Thanks for what you are doing and trying to do for the people of NC.  I know none of us individually can make a big dent in that kind of destruction, but every little help can make a person's day or save a life and that matters immensely. 

 I'm rarely dogmatic about "conspiracy theories", but there are not too many that I say, "No, that can't be true."  I don't know if they can do that, but if they can, I would expect them to do so. 

 Hope you feel better. 

 Like most people.  Trump has his strengths and weakness, his good points and his bad points.  He isn't nearly as bad as his enemies accuse him of being and he isn't nearly as good as his die-hard supporters think he is.

The only thing I can say is that he looks good when put against Kamala Harris or Joe Biden, but that is more because of how bad they are. 

 I like being challenged.  Sometimes I change my mind.  Sometimes I tweak my beliefs.  Sometimes I strengthen my beliefs because I better understand why I believe what I believe. 

 There is a lot of harsh persecution of Christians around the globe, but the worst that American Christians have only been dealing with, is people saying mean things or being shadow banned on social media.  

I was recently reading that the US government and DOJ are keeping track of everyone who buys a Bible or Christian literature and storing it in a criminal database.  I think American Christians are about to start experiencing the same kinds of persecution that many of their international brothers and sisters in Christ have been experiencing for a long time and they are going to be shocked.  Sadly, I think a lot of Americans, who consider themselves Christians, are going to drift away when the going gets rough.  We will see. 

 Great stuff.  I have it on autoship.  I not only use it to cook with, but use it to make a body cream for moisturizing. 

 When you get it all figured out, you can write a nice long form note on how to do this kind of optimization for us old fogies who don't understand half of it and don't have the time to learn. 

 From the instant of conception, there is a living cell by every definition of life in every biology textbook.  At that same moment, this life has unique, human DNA.  Therefore it is human.  Therefore a human life begins at conception.  Scientifically, it really is that simple.

The only other argument that I have heard that has even a hint of logic is human life beginning when there is a heartbeat, since someone is normally declared dead when their heart stops.  I'd argue that is a false equivalent, though.  My old parts manager was working in his yard and had a heart attack.  His heart stopped beating.  Luckily a neighbor saw him drop to the ground, called 911, and an ambulance happened to be a block away and got there and restarted his heart.  He lived many more years, but moved away a bunch of years ago, so I have no idea if he is still alive.

If he had dropped "dead" when his heart stopped and I had walked up and shot him in the head permanently "killing" him before the ambulance got there to revive him, would I be guilty of murder?  Yes, I would.  In the same way, anyone killing a person from the moment of conception to natural death is guilty of murder.

FYI, most contraceptives, like the pill, prevent implantation and therefore kill the baby just like a mother withholding milk from a newborn. 

 The GitCitadel team is a group who has joined forces to make some more reliable software for nostr and to make nostr do some additional things.  All of the members have other jobs, so aren't full time, but they are doing great work.  They also will listen to your suggestions.  They are good people doing good work out of love for people and freedom. 

 Unfortunately, I think there are a lot of Democrats and government bureaucrats who are rejoicing at the destruction in areas that lean towards Trump.  They don't want to help because they don't want these people voting and if these people have to die to stop their votes, those in power are OK with that.

Of course it is never a good idea to wait and depend on the government.  It always lets you down because realistically they only care about their power. 

 I don't like government handouts for anyone, but if we are going to have them, I'd much prefer they go to the poor people who were devastated by Helene than to the illegals and criminals.  Those of western NC especially need help because it wasn't reasonable to expect them to be prepared for a hurricane, especially a gulf hurricane, to destroy them like this.  I feel a little less empathy for those who buy houses on the barrier islands on the coast where hurricane damage is to be expected. 

 Those who cry, "Democracy!" are the least democratic.
Those who cry out against fascism are the most fascist.
Those who decry racism are the most racist.

Obviously there are exceptions, but this is usually the case. 

 When my son was between 8-10 years old, he went to visit his grandparents on his own.  He went to a parade and got candy and then was selling it to employees at my parent's business.  When he got home he told me he thought he had made a mistake.  His dollars were depreciating and he should have asked for payment in gold or silver.  

I don't think he would've gotten anyone to buy a candy bar with gold or silver, but it still made my heart swell with pride. 

 Those rural areas vote Republican and are big Trump fans.  I hate to say it, but I think a lot of people in government, the Democrat party, and the media want them to die.  I don't want to think that of people, but sadly, I believe it is true. 

 100% 

 You can get a berkey water filter and just pour any water into it and drinking water comes out. 

 Yes the government is horrible and wasteful and doesn't really care about the people it claims to be there for, but people like this just complain.  They never do anything about it.  She probably will elect the same people.  She won't start keeping more cash on hand.  She won't store extra food and water and flashlights with batteries.  She doesn't sound like she will learn from this.

I hate seeing the suffering, but I have more empathy for those who did everything right, who prepared, and still were hurt by a totally unexpected catastrophe rather than those who don't prepare at all and just depend on others to take care of them and then play the victim card. 

 When I used to have chickens, I found that picking up and handling the roosters nearly daily helped keep them in line, so they didn't get nasty and attack everyone. 

 I started when they were young.  I'm sure it is harder to do for the first time when they are over a year old. 

 The USD has only lasted as long as it has due to being the world reserve currency and lots of people around the globe holding it, rather than spending it.  Of course, even the USD truly has defaulted because it used to be backed by silver.  First they prevented the peons from redeeming in silver.  Then they prevented nations from redeeming in silver.  I wonder when the next default is coming. 

 Exactly.  People can have a different opinion, but they can't have a different truth.  There is one truth and it is the truth even if not one person believes it. 

 Beautiful 

 The difficult thing about the Harry Potter series is it gets darker and darker as the books go along.  When the books were coming out, there was enough time between books for kids to mature and be ready for the next book, but if you start your kids on the first book when they are just mature enough for it, they will want to read all of the books, but likely won't be mature enough for the later books.  I found it a little difficult deciding when was the right time to introduce them, but it has been done and they enjoyed them. 

 Wow!  That's insane.  We stopped by dry falls just before last Thanksgiving.  I don't think it is safe to walk under it now. 

 Both Hezbollah and Hamas hide their weapons in residential areas, under schools & hospitals, and various areas guaranteed to cause lots of civilian deaths if Israel attacks their leaders or weapons.  I'd argue that is a much greater evil than Israel defending itself and even sending out warnings to civilians to leave the area because an attack is imminent.  Israel is warning its enemies in order to save as many civilian lives as possible.  Hamas and Hezbollah are hiding behind civilians so any attack on them can be called genocide with no consideration of how many of their own people die or are disabled.

There has never been another case when terrorist attack the civilians in a nation and the nation that was attacked was told they can't fight back and need to compromise with the terrorists.  The norm is zero negotiation with terrorists.

Israel isn't perfect, but they are being put in a no win position by people who want to wipe them out of existence. 

 I so prefer a wired mouse. 

 When my son was young, he was awful with names, but very social.  He would introduce everyone, even someone he met 5 minutes ago as "my friend." 

 Let me guess, all of the duplicate ballots were in highly democrat areas. 

 I never thought of that, but that does make sense. 

 I've always thought that a lot of software companies encourage inefficient software, so people need a new computer to run their software and that new computer comes with new software and the people buy more software.  It forces people to buy (especially I believe that is Microsoft's business model).    Since most programmers have nicer computers, they get lazy and write inefficient code.  The two together means everything takes more resources and is more inefficient than it should be.  If programmers still tried to be efficient, I'd never have to upgrade my computer till it died.  That would be wonderful. 

 I really need to get around to figuring out linking my fountain to my nostr. 

 Only 3% and only on those making more than $100,000.  If I remember correctly, that lasted maybe 3 years. 

 My Kia Telluride has touch screen, but it has manual controls (knobs & buttons) also for all of the common stuff that you really need.  The rest of the features are just window dressing. 

 When WWIII starts, I expect the US to become the first to drop a nuclear bomb again.  The US thinks they are unstoppable, but they are totally dependent on other nations, especially their enemy China, for all of their technology and medicine.  The US has given away so much of its smart weapons to Ukraine and others that we don't have a stockpile for a real war, nor do we have the ability to produce more at anywhere near the rate necessary for a war with even a near peer.  When those in charge realize they are going to lose, they will go nuclear and things will go from bad to worse.

I'm really starting to wonder if the US, as we know it, will exist for more than a few more years.  I don't know whether the problem will be an economic collapse, a lost foreign war, a civil war that divides the country, or tyrants that take over and do all of the above.  Whatever the case I feel confident the US will no longer be the world's only super power for more than a decade.

I guess time will tell if I'm right. 

 I've fed my coffee grounds to my worms and use the worm compost to feed my garden. 

 Supporting the Ukraine/Russia war is just leading to more deaths.  It isn't helping Ukraine at all.  It is so sad.  They had a peace agreement almost worked out months after the war started, but the US and NATO stopped it and the result was hundreds of thousands of deaths for nothing.  It is so sad. 

 I'm torn.  I'd love to have proof of the government people involved in the assassination attempts so we can throw them in jail and get them out of the government or even maybe defund some agencies.  At the same time, I don't want anyone to have access to anyone's phone.  I believe in privacy.  I'd prefer a situation where nobody, not even the phone manufacturer or phone software companies, can get into a phone because they are completely secure.  If they can get in for reasonable reasons, they will start looking for unreasonable reasons until nothing is private. 

 I've been doing some reading on the nephilim.  It is interesting.  There seems to be more physical evidence of their existence than I realized. 

 very nice! 

 That is good advice on all subjects.  It always amazes me how many people put down others, who are where they were knowledge wise just a couple of years ago.  You never bring a person to the truth by calling them names and putting them down. 

 I do support succession and I picked out what states I want in my country almost 10 years ago. 

 Less than once a month, but every once in a while. 

 Not surprised.  Liars are going to lie and tyrants are going to be tyrannical.  They are what they are.  I just wish more people could see the obvious. 

 True, but people also need to keep in mind that loving does not mean condoning sin. 

 I've done that and think it helps a little.  It only helps protect for a year or two, but I guess that is enough time to help them get somewhat established. 

 In general, I like it, but many newbies aren't set up with sats and a lightning wallet yet.  That makes them unable to pay to follow and makes them leave.  Until it is a little easier to setup a wallet and zap really easily, that would just drive people away.

The other problem is what happens when bitcoin sky rockets and a sat is real money?  We don't want to force something that causes problems later.  I suppose if it was optional, it might be OK.

That being said, I'd definitely be willing to pay a sat to follow someone. 

 Right now spending bitcoin and one satoshi is no big deal.  I zap and spend all of the time, but what happens way in the future when the value is 1,000 or 10,000 or more times greater.  It could get to the point that requiring a sat is real money and limits the number of people a person can follow.  I admit that is way in the future, but we don't want to design in something that destroys nostr in the future. 

 Thank you.  I plan to. 

 I appreciate getting feedback. 

 I agree that it is crazy how much the US supports Israel, but it is also crazy how Israel is attacked, (They have also had drones and rockets shot at them every day since October 8th).  Living like that is horrible.  I don't necessarily think they have done everything right, but I get upset at how the Muslims get a pass for all of their crimes and Israel is attacked as the world's worst terrorist for responding and defending their people against those who desire to wipe them off the map.

If people were fair in their criticism of both sides, I'd keep silent, because I don't think Israel is perfect.  I also think it is insane that after a terrorist attack on Israeli citizens, that they are told to compromise and give up territory.  Every nation throughout history (with the exception of Israel) has absolutely refused to negotiate with terrorists.  Giving up territory would just encourage more terrorist attacks.  Israel has given up territory multiple time in the past and every time (except maybe giving the Sinai back to Egypt), that territory was used to attack them.  When they have taken territory (except when the world's nations gifted them territory by treaty after WWII), it has been taking territory from those who attacked them first and taking it to prevent being destroyed.

There are people in Israel who have done horrible things, but I guess I feel some compassion because they live with their lives in the balance, surrounded by nations that want to destroy them and constantly under terrorist attacks, suicide bomber attacks, drone attacks, and rocket attacks.  Living in that situation can cause those that don't have the peace of God to become hard hearted and to begin to use the tactics of their enemies against them.  It isn't right, but it is understandable.

I catch myself defending Israel, even though I don't agree with everything they do, because the international complaints are often untrue and almost always unfair (when compared to the response to others, especially their opponents).  Just as I end up defending Trump, even though he does a lot of things I disagree with, or as I defended Kavanaugh, even though I didn't want him on the Supreme Court, I end up defending Israel because the attacks are unbalanced and misleading.