Thursday Thirteen #830

I am overweight. Actually, I am, by medical standards, obese. I could lose 100 pounds and I'd still not weigh what I weighed on my wedding day.

Weight gain was not by choice. It came about because of physical illness, mostly endometriosis, and hormonal changes created when doctors placed me on various drugs either to try to stop the endometriosis or to assist with infertility. I'm just one big walking mess of hormonal blech. And, I admit, I am an emotional eater. I eat when I'm bored, lonely, tired, and stressed. I have a limited diet because of ulcers and acid reflux, so I tend to eat the same things most of the time. New items set off a lot of unwanted aggravation.

Being overweight then becomes a problem in and of itself, one that, given what I see around me, normal-sized people do not recognize, cannot recognize, and do not want to recognize. Chairs with arms, for example, are generally uncomfortable for people of size. Stairs might be challenging. Clothing doesn't fit well. So many things become difficult.

Here is a list of just a few of the challenges that people who are overweight face. The next time you see a "fatty" in Walmart, consider what that person might be going through. I'm fairly certain that 99% of the people who are overweight didn't chose that for their body image. They have struggles others would be stunned to learn about.

1. Limited clothing options: Finding stylish and comfortable clothing in larger sizes can be next to impossible. And because body sizes can be so varied, a 3x that fits one person might not work so well for another.

2. Physical discomfort: Carrying excess weight can lead to discomfort, joint pain, and physical limitations. This also tends to lead to body image issues and struggles with self-esteem that impact mental health. It can mean that a person stays home too much, doesn't venture out except when necessary, or otherwise limits his or her life.

3. Discrimination: Overweight individuals may face discrimination and bias in various aspects of life. It seems obesity is something that people can still make jokes about and many consider it a symptom of a "weak mind" or "weak will," instead of seeing it for what it is - a symptom of a larger problem.

4. Health complications: Obesity can lead to a higher risk of health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, and sleep apnea. I suspect it doesn't help acid reflux, either.

5. Exercise challenges: Some physical activities may be difficult due to excess weight, leading to a sedentary lifestyle. Just recently, I was at the local YMCA. I wasn't there to join, nor would I. Absolutely nothing about that place is set up for unhealthy people. It is set up for an average 23-year-old guy who lifts weights. The chairs all have sides, there is only one small elevator, and everything is out in the open where people can see you. It was this visit, actually, that brought on this post.

6. Social isolation: Overweight individuals may experience social exclusion or feel left out of social events. Sometimes this is the person's choice, but other times, people may simply not invite someone because they don't fit the look they want (think weddings or other things where pictures might matter).

7. Stereotyping: Being unfairly labeled as lazy or lacking self-control based on appearance. Bill Maher is very good at this, and I have stopped watching him because he is such a jerk about people's weight.

8. Workplace discrimination: Overweight individuals may face discrimination in hiring or promotions. After all, if you can't control your own body, how could you be expected to control a division, or an entire company, or whatever?

9. Airplane and public transportation discomfort: Tight spaces and seating can be challenging for larger individuals. This also goes for restaurant seating. If you're going to serve those large plates of food, then you should accommodate everyone.

10. Medical bias: Healthcare providers may not take their concerns seriously, attributing health issues to their weight. I can't tell you how many times I have heard that there is nothing wrong with me that losing weight wouldn't fix. I don't hear that from my current primary care physician, but I have heard it from others in the past, and pretty much any specialist I see will mention it.

11. Weight-related expenses: Costs for specialized clothing, medical treatments, or gym memberships can be high. Women's plus-sized clothes are generally several dollars more than smaller sizes.

12. Difficulty with personal care: Daily activities like bathing or grooming can be more challenging.

13. Lower energy levels: Obesity can lead to fatigue and lower energy levels, making daily tasks more difficult. It can also lead to conditions like depression and anxiety may be more common in overweight individuals.

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 830th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

I feel like I recently did something like this but am too sorry to go back and check. Anyway, for today, here are some top conspiracy theories. Most all of these are US based (which tells you something about the citizenry.) Do you think I believe in any of them?

1. The assassination of John F. Kennedy: Some people believe that the CIA, the Mafia, Cuba, or the Soviet Union were involved in the killing of the US president in 1963, and that Lee Harvey Oswald was not the lone gunman.

2. Area 51 and aliens: Some people believe that the US military base in Nevada is hiding and experimenting on extraterrestrial beings and their spacecraft, especially after a supposed UFO crash near Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947.

3. The moon landing hoax: Some people believe that the Apollo 11 mission in 1969 was staged by NASA and filmed in a studio, possibly at Area 51, to win the space race against the Soviet Union.

4. The 9/11 attacks: Some people believe that the US government orchestrated or allowed the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, to justify wars in the Middle East, increase surveillance, and create a false sense of patriotism.

5. The death of Princess Diana: Some people believe that the British royal family or the British intelligence service MI6 arranged the car crash that killed Princess Diana and her companion Dodi Fayed in 1997, to prevent her from marrying a Muslim or exposing secrets.

6. Chemtrails: Some people believe that the white trails left by airplanes in the sky are not water vapor, but chemicals sprayed by the government or other organizations for various nefarious purposes, such as weather control, population control, or mind control.

7. The reptilian elite: Some people believe that many world leaders, celebrities, and influential figures are actually shape-shifting reptilian aliens who are part of an ancient bloodline that seeks to enslave humanity.

8. The COVID-19 pandemic: Some people believe that the coronavirus outbreak in 2020 was planned or engineered by various actors, such as China, Bill Gates, or Big Pharma, for political or economic gain, or to reduce the world population.

9. The Paul McCartney death: Some people believe that Paul McCartney of The Beatles died in a car accident in 1966 and was replaced by a look-alike named William Campbell, and that the band left clues about this switch in their songs and album covers.

10. The Denver airport conspiracy: Some people believe that the Denver International Airport in Colorado is hiding a secret underground bunker for the New World Order, or a portal to hell, and that its murals, sculptures, and symbols contain sinister messages.

11. The HAARP project: Some people believe that the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP), a scientific facility in Alaska that studies the ionosphere, is actually a weapon of mass destruction or a mind control device that can manipulate weather, earthquakes, volcanoes, and human behavior.

12. The Montauk Project: Some people believe that a secret military base on Long Island, New York, conducted experiments on time travel, teleportation, mind control, and contact with aliens in the 1970s and 1980s, involving kidnapped children and a psychic named Duncan Cameron.

13. The Philadelphia Experiment: Some people believe that a US Navy destroyer called USS Eldridge became invisible or teleported from Philadelphia to Norfolk in 1943 as part of an experiment on cloaking technology involving Albert Einstein and Nikola Tesla, and that the crew suffered horrific consequences.

And an extra because I'd never heard of it until I started looking these up:

The Titanic switch: Some people believe that the RMS Titanic that sank in 1912 was actually its sister ship, the RMS Olympic, which was damaged in a collision and swapped for insurance fraud, and that the sinking was either intentional or allowed to happen by the owners.

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 829th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

Recently, I lost a friend to Parkinson's Disease. His symptoms manifested as a dementia that included hallucinations. I also read that last week was World FTD Awareness Week, which is frontotemporal dementia, the type of dementia that Bruce Willis has. I know as I age, I worry sometimes when I forget where I put something or can't find a word in my head that things are going awry in there. You just never know.

Dementia is a term that describes a group of conditions that affect memory, thinking, and interfere with daily life. There are different types of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. 

Here are some warning signs of dementia. If you or someone you love are having any of these symptoms/signs, see a doctor.

 

1. Subtle short-term memory changes, such as forgetting recent events or conversations, or misplacing items.

2. Difficulty finding the right words to express oneself or communicate with others, resulting in frustration and confusion for the person with dementia.

3. Changes in mood or personality, such as becoming more depressed, anxious, fearful, irritable, or apathetic.

4. Difficulty with complex mental tasks, such as planning, organizing, reasoning, or problem-solving.

5. Confusion and disorientation, such as getting lost in familiar places, not knowing what day it is, or having trouble recognizing people or objects.

6. Difficulty with coordination and motor functions, such as having trouble with balance, movement, vision, or hearing.

7. Hallucinations, such as seeing or hearing things that are not there.

8. Agitation, such as becoming restless, agitated, or aggressive.

9. Loss of interest or emotions, such as showing less interest in hobbies, activities, or social interactions.

10. Difficulty performing daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, eating, or using the toilet.

11. Metallic taste in mouth or decreased sense of smell.

12. Agnosia, which is the inability to identify objects and/or persons.

13. Loss of appetite, malnutrition, weight loss, or pneumonia, which are some of the complications of dementia after a prolonged period.

These are some of the early signs of dementia that may indicate a need for medical attention. 

However, not everyone with dementia will experience all or any of these symptoms, and some of these symptoms may also be caused by other conditions. Therefore, it is important to consult a doctor if you notice any changes in your memory or cognitive abilities that affect your daily life. A doctor may perform various tests to diagnose the cause and type of dementia and suggest possible treatments to manage the symptoms and slow down the progression of the condition. Some of the specialists who treat dementia are neurologists, psychiatrists, and geriatricians.

*This is for information only and should not be used to treat any medical condition. *

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 828th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

The other day I was driving down the road and I thought, "Boy, things have changed in the 60 years I've been on this ol' Earth." So I thought I'd take a look at what happened 50 years ago, things that I might remember (or not).

1. The U.S. ended its involvement in the Vietnam War after signing the Paris Peace Accords. I don't remember much about this war. I read about it in the newspaper, and I had an uncle in the Army, but I was only 10 years old in 1973. So, while I knew then that this fell under the term of "big deal," it didn't impact me personally.

2. The Watergate scandal escalated as the Senate began televised hearings and President Nixon fired special prosecutor Archibald Cox. I vaguely recall some of this, but it was well-removed from my little world of school, life on the farm, and visits with my grandparents.

3. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade that women have a constitutional right to abortion. I do not remember this as a big deal, either, although this was probably about the time my mother began telling me she'd tried to abort me and failed.

4. The World Trade Center in New York City was officially opened as the tallest building in the world at the time. This had zero effect on me then, but it certainly affected me and millions of others on 9/11/2001 when the buildings were hit by aircraft. The result was catastrophic and led us into wars and I personally believe was the downfall of the country as people experienced a type of fear that they'd never felt here before. Suddenly, the US was vulnerable.

5. The first handheld mobile phone call was made by Martin Cooper, a Motorola engineer, in New York City. Again, not a big deal at the time, but now we all live with one of these mobile phones attached to us like it's a feather growing out of our butt.

6. The American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. Not a thing for me, but a big deal for folks who matter just as much as I do.

6. The Endangered Species Act was passed by the U.S. Congress to protect threatened and endangered animals and plants. This did not affect me, either, although in later years I wrote about local endangered species (a bat and some kind of snail).

7. The OPEC oil embargo against the U.S. and other countries triggered an energy crisis and a global recession. I remember my mother waiting in line for gas. It had something to do with your license plate. You could get gas on certain days depending on whether your plate ended in an odd or even number. I can remember when gas cost 25 cents, and I think it was up to about 60 cents or something during this time. By the time I was old enough to drive, it was about $1 a gallon.

8. Skylab, the first U.S. space station, was launched into orbit. I find space stuff incredibly exciting and impressive. I wonder what happened to that grand feeling of reaching for the unreachable that Americans once had?

9. Secretariat, the legendary racehorse, won the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. I am fairly sure I saw this on TV when it actually happened, but if not, I have seen it in replays.

10. The top songs of 1973 in the U.S. (in no particular order) were “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” by Tony Orlando and Dawn, “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” by Jim Croce, “Killing Me Softly with His Song” by Roberta Flack, “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye, “My Love” by Paul McCartney & Wings, “Angie” by The Rolling Stones, “Crocodile Rock” by Elton John, “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon, “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder, “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, “Dream On” by Aerosmith,  “Midnight Train to Georgia” by Gladys Knight & the Pips.

11. The top books published in 1973 were The Princess Bride by William Goldman, a fantasy adventure novel that became a cult classic film, Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon, a postmodern epic that explores the impact of technology and paranoia on humanity, Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut, a satirical novel that blends science fiction and social commentary, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson, a gonzo journalism account of a drug-fueled trip to the city of sin, and The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, a monumental work of history and memoir that exposes the horrors of the Soviet prison system.

12. The top five movies of 1973 were The Sting, a comedy crime drama starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford as two con artists who pull off a complex scam against a mob boss, The Exorcist, a horror film that terrified audiences with the story of a young girl possessed by a demonic force and the priests who try to save her, Paper Moon, a comedy drama starring Ryan O’Neal and his daughter Tatum O’Neal as a pair of grifters during the Great Depression, Badlands, a crime drama directed by Terrence Malick and starring Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek as a young couple who go on a killing spree in the Midwest, and Serpico, a biographical drama starring Al Pacino as a New York cop who exposes corruption in the police force.

13. As for me, I was in the 5th grade learning next to nothing from a teacher who sat at her desk and cried all the time (I think she was going through a divorce), trying to keep my brother out of trouble (never-ending job), and learning to play the piano.

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 827th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

Here are 13 things to enjoy about autumn:

1. Beautiful Foliage: The changing colors of the leaves create a breathtaking natural display. Locally, since we are in a drought, I'm not sure the trees are going to be that pretty, given that many have already dropped their leaves.

2. Cooler Weather: After the heat of summer, the crisp autumn air is refreshing and perfect for outdoor activities. 

3. Cozy Sweaters: It's the season to break out your favorite sweaters and embrace comfort and style. Since I don't go anywhere but the grocery store, I don't really have any cozy sweaters, but I have some things I wear more this time of year.

4. Pumpkin Spice Everything: Whether it's lattes, pies, or candles, the aroma and taste of pumpkin spice are synonymous with fall. I personally can't stand the stuff, but I know a lot of people like it.

5. Hiking and Nature Walks: The mild weather and colorful scenery make it an ideal time for exploring the outdoors. Also, when it is a little cooler there is less chance of running across a snake and hopefully the ticks are not out.

6. Harvest Festivals: Enjoy local fairs, farmers' markets, and festivals celebrating the season's bounty.

7. Apple Picking: Visit an orchard to pick your own apples and indulge in apple cider and apple pies. (If you really want to do this, go for it.)

8. Halloween: Dressing up in costumes, carving pumpkins, and the spooky ambiance make Halloween a fun and festive holiday. This is my favorite holiday, but I really don't do much to celebrate it anymore.

9. Bonfires: Gather around a crackling fire with friends and family to share stories and roast marshmallows. I don't do this, either, because the woodsmoke sets off my asthma, but it sounds fun and looks good in commercials.

10. Comfort Food: Warm, hearty meals like soups, stews, and casseroles become more appealing in the cooler weather.

11. Fall Decor: Adorn your home with autumn-themed decorations like wreaths, candles, and gourds.

12. Football Season: Cheer for your favorite team or simply enjoy the camaraderie of game day gatherings. I have never been to either a college game or a national game. My college, incidentally, has been undefeated in football for 181 years. (It's a woman's college, no football team!)

13. Seasonal Drinks: Aside from pumpkin spice, try other fall beverages like hot apple cider, mulled wine, or chai tea. I like apple cider, but the apple cider I liked best, Murray's, was made locally and they shut down years ago. The land is now slated to be a major development. They made the best cider, though.

*ChatGPT helped make the list, Bing made 2 of the cartoon pictures. I feel better but not great, so I went with easy.

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 826th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen #825

Yesterday was International Chocolate Day. Boy howdy, I love me some chocolate!

Here are 13 of my favorite (or used to be favorite) chocolates:

1. Cella's milk chocolate covered cherries. (I used to love the dark chocolate ones, but since my last ulcer, dark chocolate is not something I can handle anymore, alas.)

2. Milky Way Midnight. I haven't seen this candy bar on the shelves in well over a year. A search on Bing indicates it has been discontinued. Me sad.

3. Fudge. I love good fudge. I have had bad fudge, but good fudge is fantastic. The best fudge is the fudge I make, followed by my stepmother's fudge, and then the fudge we used to get when we went to the beach.

4. Truffles. Chocolatey center, milk chocolate covering. What's not to love?

5. Three Musketeers Bar. This used to be my favorite candy bar, but I don't eat it often anymore. My taste buds must have changed, because the candy bar doesn't taste the same to me.

6. Cadbury Eggs. This is another favorite that I have stopped eating (mostly) because it doesn't taste as good as it once did. They are also much smaller than they used to be. Do the manufacturers think we don't notice these things?

7. Milky Way. I will still eat a regular Milky Way if that's all I see and absolutely must be bad and eat this stuff.

8. Lindor Chocolate Truffle Bar. Right now, this is my go-to chocolate. The bar is in six sections, and I eat three little sections one day and three the next when I get a hold of a bar. I try to spread it out.

9. Chocolate chip cookies. I don't know if this belongs on a list of chocolates, but I am putting it there.

10. Ghirardelli's filled chocolates. They have some with raspberry and another with caramel that will make you moan if you haven't had them in a long time. (Ain't no chocolate going to make you moan if you eat all the time.)

11. Brownies. I find good chewy chocolate brownies irresitable.

12. Chocolate cake. Aside from a cupcake I recently had, I haven't had chocolate cake in years as it is hard on my ulcers and reflux. But man is a good piece of chocolate cake with chocolate icing something to celebrate.

13. Chocolate lush. This is a family recipe. I give it my own twist, but it's good. It's a chocolate cake-like concoction that creates its own pudding on the bottom. Eat it while it's warm with a little whipped cream. Yum!

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 825th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

This morning first thing, I saw a Facebook post where someone was talking about stuff being broken in restaurants and such, and someone blamed the Illuminati. That got me thinking about conspiracy theories, myths, and legends. So, here's a list of a few that never seem to go away.

1. Princess Diana was murdered. Some people believe that Princess Diana’s death on August 31, 1997, in a car crash in Paris, was not an accident, but a deliberate assassination orchestrated by the British royal family or other powerful groups. They claim that Diana was killed because she was pregnant with Dodi Fayed’s child, because she was planning to expose secrets of the monarchy, or because she was a threat to the establishment. Some of the evidence for this alleged conspiracy include suspicious actions of the paparazzi, the driver, and the medical staff, as well as inconsistencies and cover-ups in the official investigation.

2. Aliens are being studied at Area 51. Some people believe that Area 51, a secretive military base in Nevada, is where the US government is hiding and experimenting on extraterrestrial beings and their spacecraft. They claim that Area 51 is connected to the Roswell incident of 1947, where a UFO allegedly crashed and was recovered by the military. They also claim that Area 51 is involved in reverse engineering alien technology, developing advanced weapons and aircraft, and collaborating with aliens on secret projects.

3. The Illuminati and the New World Order. Some people believe that there is a secret society called the Illuminati, which consists of powerful and influential people who are working to establish a global totalitarian regime known as the New World Order. They claim that the Illuminati controls various aspects of society, such as politics, media, religion, education, and finance, and uses symbols, rituals, and events to manipulate and brainwash the masses. Some of the goals of this alleged conspiracy include creating a one-world government, a one-world currency, a one-world religion, and reducing the world population.

4. Elvis Presley is still alive. Some people believe that Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, who died on August 16, 1977, at the age of 42, did not actually die, but faked his death and went into hiding. They claim that Elvis was unhappy with his fame and wanted to escape from his fans, his debts, or his enemies. They also claim that Elvis has been spotted in various places over the years, such as Graceland, Las Vegas, or Argentina. If he is still alive, he'd be 88 years old, unless of course he also has some anti-aging cocktail so that he looks like he did when he was 30.

5. Chemtrails are spraying chemicals into the atmosphere. Some people believe that the white trails left by airplanes in the sky are not harmless condensation trails, but chemical or biological agents that are deliberately sprayed into the atmosphere for nefarious purposes. They claim that these chemtrails are part of a secret program that aims to manipulate the weather, control the population, spread diseases, or alter the environment.

6. The JFK assassination was a conspiracy. Some people believe that President John F. Kennedy’s assassination on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, was not the work of a lone gunman, but a complex plot involving multiple shooters and powerful groups. They claim that the official investigation, known as the Warren Commission, was a cover-up that ignored or fabricated evidence. Some of the suspects for this alleged conspiracy include the CIA, the FBI, the Mafia, the Soviet Union, Cuba, or even Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson.

7. Keith Richards is John F. Kennedy. According to this theory, the Rolling Stones guitarist is actually the former president, who faked his death in 1963 and assumed a new identity as a rock star. Some QAnon followers in Dallas believed this theory and expected JFK Jr., who also supposedly faked his death in 1999, to reveal himself at Dealey Plaza in November 2021. Needless to say, this did not happen, and the theory has no basis in reality.

8. The Loch Ness Monster. This creature is said to inhabit the Loch Ness, a large lake in Scotland. There is no evidence that the Loch Ness Monster exists, but there have been many sightings and claims over the years by people who believe they have seen it or have proof of its existence. Some of the possible explanations for the Loch Ness Monster sightings include optical illusions, misidentifications of known animals, hoaxes, or wishful thinking. Some of the proposed candidates for the Loch Ness Monster include an overgrown eel, a giant sturgeon, a plesiosaur, or even an elephant. However, none of these theories have been conclusively proven or disproven.

9. The reptilian elite. Some people believe that the world is secretly ruled by a race of shape-shifting reptilian aliens who can take human form and infiltrate the highest levels of government, business, and entertainment. They claim that these reptilians are behind many historical events and conspiracies, such as the assassination of JFK, 9/11, and the COVID-19 pandemic. They also claim that many prominent figures, such as Barack Obama, Queen Elizabeth II, and Oprah Winfrey, are reptilians or their hybrids.

10. The Mandela Effect. Some people believe that they have experienced events or facts that differ from the official or widely accepted version of reality. They claim that these discrepancies are not due to faulty memory or misinformation, but to parallel universes or alternate timelines that have somehow merged or changed. They also claim that these changes are orchestrated by a mysterious force or entity, such as CERN (an intergovernmental organization) or Satan. Some examples of the Mandela Effect include remembering that Nelson Mandela died in prison in the 1980s, that the Berenstain Bears were spelled as Berenstein Bears, or that Darth Vader said "Luke, I am your father" instead of "No, I am your father."

11. The Mothman. Some people believe that there is a winged humanoid creature that haunts the area around Point Pleasant, West Virginia. They claim that the Mothman has glowing red eyes, a screeching voice, and can fly at high speeds. They also claim that the Mothman is a harbinger of doom, as it was seen before the collapse of the Silver Bridge in 1967, which killed 46 people.

12. The Jersey Devil. Some people believe that there is a winged beast that inhabits the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. They claim that the Jersey Devil is the offspring of a woman named Mother Leeds, who cursed her 13th child in 1735 and gave birth to a creature with a horse’s head, a goat’s body, bat’s wings, and a forked tail. They also claim that the Jersey Devil has terrorized the locals for centuries, killing livestock, attacking people, and emitting a blood-curdling scream.

13. The Kraken. Some people believe that there is a gigantic sea monster that lurks in the depths of the ocean. They claim that the Kraken is a huge squid or octopus that can attack and sink ships, drag sailors into the water, or create whirlpools. They also claim that the Kraken has been sighted by various explorers and sailors throughout history, such as Christopher Columbus, Olaus Magnus, and Alfred Tennyson.

Bing AI helped compile this list and created the image.

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 824th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

Labor Day approaches (as of Monday), and this is the unofficial end of summer. While Autumn doesn't officially start until September 23, outside it's looking very fallish even with highs of 85 degrees.

Here are 13 reasons to be glad summer is about over:

1. Cooler Weather. As summer moves into fall, I can look forward to milder temperatures. This is great for me as the heat causes my hands to swell, and neither I nor my husband can tolerate heat like we once could (I think it's our blood pressure meds).

2. Relief from Heatwaves. While we do not have the 110 degree temperatures some of the western states suffer from (thank goodness), we do have our fair share of days that approach 100 degrees, along with a good deal of humidity. I'll be glad when that's gone.

3. Lower Energy Bills. With less need for air conditioning, my energy bills may decrease, saving money, although I doubt it saves much. We seem to use the same amount of energy monthly and I have no idea why.

4. Fall Fashion. A long time ago, women used to "have their colors done" so they'd know what clothing to wear best. I was an Autumn. So, aside from orange and yellows, Autumn colors are best for my skin and eyes. And there's sweaters, scarves, and boots, if you're into that.

5. Comfortable Sleeping: Cooler nights often mean better sleep without the need for air conditioning or fans.

6. Fewer Insects. We have had a lot of fruit flies this year. Hopefully these and other annoying insects, like mosquitoes and flies, will disappear as the weather cools down.

7. Harvest Season. Fall is a time for bountiful harvests, meaning fresh and delicious produce becomes more readily available. Around here, it means apples and pumpkins, mostly.

8. Outdoor Activities. Being outside is not so much of a chore.

9. Fall Foliage. One of my favorite things about Autumn is the color. The changing colors of leaves in the fall can be breathtakingly beautiful. This year, things are not looking so good for a nice foliage year, especially since some trees are turning early.

10. Cozy Nights. Fall evenings are perfect for curling up with a good book, a warm drink, and a cozy blanket.

11. Back-to-School Excitement. I don't have children and I don't go to school, but I still love the smell of a new notebook.

12. Holiday Season Approaches: As summer ends, I can start looking forward to holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I've already started Christmas shopping.

13. Deer season. This is not exactly my favorite fall activity, but it is certainly my husband's. For me, it's the time to get great shots of bucks with those trophy antlers, should some come wandering this direction.

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 823rd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

1. Alexa now says to me, "This reminder sounds important. Shall I remind you every hour until you tell me it's done?" when I ask her to remind me to do something. Not every time though. I wonder how she determines what sounds important and what doesn't.

2. She does make a good nag. Instead of nagging my husband to take his blood sugar, for example (he's prediabetic), I have times set up daily for Alexa to nag him. She nags him when I know he is going to be home. Usually he ignores her, but at least I am not the one doing the nagging.

3. Some time ago, Amazon changed the way I could listen to music on Alexa (unless I pay extra to join Amazon Music, which I won't do because I think I pay enough to be a prime member). There are ways around it, but it is aggravating to just want to hear one song and have to either tell her to stop after she plays it or to wade through several other songs to hear the one you want. You can tell her to skip to the next song, though, and she will.

4. The music change lessened my use of the device, so much so that I may not replace my Alexa when she has a technological heart attack. Instead, I plan to turn to my phone as my reminder and music player. I'm not sure what to do about nagging my husband, though.

5. When I am writing, I like to listen to Sheryl Crow or a few of Melissa Etheridge's albums. Not all of their songs, though. I am selective. I had a playlist but Alexa won't play it now. Well, she'll play it "and similar songs" because I won't join their little music club. So now I listen to that playlist on my computer while I'm writing. It's important that I not be interrupted by some song I wasn't expecting when I am using the music for background while I write. I have to keep my train of thought chugging along or I lose what I'm thinking.

6. The Alexa music change also upset my guitar playing, because before I could ask her to constantly replay a song while I tried to learn it. I can't do that now, so I use youtube. Like I said, there are ways around the issue Amazon created, but I have to take a few extra steps. I mean, I used to have to lift up a needle on a record player and find the song on an LP, so this is still easier than the "old days."

7. Since I have been using Alexa (and Siri on my phone), I have not been overly concerned about the new AI. I have played with ChatGPT and I have used the Bing AI to create images for my blog. I have found them both convenient and helpful, though I do not always get the results I expected.

8. While I might use ChatGPT for something on my blog, I would never use it in an article or anything I was being paid for. This is my personal space, so I feel like it's not a problem. However, I understand why writers and artists are upset about the way the AIs are being utilized and why some people consider it artistic theft. I also know some people are actually creating books to sell on Amazon using AI, and the information in them is not fact checked. This is not cool, and it is worrisome.

9. My brother told me he saw someone using a robot to mow their lawn the other day. It's like an iRoomba except for grass. To me that sounds like a great thing, but we have a lot of yard and it probably would have to mow a little, recharge, mow a little, recharge . . . I'm not sure it would have the whole 3 acres mowed before it had to start all over.

10. I also wouldn't mind having one of the iRoomba vacuums. It would be nice not to have haul out the vacuum cleaner. We live near a cement plant, and it gets dusty here. I could dust every day and it would look dusty anyway. Actually, it looks dusty almost immediately after I dust. This is why we run two air purifiers in the house. And, of course, the dust settles on the hardwood floors.

11. AI is going to be a great tool, but it is also going to be used for ill. The Internet offered, and still offers, great promise, but some humans tend to be destructive and find ways to use most anything in a bad way. Not everyone's mind goes off in that direction, thank goodness, but I think it is getting harder to tell truth from tall tale on the Internet. 

12. That's why I have multiple news sources that I turn to when I'm looking up things. Then I take the aggregate of the information and determine what is likely truth and what is likely not. Sometimes that is hard, and I think AI is going to make that even more difficult. It's already difficult to determine if an article in The Onion is truth or fiction, what with all the weird going on in the world.

13. For now, I am content with using AI as I am using it, but I am diligent and won't use it for profit (although I have to wonder now, if the computer finished my phrases for me, is that AI and is that utilizing it improperly?). I wish everyone felt that way, but I guess that would be asking too much. After all, I live in the "land of the free to make money anyway you can go about it."

*Bing AI created the images. Ironic, yes? But I couldn't draw them, nor could I pay someone else to. And it does liven up the reading a bit. :::shrug:::

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 822nd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

Things I would never post on Facebook but would like to (so of course I post it here instead):

1. I am holding out a slight hope that saner minds will ultimately prevail but can only wait and see. It's been a sh*tshow here for months, thanks to a few loudmouthed bullies who think their tax dollars count for more than anyone else's, and that their morals are the only morals. They define the word "bigot" in all of its definitions.

2. Moms for Liberty - aka Klanned Karenhood - best thing I've seen today

3. #bannedbooksareworthreading

4. If you haven't actually seen the movie, read the book, or watched the show, you have no right to bash it simply because your conservative friends think badly of it.

5. We don't do that because there wouldn't be any daddys, daddys' best friends, grandpas, uncles, mothers, aunts, or siblings left once they were all dead, plus people are innocent until proven guilty. 1 in 5 women and 1 in 20 boys have experienced molestation before they turn 18. Who do you think does that to them? It isn't a book, I can tell you that. There aren't enough orphanages to take in all the kids who would be left without parents if you did that. Who do you think molesters are? Sneaky people the kids don't know? It's their family members and family friends.  - in response to a meme saying "we put dogs that molest kids to sleep, why don't we do that to child molestors [sic]." 

6. [Name of person], most of these are fake, and they use them to hack your account. Your friend is right. You should delete this right away. - in response to the multitude of "lost dogs, children missing, or house for rent really cheap" posts.

7. Using "for the children" is the last refuge of scoundrels and fascists.

8. Some of these people wouldn't know an intelligent thought if it came up and bit them square in the a$$.

9. Take that "perfect" phone call and stick it where the sun doesn't shine.

10. Go away, you damn scam man. - in response to all the pretty men who post on my page and want to be my friend. (I block them.)

11. There is no price tag on stupid. Stupid comes free.

12. I'll believe I have fiber Internet availability when I am actually paying the bill and it's been installed. (I still have DSL. A local company constantly advertises it on my FB page, but I am "not eligible" to receive it.)

13. The "independent thinkers" haven't had an original thought since they fell out of the birth canal. If it hasn't been fed to them by some group, they just have dead air between their ears.

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 821st time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen #820

Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation in which a person seeks to make another person doubt their own perceptions, memories, or sanity. It's a tactic used to gain power and control over someone by making them question their reality, thereby weakening their confidence and ability to trust their own judgment. The term "gaslighting" originates from a play called "Gas Light," in which a husband manipulates his wife by dimming the gas lights in their home and then denying that they had changed, making her doubt her perception.

Here are 13 ways to identify when someone might be gaslighting you:

1. Denying: The gaslighter flatly denies events or situations that you clearly remember happening, making you question your memory.

2. Withholding Information: They purposefully withhold information or keep secrets, causing you to doubt your understanding of what's going on.

3. Contradictions: They contradict themselves frequently, making it difficult for you to grasp the truth and leaving you feeling confused.

4. Trivializing Feelings: The gaslighter dismisses your emotions or reactions as overreactions, making you question your own feelings and emotional responses.

5. Projection: They accuse you of things they are doing themselves, deflecting attention away from their actions by putting the focus on you.

6. Shifting Blame: Gaslighters shift blame onto you, even for their own mistakes or inappropriate behavior, leading you to feel responsible for things that aren't your fault.

7. Minimizing: They downplay their behavior or the impact it has on you, making you doubt the significance of your concerns.

8. Creating Confusion: Gaslighters intentionally confuse you by changing their story or manipulating facts, leaving you unsure of what's true.

9. Isolation: They isolate you from friends, family, or support networks, making you more dependent on them and less likely to get validation from others.

10. Doubting Your Memory: They repeatedly claim that your memory is unreliable, causing you to question your recollection of events.

11. Using Others: Gaslighters might enlist others to support their version of events, making you feel like everyone agrees with them and you're in the wrong.

12. Setting Unrealistic Expectations: They set unrealistic standards for you and then blame you for not meeting them, eroding your self-esteem and self-worth.

13. Changing Reality: Gaslighters may rearrange objects, hide things, or subtly change your environment to make you doubt your sanity or perception.

If you suspect someone is gaslighting you, it's important to trust your instincts and seek support from trusted friends, family, or a mental health professional. Gaslighting can have serious effects on your mental and emotional well-being, and recognizing it is the first step towards protecting yourself from its harmful effects.

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 820th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Thursday Thirteen

What happens when I take a day off: 

1. The laundry does not get done.

2. The bed does get made, and the dishwasher gets emptied. Some things one has to do.

3. I spend a little cash on "play."

4. I don't eat a real lunch.

5. My writing does not get written.

6. Dinner is created from leftovers.

7. My cellphone goes unnoticed for hours.

8. The PC is never turned on.

9. I put a few miles on the car that normally sits in the garage.

10. I don't speak to my husband for a long period of time.

11. Breaking news doesn't break for me until hours after it's happened. (I didn't need to know it right away anyhow.)

12. I take a second shower to get the "out of the house" germs off of me.

13. My heart lightens up for a few hours.

*Bing AI images.*

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 819th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.