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THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING

11/2/2025

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​Image Source: www.sites.northwesterm.edu
“THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING IS IN THE EATING”
An incredible amount of information is available in the 21st century to whomever wants to seek it out, yet misinformation runs rampant throughout the world. Apparently, anyone can post anything on the internet -- whether the information is fact or fiction -- and represent it as true, and there seem to be no consequences to the propagation of misinformation.

Nonetheless, the truth is out there -- somewhere! Unfortunately, the dilemma is the time, effort, mental application, and dedication required to find and verify data from the internet and other sources. One has to sift carefully through many sources to have an inkling of what is accurate and what is not.

However, there is plenty of verifiable research available which confirms that facts do not necessarily correct misinformation or disinformation, or change people's minds.

INFORMATION, DISINFORMNATION, AND MALINFORMATION
Although misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation all involve the dissemination of false information, they are not the same thing. All can evoke strong emotions and cause harm, but the distinction is the motivation behind its propagation.               ▼​ Image Source: images ctfassets.net
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Information
The distribution and sharing of incorrect or mis-leading information without malicious intent, such as 
misinterpretations, rumors,  untrue claims of others, etc. Sometimes misinformation is passed on unintentionally or by someone who does not realize the information is incorrect.
Disinformation                                 

Deliberately false information spread purposely with the intent to deceive or manipulate, such as propaganda, political campaigns, false advertising, and images designed to mislead the public. Source: AI Summary - https://search.yahoo.com/
Malinformation
Information is based on truth (although it may be exaggerated or presented out of context) but is shared with the intent to attack an idea, individual, organization, group, country or other entity. source: princetonlibrary.org/

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◄Image Source: storage.googleapis.com
FIRST AMENDMENT / FEEEDOM OF SPEECH
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution provides comprehensive protection for free speech, including the right to       make false statements.
The Supreme Court has ruled that, “The remedy for speech that is false is speech that is true. This is the ordinary course in a free society.”  In other words, in a free country, you don’t jail someone for lying — you call them out with the truth. This decision shows that even intentionally making false claims is often protected by the First Amendment.

FALSE INFORMATION FROM OFFICIAL and MEDIA SOURCES
Primary Source: https://www.freedomforum.org/misinformation-vs-disinformation/

“The First Amendment applies only when the government is involved in regulating speech or expression. The First Amendment does not apply to private companies or social media platforms, which have the right to set their own rules about what content is allowed.” freedomforum.org/misinformation                                                                                  ▼Image Source: www.ohchr.org 

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We all realize that, historically, governmental entities have issued – and continue to issue -- inaccurate or deceptive information. Whether on purpose or intentional, when these errors/falsehoods become public, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.

● There are few legal limits on false or misleading official statements, and they tend to apply when such speech directly violates certain constitutional rights, such as due process or the equal protection clause.

● Social media companies are private companies, so these platforms establish their own content policies, including restrictions on misinformation and disinformation. Crucially, the First Amendment applies only to government actions, not private enterprises such as social media companies.

ESTABLISHING PROOF
According to Peter Gärdenfors Ph.D, “…we humans cannot help but strive for meaning in virtually everything we do…The human brain is built to search for connections everywhere, even in the most random events.” Humans are social animals whose survival has depended on cooperation with others. Peter Gärdenfors Ph.D - psychologytoday.com/search-for-meaning

Thus, we are hardwired by our survival instincts to want proof. To understand why, consider these key reasons:

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◄ Image Source: dreamstine.com
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●Cognitive Bias: Humans are wired to seek confir-mation and avoid uncertainty.
●Trust Building: Proof fosters trust in relationships and information sources.
● Decision Making: Evidence helps in making informed
choices and reducing risks.
​● Learning and Growth: Proof enhances understanding and retention of knowledge.
● Social Validation: People often seek proof to align with societal norms and beliefs.
● Fear of Deception: Skepticism drives the need for proof to avoid being misled.
Search.yahoo.com/AI Summary

There Is No Such Thing As “Proof”
Primary Sources: Dr. Leanne J Philip  linkedin.com/pulse/why-we-need-prove-things; and
https://evidenceexplained.com/content/quicklesson-8-what-constitutes-proof

There is no such thing as absolute proof because, by definition, there is no room for error when you say something is “proven.” It must be undeniable truth or fact, with 100 percent sureness. Yet current society is constantly demanding “proof” of nearly everything they are told.

“Philosophically, it’s impossible to truly prove anything. The evidence will never be 100 percent infallible for anything, especially regarding the behaviour of the universe....in the scientific world, it is generally not preferable to use these terms [proof] because they imply an absolute result. Doing science means embracing anomalous results and expecting evidence to result from tests. Evidence can be supportive or not, but to say something is scientifically proven is inaccurate and a misnomer.” Dr. Leanne J Philip  linkedin.com/pulse/why-we-need-prove-things

Essentially, “proof” is a body of evidence which is “reliable” based on the following building blocks.
● Thorough Research
A literature survey identifying all known resources available, which educate us regarding time and place in question: the times, customs, laws, etc. Then systematically seek out every relevant source.
● Evaluation Of Sources
All sources are not created equal. Physical flaws can affect the reliability of the conclusions we draw from the information in those sources.
● Notetaking And Documentation
Reliable proof is rarely rooted in careless habits. All sources need to be fully identified, following the standards for each type of material.
● Appraisal Of Information
No source can be categorically trusted or arbitrarily dismissed. Instead, identity whether or not source had first- or secondhand knowledge, the purpose for which the source was created. Scrutinize its content for clues as to whether the person had cause for bias or duress.
● Accurate Interpretation
● Appropriate Context
The significance of any piece of information also depends upon the social and economic contexts against which it is appraised -- such as language, laws, literacy, occupation, religious affiliations, etc.—to help to prove or disprove an identity, a relationship, or participation in an event.
● Correlation Of Details
Seek materials that are independently created and look for contradictions between the details.

● Milking Clues
Many of the clues that point to other records and other places of activity are silent ones.
● Critical Analysis Of Evidence
Cull the findings and reduce them down to the most essential pieces that prove our point, considering not only information that directly addresses the topic but also indirect bits and pieces.

Rebuttal Of Contradictory Evidence
Thorough research almost always results in contradictions. A source may offer direct evidence, yet it may be wrong. It may be possible to build a case entirely from indirect evidence to clearly argue that the direct evidence is wrong. But whenever our evidence disagrees, we must logically resolve the discrepancies before our case can be considered “proved.”

Written Proof Argument

A convincing proof argument examines the evidence from each document, discusses the strengths and the weaknesses of each source, and discusses the contradictions identified and how they are reconciled. It will explain how and why, for the given issue, the whole body of evidence points to only one reasonable conclusion.

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◄ Image Source: www.balboacapital.com
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The Bottom Line
What most people believe as “truth” is based on a preponderance of cogent evidence which supports a hypothesis to a high degree of confidence and is generally accepted by experts and the public, such as the world not being flat. There is ample evidence the earth is not flat, but it is also not round (which many people do believe). The Earth is an oblate spheroid, slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator.

“Scientific knowledge [and probably all kinds of knowledge] is provisional and subject to change. Theories are constantly being refined, modified, or even replaced as new evidence emerges.” This willingness to question existing assumptions and revise theories in light of new evidence allows science to progress.
clrn.org/can-science-actually-prove-something

THE TRUTH ABOUT FACT AND TRUTH
While in our daily lives, in general conversation, the words “fact” and “truth” are used interchangeably, there is a difference. Not so much grammatically speaking, but philosophically, so let’s look at that.

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◄ Image Source: bonidejesus.com
Fact
● Objective statements that can be verified and “proven”,
● Remain constant regardless of opinions or interpretations.
● The building blocks of knowledge and can be universally
                                                  accepted,

● Facts are not discovered or not created; they are simply acknowledged
● A reality that cannot be logically disputed or rejected
Truth
● Often subjective and can be influenced by personal beliefs and perspectives.
● Can vary based on context, culture, and individual experiences.
● Encompasses deeper meanings and can involve moral or philosophical considerations.
● Things that are not simply acknowledged, but must be discovered, or created.

WHY FACTS DON’T CHANGE WHAT PEOPLE BELIEVE
Primary Source: https://research.com/education/why-facts-dont-change-our-mind

Judging facts isn't as black-and-white as most of us were taught in grammar school. Humans depend on a set on a biased set of cognitive processes to arrive at a given conclusion or belief. This natural tendency to cherry pick and twist the facts to fit with our existing beliefs is known as motivated reasoning—and we all do it.

Peter Ditto, PhD, a social psychologist at the University of California, Irvine, says, "Motivated reasoning is a pervasive tendency of human cognition. People are capable of being thoughtful and rational, but our wishes, hopes, fears and motivations often tip the scales to make us more likely to accept something as true if it supports what we want to believe…It takes more information to make you believe something you don't want to believe than something you do."


Extensive research gives experts a good grasp on why facts don’t change people’s minds, a much of it has to do with the structure of the brain.
● Structure Of The Brain
Without going into boring detail, here is the bottom line: “Tests demonstrates that holding firm to one’s beliefs activates the pleasure center of the brain…Changing one’s belief stimulates the area of the brain that is triggered by anxiety, fear, or disgust (Gorman & Gorman, 2016)…If you’re wondering why beliefs are so hard to change, it is because we’re hard-wired to feel great about standing our ground.” research.com/education/facts-dont-change-mind
In my way of thinking, this accounts for the following research observations.

● Motivated Reasoning
Humans tend to pick, choose, and twist facts to fit with their existing beliefs.

● Confirmation Bias
Confirmation bias is one of the many forms of faulty thinking that have been identified by researchers. Humans tend to accept information that supports their beliefs and reject information that contradicts them.

● Myside Bias
While humans are not randomly ready to believe something professed based on slight or uncertain evidence, when presented with someone else’s argument, they will spot the weaknesses immediately and, almost invariably, cannot identify the weaknesses in their own belief. newyorker.com/why-facts-dont-change-our-minds [researchers Mercier and Sperber]

● The Continued Influence Effect
“Humans have a remarkable ability to retain information, but rather than replacing incorrect information, the brain has the propensity to create new memories alongside existing ones.” Thus, when remembering certain information, that can create competing ideas based, one based on the original information and another incorporating the corrected details. Lisa Fazio, psychology professor, Vanderbilt University,

● Belief Perseverance
Faced with new, contradicting information, people are predisposed to hang onto their initial beliefs, even after receiving new information that contradicts those beliefs. This resistant to changing their views affects decision-making despite new evidence, which can lead to biased or flawed decisions.

● Illusion of Explanatory Depth
Most people believe they understand complex issues better than they actually do. When asked to explain these issues, they often reveal gaps in their understanding or get defensive.

● Complexity Avoidance
The human brain prefers simple explanations over complex ones, even if the simple explanations are less accurate. This avoidance can lead to the acceptance of misinformation.

● Emotional Influence on Risk Assessment
A conscious or subconscious evaluation of risk involved in believing information is often influenced by emotions rather than logical, leading to overestimation of small risks and underestimation of significant ones.

● Causality and Ignorance Gap
Humans are uncomfortable with uncertainty, which may lead to perceiving causality where there may only be coincidence. This can result in the formation of false beliefs based on perceived patterns.

TAKE AWAY
No “Proof” Is Adequate If You Choose Not To Believe!
I guess that is why approximately 6% of Americans, particularly those of the younger generation, believe the moon landing was faked. I have read it is 20% but Yahoo Search AI tells me that 6% has remained relatively stable over the years

JUST SAYIN’

Sources:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/why-is-it-that-even-proven-facts-cant-change-some-peoples-minds
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/02/27/why-facts-dont-change-our-minds
https://research.com/education/why-facts-dont-change-our-mind
https://www.clrn.org/can-science-actually-prove-something/#google_vignette
https://evidenceexplained.com/content/quicklesson-8-what-constitutes-proof
https://legalknowledgebase.com/how-much-evidence-is-needed-to-prove-something
https://www.freedomforum.org/misinformation-vs-disinformation/
https://princetonlibrary.org/guides/misinformation-disinformation-malinformation-a-guide/
https://philosophy.stackexchange.com/questions/77/is-there-such-a-thing-as-absolute-proof
https://www.engram.us/vs/322/evidence-vs-proof
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/what-is-a-human/202405/why-our-brains-are-built-to-search-for-meaning
https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/why-we-need-answers
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/05/alternative-facts
https://search.yahoo.com/ - AI Summary
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-do-we-need-prove-things-our-society-dr-leanne-j-philip/
https://commonslibrary.org/disinformation-vs-misinformation-definitions-types/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2017/11/22/scientific-proof-is-a-myth/
https://grammarhow.com/proof-vs-evidence/
https://vcresearch.berkeley.edu/news/why-conspiracies-are-so-popular-and-what-we-can-do-stop-them
https://botpenguin.com/glossary/moments-of-truth
​
https://philosophy.stackexchange.com/difference-between-fact-and-truth#:~:text=Facts%20are%20not%20discovered%2C%20facts%20are%20not%20created%2C,simply%20acknowledged%2C%20but%20must%20be%20discovered%2C%20or%20created.
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THE SALEM WITCH TRIAL: Did They Really Burn Them At The Stake?

10/15/2025

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Salem, Massachusetts
Image Source: https://salemma.gov/
One of the most disturbing history lessons I learned in grammar school was about the Salem Witch Trials in 1692-93. More than once growing up I wondered how people who allegedly braved great trials to sail across the ocean and make a new life, all for the sake of their religious freedom, could do such an inhumane thing. Later in life, I learned the real story.

FACT: THE PURITANS WERE HYPOCRITES
The truth of the matter is, the Puritans were happy to have the freedom to worship as they pleased, but they were ferociously intolerant of any other beliefs.
  
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The Winthrop Fleet of 11 ships, led by Puritan John Winthrop, landed in Massachusetts Bay in 1630, the second wave of colonists. There, John Winthrop (later governor of Massachusetts), delivered a famous sermon characterizing the Puritan colonization of the New World “A Model of Christian Charity,” and alluded to the how Puritans would be a shining example for the people of the colonies. Their beliefs spread throughout most of the New England colonies, and all followed relatively the same strict rules.  archives.library.wcsu.edu/              Portrait of John Winthrop by Anthony Van-Dyck ▲
                                                                                                                       
Image Credit: Courtesy of American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachusetts.
                                                                                                                                                                              Image Source: www.britannica.com/John-Winthrop 
Unfortunately, the Puritans “…saw no hypocrisy in denying others religious freedom while seeking their own, as they felt divinely obligated to impose their views. This is considered hypocritical because, despite fleeing religious persecution, they perpetuated similar intolerance against others, including indigenous populations, reflecting a recurring pattern in human history.” www.enotes.com/puritans

The Salem Witch Trials were conducted in 1692-1693. While there were a few different causes that fueled the trials, the most prominent was the Puritan religion.

FACT: THE SALEM WITCHES WERE NOT BURNED AT THE STAKE
Twenty people of those convicted of being witches were executed during the Salem Witch Trials, but none were burned at the stake. 

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At that time, English law only allowed death by burning to be used against women who committed high treason. Men convicted of high treason were dragged, hanged until almost dead and then cut into four pieces. Also, witchcraft in the colonies was a capital crime tried in a criminal court. In Europe, witchcraft was heresy and the crime was tried by the Church courts (and the punishment was burning at the stake).
Jan Hus being burned at stake
Image Credit: Diebold Schilling's Spiezer Chronik (1485 CE), Burgerbibliotheek Bern.
Image Source: www.worldhistory.org  
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“The myth of burnings at the stake in Salem is most likely inspired by European witch trials, where execution by fire was a disturbingly common practice. Medieval law codes such as the Holy Roman Empire’s “Constitutio Criminalis Carolina” stipulated that malevolent witchcraft should be punished by fire, and church leaders and local governments oversaw the burning of witches across parts of modern day Germany, Italy, Scotland, France and Scandinavia.”
historyofmassachusetts.org/witches
​

Historians estimate that during the Witch-Hunt hysteria in Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries, at least fifty to sixty thousand people were executed, most hanged or beheaded, then the bodies incinerated postmortem (to protect against sorcery). However, other victims were alive and executed by burning and smoke and toxic fumes inhalation. 

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​In Salem, over two hundred people were accused of witchcraft, thirty were found guilty, and nineteen of them were hung at Gallows Hill (fourteen women and five men).
The twentieth victim was the elderly farmer accused of witchcraft along with his wife. He was never convicted because he refused to enter a guilty or not guilty plea but, nonetheless, was “pressed to death” with heavy  stones placed on his                 
The First Salem Witch hanging ▲​
chest.  At least five (some sources say four) others              Image Source: www.washingtonpost.com 
accused individuals died in prison awaiting trial.                                                               
                                                                                                               
THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS
Everything Has A Background That Sets The Stage

In the late 17th century, the Salem colony existed in two locations: the wealthier Salem Town and Salem Village, about ten miles away. The inhabitants of the village were primarily poor farmers eking out a living on rocky soil. Salem Town was trade center populated by wealthy merchants. This disparity led to jealousy and tension between the two parts of the colony.

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                         Location Map of Salem colony  ▲                                                            Location map of Salem Village and Salem Town ▲
                                  Image Source: www.pinterest.com                                                            ​Image Source: liznicjackcaitlyn.weebly.com/salem
In addition, “The village itself had a noticeable social divide that was exacerbated by a rivalry between its two leading families, the well-heeled Porters, who had strong connections with Salem Town’s wealthy merchants, and the Putnams, who sought greater autonomy for the village and were standard-bearers for the less-prosperous farm families.” www.britannica.com/Salem-witch-trials

In 1689 (some sixty years later), the Putnam family influenced the Village Congregational Church to hire Samuel Parris (a Puritan) to be their pastor, an unusual choice since Congregationalism does not share all the same beliefs as the Puritans. In fact, the Puritans emigrated to North American to avoid the persecutions they suffered at home from the Congregationalists. Who knew?

Parris had been living in Barbados, and brought with him to Salem Village his wife, their three children, a niece, and two slaves – a man called John Indian, and a women named Tituba – presumably natives of Barbados. Not long after his arrival, Parris asked for an increase in salary and ownership of the parsonage, which alienated many of the congregation. Also, Parris’s strict Puritan theology and preaching split the congregation further -- and subsequently the villagers -- into pro- and anti-Parris factions.

The Inciting Incident
Apparently, the story begins with Parris’s daughter Betty (age 9), his niece Abigail Williams (age 11), and their friend Ann Putnam (about age 12), indulging in what would now be called a fortune telling game or parlor trick called a “Venus glass and egg” to learn "what trade their sweet harts should be of."  en.wikipedia.org//Salem

It worked like this. Separate an egg's white from its yolk, then slip the white into a glass of water. Being a colloid, the white then form shapes as it floats in the water. These shapes are examined to determine the career of one's future husband. For example, if the egg white looked like a ship, your husband would be a sailor. If it looked like a plow, your husband would be a farmer, etc.

Not very drastic behavior.

However, in January 1692, Betty and Abigail started behaving oddly. They made unusual sounds, threw things, screamed, contorted their bodies and complained of being bitten and pinched. A local doctor was called in to examine them, but could not identify any medical reason for their behavior, so he concluded the phenomenon was supernatural. When confronted by Parris, the girls claimed the slave Tituba and two other women of the community, Sarah Good, a beggar, and Sarah Osborn, an elderly bed-ridden woman, had put a spell on them.


The next month, John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin, magistrates from Salem Town, conducted a public inquiry in the village. All three women claimed to be innocent, although Good accused Osborn. After repeated harassment, accusations, and wearing down, the slave Tituba told the magistrates that she had been visited by the devil and made a deal with him.

“In three days of vivid testimony, she described encounters with Satan’s animal familiars and with a tall, dark man from Boston who had called upon her to sign the devil’s book, in which she saw the names of Good and Osborn along with those of seven others that she could not read.” www.britannica.com/Salem-witch-trials

Well, that gave these officials from Salem Town what they wanted to hear. a confession and what they deemed as evidence that there were more witches lurking about. Panic ensued. Other young women suffered fits and the accusations flew, now directed at respected members of the community. “As the weeks passed, many of the accused proved to be enemies of the Putnams, and Putnam family members and in-laws would end up being the accusers in dozens of cases.” www.britannica.com/Salem-witch-trials
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   ▲ Illustration from Pioneers in the Settlement of America by William A. Crafts, 1876                                                       Depiction of Martha Corey ▲
   Image Credit: iStock/ by Christine Kohler  -- Image Source: www.britannica.com/Salem-witch-trials                                  Image Source: foxnews.com
Weeks of informal hearings were held and people were imprisoned. On May 27, 1692, Sir William Phips, the governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, convened an official Court of Oyer (“to hear”) and Terminer (“to decide”) in Salem Town
During those trials, the accused individuals who confessed, or confessed and named other witches, were spared because of the Puritan belief that God would punish them accordingly. Those who claimed they were innocent were executed. Many in both the town and village, who believed the events were a sham, did not speak up for fear of being accused themselves.

AFTERMATH OF THE TRIALS
What I didn’t learn in grammar school (or any other school, for that matter) was what happened as a result of this travesty. Years later there were acts of repentance on the part of individuals and institutions involved in the trials.

In January 1697 the General Court of Massachusetts declared a day of fasting and contemplation for the tragedy that had resulted from the trials. In 1702 the General Court declared that the trials had been unlawful. Twenty-two of the thirty-three individuals who had been convicted were exonerated in 1711 by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which also paid some £600 to the families of the victims.

The notoriety of the Salem Trials laid some of the ground work for US Court procedures, such as the right to legal representation, the right to cross-examine one’s accuser, and the presumption of innocence rather than of guilt. However, the last eleven of the convicted were not fully exonerated until 2001.

That’s a little late, guys.


FAST FORWARD TO THE 21ST CENTURY
In modern times, Salem has become the ultimate October/Halloween destination due to this witch tragedy in 1692-93. The true story of the Salem Witch Trials has been twisted and exploited for every dollar that can be gained as a tourist attraction. The weeks before Halloween are the biggest of the year and often bring in 50,000 to 60,000 visitors.
Gee! Isn’t that about the same number of people who were executed in the European witch hunts?

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The distorted tales have been endlessly taken advantage of. “Stroll the streets of Salem and you’ll see store after quaint store offering everything a witch could need: crystals, candles, and spell books galore. It won’t be hard to find a psychic, or someone willing to read your Tarot cards. Pumpkins and cobwebs line the cobblestone streets. Haunted houses lure in the casual passerby, and everything about the city seems perennially anticipating October. Even the police cars are adorned with little witch icons.” websites.emerson.edu/salem-exploitation-of-tragedy/
 ​Image Source: websites.emerson.edu/

WHERE THERE’S SMOKE, THERE’S FIRE
What puzzled me was the fact that after Betty and Abigail were afflicted with severe convulsions and other unusual behavior, other people in the community came down with the same symptoms.

One modern scientific theory, supported by evidence found by Dr. Linnda Caporael of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1976, hypothesizes that the severe symptoms could have been the result of ergotism. This is a fungal disease commonly contracted by rye after a severe winter and a damp spring, conditions which historians claim were present in 1691, and therefore affected the rye harvested for consumption in 1692.

“Eating ergot can cause vomiting, choking, fits, hallucinations, and the sense of something crawling on one’s skin. The hallucinogen LSD is a derivative of ergot.” britannica.com/rye-bread-may-have-caused-salem-witch-trials

Thus, consuming bread or cereal made of rye that has been infected with the fungus ergot would account for the spread of the symptoms in most of the cases.

JUST SAYIN’
Sources:

https://www.enotes.com/topics/religion-thirteen-colonies/questions/many-puritans-claimed-they-came-north-america-501380
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/studentOmeka/files/original/Vol._48_num._1_Clio_-_2021/6833/Clio_Ch_7_Miller.pdf
https://www.havefunwithhistory.com/why-did-colonists-come-to-america/
https://americanheritage.org/who-were-the-pilgrims/””
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Puritanism
https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Winthrop-American-colonial-governor
https://newenglandfolklore.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-venus-glass-or-fortune-telling-with.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salem,_Massachusetts
https://www.history.com/articles/were-witches-burned-at-the-stake-during-the-salem-witch-trials
https://www.history.com/articles/notable-women-executed-salem-witch-trials
https://historyofmassachusetts.org/witches-burned-stake-salem/
https://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs-myth/witches-burned-at-stake-in-salem.htm
https://www.britannica.com/facts/Salem-witch-trials
https://ghostcitytours.com/salem/
https://newenglandfolklore.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-venus-glass-or-fortune-telling-with.html
https://www.britannica.com/event/Salem-witch-trials
https://www.britannica.com/story/how-rye-bread-may-have-caused-the-salem-witch-trials
https://salemwitchmuseum.com/videos/what-caused-the-salem-witch-trials/
https://www.historytools.org/stories/the-salem-witch-trials-a-comprehensive-analysis-from-a-historians-perspective
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winthrop_Fleet
https://tosalem.com/salem-courthouse-1692/
https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ma-putnam/
https://liznicjackcaitlyn.weebly.com/salem-life-in-1692.html
https://patch.com/massachusetts/salem/salems-stay-away-halloween-message-gains-national-attention
https://salemma.gov/
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WHO GOT THERE FIRST? National “Indigenous-Aboriginal-Native-Original” Peoples Day Revisited

10/1/2025

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 NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY 
I was pondering what to write about for my October blog and decided to update my prior piece on National Indigenous People’s Day posted in 2022. Proclaimed in the United States as a national holiday in 1992, Indigenous People’s Day, celebrated on the second Monday of October, honors the cultures and histories of the Native American people. That seemed simple enough.

However, I soon discovered these days there is no such things as a simple update. First, I discovered that in many locations, this day is celebrated in May. Oops! However,  the official day is still in October. Then, when reviewing the content and photographs, it dawned on me that they didn’t include anything about Hawaiians.

My bad! They are Americans, too. So, of course, I started researching and, holy moly, things got complicated in a heartbeat. I immediately ran onto a post by hawaiiankingdom.org (February 26, 2016) stating that “Natives of the Hawaiian Islands are not Indigenous People. They’re Aboriginal.”

Oh, boy! As usual, these discussions nearly always have their roots in the way human beings express ideas in language, both spoken and written.

THE DREADED
SEMANTICS
First, no one seems to agree completely on anything, including definitions. I was immediately entangled in the nuances between the words “aboriginal,” “native”, “indigenous”, “local”, and even "endemic."  Some sources see them as synonyms and some define them as separate things. Who do you believe?

https://search.yahoo.com/ AI Definition
● Indigenous: refers to the original inhabitants of a region, encompassing various groups
   worldwide.

● Aboriginal: specifically pertains to the first peoples of Australia and their descendants.


https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/
● Indigenous: of, relating to, or descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a place
​   and especially of a place that was
colonized.
● Aboriginal: 1) being the first or earliest known of its kind present in a region; 2) of or
   relating o the people who have been in a region from the earliest time.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/
● Indigenous: used to refer to the people who originally lived in a place rather than people
   who moved there from somewhere else, or to things that relate to these people.

● Aboriginal: a member of a race of people who were the first people to live in a country,
   before any
colonists arrived.

Are you confused yet? Here’s my take on things, although no one asked.


HUMAN BEINGS CATEGORIZE EVERYTHING
Life would be simpler if humans were not compelled by their brain structure to classify everything in  subsets, which includes other humans. However, there is plenty of research which provides evidence that human brains are hardwired to group things.

Classification comes naturally to us because the human brain has a propensity to recognize patterns and similarities. “When you look at a set of items, your brain instinctively notices their similarities. These patterns allow you to mentally categorize them and make quicker, more informed decisions,” undoubtedly necessary for early—and modern--survival.
https://lis.academy (2024)  

That is likely because humans can only hold a few pieces of information in short-term (active) memory. Some years ago, Harvard Professor and author George Miller claimed that humans have a hard time retaining more than seven to nine digits in short-term memory. More contemporary science has lowered that number to three or four pieces of information the working memory can pay attention to and manipulate at one time.

The human brain has evolved to recognize patterns, perhaps more than any other single function. Our brain looks for shortcuts to process logic, remember facts, and make judgments, but pattern recognition is its deep core capability and the fundamental basis for intelligence, language, creative thought and innovation. The combination of the pattern and the simplicity makes it easy to understand, easy to remember, and easy to pass on to others
.
https://www.melissahughes.rocks

ALL HUMAN BEINGS CAME FROM SOMEWHERE
All of us, and our ancestors and progenitors, were born somewhere, some sooner, some later. It seems to boil down to a competition about who got there first. 

If one accepts the word indigenous, in the common jargon of taxonomy, to mean “originating or occurring naturally in a particular place,” whereas aboriginal means “inhabiting or existing in a land from the earliest times,” also referring to human migration as “first to arrive in a region,” then who is aboriginal vs. indigenous
boils down to the time in history.

The North America Timeline

All dates are estimated by professionals and they vary, but one can approach it based on thousands of years vs. hundreds of years.

● Around 20,000 to 14,000 BCE: People migrated from Siberia (Asia) to Alaska (North America) over the Bering Land Bridge.                                               ▼ Image Source: Animalia-life.club

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New evidence found in Chiquihuite Cave, Mexico, including tools made from a type of limestone not originating from the cave itself, suggests that humans first arrived in North America possibly as far back as 28,000 BCE, but occupation did not become widespread until the very end of the last ice age, around 12,700 to 10,900 BCE.

Either way, migrations from Asia started thousands of years ago and spread slowly south- and eastward over the North American continent. These early migrations took thousands of years, but by around 10,000 years ago diverse cultures began to emerge, adapting to various environments. As agriculture developed around 3,000 years ago populations increased and spread even further.

In fact, by the time European adventurers arrived in the 15th century, scholars estimate that more than 50 million people inhabited in the Americas. Of these, some 10 million lived in the area that would become the United States.


● Around 1000 AD: Leif Erikson is believed to have landed in North America, and
​   established a settlement called Vinland, likely located in present-day Newfoundland,
   Canada.
● October 12, 1492: Christopher Columbus landed on an island, known now as San
   Salvador, in the Bahamas.

And The Winner Is… ?
​
Wait a minute!
What about all the other “Indigenous-Aboriginal-Native-Original” Peoples who are American citizens? Doesn’t our National Day honor them as well?


State of Hawaii
Whether or not the inhabitants of the original inhabitants of the Hawaiian Islands were are considered indigenous, aboriginal, or native, they inhabited the location long before Captain James Cook landed in Waimea, in January 1778. He is credited for being the first European to discover the islands, and named them the Sandwich Islands after the fourth Earl of Sandwich.

​The State consists of 137 islands, of which eight are considered major. The Hawaiian Island archipelago extends some 1,500 miles from the southernmost island of Hawaii to the northernmost Kure Atoll.

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                    ▲ Image Source: ufwkk5.quioneroudle.com/                                         Image Source: https://getwallpapers.com/
Humans are estimated to have first inhabited the archipelago between 124 and 1120 AD. The original settlers of are believed to be Marquesans and other Polynesians who sailed 3,000 miles in canoes to the Hawaiian Island chain in the middle of the great ocean, with nothing but the stars, the trade winds, and their navigational skills to guide them. They initially inhabited Kaua’i.
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◄ Man In Ti Leaf Cape And Malo, Holding A Paddle And Standing by Canoe.
Image Credit: Pacific Magazine 1923; Ad For The Honolulu Aquarium “An Hawaiian Fisherman Of The Olden Days.”  Image Source: royalcoconutcoast.com/kauai-history

​
The Polynesian’s worshipped a plethora of gods and goddesses and honored their ancestors through various rituals and ceremonies. Their close connection to the land and sea is still evident in Hawaiian culture today.

The original name of the Hawaiian Islands is believed to be “Hawaiʻi”. This name is said to have been derived from the Polynesian navigator Hawaiʻiloa, who is credited with discovering the islands. According to legend, he named the largest island after himself. www.hawaiistar.com/name-hawaiian-islands/

The Tahitians, who came after the Marquesans, were more powerful and eventually forced many of the Marquesans to flee to neighboring islands.

The first settlers from Polynesia only brought with them the most important plants and foods, many of which are still abundant today in Hawaiian culture and diet. The Royal Coconut Coast was the most desirable place to live, even in the early days. Fresh water was always available and the land was perfect for growing taro, yams, and bananas. The coconut trees grew in plenty and served as a source of food and for utensils and fiber

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    ​     ▲ Hawaiian Hula dancers  --   Image Source: stocksy.com                                       ▲ King Kamehame --   Image Source: covingtontravel.com 

Unincorporated Territory of Guam
Guam, the southernmost island of the Mariana Archipelago, is the largest of the Mariana Islands and the largest island (210 sq. miles) in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean It is an unincorporated territory of the United States, and individuals born on Guam are considered citizens of the United States. ballotpedia.org/Citizenship_status
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           ▲ Image Source: www.haasjuwelier.nl/guam                                                                 ▲ Image Source: oneflightaway.com/
The first inhabitants were the Chamorros, who migrated around 3,500 years ago from Southeast Asia, and are related to the Austronesian peoples of the Malay Archipelago, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Polynesia. The language is not classified as a Micronesian or Polynesian language, and possibly constitutes an independent branch of the Malayo-Polynesian language family. The settlers lived in small villages and practiced agriculture, fishing, and hunting.

Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, while in the service of Spain, was the first European to visit and claim the island in March 1521. Guam was fully colonized by Spain in 1668, leading to significant cultural and religious influences that shaped the island's identity. Under the Treaty of Paris, Spain ceded Guam to the U.S. effective April 11, 1899.

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   ▲ Image Source: blog.polynesianpride.co/guam
▲ Chamorro Dancers -- Image Credit: Marilyn Sourgose posted to Flickr as PICT0102
Image Source: commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12006703
Recent decades have witnessed a cultural revival of Chamorro language and traditions. The island celebrates Guam Liberation Day, the Chamorro Cultural Festival, and the Guam Micronesia Island Fair showcasing local arts, crafts, traditional dances, such as the "Sasa" and "Chamorrita”, and cuisine, like red rice and kelaguen (grilled or cooked meat, often chicken or beef and mixed with fresh ingredients like lemon juice, onions, and chili peppers.) Today, Chamorro culture remains a vital part of Guam and the Mariana Islands' identity.

Unincorporated Territory and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
The Northern Mariana Islands is an unincorporated territory and commonwealth of the United States consisting of the 14 northernmost islands in the Mariana Archipelago in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The southernmost island of the archipelago is Guam, a separate territory. Individuals born in the Northern Marianas are considered citizens of the United States.
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◄ Image source: www.bing.com/images/s

The early history of the islands is essentially the same as that of Guam, with the original inhabitants being the Chamorros.

A characteristic of the Chamorros was the use of a plain, unslipped pottery style. They also developed an ingenious architectural style characterized by parallel rows of upright limestone pillars several feet tall, each topped with hemispheric capstones, called halege, as supports for structures. These structures, called latte, may have served as houses and canoe sheds. Lattes were often found in pairs, supporting a wooden platform above.

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The effects of the early explorers and those who followed them to the islands were mixed. Stone and shell tools were replaced with ironware and European cloth was introduced, but the traders also brought infectious diseases, including influenza, smallpox, leprosy, venereal diseases, and tuberculosis, which severely depleted the indigenous population.

Over the centuries, the Northern Marianas was controlled by Spain, Germany, and Japan. After WWII, the islands were part of the United Nations trust territories under American administration before formally joining the United States as a territory in 1986, with their population gaining United States citizenship. britannica.com/place/Northern-Mariana-Islands
​

Unincorporated Territory and Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory and commonwealth of the United States, and individuals born in Puerto Rico are considered citizens of the United States.
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              ▲  Image Source: images.search.yahoo.com                                               ▲ Image Source: www.wallpaperaccess.com
​The first known occupants of Puerto Rico were the Taínos, an offshoot of the Arawak Native Americans, who arrived on the island (from South America) around 800 AD, close to a thousand years before the arrival of the Spanish. This people is sometimes referred by others to as Island Arawaks or Antillean Arawaks. The Taíno referred to Puerto Rico as "Borikén," meaning "Land of the Brave."They had a complex social structure, with a hierarchy of chiefs, sub-chiefs, commoners, and (according to some sources) slaves. A substantial number of Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and Dominicans have Indigenous mitochondrial DNA, which may suggest Taíno descent through the direct female line, especially in Puerto Rico.  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta%C3%ADno

The Taínos were also skilled artisans, creating beautiful pottery, jewelry, and woven textiles. Their culture believed in many gods and spirits, and practiced a form of ancestor worship. Like many other indigenous cultures, they believed in the power of nature and the importance of balance and harmony in the world.

Each Taino village had a chieftain, known as a “Cacique, who was both the political and spiritual leader of the community. The culture engaged in a complex system of divination, using methods such as reading the lines on a turtle’s back or interpreting dreams, and were skilled in storytelling. Their myths and legends have been preserved through oral tradition.
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​Experts do not agree on whether or not the Taínos were skilled in agriculture. They did domesticate local crops such as pineapple, sweet potatoes, corn and beans, but “…developed farming methods that required very little time and effort to maintain, allowing ample free time. In this free time, they developed complex religious ceremonies and games of skill, like Batéy.

Batéy is a ball game played on a small court. Two teams attempt to drive the ball past the other team's backline without using their hands.
www.nps.gov/indigenous-peoples.htm
 
Seafood and hunted animals, such as iguanas and hutias, supplemented their diet. They also cultivated tobacco,
which they used in religious ceremonies.                               
Statue of Agüeybaná II, "El Bravo" ▲
                          
                                                                                  Image Credit: Tito Caraballo- www.flickr.com/photos/74513229
​
                                                                                                                                      Image Source:  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20178753

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 ▲Image Source: hablemosdeculturas.com/tainos/       ▲ Image Source: www.travelweekly.com/Puerto-Rico                   Image source: mavnik.com  ▲
As in other parts of the world, the arrival of the Europeans, in this case the Spaniards in the late 15th century, brought disease and conflict to the island. The Taínos initially welcomed the Spaniards, believing them to be gods. However, as the Spaniards began to enslave and kill the Taínos, their relationship deteriorated. The Taínos rebelled against the Spanish, but were ultimately unable to resist Spanish domination.

The Taínos had no immunity to the diseases brought by the Spanish, and many died from illnesses such as smallpox and measles. The Spaniards also enslaved and killed many Taínos, leading to the decline and eventual extinction of the Taíno population.

Taino Heritage Month (October) is celebrated in Puerto Rico to honor indigenous culture. Celebrations include educational events, workshops, and cultural performances. Activities often involve traditional music, dance, and art.

Unincorporated Territory of The Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands are an unincorporated territory of the United States, and Individuals born in there are considered citizens of the United States. 

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    ▲​ Image Credit and Source: https://www.worldatlas.com/                                                             ​▲ Image Source: www.earthtrekkers.com/
They are a group of islands and cays located in the Lesser Antilles of the Eastern Caribbean, consisting of three main islands (Saint Croix, Saint John, and Saint Thomas) and fifty smaller islets and cays. Like many of their Caribbean neighbors, the history of the islands is characterized by native Amerindian settlement, European colonization, and the Atlantic slave trade.

The original human occupants of the Virgin Islands arrived from South America “about 2500 to 3000 years ago. “The oldest archeological site found on St. John is near the beach at Lameshur Bay. Today, we know very little about these earliest human inhabitants of the Virgin Islands. These early explorers of the islands were nomadic hunter-gatherers. They likely traveled to the Virgin Islands from South America and made short trips from island to island as they made their way north. They left behind no evidence of agriculture or villages, and likely lived in caves or out in the open.” www.nps.gov/indigenous-peoples.htm

The second major influx of humans, the Taino, arrived 1,000 to 1,300 years ago. As stated before, although they spoke an Arawakan language, the culture varied significantly.

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        ▲ Taino petroglyphs Virgin Islands                                       ▲ Taino Artifact (about 900 AD)                                   ▲Taino petroglyphs Virgin Islands 
            Image Source: www.pinterest.com                                            Image Credit: NPS photo.                                        Image Source: www.pinterest.com


​Despite their complex social organization, the Antillean Arawak were not given to warfare. They were driven out of the Lesser Antilles by the more war-like Caribs (Kalingo and Ciboney peoples) shortly before the appearance of the Spanish.

Europeans first encountered these islands during Columbus' second voyage. Over the next century, settlers from across western Europe laid claim to the land and the majority of Indigenous peoples either perished or were displaced. The islands initially profited from the triangular trade, and many enslaved peoples were brought to the islands, beginning in 1673.

TAKE AWAY
Unless you are an anthropologist, scientist, linguist, or other related profession, or unless you are an activist, there is no particular meaning to the words native, original inhabitants, indigenous, aboriginal, etc. in relation to honoring the human beings who first occupied a particular area of land, their culture, their suffering, and their contributions. Indigenous is as good a word as any.

● The First Bottom Line: Whoever Got There First.
The only two categories seem to be human inhabitants-pre-European-discovery and human inhabitants-post-European discovery. Most of the indigenous peoples, wherever they were located in the world, in the pre-European-discovery period were:
1) treated badly (even enslaved);
2) stripped of their possessions, culture, and religious beliefs; and
3) exposed to diseases for which they had no immunity.

Thus, the arrival of the white Europeans nearly or completely decimating the original culture.


● The Second Bottom Line: I Don’t Feel Guilty.
While the historical facts are deplorable, they happened. I do not feel personally guilty that they happened, since I wasn’t around to be part of it on either side, but I do feel regret that humanity was and is not very kind by nature. I believe that, as a species, we can do better, and I also believe that all of us alive today have a responsibility to assure these kinds of things do not happen again.

Good luck with that one.!


JUST SAYIN’

Sources:

https://www.melissahughes.rocks/post/the-rule-of-three
https://www.history.com/articles/native-american-cultures
https://hawaiiankingdom.org/blog/natives-of-the-hawaiian-islands-are-not-indigenous-theyre-aboriginal/
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/
https://search.yahoo.com/
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/
https://nativepartnership.org/the-ambivalent-history-of-indigenous-people-and-u-s-citizenship/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_the_Native_Hawaiians
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_Hawaii
https://www.hawaiistar.com/what-was-the-original-name-for-the-hawaiian-islands/
https://www.britannica.com/place/Northern-Mariana-Islands/History
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta%C3%ADno
https://caribbeantrading.com/hispanic-heritage-month-how-puerto-rico-celebrates-its-cultural-roots-in-september/
https://aftvoices.org/embracing-my-ta%C3%ADno-heritage-146a53b552b8
https://ballotpedia.org/Citizenship_status_in_territories_of_the_United_States
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_United_States_Virgin_Islands
https://www.nps.gov/viis/learn/historyculture/indigenous-peoples.htm
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Arawak
https://www.puertoricotravel.guide/blog/taino-symbols-and-meanings/

https://travelasker.com/which-indigenous-people-lived-on-the-island-of-puerto-rico/#:~:text=The%20Ta%C3%ADnos%20were%20the%20first%20known%20inhabitants%20of,with%20a%20hierarchy%20of%20chiefs%2C%20sub-chiefs%2C%20and%20commoners.

Photos
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12006703
https://blog.polynesianpride.co/guam-cultural-dance/
https://www.mapsland.com/oceania/mariana-islands/detailed-political-map-of-northern-mariana-islands
https://hablemosdeculturas.com/cultura-tainos/
https://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Puerto-Rico-tour-highlights-the-Taino-people
https://www.worldatlas.com/
https://getwallpapers.com/
http://oneflightaway.com/
https://www.artofit.org/
https://wallpaperaccess.com/
https://www.earthtrekkers.com/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/74513229@N03/7524396020/in/photostream, CC BY-SA 2.0, TitoCaraballo
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20178753
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20178753

https://www.flickr.com/photos/74513229@N03/7524396020/in/photostream, CC BY-SA 2.0
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20178753


https://www.haasjuwelier.nl/tsfml-world-map-with-guam-ymwks/
Image address)   https://i2.wp.com/i.insider.com/5d60599e6f24eb297f0ee5e2?width=1100&format=jpeg&auto=webp

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20178753https://www.flickr.com/photos/74513229@N03/7524396020/in/photostream, CC BY-SA 2.0

https://ufwkk5.quioneroudle.com/click.php?key=0xwzal3dg7hufvc8xa3u&COST_CPC=&PUBLISHER_ID=327252&ZONE_

https://royalcoconutcoast.com/kauai-history/?gad_source=5&gad_campaignid=21184238597&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIy-KXpI3wjwMV3K5aBR2SdBmAEAAYAiAAEgJ5tfD_BwE


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ITALIAN BABY GANGS: School Dropouts, not toddlers

9/22/2025

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“You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people your meet and the books you read.” ~ ​Charles “Tremendous” Jones, Motivational Author and Speaker 

How true that is! Before reading a recent book by Donna Leon, I had never heard of the phenomenal problem with “Baby Gangs” in Italy, or if I had heard something, I didn’t pay attention. And I listen to the Italian news channels on TV nearly every day with my husband but don’t translate the words. My bad!

WHAT IS AN ITALIAN “BABY GANG”?
Is it this? 
▼                                                       Or this? ▼ 
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  Image Source: tuscanynowandmore.com                                                                              Image Source: restoalsud.it
Unfortunately, we are talking about those children on the right.

Italian Baby Gangs are described by Paul Tierney, writing for independent.co.uk/news as, “Barely pubescent, menacing gangs known to locals as ‘children of the devil’. You hear them before you see them: a low, feral rumble rising to something shrill and uncomfortable. Lungs bellow for prominence, limbs kick and shove. Around the corner they emerge, tanned legs and bum-fluff moustaches, hormones not so much burgeoning as exploding into action.”

These boys and girls, 12 to 15 years old and under, are thought to be a symptom of malaise in Italy resulting from an era of economic crisis. They roam the streets without purpose, some in oversized designer streetwear, shoving one another into the roads, voraciously smoking cigarettes, and taking over the sidewalks “like a squadron of designer rug rats”.


Some believe the gangs are second-generation Italians, some white, some migrants. They don’t share ethnicity or background but invisibility. Children growing up in a vacuum of attention, structure, and love.        Nihilistic attacks, often on other young people, have resulted in fatalities 
                                                                                    
      Image Credit: Alamy ▼- Image Source: independent.co.uk/news
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WHY NAPLES?
Although Naples is particularly well known in Europe for Baby Gangs, the phenome-non exists throughout Italy--Donna Leon’s book was set in Venice–and the gangs’ ebullient attitude and ill-suppressed violence have become a national dilemma.
 
Anything can set these undisciplined youth gangs off, resulting in violent attacks, sometimes with multiple fatalities. They are ruleless and, on general principles, go against anything society tells them.

​
The problem in Naples is characterized as stemming from “…a population who live in silent fear of organized crime...La Camorra." Organized crime knows that in Italy children under 14 cannot be prosecuted to the same degree as an adult and so targets them to commit specific crimes. They can give kids money, cars, designer clothes. In southern Italy, you are always judged by what you wear. It’s a way of showing people how much money you’ve got, or what kind of class you belong to. Kids have to and want to belong to something, and the more popular the better. The young minds are indoctrinated with the idea that you don’t need to go to school or have a career to have it all, and this is how the recruitment begins.

James Anderson, contributing editor at i-D magazine, attributes baby gangs to the internet.
“Being exposed to life, in both its fabulous and gory extremes, does strange things to adolescent minds…To be looked at, talked about, admired or vilified, it’s the classic way of “showing out”. Young people want to do things on their own terms and they are demanding your attention in ever more lurid ways.”

HISTORY OF GANG CUTURE
Youth Gangs are nothing new in Italy. Teenagers for generations have congregated in the piazzas looking for kicks, and it’s mostly been tutto bene. In the mid-1950s, the young swooned to American jazz, immortalized the cup of coffee, and hopped onto scooters to circle the Colosseum.

In the mid-1980s, a “scene” called the Paninari evolved around a pre-McDonalds burger place in Milan named Burghy. This youth gang was right-wing, flashy, show-off kids who wanted to signal how rich their parents were by showing off what they could afford.

However, since the mid-1990s, there have been growing demonstrations of antisocial behaviors in public spaces throughout Europe, causing increased public and political concern with regard to criminal activity. Until about 2000, Italian baby gangs, had not traditionally meant as a 'security' problem, but rather as a matter of educational and social policies.

The advent of social-media, however, is believed to have introduced more violence into juvenile street group activities, including Baby Gangs, and has become a recurrent topic in media representation, a source of citizens' insecurity, and focus of legislative and law enforcement activity. researchgate.net/Youth_deviance

Nowadays, these groups make videos of their activities on mobile phones and post them on the internet, vying for gang dominance. One preferred method of asserting such dominance is the stesa – a term that comes from the word stendere (“to stretch out”) – the gang bursts into a public space, “riding mopeds and firing at random, usually in the air.”

There is safety in numbers, and the baby gang culture definitely understands this. These gangs want to go incognito; they want to look like they are going something illegal – or are really doing it -- and don’t want to be identified.


WHAT IS ITALY DOING ABOUT THIS?
Italy has some stringent laws about how children under 14 are to be dealt with in relation to illegal activities, making it difficult to address the problems with “Baby Gangs”. Because so much of the phenomenon seems to be tied to dropping out of school, in 2023 Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni signed a measure which crackdowns on parents of Italian children who drop out of school. They could even face jail sentences under new steps to counter juvenile delinquency in the wake of a series of high profile crimes blamed on teenagers.


Italy has the fifth-highest share of school dropouts in Europe, 11.5% in 2022, with percentages peaking above 15% in Campania and Sicily, the regions that comprise Naples and Palermo. reuters.com/italy-govt-targets-parents-baby-gang

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◄ Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
​

"Juvenile crime is spreading like an oil stain," Meloni said. Indicating that the state had preferred to shy away from tackling the problem in the past, she stressed that "…nobody wants to throw 12-year-olds in jail…the measures are ‘preventative, not repressive’, and are part of a crackdown on youth crime.” wantedinrome.com/news

Although the problem hasn’t gone away since, the measure went into effect, cities and provinces are passing similar laws.

​
JUST SAYIN’
Sources:
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/italy-govt-targets-violent-teens-parents-baby-gang-crackdown-2023-09-07/
https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/young-people
https://www.thinktank.vision/en/media-en/articles/young-blood-naples-baby-gangs
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/baby-gangs-italy-causes-consequences-solutions
https://theurbanactivist.com/cohesion/italian-rapper-gets-real-on-baby-gangs/
https://www.familyandmedia.eu/en/baby-gangs-what-they-are-what-they-do-and-what-we-can-do-about-them/
https://www.centromachiavelli.com/en/2021/05/29/milano-capitale-crimine-bande-baby-gang-rapine-degrado/
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/italy-govt-targets-violent-teens-and-parents-in-baby-gang-crackdown
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7730211/
https://www.interno.gov.it/it/notizie/mappatura-nazionale-baby-gang-realta-aumento-italia
https://medium.com/@darkitaly/italys-lost-youth-baby-gangs-and-the-violence-we-refuse-to-see-1a31b835a7d4
https://fra.europa.eu/en/databases/criminal-detention/node/7999
https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/italy-to-crack-down-on-youth-crime.html
https://www.milanopost.info/2025/04/09/legge-regionale-baby-gang/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/377336266_Youth_deviance_urban_security_and_moral_panic_the_case_of_Italy
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/italy-young-people-i-bambini-del-diavolo-mafia-organised-crime-fashion-a8525416.html

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THE ELEPHANT ORPHAN PROJECT

9/13/2025

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Because September 22 is World Elephant Appreciation Day, I thought it fitting to post this blog about the elephant rescue and rehabilitation projects in Africa.

ELEPHANT FACTS
African Elephants, the noblest of pachyderms, are the largest land mammal on earth today. We've all seen them in zoos and perhaps at the circus, but up close and personal, they are really big.

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​Their average life span in the wild is 70 years. Their height at the shoulder is from 8.2 to 13 feet, and can weight from 2.5 to 7 tons. They are slightly larger than their Asian cousins and can be identified by the larger ears. Asian elephants have smaller, rounded ears.  Height comparison between elephant and man ►
                                                           Image Source: letstalksport.co.uk


Elephant ears radiate heat to help keep these large animals cool, but sometimes the African heat is too much. Elephants are fond of water and enjoy showering by sucking water into their trunks and spraying it all over themselves. Afterwards, they often spray their skin with a protective coating of dust. An elephant's trunk is actually a long nose used for smelling, breathing, trumpeting, drinking, and also for grabbing things—especially a potential meal. The trunk alone contains about 100,000 different muscles.
   ▼ Image Credit: R. Ann Siracusa (2008)
   

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Elephants are social animals and travel in herds of 6 to 12 (but can expand to about 20). The family consists of the matriarchal head, her daughters, and their calves. The matriarch dictates where the herd goes and helps to teach the younger elephants proper behavior. Female elephants, or cows, live in multigenerational family groups with other females, and they remain with their natal group for life, sharing responsibility for calves. The females assist each other with the birth and care of their young.
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Males stay with the family until they reach 12 to 15 years of age, when they leave the herd to live alone or join up with other bulls. Male and female elephants live separately with bulls only visiting when some of the females are in their mating season, known as estrus.
​

Elephants are a keystone species and dramatically affect their landscape. They are seed dispersers and influence forest composition, creating clearings to boost tree regrowth and reducing cover to create suitable habitat for browsing and grazing animals.

AN ELEPHANT RIDE

In 2008, I traveled in Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, and Namibia. There, we not only observed and photographed elephants in the wild...but we rode them. To be truthful, we rode elephants that are part on an elephant rescue project and not in the wild.

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​Poaching is a major issue throughout Africa, as well as loss of habitat. The Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust plays a role in the rescue of injured or trapped animals and their rehabilitation. This is one of the many elephant rescuse/ rehabilitation projects in Africa.
                                                            Image Credits: R. Ann Siracusa
            Ann, her friend Shirley Wilder, and Donald (the keeper), riding Tatu.
►

          ▼Members of tour group mounting their elephant.

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​Mounting the elephant in this fashion proved to be hazardous. When the elephant stood, the passengers tipped back and nearly fell off. The rest of us made the smart choice and climbed steps to a wooden platform more or less level with the elephant's back. Still, the animals are so big that it wasn't easy getting into the saddle.

The elephants we rode are part of a program which rescues injured and "homeless" elephants. Usually, these are babies who have lost their mothers or sick elephants left behind by the herd. After they are brought back to health, and when they are old enough, some of them provide tourists with a half-hour to forty five minute thrill. This helps finance the rescue program.

The older elephants are not released back into the wild even though elephants are social animals and one of the few species that will take outsiders into the herd. However, they accept the outsides on a trial basis, but if the visitor misbehaves, it may be thrown out.

Donald told us he had taken care of Tatú for fifteen years.


THE ELEPHANT ORPHAN PROJECT
The African elephant is endangered due to poaching (for ivory) and loss of range through deforestation. In the early 1900s, there were about 10 million elephants in Africa. By 1970 there were 1.3 million; by 2007, somewhere between 500,000 and 700,000; by 2016, only an estimated 352,000 survived. According to ourworldindata.org/,  in 2024 the estimated African elephant population in the wild was 415,000. Asian elephants number 40,000 to 50,000. As of 2021, the African elephant species is on the IUCN Red List of Endangered and Critically Endangered Species.

​    ▼Image Source:www.foxnews.com/ivory-poaching

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​Elephant Orphanages exist in several locations in Africa, but the most significant is in Kenya. It exists within the Nairobi National Park under the auspices of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. The project was previously overseen by Dr. Daphne Sheldrick, who died in 2018 at the age of 83. The mantle of matriarch passed to her daughter Angela, who had  run the program for over 17 years, supported by her husband Robert Carr-Hartley, and sons Taru and Roan. 

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                                      Dr. Sheldrick and daughters, Angela Sheldrick & Jill Woodley.►
                             Image Credit:The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust/A.F.P.,Getty Images
                             Image Source: www.nytimes.com/2018/04/17/obituaries


At the heart of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's conservation activities is the Orphan’s Project, which has achieved world-wide acclaim through its successful elephant and rhino rescue and rehabilitation program. According to 2018 data, they had successfully raised 247 orphan elephants and hand raised 140 infants. In addition, 31 babies had been born in the wild, off spring of orphans raised and released back into the wild.

After each orphan rescue, the long and complex rehabilitation process begins at the DSWT’s Nursery, nestled within the Nairobi National Park. During this crucial phase, milk-dependent elephant calves are cared for and healed both emotionally and physically by the Trust’s dedicated team of elephant Keepers. Each elephant remains at the Nursery until they are ready to journey to one of two rehabilitation stockades in Tsavo East National Park, over one hundred miles southeast of Nairobi. This second phase of rehabilitation sees each orphan gradually transition back into the wild herds of Tsavo, taking up to ten years before the orphans can finally return to the wild.

YOU CAN "ADOPT" AN ELEPHANT
As with most mammals, the baby elephant's world is its mother, then the extended family. Elephants are particularly vulnerable to psychological despair if it loses its natural family. Even bulls, which separate from pod, never forget their female family.

In the orphanages, the elephants need a replacement human family i.e. enough keepers to represent a “family”. The orphan needs physical and mental care to grow up psychologically stable. If they are psychologically unstable and neurotic they will not be welcomed into the wild herds and risk rejection.


The keepers are with the young elephants 24 hours a day, traveling with them as a group during the day, sleeping with them at night. Babies need contact at all times. Keepers rotate so that a different keeper sleeps with a different elephant each night, to avoid strong attachments to just one person.

Source of Images:
​www.nytimes.com/2018/04/17/obituaries/daphne-sheldrick-who-saved-orphaned-elephants-has-died-at-83.html

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As you can imagine, the orphanage costs a lot, in part because they are labor intensive, in part because elephants eat a lot. As part of the funding raising, you can adopt a particular elephant for fifty dollars and contribute to their upbringing, while receiving information about the rescue and ongoing progress report and photos. There are pages of elephants waiting for adoption. Contact https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans
JUST SAYIN’

Current Sources
:
https://nationaldaycalendar.com/elephant-appreciation-day-september-22
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/24/dame-daphne-sheldrick-obituary
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/424534702347703553/?lp=true
https://www.elephantand.co/blogs/blog/world-wide-elephant-charities
https://gifts.worldwildlife.org/gift-center/gifts/species-adoptions/african-elephant.aspx
https://www.foxnews.com/science/queen-of-ivory-africas-infamous-poaching-mastermind-nabbed
https://sciencing.com/elephants-mate-4574022.html
https://secure.awf.org/page/161332/donate/1?utm_campaign=fy26_brand&supporter.appealCode=b26qa5e01w&utm_source=bing&utm_term=cpc&utm_content=null&msclkid=eb75579d593a13bb5ef63febf2f6e288&utm_medium=cpc
https://ourworldindata.org/elephant-populations
https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/nursery-visit
https://www.ourendangeredworld.com/david-sheldrick-wildlife-trust/
https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/orphans
Prior Sources:
http://vicfallswildlifetrust.org/VFWT%20Website/Wildlife%20Rescue.html
https://www.safarious.com/en/posts/4555-elephant-rescue-at-camp-hwange
http://www.rescue.org/program/programs-zimbabwe
http://www.amanzitravel.co.uk/rhino-and-elephant-sanctuary
http://www.afrizim.com/Activities/Victoria_Falls/Elephant_Rides.asp
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/a/african-elephant/
http://www.elephantsforever.co.za/family-structure.html
http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/31/africa/great-elephant-census/index.html
http://mentalfloss.com/article/82974/10-royal-facts-about-babar-elephant
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LABOR DAY: celebrating American Workers

8/31/2025

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Today in the United States September 1 is celebrated as Labor Day: The last bastion of summer; the last big hurrah; the three-day weekend of barbeques and beaches before autumn sets in.  The holiday is meant to honor the American worker -- The average Jacks and Jills who go to work every day, make living, raise families, and making this country function. But it didn't begin as fun and games and backyard BBQues.

THE ORIGINAL LABOR DAY
Back in the 19th century, while some children in white danced around May poles to celebrate spring, other children worked in coal mines and performed other hard-labor. The Second Industrial Revolution witnessed numerous workers dying every day from long hours and terrible working conditions, and everyone breathed the smoke-filled air belching in black clouds from industrial smoke stacks.

Workers began to grumble about working conditions, and labor organizations sprang up both in Europe and America. In 1866, the National Labor Union was formed in the US as people become vocal about their rights, the need for safer conditions, and shorter work hours.


THE HAYMARKET RIOTS
Chicago had been a center of work-related agitation for some time, and a railroad strike in 1877 had ended in violence. In 1884, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions (FOTLU) chose to hold their national convention in Chicago where they issued an ultimatum that after May 1, 1886, the legal work day would be eight hours.

Two years later, when that FOTLU deadline approached, “an estimated quarter million workers in the Chicago area became directly involved in the crusade to implement the eight hour work day, including the Trades and Labor Assembly, the Socialistic Labor Party and local Knights of Labor,” according to an archived synopsis published by the Industrial Workers of the World in 1993. ​msn.com/en-us/the-real-history-of-may-day/

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​Image Source: www.pixels.com
​
The generally quiet demonstration broke out in violence on May 3 at McCormick Reaper Works, where police and demonstrators clashed and set off a vicious scuffle that left several workers dead.
The next day, a large crowd gathered at Chicago’s Haymarket Square to protest the previous day’s killings. At first, the proceedings were civilized, and even Chicago mayor Carter Harrison attended. Then someone in the crowd threw an explosive at the police. In reaction, law enforcement officers fired indiscriminately into the crowd which included workers and their own police officers.


Chaos and violence ensued between police and demonstrators with by-standers in between. At least 7 policemen were killed and sixty others injured. Sources claim as many demonstrators and civilians were killed and injured (without giving any statistics).

Reliable witnesses testified that all the pistol flashes came from the center of the street, where the police were standing, and none from the crowd. Moreover, initial newspaper reports made no mention of firing by civilians. A telegraph pole at the scene was filled with bullet holes, all coming from the direction of the police.
                                                                    
The Eight Men Convicted of Murder -- Haymarket affair in Chicago
                                                                                                                           I mage Source: pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/chicago-eight

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​The friction between United States authorities and the labor move-ment continued from there. Eight anarchists were arrested and con-victed for murder for throwing the explosive at the police, even though only three were even present at Haymarket and those three were in full view of all when the bombing occurred. In 1889, May Day was chosen as the date for “International Workers’ Day” to commemorate the men convicted of the Haymarket affair murders, and the struggle for an eight-hour working day.

THE PULLMAN STRIKE
The Pullman Strike was two interrelated strikes in 1894 that shaped national labor policy in the United States during a period of deep economic depression.

The Pullman Strike occurred in Illinois on May 11, 1894. Without going into the gory details, three thousand railroad workers went on a wildcat strike without the authorization of their union because of the way George Mortimer Pullman, founder and president of the Pullman Palace Car Company, treated his workers.

Image Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pullman_Strike

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​Ultimately, in trying to subdue the riots, thirty people were killed by the US Military and US Marshalls (some sources say hundreds, other say just a few). President Grover Cleveland made peace with the labor people, but fearing further conflict, the US Congress voted to approve rush legislation establishing Labor Day a national holiday. On June 28, 1894 (only a few days after the end of the strike), President Grover Cleveland signed into law a piece of legislation that created a national Labor Day Holiday in early September.

LABOR DAY IN THE US
Since 1882, various states and cities had been celebrating their own versions of Labor Day at different times of the year, but this action set the date for a national holiday and moved the event away from the May 1 “Workers’ Day”, the recognized date for radical labor protests in Europe.

The US. Congress feared the holiday would be associated with nascent Communist, Syndicalist and Anarchist movements and would appear to celebrate the labor riots of 1884, the Haymarket Affair in 1886, and other May Day riots.  Everything is political, isn't it?

LABOUR DAY AND INTERNATIONAL WORKER’S DAY
International Worker's Day recognizes the International Labor Movement and is celebrated on May 1 in at least eighty countries in the world, including most of Europe.
May 1 continues to be the day for protesting labor and other issues in these countries.

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World Map showing May 1 Celebrations
Image Credit and Source: www.officeholidays.com
Red = Labour Day; Lt. Green = May Day, or Spring Celebration
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In 80+ countries people celebrate Labour Day with a protest.
Labour Day protests in Indonesia
Image Source: www.en.tempo.com

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      In the United States we celebrate Labor        Day by kicking back with a beer.
Image Source: www.camtrader.ca
JUST SAYIN!
□
Sources:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/09/03/what-is-labor-day-and-why-do-we-celebrate-the-holiday-what-to-know/70667832007/
https://medium.com/@iluv2run5k/5-surprising-facts-about-labor-day-99add55260c4

https://www.learnreligions.com/beltane-rites-and-rituals-2561678
https://www.livefromtheloungepodcast.com/post/ep-10-history-of-labor-day-pullman-strike-of-1894
www.thefreedictionary.com/May+Day
https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/history-of-may-day
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day
https://nationaltoday.com/may-day/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/445082375663782263/
https://www.vintagechicagopostcards.com/2020/11/haymarket-square-clash-between-police.html
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/chicago-eight-anarchists
https://daily.jstor.org/how-labor-lost-may-day/
https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1851-1900/The-first-Labor-Day/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/the-real-history-of-may-day/ar-BB1g7fq4?fullscreen=true&cvid=0c753a732e594f5293cc01dae5656548#image=1
https://www.telesurenglish.net/multimedia/Workers-Right-Groups-Commemorate-May-Day-Worldwide-20190501-0013.html
https://thenewamerican.com/traditional-may-day-protests-in-france-become-violent-riots/
https://www.newindianexpress.com/galleries/world/2017/may/01/may-day-in-pics-protesters-worldwide-demand-better-work-conditions-higher-wages-100415.html
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MAKING INFORMED DECISIONS

8/16/2025

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The trick to making good decisions successfully is to make informed decisions. In other words, set goals, gather information, analyze alternatives in relation achieving the goals, making a choice of which option to implement, and analyzing the results.
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WHAT IS THE DECISION MAKING PROCCESS?
“Decision-making is the process of selecting the best course of action from a set of alternative options to
achieve a 
  desired goal or objective.” www.geeksforgeeks.org/
▲ Image Source: Dreamstime.com                                   
Unfortunately, that’s not the method of decision-making most people employ in everyday life. Overall, it is appalling how many choices are made without knowing the desired goal or getting the facts first. Day-to-day decision making is too frequently driven by mood, impulse, hearsay, bias, limited time, and habit.

“When you look at all possible sources of information with an open mind, you can make an informed decision based on facts rather than intuition.” www.psychologytoday.com

That does not imply that informed decision making discounts gut instincts, intuition, or even hearsay. The perception of others, whether true or not, is still a fact that may need to be considered. These are pieces of information used in the analysis necessary to determine the final action. The point is that the decision should not be based on those things alone without considering the other facts.

P.S. A “good” decision requires implementation, even if that is deciding to do nothing. That is always a choice.


THE NATURE OF DECISION MAKING
Every step in life is a choice, even how we react to and feel about things, situations, and people. Most of them humans make without even having to think of it as a decision. 

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​Applying the Pareto Principle (also known as the 80-20% Rule) to decision making, 80% of the results come from 20% of the decisions made. That makes sense because a majority of decisions we make are automatic, without thinking, particularly when the situation is familiar and we have information and experience to rely on (although that can be misleading at times).                                     Image Source: www.linkedin.com/decision-making-marcin▲​

The point of this principle is to recognize that most things in life are not distributed evenly, including decisions. And, of course, to realize that what we might consider “big decisions” are not necessarily the most important ones.

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Big or miniscule, effective decisions are:
1) Goal-oriented;
2) A Dynamic Process;
3) An ongoing process;
4) An intellectual or rational   process;
and
5) Involves alternatives
.
​
◄www.geeksforgeeks.org/ 

THE PROBLEM WITH INFORMED DECISION MAKING
The biggest problem with making informed decisions is the “becoming informed” part.

Even with all the wisdom of the internet at our fingertips, it still takes time and effort to learn enough about whatever it is we need to know. In fact, there is so much out there it is hard to know who to believe. The up side is that once you’ve made certain basic decisions, you don’t have to make them over and over, at least until something changes.

THE STEPS TO INFORMED DECISION MAKING
1. Identifying the problem or decision to be made.
First, pin down the problem/decision to be made, then define the desired goal or outcome of the decision. Incorrectly identifying the problem or decision can derail your efforts from the get-go. Goals associated with the decision need to be quantifiable and feasible.

2. Collecting the information
Once you know what decision is to be made and the goal, collect the facts and information. Don't get caught up in information overload, which can complicate the process. Only gather facts pertinent to the decision to be made, not everything there is to know about the subject. Non-substantial “facts” like intuition or public opinion can be significant also.

3. Discover and Evaluate Alternatives

Equipped with a goal/problem and pertinent data, identify alternative courses of action, assess them in relation to what you need to achieve, the risks, and how much risk you are willing to take, and potential outcomes: i.e. the pros and cons of each potential decision. Remember to consider how the decision is likely to affect others.

4. Select the Best Alternative

5. Implementation and Follow-up
After a set period, which was determined in the first step, revisit your decision to evaluate its effectiveness. Did it achieve the intended goal? If the answer is yes, document the successful strategies for future reference. If not, take this as a learning opportunity to refine your decision-making process for future endeavors
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​TIPS ON MAKING BETTER DECISIONS
Fortunately, most personal and professional choices have few or no long-term, negative consequences. However, sometimes a person has to make a decision that will have a profound impact on their future—from who they marry to where they live to how they manage their professional career.” www.psychologytoday.com
◄ image source: dreamstime.com

● Plan but be flexible and open minded. During the decision-making processes, new ideas and facts may be revealed, suggesting that adjustments need to be made.

● Avoid Overconfidence can interfere with good judgment. Behavioral studies show that people tend to overestimate their performance and the accuracy of their knowledge.

● Identify and Understand the risks, There is a degree of risk with every decision we make. Identifying those and understanding how much risk you are willing to take is essential. Being a good decision-maker sometimes requires being willing to take a risk. Poor decisions can be the result of having grown accustomed to your habits and don’t think about the danger or harm you’re causing.

● Identify and evaluate your habits 
(in relation to the decision to be made) and consider which might be harmful or unhealthy and impede the goal you are trying to achieve. For example, if the goal is to save money on groceries, consider changing your habit of shopping only at a particular store and shop at a different location or at several locations rather than just one store.

● Reframe the problem. The way the question is posed plays a significant role in how you’ll respond and how you’ll perceive your chances of success.
For example,
“Imagine two surgeons. One surgeon tells his patients, ‘Ninety percent of people who undergo this procedure live.’ The other surgeon says, ‘Ten percent of people who undergo this procedure die.’ The facts are the same. However, research shows people who hear "10% of people die" perceive their risk to be much greater."
 www.verywellmind.com/
​

● Evaluate past mistakes. Recognize your biases and emotions that affect choices and • challenge your preconceptions. www.verywellmind.com/


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THE FEAR OF MAKING DECISIONS
No kidding. This is a real phobia with a scientific name: Decidophobia
​

According to Aimee Daramus, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist, "Decidophobia is the fear of making a wrong decision. Most of us have a little anxiety about some decisions, but someone with decidophobia will feel intense, paralyzing fear about even everyday decisions.”   www.verywellmind.com/decidophobia

Decidophobia is classified as a specific phobia, under the umbrella of anxiety disorders. The mental health profession defines a specific phobia as an extreme, irrational fear of a specific object or situation that doesn’t actually pose any danger. Well, I would think certain decisions do pose a danger, but no one asked me for my opinion.
There has not been much research on this phobia, so scientists don’t know how common it is, but studies do indicate that 12.5% of all adults in the US will experience a specific phobia in their lifetime.

JUST SAYIN’

Sources:
https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/business-studies/6-steps-of-decision-making-process/
https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/business-studies/decision-making/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/decision-making
https://www.verywellmind.com/habits-for-better-decision-making-4153045
https://www.verywellmind.com/decidophobia-symptoms-causes-diagnosis-and-treatment-5222087
https://www.simplypsychology.org/pareto-principle.html
https://www.truworthwellness.com/blog/10-steps-for-quick-great-decisions/
https://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/5-tips-for-lightning-fast-decision-making.html
https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/decidophobia
​

https://www.linkedin.com/onboarding/start/profile-location/new/?session_redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fpulse%2Fpareto-analysis-8020-rule-effective-decision-making-marcin-majka-91g9f&source=coreg

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GROCERY SHOPPING TIPS

8/1/2025

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  • ​The trick to doing anything successfully is to make informed decisions. In other words, set goals, gather information, analyze alternatives in relation achieving the goals, and choose between options.
◄​ Image Source:www.istock.com

Overall, it is scary how most people make choices without getting the facts first. We may put extensive time and research into picking the best car to buy or buying other big-ticket items (although we may not) but day-to-day decision making is too frequently driven by mood, impulse, hearsay, and limited time.

Grocery shopping is just another activity where many uninformed decisions are made, and those may cost us a lot of money and affect our long-term health.

The problem with making informed decisions is the “becoming informed” part. Even with all the wisdom of the internet at our fingertips, it still takes time and effort to learn enough about whatever it is we need to know. In fact, there is so much out there it is hard to know who to believe. The up side is that once you’ve made the basic decisions, you don’t have to make them over and over, at least until something changes.

I have been grocery shopping for many years, as have most of you, and I’ve learned some lessons the hard ways. I also researched this subject. Hopefully these tips can help.

PLAN AHEAD
There are three components to consider when planning your grocery shopping strategy: Cost, Time, and Quality. Most choices are based on these, and there are always compromises.


● What are your shopping goals?
Think about it. Knowing what you are trying achieve helps you plan. Most of the time it is about eating healthy and saving money, but not always. Ask yourself what you want to achieve.
• Take less time?          • Be convenient?
• Save money?             • Eat well?
• Eat healthy?              • Save gasoline?
• Recyclability?             • Reduce waste?
​

● Think about where you grocery shop; consider alternatives
You can often get what you need cheaper by switching stores or going to several different retailers.
• Do you know which stores and online retailers have the best prices?
• Are you open to making multiple stops when grocery shopping?
• Do you plan a route? [Try to buy perishables and frozen foods at the last place you shop.]
• Are you open to buying from online retailers?


According to AARP. since the pandemic, food prices are up 25 percent. A recent nationwide study showed that shopping at Aldi was marginally cheaper than Walmart ($1.52), and Target came in third. www.aarp.org/cheapest-groceries

● Think about the way you cook
• What kind of foods do you buy?
• Do you appreciate less expensive foods? Food doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive to
  be good and healthy.

• Do you cook large portions and use your leftovers?
• Are you willing to substitute recipe ingredients when you have something suitable handy?
• Know you don’t need to buy everything organic
• Prewashed, chopped and cut fruits and veggies cost you more

• Take a serious look at the beverages you buy. They really run up the bill.

● Plan meals for the week in advance of shopping

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● Make a list and stick to it
“Grocery stores are expertly designed to boost spending,” says Melissa Cid, a consumer savings writer with MySavings.com. “You're stepping into a meticulously crafted system built to extract as much money from you as possible.” www.aarp.org/cheapest-groceries
◄ Image Credit: Shutterstock.com
Image Source: www.moneysmartguides.com


Because grocery stores make a lot of money off impulse purchases, they use tricks to make you buy extra items you didn’t need with tactics like placing essentials like milk and eggs at the back of the store, forcing you to walk past a lot of other products.

● Prepare a customized grocery list for yourself
This can save time and effort, and help prevent forgetting things. Organize the items you buy regularly by the stores where these are the best buys. Put the brand name and other key details on your shopping list so you get exactly what you want every time.

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• Read store sale ads and coupons
Supermarkets advertise sales to attract customers; look in the local paper, on the store’s website, and often on the store’s app if they have one. But often these discounted items are strategically placed next to name brands that are expensive or marked up. 
Find coupons for good quality deals. Stock up on cleaning products, nutrient-rich foods, and other staples that you’ll definitely use, preferably              those with longer shelf lives.                                                                  ▲   Image Credit: Walmart 
                                                                                                                                                                                        
 Image Source: www.flyersmartcanucks.ca

● Don’t go shopping when you are hungry

THE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
This is where everything can go south for the winter; it is the real test of shopping savvy.

● Stick to your list and avoid impulse buying (Experts can’t say this often enough)
● Buy whole foods
● Buy in bulk when possible

Some stores have bulk bins with dry foods such as grains, beans, nuts, and seasonings, and the price is usually lower. Don’t buy in bulk anything you won’t use up during the shelf life, and be sensitive to the amount of storage space you have available.
 

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​● Lean to read the labels and do it regularly
By preparing a pre-printed shopping list, you can add brand names when you find the product you want and list it for whichever store has the best price. Pay attention to unit price.
                                                               Image Credit and Source: Shutterstock.com ►

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● Shop for produce that’s in season
The consumer pays more for fresh produce that is “misted”, not only for the misting system itself and the water, but also water increases the weight. You pay by the pound, so shake out the water from your produce before you get to checkout.

◄ Image Source: www.producebusiness.com

● Buy cheaper cuts of meat

Look for: chuck steak, pork, top sirloin steak, whole chicken, ground meat or poultry. Large inexpensive cuts of meat can be used in several different meals during the week. Less expensive cuts of meat are great to use in casseroles, soups, stews, and burritos.

● Replace meat with other proteins
Eating less meat may be a good (and healthier) way to save money. Try using other protein sources a few times a week, such as: legumes, hemp seeds, eggs, and canned fish. Also, most of these have a longer shelf life.

● Buy Frozen Fish
Experts say there is no difference in the quality and taste, and in most cases the product has been frozen on the fishing vessel long before it gets to the store and sold as “fresh”. The reduced price tag on frozen fish is due to the increased shelf life and has nothing to do with the nutrition or quality.

● Buy generic and store brands
The generic and store brands are often made by the same manufacturer as the name brand competitors but at a lower price. You may have to hunt for them at first.

● Buy frozen fruits and vegetables
Frozen produce is usually cheaper, just as nutritious, available all year, and usually sold in large bags, so you can take out only what you are going to use.

● Stock up on sales
Don’t buy something you haven’t planned using just because it is on sale.

● Avoid buying highly processed food
Highly processed foods cost more and are high in sodium and/or sugar.

● Avoid individually packaged foods

● Make adjustments to your cart before you check out
Use your list or phone to keep a running tally of purchases. Also, look at your cart and ask yourself if there’s anything you don’t really need…or something your kids slipped in. Studies show that people who use self-checkout tend to spend less.

NOW, HERE’S THE THING!
Grocery stores, like other retailers, want you to spend lots of money, and everything about the physical environment is designed is to boost sales, from the placement of items to the size of shopping carts to the music playing overhead. aarp.org/money/supermarket-secrets

Your supermarket wants you to deviate from your list. Impulse buying means big bucks for grocery stores. They use all kinds of tricks to encourage it in store design, lighting, music, and placement of items. Essentials like milk and eggs are located at the back of the store, forcing you to walk past a lot of other products. Ordering groceries online and picking them up at the store can help cut down on impulse buys.

So how do grocery stores divert us shoppers from our lists? Let me count the ways.

● End-of-aisle sale items don’t save you much money
Andrea Woroch, a consumer savings adviser in Bakersfield, California says these end caps displays are intended to capture attention of the customer with the illusion of a good deal. They may feature a deal on a name-brand product which is not be the cheapest option for that specific type of product.

● The best deals are not at eye level
The first items a shopper sees in a grocery aisle are not the best buys. Less-expensive brands are placed either high or low. Pricey and name brands are at eye level.

● Supermarkets are not always the best place to buy non-food items
Many supermarkets don’t source non-food products like paper goods or cleaning products. The best prices are usually cheaper at big box retailers like Costco, Target, or Walmart. Sometimes online retailers can beat the best store prices. When comparing prices, remember to always look at the cost per unit and number of units, not only the total.

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● Free Samples Whet Your Appetite
According to Martin Lindstrom, author of Buyology and Brandwashed, says food sampling is designed to activate your hunger and get the customer to impulse buy.

◄ Image Source: www.pinterest.com

● The background music is intentional
Lindstrom also says, “Background music is a well-known tactic in retail.” One study found playing slower music (72 beats per minute or fewer) in a supermarket resulted in a 38 percent increase in average gross sales.

● The Grocery store’s discount section is usually “hidden”
Stores often discount items in damaged packages. You need to ask an employee if they have a discount section and where it is.

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● Bakeries are often located at the front of the store
This is for visual appeal, but the store may also strategically pipe out the smell of fresh baked goods toward the entrance. Some even pipe in the artificial scent of baked goods to trigger cravings.                                   
Image Source: www.artpictures.club ►            
● Store layout and lighting are strategically designed
Your supermarket will use anything possible to make the products more appealing, even piling apples high on crates
o make the produce look abundant.


Chalk this all up to being a capitalistic consumer society. Like it or not, it is who we are.

YOU KNEW THIS ALREADY
Of course you did!

Anyone who has grocery shopped, particularly for a family, for any length of time is familiar with most of these tricks of the trade. You are probably implementing many of them without even thinking. But we all need to be reminded periodically, and we all fall into habits and patterns that may need changing after a while…but we don’t think about it.

So, take these ideas under consideration and make “informed decisions” about changing some of your grocery shopping habits.

JUST SAYIN’
Sources

https://www.aarp.org/money/personal-finance/supermarket-secrets/?cmp=EMC-DSM-NLC-OTH-WBLTR-2002400-2094121-9328092-NA-06072025-Webletter-MS1-SAPLA-BTN-S08_A-Money&encparam=gEGhXRuXYldudBaLHelHywL+AU5FLAe01RE6k5jyiOA=

https://www.aarp.org/money/personal-finance/cheapest-groceries-walmart-aldi-target/?cmp=KNC-DMP-SAPLA-SPR-RetirementPlanning-Nonbrand-65030-Bing-AldivsWalmartvsTarget-Exact-NonBrand&&msclkid=bee8e520b75916d83d3c8d41d572873f&gclid=bee8e520b75916d83d3c8d41d5

https://thrivemarket.com/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Non-Brand_SEM_Diet_Natural&utm_content=1167683279404316&utm_term=natural%20grocers%20closest%20to%20me&device=c&ccode=acq60fogwp&ccode_force=1&msclkid=dcf4763abc8f103b5f8b1e5bc527634e
​

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/19-ways-to-eat-healthy-on-a-budget
https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/how-save-money-on-groceries-when-eating-healthy/
https://www.everydayhealth.com/photogallery/superfoods.aspx
https://www.tastingtable.com/1416786/grocery-store-hacks-better-shopping/
https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/cooking-skills/shopping/grocery-shopping-tips
https://www.foodrepublic.com/1688814/why-grocery-store-bakery-front/

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EVERYTHING YOU NEVER NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT THE 4TH OF JULY and EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT INDEPENDENCE

7/1/2025

1 Comment

 
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Image Source: www.statueofliberty.org

Since Fourth of July is upon us, I’m blogging about US Independence Day. I try to be timely by recognizing and writing blogs about holidays and observance days that we hold dear in the United States…or not so dear, as it appears sometimes. But alas, after I did some preliminary research, I realized there isn’t much to write about the Fourth of July that everyone doesn’t already know.
 
Or so I thought!

HAVE YOU READ “THE DECLARATION of INDEPENDENCE” RECENTLY?


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Image credit: Second Continental Congress; reproduction: William Stone
Image Source: commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?urid=621811loc.gov/exhibits/treasures

Listening to the news over the last several months, I’ve wondered what the words “independence” and “freedom” mean to the people of the United States. We all seem to have our own version, and sometimes they are incompatible.

I’m willing to bet that only a small percentage of Americans have read the Declaration of Independence in the last ten years; a few, never.

According to some historians, it is the most important document ever written in this country; even more important than the Constitution, because it identifies the principles by which this nation holds together. Right now we need to be held together more than ever before. We only have ourselves to do that.

Read it. You may find out it does or doesn’t say some of the things you think it does. The word ”independence” isn’t even in the adopted title. Still, the words continue to resonate in the 21st century as fundamental truths.

“THE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION OF THE THIRTEEN UNITED STATES OF AMERIC”
[Note: The following text is a transcription of the Stone Engraving of the parchment Declaration of Independence (the document on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum.) The spelling and punctuation reflects the original.]  https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript
 
In Congress, July 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.


He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.


He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.


He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.


He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.


He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.


He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.


He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.


He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.


He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.


He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.


He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.


He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.


He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.


He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.


In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.


Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.


We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.


Georgia
Button Gwinnett
Lyman Hall
George Walton


North Carolina
William Hooper
Joseph Hewes
John Penn


South Carolina
Edward Rutledge
Thomas Heyward, Jr.
Thomas Lynch, Jr.
Arthur Middleton

Maryland
Samuel Chase
William Paca
Thomas Stone
Charles Carroll of Carrollton


​Virginia

George Wythe
Richard Henry Lee
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Harrison
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Carter Braxton
Pennsylvania
Robert Morris
Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Franklin
John Morton
George Clymer
James Smith
George Taylor
James Wilson
George Ross


Delaware
Caesar Rodney
George Read
Thomas McKean 


New York
William Floyd
Philip Livingston
Francis Lewis
Lewis Morris

New Jersey
Richard Stockton
John Witherspoon
Francis Hopkinson
John Hart
Abraham Clark


New Hampshire
Josiah Bartlett
William Whipple
Matthew Thornton


Massachusetts
​
John Hancock
Samuel Adams
John Adams
Robert Treat Paine
Elbridge Gerry


Rhode Island

Stephen Hopkins
William Ellery


Connecticut

Roger Sherman
Samuel Huntington
William Williams
Oliver Wolcott 

end □
IF YOU READ THE DOCUMENT, YOU CAN NOW CELEBRATE THAT YOU LIVE HERE.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT FOURTH OF JULY
Although articles are often entitled “fun facts”, they are mostly “interesting” facts about the holiday. I did learn a few thing I never knew or didn’t remember after a hiatus of sixty years…and it’s always interesting to see how many “known facts” on the internet disagree with each other.   Image source:www.legendofamerica.com     ​
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JUST LIKE TODAY, IT WAS ALL ABOUT TAXES
"Taxation without representation!"  At the beginning of the Revolutionary War [April 1775], not many of the colonists wanted complete separation from Great Britain, but gradually the population began to favor
                                                          complete independence. You all remember that, right?


Of course you do. And you remember, when Richard Henry Lee introduced his motion to the Continental Congress for independence, it was tabled and a five-man committee appointed [Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New York] to draft a formal statement justifying the break with Great Britain. Maybe you recall hearing that, too.                                                               
“Declaration of Independence” painting by John Trumbull 1818
                                                                                                                                                           Image source:  www.amazon.com 
▼

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On July 2nd, 1775, the Continental Congress voted in favor of Lee’s resolution for independence in a near-unanimous vote (with the New York delegation abstaining) and on July 4th, the Continental Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independ-ence, written primarily by Thomas Jefferson. 

I found these facts interesting although not of monumental significance in terms of the history of the United States. They are in no particular order and, as you can see, are not particularly memorable.

● John Adams believed July 2nd was the correct date on which to celebrate the birth of American independence, and would reportedly turn down invitations to appear at July 4th events in protest.

● John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only two signers of the Declaration of Independence who later became presidents, both died within hours of each other on July 4, 1826—the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.


● According to Encyclopedia Britannica, “Jefferson’s inveterate shyness prevented him from playing a significant role in the debate within Congress. John Adams, a leader in those debates, remembers that Jefferson was silent even in committee meetings, though consistently staunch in his support of independence…”
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Declaration-of-Independence

● The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 men from 13 colonies. Of those 56, eight were born in Great Britain. One out of eight signers of the Declaration of Independence was educated at Harvard (seven in total).

● The lead author of the Declaration, Thomas Jefferson, was 33 ½ years old. The average age of the signers of the Declaration of Independence was 45. The oldest signer was Benjamin Franklin (70) of Pennsylvania. The youngest, was Thomas Lynch, Jr. (27) of South Carolina acei-global.blog/facts-about-independence-day/  -- Or was he?--“…Edward Rutledge was the youngest at age 26.” thepioneerwoman.com/interesting-things-about4th-of-july/

● “Only two Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The majority of signers penned their signatures on August 2, 1776.” http://www.rfdtv.com/story/32328872/4th-of-july-fun-facts#.WwhI_0gvzcc -- Or was it only one? – “Only John Hancock actually signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. All the others signed later.” https://acei-global.blog/2013/07/03/20-fun-facts-about-the-4th-of-julyindependence-day/

● Benjamin Franklin proposed the turkey as the national bird but was overruled by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who recommended the bald eagle.


● The original draft of the Declaration of Independence was lost.
http://www.rfdtv.com/story/32328872/4th-of-july-fun-facts#.WwhI_0gvzcc   Library of Congress
Oh, well. I’m sure they have a copy of the one that was adopted and signed.


● Congress made Independence Day an official unpaid holiday for federal employees in 1870. It didn’t become a federal paid holiday until 1938.

● The first Independence Day celebration took place in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776. This was also the day that the Declaration of Independence was first read in public after people were summoned by the ringing of the Liberty Bell. The Liberty Bell was cast at London’s Whitechapel Bell Foundry. It arrived in Philadelphia in August, 1752. The metal was too brittle and it cracked during the test strike. It was recast twice by local workmen. In its early years the bell was used to summon lawmakers to legislative sessions and to alert citizens about public meetings and proclamations.

● Every 4th of July the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia is tapped [not actually rung] thirteen times in honor of the original thirteen colonies.

● The tune of the National Anthem was originally an English drinking song called “To Anacreon in Heaven.” The words have nothing to do with consumption of alcohol but the “melody that Francis Key had in mind when he wrote those words did originate decades earlier as the melody for a song praise of wine.” http://www.colonialmusic.org/Resource/Anacreon.htm


Sources:
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/images/uc004215.jpg
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript
https://parade.com/24863/kenjennings/america-101-take-our-fourth-of-july-quiz/
https://acei-global.blog/2013/07/03/20-fun-facts-about-the-4th-of-julyindependence-day/
https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/july-4th
http://www.pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth/history/history-independence-day/
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/02/fireworks-american-history_n_5552960.html
https://acei-global.blog/2013/07/03/20-fun-facts-about-the-4th-of-julyindependence-day/
http://thepioneerwoman.com/fun-and-learning/twenty-interesting-things-about4th-of-july/
http://www.rfdtv.com/story/32328872/4th-of-july-fun-facts#.WwhI_0gvzcc
2020
https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/ct-life-real-independence-day-tt-0702-20190702-l3vl5kijdzci3jhbkbrecfaz2m-l3vl5kijdzci3jhbkbrecfaz2m-story.html
https://www.dtnext.in/Lifestyle/Spirituality/2018/08/13022008/1084010/What-is-the-true-meaning-of-independence.vpf
https://news.emory.edu/stories/2014/06/er_pursuit_of_happiness/campus.html
https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-what-independence-day-really-means-20190704-teue64vyz5getk4jaq4v3z2qxe-story.html
http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents/1776-1785/the-final-text-of-the-declaration-of-independence-july-4-1776.php
https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/declaration-of-independence
http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents/1776-1785/jeffersons-draft-of-the-declaration-of-independence.php#par1
http://nashvillelife.com/Nashville-4th-of-July-Parades  
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/images/uc004215.jpg|
https://acei-global.blog/2013/07/03/20-fun-facts-about-the-4th-of-julyindependence-day/
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Liberty_Bell_2008.jpg





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DOLLS, PENCILS, AND THE US ECONOMY: Things American Consumers Buy That They Don’t Need, Want, or Use

6/23/2025

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In May, 2025, NBC News aired an interview between “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker and President Donald Trump. During that exchange, which covered a wide range of topics including the economy, the President acknowledged that, due to recent economic policies, prices on some goods “might” go up but argued that falling energy prices will matter more to consumers. In that context, he made the comment that “Americans ought to be able to make do with fewer common goods, like dolls or pencils.” nbcnews.com/politics/
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Somewhere along the line -- but probably not in this particular interview – he also made reference to the idea of consumers not buying so many things they don’t really need. That got me to thinking about this issue on several levels.

I​mage credit  and source: 
nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/

I remembered one of my father’s “takes” on the “Mysteries of Life” (as he called them) was why people spend their money the way they do, and wondered what kinds of things consumers really do buy that they don’t really need … and often don’t really want and never use.  After all, at least in my humble opinion, Americans are rather materialistic and very spoiled.

IN THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER
I found lots of opinions on the internet, but in most cases it boiled down to the consumers’ personal interests, needs, what they value, and their priorities. Various websites indentify many products as unworthy of spending money on which are everyday helps to others. After considerable thought, these items seem to fall into one or more categories which sometimes overlap:
  • Truly Frivolous, but sometimes funny and humor inducing, and keepsakes.
  • Critical Need, No. Convenient, Yes
  • Health Related
  • Questionable Effectiveness and/or Potentially Harmful
  • Single Purpose items which are rarely used.


THE TRULY FRIVOLOUS
These items are undoubtedly intended to be amusing (gag gifts), but they are things nobody truly needs.

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●The Useless Box
It doesn ‘t do anything. I guess it’s a joke item for the person who has everything.


Image Credit: Solarbotics/Flickr
Image Source:interestingengineering.com/

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●Sweat Gutters
If you perspire you can buy “SweatGutters” to collect & remove sweat.

Image Credit: Reddit.com
Image source: interestingengineering.com/completely-unnecessary-things

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●Cuisine Curtain
This gadget allows you to indulging but mask your feeding frenzy all at the same time.
Image Source: YouTube.com -- Image source:interestingengineering.com/completely-unnecessary-things

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● Motorized Ice Cream Cone - This battery-powered gadget turns your ice cream cone to ensure a perfectly even melt. $9.99.
​ 

Image Credit: eBay -- Image Source: blog.cheapism.com/useless-products

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● Pet Rock
Classic 1970s Pet Rock doesn't need food, water, or walks. Price. $29.99
​

Image Credit. Amazon -- Image Source: blog.cheapism.com/useless-products

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● USB-Powered Pet Rock
Digital-age Rock connects to computer via USB. It doesn't do any-thing, but a light glows to indicate it's "alive."
Image Credit. Reddit.com -- Image Source: blog.cheapism.com/useless-products

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● Banana Slicer
A banana slicer ($6)  makes uniform slices.  A kitchen knife does the same work and is easier to keep clean. Image Credit: Amazon -- Imager Source: blog.cheapism.com/useless-products-waste-of-money/



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● Self-Stirring Mug
Stirs contents without a spoon. Price: $10 to $18 unless you need a Nextmug-Temperature-Controlled, Self-Heating
                               
Coffee Mug
 ($100 to $130). 
Image Credit: Amazon -- Imager Source: blog.cheapism.com/useless-products-waste-of-money/

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● Fish Training Kit / Fish Exercise Rings
Train a pet fish with this kit, although I don’t know why. About $10.
Image Credit: Etsy
Imager Source: https://blog.cheapism.com/useless-products-we-want-to-buy/

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● Bacon Bandages
These don’t help wounds heal better or quicker, but they definitely make the wearer look weird. $8.
Image Credit: Amazon -- Imager Source: blog.cheapism.com/useless-products-waste-of-money/

The list goes on, but you get the idea. I didn’t list any keepsakes, although keychains come to mind. All these are things we can do without under duress. While, some purchases are totally frivolous, sometimes these useless gadgets are fun and amusing, and no doubt that is what they are intended to be. Humor and comic relief certainly have their value.
​
CRITICAL NEEDS, NO. CONVENIENT, YES!
Many items called “a waste of money” are useful and effort saving but are not cost effective because they are not used often (sometimes only once), take up space, have adverse impact on environment, increase waste products to be disposed of or, generally, impractical when you make an honest evaluation. Those products -- probably somewhat of a luxury -- most of us could live without, given simpler substitutes, but they also can be helpful, save time and energy, and are used frequently. Those have value to people which offsets cost and other considerations like space.

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● Dryer Sheets
"Instead,  toss a ball of aluminum foil or wool dryer balls in the dryer, and add a washcloth wet with white vinegar." cheapism.com/useless-waste-of-money/  Yeah…no. They work & I don’t have time for wet washcloths or white vinegar.$7.
Image Credit: Amazon -- Imager Source:
blog.cheapism.com/useless-products-waste-of-money/

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● Electric Can Opener
“Convenient, but not every kitchen can spare the counter space. Instead, use the pull tab or a handheld opener. The exception? People who can't move their hands freely because of arthritis."
Image Credit: Amazon -- Imager Source: blog.cheapism.com/useless-products-waste-of-money/

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• Salad Spinner (Electric and Hand Operated)
"Tosses & dries salad so dressing spreads evenly. Instead, wash the greens in a container, with lid, give it a few good shakes, & dry."
blog.cheapism.com/useless-products-waste-of-money/
​
I love my salad spinner, but I don’t see the need for an electric one. ​Image Credit: Amazon
 Imager Source:
blog.cheapism.com/useless-products-waste-of-money/

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Corn Kerneler
“While Corn Kernelers extract corn effortlessly, but they often end up being a one-trick gadget. Instead, use a sharp knife and a cutting board.” $7 - $130.
​

Image credit: Aliexprerss.com – Image Source: seasonalcravings.com/dont-waste-your-money

HEALTH RELATED
This category of expenditure is more serious in both impact and cost. While it's unlikely you'll be harmed by a banana slicer or a salad spinner, some products which are marketed as being for your health sometimes can be harmful. Striving to be healthy is laudable, but it takes both commitment and some advance thought to make those purchases worthwhile.
​
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● Exercise Equipment and Gadgets
Who hasn’t bought a piece of exercise equip-ment, large or small? How many ended use being used as a clothes rack? Lots of good intentions, but more often than not, wasted
​                         money and space.

Image Credit: ImageSupply via DepositPhotos
Image Source: moneysmartguides.com/things-people-buy

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Image Source: qualitystocksuk/shutterstock
​
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● Multivitamins
Healthline reports, despite studies showing vitamins are pretty much useless for most people, “Americans spend around $21 billion a year on vitamins and herbal supplements.

 Image Credit: CobraCZ/shutterstock
Image Source: cheapism.com/useless-products-waste-of-money/

Instead, a diet dominated by plant-based whole foods, including lots of fruits and vegetables, packs more healing power than vitamins, which aren't even regulated reliably.”

The question of whether or not healthy individuals really need vitamin and mineral supplements is a good one, and there are many opinions and not many answers. 
According to PubMed Central/ National Library of Medicine (an official website of the US Government), supplemental vitamins are not likely to be “…beneficial in reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as ischemic heart disease, cancer, and stroke…The results of large-scale randomized trials in the past two decades have shown that for the majority of the population, MVM supplements are not only ineffective, but they may be deleterious to health.” pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

While recent results from the SELECT (Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention)Trial and those resulting from the Women's Health Initiative, tend to bolster the ‘no benefit or even harm’ conclusion, and authors (medical researchers Farin Kamangar and Ashkan Emadi) emphasize that these conclusions are for the general population, and for prevention of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. They go one to write that, “In special cases, individuals may need vitamins or supplements” and give examples. Best rely on research and your medical professional.


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Image Source: consumereview.org
● Diet Pills And Gummies
One of the biggest expenditures for “health” is for diet pills and gummies. Regarding Keto Diet products, Consumereview.com, states:


 1) “There are a lot of products that don’t work at all, typically because they don’t contain the right ingredients or the right proportions”;
2) The products may be “too expensive to afford”; and
3)“The company…might just be exploiting another fad” which apparently many are. consumereview.org/keto-pills/

According to PCM, a government website, “With the serious health risks of dietary supplements sold for weight loss, muscle building, and sexual function well-documented, there is concern that economic costs of these products may disproportionately burden individuals and families by gender and socioeconomic position.” Such supplements sold for weight loss (WL), muscle building (MB), and sexual function (SF) are not medically recommended because they “have been shown to be ineffective in many cases and pose serious health risks to consumers due to adulteration with banned substances, prescription pharmaceuticals, and other dangerous chemicals.”

POTENTIONALLY HARMFUL and/or QUESTIONABLE EFFECTIVENESS
Some products which are convenient and apparently effective, are believed by many experts as potentially harmful and/or of questionable effectiveness. In my experience, that doesn’t necessarily mean it doesn’t work, but it should inspire some thought and maybe some research before purchase. Two of the many examples of this category are:

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● Air Fresheners
Although zillions of people use one or more of the many kinds of air fresheners available, this product falls into several categories. They are convenient and do mask household odors, but are not critical.

Image Source: Amazon​
People overcame gross household smells long before air fresheners were available just by simmering lemon juice in water on the stove, or placing potpourri, eucalyptus, rose water, or open containers of baking soda around the house. (Baking soda works in the refrigerator, too.) 

However, “despite their popularity, some evidence suggests that air freshener products increase indoor air pollution and pose a health risk, especially with long-term exposure. Air fresheners release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. A VOC is a type of chemical that turns into a vapor or gas easily at room temperature. Health problems are thought to occur as a result of the chemicals in the air fresheners and from their secondary pollutants. Secondary pollutants are formed when a product’s chemicals combine with the ozone already in the air.” poison.org/articles/air-freshener-171

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Image Credit: Amazon; Image Source: blog.cheapism.com/useless-waste-of-money/
● Mosquito Zappers

“Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide, which mammals exhale in huge plumes with every breath. There is no evidence they are attracted to ultraviolet light, which is the lure that backyard bug zappers rely on to draw and eliminate bugs. Price: $23 and up”. blog.cheapism.com/useless-waste-of-money/

​
Actually, bug zappers do kill bugs by the thousands, but according to scientists they kill the wrong bugs. “They are ineffective against mosquitoes and other biting flies, and their otherwise indiscriminate killing can disrupt pollination and generally throw the environment out of balance. Plus, the force of their electrocution can spew a mist of disease-ridden bug parts out into the air. All of the mosquito experts we spoke with and every relevant university extension office we could find unanimously condemned bug zappers.” 
nytimes.com/do-bug-zappers-work/

SPECIALIZED TOOLS and ONE-PURPOSE APPLICANCES

Finally we come to the attractive but questionable tool or appliance that is so specialized it only does one thing. I believe this is an area where most of us have expended a few unnecessary dollars for something that sounds practical and worth the cost, but then turns out to be something we rarely use.

Often these tools are related to the kitchen. I mean, unless you are impassioned with cooking, who doesn’t want to make things easier in the kitchen?

When related to culinary helps, the tool or appliance is probably redundant. You probably already have something that can perform the same task. Whether or not they are worth the cost and space they occupy depends largely on how much use the item will get and why it needs to be done separately. These appliances are usually not a necessity in a home unless used constantly or for a special reason (like arthritis). These examples were listed on multiple websites as unnecessary.


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● Electric Egg Cooker
Perfectly boiled eggs can be made by, well, boiling them. Simply reduce or increase the cooking time for soft, medium, or hard-boiled; poach an egg with a slotted spoon and an inch and a half of simmering water.

Image Credit: Amazon
Imager Source: blog.cheapism.com/useless-products-waste-of-money/

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● Bread Maker
“One of the poster children of unnecessary items. Big and clunky, it only does one thing. It’s redundant since your kitchen already has a bread-making machine an oven.
​                    Price: Around $100.”

Image Credit: Amazon
 Imager Source: blog.cheapism.com/useless-products-waste-of-money/

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● Popcorn Machine
“This is another single-use item that takes up space when there are simpler solutions on hand that yield the same result. Price: $40 up to $379. Instead, pop raw kernels, or buy microwave popcorn.”

Image Credit: Amazon -- Imager Source: blog.cheapism.com/useless-products-waste-of-money/

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●Egg Separator
“An egg separator seems especially superfluous. Instead, use the egg shells to separate the yolks from the whites; wear plastic cooking gloves if you want to be extra careful." $6 
blog.cheapism.com/useless-products-waste-of-money/
Image Credit: Amazon -- Imager Source: blog.cheapism.com/useless-products-waste-of-money/

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● Garlic Press
“Most recipes call for chop-ped or minced garlic, not pressed. Even when they do, substituting minced is fine.  Instead, use a good knife." 

Image Credit: Amazon -- Imager Source: blog.cheapism.com/useless-products-waste-of-money/

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● Meat-Shredding Claws
“These things look pretty cool, but are probably overkill. Instead, use a couple of forks."  $10.
blog.cheapism.com/useless-products-waste-of-money
Image Credit: Amazon -- Imager Source: blog.cheapism.com/useless-products-waste-of-money/

THE TARIFFS
The not-so-humorous side of this discussion relates to the potential impacts of the proposed tariffs. On one hand, President Trump is probably correct when he says Americans can get along without buying so much, although that doesn’t lessen the burden on those families which are already struggling just to survive. But I’m not getting into that. My intention is to point out what products might go up in price as the result (and because many of the products listed above are imported from China).

WHAT CHINA IMPORTS TO THE US
In addition “unnecessary” items, China also imports to the US many more essential products. According to cbsnews.com/news/chinese-products-tariffs-shortages the following are items imported to the US from China. Keep in mind that we are not just talking about finished products but materials that are used to make other item here in the US.

● Down feathers ($1.9 billion) -- 77% of the country's total imported supply of down. Down is commonly used for insulation in comforters and outerwear.

● Toys, games and sports equipment ($30 billion plus) -- 73% of the US imports in this category.

● Textile art ($8.6 billion) -- Imports from China account for more than 50% of all imported.

● Footwear ($9.8 billion) -- This is a biggie in the US. 36% of footwear sold stateside comes from China, including brand names like Addidas.

● Cutlery and metal tools ($3.1 billion) -- Dinner utensils manufactured in China could also start becoming scarce.


● Glassware -- Almost 30% of U.S. imports of glassware and other products made of glass comes from China.

● Furniture and bedding ($18.5 billion) -- 28% of furniture and bedding imports come from China.

● Apparel ($17.3 billion) -- Another big ticket item for Americans. This includes knit or crocheted clothing (almost $10 billion) and not-knit apparel ($7.3 billion).

● Electric Machinery
● Nuclear reactors, boilers and other machinery
● Goods made of iron or steel
● Plastics


The news media is reporting that trade agreements are being reached. Eventually, the general public will find out what that means. In the mean time, be prudent how you spend your money.

JUST SAYIN’

Sources:
https://explodingtopics.com/blog/trending-topics
https://news.gallup.com/opinion/gallup/654479/gallup-trends-watch-2025.aspx
https://declutteringmom.com/the-15-most-useless-items-people-keep-for-no-reason/
https://blog.cheapism.com/useless-products-waste-of-money/
https://blog.cheapism.com/useless-products-we-want-to-buy/
https://interestingengineering.com/how-to/5-completely-unnecessary-things-you-really-shouldnt-buy
https://bestlifeonline.com/everyday-items-waste-of-money/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Frugal/comments/1imx1q/biggest_ways_people_waste_money_compiled_from/?rdt=45146
https://wallstreetinsanity.com/16-useless-items-we-all-own-and-never-use/
https://www.thetoptens.com/useless-items-we-all-own-never-use/
https://www.poison.org/articles/air-freshener-171
https://www.lifehack.org/articles/money/25-unnecessary-wastes-money-you-dont-think-about.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chinese-china-products-tariffs-shortages-us/
https://finance.alot.com/personal-finance/10-items-stock-up-before-tariffs-raise-prices--22140
https://www.npr.org/2025/04/04/nx-s1-5351324/tariffs-higher-grocery-prices-trump
https://www.eatthis.com/grocery-items-price-hikes-tariffs/
https://tifwe.org/who-determines-what-something-is-worth-it-depends/
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-10733-7_2
https://caketokale.com/18-most-useless-kitchen-appliances/
https://www.seasonalcravings.com/dont-waste-your-money-the-10-most-useless-kitchen-appliances-you-shouldnt-buy/
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/do-bug-zappers-work/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3309636/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5377432/
https://news.gallup.com/opinion/gallup/654479/gallup-trends-watch-2025.aspx
https://247wallst.com/special-report/2023/08/05/the-16-most-important-issues-to-americans-ranked/

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-rejects-concerns-prices-economic-uncertainty-defends-agenda-rcna203512

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2025/04/28/1000-protests-on-may-day-2025-against-trump-what-we-know-may-day-protests-may-day-strong-2025/83324272007/

https://consumersendorse.com/the-5-best-bug-zappers/?utm_source=zapguardian&utm_medium=s1&utm_campaign=us&utm_term=t5&cmc_adid=ms_77378335342057_486476025&msclkid=3402c3fbbbc610eaa746abe7420e460b

https://consumertestedreviews.org/product/best-mosquito-zapper/?msclkid=8582c1e1f4741c9f1fc8a9fd0a7b5b17&msclkid=8582c1e1f4741c9f1fc8a9fd0a7b5b17&AdGroupId=1329311920772943&AdId=83082222608546&BidMatchType=bp&CampaignId=520510596&msclkid=8582c1e1f4741c9f1f

https://consumereview.org/reviews/keto-pills/?msclkid=9d7ce3868a121a8010408b9b90cf1980&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Search%20-%20TCPA%2060&utm_term=weight%20loss%20supplements&utm_content=Search%20-%20Phrase

https://www.moneysmartguides.com/expensive-things-people-buy-then-never-use/#:~:text=This%20article%20looks%20at%2024%20expensive%20things%20people,toys%20like%20bikes%20and%20cars%2C%20you%E2%80%99re%20not%20alone.

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    Author R. Ann Siracusa

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