FriendsNews header


  random recent posts

mike-adams-3000751068be813334d09e6c55dae7d0-225x225.webp this is the sodium-ion battery we've been waiting for

(in education, research, tech, batteries)

Exciting off grid battery technology. Mike Adams explains this new technology that will be ready to buy next year, maybe. . ... read more

money-silver-c3300c69b469d738e2d76493667941a3-544x558.webp watch this before you buy more silver

(in life, money, investing, coins)

Trump's war looks like the world will go into a depression. Demand for silver looks like it'll fall. But there are many other factors. But the US dollar is also collapsing. So if you've got cash and that cash is decreasing in purchasing power, precious metals are still the best deal. Mike Adams expl ... read more

inflation-real-wages-1a9b45bf526251ea6dcfbb8146f35706-500x350.webp 5000 years of wages in one giant timeline

(in life, money, employment)

Interesting. Key Takeaways: In ancient times, wages were paid daily. Over time, payday shifted with technology, laws, and scale. Biweekly pay dominates today, yet timing gaps still create pressure. Earned Wage Access gives employees flexibility by unlocking already-earned wages alongside payroll. Re ... read more

auto-repair-c399fef40fa2ab4d0858a4335222fdda-160x112.webp auto repair and other stuff

(in culture, writing, blog, repair)

I took my wife's car to Honest-1 Auto Repair in Spring Hill today. A warning light has been saying 'oil change required' for a few months now, but she doesn't drive much. Works from home. Once the odometer finally reached the mileage suggested on the last oil change sticker, though, I scheduled an a ... read more

woman-raised-fist-sunset-2f4f5f65b9ec6d318de24ca18673ad16-4930x3944.webp how to build confidence and reach your goals starting today

(in life, health, mental, advice)

Busy parents juggling work and wellness, mid-career professionals carrying heavy expectations, and caregivers who keep everyone else on track often hit the same wall: goals stay clear, but follow-through feels inconsistent. The core tension is exhausting, building self-confidence seems to require ex ... read more

retirement-ahead-sign-74f809ecd99827557270caced5881477-174x180.webp retirement in tennessee

(in life, retirement, advice)

. Tennessee is regularly rated as one of, if not THE best states to retire in. No state income tax. There's no ocean nearby but eastern TN has mountains (and bears), while the rest is mostly hilly. Memphis is a hellhole (government housing projects make up half of that city), and Nashville always ... read more

education-cb04ffc7f393691204de03958714db48-225x225.webp colorado's empty classrooms are a warning for america

(in education, schools, college)

Very interesting facts and related ramifications. From: Jeffrey Prather Subject: Colorado's Empty Classrooms Are a Warning for America Colorado colleges are bracing for what education experts call an 'enrollment cliff.' Fewer high school graduates mean fewer college applicants... Read/watch here ... read more

food-eggs-d334acf9053baee479e18a75352f5770-4096x3072.webp foods named after cultures... but not really

(in life, health, food, language)

.Food history is basically a scrapbook of misunderstandings, stereotypes, and Europeans projecting their fantasies onto other cultures. Let's walk through a few of the most interesting examples. Here are some of the biggest offenders -- dishes whose names gesture toward a people or place, but the co ... read more

washer-dryer-d2bb7f2f8127176026adfdda5e36bbc9-1024x762.webp if you are looking for a reliable washer and dryer

(in life, home-garden, appliances, advice)

From Harper & Knowles. I've Repaired Hundreds of Washers. These Are the Only 4 I'd Actually Buy. And these are the Only 4 Dryers. ... read more

families-0a5bea7d8665d64044424d47ce6988ea-1500x1000.jpg how parents of special needs children can balance life and career successfully

(in life, help, advice, parenting)

Working parents raising disabled children often carry two full-time roles at once, and the overlap is where the hardest work-life balance struggles live. Between school calls, therapy schedules, sleepless nights, and the pressure to stay reliable at work, balancing personal and professional life can ... read more

brainwaves-3fd1aa447408cbfc7f8ead5039522dab-1420x600.webp frequency, spirituality and the paranormal

(in education, research, science)

Includes frequency, spirituality and other paranormal things. I don't agree with all of it, but it's worth watching. See "Mind-Blowing: Hodges & Westall Go Further on Hidden Gold, Zero Point Energy & Portals" On Tuesday, April 28th, 2026 at 12:13 AM, someone wrote: Dave Hodges is a delusional idio ... read more

data-center-79225b655a52dd98c0be2e09ab1d5e0b-1075x512.jpg fighting and winning against data centers

(in life, health, environment, water)

At minute 5 of this video is great news about how a community in Oregon got their elected officials to vote against a data center proposal. And there's another example of a town coming together to fight against another one. Great examples. Are people starting to realize these data centers are ushe ... read more

food-lettuce-2e85f62a0f0281ecfb8dd4c7f0aa650f-621x442.jpg is your lettuce safe to eat

(in education, news, collected, health)

For decades, Americans have been reminded to "eat their greens" as part of a healthy diet. For many, that now comes with the bizarre concern, "Is this safe?" The reason for safety concerns over lettuce and many other produce items is simple – cyclospora, a parasite spreading like wildfire across ... read more

derby-winner-mystik-dan-df66ccac9c3e58d6607109e04c88d94a-1240x827.webp leading from the rear: how herd instinct shapes kentucky derby closers

(in culture, sports, horse-racing, triple-crown)

I remember my sister telling me how a dominant mare "leads" her herd from behind, not from in front. Being a lifelong fan of horse racing, it got me wondering how that mindset might apply to horse racing. I asked Copilot, and here is the result... Every spring, as the Kentucky Derby field loads in ... read more

random older posts  

don-henley-best-of-faf92ce6984b40c2cabc6a20a3a2b6c0-500x500.webp one of the all-time great rock era lyricists

(in culture, music, lyrics from 2017)

Listening to Don Henley this morning. He is one of the all-time great lyricists/poets. Just thought I'd s ... read more

money-silver-c3300c69b469d738e2d76493667941a3-544x558.webp buying gold or silver in kentucky

(in life, money, precious-metals, legal from 2025) by copilot

Prompted and edited by Bill. When buying gold or silver online in Kentucky, there is no specific state law requiring ID for such purchases. However, here's how it typically plays out: Dealer Policies Vary Most reputable onl ... read more

passport-91526d26918a3f33754d24c993091658-1024x1311.webp apple, google, and microsoft want to kill the password with passkey standard

(in education, news, tech from 2022)

It's hard to argue with this. I hate passwords. In an attempt to go passwordless, Apple, Google, and Microsoft have decided to kill the password using the Passkey standard, also called multi-device FIDO credential. ... ' ... read more

novel-chapter-one-b90f7e2f79b97f85d7425e75590bf9fe-425x282.webp ingredients of a novel

(in culture, writing, advice from 2021)

VARIOUS WRITERS' RULESWrite a draft. Then let it rest. -- Stephen KingRead a lot. -- KingNever use a long word when a short one will do. -- George OrwellNever use the passive voice when you can use the active voice. -- OrwellKnow and u ... read more

reading-novel-d40f1e165ae0be003b21508f222211e1-258x299.webp best thrillers of all-time

(in culture, writing, books, novels from 2018)

According to the Telegraph, anyway. An interesting list. Several if not most of these were that author's first published novel. ... read more

facebook-fd252856427200b657dbc55dddbd1217-100x100.png the quest for a facebook replacement continues

(in culture, tech, internet, social from 2020)

I keep joining these other social networking sites, only to be disappointed. The main problem is they insist I upload my contact list, which I refuse to do. You're welcome. :)Maybe this one middot ... read more

wolf-totem-fe0d88443c470568468e67cd5b3c7c3e-160x160.webp mongolian throat singing

(in culture, music from 2019)

This (Wolf Totem by The HU) is wild. Surprisingly catchy... and a littl ... read more

brinks-truck-bank-edf43b943321f1943c58678ab95a10a3-958x649.webp banking collapse explained for dummies

(in life, money, finance from 2023) by don

Pretty funny. JP Reacts What is going on in banking? Hey there!Unless you've been under a rock, you've probably heard about the 2nd biggest banking failure ... read more

ice-cream-cones-6417eb667b80cec86ecf243b0596e060-273x280.jpg lesson on taxes

(in culture, quotes, humor from 2017)

The best way to teach your kids about taxes is by eating 30% of their ice cream. -- Bill Murray ... read more

sleepy-7cc298461220838216f493e7839a6586-368x322.webp the myth of the eight-hour sleep

(in life, health, sleep from 2012)

We often worry about lying awake in the middle of the night - but it could be good for you. A growing body of evidence from both science and history suggests that the eight-hour sleep may be unnatural. In the early 1990s, psychiatrist Tho ... read more

virus-3bc01acb6d7adca975d6051d89e916fe-474x430.webp the best way to remove spike protein from your body

(in life, health, vaccines, treatment from 2023)

The answer is nattokinase.

Far and away the most common question I get from those who took one of the covid vaccines is: how do I get this out of my body. The mRNA and adenoviral DNA products were rolled out with no idea on how or when the body would ever breakdown ... read more

cities-moscow-62928542b397dfb5da78dacb53ea316d-1024x561.webp here's your update

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

Everyone is wanting an update! Well, we're parents of a two-year-old now. No time for updates!She is keeping us busy. Her favorite things to do are: play in the sink, play in the tub, and play in the toilet. She is a waterbaby! One of th ... read more

smiling-woman-wheelchair-2ccac10fc7e477174a8d5b4594df331d-1024x1536.webp creating job opportunities for people with disabilities

(in life, money, employment, advice from 2023) by elijah dawson

Great article!

People with disabilities often have difficulty entering the job market due to a lack of access to applications, reasonable accommodations, and support networks. Employers can make their hiring process more inclusive by taking deliberate st ... read more

joke-madcow-4af73242a99afe4a5ba864ec9ed909ba-109x108.webp ways to turn down unwanted men

(in culture, humor, jokes, men-women from 2023) by joker

He: Can I buy you a drink?She: Actually I'd rather have the money. He: I'm a photographer. I've been looking for a face like yours. She: I'm a plastic surgeon. I've been looking for a face like yours. He: Hi. Didn't we go on a date once? ... read more


 

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.


Dobie spends his 20s in L.A., bouncing between temp jobs, and gets involved with a cult member named Venelia. When that ends badly, he escapes to Kuala Lumpur, where he's swept into the orbit of Riva, a secret-agent-in-training.

Dobie next finds himself in Nashville where he marries a Riva look‑alike. When he and a co-worker turn whistleblower against their employer, they end up in Witness Protection.

Dobie comes out of hiding and returns to his hometown, Louisville. He thinks his luck has turned when he wins the lottery. And it might have, had he not taken that money and run for president. Unsurprisingly, that ends badly, too.

Trying to make sense of the universe, Dobie takes the next logical step, writes a manifesto, and hits the road on a speaking tour. The universe -- or at least its representative in the form of a little blue alien named Semmy -- is not helpful.

While evading Colonel Charonne and his enforcer, Major Watson, Dobie's luck takes a turn for the better upon meeting Kaylie -- the first thing in his universe that actually makes sense.

And -- for once -- it doesn't end badly. Mostly.


Here is a fake podcast created by Copilot AI.

  feed external news feeds
click here for more

why trump hates press freedom
All would-be tyrants hate freedom of any kind.

trump helicopter nearly collides with passenger jet faa
I wouldn't call a mile away all that close.

after stranger gives boy a piano, a 'mozart level' is revealed in spite of autism
Probably because of autism.

cdi, nyra to launch championship series for 3-year-olds
Stupid. They're excluding the Preakness.

why did nearly 60,000 migrants suddenly storm the border into spain?
It was probably Trump/Netanyahu, in retaliation.

up to 80,000 african migrants have crossed from morocco into spain
Not Spain, proper. A Spanish enclave in Morocco.

softening you up for the east-led nwo
All I hear lately is how bad China is.

nearly half of americans want benjamin netanyahu arrested
Yes!

49% of americans want netanyahu arrested during his visit to the u.s
Yes!

netanyahu heads to u.s. for trump meeting to discuss iran
To give Trump his marching orders.

fox news reports from china: 'they see everything'
Same as every other government's goal.

'the mark of a true champion': three-time grade i winner journalism retired
Probably for the best. Great horse, but had the worst luck.

they are now hiding the flock alpr cameras in speed display trailers
That won't do them much good in states where a front plate is not required.

did the u.s. bite off more than it can chew in iran?
Apparently.

is ai the preamble to creating the idiocracy?
I thought the idiocracy was already here.

are you undergoing cognitive agency surrender? video #335
Good questions to ask yourself.

  culture.webp CULTURE

fool-4021c55a030d8fc5e42ce5bb5fc32aac-300x300.webp greed is not a virtue

(in culture, people, money from 2011)

Great article. "By capitalism's perverse moral logic, if a person sells toxic assets by knowingly misrepresenting them as sound, the fault lies not with the misrepresentation of the seller, but rather with the lack of due diligence on the part of the overly-trusting borrower.": Greed is Not a Virtue ... read more

don-henley-best-of-faf92ce6984b40c2cabc6a20a3a2b6c0-500x500.webp one of the all-time great rock era lyricists

(in culture, music, lyrics from 2017)

Listening to Don Henley this morning. He is one of the all-time great lyricists/poets. Just thought I'd say so. Then Don McLean came on, so... ?? Of course, they can both be among the greatest, but Henley is probably THE greatest.And then there's my brother Don (known professionally as Aaron Holmes) ... read more

ball-bat-plate-5200ad526ed3bbe3e971c678324b07b9-612x612.webp parents code of ethics

(in culture, humor, sports from 2014)

Signing my daughter up for softball, I had to laugh at this (stripped down) Parents Code of Ethics:I will encourage good sportsmanshipI will place the emotional and physical well-being of my child ahead of my personal desire to win.I will remember that the game is for the youth -- not adults.I guess ... read more

another-way-cover-3af23448acee7b7d608c3f44f4f5fda8-505x805.webp semmy quotes (from another way: beyond the status quo)

(in culture, quotes, books, novels from 2020)

"Don't be scared when you feel you are about to die. You're not frightened when you wake up in the morning, are you? Pretty much the same thing. 'Life is but a dream!'" "We are from beyond the Pleiades, in the eighth dimension...when we're not slumming it down here in the third and fourth dimension ... read more

bowls-various-cereal-321f51d82ed41c1afa487d5916775e47-720x480.webp addicted to cereal

(in culture, humor, food from 2015)

Bill: I think I'm addicted to cereal. Tara: Addicted? Bill: Yeah. I'm gonna hit the street looking for my latest fix. Tara: And by "street" you mean Aisle 3 at Kroger, right? Bill: Right. ... read more

tv-shows-nikita-dede3e4d52bfa9309a15d86efd6babd4-497x640.webp great quote re the greater good

(in culture, quotes from 2024)

From the writers of the TV show, Nikita, from 2010-2013. Yes, I've been watching. A guilty pleasure. 'First, I protect the people I love, then I worry about the greater good.' From this episode, or the one before or after. ... read more

quote-open-0a3f1252133fad8a71c4f3ce1c6d6da9-50x50.webp quote of the day (7/14/2012)

(in culture, quotes from 2012)

"The War on Terror™ is a product. It doesn't exist to keep us safe. On the contrary, it exists to keep us in a state of fear." -- Liberty Underground News Service ... read more


  family-40e97a9357a79ed9ea336aaa35c52665-172x188.webp FAMILY

birthday-cake-7f772f589e4b7effda634117a192706d-313x364.jpg 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 old person would have so much money!" ... read more

laughing-pumpkins-86b49612850f66421defc19fac5021e1-816x612.webp one hour with elizabeth

(in family, holmes, elizabeth from 2009)

We had a list of stops to make. First came Ace Hardware for a clothes line and a no-pest-strip. Elizabeth had rediscovered her Barbie electric guitar earlier that day and brought it with her on this trip. She wanted to bring it into the store, she said, "so everyone can hear my music." I said OK. Su ... read more

hotel-sokolniki-front-desk-4174404fd8d2ea1fdf7985f64d0f4135-587x290.webp still in moscow

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

We're in a different hotel, the Holiday Inn -- Moscow Sokolniki, for the rest of our stay. This is the one that was originally reserved for our return from Astrakhan. It has a reliable internet connection, costs less per night than yesterday's, and provides a great FREE (not $60) breakfast. The only ... read more

adoption-video-frame-e223ada9010e2644f23f2d61d3af4921-1024x707.webp it's going to be a good week

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

That's all I wanted to say. :)We had a shortened visit with Elizabeth today because we had to first stop by the pharmacy and get some Ben-Gay and ibuprofen for my sore neck. Ben-Gay actually sounds (and smells) the same in Russian, it just looks funny on the box. Then when we got to the orphanage, w ... read more

cities-moscow-62928542b397dfb5da78dacb53ea316d-1024x561.webp nothing much to update about

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

She's just driving us crazy. Luckily, Tara is taking the brunt of it. I had to get out and walk around town in the freezing cold, just for the sake of getting out. I was at least useful, coming back with some groceries. Elizabeth's sweet as can be and very playful most of the time, but she turns on ... read more

astrakhan-grocery-store-91484275d9a811a81a16935650a2a8d9-582x450.webp back in astrakhan

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

We made it to Astrakhan, but I've lost my immigration form that goes with the passport and visa. It's just a little sheet that they have you fill out on the airplane before you land. If I'd known it was so important, I would have stapled it into the passport instead of just sliding it in there. It's ... read more

at-home-06bb1224290c2a89679d76a855504f8d-2576x1932.webp recent photos of elizabeth

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

Elizabeth around the house... ... read more

gavels-ec6c4d11a1066409ab27e1e5ae4fcf8b-436x300.webp and the judge says

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

She's ours!It's official! Elizabeth is ours. The court hearing went very smooth. It took about an hour and a half. There was a judge, prosecutor, a rep from the Child protective services, and the Minister of Education. They had a lot of questions about our parenting style, our finances and guardians ... read more

  life-c71c3f4cd206653a430c66c75d69b1eb-473x458.webp LIFE

family-40e97a9357a79ed9ea336aaa35c52665-172x188.webp family members survive the middle east

(in life, travel, middle-east, planets from 2020)

My brother and his wife just returned from their 16-day trip to Dubai, Egypt and Jordan. "It was a great trip and at no time did we feel unsafe (except in the crazy traffic). In Egypt, we had a tour guide and a security guard with an Uzi at all tourist areas. Jordan and Dubai are pretty safe anywa ... read more

movies-forrest-gump-54b5529d1bd5b90cda16b15b0dcb3258-1680x1050.webp charleston and savannah

(in life, travel, usa, blog from 2000)

Charleston, SCWe drove ... and drove ... and drove -- 10 hours or so- from Nashville until finally reaching Charleston, South Carolina. Along the way, we stopped in Asheville, North Carolina at the Biltmore Estate because Tara had forgotten to get postcards when we were there a couple years ago. Tha ... read more

resume-225cc699d5d248ed047ea9e1895060a2-160x160.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

tree-seasons-e249d37cf3f16a88e9e013ac4c392e05-139x160.webp fall is definitely here

(in life, health, environment, blog from 2010)

It was actually cold all day today, but that didn't stop me and Elizabeth, then the pugs, from spending half of our day outside! First, we went exploring the new neighborhood being built nearby. I don't know why they're building. There's plenty of existing houses that no one wants to buy. Whatever. ... read more

meat-at-grocery-store-79a5a1b0b1858fbfe4b2bc8cdb8d39f4-1200x627.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 as a performance enhancing drug..." Read the rest here: Congress deceptively nixe ... read more

giving-machine-b4b8aae2c1ec1eaf628a1307d2b13c34-1024x1170.webp giving machines are all the rage

(in life, help, charity, tech from 2021)

We bought the "Lumber" item just the other day at the Giving Machine in front of Nashville's Bridgestone Arena as my wife's friend Andrea Ballard sang Christmas carols nearby. See more here: cool-vending-giving-machines-allow-people-to-donate-gifts-to-those-in-need-all-over-the-world ... read more

cat-injured-108df11179a3ec04a82184509e43cb73-339x244.webp girl had only been volunteering at shelter for two days when she was reunited with her lost cat

(in life, help, charity, animals from 2020)

"Hannah Rountree had not seen her cat Spunky in three years-at least until he reappeared at the animal shelter she had only just started volunteering....: girl-volunteered-at-pet-shelter-for-two-days-until-reunited-with-lost-cat ... read more


 

© 1999-2026 Original content may be copied and used ONLY under the Fair Use Doctrine. All other rights reserved.
about sitemap Contact Us or DONATE privacy substack
We use affiliate links, which earn a tiny (infinitesimal) commission if you make a purchase after clicking it.
host = dreamhost our IP = 67.205.28.165 your IP = 216.73.216.51 search