What’s Important Now

May 23, 2025

A few days ago I was searching for something worthwhile to watch on YouTube and stumbled across The 5 types of Wealth a book by Sahil Bloom on Google Talks –> 5 types of wealth – Google Talks. The title intrigued me; I watched the episode.

The episode was excellent.

According to Mr. Bloom the 5 types of wealth are:

  • Time
  • Financial
  • Social/family {family added by me}
  • Health
  • Mental

We all have different seasons of life. Depending on the season one is in a different type of wealth outweighs the other seasons.

An example Bloom gave was when he was living in San Francisco and had a very successful career. His parents lived on the east coast. One day a friend asked him how old his parents were. Bloom answered the mid-60s. Then the friend asked him how often her saw them. Once or twice a year Bloom answered. Finally, the friend replied, you will probably see them a dozen more times until they pass on. Bloom thought about that for a while then quit his job and moved his family back to the east coast to be closer to his parents.

If I were younger I’d buy the book but I’m 78 and my wife’s caregiver. Therefore, what’s important to me for the foreseeable future is Time and Social/family. As for the other three Finance, Health, and Mental, at 78 it’s too late to do anything about them.

Too bad I didn’t come across this concept earlier when I was focused money to support my family. I’m sure we could have “gotten by” on less.
For more information on the book and the author: Click Here

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Posted by molson46

The Trump Presidency – the 1st 30 days

March 13, 2025

I have never posted a political post but recent events have driven me to do so now. Also, I read that one should document their beliefs on important, to them, subjects.

Donald Trump’s first month in office has shown his True Colors.

Trump is a bad man. Trump does bad things. Why is Trump a bad man? Here’s the reasons from an unknown author that I could not express better myself:

Because he is the embodiment of evil, cruelty, nastiness, rudeness, dishonesty, corruption, selfishness, vanity. Because he is a liar, a thug, a con artist, a misogynist, a narcissist and a sociopath. Because he is completely devoid of humanity, empathy, sincerity, and respect for anything or anyone but money and power. Because he has no boundaries, tact, class, or a moral compass. Because he is profoundly ignorant of history and culture and utterly indifferent to anything that does not directly affect his own ass.

Tariffs: I’m a firm believer the World is Hot, Flat, and Crowded as documented by Thomas Friedman in the book of the same name. From automobiles to semiconductors the development lifecycle is tightly integrated and multinational. The design is performed in one country, the multimillion dollar machines to fab the semiconductor are built in another country, the company ordering the semiconductor is in another country, the raw materials to build the actual semiconductor are in several other countries,the company fabricating the semiconductor are in yet another country, the construction of the product using the semiconductor is in another country, and the products are sold in many other countries. Creating tariffs on every country to country transit on semiconductors could well double and eventually triple the price.

Government’s Size: while I agree with the concept his methods are dehumanizing. Firing or laying off people by email or locking the doors to the office and announcing on X (Twitter) is no way to run a company let alone a government. Many of these people have devoted their careers to public service. Let’s treat them with some dignity.

Environment: The Republican Party denies the climate is changing in spite of overwhelming evidence. It’s not a theory any more; it’s a fact. Trump has not just ignored the environment. He has doubled down on ruining the planet by cancelling the previous administration’s pitiful attempts to save the environment by executive order.

World Politics: Trump and his cronies have alienated the rest of the World except our arch enemy Russia via tariffs and insults. Now those that make any sense?

Immigration: The Trump administration has been really quiet on immigration after a few highly publicized raids. They need to stop ruining the World’s economy with tariffs, f***ing the environment, and eliminating portions of the US government. Instead,fix immigration! I agree with cracking down on the border. The influx of illegals is out of control. The asylum criteria is laughable. The asylum criteria should be a much, much higher bar than it is. His claim that he has reduced immigration by 95% is misleading if not an outright lie. He compared Biden’s 7 years immigration numbers with his first 7 days in office. Thus he compared apples to oranges. Even then the reduction was 60% not 95%.

I could go on and on and on and on but I’ve limited the post to 3,000 word and I’ve already exceeded my self imposed limit. Let’s pray God sends down a little wisdom to him, his co-president Musk, and his other cronies.

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Posted by molson46

My 10 Favorite Books

September 10, 2024

Everyone has a list of their favorite movies or vacation spots or the list could go on and on. I’ve done several of these lists in my mind. One of those was my favorite books; those books that I could read over and over again.

This is my list of Ten favorite books today. Tomorrow the list may be different

  1. GEB: Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid is a 1979 book by Douglas Hofstadter that defies any particular genre. Not an easy book to finish as it requires much thinking and self reflection.
  2. Feels Like Home: Linda Ronstadt’s swan song is her farewell ode to her family, Tucson, and a vanishing culture that knew no borders between the US and Mexico. Yet more special for me because she like Gwen is afflicted with PSP.
  3. Lord of the Rings: The books by which all other fantasy books, and movies will be judged. As of today no others have measured up.
  4. American Gods: A different kind of book. A blend of fantasy, and mythology based in the good old USA authored by Neil Gaiman who is more famous for his graphic novel creations.
  5. Three Body Problem: be afraid; be very afraid. there are some bad things out there and they are coming after us! Chinese SyFy.
  6. The Brothers Karamazov: the archetypal Russian novel by in IMHO the best of the great Russian novelists.
  7. To Kill a Mockingbird: Just a great novel by Harper Lee based in the American south
  8. Roadside Picnic: Now for a completely different SyFy novel read Roadside Picnic to find out why the title is so apropos.
  9. Stalingrad: Another series. This one is just two books by the Russian Vasily Grossman: Stalingrad and Life and Fate. The books center on the members and associates of a single extended Russian family, the Shaposhnikovs, whose world is torn apart by the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union.
  10. A Brief History of Time: This short book garners the distinction of being the least book on the New York Times bestseller list. It seems gazillions to people bought the book but not many understand it. As a physics/Math major I should but I find my self struggling through it as well (Many times)

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Five Favorite Albums

July 30, 2024

concert

I’ve seen several Greatest Albums of All Time and 100 Best Albums lists the last several days. They started me thinking “What are my favorite Albums?” After some thought here are my Five Favorites:

Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On

The Ghetto

Growing up if you lived in Illinois and could pick up Chicago Pop Music radio you were exposed to a great deal of Rhythm and Blues – Sam and Dave, Otis Redding, Wilson Picket, and of course Marvin Gaye who was always my favorite; partially because he had a cool name.

What’s Going On was released in 1971 after I left Chicago. By then we who survived the 60s were worn out and tired of protest, confrontation, riots, and prejudice. I was no exception. What’s Going On struck a chord with me. I still listen to the album quite a bit. It’s definitely on my 5 favorite list.

The album is a musical journey that combines soulful melodies with poignant lyrics reflecting the revolutionary 60s. With hits like What’s Going On, Inner City Blues, and Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology), this album remains a timeless work of art that continues to resonate with listeners today.

On a sad note, the 44 year old Marvin’s life ended tragically when his father shot him during an argument.

Bob Dylan – Highway 61 Revisited

I purchased this album in 1965 before I went off to College in Chicago. I played the album over and over and over. It got to when Mom came in the house while the album was playing she would immediately shout: “turn that communist noise off this minute!”.

It was Bob’s break from folk music which at the time was one of the most popular genre’s and he was the king of folk music.

I had not listened to the album in probably 10 years but the other day I was reading the book Where Good Ideas Come From. The book mentioned Highway 61 and the Beach Boys Pet Sounds as two of the most influential albums of all times generating whole genres of new music.

The album begins with Like a Rolling Stone which was the most popular tune on the top 40, probably the only one from the album.

My favorites are probably Desolation Row and It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry.

It Takes a Lot… reminds me so much of the old Hank Williams song I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry it’s just plain eerie. Speaking of Hank Williams, he’s not spoken much of anymore even in the C&W arena but that man was positively a genius. Just google the list of his most popular songs someday.

Right now I can’t read too good
Don’t send me no more letters, no
Not unless you mail them
From Desolation Row

ends Desolation Row. In other words, leave me alone and go back to your friends where you belong…

Desolation Row was much more understandable when I was 17. Now I list listen to the lyrics with awe and love the 12 string guitar.

Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

What can I say about Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band that has not been said already. It is the first popular concept album (1967). It, like Highway 61 spawned a new genre of music, Progressive Rock

I was living in Chicago attending DeVry Technical Institute studying electronics living with 5 other students. Between the 6 of us we played that album so many times in the condo I finally had to toss it and purchased another.

A Day In The Life is one of my if not most favorite songs of all time.

There are many, many, many stories about this album and the Beatles with LSD. If you’re curious Google can fill you in.

CCR -Cosmos Factory

Swamp 6999795_1280.

I really like Creedence Clearwater Revival’s (CCR) music, sometime know as swamp rock. This is my favorite album of theirs. Their extended version of I Heard It Through The Grapevine is a fitting end to the album and is my favorite from the album.

One item common to Cosmos Factory and the first three albums on this list is the music. I really like the music, not just the lyrics.

As a final thought what does this album have to do with the Cosmos Factory Website?

Linda Ronstadt – Heart Like a Wheel

I’m firmly convinced every male of my generation was secretly in love with Linda including me. After all these years I still listen to her often. She started with the Stone Ponies. The first time I heard her was with that group. The Condello’s and I were sitting in the General Dynamics F111 Factory parking lot waiting until we had to go to work listening to the top 40 when Different Drum came on. It’s funny how when hearing a song your mind calls up a perfect picture of where and when you first heard the sone. Different Drum is one of those songs for me. We must have spent many hours in that parking lot because Judy Collin’s Amazing Grace also reminds me of that parking lot. Someday I’m going to drive over there and see if the parking lot is still there.

On to the album, Heart Like a Wheel is her best album IMHO. Released in 1974 it was also her most popular. My favorite song from the album is Willin which is why the photo is a road.

I recently found out she has PSP which also afflicts my wife, Gwen, who is now home bound in a wheelchair. Of course this has brought me closer to Linda and her music. So much that before Gwen could no longer travel we had planned a holiday to her hometown Tucson to visit her roots.

The End

Anyway that’s my top 5 today. One thing they all have in common is my age. The earliest album on the list is 1965 while the most recent is 1974. It’s not that I don’t like older and newer music because I do. However there must be something special about the music from that stage of your life. For me at least, that is true.

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Budapest by Victor Sebestyen

May 23, 2024

Just finished to book Budapest. A great book especially if you have been there as we did in 2018. I did not take any notes when I read the book but decided I wanted to post a blog. I’ve also been playing around with some of the new AI tools. So I asked ChatGPT-3 to write a 3 paragraph summary of the book. While basically true I was not impressed. I posed the same question to Copilot which I believe uses a version of ChatGPT. I preferred the Copilot version mostly because it also listed it’s sources

The results are below. Which do you prefer

ChatGPT-3

“Budapest” by Victor Sebestyen is a comprehensive and captivating historical account of the vibrant city of Budapest, Hungary. The book traces the tumultuous history of Budapest from its early days as a Roman outpost to its evolution into a prominent European capital. Through detailed research and vivid storytelling, Sebestyen delves into the city’s rich cultural heritage, political upheavals, and social transformations, offering readers a nuanced understanding of Budapest’s complex past.

Sebestyen examines key moments in Budapest’s history, including the Ottoman occupation, the Habsburg rule, and the impact of World War II and the Cold War on the city and its inhabitants. He explores the diverse cultural influences that have shaped Budapest, from the legacy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to the rise of Communist ideology and the subsequent transition to a market economy. Through personal anecdotes, interviews, and archival sources, Sebestyen provides a compelling narrative that sheds light on the challenges and triumphs of Budapest’s residents throughout the centuries.

In “Budapest,” Sebestyen not only presents a detailed chronicle of the city’s past but also delves into the complexities of Hungarian identity and the enduring spirit of its people. By weaving together historical events with personal stories and reflections, Sebestyen offers a multi-faceted portrait of Budapest that is both informative and engaging. Whether you are a history buff, a lover of European culture, or simply curious about the captivating city of Budapest, this book is sure to provide valuable insights and a deeper appreciation for the Hungarian capital.

Copilot

“Budapest: Between East and West” by Victor Sebestyen is a comprehensive history of Hungary’s capital, tracing its evolution from ancient times to the modern era. The book captures the city’s unique position on the fault line between East and West, which has influenced its cultural, political, and emotional shifts throughout history. Sebestyen, born in Budapest, combines objective historical analysis with personal anecdotes, offering an intimate portrait of a city marked by revolutions, wars, and conquests. His narrative spans from the Roman discovery of thermal springs in Buda to the dramatic Uprising of 1956, providing insights into the city’s enduring allure and resilience.

Sebestyen’s work delves into the rich tapestry of Budapest’s past, exploring the city’s transformation under various rulers, including the Ottoman Turks and the Hapsburgs. He highlights the city’s architectural beauty, exemplified by the Danube’s picturesque cityscape, and its cultural legacy, from literature and music to the iconic New York Café. The book also sheds light on influential figures who shaped Budapest’s history, such as Wallis Simpson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Luciano Pavarotti, as well as native personalities like film pioneer Alexander Korda and political thinker Theodor Herzl.

The author’s love for Budapest shines through in his vivid storytelling, which brings to life the city’s many rulers and notable residents. Sebestyen’s “Budapest” is not just a historical account but a tribute to the city’s spirit, showcasing how its people have navigated their identity between East and West. The book serves as both a page-turner and an authoritative guide to understanding one of Europe’s most significant cities, revealing its struggles and triumphs against the backdrop of world-changing events¹².

Source: Conversation with Copilot, 5/23/2024
(1) Budapest: Between East and West by Victor Sebestyen | Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60429961-budapest.
(2) Summary and reviews of Budapest by Victor Sebestyen – BookBrowse. https://www.bookbrowse.com/bb_briefs/detail/index.cfm/ezine_preview_number/17896/budapest.
(3) Summary and reviews of Strangers in Budapest by Jessica Keener – BookBrowse. https://www.bookbrowse.com/bb_briefs/detail/index.cfm/ezine_preview_number/12594/strangers-in-budapest.

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The Best Science Fiction Books

April 11, 2024

The Three Body Problem is now showing on Netflix. I immediately jumped at the chance to watch the series because the book is definitely one of the best SyFy books ever. That got me to thinking – what are my 5 favorite SyFy books. Here’s my list as of 2024-04-08

Best SyFy Books

  • The Three body problem – Liu Cixin
  • Roadside Picnic – Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
  • 2001 – Arthur C. Clarke
  • The Stand – Stephen King
  • Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Cadbury
  • The Man in the High Castle Philip K. DIcks
  • Ender’s Game – Orson Scott Card

If you counted I could not reduce the lis to 5.

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The Pretender

March 5, 2024

The Pretender

The Pretender by Jackson Browne has always been sort of my theme song. In the 60s we started out to change the World.

“Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you is worth savin’
And you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'” – Bob Dylan

When I was much younger than I am now in 1968 I thought our generation was going to change the World. We were the ones! The 60s were turbulent times, aren’t all time turbulent.

Here’s what went down in the 60s while I evolved from child to adult:

  • The Cold War (the entire decade)
  • First Televised Presidential Debate Airs (September 26, 1960)
  • Kennedy Elected President (November 8, 1960)
  • “The Pill” is Born (December 1960)
  • Bay of Pigs: Failed Invasion of Cuba (April 16-25, 1961)
  • Silent Spring published (1962)
  • Berlin Wall Construction (August 13, 1961)
  • Cuban Missile Crisis (October 22-28, 1962)
  • I Have a Dream… (August 28, 1963)
  • Kennedy Assassinated (November 22, 1963)
  • The Beatles (February 9, 1964)
  • Smoking “Hazardous To Your Health” (January 11, 1964)
  • Civil Rights Act (July 2, 1964)
  • Gulf of Tonkin (August 2, 1964)
  • “Bloody Sunday” – Selma Alabama (March 7, 1965)
  • Johnson Signs Medicare Bill (July 30, 1965)
  • Watts Race Riots (August 11-16, 1965)
  • Summer of Love (Summer, 1967)
  • My Lai Massacre (March 16, 1968)
  • MLK Assassinated (April 4, 1968)
  • Robert Kennedy Assassinated (June 6, 1968)
  • Democratic Convention Opens in Chicago (August 26, 1968)
  • We learned smoking was hazardous to our health (January 11, 1969)
  • One Small Step for Mankind (July 20, 1969)
  • Woodstock: Three Days of Peace, Music & Love (August 15-17, 1969)
  • Two Million Take Part in Peace Moratorium (October 15, 1969)
  • First Internet Packet Transfer (November 21, 1969)

Now 60 years later “we have met the enemy and he is us”. – Admiral Perry

I didn’t change the World. I sold out to the Establishment which I swore I would never do.

What happened?

For me personally – I fell in love, married, got a job, bought a house, consumed, and had children.

Now looking back I wonder how life would have turned out if I had taken a different path?

“Are you there? Say a prayer for the pretender
Who started out so young and strong only to surrender” – Jackson Browne

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Wicked Problems and Righteous Solutions

June 17, 2023

Hot, Flat, and Crowded by Tomas Friedman (2008): started me pondering upon wicked problems and how to solved them. It been 15 years since I read that book. During that interval I’ve identified a host of wicked problems but have not untangled a single problem. 

I’ve been thinking about this post for months. Naming on three problems is an impossible task. I started out by just noting down a list of problems which took me about 10 minutes: 

  • Population
  • Russia
  • Extremism
  • Guns
  • Hackers
  • Abortion
  • Illegal Immigrants
  • China
  • Terrorists
  • Invasive species – plant and animal
  • Water or lack there of
  • Pandemics
  • Climate
  • Republicans vs Democrats
  • China
  • AI
  • WWWIII

I knocked out Population because it’s so general most of the problems facing us today are children of population. Besides what can we do about the number of people on the planet. We certainly can’t euthanatize 3/4 of the population! If I had to name the ONE problem it would be population.

So, the problem has to be one we can solve. 

I crossed out Hackers because they are a nuisance and at least for now don’t affect most of us. 

So, the problem has to be one that affects the general population. 

Since I live in the USA the problem should be one that greatly affects the USA. For example, the war in the Ukraine is a terrible event but a long way off for me. 

To cut the number to three I did a mini-trade study. The criteria were; 

  • Solvable
  • Affects everyone
  • USA specific

Abortion

It was a tough call between Abortion and Illegal Aliens but in the end Abortion won out. First, it’s been a problem since at least Roe vs. Wade back when Gwen and I were just in love 50+ years ago. Secondly, Its a touchstone between the religious right and the liberals. If they can come to agreement on Abortion then then the lions and the lambs can live together. 

And just maybe the Democrats and the Republicans can agree on a few tings

Water

There is no new Water on the Planet unless a large comet strikes which makes the problem mute. Water was a surprise winner for me. The American West is in the middle of a 1,000 year drought. Texas ranchers can’t draw water from the Brazos because Dow Checmial father down stream at Freeport needs it all to create chemicals. They win because the TCEQ says so. Millions maybe billions don’t have clean water to drink. Meanwhile the almond crop in California is sucking the Colorado River dry.

Climate Change

Climate Change affects us all not only the USA but everyone in the planet. However we can’t even agree there is a climate change. Republicans deny it because they believe it will hurt business. Democrats profess to believe the climate is changing but when in office they don’t do anything about it. 

The end

i’ll think about this and post an update soon. I don’t like the winners. Just doesn’t seem right for some reason.

In the meantime anyone who can solve one of these problems deserves the Nobel Peace Prize

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Social Media Fast Results

April 13, 2023

I’m pretty much done with social media fasting. I consider the fast over and I’ve settled into a routine that does not include any social media. During the fast I also quit the TV, Internet news services, the New York Times, and The Economist. There is nothing I can do about the news anyway and watching/reading/listening to it just upsets me. Instead I’m reading the local newspaper for about a half hour every day.

The previous posts were:

I can honestly say I only miss Instagram. I followed several friends and interesting authors on Instagram. It was a wonderful app. I could catch up in 5 minutes a day. Plus I love photography and that’s what Instagram was all about. Sadly it’s veered off course. Someday I may check it our again but today is not that day. For now I’m getting my photography fix on Flickr.

Well, that about wraps up my social media fast. The fast is over and I’ve transitioned into a no social media lifesstyle.

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Social Media Fast II

March 18, 2023

On March 2, Texas Independence Day, I wrote a post detailing my two week hiatus from social media (Facebook, email, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) and promised an update. Click Here to view it

I am still off all the social media apps except email which I found I cannot live without. It’s the main Master Gardener communication transport. I try to limit myself to checking 3 times a day but am not successful very often.

Since then I’ve started weaning off the news because all it does is upset me and there is nothing I can do about it.

I cancelled my Economist subscription and am subscribing to the local Dallas Morning News instead. I can’t do anything about what is happening in the Ukraine or Cambodia for that matter and on a day to day basis it does not affect me very much. However, the local news does affect me.

On top of that I don’t turn on the TV news and if Gwen turns it on I try to ignore it.

I am not any calmer yet but Gwen’s ongoing battle with broken kneecap and PSP has been very stressful lately.

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