Could it be? Is it true? Could common sense be making a comeback? Even just a little bit?
Meta (aka Facebook) put out a statement in the beginning of January that it was ceasing the use of “fact checking”. To me the First Amendment is precious, and to have that overbearing, and often “incorrect” AI bot following my every word and second guessing me was just a bit too much. Once I posted a photograph that I had just taken of an image on a billboard and the “fact checking” monster told me it was a false image. Should I doubt my sanity? Certainly not. Maybe the movement of “nonsense” is starting to dwindle.
In a video statement, Mark Zuckerberg said, “We’re going to get back to our roots and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies and restoring free expression on our platforms.” Maybe government officials could get on board with that idea too.
How I miss that great big smile on Aunt Jemima’s face. Will she make a comeback too? Some people on social media have been making posts that she will return this year, but according to Pearl Milling Company – that's a big no. What a shame!
California is on fire again. Unfortunately, this time the areas most affected are heavily occupied residential communities. Thousands of buildings have burned with none of the fires contained. Fire hydrants are running out of water or don’t have enough pressure. Homes, businesses, schools, churches, and medical facilities are gone. It looks like a movie set. A horrible movie set. Lives are lost. Pets are lost. Heirlooms are lost. Money, jewelry, books, antiques, vehicles, paintings, photo albums, record albums, childhood memories, favorite recipes.....all gone.
The Mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass, is being blamed for the massive loss of funding for the Fire Department that was redirected to funds to service the homeless. How much money are we talking? How about $17 million, yes $17 million dollars was taken away from the Fire Department Services. Last year the budget for the Department was just under $850 million dollars for Los Angeles, while the budget for the homeless was over a billion (yes with a B) dollars.
I see some priorities are way out of whack. With over a billion dollars you couldn’t provide a home for all the homeless? Sounds like a giant waste of government funds.
Her answer to the devastation from the fires is that she is going to cut out “all the red tape” required to build back. Why is there red tape at all? I think some of our government officials have lost sight of simplicity. Our country does not need to be a giant HOA with overbearing rule mongers. Maybe this will be the shift that is needed to wake some people up.
The really bad news? Last year, State Farm Insurance dropped over 60% of the homeowners in one of the largest residential communities affected by the fire.
So, the real question is – should the people in California, who pay outrageous taxes, have no insurance and have limited water, rebuild and stay in California?
Don’t people ask the same question about those in Hurricane prone areas? What about our neighbors to the south and west still struggling, and in many cases are still homeless, from Hurricane Helene. Many of those people had no flood insurance so how do they rebuild?
What we all must be aware of is that the insurance industry is “for profit” which means, every time it takes a giant hit and must pay out big money it gets worried. No profits, no reason to be in business. Too big a risk – cancel policies and move out of areas – great for their bottom line, terrible for struggling homeowners.
Maybe we need to rethink the future. What if new homes in tornado prone areas were built underground. What if hurricane prone homes were built one story and out of concrete block – laugh all you want but some of the oldest homes on Topsail are one story block structures NOT on pilings. Sand and water come inside your home you just shovel it out and refurnish. What if fire prone areas restricted development and designed communities with natural fire breaks?
Our planet is not fighting us – we are fighting the natural progression of what society needs to do to survive. Are we really experiencing global warming or we at the end of an ice age? Can we really prepare for the extreme weather with how we live now, or should we learn from our losses and rebuild differently?
Maybe more people should think about mobilizing.
RV’s are a growing trend since you can move your home in the case of an emergency (like a fire or hurricane). Maybe more towns need to recognize the simplicity and value of adding more RV approved zones and RV parks.
We can’t fool mother nature, and we can’t stop father time. The best we can do is adapt and learn.
Remember knowledge is power, Aunt Jemima needs to make a comeback, and mother nature does what she wants, no matter the consequences to us silly humans.