their cellphones afraid to leave their homes without it like forgetting to put on clothes or fastening their seatbelts?"

Search Labs | AI Overview

Yes, individuals who are highly reliant on their cell phones, especially those who exhibit symptoms of nomophobia, can experience significant anxiety when separated from their devices, similar to the discomfort some might feel if they forgot something essential like clothes or a seatbelt. 

Nomophobia (No Mobile Phone Phobia) is a psychological condition characterized by the fear of being without or disconnected from one's mobile phone. This fear can be severe enough to affect daily life and functioning. 

Here's why people with nomophobia might feel anxious:

• Fear of missing out (FOMO): They might worry about missing important social interactions, updates, or events occurring online if they don't have access to their phone.

• Need for constant connection: Smartphones have become integral to communication and daily tasks, leading to a strong reliance on them for information, staying in touch, and feeling connected.

• Smartphone as a coping mechanism: Some individuals use their phones as a way to manage anxiety, boredom, or negative emotions, so being without it removes this coping mechanism.

• Psychological dependency: Excessive and compulsive phone use creates a psychological dependency, and separation from the device can trigger anxiety and withdrawal-like symptoms.

• Fear of being unreachable or unable to access help: Feeling unable to contact others or access information in case of an emergency can cause significant anxiety. 

Symptoms of Nomophobia can include anxiety or panic without the phone, constantly checking for notifications, and even physical symptoms like sweating or increased heart rate when separated from the device. 

While not as immediately life-threatening as forgetting clothes or a seatbelt in some situations, the anxiety related to nomophobia can be significant and debilitating for those who experience it. 

__________________________________

In Addition the New York Post's article of June 22, 2025 sheds light on another "hidden epidemic":  Pyschologists suggest there’s fear of missing out, fear of a better option — and now there’s “FOPO,” another stress-inducing acronym that stands for “fear of people’s opinions.”

Comments.

FOPO is symptomatic of  those who are addicted to the use of cell phones and social media that needlessly experience anxiety and high levels of stress.  My suggestion for sufferers is to put down the phone and get a life.

June 19, 2025  Television--Then and Now.  Binge watching vs. Weekly Episodes.

Instead of spending my free time posting to this website during June, I've decided to take a vacation and do some serious t.v. binge watching.

The Past (Television:  its Age of Innocence).

During the age of Over the Air Television, most evening and daytime favorites were viewed week by week.   Variety shows and musical performance were popular and had their faithful audiences tuning in weekly.  The Lawrence Welk Show, Perry Como, Dean Martin.  Laugh in, Red Skelton Show, Hee Haw, Grande Ole Opera, Hottenanny, The Ed Sullivan Show, Art Linkletter, and of course, Walt Disney's Disneyland.    The Carol Burnette Show and the Gary Moore Show were also well received.  We must not forget The Munsters, Addams Family, The Flintstones, Jetsons, Rocky and Bowinkle Show, and The Beverly Hillbillies had everyone  laughing.

Westerns were very popular.  Wagon Train, Gunsmoke--that evolved from the radio program, as well as the Lone Ranger, and Zorro, Roy  Rogers and Dale Evans, Bonanza, The Rifleman, The High Chaparral, and Palidan.

There were also comic book and science fiction series including Superman, Batman, Lost in Space, My Favorite Martian, The Twilight Zone, and Science Fiction Theater. 

Detective/crime drama and action series such as Dragnet (Badge 714), Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and Perry Mason were well received. There was also police comedy--Car 54 (Where are You).  Combat and M.A.S.H came a bit later but also had a huge following.  For the teens there was the Hit Parade, American Bandstand, and for the younger children Captain Kangaroo for daytime t.v.  Action/Adventure series included Sea Hunt, and Man from UNCLE, I SPY, Adventures in Paradise, and the Whirlybirds.

Edward R. Morrow, Walter Cronkite, Sixty  Minutes, and On the Road with Charles Kuralt were must watch news and journalistic programming--especially the week Charles Kuralt visited my home town.  The Wild Kingdom was a popular nature series.

We must not forget cooking with Julia, exercising with Jack, Mr. Fix It, The Science Guy, and generations of the Tonight Show.  Before streaming T.V. there was Stars on Ice with Alex Trebek, Bob Barker, and professional wrestling and other sports broadcasts.  

Comedies and Sitcoms were everyone's favorite and people scheduled their evenings around the airing time since "One Demand viewing" was still several decades away.  I'll Drop a few names for those who remember.  The Jackie Gleason Show (The Honey Mooners);  I love Lucy;  The Dick Van Dyke Show; The Andy Griffith Show.

I've Got a Secret; To Tell the Truth, and Truth or Consequences, and the infamous $64,000 Question were early game shows. Over the years there have been hundreds of other memorable programs that were funny, wholesome  family entertainment.

Also, local programming was popular:  Bowling for Dollars Live from North Hill Bowl on Channel 13.  Local bowlers competed for prize money.  Talent performances for March of Dimes Telethon.  Pat Bearsdale, Country Western singer, was a local legend.  The Sis Hadley Noon Show was popular as well.

It was rare if weekly series episodes ended with the words "to be continued..."  In general all weekly programs, whether it focused on doctors/hospital, rescue, police, crime, comedy, etc. lacked continuity from one episode to the next.  When they did, however, we always anticipated this story must be extra special in order to be spread over a two week time frame.   Later, this practice continued in comedies such as Seinfeld, Married with Children, etc., with the  main characters caught up in many rediculous situations (sitcoms).

Pay T.V. and Cable began to emerge but over the air was still king--for a while.   As Tube tv's. began to fade into history a new, clearer, bigger, and smarter digital t.v. came to town.  The delivery mechanism(s) evolved rapidly and there became many players--providers sprang from beneath the ground, digitally, through the air, from space and through  fine strands of fiber optic cable capable of delivering thousands of channels instead of just two or three.

A Product of the Age of Television.

Television later became available 24/7 instead of signing off at 12:00 a.m.  How often had I sat just watching the Test Pattern in the morning awaiting the Playing of the Star Spangled Banner (many kids even stood up, crossed their heart or saluted, and sang along) followed by Saturday morning Cartoons.

A bit later in life, I watched the flag wave and listened while the Nationl Anthem played following the late night movie.  The Test Pattern once again appeared and eventually signed off--the screen turned to snow as a final reminder TV was finished for the day and it was now time to go to bed.

Today (Television:  Diversity in Taste and Thought) .

Binge watching doesn't require many continuous hours on Netflix, for example.  Well, in fact, it does require many hours, but thanks to today's technology viewing can be conveniently broken up as needed.   Features such as Streaming; On Demand; Pause; and Resume makes it easy.   Also, with multiple tv's throughout the home, it is possible to resume where you left off in another room if you're Logged In.

The choices are wide and varied and selecting something to watch occupies much of the viewing experience.

Netflix and many other streaming channels--some free with ads and others that are not--have so much to offer it's like you can never find exactly what you want to watch.  Have we all become that spoiled.

_______________________________

Comments.

In the old days we were not as fussy about what to watch.  It was mostly uplifting, wholesome entertainment.  The news programming was believable and all broadcasts and networks maintained a high standard  of integrity and journalistic professionalism.  In recent years, however, Weather Forecasts are much more precise.

Lastly, viewing a screen in the year 2025 goes far beyond television--but  television is still there if you want it.

ThoughtsOfThomasNotNostradamus

__________________________________________

ChatGPT to the Rescue:

Here is a ChatGPT link to an edit of the above post:    Edit suggested by ChatGPT.

May 26, 2025  Lilacs--Rendered with GIMP

GIMP Photo Editor provides nearly unlimited options for creating or modifying photographs and digital creations.  Today's post captures this year's Lilac blossoms which were especially beautiful due to timely rains.   Lilacs bloom once annually and unfortunately are only at their best for a few days.

Below are two images of Lilac blossoms with leaves and sky in the background.   The remaining images are variations using GIMP Filters and Color settings.  Featured today are the following settings:  Kaleidoscoope, Cubism, Emboss, Mosaic, Whirl and Pinch--all Distorts filters.  In addition, Color options such as  Hue Chroma, Invert, Temperature, Exposure, Brightness and Contrast, and Color Balance, etc.,  were applied. 

New for me today was the application of the High Pass... Filter found in the Enhance filter group.  The Hue Chroma color adjustment was then applied to intensify the colors (see image captions below).

Lastly, some of the images could be used for abstract art while other examples could become part of a duplicated backgound pattern.  These filters and settings could also be applied to geomotrical drawings instead of using photographs.

May 16, 2025  Nature vs. Digital--Nature Photography; SktechUp and GIMP

Here are contrasting views of digital photography of nature--the sky, clouds, and plant life along side a SketchUp conglomeration of shapes and colors that have been filtered, pinched, and swirled with various lighting effects applied.  (Recent Photos from the front and back yard).

The left pane below is set for auto start with a very slow transition speed.  The right pane is also set for auto start but with a slow transition speed which means the left pane view is not paired with the right since the right pane is changing  images about twice as fast.  The viewer will see a greater variety if views with this configuration.  Click on the pane or use the left and right arrows to disable this feature.

March 21, 2025  Old Postcards--Photographic Editing

Before the days of Facebook, people would send postcards to friends and relatives to share a glimpse of what it was like where they had visited or were living.

One such postcard, shown below, found its way back to me that had been mailed by my grandfather to his parents living in Ontario, Canada.  Distant relatives thought I might like to have it.  It was postmarked 1911 on the opposite side--the circular stamping is partially visible in the image below.

People today just can't resist, myself included, colorizing old photographs that in their own right had been beautifully composed using the technology of the time period.  The first image below is shown in its original sepia tone, while the second has been minimally colorized using the GIMP photo editor.

March 20, 2025  Classic and Modern Writing Styles -- ChatGPT 4.o

I have repackaged the contents of this post to better contrast the writing styles of three authors,  Alexandre Dumas, Ernest Hemingway, and William Shakespeare.  Although more complete, the earlier version was long winded and contained too much detail.*

I also have deleted my three contemporary short stories as well as two-paragraph excerpts that were used to prompt ChatGPT to work its magic.

Near the end of the posts (directly above the authors'  portraits) are links to other examples of writing syles from recent posts.   Most include the some form of A I use including (ChatGPT, Gemini for text and Microsoft Image Creator and Whisk for image generation). A few remain unedited in my original format and style.  There is  a wide variety from which to choose--from Shakespeare to Comic Books.

The stories and excerpts have been replaced with a brief description (shown below) for each story that allows you, the reader, to focus more on the differing writing styles of these authors rather than becoming annoyed with my ineptness as a writer.

1.  Alexandre Dumas.   Prompt for ChatGPT: "Please rewrite the following two-paragraph excerpt from a short story using the writing style of Alexandre Dumas."

Description of the excerpt linked later in post*:   The two paragraph excerpt from a short story entitled "Who Needs Brain Implants" elaborates on the potential good and evil that could result from the use of brain implants.

ChatGPT's Response:

Who Needs Brain Implants

It is a curious thing, my friend, to consider the wonders that the future may hold. Science, that ever-relentless conqueror of nature, marches forward, unchecked and unchallenged, shaping the world as a sculptor molds the marble. In time, it is said, man shall no longer suffer the frailties of his own flesh. Implants—mysterious devices wrought by human ingenuity—shall dwell within him, vigilant sentinels, repairing the delicate fibers of the mind, restoring the sinews of the body, rendering him, if not immortal, then at least far less vulnerable to the cruel whims of fate.

And yet—ah!—what a terrible abyss is opened when ambition outstrips virtue! For these marvels of science, these intricate mechanisms meant to heal and preserve, may well become the instruments of a most insidious enslavement. Imagine, if you will, a world in which every man, every woman, every child is bound by an invisible chain, their very thoughts tethered to the will of an unseen master. A mere flick of a switch—no swordplay, no battle cries, no smoke upon the field of war—and lo! A race of obedient phantoms, their wills extinguished, their hearts stilled by a force they cannot resist.

Would they laugh? Would they weep? No! They would march, speak, and toil as commanded, neither questioning nor resisting, for their minds would no longer belong to them. A society not of men, but of humanoids—of puppets who walk and talk, flesh and blood in form, yet in spirit, nothing more than machines. And who, I ask, would wield this infernal power? Not the many, but the few. The faceless architects of this new dominion, the unseen rulers who, from their gilded citadels, would govern a world of soulless vassals.

Ah, such a fate! To think that the fire of human liberty, that sacred flame kindled by heroes and martyrs, could be extinguished not by conquest, but by the silent treachery of progress! If ever that day should come, my friend, then woe to mankind, for its noblest battle shall not be fought with swords, but with the last, desperate whisper of a heart that still remembers what it is to be free.

_______________________________

2.  Ernest Hemingway.   Prompt for ChatGPT: "Please rewrite the following two-paragraph excerpt from a short story using the writing style of Ernest Hemingway."

Description of the excerpt linked  later in the post*:   The two paragraph excerpt from a short story entitled "Defeat and Struggle" is a commentary on the outcome of a war not yet fought; however, it was written in past tense.  The war did not end well.

ChatGPT's Response:

Defeat and Struggle

The war didn’t last long. Thirteen months. That was all. The enemy came in waves, and there were too many of them. Too many men, too many guns, too many bombs. The U.S. forces held on as long as they could, but in the end, it didn’t matter. They lost.

After that, there was no more fighting. No more resistance. The people knew it was over. They gave in. A council took over—generals and officials from other nations. They called it temporary, but nothing about it felt that way. The American leaders had run, scattered across the world, looking for a place to hide. There wasn’t one. They were caught. Every last one of them. The trials didn’t take long. Neither did the executions.

Then came the hard years. Twenty of them. The ones who had invaded fought among themselves, carving up the land like wolves over a carcass. They took what they could, bled the country dry. When it was over, Florida belonged to Cuba. The Southwest went back to Mexico. They said it was only fair. Almost two hundred years of history erased with a signature on a treaty.

No one talked about it much after that. People were too busy trying to get by.

_______________________________

3.  William Shakespeare.   Prompt for ChatGPT: "Please rewrite the following two-paragraph excerpt from a short story using the writing style of William Shakespeare."

Description of the excerpt linked later in the post*:   The two paragraph excerpt from a short story entitled "An Unexpected Visit" describes the first encounter with aliens who resemble human beings; however, compared to us, they are perfect in all respects with superior intellect.  They have arrived to help us repair a genetic defect in our brain unknown to us that has limited our perception, development, and way of life.

ChatGPT's Response:

                                                                     An Unexpected Visit

What fools were we to think ourselves alone,
The sovereign lords of boundless, starry realms!
For in the year of our Lord twice thrice a score and fifteen,
Came forth from realms beyond the ken of man
A race most strange, yet fair beyond compare.

Like unto us in form they did appear,
Yet touched by Heaven’s hand, unmarked by time.
No line did mar their brow, nor flesh did sag,
Nor wayward silver strands betrayed their years.
Whilst we, poor wretches of an errant fate,
Did bear the weight of age upon our backs,
With crooked spine and mottled, weary skin,
And bellies grown full-fat from idle sloth.

These strangers, silent watchers of our world,
Had gazed upon the folly of mankind
For countless ages past, and with keen eyes
Did mark our stumbling steps through time’s long path.
How slow we crept! How dull our minds remained!
And lo, the cause! A flaw within our blood,
A tainted strain that, ere ten thousand years,
Did clip the eagle’s wings and dull the sword.
Where other worlds did rise like fire-fed storms,
We lingered low, like embers in the dust.

Thus stood we then, poor heirs to broken thought,

Before those radiant beings of the stars,

And in their eyes beheld a mirror true—

A glimpse of what we were, and what we lacked.

Google Labs | AI Overiew.  Analysis of Last Four Lines of An Unexpected Visit:  Updated 04-01-2025.  "What do  the following four lines of poetic verse mean?"

"Thus stood we then, poor heirs to broken thought,

Before those radiant beings of the stars,

And in their eyes beheld a mirror true—

A glimpse of what we were, and what we lacked."

This poetic verse describes a moment of profound introspection and self-realization, where the speaker, feeling small and inadequate, looks up to the "radiant beings of the stars" and sees reflected in their eyes a clear image of their true selves, both their potential and their shortcomings, leading to a sense of humility and a yearning for something greater.

Breakdown of the imagery:

• "Thus stood we then, poor heirs to broken thought":
  This opening line establishes a feeling of vulnerability and a fractured state of mind. The word "heirs" suggests an inheritance not of wealth or power, but of brokenness, implying a sense of personal failure or lack of fulfillment.

• "Before those radiant beings of the stars":
  The "radiant beings of the stars" represent a higher power or ideal, something beyond human comprehension yet inspiring awe and reverence. They symbolize perfection and purity, contrasting with the speaker's brokenness.

• "And in their eyes beheld a mirror true":
  The stars' eyes act as a mirror, reflecting back the speaker's true self without distortion. This mirror image reveals both the potential within them and the flaws they have yet to address.

• A glimpse of what we were, and what we lacked":
  This final line summarizes the key insight gained from the reflection. The mirror shows not just who the speaker currently is, but also who they once were and who they could be, highlighting the gap between their current state and their potential.

• And what about that date written for 2075,  "in the year of our Lord twice thrice a score and  fifteen"?  It doesn't adhere to any conventional method of expressing the date now or in the past.  Here is what Google Labs | AI Overiew had to say about that  -- Literary License  (pdf file).  To apply this logic to another date, say 1064, if "score represents 1000 Years when used for the first two digits of a date beyond 1000 years, the expression might be "once thrice a score and four."  Or, if the year were 1945 the quote may be "twice less thrice a score less five." [2000 - (3 x 20-5) = 1945]  . . . or something like that to conform with the author's thinking process.  It seems to resemble Roman Numerals, MCMXLV, where MM represents 2000, but deviates in an unconventional manner from thereon.

Overall, the verse captures a moment of self-awareness where the speaker is confronted with their own limitations but also inspired by the possibility of reaching a higher state of being, represented by the celestial beings.

_____________________________

****Link to the earlier post containing links to the complete original short stories and excerpts (PDF file).

Similar ChatGPT and Gemini Edited Example:

Portrait of an Author (Poem -  pdf files) posted February 18, 2025.

Similar Shakespearean Projects:  

Fear Not the Reaper   (pdf files) posted February 24, 2025.

How to Clean a Grooming Brush (pdf file) posted February 25, 2025.

Essays:

Composing Internet Posts and Stories (Another ThoughtsOfThomas publication (pdf file) posted February 20, 2025, unedited version.

Changing Styles in America (Humor - pdf files) posted February 18, 2025, unedited version.

Comic Books: (First try, not that great.)  But check out Whisk if you get a chance in Whisk-Google.LabsFX.

The Adventures of Dr. Tulipa Voss, Episode 2  Mx. President and the New TUSA (Trust USA) Party.  (pdf file) posted February 17, 2025, unfinished, unedited version.

The Adventures of Dr, Tulipa Voss, Episode 1  Lyra and the City Beneath the Ice.  (pdf file) posted February 9, 2025, unedited, version.

February 15, 2025  Three Crows--Photography

We have been experiencing sub-zero temperatures this week.  The air temperature has dropped to -25 Degrees below with a wind chill of about -50.  In past years we usually see an influx of country animals such as deer that seek out more protected areas within the city limits.  Since the snow depths has not yet limited their access to food, they haven't arrived at this time.

However, three crows circled our house today and then decided to perch half way up in our tall trees to observe the doves and sparrows at the bird feeder directly below.   They didn't seem impressed with the offering of bird seed scattered on the ground so they moved on.

February 11, 2025  Snowy Owl Sightings

Living only a few miles from the Canadian Border it was quite common to spot a Snowy Owl perched on a fence post during the coldest winter months.  I don't ever recall getting very close to these owls before they took flight--between one-quarter to three-quarters of a mile being the closest.

Human impact, environmental, and weather changes have contributed to the population decline of many  species of animals including the arctic owl.

Snowy owls are flagged as Vulnerable but are not on the Endangered species list at the present.

Their numbers are not exact (believed to be between 14,000 and 28,000 breeding adults in existence).  Here are links  to various sources concerning their status. 

At the bottom of this post are sighting maps that identify snowy owl sightings globally as well as regional and closeups that identify areas nearer to my location.

Source:  All About Birds

______________________________

"The snowy owl, like the polar bear, holds a special place in human imagination, from ancient morality tales told around Arctic fires to Hedwig from the wizarding world of Harry Potter. These northern wanderers can be found in Canada, Scandinavia, Russia, Iceland and the British Isles—occasionally even making it as far south as Hawaii. They can fly back and forth across continents.

One female owl tracked in 2012 traveled 7,000 miles round-trip from Boston to Nunavut. In a phenomenon known as an irruption, large numbers of snowy owls sometimes emerge from their nests in a given season and make it down to the suburbs of U.S. cities like Seattle and Boston—even as far south as Texas.

The snowy owl, like the polar bear, holds a special place in human imagination, from ancient morality tales told around Arctic fires to Hedwig from the wizarding world of Harry Potter

These northern wanderers can be found in Canada, Scandinavia, Russia, Iceland and the British Isles—occasionally even making it as far south as Hawaii. They can fly back and forth across continents. One female owl tracked in 2012 traveled 7,000 miles round-trip from Boston to Nunavut. In a phenomenon known as an irruption, large numbers of snowy owls sometimes emerge from their nests in a given season and make it down to the suburbs of U.S. cities like Seattle and Boston—even as far south as Texas."

Source:  Smithsonian Magazine

February 8, 2025

August 5, 2024  Mr. Fix It Rides Again

This story is about sheer stupidity and the effects of old age.  Yesterday, my external computer speakers did not turn on as indicated by the green light below the Off/On/Volume knob. The stereo speakers had been working fine the night before.

I therefore checked the connection leading to the computer and the second speaker to see if they had been disconnected or somehow damaged.  They appeared to be o.k. so I thought it might be a problem with the computer.  To check that, I plugged my headset into the front audio out jack  on the computer and everything was normal.

Next, I thought there may be a broken internal wire inside the speaker, so I removed the pair of speakers to take a look.

Small computer speakers are very inexpensive—about $15.00 a pair to replace.  It didn’t seem to be much of a loss if they couldn’t be repaired.  After about 15 minutes of struggling with no success, I found a YouTube video that showed how to remove the tiny 4" x 6” front grill (Altec Lansing speakers).

That was all the help provided on the video so I proceeded to loosen the 3” speaker using a miniature Phillips head screwdriver.  More investigation revealed that the next step was to pull off the volume knob (that usually falls off by itself) and pry off the molded plastic front.

This is where the fun began.  The front was not only a snug fit—it had also been bonded with some type of gummy sealant, probably applied to suppress vibration.  With an abundance of patience, determination and a very narrow flat screwdriver serving as a wedge, the front popped off without breaking (that was a miracle).

The perimeter of the molding was no longer in pristine condition, but that didn’t matter, as long as an internal speaker wire could be reattached or soldered if necessary.  I hadn’t realized at the time how small wires had become inside modern speakers—these were not 14” or 18” woofers.

With the opened front section removed, the dislodged circuit board fell out with wires still connected to the rear input jack.  That was all I needed to know.  The connection had not been broken.  I further speculated that a resistor or some other component on the circuit board had failed.  It was not worth taking them to an electronics shop so this would mark the end of their long life.  They were originally used with an earlier computer 20 years ago.

Rather than throwing them in the trash, the main speaker was carefully re-assembled and the pair were placed on a shelf for future experiments (pack-ratted away).

Today, after a good night’s rest, I began thinking about the challenge of opening the speaker case.  I remembered observing a circular opening at the back located below the input output jack.  The print next to it was too small to read and I dismissed it as an optional method for connecting the input and output signal.

In fact, the Mystery Hole was  for the Power Supply.  Duh.  The power cord must have come loose and had fallen to the floor.  Sure enough, after reconnecting the speakers along  with its power cord, the green light turned on and they both worked like new.  Luckily, I hadn’t damaged the speakers except for marring one case that was hidden from view anyway.

Aged related?  In what respects?   Well I would have to say from experience:  Poor Eyesight and a Narrowing Range of Focus when problem solving.  I can’t blame this one on the cat!  How could I, having installed and set up hundreds of computer systems, make such a basic troubleshooting Miss Steak. 

August 2, 2024  The Congressional Record, The Christian Science Monitor, and Allsides.com

Back in 1965, my Political Science Professor said, "If you want to know what's going on in the country and its government, you'll need to read The Congressional Record.   Most magazines, newspapers, and news outlets are biased in one way or another."  He went on to say , "but the drawback using The Congressional Record is the enormous volume of printed text you'd have to sift through daily is beyond any individual's ability."

At the time, according to the professor and others in his field, the Christian Science Monitor (Established 1908) was considered to be the best non-biased international daily newspaper (due to its non-profit status perhaps) with about a quarter million subscribers.

Today, you don't have to worry about filling your home with stacked volumes of The Congressional Record. Instead, it's available free online, both in text and audio.  Old volumes have been converted to PDFs.  C-Span Channels also provide televised segments of Congressional sessions.

Here is the link to the online version of The Congressional Record for July 31, 2024:   The Congressional Record.  From there you can navigate back to Home and explore it more thoroughly.

_____________________________________

Rewritten by ChatGPT 4.o from the Original Story

Prompt:  Rewrite the story but retain all the factual information:

Back in 1965, my Political Science Professor advised, "If you want to understand what's happening in the country and its government, you should read The Congressional Record. Most magazines, newspapers, and news outlets have some bias." He added, "The drawback of using The Congressional Record is the enormous volume of printed text you'd have to sift through daily, which is beyond any individual's ability."

At that time, the professor and others in his field considered the Christian Science Monitor (established in 1908) to be the best non-biased international daily newspaper, possibly due to its non-profit status. It had about a quarter million subscribers.

Today, you don't have to worry about filling your home with stacks of The Congressional Record. Instead, it's available for free online, both in text and audio formats. Old volumes have been converted to PDFs, and C-SPAN channels provide televised segments of Congressional sessions.

Here is the link to the online version of The Congressional Record for July 31, 2024: The Congressional Record.  From there, you can navigate back to the homepage and explore it more thoroughly.
______________________________

Comments:  ChaGPT streamlined some of the sentence structure making it easier to read.

After nearly 60 years, the orginizational structure and method of delivery for The Christian Science Monitor has changed, and so has the Political Structure along with the emergence of the Internet and Social Media.

Allsides.com whose, mission is to rank news organizations on their bias and authenticity, does not state that the Christian Science Monitor is non-biased.  Instead, it gives them a "Center" rating.  AllSides.com contends that everyone has biases and that biases are not necessarily bad things.

AllSides.com Confidence Level.  "As of August 2024, AllSides has high confidence in our Center rating for Christian Science Monitor.  Two or more bias reviews have affirmed this rating or the source is transparent about bias."

Here is a YouTube video explaining what AllSides.com does:  About AllSides.

Lastly, on a related topic, here's an interesting short read from the Princeton University Press:  What do you really know about Gullibility?  with excerpts from his book, Not Born Yesterday, by Hugo Mercier (Cognitive Scientist).

May 19, 2024 Minimalistic Life Style -- Unclutter Your Life and Experience Prosperity

My dad was a product of the Great Depression.  While his family was never wanting for the basic essentials in life, they were poor like most and were able to make due.  Later, he would occasionally   comment , "It is a good feeling to look in a store window and think to yourself, I can walk in and pay cash for that wrist watch if I wanted to,"  which I interpreted as meaning he really didn't need to buy it, but had enough money to do so without sacrifice.

His words are etched in memories.  They expressed the notion that you don't have to "have" everything you see.  That outlook had to be the attitude in the "days before credit cards" in order to put food on the table.

Minimalistic life style.   Had I heeded the subtle message of my father, purges of clutter would not have been necessary.  Recycling of every-day refuse such as packaging, aluminum cans, plasttics, glass bottles and jars, or a worn out pair of stockings or shirt after they have been torn up and used for rags  should be the extent of weekly clutter.  If disposed of on garbage day, there would never be a permanent state of clutter.

Size of a Home:   Is the measure of wealth based on the Square Footage of a home.  Not really if there is a burdensome monthly payment due each month for the next 30 years.  You are not a minimalist If the only reason for purchasing a large home is for a place to keep all your stuff.

If your family is large or includes several generations of family, or roommates, then more space is required to breathe and to enjoy privacy.  A small home free of clutter will save you millions over a life time.  A large home filled to the gills with stuff may keep you broke.

Minimalism does not succumb to the lure of advertising.  Minimalism  does not prevent yourself or family members from experiencing a high standard of living.  But do not let advertising and images of smiling and laughing people jumping into the air convince you that their product is for you.

By instilling minimalistic belief at a young age it is possible to build wealth without sacrifice.  Others may suggest that you're denying yourself of the good life.  In fact, it's just the opposite.  The point at which you may want to Cash In on your fortune is up to you.  Maybe you will always be content with the thought that "I can buy that nice sports car if I really wanted it."

The knowledge of financial security maybe the only reward you desire.

______________________________________

Rewritten by ChatGPT 4.o from the Original Post :

My father grew up during the Great Depression. Although his family never lacked the basics, they were still quite poor, like most families of that era, and had to make do with what they had. Later in life, he would occasionally say, "It's a good feeling to look in a store window and think to yourself, I can walk in and pay cash for that wristwatch if I wanted to." I understood this to mean that while he didn't need to buy the watch, he had enough money to do so without any financial strain.

His words are etched in my memory. They conveyed the idea that you don't need to possess everything you see. This mindset was essential in the "days before credit cards" to ensure there was always food on the table.

Minimalist Lifestyle: Had I embraced my father's subtle message, I wouldn't have needed to purge clutter periodically. Recycling everyday refuse like packaging, aluminum cans, plastics, glass bottles and jars, or repurposing worn-out stockings or shirts as rags, should be the extent of weekly waste. By disposing of these items regularly, clutter would never accumulate permanently.

Size of a Home: Is wealth measured by the square footage of your home? Not really, especially if it comes with a burdensome mortgage payment for the next 30 years. You are not a minimalist if the sole reason for buying a large home is to store all your possessions.

If your family is large or includes several generations or roommates, more space is needed for comfort and privacy. However, a small home free of clutter can save you a fortune over a lifetime. Conversely, a large home crammed with stuff may keep you financially strained.

Minimalism resists the lure of advertising. It doesn’t prevent you or your family from enjoying a high standard of living. However, don't let advertisements with images of happy, smiling people convince you that their product is a necessity.

By instilling minimalist values at a young age, it's possible to build wealth without sacrificing quality of life. Others might think you're denying yourself the good life, but in reality, it's quite the opposite. When you reach the point where you could cash in on your fortune, you might find contentment in simply knowing, "I can buy that nice sports car if I really wanted to."

The knowledge of financial security might be the only reward you need.

May 5, 2024 Computer Printer Woes -- Four Decades of Disappointment

Having experienced the pleasures of recently creating A I generated images with Google ImageFX  and Windows Image Creator, plus beautifully rendered Twilight Images using SketchUp, I am contemplating breaking my vow to Never Buy Another Printer.

In the late 70s and 80s I owned a Ricoh and Apple Imagewriter dot matrix printers.  They both used the same size ribbon cartridge (also, the same ribbon size that fit the spools for my 1915 Underwood Model 5 typewriter).  Both printers were reliable with no paper jams--and both accommodated tractor feed paper and/or mailing labels, etc.

The Ricoh (connected to an Apple II+ computer) had limited print options (could not line justify and lacked graphics capabilities).  A few years later the Apple Imagewriter II printer cost about half as much as my first printer ($940 down to about $450), It was also dot matrix with the same size ribbon, could create almost typeset quality print with many font styles available (connected to Apple IIe and IIc computers), and had some graphics capabilities for printing charts and clipart, etc.

Cost of ribbons was negligible.  I learned how to pry open the cartridge and lightly spray the folded ribbon in place with WD 40 lubricant.  The ink from unused areas on the ribbon would disperse and extend the life of the ribbon by two- or three-fold or until holes would begin to appear down the center of the ribbon or until the print became faint (Just make sure to allow the ribbon a few days to dry).  The Dot matrix printers never wore out or required repair.  They went their way due to obsolesence along with the computers that had driven them.   This is a story about prized possessions that turn into junk in the blink of an eye and continues to repeat itself every few years.

Then came the inkjets in the early 90s.  The expensive HP inkjet--Hewlett-Packard (connected to a PC Clone DOS--pre-Windows) would consume an ink cartridge after a few pages were printed. It was always out of ink.  I had even tried injection kits to refill ink cartridges--but what a mess.  The HP inkjet printer was single colored--black--with limited font capabilities.  It did have a professional looking but limited font set and was quiet comparted to the dot matrix printer's  loud buzz and hum.

Next, was a bargain-basement Okidata Inkjet (connected to my first and only Macintosh computer).  It could use either a black or multi-color inkjet cartridge.  It was also an ink hog, prone to frequent paper jams, and misaligned colored ink dispersion.  It was so frustrating that I took it to the back yard and gave it a couple of swift kicks before throwing it in the recyle bin.  You get what you pay for applied here.

In 2012 my wife gave me a Canon Inkjet for Christmas (by then I had vowed to never buy another home printer).  The printer was also a multi-color ink cartridge glutton.  The Canon printer (connected to a PC  Windows NT that provided a way to print out edited images taken with the Canon Digital Camera she had given me in 2007.  The printer was able to print photo quality images, provided that costly Canon photo-quality paper was used.  We later discovered that Walmart's Photo  Kiosk could provide better quality images at a much cheaper cost and with less hassle.

The Canon printer began to jam, especially while using the heaveir weight photo quality paper.  One day, upon powering up, the printer produced an audible grunt and a little jerk as if something had been downloaded to it and reset.  Thereafter, the inkjet's print head would never return to its home position.  Paranoia set in with thoughts of company sabotage or hackers.  That was my final printer (2014).

Conclusion.  In recent weeks, I've been considering  purchasing a Laser Printer but then again, Why?  How can I justify the expense, paper jams, and toner cartridge frustrations.  Having printouts for the sake of just pressing Print can just as well be printed to a PDF file and avoid the paper clutter.  If I should ever need a document printed, it can be uploaded to a thumb drive and printed elsewhere.  This fellow has endured too much printer misery to be swayed.

August 9, 2023 One Thing Nobody Ever Told Me--About Eye Glasses

If you wear eyeglasses, one thing is for sure, they need to be regularly cleaned.  I started wearing reading glasses in my forties and 35 years later, I finally figured out how to polish the lenses.

Cleaning each lens has never been the problem.  What comes afterwards--polishing, has been a very awkward ordeal.  I have watched others polish their glasses but had not taken a close enough look at the procedure.

Why could they do this so effortlessly while I clumsily rubbed and buffed to no avail.  The optometrist or fitter at the the eyeglasses boutique didn't effectively demonstrate or explain the technique in detail.  Here was my revelation (shown in boldface) discovered purely by accident:

"Clean the lenses and then polish each lens by placing a soft cloth or lens paper/cloth between your thumb and inside edge of your Middle finger. Then gently rotate the thumb while holding your glasses in your other hand at the bridge or near a hinge as needed."  By cradling the lens on the side of the middle finger, equal pressure can be applied to the cloth on both sides of the lens.  The middle finger on the bottom will naturally move in synchrony with the thumb rotation.

I had been using my index finger and thumb in the past but that never felt comfortable.  Perhaps this phenomenon is unique to my hand's anatomy and/or lack of hand-eye coordination--Klutzy.

July 1, 2023 Fun with FireFox Text Reader--FireFox Browser

Open the Fire Fox Web Browser.  Toggle Reader View, Select Listen, and play this paragraph at the fastest speed:

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.  A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper Picked.  Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.  A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper Picked.  Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.  A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper Picked.  Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.  A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper Picked.  Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.  A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper Picked.  

Next, fast forward to this message and decrease the Reading rate:

When, I, am, elect, ted, as, your, Next, Prez, ah dent, of, the You, nigh ted, States, I, will, en, sure, that, the ah, purr, a, shun, of, the Feder ell, Govern, meant, moves, swift, ly, and, e, fish, shunt, ly.  Fur, ther  more, the Off, fiss, of, the Prez, ah dent, will, give, prompt, ah, ten shun, to, all, matt, ters, of, State, that, are, un, der, my, sue, per vision.  Thank, you, very, much, and, Vote, for, your, In, deep, end dent, Can, did, dates, on, No, vem, burr, Fourth.  May, God, Bless, the You, nigh, ted, States, of, Ah, mare, ick, caw.

Normal Cadence:

When I am elected as your next President of the United States I will ensure that the operation of the Federal Government moves swiftly and efficiently.  Furthermore, the Office of the President will give prompt attention to all matters of State that are under my supervision.  Thank you very much and Vote for your Independent Candidates on November Fourth.  May God Bless the United States of America.

June 17, 2023 Learn More About What We're Made of--Living

The National Institutes of Health website provides a behind the scenes look at what goes on inside all of us.   How often do we listen to commercials speed talking through a long list of the side effects from a particular medication or treatment.  There is a lot of technology and research involved before we have an opportunity to use these wonder drugs.

Check out NIH news releases from the past 10 years to track some of the advances that are being made in identifiying causes of disease and potential treatments through genetics and experimentation.   Laboratory findings as well as clinical applications are discussed.

NIH YouTube Video (May 2023).

May 21, 2023.  Enjoying Life in Rural Towns--Opinion.

Small towns have been experiencing a decline ever since the days of the first automobiles and expanded road systems.  This has been ongoing for at least the past 75 years.  Many communities have faded away completely while others have endured the migration to the cities.

For those of us who have remained, most are content staying where they are.  The young people, of course, yearn for the excitement of city life.

May 19, 2023   Air Quality--Forest Fire Season.

Tom's Take.  Apart from prairie fires, people living in farming country have been fairly tolerant and understand why farmland is occasionally burned.  On the other hand, within the past decade, it is almost a given that smoke from forest and wild fires out west or up north will be carried by the prevailing winds to our part of the country.

I can't remember any other time in my life when it had been this noticeable.  Before regulation, however, it was common to see huge plumes of blue smoke from oil well pit burn off up north in Canada as well as in oil fields in the U.S.

Also, one must not forget numerous above-ground atmospheric nuclear tests in Russia and the Pacific where radioactive fallout drifted across the prairie saturating the soil during the 50s.

Now we are bombarding the planet with high frequency radio waves thanks to billions of cell phones, etc., that cover the planet.

There are too many people with too many trucks and automobiles, trains, planes, cargo ships and oil tankers.   Without trying to sound like an alarmist, we're doing it to ourselves.

Most recently, for the past few days we have been experiencing foul smelling forest fire smoke drifting in from the West Coast States and Idaho; Alberta and B.C. in Canada.  At times, the blue haze has created near zero visibility on the highways.  It makes breathing difficult and causes eye irritation.

Lightning strikes are the main cause of these fires.  Advocates of forest management seem to be struggling to stay ahead, but with tinder dry undergrowth and the frequency and severity of thunderstorms, they're losing ground.

The forests have been there for a long time.  Natural burning is part of a long term life cycle; however, the frequency of such fires have many concerned.  The problem intensifies with our growing population inhabiting housing developments built in forested areas.

Air Quality in the Home.   When air quality due to smoke from forest/wild fires became an issue approximately 10 years ago, I purchased a small Holmes Air Purifier for the bedroom.  Most of the time it is set to low and keeps the dust, smoke, and cat dander at a minimum.  When the first whiff of smoke came in the house this week, I turned it to high and also turned on the Ionizer option.  I know this seldom-used feature did what it was supposed to because the smell was gone within minutes--the air was fresh and easy to breathe.

There is a dispute about whether or not Ionized air is safe to breathe.  For me, I asked myself, "what's better, coughing and scratchy eyes due to smoke, or breathing normally."  The ionizer option is turned on only when needed.  I will then exit the room and close the door.   Fifteen minutes later or when the air is fresh, I turn the ionizer off.

The Holmes air Purifier (desktop model) sits upright on a bedroom shelf (see images below).  A Carbon Monoxide Alarm sits next to it.  Last week I accidentally burnt a piece of toast that had been sliced too thin.  A trace of the smoke reached the bedroom and set off the alarm.  It's good to know that it is working.

The Holmes air purifier shown below sells for under $50.00.  Replacement filters purchased at Walmart won't fit my older model unless I modify the spacer guides on the sides and remove the rubber adhesive spacers on the bottom of the filter.  The spacer guide modification is a one time fix and the rubber adhesive spacers from the bottom can be place on the sides to hold the filter securely over the opening. Filtrete replacement filters, made by 3M, are reasonably priced at Walmart.

There is also a washable filter for catching large dust particles that lays on top of the main Hepa filter. Eventually it became worn from repetitive cleaning.  It was replaced a few years ago with a piece of a similar quality air conditioner filter cut to size with a scissor.

The Carbon Monoxide filter was purchased a few years ago because extremely cold weather caused ice buildup in the sewer vent that could prove fatal.  Ideally, it should be positioned as low as possible in a room.  Like smoke detectors, it also runs on batteries in case of power failure.

Because blocked sewer vents are a problem in many homes in northern regions of the country, the local fire department will assist homeowners by climbing up on the roof to unplug them using whatever method necessary--pouring in hot water or simply breaking the ice.

The fire department has also equipped both sewer vents on our roof with a long Copper T pipe that transfers heat from within the house upward.   It has helped but isn't completely fool proof.  In our town, residents only have to call the fire department and someone is there within the hour to open the vents.

Carbon Monoxide is odorless, but if sewer gas is detected, that is a signal to open up a window or door until the problem is addressed.  Everyone is grateful for the fire department's asistance.

We do not use gas appliances or use combustible gas, coal or wood, etc. for heating.  Utilizing any of them would be another justification for investing $20--$50 to purchase a Carbon Monoxide Alarm.

Important Note:  An air conditioner and air purifier does not eliminate toxic gases or residue.  Open doors, windows, employ fans or exhaust systems, and eliminate the source to prevent further intrusion.  Evacuate the premises including humans, pets, plants, medications, and edibles, or discard food stuffs if contaminated.  Consult trained professionals regarding airborne contamination and poisonous matter on surfaces.

May 8, 2023.  Television Imagery--It Ain't What it Used to Be.

For the past four or five decades, give or take a few years, leisure time once devoted to watching t.v. from antenna based channels has now become subdivided by multiple sources.  The evolution began with Cable and on Demand, VCRs, DVD's, Home Satellite and then progressed to fiber optic streaming of  programming, video games, and integration with cellphones and notepads, etc.

As competition for advertiser's dollars became more and more dispersed, some television prime time viewing hours became bloodier and bloodier.  The progressively more desensitized audience thirsts for greater stimulation from graphic violence or shocking images of carnage.  Even network t.v. is pretty mild stuff compared to movies, streaming t.v. series, and video games that adults and young people are exposed to.

For example, Tonight's CBS's NCIS programming aired at around 9:00 p.m.  It was Season 20/Episode 20 entitled "Second Opinion".  I happened to be flipping through channels with the remote and landed on this most gruesome scene of an autopsy being performed on a young woman.  Her bloody chest cavity was shown pulled open at which time one of the investigators was putting her hand into the opening.  For a more startling effect, the camera angle was shot from the inside the cavity looking upward and outward at the expression on the investigator's face.

This is a common angle when showing people opening refrigerator doors, etc., or for comedic purposes such as in the "Coneheads" where Beldar Conehead was getting his teeth capped.   To use it for visual effect in portraying  the aftermath of a death is about as desensitizing as it gets.   

I think there is a relationship between imagery put forth by the various forms of media and the disregard for human life that exists in this country.  This is not a religious stance, it is an observation.  Things seem to be getting worse, if you haven't noticed.

Some minds cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality.  The cultural acceptance of macabre media content adds fuel to the fire.

Afterthought.  Finally, it is important to give credit to well crafted productions and talented performers that can make us laugh, inspire us, or make us cry.   It is totally unfair to focus only on the ugly or disturbing aspects of media.  It can be ignored (skipped over) if one so chooses.   There is so much pleasant and beautifully written content available -- search for it and enjoy life.

November 30, 2022  Google Searches--Quora.  It seems like everytime one ventures onto the internet these days, there is someone ready to separate you from your hard earned money.  Care must be taken about what is clicked on after conducting a web search.

One of my more recent annoyances has been with Quora popping up in response to my well-composed--but sometimes not--web queries.  After a sentence or two of the response and a scroll of the mouse, a message to log in with your Google account, etc., was shown followiing only a tidbit of shared information.

It didn't end there, however.  When followed, syncing and a host of other things appeared to be turned on as I progressed to the remainder of the queried information.  Among them were numerous settings to toggle on or off features within Quora regarding connectivity which were mostly meaningless to me at the time.  There was also an option to purchase Quora +, of course.

When I followed through turning on the requested bells and whistles, the queried response resumed with a contributing member's opinion and their experiences regarding my question.  I wasn't interested in reading about some know-it-all's opinion or personal experience.   I wanted some hard facts.  That is when I clicked on another browser tab and asked "How do I delete my Quora account?"

I got the answer for this one.  Delete Account was the last Privacy and Security Settings option under the user's Account drop down list.  But, in order to Delete Account, it was first necessary to Set up a Quora Account Password by clicking a security link in an email sent to my Gmail account.   Then, by clicking the link provided in the Gmail email, I created the required password, returned to the website's Delete Account option, and deleted it.

After being sidetracked for about 20 minutes, I made sure it wasn't going to happen again.   I brought up the original search results on the Chrome browser and clicked Block This Site that appeared at the top of the returned link.  Note:  This feature requires the UBlacklist Google Extension:   uBlacklist  --Blocks sites you specify from appearing in Google search results).   If I should later have a change of heart regarding Quora, I can always unblock it.

I have no problem with Quora, it is just not for me.  It seems to be a type of social networking environment and that is not what I'm seeking when conducting searches for accurate information--not opinions or experiences.  I did find Quora's placement somewhat intrusive being pushed to the Top of the returned searches.  Perhaps, as a user, I need to pay closer attention to whether the returned search links are .com, .org, .net, .gov, .edu . . . .

Final Note:  A few months ago, I submitted another post about blocking websites from search results.  See May 24, 2022 post below.

November 18, 2022  Dirt Devil Versatility.   When the power of a floor model vacuum cleaner is not required, a little Dirt Devil may be what is needed for the job.  The best use we've had for the Dirt Devel since purchasing it a couple of years ago is for vacuuming numerous throw rugs and hallway runners.  To make things more cozy and comfortable on bare feet, we've put rugs and runners over newly installed hardwood laminate next to beds and in the hallway.  We also placed a rug on a high traffic carpeted area.

Our large floor model vacuum cleaners are too powerful for this job and will suck up the light weight/rubber backed rugs.   The little Dirt Devil shown below came with an extension handle and a motor driven beater bar attachment that does an excellent job picking up lint, small amounts of pet hair, crumbs, etc., and will also fluff up the rug.   It's not intended for deep cleaning ground-in,  soiled rugs or carpets.

The Dirt Devil Vibe is priced at around $40.00.  That's a good price and seems to be the right appliance for the job.

May 24, 2022  Take Control of Your Web Browsing Experience.   Everyone has their opinion on what is best regarding web browsing.  For me, it's a combination of entertainment, staying informed, and curiosity.

When reading news stories from various informational sources, I frequently run across a new term or an unfamiliar word.  I usually finish reading the paragraph and then do a quick search preceded by the word "define".  All too often at the top of the list of returned  links will be an entry from the Urban Dictionary, for example, with a few raunchy words that catch my eye.  I've been looking for years to find a method to get rid of this garbage once and for all.  The best I had been able to do was to block these sites by adding any offenders to my hosts file, but that's not what I required--it was still showing up in the searches.

Recently, I searched Google's Chrome Web Store extensions for updates and finally found what I wanted.  UBlacklist is an easy to use extension that works like this after it has been added to your browser:   If your search returns something you don't want to be looking at, there is a line above every returned link that says:  "Block This Site".  When you click it, the site will be deleted from the list and omitted from all future web searches.  That's what I'm talking about!  One strike and you're Out.   If you accidentally click the wrong item, you can go into the extension's detail options and remove the URL from the blacklist.

In previous years when I was trying to elminate this annoyance, I had read there used to be an option/extension when conducting Google Searches that would do this, but for some reason it became inoperative in later versions of Google's browsers.  Apparently, it's now back by popular demand.