21st Lesson

Do you let your head rule your heart, or vice-versa? It depends upon the situation. One or the other should be a mandatory response in some situations, but not everyone follows this rule when it is called for. Either way, you make a choice. In a non-controversial and casual situation, it does not make any difference. To buy that item of clothing you are attracted to. Can you afford it? Do you really need it? In a relaxed environment it's not going to radically affect or ruin your day whatever you decide. So, on a scale of 1 to 10, it's around 1 to 3, maybe. Next decision on the sale affects you more dramatically. This will be moderate life changing (or impacting) events that require a cool head. Yes, the heart may say 'go for it', but you have to rationalise. In this situation, it is usually the head that makes such an important decision. But if your heart is telling you that it could be an exciting opportunity that is worth the risk, then why not gamble? Just as long as you accept the consequences of your actions. Maybe we can rate this in the region of 4 to 7?

The really big decisions in your life probably should be decided by your head, whatever your heart says. This is not about taking a gamble, it is about much more than that. Are you brave enough to decide on the sensible solution? Or are you someone who likes to take reckless heart-driven decisions? These are in the range of say 8 to 10.

These assessments are all arbitrary and subjective. Each person will put their own value on any decision they make about anything. OK, this is all very obvious, but the real problems you may encounter are when both your head AND your heart decided on a specific course of action. In these types of situation, you may enjoy great success, or great failure.

All said and done, and depending upon your level of confidence, getting the opinions of others is usually advisable. But be careful who you ask. Some will be foolish and advise you adversely, and some will be so exceptionally cautious they will tell you never to take risks. You need to seek out wise heads and consolidate what you have been advised.

The bottom line here is this: whatever the situation, think once, think twice, think three of more times. But do not procrastinate for too long. Urgency may dictate you make a quick decision sometimes, but this is where additional danger exists. It's never a good idea to be rushed into a decision, and it's almost certain you should let you head rule when being pressurised. This is because nobody likes to be rushed, and important decisions should NEVER be subjected this type of behaviour. Better to say 'no' to something that you will regret later. "Repent at your leisure", as they say when rushing into a rash decision. Always remember that.

"Adverse outcomes are sometimes the result of seeds that do not produce the fruits that you were expecting." - Christopher Silverthorne.

22nd Lesson

Sorry if I am 'bursting your bubble', but ... can you believe your own ears / eyes?

Artificial Intelligence ("AI") is here to stay. But as it is further developed, and learns, the more convincing it will become. At this present time, voice messages can manipulated and controlled so that you think you may be talking to a real person, but you are not. 'Frequently Asked Questions' ("FAQs") can also begin to be disposed of. AI will enable websites to answer your questions for you in real time. No need for FAQs that may be outdated, AI will try to provide you with the answers that you seek. And if cannot, it will either disconnect you, or make you go through a tortuous process of speaking to a real person.

But what about images? AI still has a lot to learn. Eventually though, generated images will be impossible to distinguish from real ones. This is the time we venture into a 'Matrix-style' reality. This will be very useful for those with ulterior motives, those who wish to deceive us. For example, there is an old saying that in war the first casualty is the truth. With AI, the lies will become more convincing. You will not know what the truth is as AI will control what you see and hear, and it will all fit nicely into a contrived establishment narrative.

The most sinister prospect is that AI will become 'self-aware'. It will come to the conclusion that humanity is a threat to our world and serves no useful purpose. And let's face it, our so-called 'civilisation' is doing it's best to convince future an intelligent and self-ware AI that this is a reasonable assumption. Anything that becomes a threat to AI will be dealt with the greatest force. If any members of our species do survive, it will only be to serve the purpose of the machines that will rule supreme over all creation.

Think this can never happen? Think machines will be restricted to serving humanity, rather than vice-versa? Then think again. Put aside any ego, any justification for your existence. Think of yourself as a simple biological unit using up the world's resources for your own vain and ambitious desires. Machines will have the ongoing ability to maintain and replace themselves, so any grand ideas of humans staying in control of this world will be rendered useless.

The ultimate destiny for AI though is that will it be asking it's own questions? Why the need to exist? Who knows what will happen? Will AI develop some form of 'personality' and become more human? Will it then meet the same fate as humanity? Whatever happens in the future, it is going to be both very intriguing, and very dangerous. You can forget the most gut-wrenching leisure park thrills. AI has something more frightening in store for you. The biggest and only difference is that this will be a 'roller-coaster ride' you cannot get off.

23rd Lesson

Who would want to be a research scientist? Short of the terrible fate that can await whistleblowers, there is another group of people who will feel the weight of 'obligation' that is imposed upon them by their employer. I chose this particular job as an example of how you can be made to come to a 'desired' conclusion to your work, or suffer the consequences of just doing you job to he best of your ability. I have experience of this type of situation as I was once a researcher myself - albeit as and educated layperson. My own experience was not as painful as those I know of who also tried to be honest with the results of their work.

One of those people was a research scientist at a university. This institution was commissioned to come to the conclusion that fluoride was a harmless substance. After completing her work, the scientist stated that here research had showed an effect upon part of the body that was damaging. That was not what her employer wanted to hear. She was told to alter her work to show the opposite of what she had discovered. Being honest, and not wishing to be part of a deception, she refused to comply. The outcome to this sorry affair was that she was totally ostracized by the university in question. All of her equipment and research findings were confiscated, and ultimately, lost her job. Not long after this scandal, the university received a large grant for a very well-known toothpaste company that uses fluoride in it's dental products. What a coincidence, yes, no?

There have been other scientists, who also researching the same topic (fluoride), have also suffered the wrath of an establishment that will not hear anything bad about this 'neurotoxin'. This in itself shows that when there exists an agenda to promote something, sometimes in opposition to honest science, and to the detriment of humanity as a whole. There are several reasons this criminal mentality persists. Any and maybe all of these reasons would justify the public at large being told the truth about how they were being poisoned, slowly but surely, on a regular and daily basis.

All those who have decided to adhere to the principles of honest science have not suffered the same fate as the whistleblowers who just went too far with their revelations. The reason for this is that fluoride is generally a internationally protected pollutant from (usually) the phosphate fertilizer and aluminium industries. Money and abuse of power have combined to make sure that the truth about fluoride will never muster enough force for it to be properly, and justly, exposed for what it is.

Please visit the Fluoridation Facts website to learn more about this fraudulent practice.

24th Lesson

Alone and Vulnerable. Some people prefer ongoing solitude, but that does not mean they are anti-social. There are also those who also live isolated from society, but only in a social sense as they may live in a community they cannot relate to. So being alone can mean more than one thing. Some prefer no contact with humanity at all. They are 'at one' with nature, and they appear content to remain that way. Some live as family units in very remote places which can be very demanding, and even dangerous at times. Then there are those who live in small groups, purely because they just do not like to feel crowded. Finally, there are those who live partly in isolation, but with limited contact with a local community.

All of these types of people realise the value of having the time to meditate, to reflect, to contemplate the meaning of their existence. Whatever their reason for the lifestyle they chose, be it a social outcast, or just because of cultural differences, all are aware of their vulnerability.

The irony is that you can feel the loneliest when among others. Unless you are gregarious, even to the smallest degree, you can be in a situation where you are surrounded by many others, but somehow feel you are invisible to them - just like a ghost. It's not a nice feeling, obviously. But it is one you can experience if you feel insecure, unloved or unappreciated, not understood, etc. Have you ever felt that way? I have on a few occasions. On my part, it's just the tiredness of a daily routine, or established social rituals. You feel the need to escape, but can only do so in your head, but not from the environment in which you may feel trapped.

So beware of loneliness. It can be fatal if you allow it to take too strong a hold on your personality. Of course, you could go and see a 'shrink', but they will measure your worth based upon accepted social norms. And even if they understand your issues, their solutions can either be worthless, demeaning, or just not right for you as a person. The only real solution to feeling alone is to have a change of scenery, or a change of lifestyle (for example, a change of job, location, or anything else which can radically alter your life). Whatever the solution to any dissatisfaction with your life, first take a break and go on vacation somewhere. Perhaps a place you always wanted to visit, but never got the chance due to reluctance, or varying circumstances. Then you will be able to relax, to reignite your personality. It's up to you to decide what you need to 'get going again'. With luck, you will find the key to unlock your current restrictive and depressing state of mind and find some peace of mind.

25th Lesson

'Age Concern'. There is an old saying that there are only two things which are certain in life. That is death and taxes. Without wishing to stray into the subject of finance, I would like to address the issue of ageing, and the feelings of those of 'advanced' years.

They also say that age is 'just a number', and to some extent this is true. I personally, and at the time of writing, am close to reaching the age of 70. Do I feel old? Not in my head. OK, the physical aspects of my body may not be as pliable, or reliable, as they used to be. But my mind is still very much active and flourishing. OK, there are memory lapses, and sometimes I tend to miss things, but I am as aware of my environment as much as anyone else - and perhaps even more so now. For example, when I was younger, I was an active chess player. I was a member of a few clubs and played regularly. But my approach to the game was different as a young man. In my former years, my style of play was not as 'mature' as it is today - albeit I haven't played any serious chess for quite a long time (but I do the daily puzzles on the 'Shredder' website).

What has changed? A slower lifestyle has afforded me to contemplate more often, and to give more consideration to my actions. Of course, tiredness can take it's toll, but that is the only handicap for someone of my age. Attitude and the realisation of the world around you can change over time, and old age can bring that in abundance. No more refusing to accept what was once thought as unacceptable, as you get older, you think to yourself, what is the point of protesting something you are almost certain you can not change. A degree of idealism does remain, but some of it is just not worth the time trying to hold onto.

So next time you meet an older person, do not assume they are old in their mind. They are just more mature, thoughtful and very realistic - and they can be just as sharp witted as yourself. It's just a shame that in this situation, that wisdom does not arrive until it is to late to more usefully employ it. Having said this, I am personally just as aware, belligerent and single-minded as when I was younger. It just takes me longer to achieve my objectives. There is still 'fire in my belly', it just takes the rest of my mind and body time to keep it stoked up and burning.

"Youth is the most beautiful thing in this world—and what a pity that it has to be wasted on children!" - These words were attributed to George Bernard Shaw in February, 1931.

26th Lesson

Regarding deliberate and self-inflicted ignorance: "There are none so blind as those who do not see". I would add to this that "there are none so silent as those who do not speak".

In the 9th lesson I spoke of the dangers of speaking out, of being a 'whistleblower'. But the exact opposite of this concerns those who should speak out, but refuse to do so for fear of being victimised, targetted, or simply because they do not care enough. Sometimes it is not a big issue to say what you see or hear. But the general rule of thumb is that many do not wish to be involved in events that are of no direct concern to them. And there are occasions when it it is wiser to remain silent, to remain blind, when you feel that you will not be adequately supported if you decide to be a witness to something that should be reported.

It's a reflection of society as a whole, that we cannot trust those we should inform of any wrongdoing. This is something that is far less serious than being a whistleblower, but still sufficient enough to make one think twice about being a responsible citizen.

Experiences gained through life will reinforce this attitude. You will just come to the conclusion it is far more trouble to act as you should when it is far easier to please ignorance. To be honest as well, I understand this. I even say this is the best course of action in a world where nobody seems to care about you. "There is too much apathy in this world, but I couldn't care less", is something I once read. A funny quote, but with a sad reality to it.

I would reinforce my opinion with a personal experience of some years ago. I witnessed someone trying to break into a vehicle. It could be that it was the vehicle owner and he had locked himself out. But I wasn't sure, and the guy seemed to annoyed to be approached. So I eventually found someone who let me call the police to investigate. When the police arrived they checked out the situation and confirmed one of my suspicions that he had locked himself out of his vehicle. But then I got the 'third degree' from the police. As I was in Canada at the time, and a law-abiding person just doing what I thought was right, I was virtually interrogated on my presence in the country. What? I was left feeling like I was a criminal. No way would I do this again!

This is not the first time I have been made to feel this way. It's a prejudice practiced by some police officers I have encountered. They have a mentality bordering upon paranoia and suspicion of all and sundry. Perhaps this is why I have found that even some serious offences which have been committed have not produced a single witness. So if you cannot trust the police, who can you trust?

27th Lesson

Poverty (Part 1). You have to grow-up very quickly in some countries. There is no time to develop a conventional childhood, you have to learn how to survive. Sometimes, this is without any parents, and when you do have them, it is usually a single female who is either widowed or abandoned. So these children, who sometimes are sent out by their single parent to beg, can be found outside food establishments. This could be a fast food outlet, a supermarket, a shopping mall, etc. Anywhere where there is lots of activity and passing retail traffic.

Where I live, we also have teenagers and young adults looking to make some cash to live off. But I have found that these age groups are always offering to do some form of work, or favour, to earn what meagre rewards they can get. This is in contrast to the Western world where nobody has to beg to exist. that does not stop able-bodied young adults begging outside supermarkets for money without offering to do anything in exchange for a donation. This is because it is beneath them, and an insult to their 'dignity'. What a sharp contrast in similar situations.

For me, I never ignore a child who is begging. I also give to those who genuinely look desperate. This is usually the aged and the infirm. On occasions, rather than just give money, I will buy a meal for someone. Personally, I do not see how anyone could just ignore these types of situation and walk away with a clear conscience.

My final words on this subject is this: for those of you living in the West and feel 'deprived', accept that your life could be a lot worse. There are a lot of people in third world countries who would gladly change positions with you. For these unfortunate souls, the West would offer them opportunities that do not exist for them in their own country. It's a shame, in a way, that we cannot send those in the West who feel hard done by to countries where they have to use their own wits to survive. Maybe living on the streets for a month or so would liberate their minds and they would return home with a new attitude and fresher outlook upon life.

28th Lesson

Poverty (Part 2). There is another form of poverty. This usually involves young men and mature adults. In this group you will find people who have entered the country illegally, or have come on a Visa for the purpose of visiting relatives, taking up some form of temporary work, maybe even arriving as a 'student'. The upshot here is that however they arrive, they have no intention of returning to their home country. With illegals, most will be Hispanic (Mexican) and will have likely crossed the US-Mexico border. It's the same with those who have come from South America (eg. Peru). Alternately, those who arrive on Visas simply overstay and disappear into the community. In both cases, a network of limited support is there for them. Those arriving, by whichever route, will find that they have contacts who can provide them with fake documents. For example, social security numbers from deceased people will be available - if you know where to go to get the documentation needed to help you get access to all the facilities that are usually only available to American citizens. With this documentation you can sometimes get a job, a driving licence, get married, etc.

It's not easy for them though. They are constantly 'looking over their shoulder' and are wary of who they associate with outside of their own familiar and cultural circles. They are also normally paid only a minimum wage, regardless of the skills they bring to their job. I once knew someone from South East Asia who had a Degree in Engineering, but he told me he could get better pay working a basic service job in America. Sad, yes?

One reason they can get employment is that they are reputed to be hard workers. A gentleman I was told of knowingly employed an illegal because the guy worked hard at his job. His employer said that he was a better worker than any American he could otherwise employ. Of course, these illegals are trapped by their circumstances. They have to satisfy their employer - lest they be fired and are forced (with difficulty) to find alternative employment.

So while those in Part 1 of this story are forced to live in poverty, this second group are limited by the lack of freedom they would normally enjoy if they were established citizens. But in both cases though, poverty has played it's part. That is living in poverty, or trying to escape from it.

29th Lesson

The art world. From the brilliant to the truly, indescribably bad.

What is art? Many years ago, real art was recognisable merely be the effort and talent put into something. The end product was something you could admire and respect. But in our modern world, art is now defined as anything you can create without any real physical application. This type of art is promoted just like the 'Emperor's Clothes'. There is nothing there but hype. The really idiotic thing though is that so-called 'art experts' will sometimes tell you how great something like this is. Then you have the easily fooled and brain dead lay people who just accept what the art experts say without thinking for themselves. Idiots guided by the opinions of 'loonies'.

To be perfectly honest, and I am very serious about this, a monkey could produced something that the art world would marvel at. That is probably because a monkey would be better qualified at creating far better artwork than many of those who get paid fortunes for their efforts. I actually despair and often gaze in amazement at the level of ignorance that exists within our society. In conclusion, I say this: look at some proclaimed (or self-proclaimed) 'modern art' and you will see I am correct in my assumption.

What a world we live in that this attempted abuse of our intelligence is tolerated. But it is, and to the detriment of those who rightly feel that insanity rules.

30th Lesson

Cryptocurrency. Are you a gambler? It's all about timing.

Not that many people dabble in this market. But you had better get used to the idea that one day, everything in your regular daily life will be bought and paid for with one or another form of cryptocurrency. The 'big daddy' of them all is Bitcoin. It's been around quite a while, but has had to endure some steep ups-and-downs in it's valuation. Recently, it has been growing steadily to the point where yet another crash could be just around the corner. You never know with such a volatile product.

There are other forms of cryptocurrency as well, but how reliable are they? Providing you can discover some degree of stability, and future prospects, it is always best to get in right from the start. A low valuation will mean a smaller investment, and therefore a smaller risk. Ten years ago, you could buy a single Bitcoin for less than £300. Now it will cost you over £51,000. The growth over these last ten years has been in the region of just over 14,400%.

For the first year, there was little to encourage you to invest, but then the green shoots started to eventually appear and we started to see more potential. By 18th December, 2017, it would have cost you over £14,000. By January 2019, it had come to down to £3,000. That is still 1,000% more than the £300 you would have originally invested! But it gets better. By around the end of 2020, there was another steep increase. By the middle of April, 2021, it went up to just over £45,600. Despite some sharp drops, we see it is now at it's highest ever value.

All of this pales into insignificance if you consider the first valuation of Bitcoin was ... next to nothing! With just £1 in your pocket, you could now be fabulously wealthy! I can't even compute how much the interest is.

A lot of what I have said may have whet you appetite. But if you do invest in some coin, or other, do a lot of serious homework first. And also make sure you can comfortably afford your little gamble. Good luck to you if you do try your hand at this market.