Who are your favorite people to be around?
I’d like to say something witty or emotional like my family or my oldest friend from childhood, but it would be a lie.
It’s my dog
Don’t get me wrong, I like (a few of) my family and my friends, for a bit.
The introverts will know what I’m saying without me even explaining animals, small talk and time alone to re-charge
But then so is Ken Lane at Knuckledraggin and Phil and maybe Cederq at BustedKnuckles and a few others I follow. Make yourselves known and be proud.
I’m a pureblood, full of horse paste.
Not a damn one in my family is other than me, nor are any of my friends.
I had one guy tell me he was sorry that I wasn’t jabbed and I thought, that’s a strange thing to say. You must be a dumbass or a sheep.
You get some great, amazingly fantastic news. What’s the first thing you do?
Nothing. It’s not important to others so I don’t bother them with it. Some people have to tell the world, but I don’t think others care that much so I usually don’t say much.
I hate people who brag anyway so I go out of my way not to do it.
Since I’m not on Fake book or X, I’m not obligated to post about it.
Life is a lot easier when you live in your own lane and don’t have to show off to others. Those that are happy for you will be. They’ll find out the news sooner or later.
I’ve been around long enough now to know that things are fleeting. Whatever news will fade into life and there will be downs as well as ups. Once you understand that, you look at news differently.
Are there any activities or hobbies you’ve outgrown or lost interest in over time?
Just about every damn one of them. Girlfriends too.
I was infatuated with boats as a kid. I wound up owning two and was glad to unload both of them.
I played Tennis in college, playing and practicing every day for years, and don’t even bother turning on Wimbledon anymore.
I fished (see the boats) for decades every week and haven’t wet a line in years. I caught thousands of fish
I did martial arts for decades, but that fell by the wayside also.
I hunted for years until I decided not to kill anymore unless it was life or death. My house has trophies on the wall from many hunts, but there won’t be anymore.
I biked in group rides competitively multiple times a week for years and even though I ride for exercise, I do it alone now about once a week, just to stay healthy and to get away.
It was the same with all the girlfriends I had before being married. They lasted until I realized who they presented themselves to be to win me over wasn’t who they were, and it was over.
Hell, I don’t even want to see my extended family unless I have to. I keep them at arm’s length as much as I can to not have the stories of my childhood replayed for the 1000th time.
What all of these had in common was that I conquered them. The thrill of victory was over and there were no more dragons to slay. When the passion was gone, so was I.
Now, I try not to get small-talked to death and most of the stuff I do are solo sports.
About the only things that remained in my life were golf, auto racing, reading, and bible study. The rest faded away due to a lack of passion.
Such is life. I try to stay to myself. I compartmentalized the things in the past and write about them occasionally, mostly to myself.
I’ve become more introverted in life and my enjoyment comes from within and time alone rather than in groups. Hell, I have to face people from my past this week and I can’t say I’m excited about that either.
This might be the last best of for a while so enjoy. The regular new stuff will be here going forward, but don’t be surprised if you see a part 10 some time.
Marriage Monday Meme’s – Communication Edition
Back to my wife’s relatives in Denmark. I routinely count on them to know what is the right thing for America by going against anything they are for. In this case, her niece Marian thinks Pocahontas is the “bomb”. She put it on Facebook.
They of course hate Trump who just got them to spend $2.1 Billion on Greenland’s defense instead of him spending it. They already pay 70% taxes and it’s going up for some TDS.
I find it hard to believe her family are even close to smart sometimes. I can always count on them to trash America and Americans, except when they want to shop for half the price in Denmark. They always think that America should be more like Denmark. Let’s see, which country has put a man on the moon? Are they speaking Danish instead of German since the 1940’s?
Warren just proved yesterday that her paycheck comes from Big Pharma, who screwed over a lot of people during Covid. Point of interest, the Danes had to take the jab so that could be why their IQ went down some more.
https://twitter.com/ericldaugh/status/1884647968466166141
It’s why I rarely care what people think of me, even while I’m alive. If someone doesn’t like me, it’s one less hassle for me to deal with and more free time to enjoy what little time I have left.
I’m married to a person who goes through life like a Facebook page trying to collect likes. It’s annoying to watch.
I have a couple of best of’s left, but here’s some new stuff I’ve collected
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Antifa militants targeted an ICE detention center in Portland, Oregon, on Monday night, just hours after President Donald Trump was sworn into office. The incident was in retaliation to the Trump administration’s mass deportation operations and crackdown on illegal immigration. No arrests were made and the far-left extremist group vowed to carry out more acts of violence against federal immigration officials and facilities, according to social media posts.
Video footage posted to X, formerly Twitter, shows a group of roughly 15 Antifa militants dressed in black bloc riot gear igniting fires and squaring off with federal law enforcement outside the ICE detention center located at 4310 S Macadam Road in Portland. The clip was filmed by an anarchist and uploaded to X under the username @comradecamera at 11:08 pm.
According to the video, Antifa militants encircled officers as they attempted to extinguish one of the fires, with a few of them utilizing megaphones to issue threats and harassment. “I’m so glad you signed up for this,” one Antifa member could be heard yelling, mocking authorities.
I’ve been there a bunch over the years due to relatives. It gets worse every time. It started with make Portland weird, but now it’s just make Portland suck more.
People shit on the street. Businesses board up windows, crazies yell at you in the street and the homeless and drugs are everywhere. They don’t do anything to improve it and it decays every day. I’ve stopped going. I stopped wanting to go years ago, but finally put my foot down.
I don’t go anymore because of the state of the city. It’s due to liberals running things into the ground. It’s not even recognizable as part of the rest of the United States. It’s become it’s own country
Trump Pulls U.S. Out of World Health Organization, Slashes Funding on the Way Out the Door
They didn’t help anyone’s health, especially during Covid. No more wasted tax dollars. Put that under Doge
https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/1881515602868949271
And by not attending the Davos conference, Trump now leads other international leaders in “quiet quitting” globalist environmental rules that have only strangled their economies and hurt their peoples.
Even more tax dollars saved that don’t to the pockets of non-Americans
Trump Pardon’s innocent January 6 people persecuted by Biden’s DOJ
JERUSALEM – U.S. President Donald Trump kept his campaign promises in the first hours of his second term, signing dozens of executive orders to undo the damage of the previous four years of the Biden presidency.
One of those involved – with immediate effect – the defunding of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, as the Trump team has decided to suspend any foreign assistance for 90 days pending reviews.
UNRWA, which is the only U.N. agency that has responsibility for one people – namely the Palestinians – has been in Trump’s crosshairs before.
They hate the Jews worse than the Germans in the 30’s and don’t deserve our money.
Trump signs executive order to defend women from gender ideology, restores ‘biological truth’
This one brought the crazies out of the woodwork. How is that woman even a bishop in a church supposedly based on the Bible? She’s promoting ideas dooming her to hell.
Among the actions President Donald Trump took Monday to overturn much of the previous administration’s agenda, Trump signed an executive order requiring that the U.S. recognize only two genders.
“The erasure of sex in language and policy has a corrosive impact not just on women but on the validity of the entire American system,” the order states.
The order provides a definition of “woman” as being an adult human female, and “girls” as a juvenile human female. Likewise, under Trump’s order, “man” is defined as adult human males and “boy” as juvenile human males.
DEI was based on bias and discrimination against certain groups, but mainly a way to launder funds
Get rid of the traitors
Trump signs executive order directing US withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement — again
Again, just money sent into the pockets of non-Americans over a lie. No amount of money will move the thermometer tenths of a degree. All the while China and India are pumping tons of smog and carbon from their power generators fueled by coal. It’s discrimination against the US
Trump Set to Invoke ‘Alien Enemies Act’ to Deal with Migrant Invasion, Drug Cartels
kick them out along with the rest of the invaders who have no interest in anything but sucking money off the taxpayers.
The Purge of the Top Brass in the Military Has Begun
There were reports that the Trump administration was mulling a ‘warrior panel’ to purge the military of the woke brass. The president signed a slate of executive orders to rid the government of federal DEI programs, secure the border, and get America back on track to greatness. We’re not even two days into the Trump presidency, and he’s already firing people.
Adm. Linda Lee Fagan, 61, has been terminated by the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Benjamine Huffman, the official said.
Fagan has demonstrated leadership deficiencies, operational failures and an inability to advance the strategic objectives of the Coast Guard.
These include the failure to address border security threats, insufficient leadership in recruitment and retention, mismanagement in acquiring key acquisitions such as icebreakers and helicopters, excessive focus on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and an “erosion of trust” over the mishandling and cover-up of Operation Fouled Anchor, which was the Coast Guard’s internal investigation into sexual assault cases at the Coast Guard Academy.
Here is the complete list from the Whitehouse
What is your favorite animal?
Again, this is sort of a layup for me.
My dog.
He loves everyone, but at the end of the day, he comes to me over everyone else. He’s as much of a dog as there is. He digs, pisses on everything when we walk, barks at the delivery people, loses his mind over cats, squirrels and deer but loves getting his ears scratched.
President Trump has been unduly mocked by Democrats and corporate media journalists regarding his desire to purchase Greenland from Denmark. But he now has the Danes and Greenland’s full attention.
As The Gateway Pundit reported, Trump for months has pushed for purchasing the world’s largest island and is not ruling out possible military action. He argues that Greenland becoming part of America is absolutely necessary for national security.
Trump is, of course, correct. The Arctic island is rich in natural resources and holds immense geopolitical value due to its proximity to the Arctic Circle and the presence of U.S. military assets, including Thule Air Base.
Moreover, China and Russia are circling Greenland seeking to take advantage of the islands enormous potential. Buying Greenland would enable the U.S. to seize control of the Arctic and deal a heavy blow to the ambitions of their two biggest global adversaries.
During a press conference Saturday, a journalist asked Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede if he had spoken to President Trump regarding Greenland. Egede said “no” but that he was ready to.
“We are ready to do so (talk),” he said. “I think we are both ready to increase dialogue and reach out.”
“And therefore also talk about things that bring us together in the world we live in.”
Egade reiterated that he does not wish for Greenlanders to become Americans. However, the fact that he will speak with the soon-to-be 47th president shows the effectiveness of Trump’s bold ideas and dealmaking.
Meanwhile, Axios revealed Saturday that Denmark sent Team Trump a private message regarding the possible future of the island. While they still do not want to sell Greenland to America, they are open to discussing bolstering security on the world’s largest island or increasing the U.S. military.
They are also open to any other request from Trump outside of giving up territory.
No other president has been able to accomplish what Trump has done so far on Greenland, and he now stands in an incredibly advantageous position even before taking office. Even if Greenland does not become part of America, our national security will almost certainly be enhanced to the detriment of the Russians and Chinese.
But if Trump decides to go all or nothing on a Greenland purchase, it would be unwise to underestimate the man who wrote the world-famous “The Art of The Deal” all those years ago.
go down a post or 2 to see the libtards in my wife’s family losing their minds over this
Greenland’s Prime Minister Now Says Open To Talks With Trump: ‘Status Quo No Longer an Option’
We are continuing to watch the developments related to Greenland, which have gotten especially interesting after President-elect Donald Trump tasked his pick for Ambassador to Denmark with persuading the Danes to sell us the resource-rich Arctic land.
Shortly after that announcement, Greenland suffered a major power outage due to a downed transmission line. The blackout plunged the region into darkness as temperatures dropped below -27 degrees Fahrenheit (-33°C).
This was soon followed by Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede calling for independence from Denmark, marking a significant shift in the rhetoric surrounding the Arctic island’s future.
Trump’s son later went on an “unofficial” visit to Greenland. At that time, I speculated that persuading the people of Greenland to become an independent territory of the United States might be the best deal that could be placed on the table.
Intriguingly, Egede recently had a joint press conference with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen during which he said that he’s ready to speak with Trump as ‘the status quo is no longer an option‘.
My wife’s Danish relatives, to whom I’ve had to associate in the last 3 decades of marriage finally can’t hide their contempt for Trump and the USA any longer.
In dealing with them and many Europeans throughout my business career, it’s clear that trashing the US is their favorite sport (not football/soccer). They keep trying to re-make America by their rules, rather than accept the history of a country that has surpassed centuries of European culture.
A point of note is that while they are trashing America, they are wearing Levis or Carhartt, smoking Marlboro cigarettes, and regularly vacationing in America all while bitching that it isn’t Danish enough. They love shopping here because it is so much cheaper because of their 70% tax rate which pays for their “FREE” education and healthcare (that is just above malpractice)
The press coverage and the feedback I get is that the Danes are livid that Trump wants Greenland.
One of her nieces posted that Elizabeth Warren is the “bomb”
My wife also has a brother who lives in Greenland and the natives there hate Denmark owning them, but subsist off of the money that Denmark pours into them yearly. They’d rather be Greenlandish and free but realize they get a heck of a lot more from the US than they would Denmark, given the economic difference.
The US has had a military base there for a long time and they love the Americans in Greenland, more than the Danes
Back to my wife’s relatives, the Danes hate Trump. He is as atypical of how the Danes think they think (Janteloven) as possible. They are as averous as any other group despite what they claim. She’s got nephews who brag about the price of everything they bought and the status of the item. With Trump, They can’t handle the thought of an alpha male actually being successful and achieving more than others because of hard work and outsmarting others (like my wife’s relatives). Mostly, he’s not a socialist like a lot of thinking in Denmark so they can’t grasp it so they use the “typical American” and hate him. They actually don’t know why other than their press has told them to.
I had to cut them off from social media for the childish trashing of him for the last 8 years. I haven’t missed anything though other than them being the compass for what is wrong by going against everything they think is right (Warren/Pocahantis, Biden, Kamala, Obama, Obamacare, and the list goes on). So Trump lives rent free in their heads now as they seethe every time he wins (and wins again).
Here is an unscientific poll that backs up my observations.
A new survey found that a majority of Greenland respondents support joining the United States.
According to a poll by Patriot Polling released Sunday, 57.3 percent of respondents approve of Greenland becoming part of the U.S. Just 37.4 percent disapproved of the potential acquisition, and 5.3 percent are undecided about the move.
President-elect Trump has in recent days floated the idea of acquiring Greenland, a Danish territory. He said owning Greenland is an “absolute necessity.”
While the survey only polled 416 people in Greenland and is the first of its kind, it signals support for Trump’s larger international plans.
I think Trump just wants a bigger military footprint and access to rare earth minerals (and petroleum). He is a master of negotiations and everyone should be happy in the end, except my Wife’s family, but I don’t care what they think. Their bias doesn’t allow them to think rationally about Trump and America anyway. Not that I care what they think anymore.
Enjoy your shopping when you are in America.
What are your biggest challenges?
Look, I’m an introvert. While I’d like to say that curing cancer, ending world hunger, or overcoming a life threatening disease were my macro challenges, it’s not my daily struggle.
Avoiding people and small talk constantly raise their heads to dog me. I can’t expect most other than fellow introverts to get this, but it’s a struggle for me to face a crowded room of people. Having to engage in meaningless talk about stuff I know doesn’t matter is difficult also. It’s mentally draining for introverts. We are not built for it and when it comes up, it’s like being in a tunnel with the train light headed directly for you. It’s like having a grains of sand in your eye constantly and you can’t remove it.
I can do it, but with less and less enthusiasm and I have to work myself up to face it. My extroverted other has put me in situations I wish I weren’t in a lot of times in my life. I’ve finally fought that off. I find myself wanting to withdraw more and nothing pleases me more than canceled plans now.
I’m not going to be on my deathbed and wish I was more outgoing. I have a lot of other regrets that are more meaningful than small talk.
I’m getting sick and F*****g tired of bashing men. It’s a cheap shot by the liberals, feminists, SJW, and pussies who don’t get their way or can’t do something that men can do. Tearing someone down to build yourself up is a crap way to make yourself feel better. It has not made the world any better either, stop it, now.
We need more masculinity. We’d have better kids, a better economy, less woke crap, and a better selection for the ladies to choose from. The world needs strong men who do the right thing and make the world better.
I have a dumbass cousin who got butt hurt that Trump said some stuff about girls when he was younger. I’ve got news for you, girls let rich and powerful men get away with more than they do with beta men or guys without money. It’s called hypergamy. Stop being a dumbass and realize that girls control most of what guys get in a civilized situation. She supported Biden who destroyed the country and a lot of the world.
The popular mandate of President-elect Donald Trump is an affirmation of traditional masculinity.
The war on men, orchestrated by the extreme left, has suffered a serious setback with his election. Mr. Trump was told that he’d have to soften his message to appeal to women voters. He didn’t, and it doesn’t seem to have hurt him.
This year, Mr. Trump carried a majority of White women, as Republican presidential candidates have since 2004. Overall, Vice President Kamala Harris did worse among women than President Biden in 2020 or Hillary Clinton in 2016.
The image that symbolized Mr. Trump’s spirit came after he was wounded at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when he got to his feet, pumped his fist and shouted, “Fight! Fight!” If it had been Ms. Harris, she would have fainted, and, when revived, returned to the lectern to blather about “What can be, unburned by what has been.”
Democrats tried to counter Mr. Trump’s charisma with a new model of masculinity: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who put tampon dispensers in the boys’ rooms of schools, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff, who put his career on hold to dutifully campaign for his wife.
Given a choice between Ms. Harris (who could barely articulate a coherent thought) and the Marxist Mr. Magoo on the one hand and Mr. Trump and Sen. J.D. Vance, a Marine Corps veteran, on the other, men went for the Republican ticket by a landslide. Men have taken a beating at the hands of feminists and “woke” culture for too long.
In “Why Can’t We Hate Men?” – a 2018 opinion piece in The New York Times – Suzanna Danuta Walters, director of the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program at Northeastern University, declared that the essence of masculinity is sexual violence and economic exploitation.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who calls himself a feminist, says American voters had two opportunities to elect a woman president and failed both times, as if gender were the only issue in the 2016 and 2024 elections.
Such attitudes aren’t confined to the directors of women’s studies programs and socialist politicians desperate to retain power.
A study on changing attitudes toward men found that in 1970, 65% believed “men are basically kind and considerate,” compared with 44% in 2005. “Men’s egos require that they put women down” was a sentiment shared by 58% of respondents in 2005, next to 41% in 1970.
These toxic stereotypes have been cultivated by the media, academia and Hollywood – to the detriment of both sexes.
Who needs men? Among others, children do.
Fatherless families are responsible for 90% of homeless and runaway children, 85% of institutionalized youth, 71% of high school dropouts and most minors who suffer from drug or alcohol addiction.
Where are the role models for the 43% of boys who are raised by single mothers? Boys need men to instill masculine virtues.
Women need them, too. The traditional role of men as protectors of women and children isn’t outmoded, just neglected.
When men do man up, society tries to crush them.
When Daniel Penny saved passengers on a subway car from a deranged homeless man who had a long history of violence (including punching an old woman in the face), the state of New York charged the Marine veteran with criminally negligent homicide. A jury of five men and seven women acquitted him.
Unfortunately, there was no Daniel Penny on a New York subway car on Dec. 22, when a sleeping woman was burned to death. An illegal immigrant from Guatemala has been charged with first-degree murder and arson in that attack.
Women and children pay the price for the absence of male providers and protectors in the home and on the streets. The rise of crime, especially crimes targeting women, parallels the decline of masculinity. In 1993, women were 41% of violent-crime victims. Today, they’re 48%.
That’s why the election of Donald Trump is as important to the culture as it is for the economy. Men take responsibility, whether it’s by fighting crime, guarding our borders or meeting foreign threats.
Strong men are confident enough not to be intimidated by competent women. Witness Mr. Trump’s nominations of Pam Bondi for attorney general and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem for secretary of homeland security.
For the past four years, we’ve been misled by an increasingly feeble old man who hid in the White House or on the beach in Delaware. On Jan. 20, there will be a man of the house again.
What is your all time favorite automobile?
This is the easiest one for me to answer. It’s the Porsche 917. It’s one of the few cars that was the star of a movie (that wasn’t a cartoon).
I first saw it at the 24 hours of Daytona in 1970.
It was the first time I’d seen a car go over 200MPH in person in my life and I was a pre-teen at the time.
It would go on to dominate 2 different series of racing. It’s what got me fully hooked on endurance racing.
Here is the car on NASCAR turn 4 at well over 200 driven by my then favorite driver, Jo Siffert.
I’m taking the rest of the day off, but wish everyone the best, especially those who serve, served and their families.
from Introvert Dear, but I can relate and I bet other Introverts can also. I don’t go if at all possible and am better for it.
Oh no, oh no, oh no. It’s today, isn’t it? The holiday party. And there’s another one tomorrow. A red-and-green glitter bomb of social obligation has exploded all over your calendar. Sure, you love your family, but the truth is, you’re an introvert, and big parties are utterly exhausting — even on those rare occasions when you actually enjoy them. Loud, crowded rooms and yet another round of “So, what’s new with you?” probably leave you dreaming of a white Christmas at home in your pajamas.
But the holidays only come around once a year, so you’ll rock around the Christmas tree anyway. That said, you’ll probably have some thoughts like these. Introverts, can you relate?
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Saying yes to the big holiday get-together seemed like a good idea when you RSVP’d. You even threw in some exclamation points (soooo excited to see everyone!!) and offered to bring your famous apple dumplings. But that was two weeks ago — you were younger then, full of hope. Now, in a moment of panic and desperation, you’re seriously considering canceling because you’re “sick.” Besides, didn’t you promise your dog you’d binge Netflix together tonight?
It is your family we’re talking about. And it is the holidays. That’s the double-edged sword of being an introvert — just thinking about skipping the party makes you feel guilty, even if it would be better for your mental health. You don’t want to let anyone down, even if saying yes means draining your energy completely.
Yes, that’s it — the perfect compromise! You’ll say your hellos, grab some food, and even give nosy Aunt Gladys the most basic updates about your life, complete with a polite smile. Then you’ll make a swift exit, just like a certain snowman who knew better than to stick around when the sun was hot that day.
You’re doing this. You’re really doing this. You take a few deep breaths, savor the last moments of peace and quiet, and silently swear on Aunt Gladys’s fruitcake that you’ll be back home soon.
You’re at the party, and it’s SO LOUD. Christmas carols are blaring, everyone is talking at once, and your inner introvert is screaming for an escape to somewhere quieter. The noise feels like a physical force, crashing over you and draining your energy. You’re no Grinch, but suddenly his decision to live alone with his dog on a mountain makes perfect sense — it was quiet!
Let’s face it — small talk has never been your thing. Gossip and chatter about weekend plans? It all feels so, well, boring. As an introvert, you’d rather dive into big ideas or, at the very least, something that feels authentic and meaningful. At the party, you do your best to stick to socially acceptable chitchat, but somehow, it always veers off into… something else entirely.
…so, so awkward.
Despite how it might look to others, you’re not angry, bored, or depressed — you’re simply turning inward to block out the overwhelming stimulation. The noise, the flurry of activity, and the endless social cues to process can be too much for introverts, who naturally thrive in calmer, more low-key environments.
This quiet moment alone is bliss. No small talk, no noise — just you, recharging in peace.
…there’s waaay too much fake smiling happening at this holiday party.
Many introverts are devoted animal lovers because our four-legged companions are the perfect match for us. They offer unconditional love without expecting small talk or fake smiles in return (see above). And unlike some extroverts, they’ll never talk your ear off or complain that you’re too quiet.
Pulling out your phone and pretending to be completely absorbed in it? A classic introvert move.
Sometimes, even we introverts surprise ourselves by enjoying a social event. There’s something comforting about feeling included — even if half the time was spent dodging personal questions from family and quietly checking your phone. And let’s be honest, the holidays bring a certain warmth and nostalgia that’s hard to resist. Maybe you even found another introvert to chat with — or an extrovert who respected your quiet vibe. It feels good to connect, even for us fiercely independent introverts.
But then, the inevitable happens. No matter how much fun you had, you’re still an introvert — and that means your social battery only lasts so long. Time to head home and recharge!
And that’s okay — it’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s just the way you’re wired.
…but let’s be real, a lot of them just don’t.
Dang, you forgot to pack your invisibility cloak. But it’s time to make your escape. Fingers crossed no one hits you with a “You’re leaving so soon?” as you quietly slip out the door.
On the left: What it looks like.
On the right: What it feels like.
The party might be over, but that doesn’t mean your energy magically returns. In fact, this is when the real exhaustion sets in. Cue the dreaded introvert hangover. For many introverts, social burnout isn’t just mental and emotional fatigue — it’s physical, too. The symptoms are real: headaches, muscle aches, and an overwhelming sense of feeling unwell. It’s your body’s way of saying, time to rest.
A WHOLE DAY.
Can we make it 12?
You shut your bedroom door and breathe in the sweet, glorious relief of solitude. If you have kids, you might try to pass them off to your spouse for a little while — because let’s face it, the only cure for an introvert hangover is downtime. Alone in your room, free from everyone’s expectations, you’re finally in your most comfortable, natural habitat. This time to decompress isn’t just nice — it’s necessary. Seriously, it’s for everyone’s safety!
I know they can. I have to spell certain words as my dog knows exactly what I’m saying when I use them.
Dogs have long been considered “man’s best friend,” but a groundbreaking study published in Scientific Reports suggests that our furry companions are far more intelligent — and communicative — than we give them credit for.
The research reveals that dogs trained to use soundboards can form meaningful two-word combinations, proving they are not just randomly pressing buttons but deliberately communicating with humans. This discovery not only challenges our understanding of canine intelligence but also opens the door to deeper insights into animal cognition.
More here and it’s pretty interesting
Try talking to a cat and getting them to do anything
My wife’s dumbass relatives in Denmark can’t brag enough to me about their free healthcare, to which I say you pay 70% taxes, so it’s not free. They try to make America into Denmark and what sort of works for 5 million doesn’t translate to 330+ million. They don’t get it because they mostly want to trash the US. Plus, they are socialist and we’re not.
Well, here’s the facts. It doesn’t work, the doctors are crummy, you have to wait for months and you can’t sue for malpractice, which at least 4 of her relatives have received for healthcare and are now injured.
Now this story:
Advocates for “universal health care” love to use Finland as an example of a system that works. That is an absurd comparison. Finland has a culturally homogeneous population of 5.6 million; that is just over half the population of Los Angeles County (9.6 million).
Better examples are England and Canada.
England has government-funded “universal health care” in the form of the National Health Service. The population of England is around 57 million people. Wait times for nonemergency care average 14 to 18 weeks, and thousands of people have been waiting more than 18 months. As of June of this year, 7.5 million Brits were waiting for already scheduled procedures and surgeries requiring hospital stays, more than 300,000 of whom had been waiting for more than a year.
Keep in mind that these scheduled – and delayed – procedures include diagnostic tests and treatments for illnesses like cancer. Shortages of physicians and treatment facilities force cancer patients to wait weeks – or months – for radiation or chemotherapy.
These delays have life-and-death consequences. In 2009, British medical journal Lancet reported that 51.1% of British cancer patients were alive five years after their diagnosis. By contrast, 91.9% of American cancer patients were alive five years after their diagnosis.
England’s problems are not limited to cancer care. Last year, Bloomberg News published a report analyzing the NHS’s own data. The results were shocking. In most areas of England, medical care failed to meet government goals in things as basic as minimum wait times for an ambulance to arrive in an emergency (goal: 30 minutes; reality: up to three hours) or the availability of hospital beds.
In Canada – another country with “universal health care,” the situation is nearly as bad. Canada has a population of nearly 40 million. The average wait time for treatment in Canada for a condition requiring a specialist’s care is more than six months. But in some provinces and for some procedures – like orthopedic surgery or neurosurgery – the wait is closer to a year, or even longer. Canadians face long waits – six weeks to three months – even for simple but vital diagnostic procedures like MRIs, CT scans or ultrasounds.
By contrast, in the United States – a country with 330 million people – the average wait time for a nonemergency appointment with a specialist is only 26 days (a situation that medical journal STAT called “a public health crisis”). The median time between diagnosis of cancer and commencement of treatment is 27 days. The average wait time for an ambulance here is seven minutes.
What could you do less of?
This one is a layup for me. It’s small talk.
I’m at the point where if it’s a deep subject or means something, I can go deep and listen and discuss until the subject is exhausted.
When I hear about shopping, what other people said, and the various examples of small talk, not only do I tune out, my social battery starts draining immediately.
Other introverts will relate to this one. It’s when the extroverts get going and talking is sort of a competition, where they wait for a break so that they can get in their point or part of the story that may or may not have anything relevant to what is being discussed.
Pathological talkers are like that. They wake up and their mouth starts going. I literally hide in my own house sometimes to make it stop
I couldn’t agree with this writing more. It’s happening to me and I even crave it now. For example, I celebrate every time I miss another high school reunion. The 50th is next year for me and there is nothing or nobody that could drag me back to see people that I left behind decades ago. (see the last section).
I’ve got family within driving distance and I don’t text or call for fear that there might be a get-together that I’d have to suffer through. There just isn’t enough there for me to want to suffer through that anymore.
I’m a classic introvert, but in my teens and twenties, it was normal for me to spend almost every weekend with friends. Now, in my thirties, the perfect weekend is one with zero social plans.
And I’m not the only one socializing less these days. My extroverted friend, for example, used to run through her entire contact list, calling friends whenever she was alone in the car. She told me she hated the quiet, the emptiness, because being alone felt boring.
You know, for the whole 10–15 minutes it took to drive to the grocery store. Oh, the horror.
These days, I can rarely get her out for brunch or coffee. She’s content spending most nights at home with her husband and two kids. And I haven’t gotten one of her infamous calls in years.
So, what gives? Do we get more introverted as we get older?
Probably, says Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking — and this is actually a good thing. Let me explain.
In a post on Quiet Revolution, Susan Cain confirmed my suspicions: We tend to act more introverted as we get older. Psychologists call this “intrinsic maturation.” It means our personalities become more balanced, “like a kind of fine wine that mellows with age,” writes Cain.
Research also shows that our personalities do indeed change over time — and usually for the better. For instance, we become more emotionally stable, agreeable, and conscientious as we grow, with the largest change in agreeableness happening during our thirties and continuing to improve into our sixties. “Agreeableness” is one of the traits measured by the Big Five personality scale, and people high in this trait are warm, friendly, and optimistic.
We also become quieter and more self-contained, needing less “people time” and excitement to feel a sense of happiness.
Psychologists have observed intrinsic maturation in people worldwide, from Germany to the UK, Spain, the Czech Republic, and Turkey. And it’s not just humans; they’ve observed it in chimps and monkeys, too.
This shift is why we slow down as we get older and begin enjoying a quieter, calmer life — and yes, it happens to both introverts and extroverts.
From an evolutionary standpoint, becoming more introverted as we age makes sense — and it’s probably a good thing.
“High levels of extroversion probably help with mating, which is why most of us are at our most sociable during our teenage and young adult years,” writes Susan Cain.
In other words, being more extroverted when you’re young might help you form important social connections and, ultimately, find a life partner. (Cue the flashbacks to awkward high school dances and “welcome week” in college.)
Then, at least in theory, by the time we reach our 30s, we’ve committed to a life path and a long-term relationship. We may have kids, a job, a spouse, and a mortgage — our lives are stable. So it becomes less important to constantly branch out in new directions and meet new people.
(Note that I said “in theory.” In my 30s, I still don’t have kids, a mortgage, or a wedding ring. These days, we have the luxury of not following evolution’s “script.”)
“If the task of the first half of life is to put yourself out there, the task of the second half is to make sense of where you’ve been,” explains Cain.
During the married-with-children years, think of how difficult it would be to raise a family and nurture close relationships if you were constantly popping into the next party. Even if you don’t marry or have kids, it would be hard to focus on your career, health, and life goals if you were always hanging out with friends like you did in your teens and twenties.
But there’s a catch: Our personalities only change so much.
In my book, The Secret Lives of Introverts, I like to say that our personalities may evolve, but our temperaments remain constant.
This means that if you’re an introvert, you’ll always be an introvert, even at 90. And if you’re an extrovert — though you may slow down with age — you’ll always be an extrovert.
I’m talking big-picture here: who you are at your core.
Research supports this idea. In 2004, Harvard psychologists Jerome Kagan and Nancy Snidman studied individuals from infancy into adulthood. In one study, they exposed babies to unfamiliar stimuli and recorded their reactions. Some babies got upset, crying and flailing their arms and legs; these were labeled “highly reactive” to their environment.
Other babies remained calm around the new stimuli; they were the “low-reactive” ones.
When Kagan and Snidman checked in with these individuals later, they found that the “highly reactive” babies often grew up to be more cautious and reserved, while the “low-reactive” babies tended to stay sociable and daring as adults.
The bottom line? Our core temperament — whether cautious or sociable, introverted or extroverted — doesn’t change dramatically with age.
Consider, for instance, your high school reunion.
Let’s say you were very introverted in high school — perhaps the third-most introverted person in your graduating class. Over the years, you’ve grown more confident, agreeable, and comfortable in your own skin, but you’ve also become a bit more introverted. If you enjoyed hanging out with friends once a week in high school, maybe now in your thirties, you’re content with seeing them only once a month.
At your ten-year high school reunion, you notice everyone has slowed down a bit, enjoying a calmer, more stable life. But those who were very extroverted in high school are still much more extroverted than you.
You’re still approximately the third-most introverted person in your class — but now the whole group has shifted slightly toward the introverted side.
And that’s not a bad thing. In fact, it might be exactly what we need to flourish as adults. If there’s one thing we introverts understand, it’s the deep satisfaction of a quiet life.
Have you found yourself becoming more introverted as you’ve gotten older? Let me know in the comments below.
These are still the early posts. While some are better than others, they were better when I first started this. This is still last year’s stuff before some of you started following me.
My wife’s idiot niece Marian posted on Facebook that Elizabeth Warren is the bomb. I can pretty much count on her being on the wrong side of everything good for America. Here’s proof.
President Biden has overseen nearly four years of a two-tiered justice system, as his pardoning of Hunter Biden and the political persecutions of then-candidate Donald Trump make all too clear.
But there have been quieter attacks on justice, like “debanking” — and few people realize they could be the next victims because they are a “politically exposed person,” that is someone who disagrees with the liberal status quo.
Debanking is a kind of financial blackballing that has appeared within just the last 20 years.
It started under then-President Barack Obama as a war to punish those seen as political enemies, like firearm manufacturers. Government documents unsealed at the end of 2020 proved that the federal government used its regulatory authority over financial markets to attack political opponents.
Government regulators essentially make it impossible for certain people or businesses to make online transactions, or to have a bank account or a credit card.
…
The debanking scourge under President Biden has hit the crypto world particularly hard. The Securities and Exchange Commission has unleashed a plague of investigations, some real and some merely threatened, to force innovators and investors out of that space.
Dozens of tech and crypto founders have been debanked under Biden, and their inventions smothered.
On Joe Rogan‘s podcast, venture capitalist Marc Andreessen blamed the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a group set up at the behest of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) to go after crypto firms in particular.
“Basically every crypto founder, every crypto startup, either got debanked personally and forced out of the industry, or their company got debanked,” Andreessen said.
I’m right again, I can count on her being wrong, every damn time.
In a world that often sings the praises of an extroverted lifestyle and the constant whirlwind of social activities, we introverts prefer to walk a quieter path — one that values solitude, introspection, and a select few meaningful connections. For us, solitude isn’t just a preference; it’s a sanctuary — a place where we find the clarity and peace we need to thrive.
When I entered my twenties — a decade traditionally associated with socializing and expanding your circle of friends — my introverted journey took a refreshingly different route. Instead of a jam-packed social calendar or always being surrounded by people who were the life of the party, I found solace in solitude and the company of a select few cherished friends. If you’re an introvert, I’m sure you can relate.
Here are 10 reasons why introverts often prefer having fewer friends.
When we have fewer friends, we have more time and energy to nurture the relationships that matter most. These friendships are built on trust and shared experiences, creating bonds that grow stronger with time. They not only withstand the test of time but also offer unwavering support and comfort during life’s highs and lows.
In a world often obsessed with the quantity of connections, we understand that it’s the quality of these relationships that truly enrich our lives. We don’t consider everyone a friend, which makes each interaction a treasured moment of shared understanding and genuine care.
In her book Quiet, Susan Cain points out that introverts often thrive in more intimate, one-on-one interactions. Having fewer friends allows us to focus on building meaningful connections with those who truly “get” us and accept us for who we are. These authentic friendships are like warm, cozy blankets on a chilly night, providing comfort and genuine support when we need it most.
For us introverts, having a smaller circle of friends can be a blessing. With fewer social obligations and less influence from a large social circle, we have the time and space to deeply invest in the friendships that truly matter. I find that with just a few close friends, I can truly invest in understanding them on a deeper level and being there for them when they need support.
Like many introverts, I am not one for small talk. I don’t want to just talk about the weather or what you saw on TV last night. I want to hear about your childhood and life experiences — the lessons you’ve learned that have made you the person you are today. I want to hear about your hopes, dreams, and goals. I want to know how your relationship is truly going — not just the surface-level “It’s good” you might tell others when that’s not the whole story. The busyness of a big social network doesn’t allow for that kind of deep connection.
Plus, as a result, we can focus on understanding ourselves better and on what truly makes our hearts sing and souls dance. This journey of self-discovery is a precious gift that can guide us toward a more fulfilling path in life.
As we grow older, we become more independent, exploring the world on our own terms and savoring the freedom and solitude that come with it. Alone time recharges our batteries, giving us the energy to spread our wings and pursue the adventures that resonate with our souls.
Having fewer friends creates space for us to develop our individuality. In a world that often pushes for constant social interaction, this independence becomes a sanctuary — a place where we can fully embrace who we are.
In busy social environments, we introverts often experience sensory overload — loud music, crowded rooms, and constant conversations drain us. We start to feel overstimulated and unable to focus as external stimuli compete for our attention.
Having fewer friends translates to more peace and quiet, giving us the calm we need to recharge. We retreat into the soothing sanctuary of solitude, embracing the silence that stills our thoughts and relaxes our spirit. The chatter and noise of constant social interactions are replaced by tranquil moments of reading, reflecting, or simply being. This quiet space becomes our safe haven amid life’s chaos.
For us introverts, peace and quiet are not just luxuries — they’re necessities. We thrive when we can turn down the volume of the outside world and tune into our inner landscape. With fewer friends and obligations, we create space to hear our thoughts, reconnect with ourselves, and let stillness restore our energy. The silence nourishes us deeply.
With fewer social distractions, we can channel our energy into pursuing our passions and goals, turning what might seem like “alone time” into a wellspring of productivity and creativity. The result? We often emerge as high achievers in various aspects of life, including career and personal growth.
Our alone time — or creative space — becomes the launchpad we need to reach for the stars at our own pace. It allows us to develop our talents, chase our dreams, and make a meaningful impact on the world.
Smaller social circles mean less conflict and drama. There’s less politics, gossip, jealousy, and fewer fallouts to manage. My energy goes toward nurturing a few intimate friendships, not maintaining a large roster of dramatic relationships.
As introverts, we strongly dislike confrontation and arguments; we prefer peace and harmony. Navigating friend drama can be exhausting. I’ve come to value friendships that are drama-free, where my friends and I can support each other and communicate openly. This kind of acceptance is incredibly refreshing.
When we do choose to socialize, we introverts treasure meaningful conversations and deep connections with our friends. With fewer friends, we can dedicate more time to truly enjoying their company — sharing heart-to-heart chats that leave lasting impressions. These moments of genuine connection nourish our souls, reminding us that when it comes to friendship, less truly can be more.
Difficult times have shown me that I don’t need constant external validation or a large support network. Instead, I rely on a few close friends who provide perspective when I’m overthinking and need clarity.
Over the years, the advice and support I’ve received from them have helped me tap into my own inner strength, process emotions through reflection, and grow through life’s ups and downs.
This emotional strength becomes an invaluable companion as we move through life, helping us weather storms with grace. We introverts don’t depend entirely on others for comfort or reassurance — we carry a quiet confidence in our ability to cope and thrive, even when facing tough times alone. We understand that our worth comes from within, not from the size of our social circle.
While we introverts aren’t fans of constant socializing, there are days when we crave a change of scenery or the chance to connect. We might want to chat with a friend over coffee or catch up over lunch. However, having a smaller circle of friends means they’re not always available when we’re looking for company. As a result, we learn to embrace solitude and use it as an opportunity for self-discovery.
Learning to be alone has been a blessing for me as an introvert. I’ve discovered that it’s where I find true happiness, independent of others. Whether it’s reading, writing, journaling, or simply enjoying nature, I’ve come to cherish and embrace my own space.
Basing self-esteem on friendships and social approval is fragile. As introverts comfortable with solitude, our sense of self-worth comes from within. We understand that our value isn’t measured by the size of our social network or the number of likes and followers on social media.
This inner confidence allows us to form authentic connections without relying on external validation. The older I get, the more I realize that my worth isn’t defined by others — it comes from loving and accepting myself first.
Having a few close friends who truly see and appreciate me has shown me that I don’t need a big circle to feel fulfilled. I now carry a quiet confidence that comes from embracing my introverted journey. This realization has been one of the greatest gifts of my introverted life.
What are your favorite animals?
My dog of course. He’s the one I spend the most time with. Being an introvert, having him is better than most other people I encounter. When I go to someone’s house, I almost always gravitate to the pets if there are a lot of people. Introverts will relate to that one.
Next, most other dogs. I spent the weekend dog-sitting for my son and had fun with both of them.
Way out of that thought pattern came Cheetah. I like how fast it is and since I’m a big F1 fan, I thought of that.
Completely unrelated though are people that mistreat animals. They should be punished way worse than they are to stop this behavior. From building wind farms and killing whales to being cruel like tying a dog to a post and leaving it during Hurricane Helene (I’m not going to link to it because it pissed me off so much).
I hope someone has a good animal story or one about a really unusual animal.
Here is his actual X post that says it all. Sorry if WordPress coverts it to a link, but everything he says is worth reading
The raw facts are these: As of 1960, 51 percent of black females between the ages of 15 and 44 were married and living with their husbands, another 20 percent were divorced, widowed, or separated, and only 28 percent had never been married. Twenty years later, only 31 percent of black women in these age brackets were married and living with their husbands, while 48 percent had never married.
By 1994, an absolute majority—56 percent—of black women in these age brackets were never married and only 25 percent were married and living with their husbands.186 Accordingly, while two-thirds of black children were living with both parents in 1960, only one-third were by 1994. While only 22 percent of black children were born to unmarried women in 1960, 70 percent were by 1994.
White liberals, instead of comparing what has happened to the black family since the liberal welfare state policies of the 1960s were put into practice, compare black families to white families and conclude that the higher rates of broken homes and unwed motherhood among blacks are due to “a legacy of slavery.” But why the large-scale disintegration of the black family should have begun a hundred years after slavery is left unexplained.
If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why?
Jesus. I kind of don’t have to explain what he did historically, but spiritually it would mean a lot to me. I’ve got a lot of questions that I’d ask now. When I die, they won’t be important as eternity brings a whole new perspective to what life is.
There is a whole list of other figures I can think of, but they are the same as everyone else’s.
I go back and forth as to whether I’d want to meet myself at a younger age and give some advice, but then I would be changing everything in my life the way it is now.
What’s the first impression you want to give people?
I don’t care, I’m an introvert. I don’t even think about things this way.
It’s more likely that I’m trying to avoid any small talk if possible.
What people think of me doesn’t affect my life anymore. I used to have to pretend to care when I worked, but it wasn’t sincere concerning me being worried about what they thought of me.
It’s not narcissistic as I just don’t think this way. If they like me, fine. If they don’t, also fine. I’m nice and say hello and do the minimal banter if I can’t move on, but I just don’t think this way. Their impression is what it is and doesn’t enter my mind to worry about it.
I learned a long time ago you can do whatever you want, but people are going to make up their minds the way they want to and while you can temporarily influence it, you reveal yourself eventually.
What is the most interesting thing you’ve lost and found?
I was trout fishing in Denmark with my wife’s Brothers (I refer to them as her family as I don’t like being related to American bashers). At the height of my fishing prowess, I’d caught and released many fish while they were still rigging poles.
At some point during the day, one of my wife’s brothers lost another lure (he lost them all). I had been slaying the fish on a lucky red spinner so I gave it to him so he could catch something. Just like the rest, he lost that one also. I thought the fishing gods were against me and I’d be cursed the rest of the day. I have to admit I was a little pissed to have lost the best lure in my box. Having purchased it in America, I knew I wouldn’t be able to replace it like for like. I didn’t catch much the rest of the day.
At some point, we decided to have lunch and left one pole out just in case. My young son had come with my wife by that time and we ate leisurely.
I noticed the rod bending over and gave it to my son to reel in a very nice one. To my surprise, as I removed the lure from his mouth, I asked who had the extra red spinner they baited the hook with, and didn’t tell me.
As it turned out, the actual lure that caught the fish was still in its mouth, and on the other side was my lucky spinner. There may have been hundreds of fish in the lake and to catch the fish with the lure was remarkable. It was attached to a short piece of line so I knew it was the exact one as you couldn’t buy them in Denmark.
I put it away and decided to never fish with it again. I put it in a picture box of memories and knick-knacks on the wall and it sits there today.
First of all, what a crybaby. The rest of the country put up with the destruction of Western Civilization for the last 4 years and 8 under Obama.
Speaking as an introvert, if someone doesn’t want to talk to me, especially about something stupid like this, I’d welcome it. I have some family members already picked out that I’d be ok losing. If they are this shallow and fragile, it might not be a bad thing.
Anyway, here’s her whining.
With women pledging to break up with their boyfriends and divorce their husbands over the Trump victory, Yale University chief psychiatry resident Dr. Amanda Calhoun is advising that it may also be necessary for your mental health to cut off your family and friends who supported Trump. In that way, you can avoid being “triggered” by opposing political views — much like Yale itself.
As academics, we are dealing with the election on campuses across America. After the election, I had some valuable discussions with students who supported Harris and some who supported Trump. I wish there would be more interaction between the two groups. That is why this story stood out for me. I do not believe that further separation or isolation will help this country or these individuals.
Dr. Calhoun went on MSNBC’s Joy Reid to offer the curious take on good mental health. Reid has spent the week condemning the majority of voters (particularly minority voters) in the nation as racists and misogynists for the Trump victory.
Reid joined a rising tide of rage, which I discussed in my column this weekend. Dr. Calhoun added her voice to the madness.
“So, if you are going into a situation where you have family members, where you have close friends who you know have voted in ways that are against you… it’s completely fine to not be around those people and to tell them why…
…You know, to say, ‘I have a problem with the way that you voted because it went against my very livelihood, and I’m not going to be around you this holiday. I need to take some space for me.’ I think you should very much be entitled to do so, and I think it may be essential for your mental health.”
I question her mental health also. Joy Reid is a racist, but I’ll deal with that in a later post
This couldn’t be any more true for me. Every single point. Especially number 6 that I’m already planning on using at the family Thanksgiving dinner.
Many introverts are hardcore animal lovers (like me!). Why? Because animals fulfill a specific role for introverts that people just can’t. When we’re drained of energy and desperately need recharge time, the calming presence of a pet can provide exactly what we need as we recover.
Personally, I’ve had a variety of pets throughout my life, including cats, dogs, fish, hermit crabs, and ferrets. Each of them, of course, has had unique needs and personalities, but they’ve all shared the same purpose: being a constant source of friendship and positivity in my life. They offer so much and ask very little in return.
While not all introverts are animal lovers, I think many of us “quiet ones” would agree that pets make the perfect companions. Here’s why.
Even in casual gatherings — like watching a movie or joining a group hike — someone inevitably feels the need to fill every silence with chatter. Some people will say anything to break an “awkward” silence, which often only compounds an introvert’s dislike of small talk. This tendency can even lead us to make a quick excuse and head out.
But animals don’t do small talk.
It may sound silly, but it’s incredibly comforting to just sit with another creature in complete silence. There’s no expectation to talk or do anything; you get to simply exist. And you can relax, knowing your cat, dog, rabbit, or any other pet will never ask your opinion on the weather.
Animals ask very little of us. All they want is food, love, and perhaps the occasional trip outdoors. That’s it.
Even the nicest people come with expectations and inevitably want something from you. They may want you to talk when you don’t feel like it, go out when you’ve already reached your “people limit” for the day, or listen as they vent about their problems. With animals, there’s no pressure — just a simple, unconditional companionship.
I have to admit — I spend a lot of time in my pajamas. On days when I’m not working or don’t have important plans, you’ll most likely find me in comfy clothes all day.
That doesn’t necessarily mean I’m lounging in bed. I’m up, reading, cleaning, cooking, or handling other life things. I just prefer staying in the most comfortable clothes I own because, well, they’re comfortable.
Even the kindest people might find it odd if I showed up to hang out in my pajamas. But my cats and dog don’t care at all about what I’m wearing, whether my hair is styled, or if I’m wearing makeup. They accept me just as I am.
Many introverts thrive on routine and consistency. We’re often not big fans of surprises, as they can catch us off guard and overwhelm us while we try to process the sudden shift. Being prepared helps reduce some of the anxiety and overstimulation that social events or large gatherings often bring.
But life, of course, is unpredictable. Some days go exactly as planned, while others take unexpected turns, with new things popping up constantly. On those days, our introverted souls need something comforting to recharge us — and a pet is perfect for this. After a tough day, it’s comforting to know you can come home to a snuggle and a furry face that loves you unconditionally.
Believe it or not, there are times when introverts actually want to socialize. But figuring out how to get a meaningful conversation started can be tricky for us “quiet ones.”
The good news is that your pet can be a perfect icebreaker, especially if the other person loves animals, too. Talking about your pet is a great way to ease into conversation without the focus being on you (since many introverts dislike talking about themselves with people they don’t know well).
And if you find a fellow pet lover? That’s as close to instant friendship as it gets! Prepare to spend the next half hour exchanging pet stories — a fun conversation that’s worlds better than small talk.
What’s that? An evening get-together after a full day of work? Sorry, but my dog has been crossing his legs all day, and I promised to feed my cat precisely at 6:30 p.m. Looks like I’ll have to skip!
It may sound a bit silly, but for introverts who don’t have a spouse or kids at home “needing” them, a pet provides the perfect excuse to head straight home after work or make an early exit from a party.
Sure, pets require cleaning up after and sometimes get noisy at night, but I still stand by this: Introverts and pets make the perfect companions.
What historical event fascinates you the most?
This was a conundrum for me. I was between the resurrection of Jesus and putting a man on the moon.
I know they don’t compare, but it’s what I thought of and that’s what you get when you get asked the question and answer it right away instead of putting days of thought into the question.
Both have lengthy discussions behind them that I’ll spare you. Most have already thought it out in their own minds. One is a personal belief and the other is the furthest you can be cut off from the world you could possibly be with the technology we have today.
The dreaded icebreaker. Is there anything worse? Introverts might rather face a masked figure wielding a chainsaw than endure that awkward moment.
Whether it’s a party, work event, or family gathering, introverts prefer to be where the crowds are not. It’s not about hating people or having enochlophobia — they’re just wired to be more sensitive to all kinds of stimulation. For an introvert, few things are scarier than the looming threat of an introvert hangover.
Can we… not? When asked to reveal personal details to people they barely know, introverts might feel as uncomfortable as a kid who’s eaten too much Halloween candy. Ironically, they’d probably feel more at ease discussing something deeper — like how a career setback helped them grow as a person or the physics of time travel — than making small talk about what they did over the weekend.
Friends are coming… to my home? My sacred space? The one place where I can truly relax and be myself? For introverts, last-minute guests mean no time to mentally prepare to be “on,” which is a truly terrifying prospect.
Small talk — those pointless exchanges designed to fill awkward silences. For introverts who crave meaningful interaction, empty chitchat is the worst. No wonder introverts hide in their apartments like a serial killer’s on the loose when they hear that neighbor in the hall — the one who talks so much, you’re not sure they’re getting enough oxygen.
You forgot. You made the plans. And now every hope of a peaceful, relaxing night at home has vanished, like a nightmare fading upon waking.
Introverts thrive when they can focus deeply without interruptions. Unlike extroverts, they usually don’t “think out loud” but process thoughts, emotions, and ideas internally. For introverts, group projects at work or school feel like juggling multiple costume changes in one night — managing group dynamics, personality clashes, and the actual project itself, all while feeling mentally and physically drained. So. Much. Socializing.
The rest are at this link, but suck for introverts just as much
You’ll find the team building exercises, open office, and other hate speech towards introverts in this excellent article
This is beyond ridiculous for stupidity on many levels. Besides the fact that it’s a tax based on a climate lie, it adds to the tax base of a group of socialists who pay one of the highest tax rates in the free world.
Of course, they tell you that education and medical care are free, but they just pay upfront, out of their paychecks. Nothing is free. Also, the medical care sucks. My wife’s relatives live there and I hear the stories directly from them about waiting six weeks for crummy care. It’s a schadenboner for me when I hear about Denmark doing another brainless move like this.
Here we go:
Dairy farmers in Denmark have to pay the world’s first carbon tax on their livestock, all in the name of a climate crisis that does not exist.
The country’s coalition government agreed this week to introduce the world’s first carbon emissions tax on agriculture. It will mean new levies on livestock starting in 2030.
Denmark is a major dairy and pork exporter, and agriculture is the country’s biggest source of emissions. The coalition agreement — which also entails investing 40 billion krone ($3.7 billion) in measures such as reforestation and establishing wetlands — is aimed at helping the country meet its climate goals.
“With today’s agreement, we are investing billions in the biggest transformation of the Danish landscape in recent times,” Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said in a statement Tuesday. “At the same time, we will be the first country in the world with a (carbon) tax on agriculture.”
The key details of Denmark’s plan include:
Estimated cost per cow: 672 kroner ($96) annually, based on average emissions of 5.6 tons of CO2 equivalent per cow.
Implementation date: 2030
Initial tax rate: 300 kroner ($43) per ton of CO2 equivalent
Tax rate by 2035: 750 kroner ($108) per ton of CO2 equivalent
Effective tax after 60% tax break: 120 kroner ($17) per ton in 2030, rising to 300 kroner ($43) by 2035
Dairy is one of their country’s largest industries and they are going to help make it more expensive, thus killing the golden goose.
Her relatives love to think how smart they are and tell me how bad the USA is. It’s gems like this that let me chuckle at the chuckleheads. That they both buy the climate lies and self-penalize their economy tells me who’s not really that smart. I don’t even have to say anything when stuff like this comes out.
Danish Dairy Farmers Forced to Pay World’s First Carbon Tax on Livestock
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
Who I really am.
I’ve learned not to talk about myself other than when I type stuff here. I can’t stand when people brag and so I try not to do it. I constantly write about my introverted nature so I naturally hold back a lot of things other people can’t wait to talk about.
I’d rather people ask, I didn’t know you knew that, or how to do that than me telling them.
For all I write on my blog, I write 10 times as much about what’s going on in my life in my daily diary. It’s where I work stuff out in life and write it before I have to say it when it’s tough stuff that has to be dealt with.
No one would believe who I really am if they read what I write in private.
Tell us about a time when you felt out of place.
How about my whole childhood.
I was the youngest in every class due to my birthday. In reality, I should have started school a year later than I did, but I was able to keep up academically so no one did anything.
As a result, I was a year behind everyone in maturity. I was always small and learned a lot of social things after the others already knew. It made for a tough time. It was particularly awkward in the whole girl/boy life dance as the girls were a year older, but years older in maturity and size for many of them. Most of them stopped maturing at the end of high school as I discovered in conversations with them later. I was just beginning to catch up the end of high school. Kids are cruel though so it was tough.
I caught and passed almost all of them because it drove me to succeed after banging my head against the wall of life up until that time.
I got no help from my sibling who was 2 years older, but only one grade ahead due to the birthday timing. When She could have helped, she jumped on the side of the other kids to make my life a lot more difficult than it needed to be.
It made me tougher in the long run. I had to figure out how to be street smart without any directions. Like the song Night Moves, I was searching for answers without any clues.
So childhood, I spent a lot of it out of place.
This is what it would be if men were men and not trying to be trans-testicles to invade the girl’s locker rooms and beat the hell out of girls’ teams in sports.
Here’s how to be a man and not a pussy, here goes.
Back when I lived in Mexico in my early 20s, I came across a document (its author unknown) entitled “ANTROPOMÁXIMOLOGIA.”
It roughly translates to “the study of maximum human development.”
It’s all about how to develop yourself to the utmost. It contains 20 attributes of individuals who make a difference in the world and do great things. In other words, the attributes that make for high-agency men.
Here are the attributes that make the difference, “the added value” that distinguishes people who achieve success in their endeavors.
I hit 18 of 20
In what ways does hard work make you feel fulfilled?
This one is easy. My Mom told me about this when I was young. It’s our task in life to overcome. You have to climb the mountain and achieve.
To leave it there is easy and lazy, but the question is about being fulfilled. You feel that way when you achieve, accomplish, or figure out the difficult issues in life.
Humans need to over overcome. Complacency is unfulfilling.
If you’re an introvert, you’re probably well aware that we live in an extroverted world. As Susan Cain pointed out in her bestselling book, Quiet, Western culture is shaped by the extrovert ideal — the belief that the “best” person is outgoing, highly sociable, and thrives in the spotlight.
However, introverts make up 30-50 percent of the U.S. population, and many of them find certain “extroverted” behaviors quite annoying. So, I asked the introverts who follow me on Facebook to share which behaviors bother them the most — and here’s what they had to say. The good news? If you can relate, you’re not alone!
Click here if you want to see the list
How do you celebrate holidays?
I avoid them as much as possible.
I hate my birthday because the only real birthday happened a long time ago.
Christmas starts in September now and I’m fatigued by the time it comes. I don’t think most people believe in the real reason for Christmas anyway. They just want to decorate and get gifts. I question their sincerity when they are all nice in the season, yet give me the finger while driving.
As usual, because I’m an introvert, I have a hard time processing the attention and wish that it would just be over.
What personality trait in people raises a red flag with you?
My first thought was the usual red flags for dating girls. There are the usuals like too many tats, piercings, hair dyed an unnatural color, and feminist attire.
Then it occurred to me that those are for the dating crowd. For me, it is chatty females. When they start in on nothing just because they can’t handle silence, I’m out of there. I can’t take small talk. I will talk for hours on something deep, but yapping just for the sake of talking is a red flag. That is the introvert in me coming out
When thinking deeper about the question and including the population of the world, the clear answer was disloyalty. That is the end of a relationship for me. Once that line is crossed, I can’t go back. Once you stab me in the back, that’s it.
Shout out to my college girlfriend who slept around I found out afterwards. This blog is for you.
What TV shows did you watch as a kid?
I grew up in the 60’s before they took off the good TV because it was wholesome, albeit not something that challenged our intelligence.
So it was Batman (Adam West), Gilligans Island (My Mom hated us watching that), The Beverly Hillbilies, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie (Even then I knew Barbara Eden was hot), The Wild Wild West, Green Acres and some others of this ilk.
They wiped all of those out for the next round, but we still had WKRP, Taxi, Barney Miller and some of those that were good.
What’s your favorite time of day?
When I am alone. I need this time to recharge my social batteries and recover from small talk.
When I was hunting and fishing, I’d get up early. So early that not even the dog would get up with me. No one was yapping at me and I could get things done.
Now, I’ve retired and my outdoor activities are different, but the common element is that they are things I do by myself.
You can take the introvert out of the country, but you can’t change his human nature.
Where did your name come from?
I’m not going to put my full name out in public for privacy reasons, but my middle name is Dutch and my last name is a version of the French name my ancestors came to the US with.
I’m also a namesake so add a Jr on to the end of my name. I’m proud of my father so I’m glad to have the same name.
What motivates you?
I don’t have to be motivated. It comes from within. I was born with a sense of responsibility that causes me to do what needs doing. I also prioritize it over other things because it is the right thing to do. That is life, work, and the stuff you have to do.
I think it comes from my father who always did a complete job until it was right. It rarely took him two tries
It’s why I never understood people who let things go
Now for stuff I want to do, I know that there is some sacrifice to become good at anything. It was that was for all of my avocations and is what keeps me healthy.
It’s the right thing to do, period.
I know I hate mine and it’s coming up, mostly the attention thing. No extrovert will understand this, but you should.
Anyway, here it is and boy is it right. Again, courtesy of Introvert Dear, link at the end
I’ve never really liked my birthday. In fact, it’s one of the days I dread the most. I hate all the extra attention and the pressure to make it a special day, usually with a party. It’s insufferable.
When I was a teenager, I used to have long, exhausting fights with my mother in the weeks leading up to my birthday. She always wanted me to celebrate with a huge party filled with family and friends. But to me, a huge birthday party is synonymous with torture, not celebration. Instead, I wanted something small, like going to the movies or the bowling alley with a few close friends.
More often than not, I used to win these fights and ended up doing what I wanted for my birthday. But all these arguments took a toll on my mental health and self-esteem. Whenever I refused to have a party or make a big deal out of my birthday, people called me a party pooper, a killjoy, and a downer. I didn’t have the words to defend myself (I was still a kid), so I internalized all those insults and convinced myself that there was something “wrong” with me. It took me years to realize and accept that there was nothing wrong with me — I am an introvert.
I am now a proud introvert who can defend the reasons behind my actions and behaviors. In case you’re curious, my relationship with my mother has improved, but I still hate my birthday. I believe a lot of the reasons stem from the fact that I’m an introvert.
Obviously, not all introverts hate their birthdays, but over the years I have noticed that a significant portion of the online introvert community feels aversion or indifference toward their birthdays. Here are a few reasons I believe some introverts (like myself) don’t like their birthdays.
This one’s a no-brainer. Most introverts don’t like being the center of attention, so having an entire day dedicated to them can be quite uncomfortable. It’s especially tough when they are put on display in front of a lot of people, anxiously waiting to see their reactions while opening gifts or making a wish and blowing out the candles to the tune of “Happy Birthday.”
In my case, I especially hate all the attention I receive for something as trivial as turning one year older. I feel like I haven’t earned it, and I don’t know what to do with it. Being the center of attention makes me anxious, uncomfortable, and insecure. I always try to avoid it and redirect that attention to something or someone else. But when it’s my birthday, that is almost impossible to do because it’s “my day.”
Birthdays and parties practically go hand in hand. When your birthday is coming up, everyone expects you to throw a big party to celebrate. Introverts tend to dislike parties because we don’t like big crowds, loud noises, and shallow socializing. This aversion to parties doesn’t change when the party is ours. If anything, it makes it worse.
When we throw a party, we might end up feeling anxious and worrying if everyone is having fun. It’s our party, so we feel the pressure and responsibility to be a good host and ensure everyone is enjoying themselves. But in the process, we sometimes forget to have a good time ourselves.
And don’t even get me started on surprise parties. It’s undoubtedly a nice gesture for someone to throw you a surprise party because it shows they care enough to go through all the trouble of organizing it. But a surprise party is practically a living nightmare for an introvert. If there’s anything worse than having a party, it’s not having knowledge or control over your own party.
This is one of the things that bother me the most about my birthday. Sometimes, I just want to do something small to celebrate, like going to the movies or taking a long walk around the city. But the pressure from others to make it a “special” day can be too much. I get it, I was born on that day, but why does it have to be the most special day of my year? Why do I have to have the time of my life specifically on that day? That’s just setting myself up for failure because the expectations are always way too high. (And we introverts don’t like pressure anyway!)
Plus, when your birthday is coming up, it seems like everyone has their own opinion about how you should celebrate it. Instead of asking you what you want to do, some people tell you exactly what you should do. Whether it’s a party or going dancing at a club, your birthday might end up being about what other people want to do instead of what you want.
And God forbid you suggest you don’t want to do anything for your birthday — people might look at you as if you’re crazy. They will try to convince you that you’re wrong and that you will regret it for the rest of your life if you don’t do something special on that day.
This one might come off as ungrateful because it’s undoubtedly nice to have people who care enough to wish you a happy birthday. But to an introvert, all that attention can be overwhelming.
Phone calls, in general, make some introverts uncomfortable. When the sole purpose of a call is to wish us a happy birthday, it’s even worse because all the attention is on us. After the “Happy Birthday”s and “Thank you”s, the inevitable small talk follows, making us even more uncomfortable. It doesn’t help that the people who usually call are relatives or friends you only talk to two or three times a year.
The same goes for the Facebook messages and texts you receive throughout the day. After the pleasantries and birthday greetings, you have to make small talk (again, in a different form) with all the people who wished you a happy birthday. This can be a bit too much, which is why I think some introverts hide their birthdays from their social media pages.
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Few situations are worse for an introvert than being in front of a cake while friends and family sing what feels like a three-hour rendition of “Happy Birthday.” I never know what to do or where to look when that melody starts, and suddenly I have a cake in front of me and dozens of eyes on me.
There is no appropriate reaction to that situation. Do I smile the whole time? No, that would look fake, and my cheeks would probably start to hurt after the third “Happy birthday to you…” Do I put on a poker face? No, that would probably come off as bratty and ungrateful. Do I sing with them? No, that would look awkward. Do I run away and hide in the bathroom? No, that would probably lead to a lot of questions. Whoever came up with this particular birthday tradition obviously hated introverts and wanted to see them suffer.
I love celebrating my friends and family’s birthdays. I enjoy seeing them happy and buying them presents to celebrate another year of their lives. But when the spotlight is on me and it’s my birthday, I hate it. I hate the pressure, the attention, and the Happy Birthday song.
However, that doesn’t mean I haven’t enjoyed my birthdays before. The birthdays I have enjoyed the most are the ones when I did what I wanted to do, like going to the movies or the bowling alley with my best friends, not when I succumbed to the pressure from others and ended up doing what they wanted me to do.
So if you have an introvert in your life and you want to make their birthday special, just ask them what they want to do and respect it. Don’t assume everyone wants to celebrate with a huge party and be the center of attention.
And if you’re an introvert who hates their birthday like I do, there are ways to enjoy this “special day.” Set realistic expectations, put your foot down, and do what you want to do, whether that’s having dinner with your family, going dancing with your friends, or staying home with a good book and a Netflix marathon. I can’t promise you’ll start loving your birthday, but at least you’ll enjoy it more. And the good thing about birthdays is they only happen once a year.
History:
Middle children have a reputation for being ignored by their family, consequently growing up resentful, withdrawn, and disaffected. Although research shows little correlation between birth order and personality, the stereotype has persisted in pop culture characters like Jan Brady, who epitomizes the embittered middle child.
In fact, middle children might have some distinct advantages in adult life. The skills they develop as the “forgotten” sibling often translate into important qualities like empathy, diplomacy, and flexibility. In fact, over half of U.S. presidents were middle children, along with many other successful leaders.
Resourceful and independent but also cooperative and patient, middle children often grow up to be good leaders and helpful teammates. They can negotiate a variety of personalities but also do well on their own, and are known as risk-takers and independent thinkers. Because they’re frequently left to their own devices, middle children develop a self-sufficiency less common in their older and younger siblings.
Until the 1970s, American families had an average of 2.5 children. Today, due to modernization and economic and environmental pressures, fewer and fewer families have middle children, with the average American family having just under two kids.
National Middle Child Day began in 1986 as a way to celebrate the siblings who feel left out or unseen and give them a special day of their own. Until now, it’s been celebrated on August 12.
It was no party for me. I got shit on growing up and my youngest sibling has been gone for 12 years. I hope it was better for some of you out there. Whenever mine had a chance to help, she took the choice to screw me over instead of be a friend.
Perhaps it made me tougher and I had to try harder.
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What’s the most money you’ve ever spent on a meal? Was it worth it?
When I started hunting, I had to buy a tree stand, camo clothes, a gun, and corn to grow to in a field to attract them. I then had to get the tools to process the deer after harvesting it and the same for my son.
I could have bought a venison dinner for under $50 bucks, but probably spent thousands on that first meal.
Absolutely worth it and every deer after that. I guess the cost of the above listed amortized over all the deer, but that first one cost a lot.
I’ve never really liked my birthday. In fact, it’s one of the days I dread the most. I hate all the extra attention and the pressure to make it a special day, usually with a party. It’s insufferable.
Introvert Dear has a great article today. Here goes.
When I was a teenager, I used to have long, exhausting fights with my mother in the weeks leading up to my birthday. She always wanted me to celebrate with a huge party filled with family and friends. But to me, a huge birthday party is synonymous with torture, not celebration. Instead, I wanted something small, like going to the movies or the bowling alley with a few close friends.
More often than not, I used to win these fights and ended up doing what I wanted for my birthday. But all these arguments took a toll on my mental health and self-esteem. Whenever I refused to have a party or make a big deal out of my birthday, people called me a party pooper, a killjoy, and a downer. I didn’t have the words to defend myself (I was still a kid), so I internalized all those insults and convinced myself that there was something “wrong” with me. It took me years to realize and accept that there was nothing wrong with me — I am an introvert.
I am now a proud introvert who can defend the reasons behind my actions and behaviors. In case you’re curious, my relationship with my mother has improved, but I still hate my birthday. I believe a lot of the reasons stem from the fact that I’m an introvert.
Obviously, not all introverts hate their birthdays, but over the years I have noticed that a significant portion of the online introvert community feels aversion or indifference toward their birthdays. Here are a few reasons I believe some introverts (like myself) don’t like their birthdays.
story plus way more including the list of things that suck about birthdays for Introverts.
I hate it as it’s just another day for me. Now that I’m (much) older, it reminds me of how little time I might have left.
Actions speak louder than words.
I catch a lot of shit from my family about the “mean things” Trump says about girls. Like Kamala is Indian, not black although he is repeating her words.
It’s the liberals who hate women and are ruining their ability to be women by loving the trannies. Fortunately, half the states won’t allow it. The coastal elites are the worst.
President Joe Biden’s administration’s rewrite of Title IX went into effect on Thursday, an effort that seeks to allow men in women’s private spaces, athletics, and educational opportunities.
The White House did not appear to issue a statement or weigh in on the rule going into effect, nor had Vice President Kamala Harris or Biden issue statements or social media posts on the matter.
“Today, the Biden-Harris administration‘s harmful Title IX rewrite goes into effect,” said Riley Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer forced to compete against a man. “This rule says sex = gender identity. 52 years of progress & sex-based protections have been erased with the stroke of a pen.”
With this decision, you get this, a male boxer who beat the shit out of a female at the Olympics (many US-only examples, but this happened yesterday)
So my family can stick it. They refuse to accept facts. They don’t understand how an Alpha Male thinks and acts. Real men ultimately favor the female sex.
It’s amazing how the libs are the child molesters and rapists, yet they get bent over “mean tweets” from 8 years ago.
So to the libs in my family – BIOYA
Fortunately, it is a woke idea. Woke has failed at everything it touches
There’s an old joke: are you working hard, or hardly working?
“Hard work” is difficult to measure, but it is possible to know who’s working the longest.
This heatmap, via Visual Capitalist’s Pallavi Rao, visualizes the average hours Europeans work each week by country, as sourced from Eurostat’s Labor Force Survey (2023).
The dataset covers employed persons aged 20–64 in a “main occupation” and includes full and part time work.
Less wealthy countries of Europe (by per capita GDP) tend to have longer work weeks. For example, people in the Balkans—including Türkiye, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Greece, and Romania—all put in an average of 40+ hours a week at their main jobs.
| Rank | Country | Average Weekly Hours Worked (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇹🇷 Türkiye | 44 |
| 2 | 🇷🇸 Serbia | 42 |
| 3 | 🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 41 |
| 4 | 🇬🇷 Greece | 40 |
| 5 | 🇷🇴 Romania | 40 |
| 6 | 🇵🇱 Poland | 39 |
| 7 | 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | 39 |
| 8 | 🇨🇾 Cyprus | 39 |
| 9 | 🇱🇻 Latvia | 38 |
| 10 | 🇱🇹 Lithuania | 38 |
| 11 | 🇭🇷 Croatia | 38 |
| 12 | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | 38 |
| 13 | 🇨🇿 Czechia | 38 |
| 14 | 🇭🇺 Hungary | 38 |
| 15 | 🇵🇹 Portugal | 38 |
| 16 | 🇸🇰 Slovakia | 38 |
| 17 | 🇲🇹 Malta | 37 |
| 18 | 🇪🇪 Estonia | 36 |
| 19 | 🇪🇸 Spain | 36 |
| 20 | 🇮🇸 Iceland | 36 |
| 21 | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 36 |
| 22 | 🇮🇹 Italy | 36 |
| 23 | 🇫🇷 France | 36 |
| 24 | 🇸🇪 Sweden | 36 |
| 25 | 🇮🇪 Ireland | 36 |
| 26 | 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | 35 |
| 27 | 🇧🇪 Belgium | 35 |
| 28 | 🇫🇮 Finland | 35 |
| 29 | 🇩🇰 Denmark | 34 |
| 30 | 🇩🇪 Germany | 34 |
| 31 | 🇳🇴 Norway | 34 |
| 32 | 🇦🇹 Austria | 34 |
| 33 | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 32 |
| N/A | 🇪🇺 EU (2020) | 36 |
My wife’s European family loves to tell me how little they work. They are also paying 70% taxes. I wish I cared, but I don’t really even wish that.
What traditions have you not kept that your parents had?
Making my kids eat everything on their plate.
I had to finish everything when I was young. My Dad would sit at the table while I chewed tough meat like I was chewing gum forever. This was after the others left.
Or my personal worst, choking down boiled okra. That slimy shit made me gag and I suffered through it until it was done. I think after a while my Mom had either mercy on me or tried to serve something I could finish.
I made sure my kids had enough to eat and that there was healthy food on their plate. When they were full and I believed it, I ended the pain for both of us. They grew up and survived, but then I guess I did also.
I always tried to learn from what they did right and wrong. There are lessons in both.
What bothers you and why?
This goes like the line, how do I love you, let me count the ways. The list is endless and sometimes I feel like Clint Eastwood with, get off my lawn.
Rather than make a list, I’ll stick to my introverted life and go with small talk. Introverts have a low tolerance for conversation that isn’t meaningful or that isn’t going anywhere. When you are young, you might put up with it for a longer time or if there is a worthwhile reward (employment, sex, etc.). That reward is less as you move on in life.
Conversely, I love deep and engaging conversation, that is intellectually stimulating. Even then, there is a time limit and I need to recover.
I’ve learned to say yes, good, right, fine, good point, and anything that could end the conversation and not leave it open-ended.
What strategies do you use to increase comfort in your daily life?
Yes, it’s Introvert time again. I am more comfortable alone than I am among a lot of people. While it’s possible to be alone in a crowd (introvert strategy here), it still comes with stress.
I also hate deadlines and the stress that comes with making it. I try to get stuff done well in advance so I don’t have to deal with it at crunch time.
Oh, and avoid family reunions as much and as often as possible.
I’m sure others have much better strategies to increase their comfort, but here’s my .02.
Describe your most memorable vacation.
I’ve been on vacations as a kid, with that family growing up. I was kind of a tag along and did what my parents decided mostly. We went to the beach a lot growing up in Florida. That meant I grew up next to Disney World. Heck, we didn’t even have Disney until 8th grade for me. My memories there are of playing alone next to the ocean in my own world.
Then came vacations with a different family, my wife and kids. We traveled around the world. They were good times that I’ll remember while taking one kid fishing everywhere and the other doing anything to keep her from being bored. There was no time to recover or recharge my social battery.
Later in life I did stuff like sailfishing in Costa Rica or going to F1 in Italy and again they were good, but stressful trying to catch planes and waiting in huge crowds. I still had to rush to catch planes and was a mule hauling luggage around the world.
As always though, my introvert self comes out. Vacations where you are always on the run and trying to make everyone happy wore my social battery out to the point that I’d need a vacation to recover from vacation.
Now, I just go to the mountains where there aren’t many people and I can relax without having people acting like tourists or waiting in line. I have my stuff in my place and I can do gardening and tree trimming out in field with no one telling me what to do.
Not having the next deadline or trying to catch the next plane is my favorite.
More sheep have woken up I suppose. There is no good reason or argument for them in their current configuration. They are expensive, hard to charge (compared to an ICE), cost more to insure and are limited in range. I’m not going to get into the socialistic forks in the road like the government kill switch because it just isn’t a very good product yet. There isn’t enough electricity for what they have planned along with AI and all of the restrictions on energy sources
Most buyers thought they were helping the environment or being progressive or tech savvy. I’ve got news for you. This isn’t the answer you were looking for, just money thrown away to feel or look good.
So now we have buyers remorse.
My wife’s nephew in Europe is a big show off with these. For being an engineer, he hasn’t thought this one through, but I’ll always think of him as a jag off. It’s easy to be smart when the pool of people in your country is only 5 million, but then he didn’t think through that either.
Nearly half of American electric vehicle (EV) owners want to buy an internal combustion engine model the next time they buy a car, according to a new study from McKinsey and Company, a leading consulting firm.
Approximately 46% of Americans who own an EV want to go back to a standard vehicle for their next purchase, citing issues like inadequate charging infrastructure and affordability, according to McKinsey’s study, which was obtained and reviewed by the Daily Caller News Foundation. The study’s findings further suggest that the Biden administration’s EV push is struggling to land with American consumers, after 46% of respondents indicated that they are unlikely or very unlikely to purchase an EV in a June poll conducted by The Associated Press and the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute.
Moreover, 58% of Americans are very likely to keep their current cars for longer, and 44% are likely to postpone a possible switch to EVs, McKinsey’s study found. Consumers’ concerns about EV charging infrastructure are notable given the slow rollout of the Biden administration’s $7.5 billion public EV charger program, which has so far led to the construction of only a handful of chargers in nearly three years.
give me the sound and smell of a big V-8, or if I was in Europe a V-12 any day. That is a real engine. Grunt that can be felt by all of your senses.
How do you want to retire?
I knew in my 30s that I wanted to retire early. I enjoyed my work, but it was getting in the way of my life. I had stuff to do I still do.
So I had to prepare and live my life accordingly by these principles. Now I’m the king of retirement. I love waking up, knowing I don’t have meetings, email, texts, presentations or travel for business. Everything is paid off, and I can enjoy life more.
My mom told me she taught each of her kids financial independence, saving and spending. The rest of them are broke or died broke.
I respect people who love to work. I had a lot of other things to do in life also. I’m taking care of that now.
What is your favorite season of year? Why?
Look, I grew up in Central Florida without air conditioning. It was summer 51 of the 52 weeks of the year.
One of the best things in life for me was getting out of that state. It may have a great political climate, growth, no state taxes and other positives, but dreading to go outside because it’s so hot isn’t worth it.
Any of the other three seasons is great for me.
Delusions of Adequacy 
