Author Archives: bfrhodes99

Shrinking, Literally

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Recent data suggests Shelby County is experiencing a more rapid population decline compared to any other county in the United States, according to a recent report.

DeSoto County stands as Mississippi’s most rapidly expanding county, according to recent demographic trends.

Please take note, DeSoto is strongly Republican, and Shelby County is strongly Democratic. With the two counties right next to each other, do you suppose that one thing might be related to the other?

Maybe Shelby County should start voting Republican. Maybe DeSoto County should take note and vote even more Republican.

Moreover, perhaps all voters should take note. While Democrats might outvote the Republicans at the polls, Republicans seem to be outvoting Democrats with their feet.

It is a fact that, wherever possible, people seek to live where taxes and government oversight are least.

What Makes me Laugh?

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Unexpected bursts of laughter punctuate my days, catching me off guard with their spontaneous delight. Initially reluctant to explore this writing prompt, I soon realized that these unscripted moments of joy are the most precious—emerging suddenly, transforming ordinary instances into memorable snapshots of pure, unadulterated happiness.

However, these are usually also the ones I can’t think of at the moment. It is good that God has given us humor to allow us to cope. One day near the end of Marine boot camp, I started laughing. The guy next to me cautioned me that I would suffer if I were caught, and he was right. However, I replied, “I have to laugh. If I don’t, I’ll cry.”

I guess God gave us both laughing and crying as coping mechanisms. For the time being, though, I’ll forego my comments on crying as the prompt was for laughing. Besides, we Marines never, never cry.

Children bring us laughter, right? And at the most unexpected times. I can remember the first time my 1-year-old son tasted a lemon; then fussed when we took it from him. Of course we immediately gave it back and he ate it. Never figured on that one.

Pets are divine comedians, sent to brighten our lives with unbridled joy. My loyal canine companion found pure bliss in pursuing oversized rubber spheres, a mere $2.99 investment that yielded endless entertainment. Despite his valiant efforts to conquer the unwieldy orb, his teeth never quite found purchase. Inevitably, after an exhausting pursuit, he would manage to pop the ball, while we dissolved into fits of uncontrollable laughter. Those three dollars were a masterful purchase, transforming an ordinary afternoon into a memory of pure, unadulterated happiness.

Cats possess an enchanting fascination with strings, their playful nature coming alive as they track the elusive movement. Watching their determination intensify when the string disappears beneath furniture is a delightful spectacle of feline curiosity. Their love for boxes transcends size – from sprawling cardboard containers to tiny packages – each becomes an irresistible playground. Even when logic suggests a box is too small, cats will ingeniously contort themselves to fit, defying physical constraints with remarkable flexibility. Perhaps most amusing is their laser pointer pursuit, where they leap and bound with wild abandon, scaling walls in an epic chase against an unattainable light, embodying pure, unbridled joy.

Yet, as I reflect on those moments, memories dance across my mind, bringing forth a warm, nostalgic smile.

The act of writing brought unexpected joy, punctuating my reflective moments with subtle grins. Each carefully crafted word seemed to unlock memories and emotions, transforming my initial hesitation into a meaningful exploration of thought and experience. thus, I can say, even the prompt brought a smile, if not an outburst of laughter.

Mount Vernon, a Beautiful Place.

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On a memorable visit to Mount Vernon, I explored George Washington’s historic estate, marveling at the stately mansion and its expansive, meticulously maintained grounds. The architectural grandeur and pastoral beauty of the first President’s home offered a profound glimpse into early American history and Washington’s personal legacy.

As I stepped through the back door, the breathtaking landscape unfolded before me, instantly revealing why this location was chosen. The vista was so magnificent that no language could adequately capture its raw, stunning beauty.

Before me was the slope that went down to the river. As I slowly turned my head, I was in awe. Perhaps it’s a little out of line to say this, but I sure wish I could have laid claim to it first, even without the house. I would be quite happy living in a tent there. Well, it would need to be a good tent.

This captivating experience is a must-see, offering a unique and memorable visual journey that will leave a lasting impression. If you can, please take the opportunity to immerse yourself in this extraordinary spectacle, as the moments of wonder are truly priceless. You will want to take some pictures, but don’t expect to capture the beauty.

Conceivably an Unintended Benefit for Virginia

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The recent government downsizing could trigger a significant exodus, with displaced workers potentially relocating by renting U-Hauls and leaving the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area in search of new opportunities.

Many departing employees may not have been deeply committed conservatives, potentially shifting the political landscape in a more Republican-leaning direction.

Washington, D.C. appears to be a challenging political landscape, resistant to significant electoral shifts. Even substantial financial incentives like a generous salary increase or an extended holiday schedule might not be sufficient to sway the district’s deeply entrenched political preferences.

My Best Guess

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The veteran Senate Majority leader seems increasingly likely to step down, potentially through resignation or forced departure. His once-formidable political influence appears to be rapidly diminishing, with a constant stream of unfavorable media coverage chipping away at his reputation and standing.

Then, we all know what will happen; there will be division and power struggles. Much of it will be carefully hidden from the public eye but, be sure we will catch glimpses from time to time of the figurative left jab or the little right upper cut. Then, at some point, that right cross will put down the last bit of competition will fall away. The winner will emerge, possibly with visible wounds. He might use some of that figurative makeup in an attempt to cover the worst of it.

Power dynamics will unfold like a high-stakes competition, reminiscent of musical chairs but with far more serious consequences. Each potential leadership role becomes a battleground where rivals vie for strategic positioning and influence.

In the realm of political ambition, some view power as the ultimate currency, where defeat is an unacceptable outcome and power becomes the sole measure of success.

Electric Cars Have Batteries

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I know. It’s supposed to be obvious, but it isn’t. The first time I looked under the hood of my car, there it was, just a little above the big electric motor.

I turned to the salesman and asked, “What is that doing here?”

All right, I admit I am being fastidious and not very well. Even so, there are likely a few besides me who were unaware that electric cars must still have 12-volt batteries besides the big ones that power the electric motor.

It all made since to me that the little battery is to power lights, radio, certain controls and other accessories.

However, I still don’t know if they have alternators.

Secret to Success

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Despite my initial hesitation, I’ve observed a striking pattern among truly successful individuals that compels me to share my insights.

During a recent interview, Elon Musk, currently recognized as the world’s wealthiest individual, shared an intriguing insight about his automotive design philosophy. What initially seemed like a casual remark caught my attention: he candidly explained that he designed his car primarily to suit his own preferences. At first, I chuckled at the statement, but upon reflection, I realized the profound logic behind his approach. By creating a vehicle that perfectly matched his personal tastes and requirements, Musk intuited that others might find similar appeal in a design crafted with genuine passion and meticulous attention to detail.

Throughout my extensive automotive experiences, I’ve observed that none of the vehicles seemed to reflect a CEO’s direct creative involvement or personal touch in their design.

The leadership disconnect becomes apparent when product design reveals a fundamental lack of real-world experience. When a vehicle’s shortcomings are glaringly evident, it suggests that key decision-makers have never truly tested the product beyond a superficial demonstration. While executives may conceptualize innovations, the absence of comprehensive field testing exposes a critical gap between design and practical functionality.

For example, one crisp morning, I slid into my car, immediately feeling the sharp bite of winter’s chill. Seeking refuge from the cold, I pressed the dashboard’s recirculation button, hoping for instant warmth. Momentarily, a wave of tepid air enveloped me, only to be quickly replaced by the frigid atmosphere outside. Glancing down, I noticed the recycle button had deactivated, while the fresh air indicator now glowed brightly, betraying my brief attempt at comfort.

The recirculation button stubbornly resisted my attempts, requiring multiple presses before engaging. The Nissan engineer’s design philosophy seemed to prioritize a constant influx of outside air, challenging my preference for a controlled cabin environment. Their vision of comfort diverged sharply from my own, forcing me to adapt to their predetermined ventilation strategy.

While my electric Nissan is a joy to drive, there are a few design choices that could use improvement. (No spare) Additionally, I find the complex button interface less intuitive than a straightforward lever control. A simple lever would not only simplify air circulation settings but also allow me to easily blend fresh outside air with recirculated air, enhancing the overall driving experience.

As I listened to the comment by Elon Musk, I couldn’t help but wonder if Teslas have buttons or a lever. Either way, I cannot imagine him struggling to get warm air. If he did, even once, an engineer would certainly be clearing out his desk immediately, if not sooner.

As an aside, heating the outside air takes more BTUs. Considering electric cars use heat pumps instead of engine heat, that amounts to a real significant impact on the environment as well as the wallet.

Oh! By the way, it also effects the range.

The Purpose of the Internet

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Through countless hours of browsing, scrolling, and digital exploration, I’ve uncovered a profound insight into the essence of the Internet. This revelation wasn’t a deliberate quest or planned investigation, but rather an organic understanding that emerged gradually, almost imperceptibly, as patterns and behaviors crystallized before my eyes.

Periodically, I disconnect from the internet with remarkable ease. A mere two mouse clicks is all it takes to sever my digital connection. When I seek absolute certainty of disconnection, I simply unplug my mobile device—a swift, foolproof method that requires no waiting or additional steps.

I noticed a significant performance improvement after disconnecting the link from my computer. The system’s speed increased dramatically, running 4 to 6 times faster without the connection. Unsurprisingly, reconnecting the link instantly reduced the computer’s performance, making it clear that the link was causing substantial system slowdown.

Therefore, I figure the primary purpose is to slow my computer. You see, if it weren’t for the internet an all it’s associated requirements, I would not be able to keep up with my computer. Hence, we must keep the internet connected or we would never be able to keep up with our computers.

Can you imagine a computer actually doing things at lightning speed? Think about it. Could you keep up with it? Can you imagine your computer seemingly displaying results before you can finish entering the data? How in the world could you possibly keep up with it?

Hence, we must have the internet to keep the computer from getting away from us. Do we really want them coming up with answers before we complete the questions? Ergo, obviously, the most critical reason for the internet is to slow the computers.

When we connect to the internet, it’s intriguing to consider the complex background processes occurring within our computer’s system. Beyond the visible web pages and applications, numerous computational tasks are simultaneously executing, managing network connections, running system updates, processing security protocols, and handling background data synchronization.

While it might be essential to slow our machines, sometimes I feel the internet is doing its job a tad too well. Sometimes, I get this urge to stay unconnected, remain antivirusless, and simply let the machine do its job without the throttling.

Color Me Suspicious

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed halting arms shipments to Ukraine as a precondition for initiating a ceasefire, according to recent news reports.

It makes me wonder if Putin will give up his weapons. It does look like a one-sided agreement. I think if I were the leader of Ukraine, I would want some guarantees of security before sticking my neck in that guillotine.

Maybe there should be a sizable neutral zone?

Keep It Simple

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If any three words ever echoed down through the years with more meaning, I don’t have any idea what they are. I went to Walmart the other day and bought a Relion platinum glucose meter. It advertised that it had a usb and Blue Tooth capability.

Being a little busy, I didn’t deal with the blue tooth ability right away. Just using the thing isn’t all that bad, other than setting the clock and such. The lancers and the strips are simple, the work the war they are supposed to. Taking the reading is a piece of cake. Setting the clock, not so much. It still has the settings it came with.

I don’t know why it is, but I sort of hoped I could do the setup from my computer or phone. Nope. It looks as if I will have to use the two buttons. (Maybe they could have made the thing with four.) At any rate, I spent almost an hour figuring out how to set up the blue tooth, and then it just sat there looking back at me. It did not do a thing. At any rate, if you want a glucometer that does everything but setup and beg, this might be your meter. However, it’s not for me. I’ll just make sure I keep track on paper. Even reading it from memory is not so easy. I usually do it by accident and then I can’t figure out how I did it.