Settling for less

I wonder ...

The highest court in the land is made up of just nine justices.
They were nominated by the President, confirmed by the Senate, and appointed -- not elected -- to the bench.
Nine.

In an entire nation, we have just nine Supreme Court Justices.

In my head, we should have nine people of impeccable character. If any doubts about character or integrity are encountered in the examination process, that should lead to an immediate disqualification. 
Impeccable character.

Of course, if character doesn't really matter anymore (and apparently it doesn't), then we can have justices that have dubious reputations or past issues. In a culture that seems to be okay with sexual assault and rape, it is okay to have justices, even presidents or other elected officials that have been credibly accused of, or even found guilty of, sexual misconduct.

Why do we tolerate such behavior from the people that are supposed to maintain order and justice for our national society?
Completely ignoring political ideologies, poor character is still poor character. 
Why doesn't that matter anymore?

I remember the outrage over Bill Clinton's affair. 
Today such a thing might not even make the news.
The current character of the men and women in charge of such things won't even allow for the court ordered Epstein files to be released, because protecting the pedophiles and their power is more important than justice for the victims.

Is our current SCOTUS and DOJ the best we can do?
Do we have to keep electing people of questionable character that in turn appoint people of questionable character?
Why are we willing to settle for such pieces of shit people to govern our states and country?

If you haven't noticed, I am frustrated by the injustices that are making the news.
I haven't even mentioned the war in Iran, the rising prices of everything, or the dumb shit that spews from our president's mouth on a regular basis. It will take some effort to maintain some self control and not continually post about the madness, but I am sure that I need the outlet so you will see some posts on occasion.
Feel free to scroll on or share as you see fit.

Personally, I am tired of settling for less in our elected officials and the people they appoint to serve us.

John

Wednesday Wisdom

It's late in the day, but I thought I'd throw out this gem for a Wednesday Wisdom post.

As I've said before -- If you ask me what I'm doing on Friday and I tell you nothing, it doesn't mean I'm available to do something with you or for you. It means I am purposefully choosing to do nothing.

John

Mountain mornings

This is my view on this Wednesday morning.

Sunrise through the Ponderosa pines of Colorado.
It is a brisk 49 (10 C) degrees on the deck of the kids' place, but the day will warm up nicely. The mountain setting is a little deceiving because it really looks peaceful and serene, but there is a pretty busy highway just a very short distance away and the noise is quite an invasion into the otherwise calming atmosphere. 
I suppose that if the deer, bears, and foxes that are frequent visitors to the kids' place can tolerate it, so can I.

Nights and early mornings are pretty brisk at 8700 ft (2650 m) in early October. I'm in sweat pants and a heavy sweater (still barefooted), but the morning sun feels warm and encouraging. This will be my home for the next few weeks.

I started to write a very different post this morning. I really am having a difficult time processing the culture that enables the assault that took place at Cornell a few years ago, the entitlement and privilege that swept it under the rug, and the people that don't seemed bothered by it or only seem bothered that it has now come under scrutiny.
I will write that post at some point. Today I am frustrated that character no longer matters in our society and we would rather make excuses and cover up for sexual predators that to defend their victims.

WTF is wrong with people?

sigh

Today I am going to pet dogs, visit with the kids, enjoy the mountain air and the energy of the pines. I am going to find some peace in nature.
I am not going to ignore the injustices of the world, but I honestly don't know how to best give a voice to the oppressed. I'm not sure that I believe that the pen is mightier than the sword. Maybe it is just that there are too few people willing to write freely and fairly about injustice and to drag oppressors into the light where the sun will fry them for the life sucking vampires that they are.

John

Without honor

This is what we've become, or are becoming -- a people that takes what we can, when we can, regardless of who it may harm. 
We are without honor.

Yes, while this post is inspired by the news of the Cornell 7 (or 57), it goes even deeper into a culture that doesn't care about anyone that isn't a part of our group, club, family, whatever.
From something minor like porch pirating, to the raping of women (conscious or not) we are becoming a society that teaches that personal integrity and honor are less important and less valuable than just taking whatever we want and think we deserve.
We are teaching that accountability is only for the puny, poor, and powerless.
And accountability only comes into play if you get caught.

What happened to us?
When did we stop calling out the bad behavior of others?
When did we start electing and appointing people that allow such heinous behavior?
and Why do we continue to allow the injustices to continue?

Is physical strength or social power or wealth more valuable than simple goodness?
Have we failed to evolve from our tribal roots?
Are personal honor and integrity now worthless things to possess? 

I honestly don't know how to counter the injustices of the world from my quiet home in the Ozarks of SWMO. I am frustrated and very disappointed in the people we have become. Life has become the dystopian movies that we watch where only the strong survive and only the powerful thrive and the rest of us are dehumanized and treated as property or slaves.
We can do better.
We must be better.

John

Wednesday Wisdom

It has taken me a long time to get to a place where I am comfortable with this.

The thing that I am still working on is having grace towards those that currently think the way I once did. Allowing people to grow on their own or to choose to stay where they are can be difficult for me.
How are you doing with living with your past?
Have your beliefs changed as your perception and understanding of the world has changed?
Is the God you learned about as a child the same God you know as an adult?
Do you ever ask yourself -- What if there is no God?

Just wondering...

John

Why are we so violent?

I just watched the Masters of the Universe movie.
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe was one of the cartoons that I would watch with my son when he was a young boy. I don't remember it being so violent.

Of course there seems to be a violence disconnect when it comes to cartoon characters vs actual people playing the parts. Somehow a cartoon character having an arm ripped off is less gory and bloody, so less violent, right?
A sword wielding cartoon character can slash and stab other cartoon characters and appear to be far less violent than a human actor doing the same thing.
Or maybe we just make an excuse for violence if the good guys win.

I understand the need for strength and that there are times when one might be left with no other choice than to fight back. I get the benefit of a strong military or the deterrent of a big force with big weapons. But when that force is used to intimidate and stoke fear then we are no better than the bullies that we tell our kids not to be.

We justify our love of violence by scripting the good guys as the winners.
In real life, as in the cartoons and movies, we tend to gloss over the losses of life and damage to property. We recognize sacrifice for a moment or observe a day annually, but the injustices and the violence continues as a way of life. Dying for the cause is just a part of living as the victors.

While The Masters of the Universe is a fairly recent film, I also finally got around to watching all four of the movies in The Hunger Games series -- another violent depiction of a dystopian world where the masses have final had enough and rise up and revolt against their oppressors. 
Again -- the good guys win so I guess the manipulation of the heroes and the violence is okay.

Damn
Life is pretty messed up sometimes.

John

Monday Meditation

It has been a long time since I have written a Monday Meditation post, but it feels right as I am sitting here with a light throw over my shoulders and sipping my coffee as the sun rises on this early autumn morning.

It is not the first time that I've contemplated living a life without purpose and I don't really know why I am thinking about that today. Perhaps it is because I see so much striving and stressing as people compete with one another to achieve status or stuff that they are missing the simple joys of just living life. 

I feel as if we have been manipulated into believing that we have to be something or do something in order to be successful at living. 
There is a story that a teacher asked her students what they wanted to be when they grow up, 
John Lennon replied, "Happy."
She said he didn't understand the question.
He said she didn't understand life.

What if we made being happy our purpose in life?
I suppose one might say they need money or power to be happy and so they strive to accumulate wealth or rule over people. I know there are people that really do not care if their own goals cause pain or suffering for others, and I know that many people with wealth and influence do many good things for society in general. 
I guess we all get to choose our "happy."
This morning I am happy to enjoy my coffee and appreciate the present.

I remember when people used the -- Today is the first day of the rest of your life -- quote as an inspirational/motivational tool. 
Some people see today as one more day; some see it as one less.
I suppose both ways give the day value in its own perspective.

Cleaning out flowerbeds in the fall is certainly about hope for the future and a plan for spring flowers. Doing things today as a part of planning for the future or cleaning up the past is just a part of living today. I won't say that working in the garden makes me happy.
Flowers make me happy, but they won't grow well and look beautiful without the work, so...

My purpose for living today is simply to be happy.
I honestly don't expect to do anything to make someone else happy, so you are on your own for that. 
I will just be tending to my little spot in a big world. Maybe I will have an interaction with somebody and an opportunity to make them smile, but it is unlikely. 

I hope that you find value in today.
I hope the day brings you peace.
I hope you find a moment to be happy.

John

Is Loneliness a Health Concern?

I'm reading through a 2023 publication by Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy entitled Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation. 
I have to admit that I find the information to be both concerning and yet somehow fascinating. 

The reason I find it fascinating is likely because I should probably be more concerned about my very small circle of people and the simple fact that I enjoy being alone and don't feel lonely.
Is there a line where being alone crosses into being lonely?
How few people must one have to be lonely?
Certainly, it can't be a matter of trust because I really don't trust anyone.*
How is it that some of us can be alone and not lonely while others can surround themselves with their "friends" and experience great loneliness?

It seems that having some connection with others is more important than being with others.
And we are becoming a very disconnected society. People from all ages and backgrounds are disconnected and lonely. Social media has created a kind of trap that not only isolates people, but also gives us a negative image of ourselves by comparing us to non-existent realities and expectations of others.

Even though the internet can be a great place to meet people and connect, great care must be taken because it is also filled with predators seeking to exploit the loneliness of others from young teens to vulnerable senior citizens.

If you were alone (I'm assuming you are not), where would you go to make connections?
I don't go to school and don't have kids in school.
I don't go to church.
I'm not much of a bar/pub guy.
And I'm pretty low tech.
Where would a person like me go or what could I do to find connections? 

Do we (that are not lonely) have a social obligation to be aware of the loneliness that exists around us and to help people find meaningful relationships with others?

The article calls it an epidemic.
How should we address it?
How do we cure it? 

John

*Actually, I trust that everyone will do whatever they think is best for themselves at that moment. 

Sleep

It's been a little longer than a month since I've been wearing this Fitbit Versa smart watch. 
Here are a few thoughts/observations.

I don't like that I cannot pause the step counting feature.
When I ride my motorcycle or mow the lawn (riding mower) there is enough vibration to make the watch think I am walking or riding a bicycle and track accordingly. It really isn't a big deal because actual steps don't matter that much to me. I mostly use the step count to monitor how active/inactive I am.

I like the sleep tracking feature, although I have no idea of how it works. I can see how the inactive period and heart rate might indicate when I am sleeping, but tracking restlessness, REM sleep, light sleep, and deep sleep is some kind of witchcraft or something.
Most nights I clock in at just under 6 hours of total sleep. Last night I was just over 8! I guess a day of yard work requires additional recovery.

Phone notifications are cool, but not really a feature that I use a lot. 
For me, the best feature is one that any simple watch would provide -- giving me the time.
Not pulling out my phone to check the time is a good thing and probably the feature I most appreciate. The weird thing is that I seldom really need to know the time. 

Mostly, it's more a matter of How much time until I have to do something else? or How long have I been doing whatever I'm doing? rather than knowing what the actual time is. As a fully immersed retired guy, I really don't need to know what time it is very often. Perhaps, I am just checking out of a lifelong habit that persists without purpose.

All-in-all, I'd give it an overall -- meh.
It is nice and functional.
It is more than I really need and underutilized. 
I'm glad I was able to use an insurance benefit to buy it rather than buy it outright. 
I should probably work on using more of its functions to better monitor my health.

     * * * * *

Yesterday I was heading out for coffee and there were school kids waiting for the school bus. I was thinking that it won't be long before we change time unless we keep DST and then they will be waiting in the dark. Seasonal changes can be hard.  
I was also thinking -- Damn, I'm glad I don't have to be up this early for work or school everyday!
Retirement does not suck.

Work a bit
Rest a bit
Eat a bit
Enjoy it all

John
 

Cool Nights, Warm Days

In my head I just said a bad word.
It wasn't because I'm out of coffee at home. I knew that and was planning on a morning trip to a coffee shop. It was because it is chilly enough to require long sleeves and long pants.

I know that the days of flannel shirts and sweat pants are coming. I just didn't think they'd be here this quickly. Of course, if I had stayed home for coffee I would have been okay with shorts and I will be changing as the day warms up. Maybe I should have just slept later.

I am no longer a regular patron of Starbucks and I'm not certain why I chose the Ozark Starbucks for my morning shop, but I am sitting here watching the morning staff move about in a kind of coordinated chaos that is pretty impressive. The odd thing is -- there isn't anyone else in the store.
All of the hustle is for orders that are made on line and the customers will come in for pick up, go through the drive up lane, or have their order delivered via Door Dash or some other service.

I am the lone in store patron.
I wonder if it is always like this.

Sometimes I think owning a coffee shop would be cool. 
However, I'd need some of this young energy to keep up with the morning demand. 
Unless it was one of the laid back, kind of chill places in Puerto Vallarta that offers a little peace along with your morning brew.
No mobile ordering.
Some good, made on the spot breakfast sandwiches (not the microwaved stuff found here)
And always a bit of friendly conversation -- even for the gringos that come in.

One of my favorite coffee shops in PV is also a book store and art gallery -- A Page in the Sun.
I think Books, Brews (both coffee and craft beer), and Bourbon would make for a wonderful place to hang out and spend a little slice of the day.
A simple kitchen with breakfast sandwiches and bar snacks might make for a lovely gathering place.

If you know of such a place, let me know.

It's almost 8 AM and the day is warming up nicely.
It's time to buy some beans and head home to start the day.
No biggie
Just another day in the life of John

Be well, my friends

John