Dear Classmates

Must be a rerun. Found it cleaning out my files, too old to be AI, but could still be a fake.

Dear classmates of 1957. Erma Bombeck, one of my favorite writers, said this when she found out she was dying of cancer. We’ve made it this far—near or at 80, so enjoy the ride!

If I had my life to live over, by Erma Bombeck

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.” There would have been more “I love you’s” and more “I’m sorry’s.”

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute, look at it and really see it…live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!

Don’t worry about who doesn’t like you, who has more, or who’s doing what. Instead, let’s cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.

Are we doomed or is this just another Fauci psyop?

Have you seen the guy with round glasses who looks like a 20-year-old with a doomsday message about AI? I saw him interviewed on Fox, but I think all the networks had a version, plus WSJ. Although he had no reputation, almost no job history, no social media presence and no one knew who put him up to it, this "Whistle blower" suddenly had about 100 million fans. views, interviews and overnight became more popular than Dr. Fauci. So, I used AI to look him up based by my description. 

"Jacob Coxon, a 27‑year‑old former researcher at Anthropic and OpenAI Gizmodo."

 
There are several doomer psyop groups and if you use the old term "follow the money" you'll find Bernie--maybe--or according to Mr, Coxon it's too late and the beings will just kill all of you because they are reproducing themselves.

This morning I listened to the Friday edition of All-In, and here's how Friedberg summed up how fear of risk and the "new" are built into our beings:

"Friedberg supplies the historical pattern that makes the panel skeptical of the doomer framing generally. Al Gore's documentary An Inconvenient Truth leaned on IPCC forecasts that have since proven overstated (15:45). Public health officials predicted COVID would require total lockdown, with consequences that included the inflation and debt spiral that followed (16:12). After the Three Mile Island accident, the United States effectively stopped building nuclear plants, and the price shows it: producing one gigawatt of nuclear power costs about $15 billion in the US today, versus roughly $1 billion in China (16:36). Each case, Friedberg argues, followed the same shape: an unprovable existential claim, amplified until it became the default social assumption, used to justify centralizing control in the hands of whoever raised the alarm.

"The US will be the tribe in the Amazon that has never seen civilization. 'Cause civilization will evolve all around us." - David Friedberg [20:36]

This summary leaves out a lot, but here is a full podcast https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=cvxjqbfLVk0 If I know anything about technology above e-mail, it's these guys.

I wonder where they find their titles

 Ohio Poetry Association.  

Founded in Columbus in 1929, the Ohio Poetry Association serves poets and those who appreciate poetry at all levels. We provide a variety of programs and other opportunities for developing and professional poets.  Ohio Poetry Association | Facebook

Ohio Poetry Journals & Presses

Looking to submit your work or read the work of another poet? Explore these Ohio poetry publishers.

Antioch Review
Ashland Poetry Press
Bottom Dog Press
Cleveland State University Press
Crisis Chronicles Press
deep cleveland press
Dos Madres Press
Full/Crescent Press
Kattywompus Press
Kenyon Review
Mid-American Review
NightBallet Press
Oberlin College Press
Ohio State University Press
Ohio University Press & Swallow Press
The Orchard Street Press
The Poet's Haven
Slippery Elm
University of Akron Press
Writing Knights Press

You can also explore Ohio's book publishers on the Ohio Center for the Book website here.

Affordability--it's a Democrat hoax

Affordability.

I'm really sick of that word. In 2022 inflation was 8%; today it's 3.36% even with the war in the middle east, it is lower in the Trump administration. All week-end the news has reported on the huge crowds traveling--despite high costs. Duh. So, affordability is OK, because prices aren't keeping people home to picnic in the neighborhood park, right?

In 1962 we bought our first house which we (Bob converted to a duplex) bought for $14,000. The government CPI says $14,000 would now be $140,840, about the same for a low income neighborhood in that town that we paid. 1,000% inflation, so I think only the government creates inflation. Fauci fooled both Trump and Biden and messed up the entire country. And from what I hear among Democrats, some of them still believe Fauci and think we are still virtuous for importing illegals to take jobs from Americas. .

Canadian retirement woes

At least he's not blaming it on Trump--the fact he can't afford to retire. Bruce Grierson is a Canadian free lance writer--which has never been a secure, stable job. Affordability. I'm starting to hate that word. I'm not gloating, but I gave up a lot when I was younger so I would have enough to live on when I couldn't support myself.

But I did talk to one of my neighbors this morning at our independent living residence and complained that I was having a problem with the double verification code with my OSU e-mail password, and would you believe my friend blamed President Trump? And he was serious! His reasoning was that if Trump could rename Lake Ontario then he had messed with my e-mail login. And it's a shame too. He's such a nice guy other than that ugly Trump derangement syndrome.

https://macleans.ca/longforms/retirement-is-dead/

UALC is 70 years old and we've been there 52 years

 

We raised our hands by decade this past Sunday in worship at Lytham Road UALC. So, I'll repeat the letter from Pastor Joe Valentino (Lytham Road campus) that came in my e-mail, August 27, 2026. I'm pretty sure that Helen sitting in the pew in front of me raised her hand for 70--she's 100+. We began attending in 1974 and joined in 1976--and the next day Bob lost his job.

"This fall, UALC celebrates 70 years of life together, faithful service, and care for our community.

In July 1956, a group of men and women came together with a shared hope: to build a community rooted in faith, shaped by grace, and centered on the truth that Jesus is enough. What began as a small Lutheran congregation serving Upper Arlington has grown into a community that reaches across northwest Columbus and supports God’s work far beyond our local neighborhoods.

As we celebrate this milestone, we remember that UALC is more than an organization or a building. UALC is people: families, friends, volunteers, staff, longtime members, new faces, and neighbors who bring their gifts, time, and care to something larger than themselves. By God’s grace, we are part of his ongoing work. UALC is you.

Throughout these 70 years, God has brought together people with many different gifts, skills, and talents. He has grown our faith, knit us together as one body, and used this congregation to draw people to himself.

God is at work in our community, and he has chosen each of us to be part of what he is doing. As we look back with gratitude on the past 70 years, let us ask him to continue using UALC for his glory and for the good of our neighbors."

Lake Ontario

President Trump amazes me with the ways he tweaks the noses of both his Democrat Party challengers and our global trading partners. Like renaming Lake Ontario. For decades our woke and DEI advocates have been changing names of schools, sports teams, even pronouns and biological functions (like "chest feeding") to promote their philosophies. They've demanded we call Fred Frederica or lose our jobs. Well, he's a patriot, Has been as long as I can remember. TV -- I remember seeing him on the Oprah show when he was just a Democrat celebrity--maybe 40 years ago.

 
https://youtu.be/bFrpsx3r--Q?si=dYjeUX7-ECU8FIYX

Donald Trump's wardrobe hasn't changed, his beliefs about other countries "Ripping us off" haven't changed but look at that audience. 40 years later we all look like we're dressed for a circus or working in the garden.

Our poetry group at The Estates

We use AI a lot more than we think, but my most recent "event" was asking it, "How to start a poetry group at a senior living facility." We're ready for our 3rd meeting. Got some good stuff going.

https://www.statista.com/chart/35426/how-americans-want-ai-to-support-them/?