STUPID HUMAN TRICKS
First, from the New York Times: “There’s a New Place to Store Greenhouse Gasses, in your beer.” Sure, it can be done, but it is meaningless. If 2 more people are added to the planet in 2026 that will wipe out the “savings.” Your beer will cost twice as much as well. Thanks, but no thanks!
It is cheaper to plant a few trees where there weren’t any before, like on the brewery roof.
Second, from Yahoo News: “Three words that can change male friendships, according to Andrew McCarthy” Guys telling other guys “I love you” can change male friendships, he says. Yup! That sure would change a cool friendship into a situation-ship for me! Don’t ever do this!!! Straight guys NEVER want to hear those words from a sober male friend. We already know or we wouldn’t be friends. But don’t ever make it that awkward, please. And if you’re gay, and I’m straight, just don’t because I’m not interested. Saying it to a family member … OK, but don’t expect me to say it back and we will get along famously.
Guys like simple, not complicated. Two guys can chum together their entire lives and never know each other’s last names, but they will know the name of each other’s dogs and the make and model of each other’s trucks. Why screw up a good thing? If one says, “I love you” to the other … well, that friendship just ended. Is that the change you were looking for?
Third, from Vox: “The world’s deadliest infectious disease is on the rise in the US.” When is truth not true? Among unvaccinated illegals this disease is running rampant. What is it? TB.
But no one who had the vaccination has come down with it. Were you given the TB shot? I was, too. Neither of us need worry even a little about this. It was brought in by illegals. It is being passed around in the illegal community. Those parents who refused to have their children vaccinated for TB need to worry because the unvaccinated children of illegals are in their schools.
Another good reason to remove the problem-makers. We could try to round them up to distribute the shot, but liberals like Vox would hate that, too. So, why make it a big story if you’re not willing to do what it takes to stop it? It isn’t my problem. I had my kids vaccinated. My parents had me vaccinated. Why hasn’t every parent?
Fourth, from Fortune: “The great toilet paper panic is back as Japan starts stockpiling.” The world learned NOTHING from COVID?
Our family has several months worth of the stuff. Not enough for anyone to break down our doors, but enough for our needs. We also use cloths for simple purposes. Those go in the towel load.
We also have small cloth towels, cloth napkins, and handkerchiefs (use in place of paper).
With the cloth items we can nearly double the time before we NEED paper products. AND, they cost far less in the long run. It is how we save money in retirement!
Gasoline? Half a tank worth stored in plastic gas cans. We have powdered milk, powdered eggs, and emergency water, too. Why not? Those who aren’t prepared cause panics. In an emergency you can’t count on government or local stores for bread. You are your own first line of help in an emergency. Too many haven’t prepared for anything.
Fifth, Yahoo reports: “Gen Z says “Karen” is out — and a new name for rude, entitled women is going viral.” I say, calling someone by a derogatory name is racist, sexist, and rude in itself. Don’t call someone a ****r, or *****a, or ****n, or ******a. They are ALL evil. Naming is racist, sexist, and rude (I know, I repeated myself).
There are commonalities, sure. But the names don’t tell the story. When an adult falls off a cruise ship I have a good guess … drunk, after midnight. I don’t call people names, I remind people not to be wandering around drunk on a cruise ship. Small ship, large ocean! When a young man stays out at a bar until 3am and tries to walk home… I don’t call him names, I remind folk that it isn’t smart to be alone and drunk at 3am. You could walk off a pier and they’ll have to find your body a couple days later. Then we get to read a quote from the family like this: “He was smart and sensitive.” Nope.
We don’t need new or old names for behaviors which have happened for millennia. We need nicer, better, and wiser people. Can we teach THAT in schools?
Finally, Bolde (maybe AI) wrote: “People in their 90s tend to agree on these surprising regrets—and they’re not about money or success, but 10 things most people in their 30s are still chasing hard” I read the piece and I regret taking the time to do so.
If you made it to 90 you have achieved! There are many who will never have the opportunity to regret what you have to regret. I’m not yet 90; there are a few things I regret. One is that I didn’t write down my parents’ stories. My dad grew up during the Depression, fought as an army paratrooper in the Pacific during WWII, then came home and raised a family. There are questions I have about his life which I will never have answers. I didn’t write down any of what I did know. My mom grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania. What was it like to live there? Who were her friends? How did she make use of learning Latin?
I don’t need AI to tell me that life has some regrets. How about an article about the joys and rewards of living beyond your sixth birthday (because 0.66% don’t) … ?
Another? SheKnows writes this headline: “Is $140,000 the New Poverty Line? The Updated Math of Family Life.” I read the story. It disgusted me. People driving high-end cars…spending thousands on daycare…living in half-million dollar houses in high tax zip codes…in California. Rule number one about reality – you won’t find it in California. If you want reality live in middle America. A California family that can’t make it on $140,000 will find they can live a very pleasant life in Missouri on only $95,000. They’ll save over $10,000 just in income taxes. They’ll save another $10,000 on property taxes. Food and gas are cheaper. Middle class houses cost as much as half a million less in Missouri (count on it being at least $200,000 less). That means that mortgage payments are more reasonable ($14,000 less per year). If you’re lucky you won’t need a pest control contract. Electric, water and sewer rates are far less. Oh, and on your home and car insurances will save you a bundle. A simpler life, an easier overhead, and less traffic for everything.
I call the article 100% left-coast wacky.
Copyright 2026 Donald Whelpley
[PLEASE NOTE that Don is always open to discussing the thoughts and opinions he shares here and welcomes comments as shared in the comment section. He doesn’t use other social media platforms and won’t see whatever you’d like to share with him if you post it elsewhere.
ALSO, Don is always open to offer his thoughts on various topics. If you have a specific request, you can let him know in a comment; he reads – and replies to – them all. ~ Sherry]
See more GUEST POSTS from Don
Comments