Sowing uncertainty…

If Trump has achieved only one thing (and he has) it’s disruption and uncertainty, none of the things a citizenry is expecting, deserved and should ever receive from a good leader. 

Of course, most folks will say that he’s so bad that nothing good should be expected from him, and right there, we’re in total agreement! 

As we all know by now, sowing uncertainty brings both opposites to the fore: paralysis and horrible chaos! The man who once called himself the “stable genius” is in fact an unstable imbecile, like that piece of furniture that always wobbles, no matter how you try to wedge one or two of its four legs. 

Such a malfunctioning element must absolutely be replaced as soon as possible...

Pope Donald J Trump?

Trump has jumped deep down into the rabbit hole of megalomania and senility with his latest AI-generated photo of himself dressed as the pope just days after telling reporters that he'd "like to be pope." 

Clearly the man is going crazy, has no emotional intelligence at all (we knew that already) and is making some serious strategic mistake by alienating his most supportive base, the American Catholics, including all of the Supreme Court conservative when he needs them the most! 

The timing is in terribly bad taste as the world mourns what amounts to be the best Pope it ever had, and cardinals from around the world are set to gather in Vatican City to choose his successor as the leader of the Catholic Church. 

Trump, who isn’t Catholic, joked to reporters outside the White House last week that he would like to succeed Francis: "I'd like to be pope. That would be my No. 1 choice," he said. 

The AI-generated image sparked backlash from many, while some of his less intelligent and most terrorized supporters defended it as a joke...

Is it really spring in Park City?

Now that the daffodils are out and white pelicans are stopping over in Park City on their way to Canada, it looks as if winter is officially over and it might be time to dress the part.

This morning was still frosty, but we seem on the path of nicer and warmer weather. 

At least it generally happens during the month of May! In fact, after looking and comparing the night and day temperatures at our home from January 1 through April 30, I found, to my great surprise, that our winter temperatures in these four months were 2.5% colder this year than last, when my perception was totally the opposite. In contrast, that same period in 2023 (record breaking snow year) was 18% colder than this year. 

I’d guess it pays to keep a note on temperatures in order to talk intelligently about them!

What goes into common sense?

By now, if you regularly read this blog, you know that I’m a big fan of common sense! So a question I often ask myself is that one: “If common sense is more a function of pure intellect or rather of emotional intelligence?” I instinctively lean for the latter, as emotional Intelligence is very useful for reading social cues, understanding context, and navigating interpersonal dynamics. 

I find it also helpful in preventing rigid or overly theoretical thinking by considering human behavior and emotions. It also aids in adjusting behavior based on certain situations, like knowing when to speak up or when to just shut up.

On the other hand, pure intellect, IQ or cognitive skills, will help with logical reasoning, factual knowledge, and problem-solving. It also allows us to recognize patterns, anticipate consequences, and make sound judgments. In practical situations, it can be essential for understanding cause-and-effect relationships.

In summary we could argue that common sense is a blend of both pure intellect and emotional intelligence, but I feel that it leans more heavily on practical intelligence—the ability to apply knowledge effectively in everyday situations. 

My view is that common sense might be more than just IQ or emotional intelligence as it can be seen as practical wisdom gained through experience. Someone with high intellect might overcomplicate things, while another with high emotional quotient might prioritize harmony over logic. 

People with strong common sense often have both traits, but excel at making street-smart decisions rather than abstract, or theoretical reasoning.

A long process for one dental implant…

At long last, I finally received my new crown this past Wednesday. Since the time the tooth it replaced was extracted on May 8, 2024, and the bone graft performed on the jawbone, almost one year has passed. Over six and a half months later (November 12), the implant was inserted. The surgeon waited that long to make sure the bone graft had taken well and was stable enough. 

Then on April 2, a digital mapping of the mouth area where the crown would be located was conducted, using advanced scanning technology to create a precise, 3D representation of my surrounding teeth and gums. 

Experts say that the success and longevity of an implant depends more on the quality of its placement than on the implant itself, which means that the most important elements are the time allowed for the bone graft to be complete and the time given at the implant to perfectly bond to the bone, which was the case in my situation and was well worth the longer wait... 

I’d promise to tell you how the crown fitting would go… Today, the dental technician just had to screw in the crown in place and verify that it fit well, bite, clearances and all, and I was done and out of the office in 5 minutes. 

Just impressive is all I have to say!

K2 Revolve or Dalbello Cabrio?

In my quest for finding a boot easy to get in and out of, I’ve finally tried on two models that I thought might help me. I began with the K2 Resolve, a re-incarnation of the old Raichle Flexon, now marketed under the K2 brand and that seems to be popular with the teenagers gravitating around the snow-parks. Perhaps was I subconsciously hoping to rejuvenate myself in the process? 

That might have been possible, but I also quickly found out that passing the cables and closing the buckles around that forward-pivoting plastic tongue required some time and dexterity that I wasn’t willing to provide. 

I then tried its cousin, the Dalbello Cabrio, with a similar forward-articulated tongue, and found it to be almost as difficult to close as the K2, and in addition the fit around my ankles felt terrible. In spite of Marty’s patient efforts at Jan’s, I wasn’t convinced. 

So I was quickly back to square one with few alternatives like the Nordica “mid-entry” HF series or returning to an overlap boot like mine, but if at all possible, easier to put and take off. I’ll keep you apprised of where my continued search takes me...

“Afterlife-free” religions (Part 3)

It’s more than likely that a number of us will be too tired to envision keeping on living after death, so the next question is “Are they belief systems, philosophies or religions that don’t promise eternal life including hell and heaven, after death to their flock?” In doing some research, it appears that this option is available and here’s what I have found. 

If we first look at Buddhism, we find no eternal soul or heaven or hell in the Abrahamic sense: Buddhism teaches anatta (no permanent self or soul). Rebirth (samsara) occurs based on karma, but the ultimate goal is nirvana—liberation from the cycle of rebirth, not eternal life in a paradise. There might be some exceptions but they’re temporary as some Buddhist traditions acknowledge heavenly and hellish realms, but these are impermanent states within samsara, not eternal destinations. 

There’s also Jainism, one of the three oldest religions in India that I didn’t know anything about, that teaches that the path to enlightenment (moksha), is through nonviolence and minimizing harm to all living things. It emphasizes breaking free from the cycle of rebirth through ethical living and asceticism. There is no eternal heaven; the liberated soul (siddha) exists in a state of pure consciousness, not a physical paradise. 

My favorite is Taoism that focuses on harmony in this life. Classical Taoism is more concerned with living in harmony with the Dao (the Way) than with afterlife and its rewards and punishments. Confucianism stresses moral behavior and social harmony in this life. Ancestor veneration is practiced, but there’s no detailed theology of heaven and hell or eternal life. 

To my surprise was the modern Unitarian Universalism Church that has roots in liberal Christian thought and is primarily a North American tradition, with most congregations located in the United States. It has no dogmatic afterlife beliefs, but encourages individual exploration of meaning and does not impose a unified belief about the afterlife. Some members may reject entirely the concept of heaven and hell. Obviously, ancient Greek & Roman where Stoics emphasized virtue in life, while Epicureans saw death as the end of consciousness. Neither promised eternal rewards or punishments. 

Finally we all know about Humanism, Atheism, and Agnosticism that aren’t religions per se, but reject supernatural afterlife claims, focusing instead on ethical living in the present. In conclusion, many Eastern traditions (Buddhism, Jainism, Taoism) and some modern philosophical currents stay away from the heaven and hell duality, focusing instead on liberation, ethical living, or acceptance of impermanence. 

Meanwhile, secular approaches reject afterlife promises altogether. Now, you have all the information you need to fine-tune, change or adopt your favorite belief system!