Reframing The Questions For Future Candidates

 President Trump arrived at Davos this morning and spoke to the WEF saying, among many things, he will not use force to acquire Greenland.

Now, only hours later, he is touting that there is an agreement coming soon which will give the United States what it needs for security. Details of an unfinished deal were not forthcoming, yet. Prudent. Amazing accomplishment, once again by a great deal maker.

This was not a matter many of us were considering before Trump delivered his intent to buy Greenland. Facts and strategies we were not privy to. Advantages we had not considered. I am sure I was not alone in finding his declaration that we would acquire Greenland hit like a bolt out of the blue. And, like many, I suspect it has taken some time to see the wisdom behind his vision. Normal.

So, will the next politician seeking the Presidency understand? How many issues Trump is doing for us be understood by the next candidates for residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue? The space goals? Like manned missions to Mars after establishing a human presence and exploitation of the Moon? Etc.

What I am wondering is how do we pin down candidates so we know ahead of electing them whether they will squander the steps taken toward ambitious goals, or, if they will adhere to the goals and do their best to insure the successes? Politicians lie, so, it is always a tricky matter. My suggestion is to present the questions as if the goal is incontrovertibly a good idea. And, ask them only how they will co tribute to the success.

Are They Low IQ If They Can Steal From Us Right Under Our Eyes

 A question inspired by the Somali fraud in Minnesota. Somalis are said to be, on average, low IQ people. But, to applies to any thief who repeatedly gets away with it. Oh, and by the way, Somalis are the face of the fraud in Minnesota but it seems likely they are doing so at the behest of others. It has to be a wider conspiracy, I firmly believe that. So, as Charlie Kirk said, prove me wrong.

The wider net is the point I wanted to make. Not, the group identity of the perps, alone. Though it will be necessary to identity all of them to end it. If we wish to end it. An uncertain proposition, on the whole. I know I want it ended, not as sure about the intentions of others.

I wonder how the low IQ can achieve wealth which I may never know. My IQ is supposedly above average, or, so I was told by the good people at the Jewish Vocational Service in Louisville, Ky. Circa 1975. So, if I have such capacity why do people who can not match my intellectual level outperform me? 

It could be explained by effort, interest, discipline. In which case the stupid work harder and more intensively then the wise guy.  It could be explained by the smart one be being stupid enough to follow the rules. While the dumb one follows the survival instinct and pays attention to the rules only as something to avoid. Especially with respect to getting caught violating the rules.

So, my immediate conclusion is a lone high IQ person, me, is unable to achieve at the same level as a cabal of low IQ people if the low IQ are willing to break the rules to achieve their ends. 

When Your Noise Is Not Free Speech

 Yesterday in Minneapolis church service(s) were interrupted by protestors. These were worship services for people wishing to be with God. And, they were shut down by loud, unruly and doubtless paid, antagonists who, if reports are correct, believed a minister from the church was with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

I became aware of this affront when I saw videos of television personality Don Lemon defending the rudeness as “free speech”. Free Speech, of course, is recognized as a human Right under the 1st Amendment of our Bill of Rights. (Linked here: Don Lemon wrecks the 1st A) It has since been reported on Fox news too.

Two thoughts came to mind.

1.). The 1st Amendment also recognizes the Right to religion, and this riot within the church during a worship service took away that Right of the parishioners. Interrupting the freedoms of others is not consistent with the 1st Amendment.

2.). And, if these protestors were paid or in any other way directed to perform this civil rights violation they do not have a 1st A protection during such. If you are paid to say it, your 1st Amendment Right is not in play during that speech, because, it isn’t your speech.

As a corollary matter it should be made law that it is not a religion if you are compelled to join or at risk if you fail to join and/or abide by the tenets of a philosophy. Yes, I am looking at Islam.

On Quitting Comment Boards and the Continued Absence of Social Media Affiliation

 First, I should mention that my inattention to this blog has been as much a function of the busyness of my life as is a function of exercising my voice elsewhere.

When I do remember RunningRabbit I think of my, so far, failed promise to explain the inspiration of the blog title. There is a story there. And, one day, maybe one day soon, I will write it and present it here. The story involves an episode from my childhood, a resolve I discovered within myself, and a surprise. The world works in mysterious ways.

Now, as to the immediate promise in the title pf this blog post. Let’s take up Social Media first. By which I mean the Facebooks, Xs (nee Twitter), et al. I never joined any of them, but, do not feel I have missed much. I haven’t missed what happens there, it is reported widely in other ways. I haven’t missed the arguments or the fools. Social Media is more sewer than salve. I am proud that I avoided belonging. But, that isn’t to say I have been silent. Comment boards at websites, mostly at two websites, have given me an opportunity to share when I feel the need. I have tried to keep it civil, and sensible. Mostly succeeded. Common sense is one of my strengths. But, it is not enough alone, so, I continue my education every day. Yet, I know I will never achieve expert status in most areas of interest. Though, sometimes it seems that the experts lack to vision to see outside their discipline, or that they lack the modesty to listen to novel (to them) understandings interpreting the known knowns. My approach is always to offer my best without insisting on my way or the highway, so to speak. It is easy to do. No guarantees, no expectations, no disappointments. I live to control my results only. Enough on that for now. Except to say that I have pulled back from comment boards in the last two weeks, and am reorganizing my mind. First, I really need to reinvigorate myself physically and intellectually. I am lazy and tired, to use a common parlance. My house requires a great many improvements, and mind craves a new direction. So, now as I enter retirement and become my own boss in a more complete sense, I need to reinvent myself.  I know the larger world will get along without me while I fix my world.

Still Alive

I am still out here, just doing my commentary in other places. 

At times, not very often, but, at times I think about making this blog a regular activity. Maybe later. After I am retired and I have a good handle on all of the projects for my home under control. As if, right?

Irving Finkel

 I recently discovered a series of YouTube videos by a curator at the British Museum. Fascinating stuff.

And, this being October, I refer you to find the one about the first written mention of ghosts.

A  search page showing a number of these videos

A Rough Period.

 I am in my last year of my seventh decade on this Earth. And, I learned in the first week of May that I can not tolerate a bad diet as well as I once did. A client reminded me it was Cinco de Mayo, and I wasn't going to eat Mexican food to celebrate until I realized I had a box of frozen jalapeno poppers in the freezer. 

Because I have not yet changed my ways when it comes to eating massive volumes, I ate the entire box, (less three poppers). I was in such distress that I spent the next three days sick, mostly tired and I had a pain in my neck where I have a wounded disc, My body was exhausted trying to pass that load, and my muscles cramped leading to the neck pain. Or, so I explain it.

On the third day I was able to go for a walk, which did wonders to relieve, correct my malady. A laxative did wonders too.

I still don't feel 100%, but, I healed enough to be able to work a nine hour day on Tuesday, followed by six hour and four hour days on Wednesday and Thursday. 

Age is taking a tolll, but, in many respects my diminished skills and fragile body are due more to bad decisions than old age. Still hanging in there.