Polymath

 A polymath is someone knowledgeable in several disciplines. Think physics, chemistry, and mathematics.

We should all be polymaths within the framework of our own lives. Spending time keeping up with Apple's latest software versions, knowing how to use the Files app and Apple Wallet. 

Knowing how to wash a car, change the oil, tires and brakes. Though many new cars now do not come with a spare tire.

Knowing how to wash, dry and fold one's clothes.

Dealing with personal finances, learning to live below one's means.

Personal health, eating properly, and getting physical exercise.

While the creator of the movie "Idiocracy" didn't think the debauched lives portrayed in the movie would come true so soon, one doesn't have to spend all day watching silly football games. After watching someone catch a ball for the 1000th time, one would think there'd be a bit of diminishing returns after a while.

There's so much to know. Information, and especially with AI, it's all within our fingertips. 

What I'm now doing with Youtube is copying the transcript of the video and pasting it into AI and asking for a summary. Instead of watching some of these drawn out videos, I can read the summary in a short time.

We don't have to be expert in all fields. But we can know a little bit and be conversant in the topic. Learning is the greatest priviledge of being alive.

Back Pain

What Causes Back Pain

 

Not A Believer

 When I look back as a child, I was indoctrinated (I guess that's a word to use, hope it's not too loaded) in the Catholic faith. I went to Catholic private school from 2nd grade through the 9th grade.

I did all the perfunctory requirements, first communion, the Eucharest (forget what the hell that even means), going into a small booth and saying confession to a priest. All done without giving it a second thought. I mean "NO SECOND THOUGHT". That's just the way things are, and this is how the world is shaped.

Whether it's Islam in the Muslim world, Hindi in India, Mormonism, Scientology, Jehovah's Witness, and all the religions throughout past history, everyone of us is atheist. The big difference between atheists is this one thing--most atheists believe in their one true God, all the other gods are false. The other atheists go one step farther and say your god is not true either. 

One can blame our parents, society, culture for indoctrinating children into believing in any religion. But even without all that, as children we need to give agency/purpose to life. Even if it's not with our conscious mind. What's a river for--for boats to float down. What happens when you lose a tooth--the tooth fairy puts money under your pillow. And we all know about Santa Claus and the Easter bunny.

Ever wonder about the Easter bunny? When the Roman emperor (at least this is my interpretation) wanted to convert the masses to Roman Catholicism, he incorporated pagan holidays. So, while Easter celebrates the resurrection of Christ, it was also a pagan holiday celebrating the goddess of fertility, hence the eggs.

So perhaps, and I admit, I very well could be wrong. Also there's a certain comfort in being part of a tribe. It would be wonderful to believe I'm going to heaven when I die because I believe a certain thing (and of course all you bastards who don't believe the way I do are fucked), but I can't do that. I somewhat envy those who believe that. But at the same time, I used to be a believer and know the reality--and that is, I wasn't sure I was really "saved" and I asked God to save me probably over 1000 times. (And of course when I talk to Christians, oh they have no doubt whatsoever, they absolutely know the truth).

So, cognitive dissonance becomes part of the equation. And most, no matter how obvious, cannot look at simple facts and try to figure/reason within one's own mind. So one can look at a religion, especially if one has read/studied it, say Scientology, and know it's a cult, but to me all religions are cults.

Low Fat

 I'm getting older and I (hopefully) gain more wisdom as I do.

A great part of that wisdom is derived from Nathan Pritikin.

When Nathan Pritikin wrote "Live Longer Now" and many of his other books, he had doctors add to them or write the introduction. He realized that as a layman, not a doctor, people would not listen to him regarding health, so with the names of doctors on the cover, it gave him more legitimacy.

But read any of his books, and the meat of the book, the genius of the book, I will bet my life, those writings are Nathan Pritikin's.

"Live Longer Now" was published ~ in 1975. If you can get your hands on that book, read pages 17-70. It's pure Nathan Pritikin genius. And try to remember: This was written 50 years ago. It says diabetes can be cured, heart disease is irreversible, and a low-fat diet is designed for humans.

So can better health be achieved through diet? Can living a life be free of chronic pain? 

The answer is yes, but I'm beyond even mentioning the ideas of the great Nathan Pritikin. Everyone now is an expert on nutrition and health. Keto and a carnivore diet is the diet (I would guess) over 99% think is most healthy.

Her's a link to lectures of Nathan Pritikin. 

Getting Old--Philosophising

 So, I recently had my birthday--turned 71.

While at dinner celebrating my birthday, I mentioned that I now realize I'm becoming an old man. My BIL piped in and said 71 is not old, 80 is old. And he gave a few reasons. And I agree with him, especially if one is in "good" shape with no ailments.

Something I've done over the last 30 years is focus on what I eat. For the most part, I'm definitely not mainstream in my eating habits by any stretch of the imagination. Though lately I've loosened up on my dietary strictness. Where before I was mostly vegan, now I eat meat occasionally, without regret.

Also, with my diet, my main focus is eating mostly carbohydrates, and low-fat. Again, not mainstream. Most believe in a carnivore type diet or even keto. Not me, the opposite. It's my belief that fat is one of the worse things we can put into our body. Again, not to go into it too deeply (for that's another article for sure), but excessive fat causes liver disease, HBP, heart disease, brain issues to name a few problems.

Though I'm getting laxer in my diet protocol, I still want to maintain my focus on what I believe is a healthy diet, exercise and rest. Though I may be leaving lots of gustatory enjoyment on the table, I'm willing to make that exchange for what I hope to be a longer life with less health issues.

Why Golf Is Boring To Watch

 

I really enjoyed watching the golf telecasts. Not so much anymore. 

I thought it was because they just have too damn many commercials. The telecasts are top-notch, great production, and way better than the Euro Tour (whatever they're called now).

But I finally figured out why golf is in a tailspin. It's not because of the dilution of golf with the LIV tour and the PGA tour, not because of too many commercials. It's because of the man above. 

Yes, the penultimate golfer of all time. The great Tiger Woods. There will never be another. What we were treated to for so long was a one-off. Tiger was a pure joy to watch. Remember when he won the US Open at Pebble Beach? A bunch of dudes bowing to Tiger as he walked by. Tiger was God. 

Tiger's gone through a hell of a lot of surgeries and has endured pain I can't even imagine. He's a private man and doesn't wear all his miseries in public. But he's been through and still going through it. Every time you turn around, Tiger's getting another surgery.

So we'll never have another Tiger. Ever. No one can be that good. 

I Went To A Funeral

 

Have you ever been in a social situation and done the most inappropriate? I swear, whenever I'm suffering from depression, send me to a funeral and I'll be laughing uncontrollably. I wish I could say it's a one-off, but not so. My wife and I have now agreed that I must sit in the church's last row for any future gatherings.

My wife's friend's brother had his funeral yesterday. I didn't know this, but even though only 65 at his passing, he was a hero to his younger sister and brother. When 12, his Dad was beating on Mom and made Dad leave. He became Dad from that day forward. Needless to say, a hell of a guy.

But wife and I are early for the service and I didn't know the backstory. The church service was in a Korean church that once was for honkies and absorbed the honkies into their congregation. So the mother of the deceased was still a member, hence services at this old church.

Before the opening ceremonies, the pastor stands before the decorated urns at the altar. He bows his head for quite a while. He's Korean, so cynical me, the longer he's bowing his head, the more he's thinking "ca-ching", more coins he has to put in the slot machine. Horrible stereotype, but the day before I was at Pechanga.

Then the service starts and another Korean comes and sings a song solo. A bit off key. Again, cynical me, I'm thinking this is his 1st cousin, getting $200 for the gig.

Sorry, but I begin to laugh (quietly), bend over and hide my face in my hands. It's so bad that my body is heaving. Hopefully all those behind me think I'm sobbing. If someone came and punched me out, I would not have blamed them in the least. Again, I feel so bad about it, it's just something I can't control.

But here's a thought I have about funerals that make sense to me: For us to go to the funeral (which we did to honor this wonderful person ((and his wife died 18 days after he died)), we drove quite a distance, and of course had to drive home after. I don't mean to be impersonal, but funerals should be like banking or shopping--online. Do a Zoom set up, everyone check in and go from there. Somehow even have a virtual taco-truck. The best part is you'd get away from this fake religious pomposity/formality and get to the remembrance of the actual person who died. (I went to one funeral and the preacher after talking about how Jesus died for your sins, was one step away from doing an alter call.)

Trump Zelensky White House

As anyone who knows me, I greatly respect Donald Trump. 

But I've watched the full meeting with Trump and Zelensky in the White House. I'm disappointed in JD Vance and President Trump. Zelensky was invited to the White House and treated with disrespect. And then the veracity to say President Zelensky should apologize?

Adam Schiff, who I think should be tried for treason, who is a most despicable, I had to agree with his assessment of the meeting between Trump and Zelensky. 

Ukraine was invaded by Russia.

Russia has murdered Ukrainian men, women and children by the thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands.

I could go on about the evil of Putin, anyone with a smidgen of common sense, knows that Putin is a very bad man. 

It's Trump that owes an apology to Pres. Zelensky. Zelensky is a brave man, war hero, putting his life on the line for his people. Zelensky is treated like he's fodder, like he's a nothing, looked down upon. The US will help you out if you sign an agreement giving up billions of rare earth minerals. Fuck that. 

No. Look at history. The Holodomor. Seriously, if you're reading this and not familiar with the Holodomor, please educate yourself, I beg you. How about the document that the US signed along with Russia and Ukraine that Ukraine give all its nukes back to Russia in exchange for protection if anyone was ever to invade Ukraine?

This is all very ugly. In this regard Conservatives have become Britain's Neville Chamberlain.

This, from AI:When referring to "Churchill and Chamberlain," it signifies a contrast between two British politicians during the pre-World War II era, where Winston Churchill strongly opposed appeasement of Nazi Germany, while Neville Chamberlain, as Prime Minister, actively pursued a policy of appeasement, often seen as a failed attempt to avoid war by making concessions to Hitler; essentially representing a stark difference between a forceful stance against aggression and a policy of trying to pacify an aggressor through negotiation