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homeopathic-remedy-preparation.webp are you ready?

(in education, research, preparedness, advice)

Readiness quiz. A fun way to assess how ready you are for an emergency. Supply chains are fragile. The grid is vulnerable. When disaster strikes, you're on your own. Take the quick quiz to get your Ready Score and discover your family' ... read more

schoolkids-running-down-hall.webp great homeschooling option

(in education, school, homeschooling)

This podcast interviews the creators of a homeschooling option that seems really terrific and very inexpensive called Firefly. They also mention how people can create classes on any subject to teach children and get paid for it. So if you ... read more

chatgpt.webp chatgpt reliability

(in education, tech, ai)

As a joke (and to point out how ChatGPT is frequently USELESS, I asked about the projection of silver for the next year (FYI, it already passed $100)Silver Price Outlook for the Next Year (2026)Base Case Projection (Most Likely)$40-$60 per ... read more

winter-driving.webp how to survive the big freeze

(in life, weather, advice)

Great ideas and tips. Watch on BitchuteIt reminds me of the Amish home I was invited into last week when it was about 25. It was very nice and toasty. As you know, they use their big iron sto ... read more

silver-coin.webp how to spot fake silver coins

(in education, research, money, coins)

Silver Nearing $100 Is Fueling Counterfeits. Here's How to Spot Fake Coins. But even more fake silver is paper silver ETFs. At least you get some interesting metal in a fake coin. ... read more

focused-female-entrepreneur.webp interesting tools and tips for entrepreneurs

(in life, employment, entrepreneurship)

Interesting tools and tips for entrepreneurs. This might inspire someone:Reinvent Yourself to PROSPER in 2026 and Beyond ... read more

tattoo-artist.webp how tattoos affect your immune system

(in education, health)

I've always suspected that they're unhealthy, long-term. Humans have been tattooing their skin for thousands of years, and the practice has grown in popularity across the world in recent decades. However, tattoos don't come without risks ... read more

gardening-filip-urban-unsplash.webp anybody can easily grow potatoes

(in life, health, food, gardening)

Here's an article that tells how to do it in leaves or cardboard: selfsufficientprojects/how-to-grow-potatoes-in-only-leavesReceived: 2025-12-23We h ... read more

blonde-woman-walking-away.webp finding your footing after life takes an unexpected turn

(in life, health, mental, advice)

Major life changes affect everyone. Whether it's a career shift, a move to a new place, the end of a relationship, a health diagnosis, or becoming a parent, these moments disrupt routines and challenge identity. This article explores prac ... read more

smiling-pc.webp the "greatest" names of modern-day personal tech

(in culture, tech, computers)

Bill: Seems like whenever people mention the greatest names of modern-day personal tech, they mention Steve Jobs (not Wozniack), Bill Gates (not Balmer), maybe Hewlett, Packard and Linus Torvalds, etc. No one mentions the founders of Wo ... read more

schoolkids-running-down-hall.webp the new core subject: teaching digital literacy in today's schools

(in education, tech, computers)

In an age where students learn, communicate, and create through screens, developing digital literacy has become as foundational as reading and writing. Schools across the world are redesigning curricula to help middle and high school stude ... read more

world-cup-trophy.webp copilot ai 2026 world cup prediction full bracket

(in culture, sports, soccer, world-cup)

2026 World Cup Prediction: Full Bracket ... read more

feed external news feeds
click here for more

the lies get so tedious
Human existence itself, actually. It's one version of reality versus another. The solution is to create a better reality.

what if nato died?
The world would rejoice.

ex-fifa prez backs call to 'stay away' from wc
The ridiculously high prices are already accomplishing that.

establishing relationships in your new locale, by sarasue
Good article.

jd vance: the new trump doctrine is "f*ck you!"
Classy, as always.

if trump succeeds at acquiring greenland, will he stop there?
No, he wants all of North America, and Bibi wants the entire Middle East.

court confirms trudeaus emergencies act invocation against freedom convoy was illegal
Conveniently, too little too late.

satire: nfl announces each quarter of playoff game will be broadcast on different streaming service
It is getting harder and harder to be a sports fan.

"you know they march every fbi member into the holocaust museum?"
I'm sure they march them into the Holodomor, Nakba and Armenian holocaust museums, too. Oh, wait...

danish pm warns us attack on greenland would destroy nato
You say that like it's a bad thing.

under trump's madness, insanity has consumed this country
Trump is just one of many insane misleaders on both sides of the aisle.

us imposes visa bans on key figures involved in global censorship pressure
...unless these censors are anti-Palestine and pro-Israel.

a victory for informed consent: cdc panel reverses decades-old newborn vaccine policy
So far, it looks like RFK Jr is the only good thing about this Trump administration.

"stop antisemitism" founder says antisemites will be hunted down and destroyed "for the rest of your life"
She can start with the world's worst anti-Semites, the Israeli government and military.

uk arrests 33 people a day for social media posts
I'll probably be arrested for this website if I ever visit.

the controversial call that may ultimately knock baltimore out of the playoffs
He had the ball in his hands for two steps. Horrible call.

adams sets semifinals goal for usmnt after draw
That's my hope, and that's what Copilot AI predicts.

how mls keeps getting better beyond messi's magic -- but no one seems to care
No one seems to care because it's all behind a paywall.

us institute of peace renamed after president trump
I thought this was satire, but apparently not.

trump announces invasion of venezuela to come
Such a pinhead.

rfk jr plans overhaul of child vaccine schedule: report
This is long overdue. Childhood vaccinations have gotten ridiculous.

trump invites netanyahu to his fifth white house meeting
Netanyahu is the one calling the shots, so it only makes sense.



One name, five books, a singular journey...
by William Arthur Holmes

Temporary Insanity, Operation Detour, Dobie's Dilemma, Lottery President and Another Way have been stitched together as an episodic saga starring Dobie Pokorny.

Yes, Benny, Alex, and Dub have new names. To those who loved them: thank you. This isn’t a rewrite; it’s a reframing. Each book still stands on its own.

The man, the myth, the legend? In his own mind, absolutely. Follow Dobie’s misadventures through bad breakups; cult and anti‑cult entanglements in L.A.; hit men and hit women across Southeast Asia; an unexpected lottery win and presidential run back home, complete with the by‑now expected assassination attempts; a manifesto, more assassination attempts, an alien or hallucination (depending on who you ask), confrontation with the powers-that-be, and true love at last.


random older posts  

movie-camera-clipart.webp all-time best movie lines

(in culture, movies-tv-video, quotes from 2010)

I thought it'd be fun to come up with a list of the all-time best movie lines. Use the comments section below comments open again for your suggestions. Try and do it from memory. Don't worry about getting it exactly right. Here's what c ... read more

chilli-peppers-2.webp initial research finds that eating chili peppers could lengthen your life

(in life, health, food, treatment from 2021)

Spice-lovers can celebrate! Early results from a study show some promising developments for people that enjoy eating hot and spicy chili peppers. A fairly recent study conducted by the American... Initial Research Finds That Eating Chili P ... read more

fda-deposit-box.webp thanks to the fda, you really have no idea what's in your food

(in life, health, food, safety from 2011)

It's been stuck this way since the early 1990s, when the FDA hired former Monsanto lawyer Michael Taylor to write the regulations, or lack thereof. ... read more

essential-oils.webp essential oil uses

(in life, health, treatment from 2019)

Here's an interesting (and hopefully useful) article someone sent us. ... read more

resume-clipart-1.webp employee engagement, why it's important

(in life, money, employment from 2013)

It doesn't matter if managers are introverted or extroverted, timid or bold, loud or quiet, as long as they are making people feel like they are growing, appreciated, and confident in their future at the company ... ... read more

making-chicken-nuggets-2.webp 1 in 4 supermarket meat samples tainted with drugs

(in life, health, food, shopping from 2011)

Another reason to go vegetarian, although their math isn't right. Forty-seven percent is much worse than 1 in 4. Maybe we should actually read the article? :)Read, listen or watch the rest here: ... read more

dostoevsky.webp dostoyevsky quote

(in culture, quotes from 2022)

It's life that matters, nothing but life. The process of discovering. The everlasting and perpetual process, not the discovery itself, at all. -- Fyodor Dostoyevsky ... read more

resume-clipart-1.webp micro gigs

(in life, money, employment from 2013)

Interesting article on micro gigsA crush of apps allowing us to do discrete tasks for small sums of money might be the future. But the atomization of paid labor leaves workers vulnerable. ... read more

mushroom-clipart.webp 6 ways mushrooms can save the world

(in life, health, food from 2009)

Very cool talk given here. He talks fast, so you have to pay close attention. 6 ways mushrooms can save the world ... read more


Amazon Movers & Shakers

culture.webp CULTURE

books-clipart.webp books page

(in culture, writing, books from 2008)

... read more

writing-clipart.webp writers need followers?

(in culture, writing, advice from 2016)

Publishers and writing "gurus" preach that writers need followers. The problem is that emotionally-stable people don't want followers. They want friends, compatriots, people who listen, not followers. Especially zombie ... read more

mark-twain.webp mark twain quotes

(in culture, quotes from 2010)

  • "If you don't read the newspaper, you're uninformed. If you do, you're misinformed."
  • "A classic is a book that is praised by all and read by no one."
  • "Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything ab ... read more

    operation-detour-cover.webp operation detour

    (in culture, writing, books, novels from 2019)

    Riva, a beautiful young "black ops" agent on her first assignment, tries to turn Alex into her own "asset" just to prove she can. When he loses both his job and his girlfriend, she thinks he's putty in her hands. When he decides to go ou ... read more

    fixed-it-grill.webp barbecue season

    (in culture, humor, jokes from 1998) by joker

    After months of cold and winter, we are finally coming up to summer and BBQ season. Therefore it is important to refresh your memory on the etiquette of this sublime outdoor cooking as it's the only type of cooking a real man will do, pr ... read more

  • family-clipart.webp FAMILY

    airports-moscow-sheremetyevo.webp back in moscow (12/18/2007)

    (in family, adoption, holmes, travel from 2007)

    We made it this far! The plane ride was terrible for several minutes when we had to fasten our seat belts, which Elizabeth did not want to do. She SCREAMED loudly for quite a while, ticking off everyone nearby. Luckily, part of it was drowne ... read more

    animated-birthday-cake-clipart.webp birthday card from grandpa

    (in family, holmes, elizabeth, birthdays from 2013)

    Elizabeth received a birthday card from Grandpa today with $20 inside! She said, "I love your dad! Tell him thank you very much! Your dad is rich! I wouldn't have thought such an new new person would have so much money!" ... read more

    e-laughing-pumpkins.webp an entire week with elizabeth

    (in family, holmes, elizabeth from 2010)

    You will not believe what I've been through! :) Okay, maybe it's not been that bad. You single parents out there are laughing at me, I'm sure. But I went an entire week taking care of Elizabeth, our 4-year-old, while Tar ... read more

    website-clipart.webp internet access

    (in family, adoption, holmes, travel from 2007)

    I'm wondering about internet access now that we've tentatively planned to stay in a weekly apartment in Astrakhan instead of the hotel the entire time. We'll probably want/need that internet access for the sake of something to do ... read more

    us-embassy-moscow.webp to the embassy

    (in family, adoption, holmes, travel from 2007)

    Our last stop before the airport on the magical mystery tour is the ... read more

    jets-taking-off.webp airport arrival

    (in family, adoption, holmes, travel from 2008)

    Some pictures as we arrived in the airport. There was a great welcoming party there! We've never had an airport welcoming party before! ... read more

    airports-moscow-sheremetyevo.webp we're in moscow

    (in family, adoption, holmes, travel from 2007)

    We'll be spending the night in Moscow, after all, and flying down to Astrakhan tomorrow afternoon.

    I was stressed out without an internet or even a usable power connection. But I'm obviously connected now. I had the power converte ... read more

    life-clipart.webp LIFE

    virus-clipart.webp iodine and saline kill viruses

    (in life, health, treatment from 2020) by don

    Seems you can put a cotton ball impregnated with iodine and saline in each nostril and breathe quite well:Iodine and the 1918 Influenza PandemicDr. David Derry, MD, wrote a very interesting article entitled "Iodine: the Forgotte ... read more

    safety-clipart.webp if your brakes go out

    (in life, help, advice, auto from 2017)

    If your brakes ever go out, just shift into Park. Better to ruin the transmission than to die!

    You're welcome!

    Don't ask. :) ... read more

    food-bananas.webp reduce food waste by storing fresh fruits and vegetables properly

    (in life, health, food, advice from 2022)

    "Bananas: Bananas release high levels of ethylene gas, so store them alone on the counter. Once they're ripe, move bananas to the fridge for a couple of days until you're ready to eat them. Buy bananas th ... read more

    map-europe-1.webp europe video (1996)

    (in life, travel, europe, blog from 1996)

    You can watch it here: vimeo.com/Europe '96

    I was in Bratislava, Slovakia fo ... read more

    football-clipart.webp steroid level so high in beef it's causing players to fail drug tests

    (in life, health, drugs from 2016)

    I'm sure it's just a coincidence! :)

    "Five months after Congress voted to remove country-of-origin labeling from pork and beef, the NFL is warning that meat produced in Mexico and China may contain a substance banned ... read more

    family newsletter NEWSLETTER

    happy-hairball.webp holmes family newsletter vol 5 no 8

    (in family, holmes, newsletter from 1993)

    The Happy Hairball

    (something we keep coughing up)
    Volume 5, Number 8 December 20, 1993
    Publisher: This guy ->>
    Editor: Same guy
    Distributor: Brave little delivery boys and girls worldwide
    Address: Nashville ... read more

    leaky-faucet-clipart.webp holmes family newsletter vol 4 no 2

    (in family, holmes, newsletter from 1992)

    The Leaky Faucet Vol. 4, No. 2, February 13, 1992
    "The quintessential newsletter."
    Warning: May not be suitable for the humor impaired. Elvis lives!

    Yes, all your prayers have been answered! "The King ... read more

    paperboy-clipart.png holmes family newsletter vol 2 no 13

    (in family, holmes, newsletter from 1990)

    Hometown NewsVol. 2, No. 13, October 20, 1990
    [Editor's Note: This is most definitely the last issue.]

    Bill graduates!

    After seven months, Bill has finally completed his computer prog ... read more

    falling-down-manhole-clipart.webp holmes family newsletter vol 6 no 2

    (in family, holmes, newsletter from 1994)

    Falling Down a Manhole (can be quite painful and should be avoided)Vol. 6, No. 2, March 1, 1994 Michael moves!Michael has moved out of his mother, Lucy's, house. "I ... read more

    yeehaw-clipart.webp holmes family newsletter vol 6 no 7

    (in family, holmes, newsletter from 1995)

    Yee-Haw The only newsletter we do!

    Vol. 6, No. 7, December 29, 1994Belinda Has Puppies!

    Another one of Lucy's dogs has gone and had a litter of pups. This time the mother is Belinda, a Rottwe ... read more

    gargoyle-laughing.webp holmes family newsletter vol 2 no 14

    (in family, holmes, newsletter from 1990)

    The Daily Gargoyle Vol. 2, No. 14, November 16, 1990
    "Just when you thought it was safe to open the mailbox!"

    [Editor's note: For those of you who actually believed, or hoped, that there wouldn't be any more newsletters, we ... read more

     

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