Values & Politics

The famous story is that we need to reduce our consumption of energy, especially fossil fuel, to reduce CO2 production and global warming. But what if we just got the whole richer and made everyone more capable of dealing with the ravages of global warming? So, where is the optimum between decreasing fossil fuel usage while simultaneously making the poor richer and more capable? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Is your race, or color, the only thing that determines how much privilege, I or you have? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Trump has dementia.  What are the symptoms?Ever notice how he confuses two different people? Like Pelosi and Nikki?  Classic symptom.  Ever notice how he slurs or truncates words or blurs them into an unrecognizable collection of syllables that sound like the words he is trying to say? Yes, classical symptoms.Ever notice the mood swings? Full of energy and then sad and weighted down.  Well, that's not dementia. That is just his personality. But notice how he suddenly looks lost, mouth open, then looking for a word?  Yep, dementia.  I find it quite sad that everything is about a fight with him.  Where does he find peace?Biden.  He's got an old, forgetful brain.  No sign of dementia yet. He is like your old grandpa who can't remember his grandchildren's names but loves them just the same.  I can't imagine Grandpa will run our nation for the next five years.  He will need a lot of handholding by people we did not elect.  Not ok.Apparently, they are the best America has to offer. God bless America.Below are comments from AI (perplexity):Symptoms of Dementia in PoliticiansDementia is a serious condition that can impact individuals, including politicians like Donald Trump and Joe Biden. It is crucial to differentiate between normal aging-related memory changes and signs of dementia. Here are key points from the search results: Memory Issues in Trump: Observations suggest that Donald Trump has displayed signs that could be indicative of early dementia, such as memory loss, confusion between individuals, repetition, and difficulty finding words. Expert Opinions: Some mental health professionals and individuals with experience in geriatric medicine have expressed concerns about Trump showing signs of early dementia, including poor judgment, impulsivity, and unrealistic self-appraisal2. Speculation and Ethical Concerns: Speculation about politicians having dementia is common but diagnosing from afar is discouraged due to the complexity of dementia diagnosis and the ethical implications of stigmatizing individuals based on assumptions In conclusion, while there are observations and opinions suggesting signs of dementia in politicians like Trump, it is essential to approach such assessments with caution, rely on expert evaluations, and avoid stigmatizing individuals based on speculative diagnoses from a distance.Ok, since we are not supposed to diagnose from a distance, how is the public supposed to address their concerns about Trump's dementia and Biden's forgetfulness and lack of vigor?  Nikki Haley and Chris Christi are the only people I have seen who are brave enough to take this age issues head on.   Let's face it, we killed the messenger with regard to Chris. In contrast,  Nikki has survived, but she is taking severe gut blows.  Do Americans love their country enough to put aside their petty biases and address the age issues for both of the men?  How will history evaluate our courage?  The only answer I have come up with is to support Nikki.  I am not really a fan of Nikki.  I like Biden's policies much more than her policies.  But I love America and I have therefore sent contributions to her campaign because that is all I can think to do to save America?   Do you have a better idea? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

https://ancienttexan.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-wrecking-ball.html --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

I am a masculist. Yes, I advocate for men's rights. I even advocate for white men's equal rights. When I first looked up the word that was equivalent to being a feminist, but that was a male, it said that I should call myself a feminist because it is a term that refers to equal rights for all people. But you know how we decided that you can't be a mailman because the word man is captured inside of the word mailman. So, we have to use the word mailperson. So, there's a lot of emphasis on getting the word man out of terms that refer to both genders. I've always thought this was a little on the silly side, but I understand the importance of words.  So, in that light, I thought it was foolish to call myself a feminist because it has no distinction from the feminist that everyone thinks of when you use the word feminist. After all, the word feminine is actually captured inside the word feminist. So I discovered there's this word called masculist, which is not very poetic, and it brings nothing to mind except maybe the idea of masculine. But that's the word that I've got that seems to me the equivalent of a male feminist that advocates for the rights of all people, including white males, or, to be honest, maybe I should say especially for the rights of white males. I've always had a problem with the concept of white male privilege, especially if someone was talking about me. Yes, I have some advantages by being white, and there used to be a lot of advantages to being white and being a male. Those advantages, though, are now vaporware and, in fact, never applied to most poor white males any more than it applies to females or blacks or any of the hundreds of kinds of disadvantaged people.  Rich, even elite, white people are the real advantage group, and assuming that entitlement spreads much at all to people who are only white and not rich at all is a huge extrapolation these days. So, there is a historical precedent for white males running the world and a few white males being on top of this hierarchical pinnacle of power. But that Pinnacle was in the past often a merit-based pinnacle and still largely is a merit-based pinnacle. But what's even more important is this is a historical perspective that is not current with what's going on in the world. Richard Reed's book Of Men and Boys describes the current state of the white man in this society and men in general and points out that in today's world, the white male is actually increasingly with the disadvantaged people in our society. I am a masculist. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

January 6 was fueled by the replacement fear among white males. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Statisticians predict the amount of people on average dying each day. Suddenly 10 to 20% extra people are dying everyday. Why? So what's causing all the extra people to die --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Everything varies between extremely dangerous to existential threats these days. Are they really? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Bigger kids on the block are dictating what direction the world goes in, not us. CO2 production, who controls it. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

When you turn on the heat in the morning, a legion of people around the globe deliver you the energy that warms your house. Do you take that all for granted? Should we be in awe?" --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

My lady and I talk about what makes our relationship work. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Homelessness is looked at from the point of view of Finland, Vancouver Canada, and San Francisco. What's the difference between how we see homeless versus in Finland. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

What are some of the flags that divide us: Black Lives Matter Build the Wall Given these two flags, you can pick a side, a tribe, and separate yourself from those on the other side of the "wall." Do the flags do any good? Do they change anyone's minds? If I said "Hispanic Lives Matter," why wouldn't it work for either side? Because it is not yet a political statement. "Black Lives Matter" and "Build the Wall" are political statements that no longer convey a meaningful message, especially to those on one side of the wall. Even if the flag is on your side of the wall, if you could still think and listen after the flag is raised, you would find some truth, some useful message carried by the flag. For example, sometimes, building a wall to stop immigration actually makes sense. Just because Trump said "it" does not make it not true. Neither does it always make sense. Flags don't make sense; they make a statement, a political statement, and they are almost always offensive to half of the population. If you want to change the world and make it a little kinder, you can't use flags. Flags are offensive and mostly unkind these days. #AncientTexan --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

UUFN is considering dramatically raising the rent rate for their childcare center. I argued that the most worthwhile thing they do as a "church" is subsidizing the childcare center and that any increases would be passed on to the parents/children who often can't afford it. My daughter, with two jobs, can not afford more than to eat, pay her rent, and keep an old car on the road. Amy and I pay $341/week for childcare, going up in January. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

My thoughts on Presidents I have known. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Enter theme here --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

A military man asking for negotiated settlement in Ukraine and Israel. And he suggests we consider the risks of people from the Middle East coming across our southern border. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

You have a religion. Perhaps, it would be good for the world and yourself if you asked the question, "what is my religion." --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Just to run down to the major events in the world and my two cents on them. Hope you have a good one. Namaste from the ancient Texan. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Having a relationship with the story you have about someone in your head. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Hello in There / Lyrics Main Results We had an apartment in the city Me and Loretta liked living there Well, it'd been years since the kids had grown A life of their own, left us alone John and Linda live in Omaha And Joe is somewhere on the road We lost Davy in the Korean war And I still don't know what for, don't matter anymore You know that old trees just grow stronger And old rivers grow wilder every day Old people just grow lonesome Waiting for someone to say, "Hello in there, hello" Me and Loretta, we don't talk much more She sits and stares through the back door screen And all the news just repeats itself Like some forgotten dream that we've both seen Someday I'll go and call up Rudy We worked together at the factory What could I say if he asks "What's new?" "Nothing, what's with you? Nothing much to do" You know that old trees just grow stronger And old rivers grow wilder every day Old people just grow lonesome Waiting for someone to say, "Hello in there, hello" So if you're walking down the street sometime And spot some hollow ancient eyes Please don't just pass 'em by and stare As if you didn't care, say, "Hello in there, hello" --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Poem goes here --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Are intentions all that matter in Israel? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Is China pulling the strings of other nations to bring America down including a civil war? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

It is never going to be the right time to keep our promise to the Palestinians. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

It's what happens in between the wars that guarantees the next war, sadly. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Humanity and love are in short supply. Fear, aggression, and control are the tools of suppression and resistance. There is no solution to violence in such a world. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Wow. What a depressing story I just heard. If you are a fan of Joe Biden don't listen to this ... and don't read the book, "Laptop from Hell", by Miranda Devine. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

We say no one is above the law, but Trump is. And we are afraid. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Lots of mega projects around the world to divert rivers to create new farmlands. But when one country takes the water, other countries lose water. If your river goes dry, what's plan B? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

It's not all doom and gloom; good things are happening because of global warming for those brave enough to see them. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Do more people die from the cold or the heat. How does global warming change that? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

We are giving the control of commodities to Russia and China. How do you think that's going to work out? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Have you ever asked your doctor or your animal's veterinarian to think. What kind of result did you have? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

The Justice Department is going after Democrats, can you believe it. Nikki Haley is the Presidential candidate I couldn't think of. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Russia stops exporting refined oil products. This is a big deal. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Discriminating against someone based on what Caste they were born into has been made illegal in California and several other Western States. Good or bad? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Creating technology is one thing, getting funding to develop or pilot it is another, and yet another is getting any money in your pocket for the invention. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

I am an engineer/scientist who creates stuff, mostly processes, that in theory, make the world a little better. Most patents don't get utilized, I think in part because the one who creates the patent with the help of his employer has no vested interest in the patent. I have 12 or 13 patents and my previous employers who are now out of business own those patents. I have to sign a piece of paper that says every thought I have belongs to my employer on the first day of work. Otherwise, I don't get the job or the consulting contract. So, I get to work for the man, create something, and he profits from it. When I found out how this system works, I started sandbagging. I kept items I thought could be patentable and make my company some money in a notebook that I have long since lost. I was still one of the better employees and got better raises than most of my fellow engineers. Turning in a patent made me more work, and made my company more money, but did nothing for me. And even worse, I did not get to decide anything about what a new business would look like that used the patent. My job was in R&D, and I was not bright enough to worry about the complicated matters of running a business. As a consultant, the same story is true as I complain about in this podcast. This podcast is not inspiration, I would not recommend listening to it, but it did make me feel a little better. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Its a new era coming brought on by Oliver Anthony. Mitt Romney agrees and says its toime to let the young take charge of the world. Its time to let go according to Romney. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

We hear a lot about global warming that is not true. Believing all the negative, it is difficult to be receptive to all the good things happening because of global warming:   Fifty different climate models can accurately predict the future.  However, 40% are too sensitive, too responsive, and must be thrown out from being obviously wrong.  Like weather predictions, they are okay if you don't go far into the future.  Breaking them into smaller grids, the models so far get worse and overly sensitive.  So, models are handpicked and used to predict doom and gloom.  If error bands are added to the predictions it is obvious that more than a few years into the future, the error bands are so large that the models are as worthless as a weather forecast is for next month. We are told there are more hurricanes, and they are getting worse.  However, this is no long-term trend, no data to support this.  We are told there are record-breaking floods and more of them. However, there is no data to show this is a long-term trend of more and worse floods. Food production is being jeopardized.   Food production, however, is at an all-time high.  On average, food production across the globe is going up.  July 2023, NYC, AZ experience their hottest months on record. So is this proof that global warming is true? Spike in the temperature occurs about every four or five years, but there is no evidence yet that there is any change in the long-term trend.  Spikes occur every 4 to 5 years because predictable changes in the earth's orbit and tilt toward the sun.   Some definitions Climate change is a trend that occurs over a period of multiple decades.  It is average data over a time period of a decade or longer.  We can protect our fears when we see a spike in the data that it portends a trend. We have to wait for the data and use the historical data to back our judgments. Models try to predict the future, but in the area of weather and climate change, they are not yet reliable or powerful enough. For example, with the recent records in Az, we need many more data points to conclude anything.  El Nino is probably a big driver in the observed temperature spike. Higher CO2 did not cause the spike in isolation and may not have been a major contributor. An example of a True Story that is not being told:  Since 1979 the temperature has increased about 0.13 deg C per decade.  About the same is predicted for the future going forward.  What happened during those 40 years:  Population during that time increased by a factor of 5. Life expectancy went from 32 to 73 years. GPD increased 7x. (We definitely need some work on distributing the wealth.) The World literacy increased by 4x. There was a 50X decrease in deaths by weather events  And yet, we have been made to feel unsafe. We have dramatically decreased bringing new life into the world in the Western World. We have discounted the possibility that we will be able to continue to adapt as we always have in the past.   We are being fed a diet of doom, gloom, and fear. We no longer believe we are amazing in adapting to our environment. We no longer believe in using the most powerful tool in our arsenal to solve our problems: the marketplace. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Billions are going to die from the climate crisis. That is a lie. Existential crisis, well, it is not climate change; look instead at asteroids, nuclear weapons, super-volcanos, and the like, but not climate change. Human prosperity is our goal; environmental management is a subcategory of Human prosperity, not the other way around. Let's read this book together and discuss the highlights here. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Drifting toward the waterfall Miles up ahead The boat rudderless Small leaks wetting my feet The morning air against my face The sun bright, eyes squinting A cowbird not singing on a reed The tackle box spilled Lures floating, some sinking in the water The brown water in my soggy tennis shoes. My friend didn't come with me Said she didn't want to fish But I think she didn't want me I should jump out Take my chances, swim toward shore I sit wondering why she said 'no' Her hand pulled from mine Leaving an empty place on my finger Especially at the end where we last touched. Roe July 2023 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

The Ancient Texan and AI discuss this poem: Abused Lives Matter Abused lives matter, But does their color? Addicted lives matter, But does their color? Neglected lives matter, But does their color? Lonely lives matter,  But does their color? Old lives matter, But does their color? Homeless lives matter, But does their color? Poor lives matter,  But does their color? White lives matter,  As does their color? Roe June 2023 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

I found an AI to discuss the upcoming metal crisis that I predict will occur as China becomes an unreliable supplier of metals and minerals. AI added some interesting commentary. I think I need to be better prepared the next time I have a conversation with AI. I was not ready for this talk with AI. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

The supreme court recently overturned the use of Affirmative Action in Universities. Do you think Affirmative Action was justified? Are there better ways to identify who needs help than one's race? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

A liberal culture has spread around the world since World War II. We credit the modest level of peace in the world to this new liberal world order. Russia recently broke this illusion and invaded Ukraine. But this new liberal order that values the individual has spread to about half of the world. Guess what happens when a country becomes liberal. Women and other minorities get more rights. Women become employed and lead the country in rights for all minorities. All good news. However, they prioritize having a career over becoming mothers. The postphone motherhood. As the percapit --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

When you arrest someone for breaking laws that everyone in power breaks, what is that called? Answer: an unjust system. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

What additional rules/regulations do we need in place for AI NOW? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

A summer rain A poem, a thought, a lifetime. A spring, a fall, a cold snow. A summer rain, water in the street. Alex and I at a window,  Faces pressed against the glass. Drops down the pane Kids wanting to wade in the street Rainbows and frogs waiting Once or twice a year In the desert of my youth. Roe May 2023 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support

Margret Atwood says she has two personas: Margret, the writer, and Peggy, who does the laundry. We all have these alternative egos, personas, or different sides of ourselves. So, why not use those personas in some way to improve how you choose and carry out your activities through life? For me, there is Robert, the engineer; Roe, the poet; Ancient Texan, the preacher; and Wiley Fox, the wild side of me (hint: sex). I let each of these sides of me say a little about polyamory. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ancienttexan/support