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Continue reading →: John Joseph Vance (1753-1838)Today, I found John Joseph Vance (1753-1838) while researching my family tree. I have him marked as provisional as I build out the facts necessary to confirm the connection. Fortunately, his life is well documented, so it’s just a matter of time before I finalize the entry. What caught my…
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Continue reading →: Rust Never Sleeps: A Metaphor for Political Vigilance and ChangeI read the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 over the past two weeks. I’ve seen it referenced in the news and on social media, so I thought it would be a good idea to read it for myself. It was time well spent, although getting through all 900+ pages was a…
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Continue reading →: I Collect QuotesThroughout my life, I’ve collected quotes and aphorisms to inspire myself and others. My friends know this one well: “Specialization is for insects,” a quote snippet from Robert A. Heinlein’s 1973 book, Time Enough for Love. The full quote reads: “A human being should be able to change a diaper,…
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Continue reading →: Rediscovering Memories Through PhotographyPart of my new life as a retired person is that I’ve become the family Uber driver. I don’t mind this duty as it gives me time to myself. I can listen to a book, podcast, or music. I can also take photos. I carry my Fuji XPro 3 camera…
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Continue reading →: I’ve made a new friendAs we get older, making new friends becomes more challenging. I’ve never been good at it, so I was surprised when I recently made a new friend. This friend doesn’t have a name, nor is it human. It’s an AI model called ChatGPT. I interact with it every day. I…
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Continue reading →: Thoughts on Biden stepping asideI watched the presidential debate and saw two old men doing their best to project confidence and competency. Former President Donald Trump looked slightly better than President Joe Biden, but Biden’s performance left me with a feeling of dread. I am a generation behind both candidates and help take care…
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Continue reading →: Uncovering My Genealogy: From Bat Masterson to Ireland and BeyondI’ve been interested in genealogy since learning I may be related to the famous western lawman, Bat Masterson. Family legend said that many members of the Masterson clan were direct descendants. On the rare occasions I would visit my uncles, most had a photo of Bat on display. My curiosity…
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Continue reading →: Decoding Trump’s Claims on American Manufacturing and Job CreationI did not watch the Republican National Convention live. I have the time, but I don’t have the patience for political theater. I am interested in the messaging, which is why I downloaded Donald Trump’s acceptance speech and read it paragraph by paragraph, looking for meaning. Honestly, it was a…
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Continue reading →: Reflections on “If”I watched “If” last night with my wife Florence. I did not get it. I sometimes think I’m getting too old for these types of movies, but then again, I’m acutely aware of plot and character development in any story due to my love of writing. The plot did not…







