Category: author

While there is a fire raging in the kitchen, our attention seems inexplicably fixated on the lint scattered across the living room floor.

While there is a fire raging in the kitchen, our attention seems inexplicably fixated on the lint scattered across the living room floor.

On average, synthetic opioids known as fentanyl claim the lives of 150 people in the US each day.

Why?

Among the myriad of possibilities, this one stands out.

Dentists evoke conflicting emotions within me – love and hate. With a strong British heritage, it’s no surprise that dental problems run in my family.

COVID or the medications I took seemed to have exacerbated my dental condition to its breaking point. Friends, I am fully committed to getting dental implants as I am exhausted from dealing with root canals and similar procedures.

I firmly believe that COVID or the vaccine had an effect on my dental health, as this mess started with the first jab.

Now, there are a few things you don’t want to hear while sitting/laying in the dental chair, like the high-pitched whirring of the drill. One of those things is ‘oops,’ and the other, ‘trust me on this’ “get me the dental mallet.”

That statement hit like a punch to the gut. No amount of numbing shit or gas could ease the pain.

The realization hit me that I was not Superman, as the chair remained intact despite my attempt to test my strength with the jarring pounding of the chisel against my jawbone.

The experience during this part of the process was like a never-ending nightmare, with everything going wrong. I won’t mince words. A chisel and mallet relentlessly pounding on your jawbone is overwhelming.

But that is not the focus of our conversation today. Despite the direct connection between dental care and overall health, it is often overlooked. Regarding dental care, most insurance falls short of providing sufficient coverage.

I suspect that insurance companies use financial incentives to sway lawmakers into excluding dental care from insurance regulations. The procedure cost can be pretty high, and some may see it as an opportunity to indulge in the peculiar pleasure of having needles pricked in their mouths and relishing the sound of the dreaded drill. Pffft.

Silly me, after the procedure, I was expecting a written prescription for pain meds. When a chisel is used on your jawbone, you can anticipate excruciating pain once the numbing wears off.

Clearly and definitively, she rejected my proposal for pain meds. Wrong again. The nurse looked at me and said, “I assure you; you won’t need pain medicine.”

“Excuse me?” I say as bloody spit drools from my chin.

“Yeah, you just take a Tylenol, and then a few hours later, the throbbing in your head subsides as you swallow an Advil.” Maybe for a filling, but…give me a break.

I couldn’t believe it, but I purchased a property in Yuma that overlooks the ocean.

Without a doubt, I can confidently declare that it is pure nonsense!

My inner devil with a foul tongue emerges when specific triggers come into play.

The check is definitely not in the mail, and the alternating over-the-counter method might be effective for some things. However, when it comes to using the dental hammer and chisel, it’s just not practical.

With only three hours of sleep in the past four days, my patience has worn thin, and I’m not a delight to be around.

Unable to sleep or eat, I’ve had ample time to reflect on things. Among the things that stand out is the alarming number of overdose victims.

Now, I know this is a long shot, but could it be that due to restrictive laws on prescribing pain medications, doctors, dentists, and other medical professionals are inadvertently driving patients to seek relief through illicit means? Could it be that we are pushing ordinary everyday folks into the arms of the cartels?

It may sound crazy, but I must confess that pain can push someone to do unimaginable things. Pain will drive you to seek a remedy, whether it be a doctor, dentist, the ER, or even some guy on the street.

Pain is a unique experience that varies from person to person. If that guy brings out a dental hammer and chisel, you’ll need more than just over-the-counter remedies. I’m just putting it out there.

Some positive outcomes have emerged from this situation.

Lost a few pounds

Reflecting on the situation, I couldn’t shake off from realizing how foolish our lawmakers genuinely are.

I had plenty of time to count my pulse as the throbbing sensation was intense and persistent.

It dawned on me that cable news is far from delivering actual news; it’s all just a bunch of rubbish controlled by those who purchase air time, such as big pharma. What would the world look like if Walter Cronkite was still giving us the news as it was and not as our dictators want us to believe? Do you think  Walter would have said, ‘Take the vaccine?’

The content on TV is so absurd, and the definition of entertainment is mind-boggling.

I would use the downtime to let my creativity flow through writing. Still, it becomes challenging when every other thought is tainted with explicit language.

Soon enough, the throbbing will fade away, freeing my characters from their hiding places and allowing me to embrace my usual kinder self again.

If I were you and were shopping for teeth in a day or something extreme, I would make damned sure that real pain meds came with the procedure. Don’t assume like I did. That was a fucking mistake!

-Best

Introduction to Dr. Samantha Richards

Introduction to Dr. Samantha Richards

May I introduce you to Dr. Richards? Samantha Richards is the protagonist in my latest sci-fi thriller, Earth’s Last Hope.

As writers, we often become attached to our characters. Some of my author friends actually grieve when they kill one off.

Nonwriters may find that concept ridiculous. It’s a fact. Writers, authors, and mentors like me have a unique perspective compared to nonwriters. The truth is we have to approach things with a different perspective. It defines us.

Sam was a brilliant child. After a gift from her Uncle Tommy, she draws planets and constellations on her bedroom walls, teaching her class (of plushy toys) things about stars, planets, and their place in the galaxy as seen through the eyes of a five-year-old. Or was it?

Despite being a stern military man, her father was always kind to her. His understanding of effective parenting was genuinely lacking. The loss of her mother at a young age sparked Sam’s rebellion against his unwavering authority. His lack of emotions ruined her chance at a ‘normal’ life. To motivate her, he would tell her to “get to it, soldier, chop-chop.” His mantra of telling her she should be out of bed and ready to go anywhere in five minutes or less was straight from his days in the military. Sam was a girl and rejected him.

Sam was broken and confused, making up for it by focusing on her studies.

To fulfill a prophecy passed down by non-human beings, she must do certain things, including figure out who she is.

Under the pretense of studying climate change in Alaska, she initially runs away. While there, she mouths off to her friends in a local bar. On a bet, she enters and wins a spot in one of those reality TV shows where they run around naked with a stranger for 21 days. The stranger to her was part of her destiny.

While you might ask, what does that have to do with being Earth’s Last Hope…You need to read the story.

#Aliens #Roswell #area51 #ufo #armada #seti and so on.

Undoubtedly, the Kindle version is the most affordable way to read it. However, considering the effort I put into the cover, you may want to add this book to your collection.

It’s a science fiction story, but I won’t spoil the surprise by giving away too much. The science is not overwhelming. You don’t have to be a science fiction nerd to love the story. There are elements of romance and taboo romance, making this novel an adult read.

The intended readership consists of young adults and science fiction enthusiasts who appreciate authors with innovative concepts.

There are some intriguing puzzles that science enthusiasts will enjoy pondering.

Buckle up; don’t start it late at night, as you might miss a night’s sleep. Yes, it’s really that good.

If you enjoy it, we kindly ask you to take a moment to give us a review.

Self-published authors rely heavily on reviews.

-Best

From the City to the Country

From the City to the Country

Age might play into this calculus of what I am about to share.

4:44 AM, my eyes pop open. The digital clock doesn’t lie. In years past, I would think to myself, I still have a few hours to sleep.

I believed it was still too early to leave my bed this morning. The weather was fifty-odd degrees with a slight breeze from the north. I attempted to silence my brain.

The thought of coffee was the last straw. With that piping hot brew warming my hands, the first sip set the stage for the rest of the day.

Stepping onto the porch with my bare feet, I had mixed emotions about the hazards if my scorpion frenemies were out and about.

I love the feel of grass and even cement on my bare feet.

The breeze from the north circled around me as I peeked at the twinkling lights above.

Orion, one of my favorite constellations, greeted me, making it worth my efforts to leave a warm bed. This picture was taken with my iPhone, just holding it with a three-second exposure. Amazing!

I expected another celestial event that was scheduled for that day.

Those strange-looking shadows are images of the moon eclipsing the sun. Using the pinhole camera technique with tree leaves and, oddly enough, my blinds…I never looked up.

Yes, images on the rug of the eclipse that was in progress.

The temperature dropped during the eclipse, which I found interesting.

Before dusk, I walked the block. There were many children at play. Their voices echoed through the woods, reminding me of days when I had the simple instructions to be home before the streetlights came on.

Many deer stopped to look at the other animals of the two-legged variety in the forest.

The breeze off the lake refreshed other memories, too.

Life is short. I encourage you to smell the roses, a metaphor for living your life.

Ok, not a rose…

-Best

Misery Index

Misery Index

There are a select few who know history and know how to manipulate the masses. In generic terms, to the elite, the masses are nothing more than useful idiots.

It is no accident that despots throughout history were elected; they are more intelligent than the average person and took the time to understand the animal known as a human.

We, The People, elect leaders to focus on the things that matter. Family, friends, and a lifestyle that is comfortable and safe.

Anyone with a brain lives for today but plans for tomorrow.

Our tomorrows are slowly being eroded as Bidonomics is robbing the masses of their savings, forcing many into credit card debt and stealing retirement accounts through inflation.

Some of our leaders are so drunk with power that they are addicted. At some point, I will explain addiction in terms that even the dimwitted can understand it. Today, I want to focus on why you ‘feel’ how you do.

Soros and his ilk have more money than sense. He has compared himself to God.

While working at the Texas Medical Center, I knew many doctors who thought they were God.

The God complex is universal when it comes to those in power.

  • The power to save lives.
  • The power to ruin lives.
  • The power to manipulate economies.
  • The power to change the natural evolution of humanity.

The key word is power. The more they have, the more they want.

While money and power often go hand in hand, knowledge is much more powerful.

The only thing that trumps knowledge is wisdom.

Just because I can do it, should I?

With limited exceptions, most world leaders understand that the world is over once you push the launch button on nukes. There can be no winners. That is a fact.

While Einstein and his ilk were brilliant, they lacked wisdom. They lacked the knowledge to understand human nature. They gave the despots a superweapon because they understood the ATOM Fission and the physics that went along with it.

I address this in story format in my book Earth’s Last Hope.

You don’t give a child a loaded gun nor give demigods the power to destroy the whole planet.

Any invention today, ANY INVENTION, will be scrutinized by some to understand its potential as a weapon.

The God Complex is part of human nature.

The God Complex is a character flaw that is part of Narcissism.

A wise person would ask themselves, when is enough enough?  

Feinstein, Pelosi, and their ilk lack wisdom. How much money is enough?

Why would you spend your entire life wielding your evil prowess on the world when you have enough money to be happy? They are drunk with power and lack wisdom. The hell of it is they think they are doing good.

Our leaders have no clue what the average person goes through daily. They don’t know what it is like to try and sleep at night and worry about how the water bill will get paid. They have never been happy to find cheap soup, five for a dollar. They don’t clip coupons.

Those people have the best doctors, security, and so on. They don’t understand what it’s like to worry about some thug attacking them for a twenty-dollar fix.

I cannot stand stupidity disguised as wisdom. While it infuriates me, some absorb toxicity to feed their inner demons. Many thrive on hate. They want to be mad. Some authors post scathing things ‘that they heard on the view.’

The talking heads getting millions of dollars a year to lie to us don’t understand what they are doing to the natural evolution of mankind. My feelings are that the talking heads don’t care.

I have said this before, and it is worth repeating that most actors are vapid creatures you wouldn’t want to meet in real life.

Actors and the DC elite have this symbiotic relationship as they are the same type of swamp monsters living in total depravity while loathing the people they purport to champion. Without writers, the late-night ‘comedians’ would be rather dull.

Without writers, the Thespians of the world would simply be another pretty face. We give the elite power by holding them in high esteem.

Circling back to the misery index, what does it matter, you might ask.

The higher the index, the more readily the masses will be ready to vote for someone who promises to improve their lives.

I want you to think about this last analogy before I stop typing…

When you were small and hurt yourself, your mommy probably kissed it and made it all better.

As you grew up and skinned your knees, mommy was there to cure the boo-boo and, if she were smart, would use it as a teaching moment. ‘Johnny, this wouldn’t have happened if you were not running in the house.’

From touching the hot stove to riding your bike on a busy street, you went to the one who could improve it.

Despots and politicians want to be mommies. They point out what is wrong and then blame the other guy. Elect them, and they will fix it.

Biden ran on making it all better. Are you better off today than you were in 2020?

Is the world better off today than in 2020?

If you said yes to either, you are most probably part of the problem.

Soros and his ilk spend millions to control the misery index before an election.

You need to be miserable, in debt, in bad health, working two jobs, and so on, so they can usher in a messiah.

While their end goal is a one-world government, many will have to die before it can become a reality. Which Despot will have total control over the Earth? Our open borders policy by this administration is a precursor of things to come.

Give us your poor, you huddling masses.. Yeah, give us more slaves so when the entitled brats in the US can’t find work, we can remove their voice by taking their money.

History is replete with this foolishness, and it works every time. How it works is simple. People are too damned lazy to learn history. In fact, few will read this far in this blog post to understand the points I am making.

Congratulations if you are one of the few who will read this far. You should follow me if you haven’t already.

Audiobooks are more popular than ever; why??? People are too damned lazy to read.

Ignorance of history and apathy are the politicians’ friends. I know many who approve of this administration. Why do they side with this administration? They listen to the talking heads blaming the misery on someone else and don’t bother to look at the facts.

The Universities get funding from the Soross of the world if they teach the right things like socialism.

Global Warming and Climate change are the rock falling from the sky ’chicken little.’ Teach things that will scare the sheep so we can control them with fear.

And how many genders are there today?

Masks don’t work, can’t work, but few understood why and chose to wear the obedience diaper on their faces. Be very afraid so we can tell you when it is safe to come out of your holes in the ground.

Think of this metaphor.

One four-legged white and black dog with a loud bark herds hundreds of sheep by chasing the sheep and barking. Sheep are stupid animals and react to stimuli. They run to where the bark (noise) isn’t.

We, the people, run to where the pain is less, even though the sheepdog puts us into a corner for the slaughter.

Look for the misery index to increase in election years.

You can bleat all you like, but you will never be free or happy until you understand how the dog is manipulating you and you take action against the dog.

The action I refer to is knowledge. While it is a cliché, knowledge is power.

There was a reason it was illegal to teach a slave to read.

There is a reason that the teachers union is in bed with the elite. Teach the masses just enough to be valuable idiots and brainwash the more intelligent sheep to believe that Stalin and his ilk were good people.

Obliterate history from statues to books so the sheep will have to believe the folks on cable news who tell them who to blame for their troubles.

Propaganda is rife; one day, the world will understand that Morning Mica is a paid propagandist.

If you want to support my efforts … Take a look at my latest novel. Earth’s Last Hope is a sci-fi with overtones of life on this planet. It’s light on science with an attractive redhead with daddy issues.

-Best

Writing Contest, Should You Enter?

Writing Contest, Should You Enter?

Is it a good idea to enter contests?

I harken back to why I first put pen to paper way back when I was a child. Before English classes were part of my routine, I wrote. To be fair, I also drew and took part in other creative expressions, including teaching myself to play the guitar.

  • Why writing?
  • Why contests?
  • What is the larger picture?

Ancient movies might give false hope to writers. Dragging the carriage of an old typewriter back to the starting point a million times or so in the hopes of creating a best-selling novel might seem like a great idea. Still, I think it is the wrong reason to write.

I write for the same reasons I paint or play music; I do it for myself.

Losing oneself in a world you create is the only reward I can count on. Sorry if that bursts your bubble, but it is the truth of it. The same goes for painting or, yes, music.

‘But, there are famous artists, and look at these books that have sold millions of copies.’

Yes, that is true, and look at the lottery ticket winners; see, the comparison is not as estranged as one might think.

While I create stories, paintings, and music for my own pleasure, there is that fantasy that lives in the back of my mind that this book will be one that will sell.

So, to answer the first bullet point, write to please yourself. The odds are that others might also like your book if you are happy with your creation.

To respond to the second bullet point contest.

I have entered multiple contests and won many. Winning local contests affirms your writing; not winning is a wake-up call that you must improve something. The something is the bugaboo. What is it that you need to improve?

I will address this in a future blog. For now, I want to focus on which contests you should enter.

Lately, I have entered the Reedsy contest. Usually, there are about 300 entries that pay five dollars per entry. It doesn’t take a mathematician to figure out this is a business.

The cards are stacked in their favor, much like any gambling house, casino, or slot machine.

Why it works is simple: they prey on one’s ego.

Analyzing winning stories, it didn’t take long to determine that the judges were swayed by emotion. The judges are volunteers and could be anyone.

Reedsy is in the UK, as are their contributors, and so on. Idioms they use don’t resonate with Americans. Conversely, stories and styles written by Americans don’t seem to resonate with their judges.

In conclusion to the second bullet point, I would focus on contests in your backyard. If you live in New York, your story might not resonate with a judge in Alabama or vice versa, and most certainly not with some judge in the UK.

That is not always the case; however, keep that fact in mind.

The third bullet point that ties this all together is simply considering your audience. I continue to search for the algorithm of a best seller. Quite literally, you are shooting at a moving target. To spot your audience, one must almost be a time traveler with insight into the future.

While not as challenging as picking the correct lottery numbers for a specific day and time, it is almost as tricky.

Several authors have written how-to books on the subject.

This will sound cynical, but…if they are all knowledgable, where is their best seller?

I have their books on how to do this, and they have some value for the foundation of your novel. What they don’t have is ‘the magic formula.’

In conclusion to the title…I would keep it local and look for contests that don’t charge an entry fee unless…you get feedback on your entry, no matter what.

On Reedsy, you might get comments from those who read it; you want professional feedback.

As I venture forward in this world of words, I will continue to pontificate on what I have learned. The good news is that it won’t be in some how-to book you must pay for.

  • Click to follow, yes.
  • Sign up for my updates, certainly…Why not?
  • Comment occasionally, sure. I love to hear from you.
  • Buy my book Earth’s Last Hope… Yes, that keeps me going. I am currently working on a book about witchcraft… Seems prudent for Halloween, don’t you think?

-Best

The Lies we come to believe. (TIPS and other charges)

The Lies we come to believe. (TIPS and other charges)

To insure prompt service…TIPS

Between inflation, shrinkflation, and the price of energy, most people have very little discretionary income.

Yes, this is a direct result of BIDONOMICS.

Like him or not, when Trump was in office, America was energy independent. Trump was working to secure our border and appeared to look out for this country’s citizens first.

This election cycle will be one to watch.

The truth of the matter is we don’t know who is running this country. We can bet that it is not the current occupant of the West Wing.

Under this administration, Americans are forced to use their savings accounts and withdraw from their 401s to make ends meet. Those who have saved money have shockingly depleted the reserve amount.

The alarming statistic is that many Americans have relied on credit cards to survive. Using credit cards, payday loans, or other forms of predatory lending will create a crisis soon if these trends don’t reverse.

Inflation must be controlled so we stop spending money we don’t have.

Those talking heads are paid to tell you everything is fine; don’t look at the man behind the curtain. Unlike politicians and other swamp monsters, they are paid handsomely to lie convincingly to you.

If you follow these articles, you will see that the climate change hoax is just one more lie to ‘nudge’ you into behavioral changes that benefit the rich and powerful.

Media giants are practicing what Stalin knew when he massacred millions of his own people. The Pen is Mightier than the sword.

Since fewer and fewer people read and have the attention span of Count Chockula, Pravda-like lies are spread by talking heads using emotional tags, usually hate.

For the manipulation of the masses to work, they need a villain. Why not some uber-rich guy with a big mouth and an orange complexion?

Why not serve up the savior of the American people as a pariah?

If you bothered to learn history, it is rife with examples of how it all works. Show the masses what is wrong in the world and then pin the tail on the donkey or, in this case, their most prominent adversary.

When Lincoln worked to free the slaves, the Democrats had him killed.

When Kennedy, much like Trump… a populist for the people and against the deep state, stepped over the line, they killed him.

No single bullet did all that damage; you have been lied to.

I’m not comparing Jesus to Trump, but…when his popularity threatened that of those who were rich and powerful, they made him the Pariah. Even his people released a thief vs. Jesus, serving him to the thugs in charge.

One last example which parallels what we are living through today. Hyperinflation is one step away. Like Hitler, Biden or his proxies will blame White supremacists or Trump or, as some Gen Z podcasters are lamenting…those fucking boomers.

Yes, they have found yet another way to divide the country by selling the least informed among us that somehow it is not only white men but white men born in the baby boomer era as the newest fall guy.

Only an idiot with a capital I would buy that nonsense, but…there was a country of them that sacrificed 6 million Jews to a megalomaniac under the guise that all their problems were because of the Jews.

Now, the only way those jackasses can make such statements is because of the boomers and their parents, who sacrificed so much that they have the freedom to spew such moronic nonsense. It gets them clicks, which is what they are after, right?

Read the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire or…watch another ANTIFA or BLM riot burn down more cities and learn to play the violin while you watch.

Yes, history is cyclical, and that is why those mentioned in the last sentence want to remove all mention of it. Those are the same dumbasses that say Socialism works. We can make it work this time.

So, what about TIPS and other nonsense? Why is that in the sub-title of this article?

As I mentioned earlier, there is inflation and something called shrinkflation. That latter is selling less of the product for the same amount as before Bidonomics screwed the entire world up.

For those of you who took art or woman studies or perhaps philosophy in college, there is something known as a P&L or profit and loss.

For companies to stay in business, they must make a profit. The books should be in the black at the end of the day or ‘fiscal year.’ In the black is business jargon for ‘show a profit.’

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is called Black Friday because, at that time of year, certain businesses depend on shoppers to purchase enough of whatever they sell to push their end-of-year P&L from red to black.

How many of you thought about holidays as mechanisms for business economic prosperity?

Back to TIPS

I am convinced that wait staff are modern-day slaves.

Everyone attempts to extract more money from the consumer regardless of where you eat out. POS (point of sale) devices conveniently make it easy to tip and give extra money for services or goods rendered.

One business that made the news added an extra charge after the TIP for Employee Mental Wellness.

That expense is already substantial by the time you pay for your meal, the tax on that meal, and a reasonable tip. Due to inflation and minimum wage, employees mistaking those jobs for careers and demanding more money than our soldiers make; eating out is expensive.

In this economy, most people should see the inside of a restaurant only if they work there. Groceries have already reached the price point of unaffordable for many. Shopping for day-old bread, dented cans, and food near its expiration date is becoming increasingly popular.

That is part of the self-behavioral modifications that I am referring to.  

I know people who would never darken the door of a Dollar General or Family Dollar who now frequent those stores. Big Box stores are much more popular than ever, and the trend will continue as more and more people are forced to pinch pennies.

While the pandemic devastated the restaurant business and our way of life, the downward trend continues.

It’s a slow spiral downward as personal wealth dwindles, and the banks can charge exorbitant fees for debt incurred by the masses.

Again, if you look at history while you fiddle, Rome is on fire!

What can you do about it?

Vote the Bastards out!

Established politicians need to leave DC not only as elected or appointed rulers but also be outlawed from serving the needs of companies as lobbyists or specialists/advisors that have anything to do with the ruling class.

Term Limits should be a mandate from We the People.

Puppets are serving as our elected leaders who are incapable of stringing a noun and a verb together in the same sentence!

  • How is it that you don’t know this?
  • These are all distractions presented to you by the propagandists.
  • How many believe a man in a woman’s dressing room is okay?
  • How many of you think a child should be able to change their sex without talking to their guardians?
  • How many of you cannot define a woman?
  • How many of you really think that America is racist?
  • How many of you really think that there are suddenly UFO’s
  • How many of you believe that there are more than two genders?
  • How many of you give a shit what a small minority of mentally challenged individuals think or feel?
  • How many of you really think we are getting the truth about Ukraine?
  • How many want to sacrifice your or your kid’s life to fight someone else’s war?
  • How many of you think the world’s end is coming because of climate change?

Keep fiddling, my friends. These are all distractions while the megalomaniacs fleece your futures, your children’s and their children’s futures.

When the Boomers die off, the next generation will blame you for all their woes, and they might be right: you fiddled. Playing video games is not a career choice unless you design them.

As a science fiction author, I must think outside the box. My personal take on life, this country, or politics are opinions. While open to debate, I do not engage in feelings as they are irrelevant to the status quo. That, my friend, is how you sort the wheat from the chaff. We are controlled by emotions, not facts.

The truth will set you free; the lies will cloud the facts, creating a hostile environment for everyone, and ‘they’ count on it.

-Best

Please consider purchasing my latest novel… Earth’s Last Hope.

Thanks!

Toll to the Troll

Toll to the Troll

Taxes never end.

Everybody talks about it, and nothing ever happens. Why?

While visiting people in retirement homes, one lady told me a story. I found that story hard to fathom. In her time, there was a luxury tax.

The tax assessor would visit and assess a personal property tax on belongings. A full-length mirror was considered a luxury and was taxed accordingly. She would hide it under the bed to ‘cheat’ the government out of their share.

“Their share of what?”

I guess they knew people were hiding the mirrors under the beds and other items deemed a luxury. Since they didn’t have enough prison space to lock up the entirety of the country, they had to devise another plan.

Many tyrants today create new atrocities through stories to divide the tribes. What many refer to as systemic racism is nothing more than tribalism which is inherent in our DNA.

They know this but figure you are too stupid to understand how easily you can be manipulated into electing the fox that will eat you vs. selecting the shepherd who will protect you.

30 years ago, I purchased a house. Nobody helped me come up with the downpayment.

When I left home, I rented a dump I could afford while learning my craft. At night after a long day, I would have to chase the cockroaches off my table before I could eat a can of some concocted chemically laden food that was anything but healthy.

Purchasing day-old products or dented cans, I did what I could to survive. Returning home was never an option I would ever consider.

Why not instant gratification and rent something nicer, which I could have afforded??? So I could, at some point, afford a home. Before Dave Ramsy, I knew how to save money. Not using a credit card as a source of funds was one of the first lessons you must learn.

I worked a day job and then used my craft to start my own business, which kept me working till the wee hours before I had to do it again the next day.

Following the political ambitions of our elected leaders, I often question the process. I ended my career managing several folks and was responsible for million-dollar budgets from corporate America. I stopped being spoon-fed propaganda by the pundits on TV. They are all lying in some form or another. They are paid large sums to ease their conscience (like politicians) to spout damned lies while calling it the news.

At best, it’s yellow journalism…look it up if that term means nothing to you.

On January 6th, a riot in DC turned into a faux insurrection. The tapes released by McCarthy prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that our leaders are lying to us again. I mention this because America was founded on an insurrection.

Rejecting unfair taxes from King Georg’s Stamp Act to tossing tea into the harbor, Americans can only be pushed so far.

No, we will never surrender to the forces of darkness. Today Social media shapes the opinions of the jellyfish, who only know that George Washington was a slaveholder.

When you punch your time card or get up in the morning and drive to work, assuming you are not rolling out of bed and wiggling your mouse, you are a slave. Think about it.

I was once accused of being a whore. In retrospect, were they right? What will you do for money?

I paid off my mortgage when it hit me that between my monthly insurance cost and the property tax and associated fees, those monthly costs add up to more than what my monthly mortgage payment started out as. It’s almost as if I am renting my paid-off home from the government. That must stop.

Since the Golden State has been ruined by Marxist ideologies, Texas and others are flooded with people who voted for the fox. Now they are here and still think George Washington was only a slaveholder.

Universities around the country have instilled Marxism in the minds of the sheep. History is rife with how badly Marxism ends. Still, I guess history isn’t taught any longer as it is counterintuitive to the narrative.

Critical thinking skills are at a complete deficit. The proof is everywhere.

Governor Abbot, stop talking about personal property tax and do something about it. Sign an executive order, and scream at the top of your lungs that we will not take this nonsense any longer.

Why are retired people still forced to pay these incredible taxes?

In a bookstore not long ago, I noticed that familiar yellow and black covered book…’ for dummies’…

Marxism for dummies….’We will drain you dry and then devour you. Signed the fox.’

As a retired person, I spend my time assisting other writers who would like to become published. If you want a good read, please consider buying my book ‘Earth’s Last Hope.’

I aim to spend my ‘golden years’ supplementing my retirement funds with a passive income stream from Amazon… Bwhaaaa   From a 24.95 hardcopy of my book, I get less than $3.00. Since Bezos has a new sweetie, he raised the cost of everything, including the distribution of the e-copy.  

-Scott

Earth’s Last Hope

Every 396 billion years, all the planets align. Dr. Richards passes off the alignment as just another thing to discuss at NASA until Pluto’s moon is perturbed out of its tidally locked orbit. Discovering the reason for the perturbation sends her off on a quest to learn not what but who is responsible.

1947 was much more than a weather balloon. Samantha Richards discovers that her overbearing father is more than a soldier. Skunkworks is a walk in the park compared to his responsibilities.

When Earth suffers cataclysmic disasters, the president calls on General George Richards to invite his daughter’s uncanny expertise in solving puzzles to make sense of strange anomalies wreaking havoc around the globe.

Reluctantly, the two mend fences, placing all the secrets of AREA 51 and Roswell on the table. The world is in chaos and near extinction when Sam discovers the ‘WHO’ of the equation.

Chumming the Water © 2023

Chumming the Water © 2023

The term chumming is a fishing term. In short, it is a way to bring fish to you. In Peter Benchley’s jaws, they toss copious amounts of bloody fish guts into the ocean to attract the infamous Jaws.

In marketing, some authors chum Facebook and other social media. Again, it is a technique to bring readers and or an audience to you.

They usually will post a comment that is a hot topic.

“If he identifies as a girl, why shouldn’t he shower with the girls?”

“It’s not like Hitler killed all the Jews, just a few… million. They were privileged white people who took advantage of the have-nots.”

I could go on, but you get the point. The media does this by reporting like this.

“A white cop shot a black man.”

While the cop did shoot a criminal, they don’t tell you that the criminal attempted to kill the cop. They also use the adjectives white and black to stir up racial tension even more than it is. Once the adjective white and/or black is read by those triggered by hate, they won’t read further. They will have their hatred of the opposite race justified and amplified to the point that they, too, will dehumanize the opposite race.

There is a local radio station that I listen to on occasion for black people. What if there was a local radio station for White People??? Would that equal things or foment more hate, racial division, and violence?

If you don’t know the answer in a split second, you might be part of the problem.

A black man that commits a heinous crime against a white child will read as follows. “A man killed a six-year-old girl.” If the media were truthful and not biased, they would say, “A black man killed a six-year-old white girl.”

Is it ok to foment hate of white people but not of black? Biased much?

I worked in PR for years. Herding the masses off a cliff has never been easier with the advent of Facebook, Twitter, and Tick Tock. Indeed we are treated as lemmings.

Reporting on hot-button topics to sway voters is critical, and politicians know no shame. “Mass shooting?? Blame the guns.

Not only do some authors chum the water to attract attention to their novel, but they are so jaded by the process they are missing the big picture.

If I were to jump on the same bandwagon that the ladies of the View have regarding Tucker Carlson, half the country or my readers would be alienated.

If I were to defend him, the other half would be alienated.

When Trump was arraigned in New York, I was disappointed that Stephen King weighed in with ‘lock him up.’

If you were in an office with your co-workers, you would probably be smart enough to keep your political affiliation to yourself. We, as authors, don’t have the luxury of espousing our opinions on anything. The Queen of Harry Potter JK Rowling, took a major political hit when she promoted her thoughts on transgender issues. Again, no matter how factual or logical you are, it is the proverbial Kobayashi Maru. The only way to win the game is not to play.

The problem with that is this. Your first amendment rights are being trampled on by anarchists who are either paid by oligarchs or are just stupid regarding history.

That leads us back full circle to chumming the water.

If you are a terrible writer and just want the attention of those aligned with your political views, go for it. Piss off half your readers and feel good about yourself.

You probably spent months to years on your novel, not to mention all the money you spent editing it, etc. Then someone says something you disagree with, and you stupidly step in dog shit to argue with the dog who just pooped it.

There is an old saying which is incredibly germane. Garbage in, Garbage out.

I admit I spend a very tiny amount of time watching anything on TV. I have found little that has any redeeming quality and certainly nothing to waste heartbeats watching. Whether you watch FOX or MSNBC, they feed your hate. Some talking heads hate white folks to the point it is disgusting. If you are a racist, your bigoted views will be provided more fodder to justify your hate of white people. One racist anchor is on the record stating the world needs far fewer white folks. I was reminded of Hitler saying that the world didn’t need Jews.

If people like her fill your head with hate, guess where you will lean. MSNBC knows bloody well the extent of her racism, but they are chumming the water. Who do you suppose their audience might be?

The world has way too much hate already. We are controlled by people who use hatred to motivate our actions. Don’t fall for it.

Ever since I could remember, I have admired Barbara Streisand. I loved her acting and singing until I heard something horrible about her. It was rumored that she did not allow her servants to look at her in her face.

I found that fact repulsive but believable, disturbing, and upsetting. What I didn’t do was check to see if it were true. Why did I race to judgment? Hate. Hate is a strong emotion that will cause you to act before you think.

The media know this, and they use it daily. That is why I don’t watch cable news.

There is another reason: Cable TV with internet costs me nearly $300 a month. Have you priced eggs recently? How about gas? That $300 would be much better spent on the necessities of life than on propaganda fused with hate.

In these absurd debates, we attempt to one-up the other, which is pure insanity. History contains the road map that we refuse to acknowledge. There is no such thing as your truth or my truth; there is only ‘the’ truth.

It might be time for another Woodstock.

We should look for the things that unite us instead of focusing on things that divide us.

Using cheap tactics like those mentioned above for clicks or followers to my way of thinking is reprehensible. Our government and I suspect others are magicians. Don’t look at the hand with the shiny object; watch the other hand.

Let me know your thoughts, keep it clean; this is a family show. 😊

I have an excellent sci-fi novel that is ready for your order. From Kindle to Hardcover, please take a peek here…

-Best

Noise

Noise

Red Pill or Blue?

The media is currently either throwing a tantrum or engaged in a celebration over the former president’s arraignment.

If you are like me and are focused on living in ‘your world’ and not in ‘this world of corruption, violence, and craziness, ’ you must find a way to detach.

I lead a writer’s group in my hometown.  I was asked why I write.  The answer is simple.  I like my world and characters more than those who seek to control us through emotional triggers and corrupt media who will print or say anything for clicks.

Journalism is dead and buried.  Whoever owns the most media controls the world.

I was disappointed when Stephen King weighed into the fray, tweeting, ‘Lock him up.’

Does Stephen have privileged information that we don’t have?  Is he friends with the DA?  Maybe he lives in the white house and tells Biden what to say.  That would explain the twisted way the country is currently being run.

As authors, the public, ‘our audience’ shouldn’t know which way we lean politically.  They should be totally clueless if we are pro-life or pro-choice.

They should know what kinds of stories you create, what you have done in the past, and your current WIP.

I cringe when I see want-to-be best sellers go off the deep end, regurgitating the talking points of the left or right-wing media.

It matters not who you vote for or which way you tilt.  You should know that what you believe to be true is probably not the entire story.  The media is incredibly Stalinist, and today’s youth think socialism can work if you just do it correctly.  That is akin to being ‘kind of pregnant.’ They either didn’t study history, or it wasn’t taught.

You have heard the phrase to live or die by the sword…Well, my friends, the media lives or dies by the lies they create.

I will get more clicks if I add the word black or white to describe a person.  I will do it.  Pissing people off is the way to get more readers.  Pissing people off also foments racism and violence by dehumanizing an entire race for what; clicks?  Who cares if someone gets hurt or is pushed in front of a subway because they are a different color?  You got more clicks!  People are irresponsible when it comes to the media.

I genuinely believe we are living in the matrix.

Six people are killed in Tennessee.  The president jokes about Jenny’s chocolate chip Ice Cream before giving a predictable speech about gun control.  Others pray for the trans person and not the people she killed. OMG, I misgendered the murderer! Who cares!  Three nine-year-old children were shot to death, and three 61-year-old people were also killed.  What the hell is wrong with people worried about the shooter’s pronouns?

Be respectable, and I will respect your right to identify as a toaster if you are an adult and that is what you want to do.  Be an asshole like that, turd, nope.  Not going to dignify her in any way.  She can rot in hell.

The answers to violence in the world are painfully obvious, but…the lobbyist purchased the elected officials to lie to you and me.  From the NRA to the teacher’s unions to the gaming industry, it’s about money.  Money and power trump the taxpayers every time.

Mental health is the problem!

If you are young and seeking a vocation, become a mental health expert.  The world, not just this country but the world, is in crisis.  I totally believe that video games are the gateway to insanity.  That and mind-altering drugs.

Hollywood is not excused; they are culpable too.

Those with the loudest voices live in gated communities and have never entered a Walmart.  Tell me, how much $16 a pint of ice cream is in your freezer?

I don’t listen to opinion shows.  Again, they don’t live in our world.

I live in our world but can escape, and so can you.

While I create the worlds, the characters, and the situations, you can come into my world by reading my latest novel ‘Earth’s Last Hope.’

Everything you would ever want in a novel, from aliens, affairs, sex with the president, and I destroy this world before I give you a happy ending.  Each page is rich with the story, so don’t skip to the end; it won’t make sense.  Start at the beginning and simply enjoy it.

Don’t start it late, or you will be up all night.  You will love the character as the pages turn, and the science fiction is not hard science fiction.

Trigger Warning: If two ladies loving each other bothers you, this story might not be for you.

-Best

Give it a review!  Reviews are critical to the process of success for authors.  My e-mail address is in the book so, write to me if you have any comments.

Eyes Wide Open

Eyes Wide Open

$900 objectivity…

Not everything is as it seems.

There is something called the WOW factor that realtors depend on when advertising a home. It starts with a photographer with an eye for composition and finding that WOW factor.

From wide-angle lenses to angles that omit white elephants, good photographers know how to get pictures that will pique the curiosity of a potential buyer. Then there is software that listing agents use to dress up the white elephants turning a desert into a golf course.

We authors do this with book covers, but I digress.

While a book cover should entice a reader to at least look inside the cover, these pictures are to incentivize the buyer to request a tour. A recent potential home has lots of wow. Objectivity can get lost in the ‘wow’ if one is not careful.

Once you decide this ‘home’ is right for you, get some objectivity. More importantly, be prepared to walk away.

It started with a few curiosities. An indoor pool that was in less-than-perfect condition. A building that was rusted to the point of possible structural failure. Shoddy workmanship to cover flaws with minor cosmetic repairs that did more damage to the property than help.

Then there were multiple windows with what appeared to be bullet holes. They were, in fact, bullet holes.

Hiring an inspector is one of your best expenses for purchasing objectivity. It is not his or her job to say, run, don’t walk. Their job is to locate flaws, structural deficiencies, other modifications that won’t pass muster, and cosmetic repairs that put lipstick on a pig.

Google reviews and, yes, Yelp are paramount in finding a good inspector.

The inspector recommended by the realtor had more negative reviews than positive ones. Pictures of nail holes from pictures hung vs. screwed-up roofs were their standard. Attempting to sell you services after the fact, instead of doing their job, was also part of the standard operating procedures they followed.

The inspector we found went above and beyond, pointing out things that must be addressed before proceeding.

A move-in ready home went to no less than $100,000.00 in necessary repairs before an evaluation from the mortgage lender could proceed.

Some notifications were minor electrical updates that had changed with codes. Others were a roof that had been damaged by hail. Still, others were air conditioners that had been disconnected because they were dead.

After I requested previous bills, I was shocked to see their electric bill hit $800 in August.

Finding both AC units in the home varied the input air to output air from 12 to 15 degrees on a 58-degree day, respectively, answered my questions. The winter months would not be much better, from heat pumps to heat strips.

The bottom line is this. Don’t fall in love with a property until after a quality inspector does his job. Look for reviews of your choice of inspectors, and don’t depend on your agent. A listing agent will want the one that finds holes from pictures hung. You want an inspector that will crawl through the attic or under the home looking for anything that could bite you in the future.

-Best