Jay's Reason

  The power of confirmation bias is immeasurable. When presented with information or philosophy that we wish to be true, we will almost always believe it. It is how our brains work, and it is a flaw in our physiology. It does not serve us well. We are usually more than ready to dismiss facts that do not agree with our biases and accept lies that do. We will set aside reason and rational thought to accept anything that supports what we believe (not know) and wish (not need). We gravitate to sources that will confirm for us that reality is what we believe it needs to be. We will not have our perceptions disrupted for the sake of the truth. I have been a close observer, student, and sometimes participant in our political processes for all my adult life…and, to some extent, my teenage years. I chose to share this post because never before in my life have I witnessed good, decent, and sometimes intelligent people in such large numbers given over to tolerate, accept, admire, and, in many c

 As I've mentioned previously, I avoid politics and religion on social media. I prefer to share my amazing dogs and an occasional school related post. But here on my blog, I'll express my views. I take no offense if you disagree, but I make no apologies for my opinions. Feel free to comment, but I won't respond. Here is my 2020 Election Post: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud."  1st Corinthians 13:4  "...clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." Colossians 3:12 "Be  kind  to  one another , tenderhearted, forgiving  one  another." Ephesians 4:32 "Forget everything I said 2000 years ago.  Brag incessantly about your greatness.  Treat women as objects and brag about your ability to grab them by the $%^$*#.  Mock the disabled in front of thousands of cheering supporters. Threaten to lock up those who disagree with you. Call those who nobly serve their co

 This will be my shortest blog to date.  There has begun an apparent cultural battle over what matters in recent months. I'm going to weigh in just a little. Since the death of George Floyd, and the growth in attention to the Black Lives Matter movement, a residual good has happened. I've noticed many people who never before indicated that they gave a rats ass about black lives or child sex trafficking now are very concerned about the latter. That's good. It's a horrible thing, and it's a world wide problem. Law enforcement at all levels should continue to work to end it. I hope those same people are as concerned for children who are sexually abused by family members and friends, because that number is much higher and much harder to prosecute. And, it is something we can all do more than just post memes about on Facebook, by teaching our children how to protect themselves and to not be ashamed or afraid to tell, and by being aware of warning signs that we might see,

If my math is correct I should have had eight great great grandfathers. I'm only aware of two that fought in the American Civil War. That doesn't mean others didn't. I'm just not aware of it if they did. Of the two that I know, the only one that I know any details at all about is my "Hicks" great great grandfather, Abner Hicks. I don't know a lot, but I do know that he joined the 11th Regiment, Florida Infantry. He was in a hospital in Richmond for a time, and apparently died either there or at Petersburg, Virginia. I don't know how he died, or what happened to his remains. I do know that one of his nephews tried to get a pension for his wife and children. I don't know if he succeeded. I have no idea what kind of a man he was. I know from census records that he was not a slaveholder. I don't know why he decided to fight in the war. He may have needed the money. Based on my family's history, that would be a good guess. Or, he may have believ

Europa is the smallest of Jupiter's four major (Galilean) moons.  As best we can tell it is covered by a thick icy surface that shields a large liquid saline salt water ocean from Jupiter's lethal radiation. Plumes of water that escape the icy surface would indicate subsurface geological activity, and thus a source of heat for Europa's ocean. Why does this matter? It means that, based on what we know about Europa, and about microscopic life's ability to thrive in similar environments here on Earth, Jupiter's moon could theoretically harbor life. And, if it did, it would, ironically, be another step like the ones that got Galileo in hot water (and house arrest) with the ruling religious authorities of his day. It would be one more small step for mankind toward the realization that the universe does not revolve around human beings. In the story of civilization thus far, we have written ourselves into the lead roles, the main characters. We are why everything else i

Nearly two hundred years ago a poem was published that impacted my life more than any poem ever written. Each December, for the first nine years of my life, I looked forward in childlike wonder to a visit from a jolly old man/elf with the ability to bring me things I wanted; things he and his workers had made, and stamped with the brand names of major manufacturers; things that he was able to transport from the polar regions of the planet via a flying sleigh, pulled by flying reindeer; a sleigh that also carried gifts requested by every boy and girl on the planet; delivered in one magical night. He entered my house through the chimney of the fireplace. The fact that I lived in a house with no fireplace or chimney did not prevent him from doing so. I left him milk and a Mr. Goodbar on the kitchen table, and he never failed to eat and drink my offering of gratitude. I would see him at malls, and on street corners throughout the month of December. The fact that he should be busy making pr