A sitting President lost his reelection bid by 74 Electoral College Votes.
The same sitting President lost his reelection by 7,059,526 popular votes.
The same sitting President, his party and his supporters lost over 62 court cases. These cases claimed voter fraud or election tampering without evidence.
With no other recourse to remain in power, the same sitting President rallied his cult-like following to the nation’s capital.
The same sitting President worked this crowd into a frenzy. He promised to lead them on a march on the Capital building. Instead, the President went back to the White House. His mob marched onto the Capital.
Yet this no now angry, frenzied mob, high on lies and intoxicated with hate, stormed the Capital. Police were brutalized, beaten, and killed. Building windows and doors broken. Entry was forced, the halls of the Capital, its offices trashed. Elected representatives from all parties were running, hiding, and pleading for their lives.
All the while, the same sitting President snuck away from his mob. He wanted to keep his hand clean. Instead, he chose to sit in a room and watch the violence unfold on TV.
And for hours, he ignored the calls and pleas to end the madness. He gleefully did nothing.
Why? Why did thousands of Americans rally in DC? Why did these people try to overthrow the government? It was a very misguided attempt to prevent the certification of the election results.
These people wanted their guy to remain in charge. Their guy wanted to remain out of jail.
Not since the Civil War had such a violent effort to overthrow the US Government had taken place. Never before was the leader of an insurrection the President of the United States.
Since the failed coup attempt Democracy has been slowly dying. The same sitting President, never accepted defeat. He led the clamor that he was robbed, that he was a victim. His party maintained that if “They” could “come after” him “They” could “come after you”.
Truth as we all know it. If you break the law through rape, sexual assault, fraud, or extortion, the justice system could come after you. Even if you cheat on your taxes, you could still face consequences.
Why? Because you would be a criminal.
Obey the law and no one will “come after you”.
Yet thousands of people decided it was in their best interest to break the law to keep their guy free.
In the end, their guy was found guilty of 34 felonies. He was labeled a criminal rapist. He surrounded himself with the most unqualified people the world has to offer. He lined his pockets with the support of many of the richest billionaires in the US and the world. He openly lies about his future actions. He lays false claims about his capabilities. He denies guilt for past actions.
All the while many of the people that attended his rally and rode on the Capital have been jailed. Only they have been held accountable for his call to action while their guy roams free.
The same sitting President is now the same sitting President elect.
He promises to make life harder on the middle and lower classes. He alienates and antagonizes our allies. He plays into the hands of the most despicable world leaders. He proves to be exactly what the majority of voters always knew he was – an unqualified man child. He lacks even the simplest understanding of taxes, tariffs, economics, US and World history, science, the environment, and globalization.
The same sitting President elect has been fortunate that the rich see him as a puppet. They manipulate him to grow their own riches and power. He enables them to take from the poor and give to themselves.
The same sitting President elect has been even more fortunate. The worst among us are easily deceived. The dumbest of the dumb believe what he sells. The weakest of the weak cannot resist his allure. The lamest of the lame follow him blindly. They buy not just gold tennis shoes and autographed China manufactured bibles. They continue to sell their souls, their futures and their own freedom. They sell out America just so their guy can stay out of jail.
Why? Just so they can help end Democracy. So they destroy the America that has been in development for hundreds of years. So that a professional con-man and life time criminal can steal from them, make their life harder.
January 6, 2021, was the first day that American Democracy was put on life support.
Now the world watches to see if the real America can perform CPR for the next four years.
The ability of the majority to outlast the minority is the only hope America has left.
We and the world are on notice.
Category: Common Sense Thinking
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Examining the January 6 Insurrection: A Threat to Democracy
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Effective New Year Resolutions: How to Succeed
From Oxford Languages
Resolution
Noun
1. a firm decision to do or not do something
2. the quality of being determined or resolute
From Thingstomthinks
Resolution
Noun
1. a the action or inaction someone takes or doesn’t take once every December 31st
2. the unrealistic promises made with high hopes. These promises are often broken soon after every January 1.
Most every day we all see something in our lives we want to change. Most every day we vow to make those changes. Most every day nothing changes.
Yet every year, usually December 31 everyone will make a resolution to do something. Exercise, lose weight, eat less, read more, spend less, save more, go out more often, drink less.
The intentions of these resolutions are fine. Self-improvement, better health, a happier life are all good goals.
Yet these New Year Resolutions almost are always broken by noon January 1. Why? January 1 is a holiday so people are home eating, drinking , nursing headaches and many gyms are closed. Mainly because we just didn’t feel like starting.
We can all keep resolutions. Just not New Years Eve induced resolutions. You can not make changes just because your free United Way Wall Calendar rolls from one year to the next.
For a resolution to be a powerful tool, a commitment that you can live up to. You must be of sound mind, body and spirit. Nothing we aren’t ready for is anything that we will embrace, no matter how well intended.
If you spent time thinking about changes you want in your life, great. I encourage and support everyone who has a dream for a better, fitter, healthier life.
Make a plan. Set a goal. Decide on the actions you are willing to take. Determine a schedule you can live with.
Most importantly, accept that you may miss your goal, may have set backs. Your journey will have ups and down, highs and lows. It’s okay.
The only resolution you have to make is one you can live with. Something for you, set by you and embraced for all the right reasons.
It’s 12:03 and I hear the sound of half-hearted resolutions breaking all over.
I won’t start mine until January 2. I have potato chips to eat!!
Happy New Year. -

Technology, who needs it?
For thousands of years humanity was able to function without computers.
There is no question that technical advances have helped the world evolve. The evolution includes advancements like the wheel and running water. We’ve progressed from horse and buggy to automobiles and from steamboats to cruise ships. We’ve moved from handwritten letters to instant messaging. The world has become smaller.
Yet, this is not a good thing in all cases.
Yes, it is great to be able to carry around a computer in your pants’ back pocket. Having the ability to call anyone at any time from anywhere is great. To be able to take a picture without carrying extra gear is wonderful. Doing complex math or signing documents from the comfort of your office’s bathroom is a treat.
But when is enough enough? What transactions should not be automated? What is the cost of total reliance on technology?
Note that I hate online banking and do not use my phone for such transactions. I do not use apps to pay bills. I do not count on my phone to be a safe place for financial information. I had 3 different banking accounts hacked in 3 months. These were accounts from two banks. I do not trust that the banks can keep online information safe and secure. I do not trust them to safeguard my money either.
Stadiums are going to cashless transactions. You cannot show up at a baseball game and buy a ticket with the MLB App on your phone. Want a beer? Better have a cash app because even vendors are not taking cash. It is a world that discriminates against people that do not use tech, can’t afford tech, don’t trust tech or rather just use cash.
The destruction of communication, education, common sense and critical thinking can be directly attributed to technology.
In war, countries first attack their enemy’s communication channels. Those that control messaging control the world.
Our world is handing power over to servers buried in mountains, operated by nameless, faceless people that the consumer knows nothing about.
We are being asked to trust anyone that knows C++ simply because they know how to use 0s and 1s.
Yesterday I had to download Venmo to make a purchase. To know one’s fault but my own, I sent payment to the wrong phone number. After 24 hours of trying to rectify the situation, using AP supplied help pages, nothing is getting done. Why? Their technology is not functioning. I called Venmo cutomer support . No one was there. Technology that wasn’t working was.
A consumer used to make a mistake. The consumer would make a call and talk to a human being. They would communicate the issue, and the issue would be resolved.
Now when something goes wrong, technology must notify other technology. We are left to hope that this technology can do its job.
When technology cannot or will not fix a problem, the consumer that technology was designed to help gets left holding the bag. Companies left holding our money.
The value of technology only goes so far.
The value of people, communication, thinking, and problem solving is being dismissed.
And that is why we are where we are as a society.
Misinformation, errors that screw the consumer, technology that rewards companies for half assing their responsibilities and enables greed.
I will take people over technology anyway.
As soon as I get this Venmo situation fixed, my account will be deleted. It will sit next to my Bank of America and Pay Pal apps in the trash bin on my phone.
Venmo is being deleted not because of my mistake,but deleted because of the inability of technology to be anything more than a power surge away from wiping out everything as we know it. -

The Benefits of Living in a Community Association
How many people would like to read about the history of home owner associations?
None?
That’s what I thought.
Just know that the concept of home owner associations popped up in the 1940s.
In 1963 the FHA approved mortgage insurance exclusively for condo associations and sub-divisions that had an HOA.
In 1972 the Community Associations Institute worked with real estate experts. They created a plan that would balance developer needs and consumer protections.
Today, about 30% of the U.S. population lives in some form of community association. The expectation is that this number will continue to grow.
Why do I bring this up? The thinking about COA / HOA needs to change.
There are people that hate owner associations, People that vow to never live in or buy into an owner association. Of course there are the people that move into one, but decide that the rules don’t apply to them.
I have talked about the value of owner associations on other blogs. I have also addressed the necessity of owner associations at many meetings.
If you hate them, I can’t change your mind. I can just tell you that you are being shortsighted.
Sure, you buy a home and you a certain level of freedom to do what you want with and around your home. Your owners association can actually protect you from yourself. At least in theory.
By-laws, rules and regulations are written for these communities. The governing documents are structured to best guarantee owner freedom and community integrity. They also balance shared costs and property value protection.
When you buy into an owner association, you take on a responsibility to follow the rules. You must do your part to be part of a thriving community. It is no different a commitment than you make when moving into any community.
Owner communities have a unique structure. Because of their shared costs, they allow more homeowners to enjoy amenities. These amenities are ones that standard communities may not have. Parks, club houses, and tennis courts are just a few. Swimming pools and dog runs are also perks that can be found in many communities.
Owners gain private access to these perks by living in the community and paying their dues; an equal fair share of the elements cost.
Owners are also protected from neighbors that might not live up to a standard that enhances property values. COA / HOA communities set a standard. They ensure your home value doesn’t decrease due to a neighbor’s tacky nature.
No, not everything is perfect in a COA / HOA community. Yet if everyone followed the rules, acted in good fellowship and lived as a proper neighbor, a COA / HOA can be the one protection you have to maintain your properties value.