Would you trust this man with your life?

As the end of the year 2018 draws near I keep wondering why people are willing to put their lives in the hands of a man who is incapable of closing an umbrella. But suppose he can handle an umbrella but simply choose not to put in the effort to close it and just expected someone else to clean up after him...who thinks a man who doesn't care about an umbrella really cares about education for poor children, healthcare for elderly citizens or any other subject he can't personally profit from?



His daughter recently bought the right to build voting computers (in China!), shared secret government information through her private e-mail address and still sells clothes that are not made in America.

Is the Trump family really that popular under the American population or is their popularity fake news?



Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

Conspiracy theories

Conspiracy theories have been around for a long time. 'Fake news' is nothing new, athough easier to spread than ever thanks to social media. https://www.thedailybeast.com/meet-the-woman-who-was-alex-jones-before-alex-jones-existed?via=twitter_page

'What do scientists know? My gutfeeling (re: my favourite media-channel) knows better! On top of that: a friend of my neighbour wrote on Facebook something that made me question those people who studied on the matter for years and my neighbours friend stated he once wrote an article contradicting those so called scientists.'

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

Forever (a short story)

The man stood leaning against the wall in such a way that it was unclear if the wall was supporting him or vice versa.

If contact was broken one of them would topple. That much seemed certain.

While he stood there his gaze rested on a face in the crowd. Hers.

The moment he had seen her he had fallen for her, although he wasn't in the habit of falling for just any woman.

But he knew: if he fell now he would keep falling.
Forever.

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Rosie the Riveter and the Woozle effect

We have all seen this picture of 'Rosie the Riveter', the strong woman who supports the soldiers fighting for God, country and democracy while she works herself in a sweat providing bullets to kill the evil Germans and Japanese. Right?

For years people knew who she was in real life. But they were wrong. Here's the story on that.

People believing they knew who the real Rosie the Riveter was were victims of the 'Woozle effect': believing something is true for the sole reason you heard and read it often. The effect is named after the imaginary creature by the same name in a Winnie the Pooh story: he believes the creature is real because his friend does and vice versa.

The Woozle effect is very real on social media where it's even possible to quote a non-existing research paper as 'evidence' for an non-proven theory, leading people to believe anything. You probably know of a few examples. Here's one:

Many people believe Al Gore was wrong when he stated humans are in large parts responsible for climate change. More than a few point to a quote that was widely spread through social media. For a large part by fake accounts that all quoted the same snippet from a conservative source. Why do people believe these 'facts'? Because they are reported not only just often but often by people who hold the same believes as they do. Here's the full story: https://www.skepticalscience.com/comeback-strategies-al-gore.html


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How to solve the opioid crisis?

More people die from the use of legal drugs than from the use of illegal drugs. So why are some drugs legal and other drugs are not? Would that change if the pharmaceutical industry could make money selling marihuana and heroin? It's an unfortunate fact that a lot of American families are suffering from drug abuse. But how to fight the opioid crisis?



Luckily there are alternatives out there for all those nasty drugs. Those nice people from the pharmaceutical industry worked together with some policiticians to come up with synthetic drugs. Yeah!

Just too bad that stuff is deadly. But the US government still allowes the stuff to be sold 'because it's not illegal'.



But how to really do something about the problem of drugs abuse? Well, we can look at how they basically solved it in Portugal. And Norway:



Legalize it!

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Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

What if more people were selfless?

Yes, there are people out there who don't seem to know the meaning of the word 'peace'. You hear about them so often that you tend to forget that by far most people just mind their own business and do no harm whatsoever. And there are those who don't sit around but actually get up and do something to help other people. Without asking for anything in return.

Like the people who raised more than 200,000 dollars in a matter of days in support of the victims of the attack of a Pittsburgh synagogue (click). These people just happen to be Muslim. But that doesn't matter. Nor should it. They are people. Helping other people. Selfless.

There are a lot more selfless people out there. From all standings and ages. People like the little girl who decided that for her birthday she wanted to give and not receive:

He Believed her (a short story)

With conviction he had picked up the phone and dialed her number.

Now that the agreed hour was upon them he began to feel nervous.
Was he sufficiently prepared?
What if she wanted something to drink that he didn't have?

The doorbell rang and a little later 

the unmistakeable sound of ladies' heels on linoleum could be heard.

Long legs, blond hair, a dress just a tad too short and designer sunglasses 

on her artificially tanned gorgeous head.

Which displayed a radiant smile.

This lady could easily be turning the tables on Wheel of Fortune!

She introduced herself to him, didn't want anything to drink 

and told him that she could make anything happen for him.

He believed her.

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You have two choices

When live treats you badly, you have two choices: stay down, feeling sorry for yourself or get up and move on. Here's the choice Mandy Harvey made:



Luckily there are a lot more people in the world who decided to stay positive after a major setback. Like this custodian:



So, what is your choice when life gives you a hard time?



Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

Are you normal?

Are you normal? Chances are the answer to this question is 'Yes, I am.' It implies that you think that the way you act and look is the norm. It further implies that people who don't act and look like you are not normal.

Who should decide what's normal and what's not? You? Your government? And what are the advantages of knowing what's 'normal' and what's not?




Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

Personality

The other day I did the Myer Briggs personality test.

As it turns out, I'm an ENFP or 'a Campaigner':



As we live and grow our personalities may change but in general the test seems pretty accurate. Here's a breakdown on the Campaigner: https://www.lifereaction.com/enfp-personality-campaigner/

Have you done the test? Did the outcome surprise you?

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

The Same Experience (a short story)

From a distance he saw how happy she was. He would have preferred it differently, though. Not that he didn't want her to be happy, he would have liked to be the one she was happy with.

Ankle-deep in water he marched his wellingtons through the surf.

A stiff cold breeze made him shiver and he closed his eyes. He was one with the air, the water and the earth.

Wind-blown and soul-tied.

He knew her to be somewhere ahead of him and that they were not together. But that was all-right, because they shared the same experience.

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A positive world

China is still in the lead concerning the use and mining of coal. But it's also leading in innovations in the area of solar power, so it's not all bad. Take this solar road for example: it charges electric vehicles while driving!



Many consider Brexit to be something negative. But someone took a lot of effort to look at the whole thing in a different - and rather funny! - light:



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Yes, you can make a difference

'The system' is too old or too big or too powerful to fight? It may seem that way but is not always true. Look at people like Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Mandela to see examples of how even one single person can make a huge difference. That person does not even need to be a strong man but can also be a young girl. Just look at Malala. Here's another example of people who wouldn't take it any longer and decided to fight the system, na matter the cost to themselves. Here are 'the 12 policemen from NYPD':





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Opposing everything that's unnatural

'So you're against homosexuality because that's unnatural?'



-'Yes.'



'Are you against everything that's unnatural?'



-Yes, of course!'



'So you're against guns.'



-'Yes, of c... No!'



'So guns are natural?'



-'Well, no. But you know what I mean.'



'No. Do you?'



-'Of course!'



'So please enlighten me:
If you are against everything that's unnatural, why don't you oppose guns?

'

-'Er...'

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A positive world

The City of Detroit had a history of gang violence. And unemployment. People with no money and nothing to do seek out cheap thrills. Apparently that means shootouts. Small arguments leading to shootings where in other circumstances people would have shrugged it of, now they draw a gun. But what if the gun at hand didn't shoot bullets but paint pallets?



'Killing' an enemy now doesn't land you jailtime and on top of that the 'dead enemy' can easily return and become your foe again so you can be macho again by taking a big gun, aiming it at him and experience the thrill of him shouting and seeing red stains on his clothes. Not blood but paint. Apparently the brain sees no difference. But his mom does.



Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

On Brexit

'Nobody tells me what to do so I want Britain out of the EU because of all those rules they makes us live by.' -'So you prefer to live by the rules made by the UK-government?' 'Yes, but at least the UK is a democracy and the EU is not.'

Is that so? Let's have a look at some facts, shall we?

Thing is: you can't have advantages without disadvantages. It's the whole package or no deal. Or do you in your daily live only live by the laws you agree with but brake the laws you find 'stupid'?

Here's the current stance on Brexit as it stands now, put in layman's terms:

(Click to enlarge)

Oh, and you're against 'all those stupid EU-regulations'? Well, there are thousands. From the top of your head: name two.

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Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

Plastic ban

It's great that not only consumers but also big companies are more and more convinced everyone can help save the planet. Like Adidas making sneakers from recycled plastic:



The company even made a pledge to only use recycled plastic shoes as early as by the year 2024. Yeah!

Starbucks is also committed to the cause and banned single use plastic straws from its coffee shops. Wonderful! They replaced the plastic straws by straws made from paper. But the company really missed the point by wrapping every single paper straw in...a piece of single use plastic:

On top of that: in stead of with a plastic straw their cold drinks now come with a single use lid. Made of plastic. How that's reducing the amount of plastic ending up in the environment is anyone's guess.



Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

On depression and reality

For an optimist the glass is half full, for an pessimist the glass is half empty. In the meantime others are just happy to have a glass in the first place. In other words: The same 'reality' can have a different meaning and different impact for different people.

While some are perfectly happy when they can feed their children and themselves, others have enough resources to last them and their children a couple of thousand years and still aren't happy.

Why is that? Maybe depression has something to do with it?

What are your thoughts on the subject?

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Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

Illegal immigrants are not always Mexican

This whole thing about 'illegal immigrants'? I don't get it. Apparently it means that anyone who fails to show the proper documents but still resides in the USA is a criminal. So why are so few Canadians being held in detention centers? Around 100,000 Canadians live in the USA (click) on expired visas, simply came to live with an American partner and failed to register, opened a business there without telling the proper authorities or just walked across the border between Canada and the USA because it seemed a good idea at the time and there are hardly any checkpoints. Meaning illegal Canadians can easily steal 'American' jobs or live of American social benefits.

Who's stopping them?

Could it be they can easily get away with it because their skin colour matches that of the image of a 'real American'? Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

And why is it that people who claim they hate foreigners always make exceptions? 'I hate all Mexicans except the guy from the taco shop near work'. 'I hate all muslims except my good friend from Saudi Arabia I have a nice oil deal with.'

 And speaking of illegal immigrants:

how did it all start?

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

A positive world

You don't need a costume to be a superhero. But apparently it does help.
Here's the case of a real life Batman in Australia: Zac Mihajlovic one day decided to build his very own Batmobile. With the help of his grandfather he replicated the 1989 Batman movie vehicle as used by Michael Keaton. He got offered good money for his creation but turned down the money. Just to make the dreams of others come true via the Make-a-Wish foundation:



Mamoudou Gassama is another superhero. Being an illegal immigrant from Mali he had no concerns about his possible deportation or even his own safety. When he saw a child in need he reacted. And how!



He got awarded instant citizenship by non other than French President Macron himself! The incident raises the question: 'Are only useful people allowed to be citizens?' How would you respond to this question after wondering how useful you yourself are for society?

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We are gullible

People are gullible. Except for you and me of course. We would never fall for the trap of buying more stuff then we need or get a loan, not because we need the money but because the intrest seems so low it really looks like 'easy money'.

Want to make people think a company is trustworthy? Show them the name and logo a thousand times. Want to make people think all foreigners are dangerous and should be kept out of your country? Repeat that message a thousand times.

The trick is how the message is wrapped and how often you repeat it. Actual people have actually studied (on purpose!) on how to trick other people to make them believe whatever you want them to believe.

You can actually make people believe water should be banned. Really? Really.




Here's some more info (click) on this hoax.

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A Positive World

I love to see people enjoy what they do. As long as people enjoy themselves, there's hope yet for the world we live in. This sign interpreter really seems to enjoy the Dutch contribution to this years Eurovision song contest:


It seems it's possible to turn desert into forest! In China they found out how:




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Harmful to kids

One of these children is holding something that's banned in the USA 'because it could potentially be harmful to kids'. The other is holding an assault rifle.

Of course you don't want your child to grow up to be an abese adult thanks to all that chocolate and sugar in Kinder surprise eggs! Let alone have them suffocate in the tiny plastic toys inside. You want everything that's harmful to your child to be banned, right? The government should do make everything that could hurt your child illegal to own, right?

But the government should not meddle with your right to own a gun. Right? So, the government should always tell others what to do and never tell others what to do. Yeah!

'Yeah, but if we ban guns, criminals will get their hands on them anyway.'
-'So you're also against drugcontrol because criminals will get their hands on them anyway.'?


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A positive world

Sometimes it seems there's nothing but trouble in the world. But that's simply because good news doesn't sell newspapers. Or ads on newsapps.

Every single day more and more people are convinced we have to help the planet, the animals and eachother. We can all contribute in different ways.

Like, have a nice sing song:



Or help thousands of fish, birds and turtles not so suffocate on plastic:


Sometimes all you have to do to help this world become more of a fun place is be creative and get some friends to help form your idea into a reality.
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Double standards

You all know the examples of double standards people don't realize they speak about:

'Those foreigners steal our jobs and are too lazy to work!'

Without wondering how anyone can work and not work at the same time.

'Everybody who receives a government handout is just too lazy to work!
Except for me because it's not my fault I'm unemployed.'

Yeah, but when someone else is unemployed it's their fault.

'The government should tell people what they can and can't do
and the government should never tell people what they can and can't do!'

'Everybody should always obey the rules. Except for me because I know
perfectly well when rules are stupid and can decide for myself which ones I follow.'

'All foreigners must leave my country immediately! Except for my still not English speaking grandfather and that nice guy from the taco stand near work.'

So, should all foreigners leave or just the foreigners you don't know personally?

Latest one in that order is this one by the National Rifle Association, the NRA:

According to the NRA everybody will be safer if more people would carry weapons in public. Except at NRA meetings.

I think that is funny. What do you think?

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A positive world

People are awesome! It may seem there's a lot of war and poverty going on. And although that's true, it's a lot less then fifty years ago. So humankind is making progress! No wonder with creative people like the inhabitants of the Japanase village of Inakadate:



Perhaps you don't want to take me up on my word that we ware doing better in the fields of war, famine and inequality? Listen to a real world professor:


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Should we learn, forget or both?

Yes, it happened a long time ago and we should move on. But should we forget? Should we learn?

Recently a statue was removed from Central Park, New York. The reason: it was a statue of J. Marion Sims, the 'father of modern gynecology'. He was called a doctor but he performed his experimental 'surgery' exclusively on enslaved women. Without using anestesia. In modern days he would have been put in jail for torture. In his days he was celebrated for the progress he made in the medical profession. A bit like the 'doctors' in nazi concentration camps performing 'surgery' on jewish people.

In my opinion people like these 'doctors' should not be placed on a pedestal but on the other hand we should not forget about their atrocities. So, yes, they should be mentioned in History classes. But their lives and actions should not be celebrated.

What do you think?

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What do you expect from your partner?

Of course you want a partner who lives up to your expectations. But what are those expectations exactly? And how can you expect someone to live up to undefined expectations? So perhaps first you should think about what you want in a partner before you blame them for not being exactly who you want them to be.

What are the traits you are looking for in a partner? Honesty? A straight nose? Love? Friendlyness? Good sex? Meaningful conversations? A fast car?

What's important to you and - equally important - have you ever considered what's important to your partner? Here's a free tip in case you want to find out: ask.

And before you put demands on your partner's behaviour, ask yourself if 'unconditional' love truly is what you want.


Here's an interesting article on the subject of traits in a partner:
http://www.fashionbeans.com/content/if-your-boyfriend-possesses-these-16-traits-never-ever-let-him-go


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Don't trust social media

You look at Facebook or Instagram and go like...'Oh, wow! I want a life just like my favourite rapper/friend/vlogger.' Well, don't envy them because what you see in the pictures might just be far from the truth:

And you? Are you living the insta lie?



On social media we pretend to feel like we don't feel. Of course, when we meet an old classmate on the street we tell him or her the absolute truth about ourselves. Right? Not really. Of course: when interacting with other people we almost always pretend we are doing great and everything is tippety top! If we are lucky there are a few people around us who we feel we can be honest with. People we can really talk to. In person, via telephone or...via social media.

What does Social Media do to us? The lady in this Ted Talk tries to answer that question:



Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

Harnassing the power of the sun

Traveling by train is often easier, cheaper and more environment friendly than traveling by car. In Australia they've taken the next step: a train that runs purely on the power of the sun.



And there are more ideas to harnass the power of the sun:



We are running out of oil, coals is something from the old days so we simply must convert to alternative energy resources. Unless we want to go back to living in the Dark Ages.




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Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

Our world

Yes, the world would probably look a whole lot better without people on it. But who would smile watching people like this man?



But seriously: what would the world look like without you and me and everyone we know and don't in it?




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There's more than one way of looking at it

It's not called 'comfortzone' because it has such a nice ring to it. It's called 'comfortzone' because it's a zone we feel comfortable in. But does that mean we can't feel comfortable in other zones? Or even outside zones in general?

We feel comfortable knowing what we know and base our new experiences on the ones we are already familiar with. Take this picture for example. You probably have seen dozens like it: people enjoying a great concert after the sun has already set:

Except that this is a picture of a harvesting machine at a cotton field.
See what I mean? What you think you see is not always what you see and when you see something that doesn't mean your way of seeing is the only right way to see it. As in this example:

Almost always there's more than one way of looking at things. How do you see this assumption?

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To Share (a #ShortStory)

The room was filled with loners who felt connected by a common understanding. The music was loud and easy to dance to and although nobody actually danced, the dance floor was fairly crowded.

A few people reclined along the walls and in sometimes newly-formed couples enjoyed what they no longer would be able to enjoy in freedom twenty years later.

He danced next to her, although dancing was not the right word, and in his mind he danced with her.

When it was time to sleep and there was only one more sleeping bag to be had they decided - without words - to share.

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A positive world

News travels faster than ever before. Bad news travels faster than good news and fake news travels faster than facts. That's the world we live in. But suppose we'd all live in the world this little girl lives in?

Sometimes I wish we'd could slow down the news. And why is it that 'we' don't seem to care if thousands of people die, but do care if 'only' a handful of people die?

Because we can't slow down our intake of news unless we get rid of our television sets, computers and mobile phones, here are a few tips on how to consume the news:


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Deniers of climate change often claim they love animals

You have trouble believing what 97% of all scientists in the world agree about: the climate is changing because of human influence. You prefer to follow your 'gut feeling' (that just happens to coincide with a post on Facebook and a 'newsitem' you once saw on entertainment channel Fox News (That's right: Fox (click) is officially an entertainment- and not a news channel) because, you know, what do these scientists know?

This article tries to answer the question: 'Why don't people believe in climate change?'

But even if you don't believe in science you are also an animal lover, right?
So, just consider for a moment you are wrong and most sane people are right: would you please help save these beautiful creatures?


Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

Do you value your privacy?

80% of those surveyed lack confidence in how businesses handle location data, and 84% of people do not trust that laws and regulations will effectively ensure that their location data is not intentionally misused. Find the article here. (click)

There are people who won't go on Facebook because they're worried about their privacy. They even tell their friends about it via WhatsApp, possibly not knowing that since 2014 WhatsApp is in the hands of Facebook...



Lucky for you that you have nothing to hide. Except maybe your phonenumber, your home address, the name of your children's school, the type of pornography you watch, that time you got drunk at a party and you...

'Yeah, but I guard my privacy well. I change my passwords every other week, turn of WiFi and GPS on my smartphone when I go out and even put my smartphone on airplane mode when I'm having a sensitive meeting where company secrets might be discussed.' Hey, good for you! But is it really as safe as you think it is?



Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

A positive world

What if the characters from Star Wars had Facebook accounts?



And...is this the future of farming and will it help save the planet?


Just two examples of positivity in the world. And there's lots and lots more of it.

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Gun control

'If we ban guns, criminals will find a way to get their hands on them anyway!' Sounds plausible? Then why not decriminilize drugs? You know, because if you ban them, criminals will get their hands on them anyway. And while we're at it: why not decriminalize rape and murder? Because if you ban it, crimininals will find ways to rape and murder anyway. Right? Wrong! Here are a few things that were banned because they are supposedly dangerous. Guns are not on the list. (Click to enlarge)

Here's a guy who's an active supporter of the Second Amendment. He has something to say to you:


Several schools throughout the USA have decided to ban backpacks to make school 'safer'. But why not take the meassures and take it a step further? Let's ban students in schools! In that way the precious Second Amendment Rights of people who love to empty their AR-15's in school buildings won't be violated and no child will ever be harmed at a school schooting again!

Here's a scenario. Answer this simple question: who in this video is the legendary 'good guy with a gun'?


'The right' has an other argument too:

Hey Lefties, “AR” does NOT stand for “assault rifle.” It stands for “ArmaLite rifle.” You want to take our guns but you don’t know jack about guns. See the problem?

— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) 1 maart 2018

So, if you don't understand what you are talking about, how could you even discuss the subject, let alone state your opinion?

Well, 'the left' has an anser to that question:

I bet not a single one of them advocating for this could scribble out a remedial level drawing of the female reproductive system and explain how it functions, but let’s legislate lady bits anyway.

— Jenni Agitator (@NastyJenni) 21 februari 2018

And let's leave all this 'left' or 'right' nonsense behind us, shall we? People are either ignorant or they are not. Simple as that.

And really, does anyone honestly think that if a trained armed guard - as at the Florida Parkland shooting - freezes, an untrained armed teacher could take out a shooter? Or a rushing swat team can instantly tell the difference between an armed student aiming his gun to kill and an armed student aiming his gun to protect? If you don't know the answer, just watch this clip and try answering the same question again:


Say, in the most extreme case, that every child in school is surrounded by a few highly trained and well armed guards: will that prevent them from getting shot? It didn't help then President Ronald Reagan, so how would having an armed detail prevent a child from getting shot?

And why are Republicans so lenient towards guns and so harsh on marihuana?

And if guns are really save to be in the hands of teachers and janitors in schools, why didn't the NRA allow guns to be in the hands of law abiding citizens at the last NRA congres?

The USA is not the only country where citizens can get their hands on guns, yet the number of mass shootings in other countries is close to zero. How can that be? Here are a few reasons: https://www.businessinsider.nl/how-other-countries-avoid-mass-shootings-2018-2/?international=true&r=US

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Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

Consider the consequenses of deportation

A lot of people don't seem to consider the consquences of their actions. Take the people who voted for Donald Trump to become their president. They based their vote on their desire to have all illegal immigrants deported.

For one thing: crops are starting to rot because suddenly there's a shortage of farmworkers. http://fortune.com/2017/08/08/immigration-worker-shortage-rotting-crops/

But never tought it would mean their children would have to say goodbye to their ever so nice school janitor. Or they would be cleaning their own pool after ICE deported their Mexican poolboy. Or those great kids from next door would be forced to go 'back' to a country they they don't call home.



Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

What if it was you?

They love, own smartphones, have jobs, neighbours and pets. They celebrate holy days, watch silly TV-shows and argue with their spouses what's the best time to take a shower: in the morning, before you get dirty at work? Or at night, after getting dirty at work? In other words: they are people like you and me.

With one difference: suddenly their nice cosy lives were - in the most literal sense - shot to pieces. So they took what they still had and fled. What would you do? How would you feel?

A hypnotharapist made people feel what's it really like to be an actual refugee:



So, if you were a refugee, how would you like people from other countries to see you? And would you prefer to stay in the country you fled too or rather go back to the place you call home?

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

Why do you think what you think?

Why do you think what you think? Is it because somebody told you to think what you think? Is it because you gathered information and based your thoughts on that information? Why do you trust one source over an other? Is it perhaps because one source confirms what you already thought and the other source does not?

You may think that all white policemen are racists. You may think everyone who is obese is fat. You may think everyone born outside the borders of your country is a thief. You may be right. But what makes you think you are?



Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

We can fix the planet!

We are ruining the planet. But we can also fix it. Here's proof that the hole in the ozon layer is shrinking due to human intervention:

https://tecake.in/stunning-nasa-video-shows-ozone-layer-healing-due-human-efforts

What we stole from nature we can also restore!



So you see? Not all is lost!

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

What to do if you are treated unfairly?

It can be hard to to be let down. Sometimes life or people really, really get to you and you feel a strong urge to just give up. But would that make you feel any better? An other option is to become grumpy, shout and swear a lot and start most of your sentences with 'Yes, but if it wasn't for...' But that's not very productive. Just forget about it then and pretend it didn't happen, that terrible wrong that's been done to you? That's an option. But does it work? In the short run maybe but in the end it will eat you up from the inside.

So what DO you do when you are treated unfairly?

Here are two examples of inspirational stories:





Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

Let's learn from the past

If we wanted to we could learn a lot from our ancestors: how to build pyramids, how to live without money, how to produce bronze mirrors (click) and how to spent time with our family...Thanks to the work of archeologists every day we learn about the past. The next step is to learn from it. One thing for example is something we are finally understanding is: our ancestors were not stupid!



Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

Good news

Sometimes from something bad comes something good. The energy crisis in Puerto Rico made people look for alternative energy sources. So the interest in solar energy was renewed: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/puerto-rico-blackout-sparks-interest-in-solar-power-for-islands-electric-grid/article/2644601

The crisis in Puerto Rico is a direct result of weather conditions. And no, 'weather' is not to be confused with 'climate'. Here's an anology (click) to explain the difference.

And here's an actual scientist explaining the difference



But please feel free to believe your favourite news anchor or politician.

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

What is real?

What is real and why do we let others decide what's real for us?

When reading a novel or watching a movie our brain tells us the information we receive is real. But Gandalf never existed. Or did he? J.R.R. Tolkien made up the character of Gandalf. Or the character of Gandalf decided to choose J.R.R. Tolkien to be his creator. Either way: Gandalf is just a real as the notion that 'all foreigners are evil' or 'everyone who is unemployed is just too lazy to work. Except for me.'

Others may try but only you can decide for yourself what's real or not. A television network, your parents and your teacher can provide you with information. But it's up to you to decide what you do with it.

Did you ever let someone tell you true love does not exist? Perhaps that's what that person believes. But why should you believe it?

You create your own reality!



Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

More fun

There are some amazing people out there! People who invent stuff to make life for others a bit more pleasurable as well as helping the planet a bit. Imagine what the world would be like if we all just did a little bit to help others and or the planet? Here some news on a new kind of solar panel:


And here just a guy who finds pleasure in his work and wants to share his feelings with others. He is known as 'The Tarmac Dancer':



A few days a week I help with the paperwork at a brewery and try to make the day more pleasurable for our clients and my co-workers. I also work part-time as an entertainer in nightclubs, festivals, company parties...

That's how I do my bit in making life on Earth a bit more enjoyable for others. And for myself.

What do you do to make this world more fun?

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

Making dreams come true

Here's an inspiring TedTalk on following a dream. The lesson is: 'Don't just dream but act upon your dream.'




Here's another example of making a dream come true. It doesn't have to be yours!



Have you ever made a dream come true?

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

Unconditional love

When people tell you you should always show your true emotions they mean to add:
'Except when I experience them to be negative.' Point is: people don't like it when others show negative emotions.

When you are in a really close and loving relationship you can show ALL your emotions in the presence of your partner. If you can't, there's obviously no question of unconditional love. You see: you can't put conditions on unconditional love. Like: 'I don't want you to be negative, I don't want you to play your favourite music, I don't want you to watch your favourite TV-series when I'm around, et cetera.'

So what's your take on this? Do you think it's possible to be in a loving relationship with someone who doesn't want you to fully express yourself?

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

Distribution of wealth

'There's not enough money or food in the world to provide for everyone!'

Yes there is. It's just a matter of distribution. Most western people throw away 30 percent of all food they buy. Before that 30 percent gets destroyed before it reaches the supermarket. Just because the apple has spots or the cucumber is not straight enough or the orange is not completely orange...

Just 62 (no, not 62,000. Just 62) people have more money (click) than half the world's population. Of course these 62 have worked very hard to accumulate their wealth but that's not the point. Point is it is simply not true that the harder you work, the more money you make. Some kid picking garbage for 16 hours a day for seven days a week would be richer than Jeff Bezos.

Above graph tells us it's a simple fact the rich are getting richter. Soon just one person will have half of all the money in the world. And then what?

'One person is working really hard just to get by. The other is a millionaire.'

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

Words can heal

Words can heal and words can hurt. Ask anyone who's ever been bullied. Ask anyone who's ever been told 'I love you'. Actions speak louder than words? I don't agree. 

Here's the amazing story of poet Misuzu Kaneko (click).

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG

Good news

Yes, there is room for improvement but there's also a lot of good in the world. For example: the story of baby elephant Ndotto.



And there are still people who think about the elderly. Like the people who came up with the Doro Smartphone:



A lot of produced food goes to waste and on the other hand people are starving. Perhaps this could be part of a solution: Using food waste as construction material (click)


Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00K4007NG