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  • Know Thyself #111

    Know Thyself through your favorite book

    My favorite book is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I love what this book stood for, the intent and purpose behind its inception, the method and process of its production, its indelible morale, and the beauty of the words.

    When describing Scrooge’s public persona, Dickens writes:

    “Nobody ever stopped him in the street to say, with gladsome looks, ‘My dear Scrooge, how are you? When will you come to see me?’ No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle, no children asked him what it was o’clock, no man or woman ever once in all his life inquired the way to such and such a place, of Scrooge….

    But what did Scrooge care? it was the very thing he liked. to edge his way along the crowded paths of life, warning all human sympathy to keep its distance…”

    When describing Scrooge’s house, Dickens writes:

    “They were a gloomy suite of rooms, in a lowering pile of building up a yard, where it had so little business to be, that one could scarcely help fancying it must have run there when it twas a young house, playing at hide-and-seek with other houses, and have forgotten the way out again.”

    I read the book at least once around this time of year and I believe I have watched all movie versions.

    Like all cherished books, I like and dislike certain aspects of many of the movie versions. There are reasons why they are cherished, retain those and you are fine.

    I do not require the plot to stay faithful to Dickens’, just as long as the message remains true, in fact, Scrooged with Bill Murray is one of my favorites. All the essence is kept yet almost all the details were altered, consistently, and therefore, okay by me.

    What I do not like is when a version is set in the 1840’s and while attempting to remain ‘true’ to the book, disregard important points or dialogue, and worst of all, changes or adds seemingly unnecessary details. Now I understand a movie can’t be verbatim and therefore there are aspects I believe the storyline can afford to strikethrough, for example:

    • The Lord Mayor’s holiday goings-on
    • Scrooge remembering being alone at school over the Christmas holidays where books were his only company with their characters visiting him, specifically; Ali Baba, Valentine, his wild brother, Orson, and the Sultan’s Groom.
    • Going around the world with the Ghost of Christmas Present including: a mine, a ship, and a lighthouse.
    • The scene where you see Belle, her husband, and a gaggle of children meant to have Scrooge regret the family he could have had.
    • The scene where the debtors who won’t be ruined, are the only people cheered by the death of the man shown to Scrooge by the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.

    But what I viscerally do not like are when details of this perfect story are changed for no apparent reason. If it ain’t broke…. examples of frequent offenders:

    • Scrooge does NOT fire Cratchit on Christmas Eve.
    • Dickens’ character’s names are the best….why change them….why? His younger sister’s name was Fan, or Fanny. His fiancee’s name was Belle, and Scrooge’s nephew’s wife is referred to as ‘his niece’ and never named.
    • Scrooge did NOT meet, nor dance with his future fiancee at Fezziwig’s Christmas celebration. He and the other apprentice were most likely between 12 and 14 years old and after the Christmas ball were physically small enough to retire to their ‘beds under the back counter’ in the office/warehouse.
    • No one in the story ‘went down the slide on Cornhill’ but Bob Cratchit, who did so apparently 20 times.
    • Jacob Marley announces Scrooge will be visited by three ghosts at 1am, 1am the next night, and at the stroke of midnight the night following. Hence Scrooge’s surprise when he wakes on Christmas morning and not three days later.
    • Scrooge doe NOT take over Fezziwig’s business later in his life.
    • Scrooge’s sister, who is younger and named Fan, does NOT die in childbirth nor in her dying breathe does she ask her brother to take care of her son, which he may or may not have heard.
    • There is ZERO hint of a future romantic relationship between Scrooge and his cleaning lady, Mrs. Dilbert.
    • Scrooge does NOT go to Bob Cratchit’s house ever without a Ghost by his side.

    Honor the Dickens. When a story has remained relevant for over 180 years, never going out of print, then, in my opinion, the new story teller should change all of it or none of it. I don’t care who you are, you are no Dickens. He didn’t miss anything so don’t add.… more “Know Thyself #111”

  • WIBCI Post #110

    WIBCI you knew Where’s your line in the sand was?

    Dickens is my hero. I love the character of his characters and I love how his stories changed the world. I love the beauty of his words, how people thought about them and allowed them to make them better people. Art that was entertainment, not filler for billionaire’s advertisements. Literature that was produced to improve all, not profit few.

    Dickens as a person, like most geniuses, was flawed. He was not a good husband, nor a good businessman, and rather arrogant.

    But, he is still my hero. His books forced people to consider lower classes and feel the burn of shame and responsibility to help. Most books prior to Oliver Twist, were written by the rich, about the rich, for the rich.

    Dickens changed social justice, so he remains my hero, warts and all.

    But I do have a line. I do not shop at Walmaht, I do not eat veal, I’m unsure about Woody, and 100% sure I cannot stomach the fact that Dr. Hux is televised daily and making royalty checks after destroying so many lives. But that is my line, y’all can do what you want.

    Where’s YOUR line?… more “WIBCI Post #110”

  • Know Thyself #110

    Know Thyself through Rob Reiner and the joy he gave us.

    His movies truly added to my life. There are phrases that have become a part of my vocabulary because of this amazing actor, director, and human.

    In This is Spinal Tap, Nigel Tufnel, the simple guitarist of the band is considering a sample of their new, all black album cover (which is supposed to be as classy as the Beatles White Album but completely misses the mark). After contemplating and also missing the irony, he says, ‘It’s like, how much more black could this be? and the answer is none. None more black.’  None more black comes into play in my real life whenever confronted with something that couldn’t be more like itself than it already is.

    In Princess Bride, Inigo Montoya is continuously saying ‘I don’t think that word means what you think it means.‘ This is useful in today’s world when words are bastardized like ‘Literal’.

    and in When Harry Met Sally, in a museum Harry says; ‘I think hieroglyphics were a comic strip about a character named Spyinxy‘, well that’s just fun.

    Please Rest in Peace Mr. and Mrs. Reiner. I’m so sorry someone who brought us so much joy experienced last moments of fear.

    That doesn’t seem fair.… more “Know Thyself #110”

  • WIBCI Post #109

    WIBCI Football were free?

    Wouldn’t It Be Cool If all people with a television could watch football games without additional subscriptions? These are ‘public’ events correct?… more “WIBCI Post #109”

  • Know Thyself #109

    Know Thyself through Quotes, YOURS:

    After reflecting on the many dystopian novels I have written, I’ve noticed a common thread. Evil takes away those things that make the population at large think. Individual thought is the most dangerous idea to the status quo, its downfall normally comes when likeminded individuals think about, and act upon a common goal. This is what needs to be destroyed by evil forces in all dystopian novels and movies.

    The first thing removed are books. These are the most corrupting of vices among humans. Next is art and anything construed as beautiful and thought-provoking. Next crush all individuality, distract, and above all else, do not allow them to learn.

    I like quotes because quotes represent that someone thought about a subject and summed up their thoughts in a quick muse bouche bite.

    Good are those who are interested in expanding horizons; they want to see what you are capable of.

    Evil are those who wish to control or contract horizons; they fear you will see what they are capable of.

    -me

     … more “Know Thyself #109”

  • WIBCI Post #108

    WIBCI people did rest in peace?

    I was thinking about this and wondered if I knew anyone personally throughout by lifetime who died of ‘Natural Causes’? Now to me ‘Natural Causes’ would include a death where zero humans mourning would say such things as ‘Far too young….’, ‘A complete shock’, or ‘came about so quickly’.

    Wikipedia defines Natural Causes as a death occurring from internal factors instead of external. Per this definition Cancer is a natural death but dying in a flood is not. I do not define Cancer as a natural cause, to me this disease and many others are caused by the external, not the internal.

    To me dying of Natural causes is when your body is all set and just drifts off, this is peaceful, this is what I want.… more “WIBCI Post #108”

  • Know Thyself #108

    Know Thyself through WHAT YOU WOULD ‘TAKE’ WITH YOU

    What if you COULD take one thing with you?

    Just one thing.

    What would YOURs be?

    I bet it wouldn’t be money, or making it, or spending it.

     

    Mine would be the memories of moments I paid attention to. If this wish were to come true, I would pay even more attention to my real life and build up the bank.

    Maybe I will regardless.… more “Know Thyself #108”

  • WIBCI Post #107

    WIBCI we really knew what we were saying and understood what we were hearing?

    I do not like when I hear words I don’t understand or phrases, like idioms, where I know the gist but have zero idea where the word came from. Then there are the words I took for granted, where the origin never occurred to me.

    Examples:

    1. In reference to the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolution from the British POV, it was referred to as a Pyrrhic Victory. Never hearing that word before, I looked it up, per Wikipedia:A Pyrrhic victory (/ˈpɪrɪk/ PIRR-ik) is a victory gained at such a cost to the victor that it is tantamount to defeat.[1]

      The phrase references a statement attributed to Pyrrhus of Epirus. After his victory against the Romans in the Battle of Asculum in 279 BC, Plutarch reports that Pyrrhus exclaimed “One more victory over the Romans and we are completely done for!”

    2. Spill the Beans synonymous with revealing a secret meant to be kept, this I knew, what I didn’t know I learned from: www.phrases.org.uk:  The derivation of this expression is sometimes said to be a voting system used in ancient Greece. The story goes that white beans indicated positive votes and black beans negative. Votes had to be unanimous, so if the collector ‘spilled the beans’ before the vote was complete and a black bean was seen, the vote was halted.

    3. As Rich as Croesus: I knew it was a historical figure who had coin, I didn’t know he is meant to be a cautionary tale. Here’s what worldhistory.org had to say about it:Croesus (r. 560-546 BCE) was the King of Lydia, a region in western Asia Mnor (modern-day Turkey) and was so wealthy that the expression “as rich as Croesus” originates in reference to him. Best known for his wealth, he is also famous for misinterpreting the message from the Oracle at Delphi, leading to his downfall.

      His wealth, it is said, came from the sands of the River Pactolus in which the legendary King Midas washed his hands to rid himself of the Midas Touch (which turned everything he touched into gold) and in so doing, the legend says, made the sands of the river rich with gold. The Lydians, during the reign of Croesus’ father Alyattes (r.c. 635-585 BCE), were the first people to mint coins in the world (the Lydian stater, initially made of electrum) while Croesus later minted coins of gold and also funded construction of the great Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, further associating him with money and seemingly unlimited wealth.

      CROESUS WAS AN ACTUAL HISTORICAL KING WHO RULED FROM THE CITY OF SARDIS.

      After conquering the cities of Aeolis, Doris, and Ionia, Croesus would not have needed a magical gold river to enrich himself as he received tribute from all of them as well as from Phrygia. Much of the information on his reign comes from the historian Herodotus (l. c. 484-425/413 BCE) who claims he consulted with the sage Solon (l. c. 640 – c. 560 BCE) who warned him against the sin of pride in thinking too highly of himself, advice he ignored, and that his fall was due to a misinterpretation of the message from the Oracle at Delphi concerning making war against the Persian Achaemenid Empire. He is also said to have had the Pre-Socratic Philosopher Thales of Miletus (l. c. 585 BCE) as an engineer in his army who helped divert the Halys River during the military campaign against the Persians, though his association with the philosopher seems to have done Croesus no more good than his consultation with Solon.

      Although some historians have claimed that Croesus was largely a legendary figure, his signature at the base of one of the columns of the Temple of Artemis (now on display at the British Museum) is evidence that he was an actual historical king who ruled from the city of Sardis. He is frequently referenced in the present day in regard to vast wealth but his story also serves as a cautionary tale (as it did in antiquity) regarding pride and the risks inherent in the interpretation of signs, omens, and messages from the Divine.

    The more you know, the more you see. – Aldous Huxley… more “WIBCI Post #107”

  • Know Thyself #107

    Know Thyself through LYRICS:

    “On The Turning Away” is a song from Pink Floyd’s 1987 album, A Momentary Lapse of Reason, and was written by David Gilmore and Anthony Moore

    On the turning away
    From the pale and downtrodden
    And the words they say
    Which we won’t understand
    “Don’t accept that what’s happening
    Is just a case of others’ suffering
    Or you’ll find that you’re joining in
    The turning away”It’s a sin that somehow
    Light is changing to shadow
    And casting its shroud
    Over all we have known
    Unaware how the ranks have grown
    Driven on by a heart of stone
    We could find that we’re all alone
    In the dream of the proudOn the wings of the night
    As the daytime is stirring
    Where the speechless unite
    In a silent accord
    Using words you will find are strange
    Mesmerized as they light the flame
    Feel the new wind of change
    On the wings of the night

    No more turning away
    From the weak and the weary
    No more turning away
    From the coldness inside
    Just a world that we all must share
    It’s not enough just to stand and stare
    Is it only a dream that there’ll be
    No more turning away?

    What does this mean to YOU? What do YOU think ‘Turning Away’ means? Who do YOU think are today’s ‘weak and weary’?
    This song was on Pink Floyd’s 1987 album Momentary Lapse of Reason and Wikipedia describes it as: The song has often been described as a protest song and is one of the more political tracks Pink Floyd released after the departure of Roger Waters.
    Where are OUR protest songs? You know those present day songs about angst voiced through poets and musicians for the masses? Best we could use some…..

     … more “Know Thyself #107”

  • WIBCI Post #106

    WIBCI we thought about deskilling?

    This is a new-to-me term that I’ve come across.

    Wikipedia defines it as: a byproduct of technological advancements, generally driven by production innovation, can first be examined during the Industrial Revolution in late 18th century England. On the other hand, skilling is also seen as a direct consequence of technological advancement, whereby workers have the opportunity to adopt new operational knowledge through upskilling.

    Although this page was recently updated, this type of ‘deskilling’ is not the one that we, apparently, should be discussing. The deskilling that would be good for us to consider aren’t the skills lost to technological advancement, they are the skills lost through lack of practice. Your brain truly is a muscle, if you don’t use it, it will atrophy. You can see it from acronyms and spell-check to the worst thing ever to happen to human brains….AI. The following article explains this in more depth with some pretty alarming articles in case you need to be scared straight:

    The fretting has swelled from a murmur to a clamor, all variations on the same foreboding theme: “Your Brain on ChatGPT.” “AI Is Making You Dumber.” “AI Is Killing Critical Thinking.” Once, the fear was of a runaway intelligence that would wipe us out, maybe while turning the planet into a paper-clip factory. Now that chatbots are going the way of Google—moving from the miraculous to the taken-for-granted—the anxiety has shifted, too, from apocalypse to atrophy. Teachers, especially, say they’re beginning to see the rot. The term for it is unlovely but not inapt: de-skilling.

    The worry is far from fanciful. Kids who turn to Gemini to summarize Twelfth Night may never learn to wrestle with Shakespeare on their own. Aspiring lawyers who use Harvey AI for legal analysis may fail to develop the interpretive muscle their predecessors took for granted. In a recent study, several hundred U.K. participants were given a standard critical-thinking test and were interviewed about their AI use for finding information or making decisions. Younger users leaned more on the technology, and scored lower on the test. Use it or lose it was the basic takeaway. Another study looked at physicians performing colonoscopies: After three months of using an AI system to help flag polyps, they became less adept at spotting them unaided.

    But the real puzzle isn’t whether de-skilling exists—it plainly does—but rather what kind of thing it is. Are all forms of de-skilling corrosive? Or are there kinds that we can live with, that might even be welcome? De-skilling is a catchall term for losses of very different kinds: some costly, some trivial, some oddly generative. To grasp what’s at stake, we have to look closely at the ways that skill frays, fades, or mutates when new technologies arrive.

    -The Atlantic: The Age of De-Skilling: Will AI stretch our minds—or stunt them?/By Kwame Anthony Appiah/October 26, 2025

    What skills do YOU think you are worse at because of the convenience of tech…. writing, reading, communicating, being present, being happy?… more “WIBCI Post #106”

  • Know Thyself #106

    Know Thyself through LYRICS:

    “She’s So High” by Talmage Bachman:

    She’s blood, flesh and bone
    No tucks or silicone
    She’s touch, smell, sight, taste, and sound
    But somehow I can’t believe
    That anything should happen
    I know where I belong
    And nothing’s going to happen, yeah’Cause she’s so high
    High above me
    She’s so lovely
    She’s so high
    Like Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, or Aphrodite
    Da da-da da da
    She’s so high
    High above me

    First class and fancy free
    She’s high society
    She’s got the best of everything
    What could a guy like me
    Ever really offer?
    She’s perfect as she can be
    Why should I even bother?

    ‘Cause she’s so high
    High above me
    She’s so lovely
    She’s so high
    Like Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, or Aphrodite
    Da da-da da da
    She’s so high
    High above me

    She calls to speak to me
    I freeze immediately
    ‘Cause what she says sounds so unreal
    ‘Cause somehow I can’t believe
    That anything should happen
    I know where I belong
    And nothing’s going to happen, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

    ‘Cause she’s so high
    High above me
    She’s so lovely
    She’s so high
    Like Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, or Aphrodite, oh yeah
    She’s so high
    High above me

    This was on an album in 1999, there is a phrase for this feeling now:
    Impostor syndrome, also known as impostor phenomenon or impostorism, is a psychological experience in which a person suffers from feelings of intellectual and/or professional fraudulence.[1] One source defines it as “the subjective experience of perceived self-doubt in one’s abilities and accomplishments compared with others, despite evidence to suggest the contrary”.[2]
    By comparing a woman to the Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt from 51 to 30 BC, a French folk heroine and saint from the early 1400’s, and the ancient Greek goddess of love, Talmage Bachman has a rather aggrandized view of this individual he is ‘not good enough for’. If his description is accurate it is doubtful many humans would be worthy.
    Have YOU ever felt this way? Looking back, how do you feel now about that person?
    Do you think anyone has ever thought this way about YOU?
    … more “Know Thyself #106”

  • WIBCI Post #105

    WIBCI we could read AURAS?

    Wikipedia writes:

    According to spiritual beliefs, an aura or energy field is a colored emanation said to enclose a human body or any animal or object.[1] In some esoteric positions, the aura is described as a subtle body. Psychics and holistic medicine practitioners often claim to have the ability to see the size, color and type of vibration of an aura.

    In spiritual alternative medicine, the human aura is seen as part of a hidden anatomy that reflects the state of being and health of a client, often understood to even comprise centers of vital force called chakras.  Such claims are not supported by scientific evidence and are thus considered pseudoscience. When tested under scientific controlled experiments, the ability to see auras has not been proven to exist.

     

    A not-as-skeptical explanation from ‘Nicole’ the Founder of the site Mystic Ryst writes:

    Every spiritual tradition on Earth recognizes that humans are more than just physical bodies—we are surrounded by and composed of subtle energy fields that extend beyond our skin. These energy fields, commonly called auras, have been seen, described, and worked with by mystics, healers, and spiritual practitioners across cultures for millennia.

    The Hindu tradition speaks of koshas (sheaths) and the pranamaya kosha (energy body). Christian mystics painted halos around saints. Chinese medicine works with wei qi (defensive energy field). Kabbalists describe the Nefesh (vital soul). Theosophists mapped the seven subtle bodies. Modern energy healers see and read auras in full color. Despite different names and frameworks, they’re all describing the same phenomenon: the luminous energy field that surrounds and interpenetrates the physical body.

    Imagine how this would come in handy….well in the real world with other breathing human beings…imagine how this would come in handy there:

    • First dates
    • Conversations with actual humans who aren’t hiding behind pictures of themselves when they were in a wedding party many, many years ago
    • Interviews
    • Asking someone a question whom you believe wouldn’t be honest with you
    • When someone farted and no one owned up to it

    But, I bet being able to do this could also be a double edged sword.

    Apparently it has been believed in ‘across millennia’ and you can read how to practice, what the colors mean etc., check it out below if you are interested:

     

    How to read aura’s for beginners per sanctuaryeverlasting.com:

    1. Start simple.
      Hold your hand against a white or neutral background in soft lighting. Relax your gaze, letting your eyes blur slightly. Try to look through your hand rather than at it.
    2. Wait for the shimmer.
      After 30 seconds to a minute, you may notice a faint pale outline or glow. It might look grayish, bluish, or clear. That’s your etheric field.
    3. Blink slowly and observe.
      Don’t strain. If you stare too hard, the image will probably fade. Aura vision happens when your brain stops filtering subtle light frequencies.
    4. Expand to plants and people.
      Try observing a leaf or a friend’s silhouette. You may see layers of color extending further out. The more relaxed you are, the more you perceive.

    Aura Colors and Meanings per mysticryst.com

    Primary Aura Colors

    Red:

    • Physical vitality, passion, anger, survival
    • Grounded, energetic, sometimes aggressive
    • Root chakra energy

    Orange:

    • Creativity, sexuality, emotions, joy
    • Social, enthusiastic, adventurous
    • Sacral chakra energy

    Yellow:

    • Mental activity, intellect, optimism, power
    • Analytical, cheerful, confident
    • Solar plexus energy

    Green:

    • Healing, growth, balance, nature
    • Compassionate, nurturing, harmonious
    • Heart chakra energy

    Blue:

    • Communication, truth, calm, expression
    • Peaceful, intuitive, sensitive
    • Throat chakra energy

    Indigo/Purple:

    • Intuition, psychic ability, spirituality
    • Visionary, mystical, wise
    • Third eye energy

    Violet:

    • Spiritual connection, divine consciousness
    • Enlightened, transcendent, magical
    • Crown chakra energy

    White:

    • Purity, protection, divine light
    • Highly spiritual, angelic, pure
    • All colors combined

    Gold:

    • Divine protection, enlightenment, mastery
    • Spiritually advanced, protected
    • Highest vibration

    Pink:

    • Love, compassion, gentleness
    • Loving, caring, romantic
    • Heart-centered

    Brown:

    • Grounded, practical, sometimes stuck
    • Can indicate blocked energy or earthiness

    Gray:

    • Blocked energy, fear, illness
    • Needs clearing and healing

    Black:

    • Blocked, protected, or absorbing
    • Can indicate illness, protection, or mystery
    • Not always negative

     … more “WIBCI Post #105”

  • Know Thyself #105

    Know Thyself through YOUR Holidays:

    What were you taught about Thanksgiving? Does it involve grateful pilgrims in stiff hats offering cornucopias of food to kind Native Americans? Apparently this common US version has been derived from ancient harvest festivals, English traditions dating from the Protestant Reformation, and softened versions of American history.

    But apart from the history you learned, what does YOUR Thanksgivings mean to YOU. a.k.a. if you had a foreign exchange student, say an 8th grader, and had to explain what the holiday has meant and still means to YOUR family, limiting your explanation only to what happens in the home you celebrate it in, what would YOU say?… more “Know Thyself #105”

  • WIBCI Post #104

    WIBCI we WROTE letters to each other?

    Think about it…

    If you receive Happy Birthday emoticons from social media followers that acknowledged the automatic alert that popped up on the phone they were already staring at, it’s nice right?

    What about….

    • Messages with words that required thought from followers that were alerted automatically? These are better, correct?
    • Emoticons received on your phone from people in your phone book who may or may not have been alerted is better yet, no?
    • Text message that required thought from people in your phone book who may or may not have been alerted, still better?
    • Better-er are real voices via phone calls from people who most probably love you, alerted or not.
    • Best (for me at least) are cards and letters with words that required thought from people who most definitely love me (because they have my address) received on or around my birthday. This means someone thought about me and my birthday far enough in advance to write words down on something, put a stamp on it, and have it travel snail mail from where they live to where I live.

    Just me?… more “WIBCI Post #104”

  • Know Thyself #104

    Know Thyself through how you spend your TIME:

    Hummingbirds have an average life expectancy of 3-5 years.

    Humans have an average life expectancy of 78-80 years, or roughly 20 times longer than that of a hummingbird. It is almost like one hour of our lives equals an entire day for a hummingbird.

    Look at your phone and see how many hours you spent on it yesterday. Imagine if you saw a hummingbird spend approximately that # of days staring at something, not doing anything else, just staring at the same shiny thing.

    If it survived long enough for you to notice this, you would probably find it odd, no?… more “Know Thyself #104”

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