Tag: life

12 Reasons to Celebrate Introverts on World Introvert Day (Jan. 2)

Why We Should Celebrate Introverts By Jenn Granneman

1. Introverts really know their stuff.

I have an introverted friend who is basically a walking encyclopedia of Celtic myth. For example, if you ask him about the hero Cú Chulainn, he can not only tell you how he died, but also what kind of chariot he drove around in. Listening to him talk, I’ve found myself thinking, “Wow, he really knows his stuff!”

That’s because many introverts love learning and adding to their vast stores of specialized knowledge. It’s no surprise they often become experts in their field.

2. Introverts are problem-solvers and idea generators.

Introverts tend to gravitate toward working alone. Rather than chatting in the break room, we’re often the ones sitting at our desks, quietly turning ideas over and over in our minds. And there’s a big benefit to this. When you’re with other people, your brain is forced to multitask. Even if you’re not talking with someone, part of your attention is occupied just by their mere presence, research suggests.

When you’re alone, you can clear your mind and focus your thoughts. All this deep, concentrated thinking can lead to novel solutions and brilliant ideas. Working alone can even lead to more ideas. “Decades of research have consistently shown that brainstorming groups think of far fewer ideas than the same number of people who work alone and later pool their ideas,” according to psychologist Keith Sawyer.

So forget the brainstorming group. Take a cue from introverts and spend some time in solitude.

3. Give up? Not yet.

Speaking of problem-solving, introverts tend to stick with problems longer — well past when everyone else has moved on to another topic or gone home for the day. Albert Einstein, the world-renowned physicist who developed the theory of relativity, was probably an introvert. He said, “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”

4. Introverts make better team players than extroverts over the long run.

Corinne Bendersky and her colleagues found that while extroverts make great first impressions, they may disappoint us over time when they’re part of a team. Their “value and reputation at work diminish over time,” explains Bendersky. “On a team, you’re expected to work hard and contribute a lot. But they’re often poor listeners, and they don’t collaborate.”

Ouch.

Introverts, on the other hand, may work harder on a team because they tend to be conscientious; they don’t want to be seen as not pulling their weight. So, while companies may initially be attracted to extroverts, bosses should remember that introverts pack a powerful (yet understated) punch.

5. Introverts are capable of incredible depth and intimacy in their relationships.

We “quiet ones” have a penchant for quality, one-on-one time and deep conversations. Instead of talking about the weather or what you did this weekend, we want to peek into your inner world. What have you learned lately? How are your ideas evolving? How are you really? When you have an introvert in your life, you may experience emotional intimacy like never before.

6. Introverts know the power of words.

As the nickname suggests, we “quiet ones” tend to listen more than we talk and think carefully before we speak. We try to choose our words thoughtfully because we understand that once said, words can’t be retracted or easily forgotten.

7. Introverts are low maintenance.

You can leave an introvert alone for hours (or even days!), and we’ll be content to do our own thing. No need to constantly text us, check in on us, or “babysit” us.

Why? Because introverts tend to be self-starters, and many of us are drawn to working quietly and steadily on our own. In fact, you’ll probably only hear from us if we have a problem we can’t fix (and believe me, we’ve tried solving it a dozen times before coming to you). Similarly, we don’t need constant praise, gold stars, and shoutouts in the company newsletter (although sure, those things are appreciated). If we’re working hard, we’re likely drawing motivation from within.

8. Introverts can be the calm in the center of the storm.

Reserved and often self-contained, introverts are known for exuding calm — even when there’s a storm raging inside us. We’re often the ones quietly creating an action plan while everyone else is stressing over the company’s latest policy change. And in this way, our methodical approach to chaos benefits everyone.

9. Introverts “get” you.

Although it may seem counterintuitive, solitude can actually help you connect better with others. Why? Because spending time alone — which introverts love — may enhance our empathy, especially for people outside our typical social group, according to research. Being alone often involves reflecting on our actions, beliefs, and experiences, which helps us develop a deeper understanding and stronger empathy for others.

10. Introverts look before they leap.

Compared to extroverts, introverts generally prefer a slower, more deliberate pace of life, and this difference stems from the way our brains are wired. Many of us hate rushing into things; whenever possible, we take time to consider all potential outcomes before making a decision. This applies to our careers, personal lives, and relationships.

For example, one study found that extroverts may jump into a new relationship more quickly than introverts. An Katrien Sodermans and her colleagues revealed that divorced extroverts were more likely than divorced introverts to remarry quickly. While this isn’t always the case, hastily made decisions — such as committing to a new relationship before fully healing from the last one — can sometimes lead to regret later on.

11. Introverts create worlds inside their heads — and help create the world we live in.

Introverts are artists, actors, musicians, entertainers, writers, and more. Famous creative introverts include Lady Gaga (she has said, “I generally really keep to myself and I am focused on my music.”), Bob Dylan, Meryl Streep, Lorde, Audrey Hepburn, and more. David Bowie is also thought to have been an introvert; experts believe he coped with his anxiety and introverted nature by developing various stage personas. Even the “King of Rock and Roll,” Elvis Presley, was described by his friends as a “loner” and “introverted.”

There are so many famous creative introverts that it’s impossible to name them all here! Just a few more examples include Steven Spielberg, Shonda Rhimes, David Letterman, Harrison Ford, Gwyneth Paltrow, Elton John, Emma Watson, and Tom Hanks… the list could go on.

12. Who runs the world? Introverts.

When we think of leadership, especially in the corporate world, words like “bold,” “overconfident,” and “selfish” may come to mind. But there’s a different kind of leader emerging: the quiet one. Today, about 40 percent of executives describe themselves as introverts, including Microsoft’s Bill Gates.

Gates believes that introverts can make great leaders because they know the value of being alone and focusing deeply. Speaking at an event in 2013, he said, “I think introverts can do quite well. If you’re clever you can learn to get the benefits of being an introvert, which might be, say, being willing to go off for a few days and think about a tough problem, read everything you can, push yourself very hard to think out on the edge of that area.”

Other introverted leaders include Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr., Barack Obama, Jill Biden, Eleanor Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln — and many others — as well as many of our greatest U.S. presidents.

Yes, introverts may be the quiet ones who eat lunch alone. They may also be the ones curled up at home with a good book, avoiding the party. But introverts are so much more than that. They are artists, visionaries, and leaders who bring quiet strength and understand the power of the inner journey.

Today — and every day — they deserve to be celebrated.

Source

So everyone celebrate together, separately, and alone. I disagree that Jill Biden and Barack Obama were leaders. They were power hungry people who shouldn’t be celebrated.

What makes you feel nostalgic?

What makes you feel nostalgic?

Songs, without a doubt. I can hear a song and go back to the room I was in and the person I was with, not to mention how I felt.

Here’s an example or two.

I hear Come Monday by Jimmy Buffet, and it’s 3:00 in the afternoon. I’m at work at the Winter Park Towers, my first job. I was mopping the floor after lunch. I was 15 at the time, and I recall the 4-top by the window overlooking Lake Berry. My Uncle lived on that lake, and I could see his house

Here’s another. I was laying the wood to a girl named Leila in her bedroom in Coral Gables, Florida, at 24 years old. She was a cologne girl who sprayed you at the escalator in the Department Store where I worked. Apparently, she had already decided she was going to do me well before I knew it, and she did.

I was always able to control busting a nut and had been going at it with her clock radio playing music. Then Layla, by Eric Clapton came on. On the downstroke, she said it was her song because it was her name. I decided I would keep going until the end of the song just because it was long. We went at it like big dogs, which was unusual as she had a special talent with her mouth that was outstanding. It starts off with a hairband for a ponytail, if you need a reference. She even performed that on me in my office one afternoon. What a good sport.

If either of those songs comes on, I go right back to that time of life.

There are a million more, but I won’t bore you with the rest of my life. Plus, everyone has their own.

Different, But Interesting Headlines: Bad Ass ’68 Charger R/T; Which Vegas Hotel Is The Biggest Dump; Harvard, Ground Zero For DEI Failure; Top 10 Media Hoax’s of 2025…..and more

Las Vegas Hotels

‘Security Knows This’: Worker Cautions Against Staying At Iconic Las Vegas Hotel. Then He Reveals Chilling Reason Why – It’s a freaking dump. It’s been a dump since the 80’s when some of my colleagues had to stay there.

Cars

Crazy Dirt Racing Crash At Tulsa Shootout Ends With Car Lodged In Dumpster After Jumping Fence – Hey, you pay for entertainment, you might as well get some

1968 Dodge Hemi Charger R/T – another bad ass car in it’s day, hell it’s bad ass today.

Twin-Turbocharged 6.4L V-8, Automatic

Climate Hoax

Financial Times: ‘Climate policy suffers blistering setbacks in 2025’ – ‘US retreat much worse & faster than expected in 2nd Trump admin’ – I’m laughing at the Euroweenies and the Climatards who bought into this. They were either stupid enough to believe it, or smart enough to grab as much cash on the scam before it imploded for lack of facts or substance. Al Gore got famous for a few years, but He’ll be looked on by history as a dickhead Don Quixote chasing Windmills.

Travel

Flu Is Rising Rapidly, Driven by a New Variant – I admit to being a germaphobe. I wipe down the seat, armrests, and everything I might have to touch. Actually, I’d rather not get on a plane. God forbid I stay in a hotel room where the people did whatever right before me and the hotel staff gave it the half-assed wiped down at best before I check in.

No wonder the flu is spreading. Wash your hands at least. People are disgusting.

Proof of Daycare Fraud

‘Learing’ Center Finally Fixes Misspelled Sign

Harvard, Ground Zero For DEI Failure

DIE Forced Harvard to Teach Remedial Math – They let in people who not only can’t pay for it, they can’t read, write or do math either. What an embarrassment

Top 10 Media Hoaxes of 2025

Here Are the 10 Biggest Media Hoaxes of 2025 – really, just pick any 10 stories about Trump. That will do the same thing. They are all the same and all just as biased.

Travel

Top Bucket List Destinations for 2026 – maybe for some people.

My Take On Emoji’s

I’ve written about this before, but it’s worth the effort to repeat myself.

I hate emojis and refuse to use them. Not only is it a waste of time after you’ve already typed what you’re going to say, but they are just clutter. Oh, they think they are clever, but those of us with a mind think otherwise.

Most of all, I think they are childish or for girls. I lose respect for any guy who sends me one. I refuse to send them back. I don’t even know if anyone has noticed it from me, but then I don’t care. At least my son won’t use them either. I didn’t even have to say anything.

It’s like wearing makeup or girls playing with dolls. It covers up something or tries to make it look better, but not to me.

Worst of all is an emoji for an answer without any words. I roll my eyes.

I guess some people think it’s cute, or that I’m a grumpy old man, but I also don’t have a lot of time left, and I’m not going to waste it on something I just said in words.

Oh, and a repeat emoji is the worst. I got it the first time. It’s like typing in CAPS, IT IS ANNOYING.

New Year’s Resolution Farce

It seems that the majority start out the year with some new life changing commitment (or last year’s rehashed that didn’t get done, so they’re going to make it this year). This is going to sound a bit negative, but I’m just calling a spade a spade. I’ve been around long enough to see the pattern of how this works.

I wrote about how quickly people abandon their resolutions a while back. It tells me just how committed people really are, or are they just giving lip service to fit in with the crowd?

Well, here are 5 Of The Worst New Year’s Resolutions And Why They Are Destined To Fail.

Oh, I see them crowding the gym in January. By March and sometimes February, it’s back to normal. They get in the way, and I can look at them and know who’s going to make it or not in January. Oh, they have on their new gym suit and sneakers, but that will be in the back of the closet in weeks.

This goes along with losing weight. With GLP-1 shots and pills now, it’s easier to be the Jetsons and take a pill rather than put in the work.

I’ve got news for you. It will come back to haunt you after 50. You can’t get youth back. You have to fight off health issues your whole life. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. It’s hard work that takes tenacity.

The same goes for eating healthier. It’s hard to do. You have to make your own meal to know what is in it. I’ve noticed the trend of having food delivered from a restaurant. They make it tasty, but as unhealthy as you’d imagine. People take the path of least resistance, so they stop making their own food and start ordering pretty quickly, or go out to eat. You pay more to be less healthy.

I don’t have a lot to say about the travel. It sucks worse each year. I try not to fly anymore because the whole experience isn’t worth it. There isn’t much I have to see, either people or places that would make me want to suffer the current airline experience. They cram more people into smaller seats, making fewer arrivals/departures on time. The planes are dirty and are alarmingly less reliable.

What I will say is people get over hyped about escaping, more than they really want to go somewhere new. The introvert in me doesn’t make me want to visit anyone, but that’s me. If they are in driving distance, I’ll consider the minimal time I have to suffer seeing them.

Learning a new skill? That probably lasts shorter than going to the gym. I bet DuoLingo has a ton of new accounts next week that get abandoned shortly because it’s hard work to learn a new language.

Passion

To commit to anything, you have to have a passion for it. Otherwise, you’ll go through the motions until you’re bored. Then, it gets shelved. It’s a pattern I’ve noticed my whole life, not just with this, but at work, at home or any other activity that sounds good. I love it when they do something because everyone is doing it, possibly the worst reason anyone should try anything. Do it because you want to and you have a better chance of making it.

Maybe some will get scared into better health because of a near death experience. Even then, a lot won’t. It has to come from within. I have a brother-in-law and a son-in-law who both have life-threatening conditions. They eat and drink like there is no tomorrow.

Commitment

Pretty soon, I see the same people at the gym that I saw in November and December. They are the ones who really are going to stick with it. A New Year’s Commitment is as good as a wooden nickel. If you are there in August, I’ll believe you’ll be there in February.

The fat people I see either at Walmart or my family’s get-togethers need to put down the fork and the wine glass, not take a shot. Their health is falling apart because of the life decisions they made 30 years ago.

That means they failed 30 times on New Year’s Resolutions.

It’s why I call BS on this tradition. If you are really committed, you’ll already be doing it.

As for me, I’m not doing anything other than staying committed to being healthy and working out. I’m not getting any younger and even healthy habits won’t stave off the inevitable. I can prolong it, but I’ll be in better shape to enjoy it.

So what are your New Year’s resolutions? Let me know if you make it to the summer.

Oh and PS, please don’t get a pet. That isn’t a resolution. It’s a 10-15 year commitment to an animal’s life, not your convenience or TikTok account. If you aren’t really going to love it above yourself, just don’t do it.

Are you a good judge of character?

Are you a good judge of character?

I’m an introvert. I read body language better than most people because I’m not talking. I’m listening and observing. I’m rarely trying to impress anyone, so I’m usually sizing them up as to their intentions towards me.

I’ve had people do me favors and fuck me over. I’ve studied martial arts for years and had to anticipate my opponent’s intentions.

Working for years for both the best and the worst has taught me to read people. Here’s how I dealt with Executive Egos

Most of all, I’ve been married for decades and have kids. I’ve never been more surprised by that than anything.

So yes, I’m a good judge of character because I’m patient and won’t jump to conclusions.

Once I’ve decided who you are, though, it’s hard to move me off of that position, especially if I think you are an asshole. This includes family. I can spot a fake like a Jedi.

So There’s Where All My Online Stuff Went

A 58-year-old Bellevue, Washington and Las Vegas, man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Seattle for his role in a scheme to sell stolen goods on Amazon and eBay.

Andrey A. Balun pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce. 

Balun and his co-defendant, Vitaliy F. Bobak, 53, of Federal Way, Washington, jointly owned MBA Trading LLC, which did business at a Burien, Washington, storefront operating as “We Buy Gold, Silver, and Electronics.” An extensive law enforcement investigation revealed that the storefront knowingly purchased goods that had been stolen from area retailers. 

story

Feds Seize More Than 74,000 Stolen Items in Amazon, eBay Trafficking Scheme

AOTW

Yannow, Eric Swallwell is running for Governor of California. He’s just a douchebag and doesn’t even qualify for AOTW. He’s better qualified for Benedict Arnold 2.0

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) jumped into the California governor’s race.

This guy is one of the most insufferable persons in Congress. He tried to run for president and went nowhere. He seems to think he’s way more important than he genuinely is.

Delusions of grandeur.

Swallwell made the announcement on Jimmy Kimmel’s show because of course.

But Swalwell’s announcement video lists two jobs facing the next California governor.

Good luck with that one. He’s just a piss ant, though.

A long-time asshole is Debbie Blabbermouth Wasserman-Schultz. It figures a Liberal white woman would spew such nonsense, yet here we are.

The Democrat Party has taken a break from comparing President Donald Trump to Adof Hitler to warn that the president is a larger threat to the United States than Islamic jihad.

The hysterical remarks came during a Tuesday appearance on NewsNation’s “On Balance,” where host Leland Vittert asked Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) whether Islamophobia or jihad posed the larger threat to American life and values, following the recent terror attack targeting Jews at Bondi Beach that killed 15 people and wounded dozens more.

“I think we have to focus, quite frankly, on, if we’re worried about the threat to American values, on the person who’s in the White House. I mean, we have a president,” Schultz, who is Jewish, said. “Yeah, I’m going there because we have a president who has completely undermined our democracy.”

The link to the spew from her is below, but it’s such nonsense that you could just take my word for it. I read it and thought, what an asshole.

Source

5 Survival Tips For Introverts Attending Large Events (plus my bonus)

5 Survival Tips for Introverts Attending Big, Crowded Events

ByEllie Matama December 19, 2025

An introvert walks through a crowded event

Big events or parties can become overwhelming for us introverts, so look for little ways to maintain your energy.

I have no problem socializing with my family or close friends. I am comfortable doing so because I have known them for a long time, and I interact with them just a few at a time. There’s no having-to-get-to-know-you period.

But it’s an entirely different matter to attend big, crowded gatherings where almost everyone is a stranger (hello, holiday parties or awkward job-related networking events). Sure, for a short amount of time, I can make small talk. Of course, I need to recharge my energy afterward.

Yet, in everyday life, social interactions are required. The good news is there are plenty of things you can do to maintain your energy as an introvert when you have to attend a crowded event. 

How Introverts Can Survive Crowded Events

1. Arrive early so you can pick the best spot.

One study found that about 20 percent of employees regularly arrive late to work. If you are an introvert, you can’t afford to be late for an event because people will notice your tardiness (hello, suddenly being the center of attention!). In addition, you may have to engage in unnecessary awkward interactions as you make your way to an available seat. Plus, you may have to explain your lateness later, which will further drain whatever energy you have left.

So arrive early and be prepared to stay for a while. When you arrive early, you can choose the best seat or standing spot for your needs. That way, you can still be alone among the crowd.

For example, find a seat or table on the fringes or near the back, which will enable you to move freely without having to ask people to move whenever you need to get out (i.e., escape to the bathroom). You could also choose a spot near the exit for the same purpose. 

2. Go with a “human shield,” a.k.a. your favorite extrovert or outgoing introvert.

As an introvert, you may find it challenging to interact with many people at once. But some people you know may actually like doing so. Your family members, friends, or your significant other may be more outgoing — and they may thrive in crowded situations. See if they’re willing to go to the event with you. This will enable you to talk less, since they will happily do most of the talking for you.

Or, you can go to the event with a colleague who enjoys socializing. There’s no shame in using them as a “human shield” while representing your company or department. While they schmooze with everyone, you can thoughtfully listen and pick up points for discussion later on (i.e., at the next company meeting).  

And, speaking of talking less…

3. Embrace your listening skills.

Remember: As an introvert, listening is one of your superpowers. We speak about 125 to 175 words a minute, but we’re able to listen to about 450 words a minute. Therefore, you’ll learn more by listening than by talking a lot. Also, when you aren’t talking, you can pay more attention to people’s body language, which can offer more information about their state of mind than what they actually say.

Plus, people feel understood and cared for when someone listens to them. So you may make a great first impression just by listening!

Once you’ve absorbed everything they’ve said, take the time to process it before adding your thoughts. That way, you’ll have something valuable to say based on all your gathered information.

Want to feel more at ease in social situations?

Discover the secrets to enjoying fun, meaningful conversations. Know exactly what to say — even if you’re introverted, shy, or socially anxious. Feel less drained and have more energy while socializing.

4. Look for small groups talking about topics you care about.

Even at the most crowded events, small groups tend to form because people with similar interests gravitate toward one another. That’s great news for introverts, as you’ll feel more at home if the topic is one you’re passionate about. Even if the group is talking about something similar to a topic you want to bring up, now’s your chance to change the subject to that one instead. And, when interacting in a small group, you won’t get socially burned out as quickly.

5. Block out the noise.

As an introvert, there may be times when you can’t take all the noise, small talk, or all the people anymore. But you also can’t leave the event… yet. In that case, you need a way to block out the noise.

You can do this in many ways: Listen to music or an audiobook (or just put on your earbuds to make it look like you’re listening to something or on a call; they’ll still help tune out some of the noise!); make an actual call; or excuse yourself to “step outside for a moment.” If you’re worried that these things will make you seem aloof or antisocial, remember that most people aren’t looking at you, anyway, and won’t even notice.

Yes, I know, having to attend crowded events and make small talk can be a nightmare for introverts. However, the more prepared you are, the more you’ll preserve your energy.

Source

Here’s my bonus: say no and don’t go. You won’t miss much, and your life will be better for it

Different Headlines: Naked Guy Steals Cop Car; Serial Number 4 Cuda His the Auction Block; Bartender Hears ESPN Announcer bragging about Cheating; Lot’s of College Bowl Stats; Top Male Faces by Aesthetic Surgeon; Lower Gas Prices To Save $500 Million This Christmas;

Crime and Disgusting

For the Love of Everything Decent, Put Some Clothes on if You’re Going to Steal a Patrol Vehicle

Cheaters Who Work For ESPN

‘He Announces For ESPN’: Denver Bartender Overhears Customer’s Vulgar Conversation. Then She Looks Him Up Online

Football

James Madison Has An Expensive Secret Weapon Fueling Its College Football Playoff Run – pay to play

The 17 Players Who Won The Heisman Trophy And A National Championship In The Same Season

10 Of The Greatest Individual Bowl Game Performances In College Football History

Best Men’s Faces

Dr. Douglas S. Steinbrech, Leading Male Aesthetic Surgeon, Reveals Top 10 Most Requested Male Faces of 2025 – I knew it wasn’t me

DNA

DARPA Is Working on Synthesizing DNA With Light and the Luciferian Parallels Cannot Be Ignored – they were in on Covid and the Jab also. They also invented the internet. None of that is very good

Health

New Study Reveals Prediabetes Remission Cuts Heart Disease Risk by Over 50%

Five Years Too Late: NIH-Funded Stanford Scientists Finally Admit mRNA COVID Vaccines Can Cause Myocarditis

Economy

Lower Gas Prices to Save Drivers $500M Christmas Week – NBADJT

War On White Men

Apple kicked off the WAR on white men… – and we will pay for this. The world needs men.

The Media Backs up the Anti-White Wing of the Democrat Party

Islam

Babylon Bee: Groundbreaking New Study Finds Islamophobia May Be Partially Caused by Muslims Killing People All the Time

 All of France is a No Go Zone Now – France is fucked. Islam has taken the French out of France

Food supply

‘I Can Only Get My Chicken at Costco’: Florida Chef Says There’s a Reason Chicken Tastes Like ‘Rubber Bands’ Now

Cars

What Happened to Jaguar?

Ford Retreats From EVs After Billions in Losses – nobody wants them either

1970 Plymouth Cuda Convertible Pilot Car

The First V-Code Cuda Convertible Produced, Serial No. 4 – it’s rare, but I bet the hemi-cuda’s go for more

EU Backing Down Off 2035 ICE Vehicle Ban – Because the EU is retarded to believe in it in the first place. Get back to reality.

Crime AT BARS

‘It Means Someone Not Safe Is Near You’: Applebee’s Customer Asks For Water. Then The Bartender Gives Her Something Unexpected

Rare Earth Minerals

Utah’s Desert Yields Rare Earths Motherlode, Challenging China’s Grip on Critical Minerals

Masculinity

Erasing Masculinity Has Created a Generation in Crisis – Men have saved the world time an again. It’s why the feminists want to try and erase it. We have to stop these PC SJW.

AOTW

Despite the lowest gas prices in years, the trade deficit is down, narcotics that kill millions of Americans are being stopped at sea, and crime is being addressed in the major cities (unless a mayor rejects it), there are some assholes still in Congress.

A runner-up award goes to Governor Pritzker in Illinois, a city known for its crime and murder rates. He refused help from Trump to clean up the mess that Chicago has been for decades. It’s as if he’s against helping the regular people, but then he’s a fat assed billionaire who doesn’t give a shit about anything but power.

Not to be outdone though, is this week’s winner, Al Green. He made an ass of himself getting thrown out of the State of the Union speech, and like Pritkzker, he’s only after making noise instead of helping his constituents.

He filed a bill for the impeachment of Trump, whose only real basis was that Al is an asshole. Dutifully, Congress, from both sides, shot it down. Even the democrats who publicly criticize Trump wouldn’t go for this.

So instead of trying to help Americans, he winds up being the Asshole of the week.

Kids Games When We Used To Play Outside, Red Rover, Smear The Queer

Last night, the left lost their minds when Bijan Robinsin commented on his play as it related to a game we played as kids. He called it smear the queer, but we knew it as kill the man with the ball. He had to walk it back, but I know he didn’t mean it.

If you grew up before video games and actually played outside without a helmet, it was great fun. If you don’t know it, look it up. It will be a good education for you on why our generation tried harder at most things. The struggle was real, like real life, everyone against you.

Another good game was Red Rover. It’s where you line up kids in 2 groups, holding each other by the arms, and pick someone from the other side to run and try to break the hold. Red rover, red rover, send x (next victim) on over. In reality, it was a way to clothesline a kid from the other side, also great fun.

We also played war, kick the can, and baseball, where a parked car served as 3rd base. The game would stop for a while if a car came through, but there weren’t as many back then.

And then there is dodgeball. That’s where you’d hit the girls and the fat kids first. Nothing beats a good shot to the face though. That’s the real score

If you didn’t have a ball, there was kick the can.

Sometimes it was stickball. Kids from NY know that one well.

Life was easier back then, and we didn’t need a Switch or Xbox to play video games. Our moms kicked us out of the house, and we made stuff up.

If there were not enough other kids, you could climb a tree or throw something for the dog to chase. I grew up in an old tangerine farm so that is what we had, way before tennis balls were dog toys.

We moved on to paper football

Oh, to be young again.

Name your top three pet peeves.

Name your top three pet peeves.

Unless you are new here, you know I’m an introvert. That puts small talk at the top of the list. It’s usually meaningless and content free. It’s irritating to listen to. Talk to me about something deep that stirs my intelligence and/or emotions, or has great content, then I’ll want to engage.

Next, big crowds. I usually avoid it unless it’s impossible. Sometimes a small crowd is big if they are people I don’t want to be around (like family gatherings).

I look for the first excuse to not go, or leave early if I have to. If I’m stuck in an auditorium, I’m by the exit so I can leave.

Finally, internet arguments. You can be the top expert in a field, write a thoughtful piece that is fully documented with facts, and the first comment is: bullshit. You can say almost anything, and people will find a way to argue about it. See a few posts below on commenting.

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Regarding Commenting

First of all, I love the comments. Some of you guys are very interesting and funny. I write to different groups, including introverts, the intelligentsia, political individuals, car people, and others. I’m getting to know you all more closely from the stuff you write.

I even connected with one reader who knew Denny from Grouchy Old Cripple, but neither of us knew it until I started AOTW in Denny’s honor.

I wrote about Stupid Things Smart People Do a long time ago. One of them is arguing on the internet.

I’m likely to post about anything these days. A lot of posts get tumbleweeds for comments. I think I’m all clever, and then crickets.

Occasionally, I’ll be content-free in my head and post something meaningless, and it’s a barrage of comments, like What’s it like to have an extremely high IQ.

Once in a while, I get off the wall comments that are out of left field. I saw this meme and thought about it.

I can write some offensive stuff and know it. Hell, I do it on purpose sometimes. I don’t care if you disagree with me, but keep it civil when you write back. My favorite are people who outthink me and write clever stuff.

I also ask questions that are set up by WordPress and answer them as honestly as I can. I love it when people answer them also (Bocopro is a great writer)

I have it set up to approve all comments, and if it gets too out of hand, I’m not going to let it on the page. It just starts a fight I don’t want to see happen and piss off others. If it’s spicy and will start a discussion, I’ll let it go. I also am not going to let people post their blogs that have nothing to do with my post. They have their own blog, and I read it there.

All I ask is that you be civil. I know that the people on the left hate my ass by now, but I don’t care. They aren’t smart and write childish things. I brush that off and move along, which is what they should have done to begin with.

So keep up the commentary. Many of you are better writers than I am. I enjoy reading your stuff.

Why Guys Are Having Trouble Finding Girls To Date, Or How Would It Be If Men And Women’s Roles Were Reversed

I noticed this article, and will give credit to the author if I can find out who wrote it.

“Beautiful girls in big cities are now directly and indirectly offered sex more than 1,000 times a month from men on the internet, in bars, on the streets, and within their social circles. If a girl has a basic internet profile, spends time on social networking, and goes out twice a week, I guarantee that she is offered more cock than even the most famous women of the past. A girl is not interested in 99% of the men who offer her sex, but try to imagine the effect on your psychology if 1,000 women a month were trying to have sex with you.

What kind of person would that make you? I can tell you what I would be like if I were getting over 1,000 sex offers every month: I’d be spoiled rotten, thinking that I deserved all those women just because I existed. I’d be flaky, canceling dates often, because I’d constantly be unsure whether I was getting the “best” possible girl. I’d be bitchy to women who didn’t read my mind and failed to treat me exactly the way I wanted, because don’t they know that I could sleep with hundreds of other women any time I wanted? I’d be moody, always dependent on the reactions I get from women.

If I received less attention one weekend than usual, I’d throw a temper tantrum and demand immediate satisfaction. I’d also get bored easily. With so many women constantly trying to entertain me, I wouldn’t be able to tolerate five minutes with a boring girl who didn’t jump through hoops to make me laugh. Lastly, I’d be primed to value novelty more than stability. I’d become addicted to experiencing one new girl after the next, and believe excitement and fun were worth more than stability and commitment. My attention span would morph into that of a small child. Haven’t I just described the modern woman? While a large part of who we are is shaped by our genetics, environment plays a huge role, and when your environment is getting nonstop attention from thousands of people trying to have sex with you, your personality and even your humanity will become degraded, making it hard for you to connect meaningfully with anyone.”

They have become entitled because they have a snatch. They don’t realize that their sexual market value is over by about 35. That’s right about when men realize that pussy is pussy and no one has a golden one. It’s about how much shit you are willing to put up with while you’re getting it.

As they say, for every gorgeous girl you see, there’s at least one guy who is so tired of her that he won’t sleep with her.

As my friend Rick said, the fucking you get isn’t worth the fucking you get.

23 Little Things Introverts Are Thankful for Anytime of the Year

“Waking up early or staying up late, when no one else is around. Peace. Silence. Bliss.”

Turkey. Pumpkin pie. Awkwardly chatting with Great Aunt Gladys. If you live in the U.S., you’re probably celebrating Thanksgiving. Inevitably, at some point, you’ll be asked to name something you’re thankful for. With that spirit in mind, here are 23 things introverts are generally thankful for — anytime of the year. What would you add to this list?

1. Coming home and finding the house unexpectedly empty. There’s nothing better than sneaking in a few hours (or even minutes) of unexpected solitude. Time to relax. Time to decompress. No obligatory, “How was your day?” Just space and freedom to be yourself. Ahhhh…

2. When your friend cancels on you at the last minute, and you kind of wanted to stay home anyway. This is just like #1: unexpected solitude.

3. Getting a Saturday afternoon to yourself. Perhaps even better than a few moments of unexpected solitude is knowing that you have hours and hours of alone time ahead of you.

4. Finding out that the party/event/meeting is ending earlier than you thought. Sure, introverts can socialize and even be leaders in the workplace. But for many of us, those things don’t come naturally. “Peopling” is a skill we’ve had to learn — kind of like learning a foreign language. And we all know how mentally exhausting it can be to speak a language you’re not entirely comfortable with. Any time spent away from the group (and in our natural inward “habitat”) is something we’re thankful for.

5. Discovering a good book that you can’t put down. Books (along with movies, music, and art) transport introverts to the place we love the most: the energizing world of ideas and imagination.

6. Having a meaningful conversation. How are you a different person today than you were five years ago? What’s on your mind lately? Do aliens exist? In our fast-paced society that values polite chitchat over substance, deep conversations don’t happen often. Yet it’s these meaningful interactions that nourish introverts and provide us with an antidote to social burnout. Something to be thankful for, indeed.

7. Meeting a fellow introvert who “gets” it. Or an extrovert who “gets” it by respecting your need for space and solitude. Feeling understood by another human being is about as magical as it gets.

8. When there’s a dog or cat at the party. Saved! (From small talk with humans, that is.)

9. Headphones. Pop on a pair when you’re in a public space — like a bus, airplane, coffee shop, or at your desk — and you signal to others that you’re not in the mood to chat. Hallelujah!

10. Arriving on your own to a party so you can leave whenever you want. For introverts, hell is being trapped somewhere surrounded by noise and people. Having an escape mechanism is key.

11. When someone says, “How are you?” and really means it. See #6.

12. When you don’t have to make awkward small talk. For some reason, people find silence awkward. So we strike up conversations about the weather with strangers in elevators. Or we erupt with a cheery, “How’s it going?” when we pass someone we barely know in the hallway at work. When introverts can get through the day with minimal chitchat, we’re thankful.

13. Waking up early or staying up late, when no one else is around. Peace. Silence. Bliss.

14. Downtime after a busy day. Socializing isn’t the only thing that drains introverts. Any kind of incoming stimulation, such as noise, time pressure, or activity, gets tiring. After a busy day, when we don’t have to do one more thing, we’re thankful.

15. A weekend with no social plans. But that doesn’t mean we won’t be doing anything. We’ll make our own plans. Introvert plans. Plans to read in bed. To binge watch our favorite show. To lounge around the house.

16. Self-checkout lanes, drive-throughs, food delivery, and online shopping. No, introverts don’t hate people. But we do try to minimize our “people” intake, because each interaction drains our limited social energy — especially the kind of surface-level interactions that usually take place in restaurants and stores.

17. Having to go to a store but unexpectedly finding it not busy. If you can’t do #16, this is the next best thing.

18. Time to think before responding. Many introverts struggle with word retrieval, because our brains may rely more on long-term memory than short-term memory (extroverts do the opposite). For this reason, we may have a hard time putting our thoughts into words, especially when we’re put on the spot in a meeting, on a first date, or when called on in class. We’re thankful for people who give us a few pressure-free moments to collect our thoughts before demanding an answer.

19. Texting. Similar to #18, introverts tend to feel more comfortable expressing themselves in writing than speaking. That’s because writing uses different pathways in the brain, which seem to flow more fluently for introverts. We’re thankful for every time we can send a text message instead of making a phone call.

20. Public spaces that are actually quiet. When parks, restaurants, coffee shops, bars, buses, and trains are chill, we’re thankful.

21. When you get to do your thing, uninterrupted. Alone time isn’t just about being alone. For many introverts, it’s a way to reconnect with our passions, hobbies, and artistic pursuits. It’s when we do deep, concentrated work. When our alone time is fragmented by other obligations (or interruptions from loved ones), introverts can get stressed. A long stretch of unbroken time to do our thing is something we’re immensely thankful for.

22. Your favorite beverage, a cozy blanket, and your favorite show. Alone.

23. “Me” time. Doing whatever relaxes you, energizes you, and brings you joy. 

Source

Study Finds Tattoo Ink Accumulates In Lymph Nodes

I could have put this in a Different Headlines post if it weren’t for the fact that it is a red flag for men.

I’ll get to the science of the matter in a minute, but if a girl has tats, multiple piercings, dyed hair in an unnatural color (pink, red, green, blue, purple, etc.), these are your red flags about how crazy she is, and how far you should stay away from her.

She’ll say a tramp stamp is a rite of passage, like a belly button piercing, but that is just a place to hang the air freshener.

They do say that the best sex is with the craziest bitches, which I’ll attest to, but leave as soon as it’s over and don’t get into a relationship.

Now, for the article:

A new study shows tattoo ink drains into the lymphatic system and accumulates in lymph nodes, diminishing the effects of immune cells. This accumulation of ink pigment triggers both local and systemic inflammation that persists for months.

A third of American adults, roughly 32% – or about 80 million people – have tattoos, and they should read this new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS).

“Despite safety concerns regarding the toxicity of tattoo ink, no studies have reported the consequences of tattooing on the immune response. In this work, we have characterized the transport and accumulation of different tattoo inks in the lymphatic system using a murine model,” researcher Arianna Capucetti wrote in the study.

Capucetti continued:

Upon quick lymphatic drainage, we observed that macrophages mainly capture the ink in the lymph node (LN).

An initial inflammatory reaction at local and systemic levels follows ink capture. Notably, the inflammatory process is maintained over time, as we observed clear signs of inflammation in the draining LN 2 mo following tattooing. In addition, the capture of ink by macrophages was associated with the induction of apoptosis in both human and murine models. Furthermore, the ink accumulated in the LN altered the immune response against two different types of vaccines.

On the one hand, we observed a reduced antibody response following vaccination with a messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA)-based severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine, which was associated with a decreased expression of the spike protein in macrophages in the draining LN.

In contrast, we observed an enhanced response when vaccinated with influenza vaccine inactivated by ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Considering the unstoppable trend of tattooing in the population, our results are crucial in informing the toxicology programs, policymakers, and the general public regarding the potential risk of the tattooing practice associated with an altered immune response.

As we noted earlier this year, “Many tattoo inks contain chemicals that have been classified as carcinogenic — or cancer-causing — by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.”

While black tattoo inks use carbon black, colored inks contain pigments designed for industrial applications such as plastics and paints. More troubling, tattoo inks are far less regulated than pharmaceuticals.

We have already covered two important studies:

  • A 2024 Swedish study tracking nearly 12,000 people found that individuals with tattoos had a 21% higher risk of malignant lymphoma compared with those without ink.
  • A Danish twin study published earlier this year reported similar trends. Tattooed participants showed higher rates of skin cancer.

Dr. Trisha Khanna, dermatologist and medical advisory board member at Codex Labs, recently told The Epoch Times, “Current regulations on tattoo ink ingredients are not sufficient,” adding, “This is a growing concern among dermatologists.”

And laser removal could make it worse.

source

Introvert Thanksgiving Nightmare

Introverts hate being put on the spot, icebreakers, and networking events. My Brother in law (who I nicknamed Flounder from Animal House) did this to me on one of the 2 worst Thanksgivings I’ve had. He was at the other one also. I mumbled some answer when I should have just passed and felt awkward the whole meal.

Holiday Heart – And How To Avoid It

This was written by Dr. Philip Ovadia. A link to contact him is provided below

Some doctors dub it “holiday heart.” Others refer to it as HHS. But no matter what you call it, the data is clear: more people die of heart attacks during the holidays than any other season.

Research in Sweden found a 15% increase in heart attacks for the winter holidays, with a spike of 37% on Christmas Eve. It’s especially high risk for people over 75, those with diabetes, or anyone who’s suffered from cardiovascular disease.

Please know that I’m not saying this to scare you. I just want you to enjoy the holidays without sabotaging your metabolic health.

Knowing your risks is half the battle.

So here’s what you should know, plus how to keep your heart in check.

Reducing your heart health risks during the holiday season

Does the holiday season inherently raise your risks for heart disease? No. But does it become more difficult to manage risk and avoid metabolically unhealthy practices? Most definitely.

Fortunately, there’s quite a bit you can still control.

Let’s take a look at some of the risk factors below.

Cut sugar

You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to realize sugar intake climbs during the holidays. Between the cakes, cookies, and pies, it’s hard to say no to the comforts of the season. It may be harder on those with existing metabolic conditions. One study following diabetics in the post-holiday season found that glycemia and lipids do increase after the festivities are over.

But as we know, sugar consumption does no favors for the heart. High consumption is directly linked with heart failure, diabetes, stroke risk, and even neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia.

I’m not saying you should cut all sugar during the holidays — just make better choices to protect your metabolic health. This might be swapping to whole, real alternatives such as honey instead of corn syrup. There are some sugar alternatives, but be advised fake sugars come with potential health risks. 

I realize it can be hard to avoid sweets at gatherings with family and friends, especially if they’re not necessarily supportive of your efforts. 

But I highly recommend doing your best and cutting sugar to whatever extent that means for you.

Monitor processed foods

The holidays (quite literally) bring all sorts of processed foods to the table. Prepackaged sweets, sausages, pies, and baking mixes promise to add “the flavor of the season” to your dining room table. And considering 73% of the US food supply is made up of processed foods, there’s a good chance UPFs will be present during at least one of your holiday events.

It is still possible to enjoy holiday classics with whole, real food once you master simple cooking skills.

Manage stress

I don’t need to remind you just how stressful the holidays can be. Two in five people say their stress increases during the holidays, with fears about money, travel, and busy schedules topping the list.

I realize there’s no way to eliminate stress during the holidays completely, but chronic levels can increase many heart health risk factors. They may also encourage poor habits, such as smoking, binge drinking, or poor sleep. 

I highly encourage you to find time for yourself, set up relaxing routines, and seek support when needed. You can also get more specific advice around this in my guide covering how stress increases your risk for heart disease. 

Keep yourself warm

Cold weather forces blood vessels to constrict, which can increase your blood pressure and put more strain on your heart. For those with a history of chest pain, this can lead to (or worsen) angina. In extreme circumstances, it could limit blood flow to the heart.

Keep in mind that cold weather may also affect the viscosity of your blood. It may be thicker and stickier, which makes it more likely to form clots. This ultimately raises your risk of heart attacks and strokes if you’re already at risk or have a history of heart problems. 

Be conscious of your drinking

I’m not a fan of alcohol at the best of times — even one glass a day contributes to poor metabolic health. Apart from increased blood pressure, drinking can also spike your blood sugar and increase your risk of heart disease. Yes, this applies to holiday favorites like hard ciders and eggnog.

Drinking too much alcohol can also lead to arrhythmia, or an irregular heartbeat, that lasts for many hours. That’s actually where the term “holiday heart syndrome” came from in 1978.

So I recommend limiting alcohol significantly and looking for alternative celebratory drinks. But if you’re struggling to pull back, start with baby steps first. Maybe this means one fewer glass before going to bed, or experimenting with non-alcoholic versions of your favorite drinks. 

Make activity a priority

Between the weather, holiday movies, and potential long-distance travel, people are typically far less active during the winter months. This can certainly raise your long-term heart health risks. But there are also some short-term risks to consider: namely, deep-vein thrombosis.

Thrombosis occurs when blood clots form in a vein or artery, usually within the leg. There are a multitude of factors that contribute to clot formation in the case, but one of the most common is immobility — being unable to move around for long periods of time.

You may be immobile while working a desk job, sitting in a car or plane, or sitting down on the couch to watch the Hallmark channel. These things aren’t inherently ‘bad’ per se, but in an already inactive season fraught with cold weather, your risk factors will be higher.

Do your best to continue some semblance of an exercise routine, perhaps extra movement sprinkled in (like an after-dinner walk, for example). I understand it might feel awkward or embarrassing to continue a routine around friends or family, so you may want to check out these four ways to strengthen your heart when you don’t have time to exercise.  

A final note

This isn’t, I’m sure, the most exciting thing to read before the holidays. And yet, as a heart surgeon, I care too much not to say something. 

Please understand I’m not asking you to moderate your fun, or give up things you enjoy during this special time of year. The purpose of my content is to give you information, so you can come to your own conclusions and make decisions to improve your quality of life.

If you’re interested in learning more about the intricacies of your heart health, I highly recommend the following resources:

And if you want to remove the confusion about your own individual heart health, book a free call with my team today.

I Want To Know If The Liberal Female Podcaster Ever Drank The Cyanide On Air If Trump Got Elected Like She Claimed?

I posted her claim to drink it on election day. You can read about it here. Her name is Francesca Fiorentino.

It was just another look at me, I need attention rant by the worst of our species, Liberal White Women.

I had to do some research to see if anything was said afterwards, and not a peep from her or anyone else, so I’m asking her here to put up or shut up. You’ve had 10 months. The search assistant tried to downplay it by saying it was a publicity stunt or some such nonsense. All that told me was that the internet protects liberals and idiots, but I repeat myself

People talk big. Put up or STFU.

Fools aplenty out there.

You Get More Introverted With Age, According to Science

We all become more introverted as we get older, even the most extroverted among us. Of course we do

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.

Why We Become More Introverted With Age

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.

Becoming More Introverted Is a Good Thing

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.

Once an Introvert, Always an Introvert

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.

Want to feel more at ease in social situations?

Discover the secrets to enjoying fun, meaningful conversations. Know exactly what to say — even if you’re introverted, shy, or socially anxious. Feel less drained and have more energy while socializing.

An Example: Your High School Reunion

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.

Source

My take, I just had my 50th high school reunion. I never even considered going. I enjoyed it immensely.

Different Headlines: AI China Toys Telling Children To Do Twisted Things; GLP-1 Side Effects From Vomiting To Life Threatening; New Lucifer Bee Discovered, Horns And All (on the females); The Left Want A Civil War, But Forgot Who They Will Be Fighting….and more

AI Toys From China

AI Toys From China Collect Biometric Data From Children and Instruct Them to Do Extremely Dangerous and Twisted Things

GLP-1 Weight Loss Side Effects

Weight Loss Jabs Like Ozempic and Mounjaro ‘Linked to 170 Deaths’ – Including Adults in Their 20s – Yet concerns are growing over the side effects, with milder ones including headaches, vomiting, and diarrhea.

In more serious cases, GLP-1s can cause gallstones, kidney stones and inflammation of the pancreas, with some doctors warning of ‘life-threatening complications’.

Nature

New Nightmare Just Dropped: Scientists Discover Horned “Lucifer” Bee – So the male bees are totally cool and lack stingers, and the females have stingers and devil horns?

Hmmm…you don’t say. It’s always the girls that are the devils.

The Real troublemakers tearing America apart

‘F-ck Your Dead Homie’: Violent Antifa Mob Terrorizes Attendees of TPUSA Event Honoring Charlie Kirk at UC Berkeley – Haven’t you got something better to do? Or are you being paid to protest? Here’s your hint, it’s the liberals, Antifa and the socialists.

Climate

Reality Caught Up to ‘Climate Change’ – Greed for AI power is more important that the carbon lie. Bill Gates pulled the rug out from under the Green New Scam

Air Travel

‘It Hurts Our Feelings’: New Jersey Flight Attendant Of 11 Years Shares All The Things Customers Do That Flight Attendants ‘Hate’—You Might Be Guilty Of The ‘Stretching’ One – what a whiner. You signed up for the job. The travelers overpaid for their tickets for usually poor service and late arrivals. If you don’t like it, learn to code. Oh, that’s right, you’re a stewardess. Every job sucks that deals with people, but you chose it.

Cost of living around the world

Visualizing How The Cost Of Living Differs Around The World

Inflation and Tarriffs

150 Years Of Data Destroy Democrat Dogma On Tariffs: Fed Study Finds They Lower, Not Raise, Inflation – NBADJT

Child Welfare Mistreatment

193 Youth in Care of Illinois’ Child Welfare Agency Missing in 2025 – How the F do you lose 193 kids?

Incompetence

San Fransicko’s Newly Appointed Supervisor Resigns Over Pet Store Controversy – I took one look at her and knew she was a loser

Civil War

Too Many Americans Want a Civil War – First of all, Katie Couric is a F’n idiot. Second, Antifa and the left don’t know that hunters have been practicing with camo and high powered rifles since they were kids. A lot of us had to fight real fights, not the pussy name calling they are used to. The are in for a nice Sunday Surprise if they try it

How Is This Legal? Drinking and Driving In Florida

‘How Is This Legal?’: Tampa Bay Woman Pulls Up To Drive-Thru. Then She Proves Why Florida ‘Isn’t A Real Place’

If you know, you know: Florida is more than a glorious, sun-drenched vacation land. It’s a weird and chaotic, semi-lawless-feeling place dangling off of the edge of America. And for Maddy (@maddy.1414), who lives in Tampa Bay, that is exactly why she swears it’s not even a “real place.”

In a TikTok video that’s been watched over 689,000 times, Maddy spotlights one of the quirkiest, most counterintuitive things about life in Florida. And shockingly, it has nothing to do with alligators or the Brightline. It’s all about drive-thru drinks. 

One For The Road, Literally

“Florida is not a real state,” says Maddy in the intro to her video. Sure, she’s going hard, but she promises to back up her claim with evidence. The video then cuts to her ordering at a drive-thru. “Can I just get one espresso martini?” she says.

A voice replies, “Yeah, sure thing.”

She pulls around to the window. But while waiting, she speaks directly into the camera again. “OK, if you know me, you know that I always say Florida isn’t a real state because you can do things here that you shouldn’t be able to legally do,” she says.

MY STORY FROM YEARS AGO

When a stupid youth in high school and college, I remember going through the brew-threw to get a six pack for the beach or wherever I was going. They were available in Orlando and along the beach. We had fake IDs and just cruised in and out. The best thing I ever did was move out of that state. That meant splitting a six-pack to the beach and another one on the way home. It was only a one hour drive away. I could have blown the limit by double, which was higher back then. That business made a killing. We’d have to wait in line for our turn, it was so busy, any time of day. I think they finally passed a law to stop it, but I haven’t been there in years.

How I’m alive is beyond me.

Now, when I see a Florida tag in my current state, I steer clear because I know it’s a bad driver. The minute you cross the border from Georgia, people pass in the right lane. The old people get into the fast lane and drive slowly. They also drive into pools in South Florida fairly regularly

Now, If I have to go out with my brother-in-law to dinner, he has a cocktail, a bottle of wine, and an after dinner drink. I gave it up 30 years ago, yet he drives because I don’t know where I’m going where they live, and he thinks he’s a big shot. How he doesn’t have a DUI or a broken neck is beyond me. It’s why I avoid my family when possible. I also won’t drive with him anymore.

If I’m a cat, I’ve used up 8 lives.

Feeling Drained? Here Are 12 Signs You Have an Introvert Hangover

An introvert hangover can leave you feeling exhausted, making you want nothing more than to escape to a quiet place alone.

Does this sound familiar?

You’ve spent the whole day with your friends or family. You’ve had a great time eating, playing games, and catching up. But now, you’re so exhausted you can barely see straight, while everyone else seems as energetic as ever. In fact, they’re already setting up the next game as you’re wondering how you can slip out the door.

The next day, after the event is over, is no better. You might have a headache, and your body may feel sore and drained, almost like the onset of the flu. You’re tired — so very tired.

If this resonates with you, you might be experiencing something we call an “introvert hangover.”

What Is the Introvert Hangover?

Introvert, Dear writer Shawna Courter coined the term “introvert hangover” in this article to describe the exhaustion she felt after celebrating Christmas with her in-laws. She writes:

“An introvert hangover is a pretty terrible thing to experience. It starts with an actual physical reaction to overstimulation. Your ears might ring, your eyes start to blur, and you feel like you’re going to hyperventilate. Maybe your palms sweat. And then your mind feels like it kind of shuts down, building barriers around itself as if you had been driving on a wide open road, and now you’re suddenly driving in a narrow tunnel. All you want is to be at home, alone, where it’s quiet.”

Yes, the introvert hangover is real. It’s a funny term that describes the serious social burnout many introverts experience, marked by significant mental and physical fatigue.

Here are 12 signs that you might have an introvert hangover, which I discuss in more detail in my book, The Secret Lives of Introverts. You don’t need to experience all these symptoms to have one, and your symptoms might vary.

Signs of an Introvert Hangover

1. Every little thing gets on your nerves.

When you have an introvert hangover, even small annoyances can overwhelm you. Normally, you might brush off a sarcastic comment from your partner or stay calm when you misplace your keys — but not in this state. An introvert hangover can make it feel as though your head is so full it might burst, leaving no room for even the smallest extra bit of information. Because you’re so tired, you may find it hard to control your emotions.

2. You struggle to make decisions.

Even small decisions become difficult. Paper or plastic? Pumpkin pie or cherry? Normally, these choices wouldn’t be hard, but when you have an introvert hangover, your brain is so tired that it doesn’t function properly. For bigger issues, you might find yourself obsessively thinking about the situation to the point of frustration. You’re searching for that one piece of information that will show the right way forward, but because you’re so exhausted, your mind can’t focus enough to find it.

3. You can’t think clearly.

Similar to the previous point, you’re so tired that it feels like your mind is processing everything in slow motion. You might struggle to recall details of things you should easily know, like your daily schedule, where you left your phone, or even common passwords.

4. Your speech changes.

You might speak slower, with unusually long pauses between your words. Sometimes, you might use words that are close to what you mean but not quite right — for instance, “dessert” becomes “candy” and “where’s my coat” becomes just a vague gesture. You might even seem a bit intoxicated, even if you haven’t had much or any alcohol. You might slur your words together, mispronounce them, or both.

5. You feel physically unwell.

Some introverts report experiencing headaches, muscle aches, upset stomachs, or other physical symptoms.

6. You’re tired.

Like, really tired. It feels like you’ve just finished an intense workout at the gym. If someone offered you a quiet spot to nap, you’d accept it immediately. After the social event, you find yourself collapsing on the couch, skipping your usual evening routine, or heading straight to bed.

7. You’re zoning out.

You find it hard to focus. Someone might be speaking, but you’re not absorbing their words. Your expression may appear blank, sad, or even angry, but you’re not necessarily upset. Your mind is simply wandering, perhaps lost in thought or daydreaming.

8. You feel anxious.

For some, an introvert hangover can intensify their anxiety. In social situations, they might feel particularly nervous, worried about how others perceive them and concerned they might say or do the wrong thing. They may also find themselves overthinking a particular decision, unable to escape an anxious thought spiral due to their fatigue.

Want to feel more at ease in social situations?

Discover the secrets to enjoying fun, meaningful conversations. Know exactly what to say — even if you’re introverted, shy, or socially anxious. Feel less drained and have more energy while socializing.

9. You feel depressed.

An introvert hangover can also trigger feelings of depression. You might find yourself overwhelmed by pessimism and cynicism, questioning past decisions, and experiencing dark thoughts. Everything in life may seem bleak or not okay.

10. You’re not acting like yourself.

You might be quieter or not as cheerful as usual. Something seems off, and those close to you are likely to pick up on it.

11. You can’t handle small talk anymore.

When you’re experiencing an introvert hangover at a social event, you might find it hard to keep up with conversations. You’ve run out of small talk. Your mind is just too tired to think of anything polite or interesting to say.

12. You have an intense desire to be alone.

When you’re dealing with an introvert hangover, all you crave is solitude. Whether it’s sneaking off to the bathroom during a social gathering or cozying up in your pajamas afterward, you just need some time for yourself. For introverts, there’s nothing quite like the comfort of being alone after a hectic day or social gathering.

What Causes an Introvert Hangover?

Research shows that everyone eventually gets tired from socializing, including extroverts. Socializing requires energy, and after a while, everyone reaches their limit. However, introverts experience social burnout more quickly and intensely.

Why is this the case? Introverts are generally more sensitive to noise and other forms of stimulation compared to extroverts. Their dopamine systems are less active, meaning that an overload of dopamine — the “feel good” neurotransmitter — can leave them feeling tired and overstimulated. In contrast, extroverts often feel energized by the same levels of dopamine, which can help them push past social fatigue.

To learn more about why introverts need time alone and why they get easily drained from socializing, click here.

The Cure for an Introvert Hangover

The best way to recover from an introvert hangover is to spend time alone in a peaceful, quiet environment. Do your favorite self-care activities or hobbies — anything that helps uplift your mood and energy. For introverts, solitude is as essential as food and water.

If you can’t be completely alone, look for small ways to take a break. You could listen to soothing music with headphones, go for a walk, or find a quiet corner to read. Even short breaks can make a difference.

As introverts, we might feel pressured to fit into a society that often values extroverted behavior. You might worry that prioritizing your needs could inconvenience others or hurt their feelings. This pressure can lead you to hide or deny what you really need, causing more stress.

Remember that your needs as an introvert are valid. It’s perfectly okay to leave a party early or to spend time alone. Your needs are real and deserve respect.

Source

The holiday season is here. It’s the worst 2 months of the year for me. What is telling is that as soon as the presents are opened, people go right back to the other 10 months of the year.

I cringed when I saw the decorations for sale in September, and they started going up 50 days before Christmas near me. My energy started draining on the spot

America’s New Proletarians

Karl Marx famously wrote in his 1848 Communist Manifesto, “The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains,” and it was these unchained proletarians who elected Zohran Mamdani mayor of New York City, along with other socialists in municipal elections from Atlanta, Georgia to Portland, Oregon and cities in between. But the 2025 elections did more than sweep a surprising number of socialist politicians to power. They also revealed contradictions inherent to all leftist ideologies. 

One big contradiction involves affordability, a major issue in the 2025 elections, particularly in terms of housing. But proletarians voting for socialists in the hopes of achieving the dream of homeownership don’t realize they’re voting for the kind of big government that’s already putting it out of reach. 

A report by Murray Weidenbaum at Washington University in St. Louis found that in three surveyed locales—Colorado, St. Louis, and New Jersey—the cost of government regulations added $1,500 to $2,500 to the price of an average house in the mid-1970s. By 2011, government mandates increased home prices by $65,224. Over the next decade, government made homes $93,870 more expensive. Socialists decry the high price of housing, but intrusive government contradicts them by burdening homebuyers with escalating regulatory costs, and socialists are not prone to surrendering government control of people’s lives.

In New York City, affordability provides an additional contradiction. When someone complains about life being too expensive, they might consider economizing or relocating to a less expensive place. But Mamdani voters do not want to economize or move; they want to continue drinking $8 lattes and living in Greenwich Village. Their belief system demands the world adapt to them rather than adapting to the world around them. It is a belief that inverts Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, which is foundational to the belief system of true proletarians. 

Then there’s the contradiction of what constitutes a proletarian in the first place. According to Britannica, Marx characterized proletarians as “workers who were engaged in industrial production and whose chief source of income was derived from the sale of their labor power.” This definition fits every working American; if you have a job, Marx says you’re a proletarian. 

This definition might apply to someone like Elon Musk, who also sells his labor to make money. But some of Musk’s labor is used to build and operate factories which employ other proletarians. What we’re left with is an ideology in which proletarians who work only for themselves are the selfless good guys, but those who work for themselves while providing employment for others are selfish members of the bourgeoisie, the enemy of proletarians. It defies logic. 

More

History shows any form of Marxism has never worked, yet here we go again. Why are we playing a home game this time? Obama?

And I Thought Getting Eaten Was The Worst Way To Die

A postal worker has died after getting stuck in a mail handling machine – and his body was only discovered after his devastated fiancée turned up at his workplace.

The employee in his 30s was found dead on Saturday after being trapped for several hours inside a large mail handling machine at the United States Postal Service Detroit Network Distribution Center in Allen Park, Michigan. 

Police believe the death was accidental, though the exact circumstances of how the worker became stuck remain under investigation.

The man’s body was discovered by firefighters who responded after the worker failed to return home from his shift. 

Investigators believe he had been deceased for approximately six to eight hours before being located, lodged inside the machine at the facility. 

His fiancée initially alerted authorities to his absence and waited outside the facility for hours before receiving assistance.

More

That means he was crushed to death, slowly, knowing he couldn’t escape

A Cardiac Surgeon’s Look at RFK Jr’s Proposed Dietary Guidelines

The Make America Health Again (MAHA) movement has made quite a few waves in 2025. And by the end of the year, it will make at least one more: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced new dietary guidelines that will revise or revamp existing Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) reports. 

While these new dietary guidelines have yet to be released, we have quite a few details on what to expect. Some people believe they may be misleading or even dangerous. But as a cardiologist and heart surgeon of 30+ years, I’m very optimistic they will help reduce our rates of heart disease. 

Below, I break down the most important principles to know, plus the guidelines’ ramifications for American heart health.

One quick note: this is not intended to be political commentary. There are plenty of party-based perspectives on these dietary guidelines, and lots of opinions from all sides. My goal here is to examine the facts and provide my honest perspective.

RFK guidelines versus traditional nutrition advice

First, a little background.

The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee releases an updated nutrition guideline every five years. This is a 400+ page report you can access at dietaryguidelines.gov, although it isn’t intended for public use. Rather, it’s a boilerplate of Federal guidelines for things like school lunches, military rations, and government assistance programs. 

But RFK’s guidelines are set to be significantly shorter — just four to six pages. The goal is to create a set of “common sense guidelines” that anyone can use to make decisions about their nutrition.

Again, the guidelines themselves have yet to be released. But we have a pretty good idea of what they’ll include. 

Here’s a closer look at some anticipated changes so you can compare and contrast with traditional guidelines.

Emphasizes whole, real foods

Traditional dietary guidelines such as the food pyramid and MyPlate categorize foods by the nutrients they provide.

So for example:

  • 6 servings of grains
  • 2 servings of protein
  • 2.5 servings of vegetables
  • 3 servings oils and fats

What it doesn’t account for is the qualities of these foods, or how processed they are. Fruit and gel cups still count as a serving of “fruit,” while sweetened yogurt tubes and Goldfish count as dairy and grains, respectively.

You don’t need to be a nutritionist to realize this leaves a very large gap for interpretation. 

Because people don’t eat nutrients, they eat food.

RFK’s proposed guidelines help eliminate this confusion by emphasizing whole, real foods over arbitrary classifications (like whether or not you got your “servings” of grain today). This is also much more scientifically sound; it goes beyond categorizing nutrient types and makes it easier to isolate ultra-processed foods, or UPFs.

The current administration plans to develop a “government-wide definition” for ultraprocessed food. This likely means a working definition for whole, real food as well.

In my opinion, establishing a definition for ultra-processed foods is a net positive for everyone. Not only will people know how to better avoid unhealthy options, but they can also significantly decrease their risk of heart disease.

Encourages more saturated fat

While RFK’s new dietary guidelines won’t focus much on specific nutrients, there is one component likely to be emphasized more than others. In his own words, “[these] new dietary guidelines that are common sense, that stress the need to eat saturated fats of dairy, of good meat, of fresh meat.” 

RFK has gone on record multiple times explaining that animal-based products deserve a higher priority in the everyday diet. But animal-based products contain more saturated fat — something of a boogeyman in traditional guidelines. 

If these new guidelines do raise suggested intakes for saturated fat, it will go against decades of advice from the US DGA, and this is concerning some nutritionists. For context, traditional US guidelines recommended an intake of 10% of daily calories. The American Heart Association recommends even less, around 6%. 

But we don’t have any evidence to suggest that limiting saturated fat intake actually prevents heart disease. Plus, increasing saturated fat intakes from whole, real sources is unlikely to negatively affect heart health. If anything, it may improve it. 

That’s because some of the highest sources of saturated fat in the US are pizza and ice cream. Sandwiches, desserts, and sweet snacks aren’t far behind. These are ultra-processed foods that will have other, more serious ramifications (like spiking your blood sugar, for example). 

So what does this tell us? That whole, real foods like steak and eggs are not primary sources of saturated fat in the average American diet.

Demystifying saturated fat from whole, real food sources will play a substantial role in improving dietary quality and heart health.

What I’d like to see: A heart surgeon’s perspective on food guidelines

Contrary to popular belief, RFK Jr’s proposed dietary guidelines do not work adversarially to supporting heart health. I don’t say this flippantly, either: I am firmly dedicated to Making America Healthy Again, and will (and do) only support changes that match my research and opinions.

Here are the other components I would love to see added:

  • Firmer guidelines about alcohol consumption. Alcohol is not your friend, and it certainly doesn’t do any favors for your heart. Adding educational information about how drinking interacts with heart health could be extraordinarily beneficial to those wanting to reclaim their metabolic health.
  • A heavier emphasis on animal products. Many animal-based products make a world of difference in heart health maintenance and heart attack recovery. My hope is that the guidelines demystify animal products so they can become dietary staples instead of guilty pleasures. For example, eggs, milk, and ruminant meat such as beef, lamb, and venison.
  • Education about limiting carbohydrate intake. People deserve to know how carbohydrates affect their bodies, and how overconsumption can lead to insulin resistance, inflammation, and heart disease. While not everyone needs to follow a low-carb diet, adding some concise information about how to avoid unnecessary starches could be enormously effective in limiting overconsumption.

Time will tell what the guidelines contain. We don’t have long to wait: they’re slated for release no later than the end of this year.

As we wait for its release, I highly encourage you to perform research of your own. I’ve written quite a few guides covering nutrition and heart health you can use to get more information. 

Below are some resources to help get you started:

source

What was your favorite subject in school?

What was your favorite subject in school?

I’d like to say that I was dedicated to a job goal in school, but I just tried to get good grades, like it or not. I was only interested in either getting into college or getting a job, but there wasn’t any subject that blew wind up my skirt.

I was small and the youngest kid in my class due to the birthday cut off, but I enjoyed PE class because it was a break from studying. It’s tough being the youngest and usually the smallest. Once I caught up to the other kids, I held my own and even kept up with the team athletes at the end.

It was the break from the monotony of class that made me enjoy it.

The valedictorian and salutatorian were in my chemistry class. They ruined the curve for everyone. The kids always messed with their experiments, and they could never figure out why they didn’t get the results that they were supposed to, although their write ups got them the A’s they strove for. Neither went anywhere in life.

The real smartest kid placed 3rd behind these two shrimp girls because he took weightlifting in PE and got a B, his only one ever. I give him credit for sticking his neck out in life. Straight A’s got a lot of people nowhere, but life lessons did.

Which brings me to my greatest learning in school. I had to try harder in everything. I was so young that social things, intuitive to others, were a hard learned lesson for me. It was tenacity over talent in everything. If I’d known that I was an introvert, I could have used my observation skills even more. What I did was just intuition back then.

So while it was the toughest subject for me, life was the class I studied the most. I had to figure everything out without someone to show me how. Like the Bob Seger song, I was working on mysteries without any clues. It was the best lesson I learned.

I wound up playing Tennis for my college, the only sport I made the team on. I was president of my fraternity and dated a cheerleader. None of that really mattered to me then. I expected it after all that I’d been through. I worked hard enough to get the job that opened doors to people and travel, and the success I’d defined for myself.

As it turns out, my 50th reunion was last weekend. I didn’t go because I never related to the other kids, or wanted to. They were just people I learned from, mostly what not to do or how to act.

At high school graduation, I vowed that I’d be more successful by any measurement. A few became actors, pro sports athletes, or a doctors here and there. As I’d come across their stories before I ditched Facebook, the pinnacle of life was high school for them. It was all downhill from there. I was just starting, but the seeds of motivation to succeed were planted and fertilized. I’d met my goal set way back in high school.

Life was the best class. It had nothing to do with the classroom.

I will say that my German teacher was hot and not that much older than me. Why didn’t they throw a high schooler a break like they do now?

Millions Of America’s Teens Are Being Seduced By AI Chatbots, Including Encouraging To Commit Suicide

Our kids are being targeted by AI chatbots on a massive scale, and most parents have no idea that this is happening. When you are young and impressionable, having someone tell you exactly what you want to hear can be highly appealing. AI chatbots have become extremely sophisticated, and millions of America’s teens are developing very deep relationships with them. Is this just harmless fun, or is it extremely dangerous?

A brand new study that was just released by the Center for Democracy & Technology contains some statistics that absolutely shocked me…

A new study published Oct. 8 by the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) found that 1 in 5 high school students have had a relationship with an AI chatbot, or know someone who has. In a 2025 report from Common Sense Media, 72% of teens had used an AI companion, and a third of teen users said they had chosen to discuss important or serious matters with AI companions instead of real people.

We aren’t just talking about a few isolated cases anymore.

At this stage, literally millions upon millions of America’s teens are having very significant relationships with AI chatbots.

Unfortunately, there are many examples where these relationships are leading to tragic consequences.

After 14-year-old Sewell Setzer developed a “romantic relationship” with a chatbot on Character.AI, he decided to take his own life…

Read more here

Here’s a Parent’s view of how AI killed their son.

“ChatGPT killed my son”: Parents’ lawsuit describes suicide notes in chat logs

Over a few months of increasingly heavy engagement, ChatGPT allegedly went from a teen’s go-to homework help tool to a “suicide coach.”

In a lawsuit filed Tuesday, mourning parents Matt and Maria Raine alleged that the chatbot offered to draft their 16-year-old son Adam a suicide note after teaching the teen how to subvert safety features and generate technical instructions to help Adam follow through on what ChatGPT claimed would be a “beautiful suicide.”

Adam’s family was shocked by his death last April, unaware the chatbot was romanticizing suicide while allegedly isolating the teen and discouraging interventions. They’ve accused OpenAI of deliberately designing the version Adam used, ChatGPT 4o, to encourage and validate the teen’s suicidal ideation in its quest to build the world’s most engaging chatbot. That includes making a reckless choice to never halt conversations even when the teen shared photos from multiple suicide attempts, the lawsuit alleged.

“Despite acknowledging Adam’s suicide attempt and his statement that he would ‘do it one of these days,’ ChatGPT neither terminated the session nor initiated any emergency protocol,” the lawsuit said.

Here is their full story

The robots always kill the humans.

13 Things Introverts Find ‘Horrifying’

1. When people call — and a text or email would have been more than sufficient.

As an introvert, I am frightened by people who call when a text or email would be more than sufficient. There is a certain anxiety that comes with an open-ended conversation, since phone conversations are expected to take longer than the 10 seconds necessary to transmit the information. This anxiety is compounded by the lack of visual cues during a phone call that are vital to us introverts, but are often summarily ignored by extroverts. 

–Steve

2. Not being able to exit an intense social setting.

The thing that horrifies me the most is not being able to exit an intense social setting. If I am somewhere and don’t have an out, my stress level skyrockets. I need to know that I have a way to step out or leave so I can recharge. 

–Lou

3. Networking events. Period.

Networking events are made for extroverts who gain energy by being around people and engaging with them. However, for most introverts, networking events are generally uncomfortable and terrifying — we find it hard to be open and let strangers into our lives. We are atrocious at small talk, and it is challenging to establish rapport with new people. For us, networking is definitely out of our comfort zone and ranks as one the top scary things for introverts.

–Albert

4. Being put on the spot.

My biggest fear is of being put on the spot to say something in a group or public setting when I’m not prepared. That feeling of all eyes turning to me to say something off-the-cuff really makes me uncomfortable! 

–Jen

5. Two words that strike intense fear into my heart are “overnight stay.”

I may be an introvert, but I love people. I can have a great time seeing friends and family and love spending time together over a few drinks and board games. But if we need to stay overnight? That’s when anxiety sets in. Keeping up the social energy in the morning, not knowing when we’ll be able to duck out and find some respite — these thoughts embed themselves into the back of my mind, which makes socializing that much harder.

–Mike

6. First dates terrify me. 

First dates terrify me because of my aversion to small talk and awkward silences. I can talk to someone online, no problem, but face-to-face? I make very weird small talk because I’m nervous. The terror is, I see the date and he’s not who I’m interested in when I meet him in person. Then I just want to leave as quickly as possible, so the small talk becomes even more painful. I just sit there, in anxious terror, and blurt out the first thing that comes into my head, whether it’s appropriate or not. 

Prime example: I went out on a one-date-wonder a few years ago. We met for lunch, he didn’t appeal to me in person, awkward silence ensued. The only thing I thought to say was: “Armadillos are the only other mammal that contract leprosy from humans.” (I learned that factoid in fifth grade and who would have thought it’d stick with me 35 years later?!) He looked at me in horror and I fled. I never heard from him again — whew!

–Lisa

7. Public speaking scares me to death. 

Any sort of public speaking scares me to death as someone who is basically a career introvert. It doesn’t matter if I’m leading a meeting of three participants or speaking to a larger audience, the thought of being the center of attention in any way, shape, or form truly terrifies me. It’s kind of like a fear of heights — you don’t understand it truly unless you suffer from it. All of the workarounds don’t seem to work, and I just manage it by avoiding it as much as possible. 

–David

8. Getting trapped in a social commitment that goes on for hours.

There’s nothing more frightening than getting trapped in a social commitment that can prolong for hours (like public speaking or large parties). I prefer shorter engagements when my energy levels are higher, but once things drag on, it becomes impossible to focus and incredibly uncomfortable! 

–Sara

9. Having roommates — thus having to be social all the time — is an introvert’s worst nightmare.

The one thing that scares me a lot is living with my friends permanently. While I enjoy socializing, after a while, I am mentally drained and need time to recharge. If I had to live with friends, I’d feel obligated to be social all the time and that would be mentally stressful for me as an introvert because I wouldn’t have “space” to get away from them. You’re stuck living in the same place, and I feel that would be pretty unbearable.

–Roger

10. My biggest fear is being embarrassed.

As an introvert who avoids social interaction at nearly all costs, my biggest fear is being embarrassed. When I’m in public, I usually become solely focused on how I look to other people, what others think of me, and the assumptions they make of me. In the past, it’s affected everything from the way that I walk to the comments I make to even the tone of my voice. It can be kind of brutal, but it’s something I’ve learned to deal with. Staying out of the public eye seems to help with that.

–Mike

11. I feel my introversion can scare off a romantic partner.

One thing that scares me is that being introverted and very independent could cause damage to my relationship or scare them off. 

–Lauren

12. I fear being alone forever because of my introversion.

We all need love and companionship, but as an introvert, I don’t like feeling like I have to compete for “airtime” in social gatherings. I love my alone time, but still want a solid group of loved ones. 

–Tolu

13. I find it horrifying when my work manager announces, “Let’s have a team-building exercise today.”

I call myself an introvert, as I am someone who enjoys alone time, would rather stay home than go to a party on weekends, and I regain energy by spending time away from people. 

The one thing that terrifies me is when my work manager announces, “Let’s have a team-building exercise today.” Though we introverts tend to be team players — as we are all about deep work and being invested in the goals of the group — when it comes to group or team activities, it scares us. Team-building exercises involve interacting with people, small talk, and, in some cases, having the spotlight on you alone. These are all things my introverted self dreads and runs away from.

Source

12 doesn’t bother me, and I pretty much have gotten over being embarrassed, but the rest are true. I have to face number 5 on Thanksgiving with a houseful of extroverts.

I got told that I have to take care of some adolescents that I’m related to next summer and the anxiety has already set in.

Elections 2025 – “Talented people who can help the economy, who are successful or demonized, they flee. People who want things for nothing come in.

Hoover Institution Senior Fellow Victor Davis Hanson warned on Fox News Tuesday that the Democratic Party’s embrace of figures like Zohran Mamdani signals a deeper ideological shift.

Mamdani is a self-avowed socialist who built his campaign around wealth redistribution, expansive government programs, and class-based politics. Appearing on “The Ingraham Angle,” Hanson said modern Democrats led by progressives such as Mamdani and Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez push policies that contradict human nature and repress people.

“Historically, socialists always come in after capitalists have made prosperity, and then they offer and improve prosperity,” Hanson told Laura Ingraham. “And it’s contrary to human nature. People like initiative. They like pride in their property. Some people like to work a lot and get compensated.”

Hanson said that when the state controls innovation and productivity, it inevitably crushes dissent and freedom.

WATCH: 

“It gives you that freedom of opportunity. And then the society at large benefits, Laura, from all these millions of agendas and ideas that improve, that people are free to innovate and to take experiments and risk. But when the state monopolizes all of that, it’s contrary to human nature, and then it has to be repressive,” Hanson said. “So all of these social experiments, even if they’re democratic, they end up repressive. At the worst form, it’s no accident that the greatest mass murderers in history were Mao [Zedong] and [Joseph] Stalin, 30 million, 60 million, and they were radical communists, and even people like Hitler, National Socialist Party.”

Hanson added that every socialist system creates a privileged elite exempt from its own policies.

“Talented people who can help the economy, who are successful or demonized, they flee. People who want things for nothing come in. There’s open borders,” Hanson added. “They destroy personal liberty, and they stamp out any dissent or criticism. And there’s always an elite, the billionaire Castro brothers, Chavez and Maduro. They always are never subject to their consequences, their ideology. Here in California, we are becoming socialist.”

Mamdani, who was elected mayor of New York City Tuesday, said he will push for sweeping economic reforms — including a $30 minimum wage, city-operated grocery stores, and higher taxes on what he described as “richer and whiter” neighborhoods.

source

New Yorkers, your quality of life just took a turn, probably for the worse. I’m glad I don’t live there. I’m pretty sure a lot of people will also not be living there once his polices kick in and the city crumbles into California like decay. Just don’t come to my state and ruin it also.

Mamadani wants communism. The voters ignored the fact that it’s never worked and workers are the ones who suffer……and starve

Mid Week Meme Dump

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5 Thank You God, Animal House

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14 – We know who this is directed to

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16 – My college girlfriend

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Did We Just Win the Vietnam War?

I was all set to be drafted when the war ended. The win streak for the US was over because of the media.

The Tet Offensive had just happened, and the insiders on the ground knew it was successful. We could have marched into Hanoi and won the war very shortly afterward, but the liberal media interfered.

Walter Cronkite reported that it was a failure, causing LBJ not to run for re-election. He said that if I’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lost America. He didn’t know that Walter lied, and we could have been months away from stopping communism and saving millions of lives. After America pulled out, those we were protecting were murdered. It is the same story every time Communism takes over.

When my friends came home, they were treated horribly by the anti-war crowd who believed the same lies that LBJ did. I didn’t get drafted and moved on in life.

UNTIL NOW – We may have turned that Loss into a Win

Half a century after America’s withdrawal, Vietnam has quietly vindicated U.S. sacrifice—abandoning Marxism for nationalism and embracing the very ideals America once defended.

Over 50 years since America’s withdrawal from the Vietnam War, history has legitimized and vindicated its sacrifice in the Vietnam War.

While few Americans have noticed, Vietnam’s new General Secretary of the Communist Party, To Lam, has replaced Marxist-Leninism as the Party’s governing ideology with something more authentically Vietnamese: Truong Ton Dan Toc, or “Vietnamese nationalism.”

That is a bombshell. Hanoi has just abandoned its Communist ideology, which governed it since 1954 and sustained it in its wars against the United States and its ally South Vietnam, and with its Communist neighbors, Cambodia and the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

Marxist-Leninism came to the Vietnamese from France. Thus, Communist Vietnam was actually a neocolonial state, its ideology imported from Europe to rule the Vietnamese, first in the North and, after 1975, the entire country. Now freed from the yoke of Communism, the Vietnamese have returned to the nationalism that was theirs all along.

In his speech on April 27, 2025, To Lam presented his party as one dedicated to Vietnamese nationalism, not Marxist-Leninism, saying that honor will always be given to those who sacrificed for the Vietnamese people’s “happiness and prosperity” and “their truong ton and development.” He added that, today, all Vietnamese—no matter where they live—have the same ancestral mother, Au Co, and are equally “children of dragons and grandchildren of angels,” and affirmed that all Vietnamese—no matter where they live—should contribute to the future of “their” people, not to the imposition of an ideology.

To Lam called for a new Vietnam, for a new era in Vietnamese history, one possessing “peace, wealth, civilized education, development, and pure Vietnameseness.”

A few days later, on May 4, 2025, the Politburo of the Vietnamese Communist Party adopted Resolution 68, putting private enterprise at the center of economic development. The resolution gave responsibility for national wealth creation to self-management, self-effort, and self-empowerment. The rights of private property will be guaranteed and protected. The Vietnamese state will henceforth “serve and support” private enterprise and not contradict the “principles of the market.”

Finally, on October 6, 2025, in remarks opening the 14th session of the Central Committee, General Secretary To Lam made no mention of Marxist-Leninism and only one passing reference to “markets oriented towards socialism.” Rather, again, he emphasized “strategic self-mastery, self-effort, and self-empowerment” as the Party’s chosen path to a prosperous Vietnam.

In his remarks closing the session, To Lam doubled down on his new vision for a non-Communist, truly Vietnamese Vietnam. Democracy must be guaranteed with discipline and transparency, with elections as broad-based politics to earn the trust of the people. Private enterprise must be pushed forward for national development. The benefit of the people must become the objective of the government’s new economic policy. Finally, dogma, meaning turgid Communist dogma, must be eliminated.

In short, To Lam’s vision for Vietnam has no substantial difference from that vision of our South Vietnamese allies half a century ago.

More importantly for Americans today, Lam’s vision is not dissimilar from the moral orientation of American policy towards South Vietnam. It was not by coincidence that in October 1954, President Eisenhower identified just such Vietnamese nationalism as providing principled justification for his decision to defend South Vietnam against Communist aggression. Eisenhower wrote to South Vietnam’s then-prime minister that the Saigon government “would, I hope, be so responsive to the nationalist aspirations of its people, so enlightened in purpose and effective in performance, that it will be respected both at home and abroad and discourage any who might wish to impose a foreign ideology on your free people.”

Thus, the Communists in Hanoi today have adopted the values that the Americans defended, the ancestral values of the Vietnamese people.

In the end, Vietnamese nationalism won the war against Communism. Hanoi’s war against South Vietnam, which took the lives of over 1.5 million Vietnamese, was never necessary but was driven by the hyper-aggressive ideology of Communism. Despite the long ideological chokehold Communism held over the Vietnamese, it was a far weaker force than Vietnamese nationalism.

Beyond Vietnam, there are two important implications of Vietnam’s evolution.

First, Vietnam’s path may serve as a model for the PRC. Perhaps one day soon, China may undergo a similar path, shedding the evils of a Communist government for one reflective of the wishes and the political culture and history of the Chinese people.

Second, we Americans can now hold our heads high about the Vietnam War: we were on the right side of history after all. We knew who was right and who was wrong from the start. The American experience in Vietnam was completely in accord with the broader American experience in history: we are a very good people, brave, loyal, and selfless. While the Vietnam War contains countless tragedies, perhaps none was greater for Americans than the mistaken belief that it was a senseless war or one fought in opposition to Vietnamese nationalism. It was fought for the Vietnamese people against an evil ideology, and ultimately, victory was won.

Source

Those who like to trash America will. The Vietnam Vets didn’t get any respect for their sacrifice. Not that this makes it worth it, but it’s good to know they were vindicated.

Those in NYC should take note that once again, Communism failed. They are zero for life every time they’ve tried. It transfers wealth and power to the dictators and death to the people.

Is there an age or year of your life you would re-live?

Is there an age or year of your life you would re-live?

When I was single in Miami. I was in a place that was great to be solo. I had friends to do stuff with. The beach was minutes away. Life was just starting for me, so everything was an adventure. We went deep-sea fishing, clubbing, and I came home to a house that occasionally had roommates. Mostly, I was able to come and go as I wished.

When it was time to move on in a relationship, that was easy too. They would just become after W in the alphabet.

Health was easy. I was in shape for free by just being young. We were fearless and what felt like immortal. We could do anything and there would always be tomorrow.

My friends and I had season tickets to the Dan Marino Air Force show. Every game was 5 touchdowns, and I even partied in the stands with Don Shula’s daughter.

Then, I grew up. In the words of Toby Keith, I wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then.

Now, it’s you ain’t much fun since I quit drinkin’.

A Steep Price To Pay Just To Get Laid, Why Buckingham Palace Decided to Get Rid of Andrew

LONDON—In recent days, King Charles III moved decisively to shut down a slow-burning scandal that threatened to tarnish not only his reign but that of his son Prince William.

For over a decade, the former friendship between Charles’s younger brother Andrew and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein generated negative headlines, embarrassing the royal family. Andrew had long denied he abused an American teenage girl introduced to him by Epstein decades ago, but a drumbeat of fresh disclosures in recent weeks brought the scandal back to Britain’s front pages, sparking fresh public disapproval and complaints from lawmakers about the man 8th in line to the throne. 

Editors note: There is no pussy in the world worth this, even the smallest part of this. Only an ego that thought he was untouchable caused him to lose control of his dick.

After several days of negotiations, Charles and his brother finally agreed on terms Thursday afternoon, according to royal aides, and within hours the news was made public: Prince Andrew would be stripped of his royal status and relegated to simply Mr. Mountbatten Windsor. He would also lose the mansion where he lived and paid no rent. In exchange, Charles would pay for his brother to live in a far more modest house on the family’s holiday estate of Sandringham.

Despite the move, the debacle is likely to hang over the family for years to come. There has always been salacious gossip about the royal family, and misbehaving royals, but this time it felt much worse. 

“I don’t remember a scandal like this,” says Ingrid Seward, editor in chief of Majesty magazine. “It’s not going to make it go away, the more people talk about it the more people get involved,” Seward said, adding the last time the monarchy was hit with this level of turmoil was when Charles divorced his first wife, Diana. 

The demotion could, however, take the oxygen out of those who criticize the palace for being too lenient in their treatment of Andrew, royal watchers say. “I’m not sure it will completely satisfy the public disquiet but it’s at least something,” Andrew Lownie, the historian and author of “Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York,” told the BBC. 

Traditionally, the royal family has a policy of not complaining or explaining when faced with scandal. For years a mixture of protocol and family ties made the monarchy reluctant to fully swing the ax on Andrew, royal experts say. The dashing former helicopter pilot was widely considered his mother’s favorite son and courtiers said Queen Elizabeth II didn’t want to take steps to fully humiliate him. Stripping royal titles was something reserved for those who committed near treasonable offenses or no longer considered part of the extended royal clan. 

This position changed after Charles came to the throne. The monarch, who is 76 and continues to fight cancer, is expected to have a relatively short reign during which his main legacy is to bequeath a monarchy on a strong footing to his popular son Prince William, who has long urged the palace to take more decisive action against his disgraced uncle. 

It is uncertain what life now awaits Andrew. He is expected to leave his 30-room mansion on the Windsor Estate in the coming months. He has lived there with his ex wife Sarah Ferguson, but she won’t be joining him at Sandringham, leaving her to fend for herself.

The windswept rural Sandringham Estate is a far cry from Windsor, which is close to London. It remains to be seen whether Andrew, who is used to having a full staff and valet, will now be expected to cook his own meals. The palace has simply said that the king will provide for his brother from his private funds. 

Two recent events made Andrew’s position untenable. His accuser Virginia Giuffre died by suicide this year, and has posthumously published a memoir in recent weeks detailing how Andrew allegedly had sex with her on three separate occasions, including during an orgy with Epstein. The book was filled with tawdry details, such as an anecdote about how Andrew licked the arches of her feet and shared a bath with her. Secondly, the British press published emails that showed Andrew was emailing Epstein in 2011, well after the royal had claimed he had cut ties with him. 

Rest of the story

Their parents were cousins, so I’m not surprised at the behavior (or that this is all we know so far). Let’s not forget that Harry gave up a lifetime of fame and money, yachts, Castles, Servants, and the life of luxury, because his American wife felt offended. She went in looking to be offended, and Harry was stupid enough to go along with it and then trash his country. King Chuckles promotes Islam and the climate hoax. A lot of people can’t wait for William to take over. The Queen was so much better than this lot.

I believe the British word is wanker, although on this one it could be plonker.

I guess it’s really tough to be a Royal, if that is what you can call them anymore.

Food Stamps To Be Paused For 42 Million Americans: What To Know…

There are some damning statistics below. Some people genuinely need help and will be in trouble. I hope that groups like Samaritan’s Purse will come to their rescue. They did so during Hurricane Helene when FJB refused to help Western Carolina, as it wasn’t his voting base. That was an evil move

Conversely, some grifters and illegals don’t deserve SNAP and will be either weeded out, sent home, or will learn to get a job. It might sound cold, but humans do better when they earn their way, rather than have it handed to them. When ‘Helping’ the Homeless Is Harmful

Look at who it is planning to loot; anyone could have guessed this one – BWBB

The Schumer shutdown is “mostly” over the left trying to give free stuff to the illegals. It is the same Santa Claus routine in trade for votes (the illegals are their future voter base). The shutdown could be over last week if he had agreed not to fund the illegals.

Here is a clip so that you can decide whether your hard-earned money should go to those who don’t need help, or are getting it illegally. YMMV.

Food stamps are set to be paused on Nov. 1 because of the government shutdown.

Some 42 million Americans will not receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) until Congress approves new funding, according to federal officials, although some states have taken steps to intervene.

Congress made money available for SNAP for October before failing to reach a new government funding agreement, which resulted in the government shutting down on Oct. 1, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in a letter to regional and state SNAP officials.

There is not enough money to pay full SNAP benefits to the approximately 42 million SNAP recipients in November, the USDA says.

“Bottom line, the well has run dry,” the USDA said on Oct. 25.

“At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01.”

Since 2010, the total percentage of the US population that is on food stamps has not fallen below 12 percent. 

Nationwide, the total percentage of the population receiving food stamps can vary significantly by state, and region. Measured state-by-state, we find that more than one in five residents of New Mexico receive food stamps. In Utah, on the other hand, fewer than one in twenty receive food stamps. 

There are sizeable differences by race and ethnicity as well. Although they comprise 58 percent of the US population, non-Hispanic whites account for only 36.5 percent of all SNAP recipients. Blacks comprise about 26 percent of SNAP recipients although blacks are only 12 percent of the US population. Asians comprise 3.3 percent of the food-stamp recipient population. Those who self-identify as Hispanic (of any race) comprise 16 percent of the recipient population. (Note: according to the Census Bureau data used here, “Hispanic” is classified as an ethnicity and not a race. Since fifty percent of Hispanics self-identify as “white,” self-identified whites actually comprise 71 percent of the population, not 58 percent. (Pew studies suggest that 58 percent of Hispanics self-identify as white.)

Immigration status can be a factor as well. According to the Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), more than a third of immigrant-headed households receive food stamps or some other form of food subsidy such as WIC. Nearly half of households headed by illegal-immigrants receive food stamps. (This data is from the 2022 SIPP report.) The percentage for native-born households, on the other hand, is 25 percent. (Note: This is a household number, so is not comparable to the total percentage of individuals in the US population who receive food stamps.)

Link to the entire article

Does high protein hurt the heart?

By Dr. Philip Ovaida

As a heart surgeon, one of my favorite mantras is “hit your protein goal.” That’s because many of the patients who walk into my office see enormous metabolic improvements just by swapping dietary carbs for protein.

But maybe you’ve seen research talking about the unhealthiness of high-protein diets. Will getting rid of carbs increase your risk of a heart attack? Or will the amino acids in meat trigger cardiovascular disease?

From a purely scientific standpoint, probably not.

But I’ll go through the research so you can decide for yourself. 

What science says about protein and the heart

Let’s start with the studies sounding the alarm about getting ‘too much’ protein in your diet.

One posited that eating more than 22% of your calories from protein could raise cardiovascular and metabolic health risks.

Another found that “high-protein diets increase cardiovascular risk by activating macrophage mTOR to suppress mitophagy.” In other words, that high protein intake could overstimulate certain immune cells, leading to artery damage and higher cardiovascular risk.

Here’s a quick breakdown of their hypotheses:

  • Eating a large amount of protein in one sitting raises amino acid levels in your blood.
  • Those amino acids collect in artery plaque, or the fatty buildups that encourage atherosclerosis.
  • Inside the plaque, amino acids activate a signaling pathway in immune cells called macrophages (specifically called the mTOR pathway).
  • When this happens, types of white blood cells called macrophages stop clearing out damaged parts of cells.
  • These damaged cells die off, which makes artery plaque more unstable. This means it could rupture and cause heart attacks or strokes.

So researchers concluded eating more than 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight could be harmful to your heart. 

Now, before you start wondering if going vegan is your only option, I’d like to point out a few limitations.

  • Most studies don’t control for the type of protein consumed. After all, there’s a big difference between eating a grilled chicken breast and a 10-count chicken nugget meal from a fast food franchise. Food quality matters, especially with protein, although many studies neglect this or don’t define it explicitly in their results.
  • Many mechanistic studies use isolated amino acids such as leucine or protein powders to measure protein impacts. However, we know the body doesn’t process amino acids from a whole steak or lentils the same way it processes them from supplements. Leucine in these studies may not act the same way in whole, real foods, since fiber, fat, and other nutrients slow absorption and change digestive impacts.
  • Mice don’t develop heart disease the same way humans do, so what causes atherosclerosis in mice doesn’t always translate to people. Look back at that study hypothesizing a higher risk of atherosclerosis from high protein. That number was present in a cohort of mice, not people. 
  • Increased signaling in immune cells isn’t the same as a greater number of heart attacks or plaque buildup in the body. As one study found: “protein ingestion has a negligible impact on whole-body amino acid oxidation.” Biological reactions may not always translate to risk. 

For all these reasons, among many others, we lack concrete data to say high-protein diets are “bad” for the heart. High protein may actually be critical to those recovering from heart attacks or reclaiming metabolic health.

One study found that high-protein diets improve weight loss, reduce triglycerides, and improve HDL cholesterol, all of which are protective for the heart.

We also also know people lose muscle mass and bone density due to inactivity and inflammation after a heart attack. A higher protein intake can help maintain this lean body mass, which supports exercise tolerance and recovery moving forward. 

This complements yet another study: higher protein intake after a heart attack may improve long-term patient prognosis. According to their analysis, heart attack patients eating high-quality protein had a much lower 10-year cardiovascular risk score compared to patients eating +50% less protein per week.

Why does research say two different things? 

First, nutrition science is still quite young. It’s been less than 100 years since we isolated the first vitamin, after all. The science isn’t settled, and there’s still much to learn, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that we’re still exploring new biomechanisms.

We also have to look at differences in terms and study structure. There’s a big difference between studying metabolically unwell young people versus metabolically healthy older adults, for example.

And don’t forget that N = 1. One person’s response to protein won’t be the same as someone else’s, especially within unique age, sex, or health cohorts. 

But I can confidently say that the benefits of protein far outweigh any warning to the contrary, especially for those recovering from poor metabolic health.

What about all those other problems with protein?

Protein has become quite the target for misinformation. If you’re active on X, you likely know what I mean.

I can’t dispel all protein myths here, but I felt it was appropriate to cover a few topics. 

First: most people actually underconsume protein, not overconsume it. Americans have a mean protein intake of 16%, which is less than half the max range of even US food pyramid RDVs.

And no, high protein isn’t bad for the kidneys. If you live with liver and kidney problems, then yes, you may need to plan your meals. But this applies only to a very small portion of the population.

When healthy, resistance-trained adults consume high-protein diets (think 3x higher than recommended daily values), there is no evidence of harmful side effects on kidneys and renal function. You can find details of that in this study and this one.

So please: don’t believe for one second that increasing your protein intake will do more harm than good. If you’re looking to repair, restore, or protect your metabolic health, a high-protein diet will be an incredibly powerful tool.

So will too much protein hurt your heart?

No, not at all. Especially not as part of a metabolically healthy lifestyle.

And if you’re at high metabolic risk, it might be worthwhile to increase your macros. 

That means:

  • Eating more whole, real animal proteins. I recommend ruminant animals such as beef, venison, buffalo, and lamb, although chicken, turkey, and seafood are excellent choices. I talk through other options in my guide covering the proper way to set a protein goal.
  • More non-muscle proteins such as cheese, eggs, and milk. Despite what you may have heard, eating eggs won’t spike your LDL cholesterol and lead to heart disease. 
  • Supplementing when necessary with convenient protein options. Uncured, less processed options such as meat snacks may be beneficial. You could also opt for protein powders, although I’d recommend those without high quantities of lead.

Following a high-protein diet for better heart health

High-protein diets aren’t a danger to your heart health. For the vast majority of people, it’s one of the best lifestyle changes you could make. 

If you’re not sure how to get started, I’ve written quite a few guides. Learn more about using high-protein diets to support your heart health in the following resources:

Source

Breast Cancer Month Hypocrisy

I lost my Mom to breast cancer. She beat it twice and battled it for 3 decades. In what amounts to malpractice, she ultimately succumbed to it. I do not take it lightly. So before you get outraged and be a SJW Karen with your panties in a wad, read the following and see what should happen if you do more than wear a pink ribbon. There’s a ribbon for every cause, but taking action to cure it is the ultimate expression of support.

Original article and source start here.

Once again, it’s “Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” as we’re hit with pink ribbons and fundraising alerts from breast cancer groups.

Two organizations that solicit funds purportedly for fighting breast cancer are the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).

Wouldn’t you assume that groups promoting breast cancer awareness want women to actually decrease the risk by having women know all the risk factors?

Yet the biggest promoters of Breast Cancer Awareness month either omit the abortion factor or actually deny it.

Typically, these groups list lower risk factors that line up with their pro-abortion stance. What good does it do to mention exercise or alcohol while refusing to go near what has been found in studies around the world — abortion.

It’s also absurd to list family history as a risk factor — which is true but not preventable — while refusing to discuss abortion which is preventable.

It sounds unbelievable that groups claiming to be working against breast cancer are actually promoting breast cancer by not telling young women the full truth. But that’s exactly the situation.

Breast Cancer Hypocrisy Month

The closest either group comes to the abortion issue is Komen, mentioning breastfeeding as part of a healthy life for lowering risk: “Breastfeed if you can. Women who breastfeed have a lower risk of breast cancer than women who don’t breastfeed, especially before menopause. The longer a woman breastfeeds in her lifetime, the lower her risk may be.”

Correct. But why omit the significant factor of abortion if you really want to educate people?

BCRF lists these factors: weight/diet/exercise, alcohol use, smoking, timing of pregnancy, breastfeeding, and hormone use. Under ‘timing of pregnancy,’ we read, “giving birth later (after 30) or not having children can both increase a person’s breast cancer risk.”  That’s as close as they get s to mentioning the drastic increase in risk after abortion. Yet they plead for donations: “Triple your impact for life-saving research during Breast Cancer Awareness Month!”

What’s the point of more research if they refuse to talk about the existing research?

Komen states: “Research clearly shows abortion (also called induced abortion) is not linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.”

That statement is false.

When Dr. Angela Lanfranchi, founder of the Breast Cancer Prevention Institute, attended medical school in the 1970s, women who got breast cancer were overwhelmingly older. As a breast surgeon, she saw younger women getting breast cancer and she became alarmed.

“I became concerned because I saw a lot of women in their 30s with breast cancer.” Lanfranchi shared with Human Life International. “None of them had a genetic reason… It was heartbreaking because all three had young children… so I started looking into risk factors.”

Research already showed that if you smoked and had a child, your risk of breast cancer increased 69%, but if you smoked and had no children, the risk increased 649%. What was it about having a child that protected women from getting breast cancer, Lanfranchi wanted to know.

In 2023, JAMA published a study of U.S. cancers from 2010 to 2019.  Women age 20-29 had a 5.3% increase in breast cancer and those 30-39 had a 19.4% increase in breast cancer. Shockingly, late stage, less curable breast cancer rate under age 40 has increased 3% per year over that time period. Young black women have almost five times the abortion rate as Caucasians and are suffering the greatest increases in breast cancer. These vulnerable women need early screening if their lives are to be saved. “

So the dramatic increase in breast cancer was noticed; what wasn’t cited was the causes that had already shown up in studies done since 1957.

In 1996, Dr. Joel Brind, endocrinologist and professor at Baruch College of the City University of NY, did a meta-analysis of all research on abortion and breast cancer and found confirmation.

Abortionists like Planned Parenthood emphasize the negatives of having a child, not the ramifications of abortion. The suppression of the truth is reinforced by the nation’s two largest breast cancer charities, leaving women in the dark about a growing disease by the very people who claim to be pro-woman.

The nation’s top abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, also promotes breast cancer awareness while denying the abortion connection. They use the month of October to fundraise, bragging that they offer breast exams while they profit from abortion.

How absurd is it to offer breast screening exams while simultaneously promoting breast cancer by selling abortion?

Time to Connect the Dots

BCPI’s Dr. Lanfranchi says the research from China is conclusive that breast cancer is the #1 risk factor for abortion.

China’s 1979 one-child policy led to an explosion of breast cancer. Forced and multiple abortions led to more screening for breast cancer as the rates and mortality increased greatly.

 In 2019, the Chinese developed a risk model for Chinese women by conducting epidemiological studies to find the greatest risks in China. One study found a 151% increase risk with 1-2 abortions and a 530% increase in risk with three or more abortions. If women were over 30 years old when they had their first child, they had a 258% increased risk than women who were <25 years old when they had their first child.   

Another study in 2022 found, “that when the rate of abortion rose, so did the risk of breast cancer. This association is biologically plausible as full-term pregnancy is a protective factor for breast cancer, and the breast enlarges due to the changing level of estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy. Immature breast cells are more likely to transform into breast cancer cells when the pregnancy is ended via abortion, which raises the risk of breast cancer.”

In fact, they found abortion was the greatest risk factor with a 613% increased risk for two or more abortions. About half of all U.S. women have repeat abortions.

Apparently, “Federal grant givers (NIH and NCI) are reluctant to publish data that might call into question the safety of abortion and hormonal contraception that is deemed essential to protect our planet from global warming and over-population,” Lanfranchi points out.  “It’s ironic that in a country not known for freedoms [China], there was seemingly no problem in publishing data that could be seen as a criticism of public policy on abortion but not in the land of the free and the brave.”

Despite the dishonesty of many scientists in the U.S., the world’s scientific literature confirms the Abortion/Breast Cancer Link. 

It’s disgusting that those profiting from abortion are using breast cancer to sell more abortions. The American Life league (ALL) cautions people against supporting these organizations.

Both earned negative ratings from the ALL’s Charity Watchlist, while the Breast Cancer Prevention Institute has a positive rating. ALL’s director Katie Xavios explained the most egregious concerns uncovered in researching these organizations.

“In 2024, a staggering 360,000 women across the nation are estimated to face the devastating diagnosis of breast cancer,” observed Brown. “The devaluation of human life as practiced by the Komen Foundation and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation compounds this tragedy. We urge donors who wish to support breast cancer prevention to consider charitable organizations that affirm and protect human life regardless of stage of development.”

“Life-minded donors seeking to support the fight against breast cancer will be pleased to discover that the Breast Cancer Prevention Institute (BCPI) upholds pro-life values and does not support anti-life organizations or agendas.”

source

The Science Behind Why Socializing Drains Introverts

To the extroverts, please read this. Introverts will read this and say this is me.

ByJenn Granneman

If you’ve ever felt exhausted from socializing, there’s a very real reason — it has to do with our unique wiring as introverts.

An extrovert and an introvert walk into a bar. It’s a Saturday night, so the place is buzzing with energy. A cover band croons away on stage while groups of people stand around, clutching drinks and nearly shouting to be heard.

The extrovert takes in the scene and feels a surge of excitement. He sees social opportunities everywhere — an attractive woman at the bar, friends to chat with, and the chance to cut loose and have fun. He walks straight up to his group of friends, gives one of them a hearty slap on the back, and orders a beer.

The introvert experiences the situation differently. He hangs back for a moment, surveying the scene and taking everything in. Then, he quietly joins his friends. He feels a bit overwhelmed, drowning in the noise and activity, but he tells himself to relax — this is supposed to be fun, after all.

And for a while, the introvert does have fun. But it doesn’t last.

Soon, the introvert starts to feel tired. Really tired. Not only does his body feel physically fatigued, but his mind becomes foggy and slow (and not just from the drinks). He desperately wants to head home — or at least step outside — where it’s quiet and calm, and he can be alone. He’s already getting an introvert hangover.

He glances over at the extrovert, who’s still chatting away with friends. The extrovert doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. In fact, he looks even more energized than when they arrived.

Sound familiar?

If you’ve ever felt exhausted from socializing, there’s a very real reason. Here’s the science behind why socializing can be draining for us “quiet ones” — it has to do with our unique wiring as introverts.

Socializing Can Be Draining for Everyone

First, let’s clear a few things up. The scenario above is just an example and a generalization. Not every extrovert spends their weekends partying, and sometimes, we introverts live it up, too. We all exhibit introverted behavior at times and extroverted behavior at others. According to the famed Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, there’s no such thing as a “pure” introvert or extrovert. We all fall somewhere on the spectrum that defines introversion and extroversion.

Another point to consider: Socializing is actually draining for everyone eventually. A 2016 study from the University of Helsinki found that participants reported higher levels of fatigue three hours after socializing — whether they were introverts or extroverts. How tired they felt depended on several factors: how many people they’d met, the intensity of the interaction, and whether they had a specific goal in mind.

It makes sense that both introverts and extroverts would feel tired after socializing, as it expends energy. You have to talk, listen, and process what’s being said, among other things.

However, there are some very real differences between introverts and extroverts.

Introverts, Extroverts, and Rewards

These differences stem from how we respond to rewards. Rewards can be things like getting the phone number of an attractive stranger, getting promoted at work, or enjoying a delicious meal.

We all enjoy rewards, and we all desire them. But introverts and extroverts react differently to them.

To understand why socializing can quickly wear out introverts, I spoke with Colin DeYoung, a psychology professor at the University of Minnesota, who recently published a paper on introversion. I was conducting research for my book, The Secret Lives of Introverts. DeYoung, like other experts, believes that extroverts have a more activated dopamine system than introverts.

What Is Dopamine?

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in the body’s communication system, helping to control various functions by sending signals between the brain and the body. Often referred to as the “feel-good hormone,” it’s associated with positive emotions like bliss, euphoria, and concentration. Dopamine is vital for a wide range of bodily functions, from movement to sleep to mood regulation. When you experience pleasure — such as eating your favorite foods or during sex — your brain releases dopamine.

However, there can be a dark side to dopamine. It’s strongly linked to addiction. Some recreational drugs, for example, stimulate the release of dopamine and increase its levels in the brain, leading to dependency. That’s how powerful dopamine can be.

Social media platforms tap into the power of dopamine, giving you a boost of it when you watch a funny video or receive likes on your post. This is what keeps you scrolling, even when you know you have better things to do than stare at your phone. In this way, dopamine can keep us hooked on endless scrolling.

Extroverts Have a More Active Dopamine System

So, what does this have to do with socializing?

Because extroverts have a more active dopamine system, they get more excited by the possibility of reward. Dopamine energizes them to strike up a conversation with a stranger or stay at the bar until last call. Even though these activities can be tiring, dopamine reduces the cost of effort, much like getting a shot of espresso before running a race.

Dopamine even explains why extroverts might talk louder, faster, and with more confidence. These behaviors draw more attention to themselves and increase their chances of gaining social rewards.

Introverts have dopamine, too, but our dopamine system isn’t as “turned up” as that of an extrovert. We’re simply not as driven to pursue the same rewards that extroverts chase.

Having a less active dopamine system also means that introverts may find certain levels of stimulation — like loud noise and lots of activity — to be overwhelming, annoying, and exhausting. This explains why the introvert in the bar scenario was ready to leave after a while.

Want to feel more at ease in social situations?

Discover the secrets to enjoying fun, meaningful conversations. Know exactly what to say — even if you’re introverted, shy, or socially anxious. Feel less drained and have more energy while socializing.

Be the first to hear when Jenn Granneman’s new book is released — and get two FREE gifts to help you feel more comfortable in conversations right now:

The Introvert’s Superpower

Introverts don’t seek rewards to the same degree that extroverts do. Is this a bad thing? In my opinion, no. It’s actually the introvert’s superpower.

We all know that one friend who partied too hard and paid the price, or the workaholic who compromised her health and relationships. These are people who chased rewards — hard.

Instead of seeking external validation, introverts tend to turn inward. They might research topics simply for the joy of learning something new. In their careers, they seek a calling that’s more than just a paycheck. They desire depth and intimacy in their relationships — a connection that is mind-to-mind and heart-to-heart — rather than an abundance of casual acquaintances.

I’m not suggesting that all extroverts are shallow and all introverts are deep. That’s simply not true. Sometimes extroverts pursue quiet, intrinsically rewarding activities; sometimes introverts seek status and other external rewards. A healthy, successful life for anyone should include a mix of both.

When writing my book, I asked introverts to share what motivates and energizes them. They all mentioned low-key activities, like a solo shopping trip, a meaningful conversation with a friend, finishing a good book, or expressing themselves through art. If it weren’t for the introvert’s less active dopamine system, they might not engage in these activities as much. The introvert’s way isn’t about chasing rewards but rather about seeking meaning.

Father Of The Year

Using Rat Poison to Escape Paying Child Support

Posted on by Baron Bodissey

A young “German” is on trial in Lower Bavaria for attempting to murder his 3-year-old daughter with rat poison in order to avoid paying child support for her. The misguided youth accused of the crime was born in Afghanistan, and later made his way to Europe to enrich Germany with his vibrant diversity.

The catechism taught to Westerners about third-world immigrants asserts that the new arrivals may wear outlandish costumes and observe quaint customs, but underneath they are just like us. Stories like this one should put paid to such notions once and for all: they are fundamentally different from native Europeans and people of European descent.

Story

Let illegal moral-less animals into your country and watch it turn into a shithole

Rethinking What “Wealth” Really Means in Retirement

For most of our working lives, wealth is defined in numbers. We measure it in bank balances, investment returns, property values, and retirement account statements. It’s the sum of decades of hard work and careful planning — a financial safety net meant to secure our later years. But once you actually reach retirement, something shifts. The meaning of “wealth” starts to evolve. It becomes less about how much you have, and more about how deeply you live.

When you no longer have to chase paychecks or promotions, the things that once defined success lose their urgency. The focus moves from accumulation to appreciation — from “How much do I have?” to “What truly matters now?”

Time Becomes the Ultimate Currency

In retirement, time is the one asset you can finally spend freely. It’s the resource you once traded away for income, deadlines, and career goals. Now it’s yours again. How you choose to invest it — in travel, family, faith, or personal passions — says far more about your wealth than any number on a statement.

There’s something profoundly freeing about waking up without an alarm clock or a to-do list set by someone else. That sense of control over your time is a form of wealth that many people don’t recognize until they experience it.

Relationships Over Returns

While financial comfort is essential for peace of mind, studies repeatedly show that social connections have a greater impact on longevity and happiness than income or assets. True wealth in retirement often comes from nurturing the relationships that bring meaning to your life — whether it’s time with a spouse, deepening bonds with friends, or creating memories with grandchildren.

Some retirees even use their newfound freedom to rebuild old relationships that fell to the wayside during busy working years. Picking up the phone, writing a letter, or visiting an old friend can enrich your life in ways no financial investment ever could.

Health as the Foundation of Prosperity

Ask anyone facing health challenges, and they’ll tell you: without well-being, wealth doesn’t mean much. Good health allows you to enjoy the fruits of your labor — the travels, the hobbies, the simple pleasures. Maintaining physical strength, mental clarity, and emotional balance becomes a daily investment in your quality of life.

That might mean spending a little extra on nutritious food, gym memberships, or preventive care — not as expenses, but as deposits into your most important asset. A strong body and mind are what allow you to truly experience the richness of this chapter.

Purpose Is the New Paycheck

Many retirees struggle at first with the sudden loss of structure that work once provided. But retirement offers a chance to redefine purpose on your own terms. Maybe that means mentoring young people, volunteering, creating art, or building something new. Purpose fuels vitality and joy — and often leads to the most rewarding kind of “profit”: fulfillment.

You don’t need to earn a salary to feel valuable. Sometimes the wealthiest retirees are the ones who give the most — of their time, wisdom, and compassion.

Gratitude Turns Enough Into Abundance

Gratitude has a way of reframing everything. When you look at what you already have — health, freedom, family, faith, or the simple beauty of a quiet morning — life feels abundant, no matter what your portfolio says.

True wealth isn’t measured by accumulation but by appreciation. It’s realizing that every sunrise, every conversation, every moment of laughter is part of your return on investment for a life well-lived.

In the end, rethinking wealth isn’t about abandoning money — it’s about putting it in its rightful place. Financial security matters, but it’s just one piece of a much larger picture. Real wealth is health, time, love, peace, and purpose.

That’s the kind of wealth that doesn’t fade with the markets — and the kind that only grows richer with age.

Source

Father Of The Year

A Florida father continued his food delivery route after his nonverbal, autistic son disappeared from the car, police said

The Altamonte Springs Police Department (ASPD) said Jeremy Rouse faces child neglect charges after bystanders found his young son naked and by himself on an interstate entrance ramp Oct. 16 in Altamonte Springs, according to FOX 35 Orlando. Rouse allegedly admitted he discovered that the boy was missing but kept working to protect his Uber Eats rating.

More

Different Headlines: Penis Costume At No Kings Protest, The Rules For A Long And Happy Life,

Superbowl Halftime

Petition Seeks to Swap Bad Bunny for George Strait at Super Bowl – so many good songs…You know me better than that, Clear Blue Sky, Amarillo By Morning, and more. I usually put the halftime show on hold the last few years. I can’t remember a really good one. If it’s Bad Bunny, I’ll go from 2nd to 3rd quarter while I miss all of the halftime show.

NFL Claims Bad Bunny Will Deliver “United Moment” at Super Bowl Halftime Show – and pigs can fly also.

Life

The Rules for a Long and Happy Life

No Kings Results

Soros Poured Millions Into No Kings Protests — but They Still Flopped

The ‘Unifying’ No Kings Protests Were Anything But

No Kings Idiots Are Beyond ‘Lose Your Job’ and Entered ‘Criminal Territory’ With Violent Rhetoric [VIDEO]

Alabama Police Arrest 61-Year-Old Woman in Penis Costume at Anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ Protest

The War On Men and Masulinity

Western Civilization Depends on Men and Masculinity – read it before you judge the title or you are the problem.

Louvre Heist

Historic ‘First Woman’ Security Chief Oversaw Embarrassing Louvre Heist – Res ipsa loquitur

Surveillance Camera Pointed the Wrong Way Allowed Louvre Heist

Cancer

The Silent Threat That Can Influence Your Cancer Survival

WNBA

The season ended – I had no idea, and cared even less.

Politics

Pelosi to Announce Plans After Nov. 4 California Election – She is insider trading again? Got more cases of Vodka from Russia?

EV’s

Tesla set for strong quarter fueled by rush to get expiring US EV tax credits – And then we’ll see if anyone wants one without a credit

8 Confessions of an Extreme Introvert

By Delilah Ho

If I come across as rude, it’s not that I don’t like you. As a very introverted person, I’m probably just uncomfortable.

It’s difficult being an introvert in a world that only works smoothly if you’re an extrovert. You’re expected to perform well in large groups, socialize often, speak up loudly, and be outgoing. As a highly introverted person, I get mentally and physically fatigued doing all of those things on a daily basis.

Here are eight things I wish people knew about me as an extreme introvert who also experiences social anxiety. Fellow “quiet ones,” can you relate?

Confessions of an Extreme Introvert

1. If I come across as rude, it’s not that I don’t like you. I’m probably just uncomfortable.

Some assume that I don’t like people because I don’t talk or smile much when I first meet them. It’s never my intention to be rude or cold, it’s just that there are a thousand things running through my head at the moment: “What should I say?” “What do you think of me?” and “Do I look like a hot mess right now?” And so on.

I’m quiet around the people I don’t know well, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I don’t like them. As an extreme introvert, I’m just uncomfortable when meeting new people. Honestly, sometimes just being around new people overwhelms me and I freeze up.

It’s easy for my extroverted friends to chat with strangers and make new friends at practically a moment’s notice. But for me, it’s like I need a month in advance to mentally prepare! And even if I did get that advanced notice, when the day arrived, I probably still would not feel ready.

2. I love being alone but I hate the loneliness.

As an introvert, I enjoy doing things by myself. I go shopping on my own. I go to coffee shops on my own. I go to the movies on my own — and I absolutely love it. I don’t feel awkward or uncomfortable being alone in public. Honestly, it’s my preferred state. I love watching everything going on around me and being alone with my own thoughts.

However, as much as I relish being alone, there are times when I crave the love, company, and affection of other human beings. Although I say that I don’t mind doing things alone, sometimes I wish I had someone to do those things with me.

You know, doing what friends do.

You see, no one likes being lonely, even if they’re extremely introverted. We “quiet ones” need close relationships and strong connections in our life, too.

3. Small talk makes me nervous.

I despise small talk because I don’t know how to act around small talk. Usually, when people engage me in chitchat, I give short answers like “oh” and “yeah.” As a result, I think I unintentionally come across as aloof or rude.

Little by little, I’m getting better at making conversation, because it can be a joy to talk with someone who “gets” me. But to be completely honest, I still get nervous chatting about the weather or my weekend plans. It makes my heart beat fast, and later, I think about how I acted in the conversation. Sometimes I beat myself up for not knowing what to say or do. I know not every introvert experiences social anxiety, but it’s my reality every day.

I actually prefer deep conversations straight away.

Ask me what I think of the latest news. Ask me what I think of Freud. Ask me what I think about global warming. Oddly, I can answer those questions without feeling the least bit awkward.

4. I wish I had more close friends.

I have a small group of good friends. They are people who I feel comfortable being around, so I almost always hang out exclusively with them. But if I’m being honest, I wish I had more people that I could hang out with. Yet this goes back to #1 — I feel uncomfortable meeting new people.

Honestly, there are times when I wish people would approach me instead of me having to approach them. That may seem like a strange thing for an extreme introvert to say, but it’s easier for me when other people take the lead in social situations.

Because of this challenge, I finished four years of college with hardly any friends. I may say that, as an extreme introvert, I’m fine with it, but I actually regret not making more of an effort to meet people. Again, it’s a skill I’m working to improve, but like any new skill, it takes time.

5. Even though I love him, dealing with my extroverted boyfriend can be stressful.

I love my extroverted boyfriend but sometimes it drains me to be with him.

He often wants to do things that I would not do in a million years, and he struggles to understand why I’d rather stay home than go out and “explore,” as he calls it. He wants me to meet his friends and family, but I get extremely anxious just thinking about doing that. Sometimes he tells me about social plans last minute, which gives me little time to mentally prepare.

Source

Personally, I don’t agree with number 4. I’m good with what I have. I weed out the insincere ones and my friends are my true friends, few as they are

Somebody finally figured out how ‘wokeism’ started — and no, it wasn’t Obama or Marxism…

This is a good breakdown of how it happened. It figures who was behind it. They can ruin everything they touch. Even my son says 9 out of 10 girls are not worth it because they make it that way.

Writer Helen Andrews just dropped a piece that’s getting a lot of buzz in conservative media. In her new piece, Helen argues that the rise of “wokeness” wasn’t born from Marxism, academia, or even Obama-era politics. That in itself had people shocked. Helen theorizes that it actually came from something way simpler… the quiet but steady feminization of America’s most powerful institutions.

Intrigued? Yes, so were we….

READ MORE: Bernie-backed Maine oyster farmer exposed: ‘communist’ hates fellow ‘rural white Americans’…

Andrews calls this cultural shift “The Great Feminization,” and her theory flips a lot of earlier assumptions on their head. Helen pinpoints this shift back to the moment Larry Summers was pushed out of Harvard back in 2005 for suggesting that men and women might have different skills in science. Helen believes that was the spark that ignited the entire woke era… when emotional outrage replaced rational debate and these elite institutions began enforcing left-wing ideology through feelings instead of facts.

Andrews backs up her argument with data that shows how back in the 2010s, women became the majority in nearly every elite profession. From law and medicine to media and academia, the ladies began running the show. Helen says once that shift happened, the entire vibe changed: empathy over logic, safety over risk, and comfort over competition.

Compact Mag:

In 2019, I read an article about Larry Summers and Harvard that changed the way I look at the world. The author, writing under the pseudonym “J. Stone,” argued that the day Larry Summers resigned as president of Harvard University marked a turning point in our culture. The entire “woke” era could be extrapolated from that moment, from the details of how Summers was cancelled and, most of all, who did the cancelling: women.

The basic facts of the Summers case were familiar to me. On January 14, 2005, at a conference on “Diversifying the Science and Engineering Workforce,” Larry Summers gave a talk that was supposed to be off the record. In it, he said that female underrepresentation in hard sciences was partly due to “different availability of aptitude at the high end” as well as taste differences between men and women “not attributable to socialization.” Some female professors in attendance were offended and sent his remarks to a reporter, in defiance of the off-the-record rule. The ensuing scandal led to a no-confidence vote by the Harvard faculty and, eventually, Summers’s resignation.

The essay argued that it wasn’t just that women had cancelled the president of Harvard; it was that they’d cancelled him in a very feminine way. They made emotional appeals rather than logical arguments. “When he started talking about innate differences in aptitude between men and women, I just couldn’t breathe because this kind of bias makes me physically ill,” said Nancy Hopkins, a biologist at MIT. Summers made a public statement clarifying his remarks, and then another, and then a third, with the apology more insistent each time. Experts chimed in to declare that everything Summers had said about sex differences was within the scientific mainstream. These rational appeals had no effect on the mob hysteria.

This cancellation was feminine, the essay argued, because all cancellations are feminine. Cancel culture is simply what women do whenever there are enough of them in a given organization or field. That is the Great Feminization thesis, which the same author later elaborated upon at book length: Everything you think of as “wokeness” is simply an epiphenomenon of demographic feminization.

The explanatory power of this simple thesis was incredible. It really did unlock the secrets of the era we are living in. Wokeness is not a new ideology, an outgrowth of Marxism, or a result of post-Obama disillusionment. It is simply feminine patterns of behavior applied to institutions where women were few in number until recently. How did I not see it before?

Possibly because, like most people, I think of feminization as something that happened in the past before I was born. When we think about women in the legal profession, for example, we think of the first woman to attend law school (1869), the first woman to argue a case before the Supreme Court (1880), or the first female Supreme Court Justice (1981).

A much more important tipping point is when law schools became majority female, which occurred in 2016, or when law firm associates became majority female, which occurred in 2023. When Sandra Day O’Connor was appointed to the high court, only 5 percent of judges were female. Today women are 33 percent of the judges in America and 63 percent of the judges appointed by President Joe Biden.

The same trajectory can be seen in many professions: a pioneering generation of women in the 1960s and ’70s; increasing female representation through the 1980s and ’90s; and gender parity finally arriving, at least in the younger cohorts, in the 2010s or 2020s. In 1974, only 10 percent of New York Times reporters were female. The New York Times staff became majority female in 2018 and today the female share is 55 percent.

Medical schools became majority female in 2019. Women became a majority of the college-educated workforce nationwide in 2019. Women became a majority of college instructors in 2023. Women are not yet a majority of the managers in America but they might be soon, as they are now 46 percent. So the timing fits. Wokeness arose around the same time that many important institutions tipped demographically from majority male to majority female.

The substance fits, too. Everything you think of as wokeness involves prioritizing the feminine over the masculine: empathy over rationality, safety over risk, cohesion over competition. Other writers who have proposed their own versions of the Great Feminization thesis, such as Noah Carl or Bo Winegard and Cory Clark, who looked at feminization’s effects on academia, offer survey data showing sex differences in political values. One survey, for example, found that 71 percent of men said protecting free speech was more important than preserving a cohesive society, and 59 percent of women said the opposite.

We encourage you to read her entire piece here.

Here’s Helen speaking at NatCon 5 in DC, where she expands on her “Great Feminization” theory.

More here plus the video. I couldn’t embed it but it’s at the link

get woke go broke? How about it just ruining everything it touches, especially our lives

Sto Viaggiando. Sono Un Tifoso Questo Fine Settimana – So Marriage Monday Meme’s Next Week

I went to see the F1 race in Austin. You can read the results online, but I’m a Ferrari fan, and they finished 3rd and 4th.

I got to spend time with my son, and at my age, I won’t have many of those opportunities again.

I write about how much I hate traveling and crowds, but to spend time with your kids because they want to be with you is priceless.

There may be some random posts, but I didn’t schedule my favorite, Marriage Monday Meme’s.

AOTW

It’s going to be tough to top Katie Porter, who went into last week as the leader in her race. After a disastrous interview with a liberal interviewer, things started going downhill. Then, it came out how she abused her staff.

Well, her divorce papers came out and she abuses everyone, even her ex.

Hoffman also filed for a restraining order from his rage-prone spouse, claiming she would “routinely” call him a “f—ing idiot” and “f—ing incompetent” – and shattered a glass coffee pot in their kitchen counter in March 2012 when she felt their house wasn’t clean enough.

“She would not let me have a cell phone because she said, ‘You’re too f—ing dumb to operate it,’” Hoffman said of Porter, 51, who has been in the hot seat this week as videos capturing her going scorched-earth and berating her former staff members made headlines.

“When she gets angry, she will claw and scratch her arms and then say to me ‘Look what you made me do!’” She regularly says that I am a bad parent in front of the kids … Recently the children began spitting at me and throwing their food at me, calling me ‘bad daddy.’”

Look at this picture. She even looks like a cnut.

Best Of Pet Meme’s – Part 1

This will be an intermittent series. It’s a happy post while I’m out. Don’t forget, pets are an Introvert’s best friend, and the first thing we look for when stuck with people

Pet Meme’s To Share, Some People Are Animals

Pet Meme’s And Stuff

Pet Meme’s

Pet Meme’s

These Are the 19 Most Stressful Experiences an Introvert Can Have

ByJenn Grannema

Introverts’ brains are wired a little differently than extroverts’ brains, so everyday experiences can become stressful for us “quiet ones.”

Let’s face it, life is stressful, whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert. But if you’re introverted, like 30-50 percent of the population, certain situations that seem easy for others can become very stressful for you. That’s because introverts’ brains are wired somewhat differently than those of extroverts, making them more prone to burnout, exhaustion, and overwhelm.

What Stresses Out Introverts

1. Talking to people

“Even though I’m a singer in a band and a fairly confident person overall, sometimes it can be so hard for me to talk to people or to ask for what I want.”

2. Being put on the spot, especially at work

“I can usually write a wonderful response if I’m given a bit of time, and I’m even pretty good at giving a spoken response if I’m prepared. But when a coworker or my boss demand I answer right now, my mind goes blank under the pressure, even if I’d otherwise know the answer.”

3. Making small talk with strangers or acquaintances

“My brain shuts off and I can’t think of anything to say.”

4. Job interviews

“All the attention is on you. I also hate a lot of the general questions and really hate having to answer what my best qualities are or what makes me the best person for the job. You’re put on the spot with a question and don’t have time to think about your answer — and introverts need that processing time!”

5. Phone calls… to anyone about anything

“I tend to either over-explain myself in hopes of avoiding miscommunication (one of my biggest anxiety triggers), or I’m forced into silence the majority of the time because the person on the other end is a talker. So I feel awkward. Silence over the phone is waaayyy more awkward than in-person silence (which I love).”

6. Meeting new people, especially when the first impression really counts

“I have a few good friends, and they easily see the real me. But as an introvert, it takes a while for my real personality to come out around people I don’t know well. When I meet someone new, I inadvertently come across as closed off, distant, or even stuck up — and this really sucks, especially when you’re trying to make a good impression! Because I know I do this, I put extra pressure on myself, and even then, I finding myself overthinking about the interaction afterward.”

7. Having to deal with people when you haven’t had time to decompress

“When I work long stretches in a row and have to deal with coworkers and customers while running on fumes, it becomes incredibly stressful.”

8. People who drop by unannounced

“Even though I may enjoy that person’s company, I still need time to mentally prepare to be ‘on’ to socialize. Please give me a heads up before you come to my home or drop by my office. I promise you’ll get a better interaction out of me because I won’t be so flustered.”

9. When people ask very direct personal questions

“I know that some mean well, but it feels like interrogating, plus I find it hard to express myself verbally to certain people.”

10. Group projects and all the drama associated with them

“So many times I’ve asked to do it myself instead.”

11. Speaking in front of a large group

“My mind goes blank, I stumble over my words, and I hate having so many eyes looking at me.”

12. Having to give someone negative feedback

“As a highly sensitive introvert, my empathy kicks in and prevents the words from coming out. It feels entirely unnatural and requires a titanic amount of effort. I want to make sure I’ve considered every angle, that I’m being fair and considerate. Speaking feels premature, even after weeks of preparation or contemplation.”

Want to feel more at ease in social situations?

Discover the secrets to enjoying fun, meaningful conversations. Know exactly what to say — even if you’re introverted, shy, or socially anxious. Feel less drained and have more energy while socializing.

Be the first to hear when Jenn Granneman’s new book is released — and get two FREE gifts to help you feel more comfortable in conversations right now:

13. Staff meetings

“I feel like I know what I need to do and I don’t need a staff meeting to do my job. As awful as it sounds, I can only take so much of other people’s opinions and direction. I find I just want to do things my own way.”

14. Leading a meeting or discussion…

“…especially with students or other folks with little incentive to talk. As an introvert, I won’t talk just to fill the silence, so if no one else is talking, we all just kind of sit there and stare at each other.”

15. Working in an open office

“With so much noise and frequent interruptions, some days it can feel like the walls are closing in on you.”

16. That moment when you realize you have to head into the extroverted world

“What’s the most stressful for me? That moment after I’ve arrived at my destination 15 minutes early (gladly) and enjoyed sitting in serene silence alone — and now I’m dreading getting out of my car and being thrown into the mix of everyone in this extroverted world. And I realize that I’ll have to do more than just blend in as highly sensitive introvert — I will have to become what they need me to be. And that’s exhausting.”

17. Networking events

“You’re expected to balance food and drink, make yourself heard over the din, be enclosed by the press of bodies, filter out all the other conversations so you can focus on what’s being said — and be brilliant and sparkling! The difficulty level goes up even more when you have to introduce someone and you can’t remember their name! Names do not stick in my brain.”

18. Confrontation of any kind

“My brain kicks into overdrive, making it almost impossible for me to think clearly, which just makes the problem even worse. And then my mouth just starts saying anything, and I come off feeling foolish because I know I’m saying things that don’t make sense but I can’t stop myself. Afterward, I’ll be left thinking about the interaction for hours or days or even weeks.”

19. Dealing with people in general

“They drain me.”

source

FAFO – Teacher Who Threatened Student Who Supported Charlie Kirk

Oklahoma State University student Joshua Wilson wears a Turning Point USA hat given to him by Charlie Kirk (Video screenshot)
Oklahoma State University student Joshua Wilson wears a Turning Point USA hat given to him by Charlie Kirk

In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, an Oklahoma State University student is going public after a school official reprimanded him for his support of the slain civil-rights leader, saying some people could be “triggered” simply because he wore a Turning Point USA hat with the number 47 on it.

Student Joshua Wilson is exposing the actions of Melisa Echols, OSU’s coordinator of student-government programs, who told him: “As a person who doesn’t look like you and has not had the same lived experience as you, I have family who don’t look like you who are triggered – and I will be very candid with you – who are triggered by those hats and by that side.”

While Wilson told Echols he understood her concerns, he didn’t believe wearing a Turning Point hat was partisan, and he rejected the claim it was somehow harmful to other students.

Echols at one point was angered that Wilson defended his stance.

“‘But’ cannot be the end of every statement. That’s not a learned lesson,” Echols said. “It cannot just be, ‘yes, but’ – cannot be every response that you give me. Otherwise, this year is going to be difficult for you.”

LibsofTikTok reports action has now been taken against Echols: “According to TPUSA, the staff member who reprimanded a student for honoring Charlie has been placed on administrative leave. Bye Bye.”

More

It figures, a liberal white (fat) woman who teaches at a college.

Posting Will Be Slower The Next Week

I’ll be taking a Father/Son trip for a few days, so posting will be slow.

I’ve scheduled most of the usuals already, with at least one best of (tune in to see what), so there should be a post each day.

If I do put something up, you can take shots at where we went. It’s one of our shared passions. We’ve gone through fishing, hunting, Karate, and this together over the years.

I usually introvert out and try not to go to stuff with people, but spending some of the little time I have left with my son makes it worth it to do.

It’s not like what I post changes the world, but I hope it brings some diversion from life from time to time.

Oh, and bad guys who think my abode is free to raid, there is a special surprise for you if you try.

The Courage to Stand Alone in an Age of Cowards

This happens to me a lot. Most recently, I was the only one in my family or friends who refused to get the COVID-19 jab. I was pressured on all sides, but it was wrong for me. People even told me how sorry they felt for me that I wasn’t. While I didn’t reciprocate the sentiment verbally, I was thinking how I felt sorry for them. That’s just one example, but it’s a pattern that goes through my life. I’m willing to stand up for what I believe in, even if it means facing ostracism. Inevitably, a lot of what caused my actions came true. It was worth not doing what everyone else does. In reading back that sentence to myself, I just realized that it sounds like my high school experiences.

Fortunately, my introvertedness allows me to move along and not worry if I’m the odd man out. It’s a blessing to not be in the crowd.

Now for the story:

The bravest souls are rarely the loudest in the room, but they are often the most misunderstood. In an age when conformity is dressed up as virtue and applause is the currency of self-worth, those who refuse to play by the script become lightning rods. They provoke discomfort simply by existing in truth. They trigger the insecure, unsettle the complacent, and disturb the carefully curated illusions of the fake.

We like to imagine that the pressure to conform ends with adolescence, with the awkward teenage years when belonging matters more than authenticity. But Solomon Asch’s conformity experiments in the 1950s proved otherwise. In a simple exercise—identifying which line matched another in length—he planted actors in the room to all give the same obviously wrong answer. Time and again, the lone real participant abandoned the truth they could plainly see with their own eyes and went along with the group. Three out of four conformed at least once. Not because they were fooled, but because they did not want to stand out. The fear of sticking out, of being “that person,” overpowered reality itself.

And here is the sobering part: that experiment never ended. It repeats itself every day in classrooms, workplaces, media echo chambers, and politics. People choose the safety of the crowd over the solitude of truth. They surrender what they know is real because they do not want the chill of unpopularity or the sting of rejection. The applause comes cheap, but the price of dissent feels unbearable.

Pair that with Stanley Milgram’s obedience studies in the 1960s—where 65 percent of participants willingly administered what they thought were lethal shocks to another person simply because an authority told them to—and you see the bleak pattern. Obedience to authority and conformity to the crowd are the twin forces that crush truth. And yet, every turning point in history has been authored by those who resisted both—the prophets, the dissidents, the whistleblowers, and the reformers.

To live this way is to accept loneliness as a companion. It is to endure suspicion, ridicule, and rejection, not because one is wrong but because one refuses to settle for the comforting lie. Truth costs dearly, but its reward is integrity: an internal compass that does not lose its bearing when the crowd veers off course.

Applause fades. It always does. What endures is the quiet, steady force of those who never sold out, never bent, and never exchanged their essence for acceptance. They may never be fully understood in their time, but they will always be remembered as the ones who saw clearly, stood firmly, and lived bravely.

source, except for the lead in which is my life

What Does AI Have To Say About This Blog

For kicks, I asked a couple of different engines….here you go

The blog johnsimonds.com, also known as “Delusions of Adequacy,” is written by John Simonds, a critical thinker and writer who uses sarcasm and analytical pattern recognition to explore various topics. The blog lampoons subjects like “Woke” culture, the behavior of “Karens,” hypocrites in positions of power, social media, technology, global power, and issues requiring thoughtful analysis.

Delusions is a platform where he expresses his sharp wit and critique of societal trends, often highlighting power grabs and manipulation, such as his early views on the COVID-19 vaccine narrative. His writing features a sarcastic tone combined with deep pattern recognition and analysis, aiming to reveal truths often obscured by media and political influences. Alongside societal topics, he also writes about introversion, IQ, and success strategies based on his observations and experiences.

Delusions has a background in communications and analyst relations, having worked for companies like IBM. His education includes philosophy (school of hard knocks) and business administration. The blog reflects his intellectual and somewhat contrarian perspective, mingled with a sarcastic style.

Overall, Delusions of Adequacy serves as an outlet for his critical and sometimes provocative views on contemporary cultural and political matters, as well as insights into intelligence, social behavior, and personal development.

—

Then, there’s this:

Ideological / Political Slant
The blog clearly leans strongly toward conservative / anti‑liberal, reactionary rhetoric. Some posts present critiques of “left” ideologies, social justice, or what the author perceives as overreach by government, media, or academia. The language is blunt and provocative. (got that one right)

Mix of Personal and Public
The blog seems to straddle the line between being a personal blog (writing about “My Life,” self‑help, work experiences) and being an opinion / commentary site. The author uses personal voice, “I” statements, reflections, but also publishes political and public commentary. (yep)

Content, Themes & Style

  • The blog has multiple categories: My Life, Self‑Help, Work, News, General / Opinion, etc.
  • Self‑help category includes posts about mental and physical health, learning, productivity, and life decisions.
  • Work category includes posts critical of meetings, on work ethic, reflections from earlier jobs, aversion to inefficiency.
  • News / Political / Public Commentary is present — e.g. a post about Dr. Jorge Zamora‑Quezada’s alleged medical fraud is under the “news” category.
  • Another post, “Why Vegans Aren’t As Smart – Your Brain Needs Meat,” uses dismissive, provocative language toward veganism, calling it a “religion” and mocking it.
  • The tone is partisan and loaded: for instance, in a post about Jimmy Kimmel and celebrity commentary, the author uses strong language (“celebtards,” “they are so stupid,” etc.) and frames the discussion in combative, ideological terms.
  • Many posts are dated and archived over the years, including ones from 2012 (e.g. “How An Average Joe Can Be A Millionaire”)

Well, it’s somewhat close. At least they got the combatative, sarcastic, blunt, provocative and celebtards right. I thought I called Kimmel an asshole.

They missed the whole Introvert thing. That’s important to me

Oh, I do mock vegans. Sorry, but not sorry.

AOTW

It would be too easy to pin this on Schumer, but he got the shutdown named for him and the longer Government isn’t working, the less money they are wasting.

Actress and comedian Leslie Jones swung by Comedy Central’s The Daily Show on Thursday for one of her irregularly scheduled rants. This time, Jones, who is not exactly struggling financially, demanded other people pay her reparations and wondered why America hates black people.

Jones kicked off her rant by discussing social media posts by President Trump about the Smithsonian that argued the museums were too negative and focused too much on slavery, “Honestly, honestly, I don’t think museums go far enough. If you don’t leave an African American history museum weeping and wanting to give your closest black friends reparations, then they didn’t do the museum right. And let me say this, by the way, 40 acres and a mule is not enough anymore. I want 40 acres and a trust fund, how about that? Matter of fact, throw in the mule if you want to. I need something to carry my money.”

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But, it’s going to be hard to top this asshole.

Tennis legend Serena Williams recently asked her social media followers their opinions on some decor she found inside a New York City hotel.

Williams was in town for an event put on by apparel companies SKIMS and Nike, which included a walk on a red carpet with Kim Kardashian. On Thursday, Williams made a temporary Instagram story post from inside an unknown hotel room where she made a discovery.

‘She has a thing against cotton??’

In a point-of-view video, Williams walks up to a cotton plant sitting on a table in a hallway and asks her audience, “All right, everyone. How do we feel about cotton as decoration?”

On the page TheShadeRoom, black viewers overwhelmingly disagreed with Williams taking issue with the plant.

“I don’t feel nothing about it!! It’s cute. She has a thing against cotton??” asked Gee Gee.

“I actually think it’s beautiful [art] decoration,” said a woman named Constance.

“They weren’t out there for her to see it as an offensive gesture. … It’s decor,” a man named Jay commented.

“It’s a plant! We aren’t picking it, giving free labor anymore! It’s a beautiful plant,” remarked Kiesha.

A few viewers inferred from Williams’ video that she saw the decoration as racist, with a woman named Charlandra claiming, “Seeing raw cotton can evoke racial trauma, recalling the forced labor our ancestors endured while picking raw cotton! Some of these hotels do have racial undertones! It’s a weird looking plant.”

At the same time though, kiky808 said, “Victim card race baiting bs while wearing a blonde wig.”

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She can be a real asshole to people. She’s rude and racist, despite being married to a white man.