Is it okay to spend resources on things that aren't necesarry?

A lot of resources are used to solve problems that really aren't that urgent. A recent example is the development of a vaccum/grabber to pick up lost earbuds from in between train rails. In Tokyo alone some 300 people a month lose their statement: 'I just want everyone to know I can spend a lot of money on something I'm sure I will lose within a few months after purchase and I want to look cool and not to be laughed at anymore because kids used to tease me in grade school.'

If you look around you in the room you are in now, how many items can you see that you don't really need? The cost and time of development and the production of, let's say, the Rubik's Cube, could have been spent on helping an orphanage in Mozambique with sanatation. And still have money left to satisfy Elon Musk's ego for an entire day.

Trillions of dollars have been and are spent on vehicles of war and bombs that will - hopefully - never be dropped, I have more books in my book case than I could ever hope to read and you probably have clothing items you won't wear but once bought because 'it was on sale' or 'looked so pretty'.

I don't really know where I'm going with this but what I think I'm trying to say is: perhaps we should start thinking about what's really important and start focussing our resources (money, time, skills, thoughts) on that.

What are your thoughts on this?

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Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Cognitive bias dyslexia

The other day I shared this meme, created by a friend. Other people shared it too, creating dozens, maybe even a hundred responses about wether or not the government should and could force us to take an anti-Corona vaccin:

Did you just feel the need to share your opinion on mandatory vaccinations? If yes, you suffer - like many others - from cognitive bias dyslexia, a term coined by one of the responders, another (Facebook-) friend of mine.

Now, take a deep breath, let go of your thoughts on mandatory vaccins and read the text in the picture again. See what happened? There's hope for you yet! Didn't see what happened? Do not worry: it's not hopeless yet. You can still recover. But you will have to take your meds.

In other words: let go of your biases, clear your mind. Read the text again but now from the perspective of someone who hasn't formed an opinion before the question is asked. Try again.

Did you see it this time around? Congratulations! You are on the path to be fully healed. 

You may now enjoy this video of the original poster and subscribe to his Youtube channel:

(everyone else: skip to the text under the video. You are not worthy)

Still have difficulties getting over your bias? I'm sorry, you are doomed. If we are friends on social media, please unfriend me and good luck!

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Trump didn't start an actual war. But not because of a lack of trying.

Parler, the 'Twitter for covidiots and neo-nazis' so you will, has an interesting history, as you can see in this 'thread'. Two of the details: it's hosted on a Russian site and the American founder is married to a Russian spy.

So let’s talk about Parler. Where did it come from? Founder John Matze met his now wife, Alina Mukhutdinova, in May 15, 2016 in Las Vegas. Alina is from Kazan, Russia. She was on a two week road trip “vacation” across the USA with a friend.

— Dave Troy (@davetroy) November 13, 2020

Social media (with Parler leading sinds roughly two years) is one of the causes of how Trump-supporters radicalized so quickly. There are more. Like the recently hacked Gab of which the private data of thousands of scared 'anonymous' users are about to be made public.

In a conversation I called mister Donald Trump:

'A paranoid narcissist with early Alzheimer's and an ego you can actually send mail to because it has its own zip code.' That last bit is not a joke: The other day he started an agency: 'The Office of the Former President.'

Everything he said in his inaugural speech has proven to be false. His still loyal (Why? The man has seized being president. Lick your wounds and move on. Try helping rebuild America.) fans only have one talking point left: 'Yeah, that all may be true, but at least he didn't start a war!'

If 'not doing something' like 'For four years he didn't start a war!' is an accomplishment, my alcoholic neighbour would make a far better president than mister Trump: my neighbour is really, really good in not doing a lot of things: waking up before noon, paying back borrowed money, applying for jobs, starting wars, doing the dishes...the list goes on and on. He even managed to not give his favourite daughter and his present from Epstein  third wife new 'kidneys'! 

How's thát for an accomplishment? 

By the way: has anyone seen Ivanka or Melania recently? Perhaps we should ask Justin Trudeau.

(I was also thinking of: 'When he shows his boyfriend pictures of you from before daddy gave you a new nose, boobs, chin, job, hair dye and cheekbones')

He will build a wall and make Mexico pay for it!

He will install a better healthcare system than Obamacare!

He will drain the swamp and end corruption!

He will put Hillary in jail!

He will never play more golf than Obama did!

He will revive the economy!

He will cut taxes for all!

He will show us his Tax papers!

He will never favour his sponsors or kids because he hates nepotism!

He will never lie!

He will make America great again!

Well, if you don't call insurrection a war, if you don't call several armed conflicts 'war',

yes, I suppose that's true. But it wasn't for lack of trying.

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Give Frank a chance!

With the world in lockdown and many lives and jobs lost, people were asked who the world could do without: HR managers? Avon ladies? Hairdressers? Telemarketeers? Those professions were mentioned, yes. But 70 percent of those questioned put 'Artists' on number one of their list of redundant professions.

'XCUSE ME!?

Would you really want to live in a world without books, without magazines, without websites, without films and series, without clothes, handbags and shoes? A world without wallpaper, sandwich makers, shampoo bottles, printers, furniture? A world without...*GASP!*...music?

Yes, without artists nothing would ever get designed, orchestrated or produced. But if that's really what people want, fine! They can go live on Mars. But without a rocket to take them there and without a life saving suit and without being able to go to the lavatory on their way there. Did you know the first 'ladiesroom for astronauts' was designed by Andy Warhol?

Or maybe it wasn't him but it was designed by someone with great creativity. Also known as 'an artist'.

Recently NASA asked the help of designers worldwide to help design a new and more comfortable toilet, to be used in zero gravity, focused on women. The contest was called: 'Help Nasa design a toilet for Artemist astronauts on the moon' and paid $15,000 for the wining concept. NASA stated they will certainly use parts of the design in future concepts. Just recently NASA constructed this solution.

But you see where I'm going with this? Consider what your life would look like without an artist writing the dialogues for your favorourite Netflix-series, or editing the rough tape? What would your favourite movie look like without people who cut and edited the tapes? Without actors? Without script writers? Without people who come up with jokes or plots? Without musical score? Without sound effects? Without CGI? Without costumes?

Would you be happy without being able to go out and enjoy performances like those from the amazing and beautiful Fay Loren?

This wonderful artist needs a stage and an audience! Just like many other performers. While bars and clubs are still closed you can help her getting by. Check out her webshop for elegant gifts.

You can do this while listening to Frank Watkinson, an elderly gentleman who is a fan of The Cure and Pink Floyd and even did an amazing cover of a song by Snow Patrol. 

Basically all that Frank wants is to sing and play the guitar. I - for one - am happy that there are a lot of people like Fay and Frank in the world.

Wouldn't it be grant to see Fay dance on stage, while accompanied by the live music of Frank?

Let's be glad there are artists!

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Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Republicans and Democrats

Why are the Republicans symbolized by an elephant? Is it because they are fat and grey? Because they have a good memory? Or maybe because they seem to be going extinct? And why are Democrats represented by a donkey? Because they make a similar sound when they sneeze? Because they are often used to carry someone else's loads? Because they seldom make the same mistake twice? Here's a story on the origin of the elephant and the donkey

Did you know Republicans are less divided on cultural issues than Democrats are? But less unified on economic issues and therefore in general couldn't be bothered what Trump did to the US economy?

Let's do a little quiz to determine if you are familiar with the difference between the one and the other!

How deeply and why do Republicans and Democrats disagree? And do you think that's a problem? That can be solved how...?

And why is it that Republican politicians - as well as their voters by the way - tend to lie a whole lot more than their Democratic counterparts? In other words: why does the GOP have so many people like Madison Cawthorn?

Why do so little Republicans state it's not okay for someone to (want to) break into the Capitol building, steal Nancy Pelosi's laptop and sell the acquired data to the Russians?

And are Americans really satisfied with a 'democratic' system that only allows the two largest parties to ever have control over the entire nation? Is that really what democracy is all about? 'Don't give minority groups a chance. Ever!'

What do you think a real democratic form of goverment should look like? Let me know in the comments.

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Nowhere (a short story)

Most phone calls come unexpected but he got this one at work.

It was a stammering announcement.

His colleagues saw how his face fell, how he put down the receiver, how he got up slowly and went to the cafeteria for a cup of coffee and a few moments of rest.

The stories in which she featured tumbled all over each other. He heard her voice say that it was fine the way it was. He saw once more how she sat on the edge of the balcony looking down without seeing anything.

Quietly he had hoped that she would never really do it. But now she had.

They found a note on her bedside table.

The next day her friends laughed, smoked, cried and drank at her grave. Her parents were not there.

That evening he wrote a poem with her in mind:

Like Time

I pause

at your words and your grave

that I carry with me

on the endless road 

to nowhere

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Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Amazing discoveries about our early days

We are older than we thought: Recenctly human fossils were found that sets back the date when we left the African continent. It looks humankind started spreading some 200,000 years ago.

 And in a cave in Sulawesi, Indonesia (recently struck by a devastating earthquake) the oldest known cave painting.

The inhabitants of Pompeii liked to get their food from streetstalls, proving not much has changed in the course of 2,000 years. They recently unearthed this ancient foodstall. With fresco's and all! It was known as a termopolium. Basically the Coffeecompany of its days.

Here's a recent discovery made in Egypt. More than 50 intact sarcophagi, marking the burial site of Queen Neit, wife of King Teti.

Some human species went extinct because of climate change, while others interbred and survived. The first people in the America's came there by boat from Asia and so on and so on. More on findings about our early history are in this article.

I know there are people who like to believe Earth is only 7000 years old and we were on the planet from day 1. And that's fine. Who doesn't want  to take a break from reality every now and then?

Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon

Rolled into one (a poem)

She appeared in all his dreams.

Once as two people,

one playful and smart,

the other serious and funny

while stealing his heart.

Once as a tree that was easy to hug,

than as a scent that felt like a drug

Once she was a cloud,

moving too fast and blocking his sun,

later a priest who begged him to run.

She was also herself, caring and fun.

Complex and simple, serene and mysterious, 

rolled into one.

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Want to read (more of) my short stories? My author page: Terrence Weijnschenk at Amazon