The Price Of Maintenance Increases

The week of Mon Sep 8, 2025 was catching up. There were no physical workouts due to fatigue and a minor injury to my left Achillies heel. Circumstances favored me for which there was no weekly household cleaning. I felt good I caught up with most of my backlogged responsibilities and projects.

The week of Mon Sep 8, 2025 inspired today's blog. Prices are increasing to maintain our lives. The price is not necessarily monetary; however, in today's inflationary economy, all goods and services for maintenance increases. Time is another price increase. More time is required to maintain our lives. If a person has too many priority responsibilities to complete, then the price the person pays is less sleep.

Bare necessities for body maintenance such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and aspirin. Prices increase. Shoes, socks, shirts, shorts and supplemental equipment for physical workouts. Prices increase. Human body services such as medical, dental, and gym membership for those who need gym equipment. Prices increase. Engine oil, tires, windshield wipers, and wax. Prices increase. Utilities, light bulbs, batteries, furnace air filters, and cleaning supplies for residence cleaning. Prices increase. Further, more time is required to complete everything above. And learning new job skills to maintain careers. Prices and time increase.

Cut The Distractions

I admit I'm distracted in today's Information Age. There is a song stuck in my head. I must play the song on my computer. I look up information on Google or on YouTube. Unimportant information catches my attention. I click on the website or I watch the video. There is a breaking news headline. I read the news article. Time wasted. The distractions increase the price of maintenance.

Update On A Past Blog

Here are two blogs on maintenance. The first is Car Maintenance Is Expensive written on Mar 26, 2025. I wrote interior maintenance and exterior maintenance are important. The ultimate price for non-maintenance anything is chaos.

The second is Maintenance Is Important As Innovating Infinitely written on Nov 6, 2016. I repeat what I wrote from the Car Maintenance Is Expensive's Update On A Past Blog: "I shared some of my life maintenances including a clean household, job training, physical fitness, and keeping myself clean and groomed. I admit maintenance can be boring; however, my life is in chaos without maintenance."

I also update Normal Adolescents At Chipotle blog written on Dec 9, 2023. The blog was mature junior high school students socializing at a Chipotle restaurant. I overheard a conversation between three ladies at the gym earlier tonight. Two of the three ladies are high school students. The third is probably college. I'm bad at guessing people's ages. The three of them organize a breakfast meetup at their local cafe on Sat at 9:30am. 9:30am in the morning--on a Sat weekend. My initial thought was high school students sleep-in on Sat mornings. The two high school students are mature and responsible.

Professional Knowledge Shared As Common Knowledge

Here are knowledge from professionals in their fields people should know. The information can be false. Some professionals may not do. The reader should do their due diligence to verify. Source: What's a "secret" from your profession that everyone should probably know? from Reddit.

1. Financial institutions use older versions of Excel.

2. Document everything.

3. Daycare teachers clean toys and equipment.

4. Gloves are not necessary to handle old books, rare books, and special collection books. Clean and dry hands are the best. Wearing gloves are more likely to rip a page because the person can't feel them well compared with bare hands. There are exceptions such as handling artifacts, moldy items, toxic books, and photographs.

5. Bibles are not rare. The Bible is the most printed book in the world.

6. You need two coats of paint.

7. Bacteria and microbes as a whole are small cells or capsules. They are bad at sticking to random solid objects by themselves. It's like hanging on a rocky hillside with your hands. Water from above hits you. You're going to be flushed down wherever the water goes. A simple water rinse can remove 99% of the bacteria.

8. There are corrupt employers who don't pay their workers, close the business, and reopen under a different name. They fraudulently transfer all their assets under another person's name.

9. Dog and cats need rabies vaccine because rabies is transmissible to humans. Also, pets can have fleas regardless of being indoor pets or outdoor pets. Fleas can be anywhere. And a local veterinarian likely doesn't see wildlife and reptiles.

10. Generally speaking, retail stores don't hide stuff in the back. We want to sell. If it's in the back, it doesn't sell. Everything we sell is out.

11. Fire sprinklers go off where the actual fire is. Not all fire sprinklers go off like in the movies. The water is gross and stinky. A properly maintained sprinkler system is flushed.

12. Most modern homes or residential construction are built with the cheapest ingredients. They may not last more than 30 years without exterior refurbishing. Further, never buy a new home for which the buyer picks a floor plan A, B, C, D, or . . . . 90% of these new homes are made from shitty materials. Buy an actual quality custom home.

13. Dental professionals can't always tell if you floss or not. However, if the dental profession flosses the patient and bleeding occurs, then he or she can tell.

14. If you have the feeling of a medical life threatening emergency, then go to the emergency room.

15. Abusive parents are more common than you think. They include the nicest neighbors and volunteers. Child Protective Services can't catch everyone. There are mental abuse, emotional abuse, and psychological abuse.

16. IT Googles all day. We're better at Googling than other people.

17. Architects say 50% of major home remodels the couple divorces.

18. Financial institutions software security is outdated.

19. Tugboat pilots are bored. They look at their phones 95% of the time.

20. College students should attend classes even if you don't pay attention. Students can accidentally learn. Also, attend class, read the chapters, do the homework, and show up at the office hours. Students are more likely to earn an A or a B.

21. You don't have to top off freon every year for the air conditioner.

22. Buy the cheapest cemetery vault. All vaults are not 100% waterproof.

23. Patients should ask for an itemized bill because it can lower the cost. Hospitals avoid adding unnecessary fees. There are programs to lower medical bills.

24. The majority of children sex crimes are family members. Neighbors, family friends, and pastors are included.

25. Family and relationship therapists' solution for 50% of their clients: just go get a divorce already.

Instant Bullets Blog Sep 10, 2025

*Potter's Field. Unknown, unclaimed, or indigent people are buried. Pauper's grave or common grave. These are slang words for an unmarked burial ground.

*A Low Secure Cryptography. Found black wallet. The black wallet owner enters the birthday on the owner's driver license to solve the equation for the contact phone number.

*Bar Security. Picture in the women's bathroom. The secret phrase for communicating problems to the bar staff. Also, the internet shared a common drink order called "angel shot" to communicate to the bar staff I need help.

*Pregnant women shouldn't garden because of the risk of contracting toxoplasmosis from contaminated soil. Toxoplasmosis causes birth defects, blindness, and learning disabilities. Likewise for common garden chemicals. Moreover, pregnant women should not change litter boxes. The source of toxoplasmosis is cat feces.

*The Elephant Question In A Job Interview. The question is a common brain teaser to test problem solving, creativity, and decision making. The question is the following: You've been given an elephant. A real life elephant. You can't sell it or give it away. What would you do with it?

My answer is the question is irrelevant to the job. You likely asked the question to make yourself look smart like a politician. Don't be a robot. Ask questions. What do you want to know about me? Let's have a conversation

*Buy it nice or buy it twice.

*Synonyms For "One Less Worry." One less concern, one fewer burden, and one less weight on your mind. Also, no need to worry, all taken care of, forget about it, no problem, and no worries.

Words: carefree, untroubled, unworried, calm, unconcerned, unbothered, unstressed, nonchalant, and lighthearted. Also, low pressure, without worry, easy going, happy-go-lucky, free of concern, free from worries, without worry, free from interference, without problems, free from interruption, and free from disturbance.

*The Best Way To Avoid An Argument. Start a conversation. Make an observation. Tell a joke. Say a riddle. Identify something stupid. The conversation buys time to calm the aggressor. Disarm the aggressor verbally to lower their adrenaline level and reduce their aggression.

*A Lesson Women Attracted To Men From The Movie Once Upon A Time In The West.

Jill: Hey, you're sort of a handsome man.
Cheyenne: But I'm not the right man. And neither is he.
Jill: Maybe not. But it doesn't matter.
Cheyenne: You don't understand, Jill. People like that have something inside. Something to do with death. If that fella lives, he'll come in through that door, pick up his gear and say adios.

*vacuum: a space entirely devoid of matter. Emptiness. A space with no gas or other matter in it. A space most air or gas removed. A volume empty of matter. Free space.

*vacuum: 1. A space empty of matter. Not achievable in practice on Earth. 2. A space all air or gas is extracted. 3. An emptiness caused by somebody or something's absence or removal.

*vacuum cleaner: an electrical appliance which cleans surfaces such as floors, upholstery, and window coverings by sucking dirt and other materials into a bag.

*A transistor radio is a small low-powered solid state electronic device consisting of a semiconductor and at least three electrodes used as an amplifier and rectifier and frequently incorporated into integrated circuit chips.

*A semiconductor is a solid material which has electrical conductivity between a conductor and an insulator.

*bulkhead: 1. A partition inside a ship, aircraft, or large vehicle. 2. A wall to hold back something.

*biome: a division of the world's vegetation that corresponds to a particular climate and is characterized by certain types of plants and animals.

*The thyroid gland is an endocrine gland located in the neck of the human being and other vertebrate animals which secretes the hormones responsible for controlling metabolism and growth. Pic credits: Cleveland Clinic, Terese Winslow, LLC, and WebMD.

*The job market is not really competitive. There are not enough opportunities.

*This sentence is false.

New mission. Refuse this mission.

Does a set of all sets contain itself?

*A Quick Scientific Notation Review. Move the decimal point to the right from the number ten's positive exponent number. Add zeroes when needed while moving the decimal point to the right. For example, 3.8 X 10^16 moves the decimal point between the three and the eight sixteen times to the right. Add zeroes for each opening to the right of the eight. 38,000,000,000,000,000 is the correct answer.

*Cut The Stems Off Flowers. The short answer is to prolong the life expectancy. Cut the stem on the bottom 3/4th inch to 1 inch on a 45-degree angle to increase the surface area allowing flowers to absorb more water. The flower's roots lose access to water when the steam is cut because an air pocket or embolism forms preventing the absorption of water.

Flowers should be re-cut after they are purchased, picked, or delivered. Cut the stems every three days. The stem wound immediately begins to heal itself forming an air pocket or embolism. Clean the vase and change the water.

*Dr. Mehmet Oz on Apr 19, 2025: . . . we're going to reduce chronic disease. How do you do that? 70% of the health care expenditures of this country are driven by chronic disease. And it is your patriotic duty, I'll stay it again, the patriotic duty of all Americans to take care of themselves because it's important for serving in the military, but it's also important because healthy people don't consume healthcare resources. The best way to reduce drug spending is to use less drugs cause you don't need them cause you're healthy. And it feels a lot better as well.

*The pelvis is a bone structure inside the hips, buttocks, and pubic region. It supports the upper body weight when the person sits, stands, or walks. It connects the lower body legs. The pelvis is the body part between your abdomen and thighs sometimes called the pelvic region. The pelvic cavity is the space between the pelvis and abdomen, holds the urinary system, and holds the reproductive organs. The pelvis opening in the female serves as the birth canal. Pic credits: Anatomy Next, Inc., Cleveland Clinic, Terese Winslow, LLC, and Wikipedia.

The Democrats Are Unhappy They Won

Today's blog likely makes no sense to the reader. It's okay. I'm not a political scientist. I'm not an expert in government. I didn't take any classes on constitutional law. I write an unprofessional opinion on the US politics.

The Democrats won. The liberals won. The left side won. The victories happened decades ago. The best examples include The Affordable Care Act or Obamacare, legal abortion maintained, fewer racial discrimination or greater equality or DEI Diversity Equity Inclusion, LGBTQ+ rights acknowledged, and more people gaining wealth. More people earn incomes to live a comfortable life.

The victories were too victorious. The wins were too good. The Democrats are unhappy. The Democrats lost their motivation. Bring on the chaos by the Republicans. Bring on stirring the pot stew. Bring on the uncomfortability. Bring on the unprecedent firsts. Bring on the new laws. There are changes. President Donald Trump won the 2016 election against Hiliary Clinton and the 2024 election against Kamala Harris; although, some people say the Democrats lost the 2016 election and lost the 2024 election instead of the Republicans winning. Perhaps, the Democrats took for granted they win the 2016 election and the 2024 election. I digress. Abortion is unprotective on a federal level. Tariffs are back. Obamacare is changed on the federal level. Illegal immigrants are being deported. DEI setbacks. Federal health policies are changing.

There is no impeachment against Trump during his second term as of today. I read past news articles a congressman or a congresswoman began the impeachment process. Nothing happened thereafter. There were rallies hosted by the Democrats to convince the US citizens to oppose President Trump and the Republicans. Nothing happened thereafter.

Winners are supposed to be happy. Losers are supposed to be unhappy. Losers can be happy by learning from their mistakes. Winners can be unhappy with an irrational reason. The Democrats are unhappy.

Shelter In-Place COVID-19 Blog August 2025

California issued shelter in-place orders on Tue Mar 17, 2020. I have been logging the highlights and lowlights. The federal government changed the policies for people eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. The number of positive cases continue to increase.

Tue Aug 5. The Secretary Of Health And Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. cancelled contracts and funding for vaccines being developed for respiratory viruses. 22 projects totaling $500 million for mRNA vaccines halted. Kennedy removed the COVID-19 vaccine recommendations, fired the panel which recommends vaccines, and stopped vaccine endorsements. Pfizer and Moderna are two pharmaceutical companies affected by the cancelled contracts.

Kennedy is a critic of mRNA vaccines. He wants safer and broader vaccines which don't stop working when a virus mutates.

The COVID-19 variant XFG called Stratus was first detected in Jan 2025 in Southeast Asia. Stratus accounted for 14% of the cases in the USA as of late Jun 2025 according to the Center For Disease Control (CDC). The World Health Organization (WHO) added XFG to the watch list in late Jun. Low public health risk. There's no evidence XFG causes more severe sickness or different symptoms.

The CDC reported XFG accounted for 14% of positive cases, NB.1.8.1 43%, and LP.8.1 31% as of Jun 21.

Fri Aug 8. Shopped at Lucky's and Costco. Filled my car with gas at Chevron.

First day in 2025 daytime temperatures were in the 90s.

President Donald Trump ordered all federal agencies to delete COVID-19 vaccination statuses, prior mandate noncompliances, or exemption requests. Federal agencies are barred from using COVID-19 personal records for any employee related decision. The Trump administration removed pandemic mandates during the Biden administration.

Sat Aug 9. A shooter from Kennesaw, GA named Patrick Joeph White shot rounds at the CDC and a pharmacy. White blamed the COVID-19 vaccine made him depressed and suicidal. DeKalb County police officer David Ross was mortally wounded. White was fatally shot.

Thur Aug 14. Emergency room visits increased because more people tested positive. The XFG variant called Stratus is the most common strain. The significant symptom is a razor blade feeling sore throat. The WHO is monitoring Stratus. The WHO said the current vaccines protect against Stratus.

Sat Aug 16. Purchased a used outdoor garden storage bin in Sunnyvale, CA.

Tue Aug 19. The American Academy Of Pediatrics released an updated recommendations for COVID-19 vaccinations for infants and young children. Children age 6 months to 23 months receive a vaccine. If these children are allergic to the ingredients or have allergies, then they shouldn't receive the vaccine. Children ages 2 years to 18 years receive the vaccine if they are high risk, residents of long-term care facilities, never been vaccinated, or live in a household with people at high risk for COVID-19.

The CDC recommendation for infants and young children is a discussion between their parents and their doctor. The guidance is called "shared clinical decision making." The prior recommendation was people aged six months and older receive the latest vaccine without third party advice.

Wed Aug 20. Shopping at Safeway, Books, Inc., and Costco.

Fri Aug 22. The American College Of Obstetricians And Gynecologists recommended the COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant women. The CDC removed the recommendation for pregnant women and lactating women.

Sun Aug 24. Lunch at The Olive Garden. Shopped at the farmer's market at the Great Mall.

Wed Aug 27. The FDA updated the COVID-19 vaccine approvals for a limited group of people. Adults age 65 and older and people age 5 to 64 at risk with an underlying condition are approved for the vaccine. The Moderna vaccine is authorized for children age 6 months and older. The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for people age 5 years and older. The Novavax is authorized for people age 12 years and older. The parents must consult with their doctors before vaccination for people under age 18.

All emergency authorizations are rescinded. A FDA statement stated COVID-19 vaccines are available to anyone with a doctor's consultation.

The 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine targets LP.8.1 which is a JN.1 subvariant.

CDC Director Susan Monarez was fired by the Trump administration. Several senior CDC officials resigned afterwards. Health And Human Services deputy secretary Jim O'Neill is the acting CDC director.

Shopped at Target.

Thur Aug 28. Shopped for used books at the Saratoga Library and Los Gatos Library. Ate lunch at Chipotle.

Sat Aug 30. Played tabletop games at the Guildhouse.

The FDA approved the 2025 updated COVID-19 vaccines for adults age 65 and older and younger people with underlying conditions. Anyone can get a vaccine shop after consulting with a doctor; however, access may be difficult. A doctor prescribes the vaccine as "off label." Off label is defined as a medical product used outside approvals or not FDA approved. The updated vaccines are available in the fall.

CVS Pharmacy administers the vaccines where legally permitted. CVS follows state-level pharmacy regulations. Pharmacists don't administer vaccines not recommended by the CDC's Advisory Committee On Immunization Practices in some states. Walgreens also follow state regulations and FDA policy.

The CDC data reported 71.5% of shots were administered in pharmacies and 9.2% at clinics or health centers during the 2023-2024 respiratory virus season. Also, 23% adults and 13% children reported getting the latest vaccine.

People under Medicare and Medicaid who meet FDA policy their vaccines are covered. It's unknown how private insurance companies cover vaccines for their clients. People can get a flu shot and a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Sun Aug 31. Watched Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Miami (FL) Hurricanes from the two minute mark in the third quarter to the end of the game.

Throwback Blog: Follow The Money

Blogger's Note: Throwback blogs are blogs from my past. I start posting past blogs reflecting what I wrote. It's like my "A Second Look" blogs for which I give myself feedback.

Today's throwback blog is titled Follow The Money written on Sep 19, 2019. A person choosing a career can follow the money to find the popular careers today. The popular careers don't necessarily mean a high paying career. Anyone can make six digits or seven digits being a salesperson. Two letters are needed to update the blog in today's Information Age. The two letters are A and I--AI or Artificial Intelligence. A salesperson doesn't need specialized skills, knowledge, education, and experience.

I digress. Companies pay big salaries to people who meet the challenges of complex skills, knowledge, education, and experience in their industries.

I add the education system is the same: four years high school, two years associate's degree, four years bachelor's degree, and additional two years or four years for advanced degrees.

Deep Throat from the movie All The President's Men told Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein to follow the money trail to solve the Watergate scandal. The follow the money thinking applies to careers.

Many of today's career challenges are skills, knowledge, education, and experience. We live in the information age. More careers require advance skills, technical training, indefinite education or self-training, longer hours, and more experience. More industries are complex, complicated, and difficult. Reference materials, books, notes, YouTube, and Google are required to research, to look up information, and to refresh our skills. Companies pay high salaries to workers who are strong, gritty, intelligent, motivated, and devoted to long hours. Companies pay high salaries to workers with highly demanded experience, best trained, and strong skills.

Some of the most common industries with high salaries include engineers, programmers, medical, scientists, and business. The five industries are changing rapidly. The best way to monitor the changes is job searching. Job postings inform the latest skills and experience. Job postings are up-to-date compared to college career centers and career counselors. Follow the money to learn the education, skills, and experience required in today's evolving industries.

There are some industries salaries have stayed the same. The reason salaries have stayed the same is because nothing changed. The skills are mostly the same yesterday and today. No technical training or little technical training is required. There is no need for additional education. The hours are the same. Little past experience is necessary. Almost all retail jobs the pay is low. Retail jobs haven't evolved. Post office, waiting tables, cleaning, and bus drivers their pay is low.

College Majors Lower Chances For High Salaries

I don't know how students majoring in humanities, fine-arts, art, music, education, and social science earn high salaries. However, these students can think of ideas earning additional income related to their majors. Podcasting? YouTube? Streaming? Blogging? Write books? Earn an advanced degree? Double major selecting a second major in a technical field or a business field? Generations ago college students can make a living in any major. Today's generation the high salaries goes to people with the latest and greatest skills and experience--the latest and greatest everything.

The workforce is not dumb. The industries are hard.

Update On A Past Blog

I forgot to mention to do something, anything new for which I'm uncomfortable in Get Back To The Basics When In A Jam on Sep 11, 2019. My life is moving forward too slow. It's time to take action. The best way is go back to the past when my life moved forward faster. I'm uncomfortable safely. I'm uncomfortable intelligently.

Live A Productive Life At Best Or Not Waste My Life

Today I shopped for used books at multiple libraries. Libraries donated books for their used book sales to raise money.

I asked the question at one library, "What am I doing?" I'm wasting my time. My life is George Costanza. I'm long term unemployed. I live with my parents. I didn't ask for my current life. I didn't want my present life. I waste a day shopping for used books. I buy books at cheap prices on a weekday mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Waste is relative. I should be earning an income working instead of shopping. I should be living in freedom.

Life goes on. I read books which is an activity today. I gain knowledge for tomorrow. I acquire wisdom for tomorrow. Today is today. Today is it no matter the degree. Tomorrow is tomorrow. Tomorrow can be a life break in my favor.

Inbox

Today I fully understand the inbox is never empty. At least a piece of paper is in the inbox for tomorrow. The email inbox counter is greater than zero at the end of the day. Do it one at a time. Do whatever I can today. Continue tomorrow. Another responsibility is placed in the inbox tomorrow. There are no rushes. There are no emergencies. Choose and prioritize. I can say no to myself with no penalties. Many times I say another yes to myself with no extra rewards. Stop for the day. Rest, recover, and reset the focus to 100% tomorrow.

Twenty Random Blogs Aug 2025

Blogger's note: I increase the number of random blogs from ten to twenty.

Here are twenty random blogs in order of randomly chosen. Duplicate blogs are allowed from past random blogs. There are no duplicates today. The previous random blogs are Ten Random Blogs Jul 2020 on Jul 31, 2020, Ten Random Blogs Aug 2021 on Aug 13, 2021, and Ten Random Blogs Apr 2023 on Apr 16, 2023. Update remarks are included.

1. Watch Wall Street (Sep 26, 2005). I shared my activities before and on Sep 26, 2005.

Update remark: Wall Street is one of my all time favorite movies.

2. Never Stop Learning Lesson Emphasized Because One Of The Shermans Past Away (May 05, 2017). The Shermans was a couple who lived in the neighborhood for decades. They moved to the eastern USA to be closer to their families. The husband past away. The wife passed away in Jul 2017.

The lessons I learned continue today. Never stop learning. Find new experiences to experience. Don't waste life watching television eight hours a day. Some seniors choose the sedentary life watching too much television.

Update remark: Rest in peace Bob and Alice.

3. Three Hours Of Me Time Weekdays (Feb 08, 2013). I wrote my life working Mon to Fri from 9am to 6pm. Wake up, go to work, work at the company building, go home, and sleep eight hours. Three hours of personal time remain. Repeat.

Update remark: No full time worker sleeps eight hours a night on weeknights. More workers lose concentration, act grumpy, feel weaker, and make more mistakes. No full time worker spares three hours of personal time. There are too many responsibilities in today's Information Age. A worker must complete an hour's work in 30 minutes.

A balanced life doesn't exist. The successful people don't live a balanced life to become successful.

4. Throwback Blog: I'm No Longer Nice (Aug 27, 2016). I reuploaded a previous blog be a good person. Don't be a nice person.

Update remark: I posted an I'm No Longer Nice blog update on Aug 21, 2025 Keep Going In Life. I added, "Being extra nice doesn't result in extra rewards. It's not aloofness does pay. It's niceness doesn't pay."

5. It's Okay To Live At Home (Jun 18, 2013). I wrote valid reasons sons and daughters live at home with their parents. Sons and daughters must not take for granted living at home. Sons and daughters must continue living their lives to the best of their abilities.

Update remark: The blog is 100% true today.

6. Shelter In-Place COVID-19 Blog February 2023 (Mar 05, 2023). California ended the pandemic state of emergency on Feb 28, 2023. It was the start of loosening restrictions and mask mandates.

Update remark: None.

7. Highlight and Favorite 2019 Tweets (Dec 30, 2020). My favorite Tweets in 2019. I share my top favorites:

Tweets

Jan 21: A conversation starter. Ask the question, "What keeps you busy?"

Jul 28: I'm not dumbing down. Never dumb down your life. Don't be an asshole for yourself. Don't let people drag you down. Nobody holds your back.

Jul 28: These people must leave your life. People come and go for good or for bad. Some people leave your life. New people enter your life.

Sep 22: I just finished watching The Shawshank Redemption. My high school and college friend watched the movie when it was released in theaters. It was the most boring movie he watched. He didn't understand the point. I avoided the movie.

Sep 22: I choose to watch the movie decades later. Good movie. Recommended. The movie is slow. I put the pieces together watching the movie without success.

Sep 22: My friend is correct up to the climax of the movie. It's the best full circle movie I have ever watched. Stick around. Don't give up. Have hope. The pieces are together. Good things can happen.

Sep 25: The female middle school student was wise beyond her years. RT @BoyYeetsWorld: one time in middle school i dated a girl for 4 days and when she broke up with me she posted on facebook sometimes your knight in shining armor is really just a loser in tinfoil and to this day that the sickest burn I've ever gotten.

Favorites

Apr 23: @NBCSSharks, BARCLAY GOODROW!!! Watch the Sharks winger's game-winning overtime goal to give San Jose an epic Game 7 victory. Pic Video.

May 12: @SportsCenter, KAWHI. GAME 7. FOR THE WIN. Pic Video.

May 12: @espn, Another look at Kawhi's Game 7 winner. Pic Video.

May 18: @SJEarthquakes, CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI. KING. #WondoWatched Pic Video.

Jun 13: @SportsCenter, Klay turning around in the tunnel and coming back out to shoot free throws had Oracle going nuts. Pic Video.

Jun 13: @BayAreaSportsHQ, This moment is an all-timer. Pic Video.

Jul 14: @SportsCenter, GAME. SET. MATCH. Novak Djokovic outlasts Roger Federer in an epic five-set #WimbledonFinal Pic Video.

Jul 14: @espn, Longest final in #Wimbledon history: 4 hours 55 minutes, 422 points, 68 games, 35 aces. Pic.

Aug 12: @SexWithEmily, As much as we like to beat around the bush, dropping hints to your partner is not the best way of communicating -- your chances of being understood are much higher when you are direct about what needs fixing. #sexwithemily #communicationisalubrication

Sep 14: @HistoryInPics, The Beatle's last live concerts—at Candlestick Park in San Francisco in 1966 and then on a London rooftop three years later—have gone down as some of the most significant events in pop music history. Collector Finds Rare Footage of The Beatles's Top of the Pops Performance in His Attic.

Nov 19: @WakeOfWeek, I will always root for this man because of the way he has handled himself in hard times -- from bad coaches to having a different offensive coordinator every year to losing his job to Kaep to... this. #AlexSmith @lizbsmith11. Alex Smith's wife celebrates ex-49er's recovery from ghastly leg injury in emotional Instagram post.

Dec 11: @espn, Bill Belichick has his players focused on the 53 players in their locker room, not on social media. Pic.

Dec 16: @NBCSGiants, So many memories. @PavlovicNBCS takes you back through all of the best -- and funniest -- moments from MadBum's legendary Giants career. Pic Article.

Update remark: The Shawshank Redemption is my all time favorite movie. The Shawshank Redemption is not a slow movie after many rewatches.

8. Quad 3 Of 4: My Favorite Shape (Oct 24, 2006). The circle is my favorite shape. "My anything, anytime, and anywhere are going to come full circle good or bad. I make sure I create good circles and I innovate the circles."

Update remark: None.

9. Intelligence May Change Your Daily Life Intelligently (Sep 09, 2015). Use intelligence as an adverb. Think intelligently, communicate intelligently, work intelligently, and make mistakes intelligently are some examples.

Update remark: None.

10. Top 2018 Pics (Dec 17, 2019). My favorite pics posted in 2018. I share my top favorites:

Update remark: None.

11. Thought Provoking Information (Sep 03, 2017). A pics blog. The pic which inspired the title is below.

Update remark: None

12. My First Pop Tart (Sep 12, 2007). I ate a pop tart for the first time in my life. It was strawberry and strawberry with icing.

Update remark: No more pop tarts in my diet. I rarely drink milk. I stopped eating oatmeal in 2018.

13. De Anza Week Nov 15, 2010 (Nov 18, 2010). I went back to school to earn an AA degree in Accounting. I blogged one week during Winter Quarter 2010 at De Anza College. The week consisted of students and instructors with too much on their minds and too fatigued.

Update remark: They were the same yesterday. They are the same today.

14. First Time I Saw A Restaurant Close On Tuesdays (Dec 09, 2018). I said it best. "2018 is over. I wanted to try a restaurant in another city for the first time. I was in the area on Tue Dec 4. The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays. Are you serious? The event summed my recent life. Bad luck. Bad timing." The blog continued expressing my frustration 2018 was the year everything went wrong.

Update remark: I have not experienced another 2018. I have not let life take control of me.

15. I Own 15 Pairs Of Shoes (Jan 28, 2021). I posted pics of my 15 pair of shoes. They include exercise, boots, formal, and casual outdoors.

Update remark: None.

16. A Procedure To Stop Insanity (Sep 09, 2021). A life wisdom. Everyone is different. Everything is different. Birds of a feather flock together. Different folks for different strokes. There are matches. There are mismatches. A circle can't fit in a square peg.

Update remark: Live your life who, what, where, how, and I match who you are.

17. Lonely And Cheerful (Jul 24, 2007). I felt lonely and depressed in Jul 2007. I didn't feel cheerful. False optimism.

Update remark: The 2007 Summer Sabbatical failed. I did everything wrong. I admit I made a mistake. 2007 should have been one of the best years of my life. 2007 was one of the worst years of my life.

18. Throwback Blog: SOMT: Kodak Declares Bankruptcy (Sep 30, 2017). Toys R Us declared bankruptcy on Sep 19, 2017 which inspired the throwback blog on Kodak declared bankruptcy. The throwback blog was a brief explanation of the Kodak bankruptcy and my experiences using a film camera and a digital camera.

Update remark: Mismanagement, Amazon and Wal-Mart, and poor customer service are not the top reasons Toys R Us declared bankruptcy.

19. Work Mar 8, 2014 (Mar 08, 2014). I blogged the highlights when I worked in a retail start up. Dermatitis on my hands. Refusing a shipment. Both store locations short-handed. Purchased my first bottle of wine Raymond Cabernet Sauvignon "Generations" 2009. Wi-Fi problems.

Update remark: The dermatitis on my hands turned out to be a dirty workstation. I cleaned my workstation. No more dermatitis. I still own my Raymond wine bottle.

No smart person works in retail. Desperate smart people do work in retail.

20. Go To Sleep With A Smile (Oct 21, 2011). I was called for jury duty. I didn't get selected. The prospective jurors answering personal questions during the selection process convinced me my life is good. I sleep with a smile.

Update remark: Domestic violence can be a lifelong trauma. Some people you see when shopping are victims of crimes.

Keep Going In Life

I look at my Facebook friend's list. I identify all my friends who attended my high school. Most of them were smart. They enrolled in honor classes. They enrolled in Advanced Placement classes. They were active after school such as sports, arts, and volunteering.

Fast forward decades later. Most of the smart high school Facebook friends are no longer smart. I'm the better person today. I'm smarter. I'm stronger. Why? They stop learning. They settle down. I have been catching up what I missed. I surpass some of them. I continue to catch up. I continue to exceed any expectations. I surpass more of them in time.

Don't quit. Never stop learning. Never stop innovating. Innovate infinitely.

Update On A Past Blog

aloof: not friendly or forthcoming; distant; disinterested.

I wrote a blog on Mar 9, 2010 titled I'm No Longer Nice. I stopped being nice. Nice guys do finish last. Niceness has limits. Niceness is more finite. I started being good. Good guys do finish first. Goodness has fewer limits. Goodness is less finite.

Moreover, being extra nice doesn't result in extra rewards. It's not aloofness does pay. It's niceness doesn't pay. Being extra nice is unlikely to change people's minds. Almost all of the time people's minds are decided.

Wrong Stress

I remember I took a nap at my first job after I graduated from San Jose State University. I was a Research Analyst in a commercial real estate company. The job title was misleading. My job consisted of 90% data entry and 10% analysis. I took a nap because I was stressed out. The stress was neither good nor bad. The stress was menial, repetitive, and boring data entry.

The jobs after working in commercial real estate were legitimate stress. Quick timelines. Bad management; although, management was bad in commercial real estate, too. Poor instructions. Last minute changes. Delays beyond my control.

Stress is relative. Stress is a perspective. The best people minimize stress such as the common knowledge eat healthy, exercise, and sleep for eight hours. I admit I failed minimizing stress. Lessons learned afterwards.

Today's workplace is fast paced. Today's workplace never slows down. More knowledge, more technical skills, and more responsibilities are required for most occupations. The workplace decades ago was kiddie pace compared to today.

X Is On The Clock

Patience is a virtue. Sometimes patience pays off with rewards. Sometimes patience costs with penalties. Don't know what to say. Can't respond. Too many unknowns. Processing continues. Adjust priorities. Wait for the favorable timing and luck.

Everything comes in time. The law. The system. The rules. The procedures. All is present in due time. Marriages. Graduations. Job interviews. Evictions. Championship games. Vacations. Car repairs. Medical appointments. New computers. Movie releases. Contract expirations. Academic years. Fiscal years. Full recoveries. All start in time. All end in time. Delays are likely. Cancellations are possible.

There are 24 hours a day. Guaranteed. Nobody speeds up time. Nobody slows down time. The inevitable. Give it time. Give them time. There is an end. There is the conclusion. This is it. Do you understand? Everything is coming soon.

Top Ten Plus Fifteen Equals Top Twenty Five Favorite Books I Read

I update my Top Ten Favorite Books I Read blog written on Oct 27, 2019. I repeat some of the introduction: Reading books is one of my favorite hobbies. I started reading more fiction books in 2008. I learn life reading fiction books than nonfiction books. Fiction books give me wisdom. Nonfiction books give me intelligence. I read 75% fiction and 25% nonfiction. I was on volume three in the Harry Potter series at the time of the blog. Harry Potter is number five. Here are my top ten plus fifteen equals top twenty five favorite books I read:

25. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier. The author did his research on the Civil War. Some aspects of life exist today such as unfair life, read books, work hard, and despair. A recommendation from my uncle.

24. All The President's Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward. The Richard Nixon Watergate history is part of the book. Persistence is another part of the book. Memorizing all the politicians is not necessary.

23. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The illiterate main character stole books during World War II in Nazi Germany. Read World War II from innocent Germans point of view. Comedy, sorrow, and anger are some of the feelings the reader experiences.

22. Oh, The Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss. I Read Dr. Seuss Books on May 2, 2025. The Places book is a top must read for grade school children.

21. Looking For Alaska by John Green. College students can both be smart and be a prankster. Best John Green book.

20. From The Mixed-Up Files Of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg. A random book recommendation from a source I forgot. I thought it's an adult literature. It's actually a children's book. The adventure side of a child may open up after reading the book.

19. The Invention Of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. I purchased a European edition book. The author wrote the story and drew the illustrations. The main character had courage I wished I had when I was a child.

18 The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams. Everyone must bring a towel.

17. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton. The book is more violent than the movie. The Ian Malcolm character stole the story.

16. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. If you didn't read the book as of the blog post, then don't watch the movie trailer. The movie trailer is major spoilers. I cried three times.

15. The Power Of One by Bryce Courtenay. Teenage boys and teenage girls must read the book. The wisdom is learned at the beginning of the book. The main character practices the wisdom thereafter.

14. Forever . . . by Judy Blume. All teenagers and all parents must read the young adult classic book. The sex scenes and growing up lessons are relevant today.

13. Thinking, Fast And Slow by Daniel Kahneman. Follow the patterns.

12. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. A family lives in multiple cities being in poverty. The reader experiences all emotions in the emotional spectrum. Watch the movie end credits after reading the book to put a face to the family on YouTube. I enjoyed Walls' writing style.

11. The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. A book from My Self-Help Books Recommendations blog written on Jun 28, 2020. Discover core habits. Practice, practice, practice the habits.

10. A Brief History Of Time by Stephen Hawking. I learned more than science reading the book. I learned life.

9. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. How do people become rich? Kiyosaki answers the question how. The answer is not a college degree, an MBA, or working a six-figure income.

8. How To Win Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Readers adapt 20% of his suggestions increases his or her likelihood to meet more new people and create more circle of friends.

7. The Old Man And The Sea by Ernest Hemingway. I loved Hemingway's writing style. Short. To the point. No wasted words. An easy and a quick read to satisfy a quick urge.

6. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. My all time favorite sci-fi book.

5. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. I took me decades to read the book. I read the book three times during the COVID-19 pandemic. My house is Gryffindor. My wand is a white 10.75 inches made of oak with a phoenix feather core. My patronus is a tiger.

4. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville. The last three chapters were the best last three chapters I ever read. I understand all the references in the media.

3. To Kill A Mocking Bird by Harper Lee. Atticus Finch is strong. Atticus Finch is a model for a man.

2. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Gladwell wrote luck and opportunity are the reasons why some people succeed.

Honorable mentions. City Of Thieves by David Benioff, Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden, Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson, The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides, and Carpe Jugulum by Terry Pratchett.

1. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. Jobs was a genius. Jobs was an artist. I promise everyone who reads the book becomes wiser.

The Real Moving Forward

Moving forward equals active. Moving forward is closing old chapters. Moving forward is opening new chapters. Life moves on. Strength, courage, intelligence, and wisdom are required.

A person is dying when he or she thinks more about the past than the present and future. There is no more looking ahead. Dying is looking back only. Dying is evaluating what a person has remaining good or bad. It can be knowledge. It can be memories. The person gives up. The person's game is over. The person rewatches old movies and relistens to old music too many times. The planning ahead stops. Making plans to watch the next TV series, play the next video game, or read the next comic book don't count. Make real plans getting up and doing something. Stay busy.

Update On A Past Blog

I wrote the blog My Generation X Sucks on Jun 20, 2025. I said the forgotten Gen X is the gunnie pigs in today's Information Age. Gen X made the mistakes to correct for the future generations.

I wrote two blogs the Greatest Generation doomed future generations including Gen X, Gen Y or Millennials, and Gen Z. The Baby Boomers generation is responsible for the doom, too. I listed unsolved problems in the blog The Greatest Human Generation Doomed Their Grandchildren And The Future Thereafter written on Jun 25, 2022. Some of the problems include loneliness, increase costs of living, and poor physical health. The answer is yes to the question Did The Greatest Human Generation Doom Their Grandchildren And Their Future? asked on Mar 14, 2019. The Greatest Generation and the Baby Boomers created today's life being too good. It's difficult for future generations to learn from our mistakes.

Shelter In-Place COVID-19 Blog July 2025

California issued shelter in-place orders on Tue Mar 17, 2020. I have been logging the highlights and lowlights. A cool month literally speaking. Temperatures were cooler. Most of the month was calm and cool for me. Maybe, the month was too cool in a negative way. However, positive numbers increased.

Thur Jul 3. Shopped at Target and Safeway.

Sat Jul 5. Shopped at Safeway.

Mon Jul 7. US Health And Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., US Food And Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, National Institutes Of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, and acting Director Of The US Center For Disease Control (CDC) Matthew Buzzelli are being sued for limiting access to the COVID-19 vaccine. The US medical associates, medical professionals, and scientists filed the lawsuit in US District Court in MA. The lawsuit stated Kennedy and the Trump administration acted "arbitrarily and capriciously" by changing the COVID-19 vaccine recommendations as unlawful. Kennedy said the COVID-19 vaccine is no longer recommended for pregnant people and healthy children on the CDC immunization schedule in May 2025.

Thur Jul 10. The Moderna Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine is approved by the FDA for children at increased risk from age six months to 11 years. Spikevax was previously approved for emergency use for pediatrics.

Fri Jul 11. The CDC reported COVID-19 cases increased in 25 states. The states were mostly in the southeast, south, and west coast. The entire US activity was low based on wastewater samples. However, last week was very low activity.

The CDC analysis concluded the virus surges two times a year. The surges happen from Jul to Sep and from Dec to Feb of the next year. The spike protein which binds to human cells undergoes a genetic change during the surges.

Sat Jul 19. Attended a used book sale at the West Valley Library.

Tue Jul 22. Watched the overtime game between England and Italy in the Union Of European Football Associates UEFA Women's Euro Cup semifinal at the 96th minute.

Thur Jul 24. Kaiser Hospital and lunch at L&L Hawaiian BBQ.

Sun Jul 27. Visited the State Street Market food hall.

Wed Jul 30. Kaiser Hospital. Shopped at Lucky.

I Dislike Going With The Flow

One of my top priorities is physical fitness. I take advantage of my long-term unemployed status to workout four days a week. Two days of jogging. Two days of lifting weights. I feel weak missing a week of workouts. I feel failure missing a week of workouts. I feel unhealthy. I falsely feel gaining weight. All of these feelings should be nothing. I have been sick in the past. I have been injured in the past. I eventually get back to health like professional athletes. There is nothing to worry about.

The week of Mon Jul 21, 2025 I hated going with the flow. Going with the flow reduced stress; on the other hand, stress increased missing physical workouts. Physical fitness decreases stress. The increase and decrease didn't cancel each other. There were events, instances, and circumstances beyond my control. My sister in-law and my nephew stayed overnight on Mon Jul 21. The household didn't have groceries. My brother, older nephew, and niece visited on Tue Jul 22. I cleaned the household on Wed Jul 23 to take advantage of the below average temperatures. I drove a family member to the hospital for multiple appointments on Thur Jul 24. I also experienced multiple stomach aches. The explanations were a poor breakfast and an inadequate lunch. My sister's dog stayed overnight on Fri Jul 25.

The entire week I adjusted my routines. I delayed routines. There were one-time priority tasks. The week of Mon Jul 21, 2025 was a crappy week. Acknowledge the crappy week. Everybody experiences crappy days. Everybody experiences crappy weeks. Nobody plans a crappy week. Unemployed people rarely experience crappy weeks due to fewer responsibilities and fewer obligations. Life happens. Move forward. Fighting the flow can be worse than going with the flow. Sleep well at the end of the day.

Update On A Past Blog

I convinced myself go with the flow on Mar 16, 2022 from the blog Consciously Aware My Mind Is Focused On The Flow. I wrote today's blog to reinforce go with the flow. There were no penalties, fines, and reprimands for the Mon Jul 21, 2025 week. Moreover, my right hip is sore for which I mentioned in the blog. Perhaps, no workout for the week may speed up the healing.

Getting Lost In A Hospital Is Good

I drove a family member to the hospital for multiple appointments. The minor medical concerns were the right knee and left pelvis or left hip area. The first appointment I dropped her off at the wrong building. She walked from one building to the second building. We ate a quick lunch between the first appointment and the second appointment. The second appointment I repeated my mistake. I dropped her off at the wrong building. She walked from the second building to the first building.

I corrected my mistakes. There was a new third appointment at the second building. We correctly walked to the room at the second building without getting lost.

The last time I visited the hospital helping family members were Feb 2018 and in 2013 for which I forgot the month. I also visited the hospital waiting in the parking lot either in 2021 or 2022 during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

There is a good reason getting lost in a hospital. Knowing nothing the rooms, pharmacies, cafeteria, emergency room, medical offices, exam rooms, and in-patient rooms locations imply I don't need hospital services. I do the best to minimize the chances of hospital services. The last time I needed hospital services I blogged the Top Ten Daily Changes After O'Connor Hospital on Oct 21, 2017. It was the first time I went to O'Connor Hospital. I was diagnosed with Acute Gallstone Pancreatitis requiring two surgeries in Apr 2017.

Okay Stupid Past

Stupid then. Not stupid now. Everyone made mistakes yesterday. Everyone makes mistakes today. Everyone makes mistakes tomorrow. There should be a life rule the fewer mistakes a person makes as the person gets older; however, a person learning a new skill is exempt because people learn new skills making mistakes regardless of age. Acquire the wisdom to stop the mistakes cycle. Don't make the same mistakes. Don't repeat mistakes. Life finds a way. Some people make the same mistakes two times, three times, or infinitely. Forget reasoning why. There are no logical answers. Some people never learn.

I'm fortunate I learn from my repeated mistakes. I'm unfortunate I'm still paying for the mistakes. Better late than never correcting my mistakes.

Pencils Are Good

I thought of a silly political movement. Bring back the pencil. There are too many people using pens. There are too many people writing with ink tools. I used a pencil from preschool to 12th grade. The only time I used a pen was English classes. I switched pencils and pens in college. I used pens throughout college. The only time I used a pencil was exams involving numbers including calculus, physics, and economics.

I want people use pencils more. I started using pencils more in Oct 2019. Sharpening your pencils is a positive. It forces people to take a break. Get up from the desk to move. There's something about pencils when people read their own notes in pencils. I can't put it into words. Rough beauty? Pens don't make writing beautiful. Handwriting make writing beautiful. Mechanical pencils are accepted.

Update On A Past Blog

Our past generations were correct regarding exercise and reading books. Prevent physical muscle loss by exercising. Prevent mental brain loss by reading. Exercising and reading are the best ways to maintain strength and intelligence. They maximize transition or application to other activities, functions, and responsibilities. Moreover, aerobic physical exercise benefits mental health, too. Aerobic exercise improves blood flow to the brain. Exercise and reading books can benefit emotional health such as positive behavior, spiritual health such as better sleep, and financial stability such as less time to spend on wasteful goods and services.

The above paragraph applies to three previous blogs on physical fitness and mental fitness. I said more people underestimate physical fitness from the blog More People Must Get Physical written on Oct 13, 2019. Exercise Your Body From Head To Toe Inside And Outside written on Jan 6, 2015 is about use it or lose it physically and mentally. Our bodies are meant to move and to think. The blog title Humans Have The Ability To Improve written on Nov 30, 2009 is self-explanatory for which we can change our physical abilities and mental abilities by exercising and reading.

Here are four blogs related to books for mental fitness. These are My Self-Help Books Recommendations written on Jun 28, 2020. My outdated Top Ten Favorite Books I Read I wrote on Oct 27, 2019 needs to be updated with more favorite books added. I said I prefer printed books which is number eight from the blog Top Ten Old School I wrote on Oct 16, 2019. The blog Read Books For Your Life on Oct 16, 2011 I regretted I didn't read books outside school during my childhood. I also said reading books keep the brain active.

Saturated And Flooded And Swamped Too Much Terrible

A common reason the video game arcades slowly died was the home consoles Atari, Intellivision, Nintendo, and Sega in the 1980s. Sony and the desktop PC continued the arcade death in the 1990s. Another reason was too many arcades. Arcade owners ordered more video game cabinets. Too many video arcade games led to more bad arcade games created people didn't play. Industry profits declined.

Today's Information Age is experiencing the same video game arcades history in the 1980s and 1990s. There are too many movies, television shows, podcasts, books, musicians, video games, board games, foods, drinks, and clothes. Also, there are too many YouTubers, Instagram accounts, bloggers, online tutorials for *insert subject*, TikTok influencers, online posts at bulletin boards, memes, and so-called professionals. Most are terrible.

Google arcade locations. There are arcades in existence. There are two websites which tracks arcades Aurcade and Classic Arcade Game Locations. Dave & Buster's is excluded.

Give it time. Time is the ultimate judge. The terrible fails. The terrible disappears. I'm confident the exceptions televisions, person computers, and radios don't die; on the other hand, never say never.

Update On A Past Blog

I wrote a blog to start a conversation blog Tell Me You Games on Dec 22, 2014. Another idea to begin conversations is share current events life changing moments. For example, natural disasters, politics, graduations, marriages, wars, championships, celebrity events, grand openings, and first times. It's a good idea to meet new people. Get people talking. Get people socializing.

A Garden

My dad and I assisted a family friend with routine garden maintenance. Mowed the lawn. Removed weeds. A lawn mower cut the grass. A weed wacker trimmed the grass edges. A metal rake, shovel, clippers, and loopers were tools to remove weeds. These tools existed at least a century. The front yard is maintained. The front yard is beautiful. Peace is created taking a break from today's Information Age. Effective time spent outdoors. The life lessons gardening are patience, take it one at a time, and breathe.

Top Ten Plus Three Equals Top Thirteen Random Historical Events I Wanted To Be Present

I randomly thought of ten plus three equals thirteen historical events I wanted to be present. I use a time machine to go back to the past. I could be present at the event or I could be present at a memorial location such as at a college student union, at work, at home watching TV, or vacationing. No changes in my body inside and outside. All knowledge remains with me.

13. San Diego Comic-Con 1998 (Aug 13-16, 1998). Sailor Moon creator Naoko Takeuchi made her first US appearance.

12. Governor Bill Clinton Visits San Jose State University (Fall Semester 1992). I was stupid. I went home during a presidential campaign rally. It could have been a lifelong memory participating in US history. Number 11 is a do-over. I blogged my mistake The 1992 Presidential Election Bill Clinton At San Jose State University on Oct 28, 2021.

11. President Richard Nixon Resigns (Aug 8, 1974). Nixon is the only US president to resign from office. Vice President Gerald Ford succeeded Nixon. The Watergate scandal was the reason for the resignation. Five men broke in the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Office building during the 1972 presidential election.

10. Star Wars VI: The Return Of The Jedi Opening Night (May 25, 1983). The third movie in the original Star Wars trilogy. Self-explanatory.

9. Korean Armistice Agreement In Panmunjom (Jul 27, 1953). The Korean War ended. A 4 kilometer or 2.5 mile wide demilitarized zone was established to separate North Korea and South Korea.

8. Japan Surrenders To The United States In World War II (Sep 2, 1945). The surrender was held on the USS Missouri. Japanese officials signed the Japanese Instrument Of Surrender.

7. The Dot-Com Stock Market Crash And Dot-Com Bubble Burst (Mar 2000). I worked in commercial real estate during the dot-com era. A senior executive broker told me a financial analyst on a radio told his listeners to sell everything when the NASDAQ closed at 5,048.62. A staff co-worker told me to "load up on Cisco" in 1999. The staff co-worker was correct. I could have made a fortune buying Cisco in 1999 and selling Cisco in 2000.

Number 7 is not necessarily a do-over; however, I could say I go back to 1997 when the stock market hit records numbers. I could have purchased stocks in 1997 and sold in 2000.

6. The Berlin Wall Fell (Nov 9, 1989). The Peaceful Revolution happened which led to the wall destruction and the fall of communism in Central Europe and Eastern Europe. Germany was reunified in Oct 1990.

5. Michael Jordan Wins His 6th NBA Championship (Jun 14, 1998). Jordan and the Chicago Bulls won a second three-peat NBA Finals Championship during the 1997-1998 NBA season.

4. The Catch. Joe Montana Game-Winning Touchdown To Dwight Clark (Jan 10, 1982). The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 28-27 at Candlestick Park at the 1981 NFC Championship Game during the 1981-1982 NFL season. The Catch symbolized the end of the Cowboys' domination and the start of the 49ers' domination in the 1980s.

The 49ers defeated the AFC Champions Cincinnati Bengals 26-21 in Super Bowl XVI.

3. Michael Jackson The Dangerous Tour in Bucharest, Romania (Oct 1, 1992). The concert took place at Bucharest National Stadium. 90,000 in attendance at the sold-out stadium.

2. The Beatles 1965 Tour in New York, New York (Aug 15, 1965). The concert at Shea Stadium was the first musical band at a major stadium concert in musical history.

1. Steve Jobs Debuts iPhone (Jan 9, 2007). A phone, a musical player, and internet access in one.

Shelter In-Place COVID-19 Blog June 2025

California issued shelter in-place orders on Tue Mar 17, 2020. I have been logging the highlights and lowlights. The residence didn't need to turn on the air conditioner. The temperatures were unseasonably cooler. I was out of the house many days. I wore my mask.

Mon Jun 2. Shopped at Macy's.

Thur Jun 5. Shopped at REI.

Fri Jun 6. Attended a family high school graduation.

Sun Jun 8. Ate lunch at Amakara restaurant.

Mon Jun 9. Shopped at Costco Business Center. Got gas at Chevron.

Secretary Of Health And Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. fired the entire 17 member Center For Disease Control (CDC) vaccine advisory panel Advisory Committee On Immunization Practices (ACIP). The secretary can remove and appoint members to advisory boards. There were conflicts of interest which included pro-vaccine and biotech companies making money off vaccines.

Wed Jun 11. Kennedy appointed eight new members to the ACIP. The ACIP was established in 1964. It reviews vaccine safety and efficacy. ACIP votes who receives vaccines. Their recommendations determine insurance coverage and physician recommendations. Kennedy promised to restore public trust for vaccines.

Mon Jun 16. COVID-19 cases increased in CA. The latest variant NB.1.8.1 is nicknamed Nimbus. The most known symptom is a painful sore throat feeling like razor blades. The feeling is the throat feels like razor blades moving inside or a person swallowing pieces of glass.

The CDC reported 37% cases from Nimbus. 38% cases from the variant LP.8.1. The case percentages were the two week period ending Jun 7, 2025. The California Department Of Public Health reported 55% cases from Nimbus. Wastewater tests indicated an increase in COVID-19 activity in many counties.

The World Health Organization (WHO) monitored the Nimbus variant. The global health risk was low.

Thur Jul 19. Shopped at Costco and The Home Depot.

I watched the WNBA basketball game Indiana Fever at Golden State Valkyries from the 5 minute mark in the fourth period.

Fri Jul 20. I watched the Boston Red Sox at San Francisco Giants from the bottom of the sixth inning.

Sun Jul 22. Ate lunch at The Olive Garden restaurant. I watched the second half of the NBA Finals Game 7 Indiana Pacers at Oklahoma City Thunder.

Wed Jul 25. Visited my dentist for a routine cleaning.

Thur Jul 26. Shopped at Lucky's.

Fri Jul 27. Shopped at Smart & Final and Lucky's.

The WHO released a report on the origins of COVID-19. The report concluded the COVID-19 global pandemic was caused by bats to through an intermediate host. All information to evaluate all possibilities are not available. All hypotheses must be considered. The WHO requested genetic sequences from people who tested positive with COVID-19 early in the pandemic, animals sold in Wuhan, and laboratory work and biosafety conditions at laboratories in Wuhan. China has not shared the information.

The Food And Drug Administration (FDA) expanded warning labels on the Pfizer vaccine and Moderna vaccine. Myocarditis is a rare heart inflammation. The warning labels list the risk of Myocarditis. The CDC concluded no increase in risk of Myocarditis.

Sat Jul 28. First back-to-back gym workouts. It was the first time since the pandemic started.

Update On A Past Blog

I blogged building a desktop PC at My Second Desktop PC And My Third Laptop written on Feb 24, 2020. Non gamers should build a low-end gaming desktop PC because the extra few dollars pays off with a more durable desktop. Here is updated information focusing on gaming desktops and gaming laptops.

A Central Processor Unit (CPU) processes instructions to run software programs. The process rate is faster with higher clock speed. A CPU is better with a higher number of cores. An Intel Core Ultra 7 or 9 is good for gamers. An AMD Ryzen 7 or 9 is good for gamers, too.

If the gamer has the money, the Random Access Memory (RAM) can be 32GB. RAM allows the motherboard to quickly store data and access data without going through the hard drives. The minimum and acceptable RAM is 16GB.

VRAM is Video Random Access Memory found in Graphics Processor Unit (GPU) or graphics card. A GPU is a dedicated hardware to display video, graphics, and pictures on a monitor. A GPU displays anything seen on a monitor. A GPU is better than the integrated GPU on the motherboard. A GPU is better with higher clock speed. NVIDIA GeForce RTX/GTX or AMD Radeon RX lines are suggested.

The refresh rate is the number of times per second a monitor displays a new image. The refresh rate is measured in hertz (Hz). 144Hz is high for many gamers.

A gaming laptop display should be matte instead of glossy to reduce glare.

Throwback Blog: 500

Blogger's Note: Throwback blogs are blogs from my past. I start posting past blogs reflecting what I wrote. It's like my "A Second Look" blogs for which I give myself feedback.

Today's throwback blog is titled 500 written on Aug 6, 2010. I wrote blog number 500. I didn't write a top 50 blogs. I reposted my top 30 blogs from 300 written on Dec 7, 2008. Today's blog is number 1,930.

I update my top 30 blogs. There are changes. Mistakes made. Lessons learned. My life changed. New knowledge. Intelligence expanded. Wisdom changed. Increased strength. Here are the top 30 blogs with updates in italics, strikethroughs, and my remarks noted with RM:

1. Never take anything and anyone for granted.
2. Trust my gut feeling.
3. My [earlier] daily top five rules for living: (1) Don't criticize, condemn, and complain, and don't compare with others. (2) Don't act like a jerk or bitch. (3) Always speak calmly and be calm. (4) Don't daydream when driving. (5) Keep your head up high . . . look at [their] cute face when talking. RM: Sometimes comparing with others is positive.
4. Continue to live life finding what you want to do.
5. Never judge a person by their appearance.
6. Remember to learn from [your] failures as well as your successes.
7. It takes patience to learn who a person is for long-term family, friend, business, and romantic relationships.
8. Do something else to take your mind off something you hate.
9. Meet new people and make new friends continuously.
10. It's OK to be alone.

11. You must earn what you want in life.
12. You are responsible for yourself.
13. Schools have summer vacations; life doesn't have summer vacations. Life has vacations. Life has seasons like sports and TV series. Fiscal years, resets, endings. Life can say one continuous life; however, there are chapters, volumes, parts, checkpoints. RM: Everyone needs a break. Everyone needs a vacation. Everyone needs days off.
14. Age is just a number. RM: Age is a factor in most situations.
15. Have courage to say goodbye to anything precious.
16. First years, first impressions, first go-around, and first successes are equally important as second years, second impressions, second go-around, and second successes.
17. Everyone has the right to find happiness. Pursue happiness to find happiness.
18. Be patient. Never rush.
19. Take life one day at a time. Have fun, learn, and enjoy. Increment.
20. If you talk the talk, you must stand by your talk.

21. Do something to receive something.
22. Money is a way to help people, create action, and show appreciation.
23. Fight the pain, the suffering, and the struggles to keep living.
24. Use your mind to see.
25. Time is the ultimate judge.
26. Live the present. Live the moment intelligently.
27. Wait 24 hours for goods or services less than $100 and 48 hours for greater than $100 to avoid the urge to splurge.
28. Do the little things and they add up in time.
29. Life is a marathon, not a sprint.
30. When you in a jam, go back to the basics. Go remind yourself the basics which is what I'm doing :D :D :D

Number 500! This blog is number 500 and the 5th anniversary for Innovating Common Knowledge. Good timing. I average 100 blogs every twelve months. That's too low. On the other hand, 100 is a good number because I spread my time writing blogs and many other activities. There are both sides to the discussion whether I spend too much or too little time writing blogs.

On my 300th blog, I shared my top 30 blogs. I choose to repost the top 30 blogs instead of creating a top 50 blogs. The reason is the lessons I learned and the wisdom I gained from my top 30 blogs applies to today's living--and tomorrow's living. They are powerful for me. The lessons and wisdoms are both old lessons such as life is a marathon, not a [sprint] and new lessons such as age is just a number. The timing is good for another review.

I continue to write blogs promoting change, improvement, and innovation. I continue to write blogs to open myself up and to experiment what I can and what I can't do. The Sign Of My Times (SOMT) and Accutane blogs continue as I reflect how life is changed now and when I was a child and my acne treatment, respectively.

Here is the summary of my top 30 blogs:

1. Never take anything and anyone for granted.
2. Trust my gut feeling.
3. My [latest] daily top five rules for living: (1) Don't criticize, condemn, and complain, and don't compare with others. (2) Don't act like a jerk or bitch. (3) Always speak calmly and be calm. (4) Don't daydream when driving. (5) Keep your head up high . . . look at the cute face when talking.
4. Continue to live life finding what you want to do.
5. Never judge a person by their appearance.
6. Remember to learn from you failures as well as your successes.
7. It takes patience to learn who a person is for long-term family, friend, business, and romantic relationships.
8. Do something else to take your mind off something you hate.
9. Meet new people and make new friends continuously.
10. It's OK to be alone.

11. You must earn what you want in life.
12. You are responsible for yourself.
13. Schools have summer vacations; life doesn't have summer vacations.
14. Age is just a number.
15. Have courage to say goodbye to anything precious.
16. First years, first impressions, first go-around, and first successes are equally important as second years, second impressions, second go-around, and second successes.
17. Everyone has the right to find happiness.
18. Be patient. Never rush.
19. Take life one day at a time. Have fun, learn, and enjoy.
20. If you talk the talk, you must stand by your talk.

21. Do something to receive something.
22. Money is a way to help people, create action, and show appreciation.
23. Fight the pain, the suffering, and the struggles to keep living.
24. Use your mind to see.
25. Time is the ultimate judge.
26. Live the present. Live the moment.
27. Wait 24 hours for goods or services less than $100 and 48 hours for greater than $100 to avoid the urge to splurge.
28. Do the little things and they add up in time.
29. Life is a marathon, not a sprint.
30. When you in a jam, go back to the basics. Go remind yourself the basics which is what I'm doing :D :D :D

My first blog was posted on Thur Aug 4, 2005. The 300th blog was posted on Sun Dec 7, 2008. Click 300 to read the entire 300th blog detailing the top blogs.

Down And Out Both Are Never Permanent

Blogger's note: Today's blog is posted at both Innovating Common Knowledge and Finding Raymond Mar.

I connect the dots from yesterday to today. The following moments were down and out. There were no permanent downs and outs. The following moments could be a catastrophe. Disasters were prevented. The following moments could be negative life changes. I'm fortunate these negative life changes were temporary. The following moments were potential failures. Failures became satisfactory successes. Life found a way to bounce me back up. The system worked at the end of the day. Destiny, intuition, karma, going with the flow, divine intervention, whatever. A bad luck moment was countered with a good luck moment plus more goodness.

Faith, good luck, and/or good choices saved me from a permanent down and out. Many of these moments were luck. Few of these moments were good decisions. I needed help from family, co-workers, and friends. All assistances were appreciated. Here are the moments from oldest to newest. I categorized the moments good luck or good decision. I want to tell the story. Some of these moments connect.

*Changed Majors (Fall Semester 1995). Good decision. I changed majors from Mathematics to Economics as an undergraduate at San Jose State University. The preparing, volunteering, reading, and the guidance to become a high school math teacher were falling apart. I couldn't pass my math classes. I lost my desire.

One could say the change in majors were killing two birds with one stone. The first was switching majors my grade point average went up every semester thereafter. The second was I'm not teaching in high school today. I graduated with a Bachelors Of Science in Economics and a minor in Mathematics. I didn't waste my lower division math classes.

*First Job (Jul 1998). Good luck. It took me six months to find my first job after graduating at San Jose State University. I was a Research Analyst in a commercial real estate company. My parents pressured me to find a job naturally. I thought about going back to San Jose State University to earn a master's degree.

*Second Job (Feb 1999). Good luck. The manager who hired me at my first job hired me for my second job. Same job title in the same industry. I was a Research Analyst in commercial real estate. The second company was better than the first company. A total of five employees quit from my first company to work at the second company. Moreover, the second company saved me from the first company because I thought about quitting the first company.

*My Second Boss Was Fired (Sep 2002). Good luck. My first boss who hired me at my first job and my second job moved to Australia. My second boss was nothing. Officially, she found another job. Unofficially, she was fired.

I warned the office manager she was ineffective. I waited two years for her release.

*Full Metal Alchemist Midnight Marathon (May 2004). Good decision. A Fanime Con 2004 anime convention event was a midnight marathon showing the anime series Full Metal Alchemist. I watched 17 episodes from midnight to 7am. I stayed awake. The end of episode eight I said, "I'm going to cosplay Edward Elric." Edward Elric was the main character. I thank my mom for making my Edward Elric cosplay.

I contemplated retiring from anime for the remainder of 2004 because I talked to a friend much younger than me. He retired from anime. Watching the marathon delayed my retirement for nine years and four months. I officially retired in Sep 2013.

*Third Job (Mar 2007). Good luck. The second company started going downhill in late 2006. People began quitting. My third job was my first tech job. The company was the largest employer in San Jose, CA. I belong working in the tech industry.

*Grow Up (Oct 2008). Good decision. I remember the day for the rest of my life. I was lost in Aug-Sep 2008. I was weak. I realized I must grow up. My life changed forever. The life changes were immediate. I built a new Gaming PC, I started to read fiction books, I wore new clothes, I purchased my first fine watch, and I slept on a new mattress. I found new hobbies which included hiking, ballroom dancing, and listening to classic jazz. I started following new gym workout plans.

I include going back to school earning an Associate Of Arts degree in Accounting at De Anza College and vacationing in the state of Washington and visiting Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

*First Job In A Start Up (Nov 2013). Good luck. I was a data entry and bookkeeper in a retail start up selling high end beer, wine, and sake at a discount price. Timing was good because I needed a distraction.

*Another Tech Job (Nov 2014). Good luck. My contract job at the start up company was satisfied. I found another contract job supporting an engineer at a networking server company.

*O'Connor Hospital (Apr 2017). Good decision and good luck. I experienced stomach pains since Mar 2017. The pain was too severe. My parents took me to the emergency room. The wait time was minimal. I was admitted as an in-patient requiring two surgeries. The hospital was not busy. The hospital was quiet. I was the only patient in a double occupancy room for three out of the four nights. The first surgery was Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio Pancreatography which removed gallstones. The second surgery was Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy which removed my gallbladder. The doctors diagnosed me with Acute Gallstone Pancreatitis.

The moment was the first time I was an in-patient and first time doctors performed surgery.

*Safe At Home Plate, 50 Years Old At The Age Of 45, or Self Trained Genius (Aug-Sep 2019). Good luck. I can't choose a title for the Aug-Sep 2019 moment. I include any of the three. Choose any one.

I began hiking again devoting one day per month. I hiked the Montara Mountain Trail in Pacifica, CA for the first time on Labor Day weekend. I started to read Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. I watched The Shawshank Redemption for the first time. My soul was saved. I became a genuine adult at the age of 45. I began training to become a self trained genius.

A Song And A Genius On The Uncontrolled Life

Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you; When you think everything's okay and everything's going right; And life has a funny way of helping you out when; You think everything's gone wrong and everything blows up; In your face. --Ironic, Alanis Morissette

You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something--your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life. --Steve Jobs

Update On A Past Blog

The Top Ten Saves blog written on Apr 25, 2020 mentioned four moments from above: my second boss was fired at number ten, number seven mentioned The Shawshank Redemption, number four was the Fanime Con 2004 Full Metal Alchemist midnight marathon, number two was O'Connor Hospital, and number one was growing up.

Three high school saves happened in my sophomore year. I took Geometry after my sophomore year in summer school to take Algebra II in my junior year. I played chess during the lunch hour. I played softball in Physical Education.

Another moment in Fall Semester 1995 which was a save. A shoutout to my Physics 61 laboratory partner who majored in General Engineering. He saved my ass.

Wisest Metaphors Sample Language

Memorize and practice these top wisdom metaphors to communicate your high intelligence or your strong opinion.

Okay, Dr. *fill in the blank* . . . . For example, "Explain more, Dr. Horrible." Another example is "Now that you started the conversation, Dr. Know-It-All, enlighten us with your intelligence."

An alternative is Okay, professor *fill in the blank*, what's the solution?

Everyone wears sunscreen.

My answer is a two part answer. Or three part. Or four part. Or five part.

It's rough *fill in the blank*. Examples are rough justice, rough love, and rough parenting.

I'm happy to be the last person to admit *fill in the blank*. I'm happy to be the last person to believe *fill in the blank*. I'm happy to be the last person to see *fill in the blank*.

It's a cry for justice. And it's a cry for help.

There is no bombshell. We already know it.

If *fill in the blank* is the final choice, then *insert person's name* is crazy.

I don't have a strong view. Or I don't have a weak view.

I'm proud to say I have no idea.

The coach must win five times in four games. These are the ridiculous expectations.

When the first silo opens, . . . .

1 + 1 = 6. It's the wrong thinking.

The only person to convince *person's name* to change his mind is *person's name*.

I'm not ducking the question. I'm not dodging the question. I'm not ignoring the question. I don't want to communicate an unexpected answer. . . . I answer the question. You're not going to like it.

It's a two horse race.

Get the big fish. Get the giant marlin.

Don't expect the pony under the Christmas tree. Accept the train set.

Are you talking about the hype or the merit?

Congratulations! Take your victory lap.

You're at Wendy's. Your order a number one Big Mac. The Wendy's cashier says, "Sir, this is a Wendy's." In other words, the restaurant doesn't serve that kind of food.

None of these candidates.

Don't be a stranger.

Do they error on the side of omission or on the side of commission?

You have a mold of clay or a block of clay. Create something your way. Make something to satisfy your desire.

You're fitting a square peg on a round hole. Good luck.

It's interpreted differently coming from you.

They don't understand you. You might as well speak alien.

Somebody went to bed to close the deal.

If you don't like what happening, then change the system.

There is not enough pie for everyone.

It's a fair question.

We are succeeding. The turnaround is happening. The plane with *insert person's name* goes down to maintain success.

If you end the friendship, then don't call me to help you change your car's tire.

Where is it located? Timbuctoo.

What's worst? *fill in the blank* or being lost in the woods?

Person 1: I'm not looking for a fight.
Person 2: I'm not looking for a fight, either.

I screwed up. I wasn't wrong.

It's a dumpster fire.
Name a dumpster after me. That's how people remember me.

A rising tide raises all boats.

Tell me the difference between stupid and illegal.

You made your bed. You sleep on it.

99% of people are expendable. Are you a Michael Jordan, Michael Jackson, Meryl Streep, or Tom Brady of *insert group*? No. Then you're expendable.

The hammer costs $1,000. $100 for the hammer tool. $900 on using the hammer properly.

Don't take pride being second on a one horse race.

You're cooking a steak. Don't savor on the sizzle. Savor on the steak.

The person changed everything making chicken salad out of chicken shit.