The Status Quo

 When our lives are going well, and sometimes even when they aren’t, we may find ourselves feeling very attached to the status quo of our existence -- life as we know it. It is a very human tendency to resist change as though it were possible to simply decide not to do it, or have it in our lives. But change will come and the status quo will go, sooner or later, with our consent or without it. We may find at the end of the day that we feel considerably more empowered when we find the courage to ally ourselves with the universal force of change, rather than working against it.

Of course, the answer is not to go about changing things at random, without regard to whether they are working or not. There is a time and place for stability and the preservation of what has been gained over time. In fact, the ability to stabilize and preserve what is serving us is part of what helps us to survive and thrive. The problem comes when we become more attached to preserving the status quo than to honoring the universal givens of growth and change. For example, if we allow a situation we are in to remain stagnant simply because we are comfortable, it may be time for us to summon up the courage to challenge the status quo.

This may be painful at times, or surprisingly liberating, and it will most likely be a little of both. Underneath the discomfort, we will probably find excitement and energy as we take the risk of unblocking the natural flow of energy in our lives. It is like dismantling a dam inside ourselves, because most of the work involves clearing our own inner obstacles so that the river of our life can flow unobstructed. Once we remove the obstacles, we can simply go with the flow, trusting the changes that follow. (Daily OM)

Facial recognition cameras to catch criminals could make town centres 'no-go areas for minorities', Home Office study claims

 Live facial recognition cameras risk turning town centres into no-go areas for some ethnic minority people, research suggests.

Ministers launched a consultation yesterday on emerging technology that analyses 'motions and emotions' and could help catch criminals, prevent suicides and find missing people.

However, a Home Office study carried out in advance of the 10-week consultation revealed concerns about the accuracy of the cameras among certain demographic groups.

Surveys found minority groups were more likely to avoid - or consider avoiding - areas where facial recognition cameras are being used, which tends to be town centres and other busy locations.

Around one in ten (11 per cent) of ethnic minority respondents said they would avoid an area being monitored, compared to 21 per cent who said they would consider minimising the amount of time they spent there.

For black people, nine per cent said they would completely avoid the area, compared to four per cent of people overall and three per cent of white people.

Researchers found men aged 16 to 34, lesbian, gay and bisexual people and those educated to degree level or above were also more likely to avoid areas with live facial recognition....<<<Read More>>>...

Food for Thought #865

 

Substack caves into the UK censorship regime and restricts UK users

 Substack has implemented measures to comply with the UK’s Online Safety Act, which requires age verification for accessing certain types of content deemed “potentially harmful.” The obvious problem is: What information does the UK government deem “potentially harmful”?

From late November 2025, Substack began requiring users in the UK to upload a government-issued ID or a selfie to access content categorised as sexually explicit, promoting self-harm, hate speech, violent material or dangerous challenges.

This move follows the UK’s regulatory framework that mandates platforms to restrict access to such content unless users verify their age.

While Substack maintains that it opposes these laws, stating they are not necessarily effective and come with significant costs to free expression and privacy, it has chosen to comply with local regulations to continue operating in the UK. The company emphasises that the changes are limited to users in the UK and has briefly mentioned Australia, where similar rules are being enforced, but has not reiterated restrictions to Australian users.

Substack’s compliance with these rules, despite its stated principles of free expression, marks a notable concession to the UK’s regulatory regime. Paid subscribers with verified payment information are exempt from additional verification steps.

However, it represents a significant shift toward censorship and surveillance, with concerns that it undermines digital freedom and privacy. The UK’s Online Safety Act has led to widespread age verification demands across platforms, effectively restricting access to content ranging from period-related subreddits to hobbyist forums.

The new restrictions aren’t limited to posts. Substack has warned that chats, direct messages, comments and Notes may also be blurred or blocked if they fall within the Act’s definition of “potentially harmful.”...<<<Read More>>>...

Cinderella - Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)

Quote for the Day

 

The Global Warming Gravy Train is Coming to a Screeching Halt at Long Last

 The global warming craze is dying out, says Matt Ridley in the Spectator, as banks, billionaires and politicians bail out of the Net Zero agenda. Well thank goodness for that. Here’s an excerpt:


The other factor that kept the climate scare alive was that emissions reduction proved impossibly difficult. This was a feature, not a bug: if it had been easy, the green gravy train would have ground to a halt. Reducing sulphur emissions to stop acid rain proved fairly easy, as did banning chlorofluorocarbons to protect the ozone layer. But decade after decade, carbon dioxide emissions just kept on rising no matter how much money and research was thrown at the problem. Cheers!

Switching to renewable energy made no difference – literally. Here’s the data: the world added 9,000 terawatt-hours of energy consumption from wind and solar in the past decade, but 13,000 from fossil fuels. Not that wind and solar save much carbon dioxide anyway, their machinery being made with coal and their intermittency being backed up by fossil fuels.

Despite trillions of dollars in subsidies, these two ‘unreliables’ still provide just 6 per cent of the world’s energy. Their low-density, high-cost, intermittent power output is of no use to data centres or electric grids, let alone transport and heating, and effectively poisons the economics of building and running new nuclear and gas generation by preventing continuous operation. Quite why it became mandatory among those concerned about climate change to support these unreliables so obsessively is hard to fathom. Subsidy addiction has a lot to do with it, combined with a general ignorance of thermodynamics.

Now the climate scare is fading, a scramble for the exits is beginning among the big environmental groups. Donations are drying up. Some will switch seamlessly to trying to panic us about artificial intelligence; others will follow Gates and insist that they never said it was the end of the world, just a problem to be solved; a few will even try declaring victory, claiming unconvincingly that promises made at the Paris conference a decade ago have slowed down emissions enough to save the climate....<<<Read More>>>...

The final frontier for computing: Google’s cosmic gambit for AI

 Google has announced Project Suncatcher, an initiative to build solar-powered data centers in space, with plans to launch initial hardware by 2027.

The move is a response to the massive and growing energy demands of artificial intelligence, which are straining terrestrial power grids.

Tech leaders like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos have endorsed the concept, citing space's unlimited solar energy as a solution to Earth's power limitations.

Significant technical hurdles, particularly around heat dissipation in the vacuum of space, remain unaddressed in the company's announcements.

Analysts suggest the ambitious project may also be a strategic narrative to address internal and external concerns over the environmental impact of AI's energy consumption.

In a bold response to the unsustainable energy appetite of the artificial intelligence revolution, Google has set its sights on the ultimate high ground: space. The company’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, announced this month that Google plans to begin constructing orbital data centers, powered solely by solar energy, as early as 2027. This initiative, dubbed Project Suncatcher, represents a staggering technological moonshot aimed at decoupling the breakneck growth of AI from Earth’s strained power grids and environmental constraints. The announcement places Google at the forefront of a growing consensus among tech titans that the future of large-scale computing may lie beyond our atmosphere....<<<Read More>>>... 

Food for Thought #864

 

Doing Our Best Work

In the great symphony of life, we all have important parts to play. While some people are best suited to be conductors or soloists, their contributions would be diminished considerably without the individual musicians that lend their artistry to the fullness of an orchestra. Any one member of an orchestra, doing less than their best at their particular part, can destroy the harmony of the whole piece. So although we may not receive the same amount or quality of attention as another, all of our contributions are valuable and integral to the success of the whole.

When we do our tasks well, we infuse them with our unique energy, making each act a gift. Each of our personalities and talents are suited to different roles of support. Even leaders and star performers support others in their own way. We can look around us at any moment to see that while we nurture some people with our work, others are supporting us with their gifts.

When we can be fully present in every job we do, we bring the fullness of our bodies, minds, and spirits to the moment. Our contribution is enhanced by the infusion of our talents and abilities, and when we give them willingly, they attract the right people and circumstances into our experience. Anything we do begrudgingly limits the flow of our energy and closes us off from the good that is available to us in every situation. But by giving the best in us to make the world around us better, we open ourselves to receive the best from the universe in return...<<<Read More>>>....

Artifacts found in Mexico may support the paleocontact theory

 A group of Russian archaeologists and historians was invited to Mexico to examine the famous collection of El Toro artifacts.

As a rule, these are stone and clay products, which depict various motifs of ancient Indian culture. However, among the numerous objects found, images that clearly point to paleocontact are of the greatest interest.

Academic science at the beginning of the 21st century proclaimed all artifacts related to such topics as falsifications. And, by the way, about 20 thousand items have already been discovered, and their number is increasing. ...<<<Read More>>>...

Food for Thought #863

 

Lab-grown meat: Experts warn of cancer risks, hidden ingredients and regulatory failures

 Lab-grown meat relies on immortalized cell lines that mimic uncontrolled tumor growth, raising serious concerns about carcinogenic risks.

Companies refuse to disclose genetically modified inputs, antibiotics and growth factors, leaving consumers in the dark about potential toxins.

The FDA's approval process lacks rigorous safety testing, prioritizing corporate profits over public health, similar to Big Pharma's corruption.

Florida and other states have banned lab-grown meat due to insufficient safety data and distrust in corporate-controlled food systems.

The controversy mirrors other scandals (e.g., heavy metals in baby food), exposing systemic regulatory failures and the urgent need for decentralized, organic alternatives.

Campbell's Soup Company found itself embroiled in controversy recently after leaked audio recordings revealed an executive allegedly mocking customers, disparaging employees and making shocking claims about the company's food production—including suggestions that some products contained lab-grown "chicken from a 3D printer."

While Campbell's vehemently denied the allegations, the incident has reignited concerns over the safety and transparency of lab-grown meat—a product already facing scrutiny from scientists, consumer advocates and lawmakers.

Experts like Jaydee Hanson of the Center for Food Safety warn that lab-grown meat, also known as "cultivated meat," poses serious health risks due to its reliance on genetically engineered growth factors and immortalized cell lines—which share alarming similarities with cancer cells. Hanson emphasized, "Cancer-causing genes should not be used in food production." Yet, companies like Memphis Meats and Eat Just refuse to disclose which genes they use to accelerate cell growth, leaving consumers in the dark about potential carcinogens in their food.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, lab-grown meat is a dangerous scam pushed by globalist elites like Bill Gates to replace God's natural food with toxic, genetically engineered sludge that poses serious cancer risks and undisclosed health hazards. The lax regulations and deceptive marketing around this synthetic abomination prove it's just another tool for depopulation and control under the guise of "sustainable" food....<<<Read More>>>....

Black Sabbath - The Shining

Time to Stop Pretending Renewables Are Cheap

 In the cacophony of voices clamouring for a hasty ‘energy transition’ away from fossil fuels, there are several tropes that are regularly employed by devotees of the Church of Climate. Over the past few decades, these tropes have been weaponised to convince lay people to cede all power to climate bureaucrats to ‘save the planet’. 

One trope that permeates the mass media and writings by ‘climate experts’ like Michael Mann and Bill McKibben is ‘cheap’ solar and wind energy. This is despite the debunking of the magical thinking of the ‘new’ energy economy by those who understand and respect the laws of physics and economics.

Another trope that has gained traction among green ideologues is the ‘primary energy fallacy’. Social media commentary is peppered with references to this fallacy, frequently invoked to show that fossil fuels need not be replaced ‘one-to-one’ by ‘efficient’ renewable energy. This notion, peddled by advocates of wind and solar power such as Dr Jan Rosenow, Senior Research Associate at Oxford and Cambridge Universities, argues that traditional metrics of primary energy consumption — measuring the raw energy extracted from nature before conversion — systematically underestimate the contributions of renewables....<<<Read More>>>....

Liz Truss to expose UK deep state in new podcast

Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss is launching a new talk show, ‘The Liz Truss Show’, which will premiere today, 5 December 2025, at 6 pm UK time.

The show, produced in partnership with the American media network Just the News, is being positioned as “the home of the counter-revolution” and aims to deliver “unapologetic debate” on issues such as the free speech crisis, economic stagnation, mass migration and cultural battles.

Truss has described the programme as a platform to confront the deep state and elites that sabotaged her brief premiership, declaring, “The deep state and their allies in the media and politics tried to destroy me … now I’m back.”

“I will expose the people who brought me down. I will take on the deep state. I will tell the truth about what is happening in our country and across the West,” she said....<<<READ MORE>>>...

 

Food for Thought #862

 

Mel’s Hole: The Legend of a Bottomless Hole In Washington

 The legend of the bottomless hole started on February 21, 1997, when a man identifying himself as Mel Waters appeared as a guest on Coast to Coast AM with Art Bell.

Waters claimed that he owned rural property nine miles (14 km) west of Ellensburg in Kittitas County, Washington, that contained a mysterious hole. According to Waters, the hole had an unknown depth.

He claimed to have measured its depth using fishing line and a weight, although he still had not hit bottom by the time 80,000 feet (24,000 m) of line had been used. “I brought the dogs with me.” Waters said on the show. “They wouldn’t go anywhere near the damn thing.”

Waters said the hole had a three-foot stone wall around it. It seemed bottomless to him, so he used an old shark fisherman’s trick — sending thousands of feet of fishing line down....<<<Read More>>>...

Electric Car Demand Sinks as Drivers Face Pay-Per-Mile Tax

 Demand for electric cars has slumped as Rachel Reeves prepares to hit them with a new pay-per-mile tax. The Telegraph has more.

Electric vehicle (EV) sales grew at their slowest rate in two years in November, at just 3.6%, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Mike Hawes, the Chief Executive of the SMMT, tied the slowdown to the Budget and its long build-up.

He said: “Even in a fragile market, zero-emission vehicle uptake continues to rise, which is exactly what we need. But the weakest growth for almost two years – ahead of the Government announcing a new tax on EVs – should be seen as a wake-up call that a sustained increase in demand for EVs cannot be taken for granted.

“We should be taking every opportunity to encourage drivers to make the switch, not punishing them for doing so, else the ambitions of Government and industry will be thwarted.”

The Chancellor announced a new pay-per-mile road tax for EVs in last week’s Budget. The levy will charge drivers of electric cars 3p per mile when it comes into force in April 2028 – costing them around £250 a year on average.

News of the policy was first revealed by the Telegraph on November 6th.

The change is meant to make up for lost fuel duty and to start bringing EVs into line with petrol and diesel vehicles. A typical petrol car driver currently pays around £600 per year in fuel duty, which is effectively a tax on distance travelled....<<<Read More>>>...

Britain is halfway into the Great Reset – Here’s the proof

 Britain is being pushed into the Great Reset, with the government introducing new laws to limit freedom, and the economy is being deliberately destroyed through excessive taxation and wasteful spending, Dr. Vernon Coleman writes.

How are the Great Reset conspirators able to implement their plan so easily? Because Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves, David Lammy et al are corrupt.

After a brutal takedown of Starmer, Reeves and, in particular, Lammy, Dr. Coleman concludes: “The Labour Government is shameless, greedy and self-serving, and ministers seem to consider they are entitled to do whatever they like to the country which has given them power. These are the people we are expected to trust. I wouldn’t trust any one of them to clean a car without stealing the wing mirrors.”...<<<Read More>>>....

**** SPECIAL FEATURE**** - Quote for the Month

 

Bon Jovi - Wanted Dead Or Alive

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS erupts with icy volcanoes, forcing scientists to rethink cosmic history

An interstellar comet erupted with global icy volcanoes as it entered our solar system.

Its pristine, metal-rich composition defies standard models of comet formation.

The comet lacked a protective dust layer, causing its entire surface to activate.

Its chemistry matches rare meteorites that may have seeded Earth with life's ingredients.

This visitor forces scientists to rethink how planetary systems form across the galaxy.

A pristine messenger from a star system born billions of years before our own is rewriting the cosmic rulebook right before our eyes. Between July and November of 2025, an international team of astronomers trained their telescopes on the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it screamed through our solar system at 130,000 miles per hour. What they witnessed was not just a simple icy dirtball, but an active, erupting world covered in "icy volcanoes," powered by a metal-rich interior that directly contradicts established science. This isn't just about one strange rock; it's a direct challenge to our fundamental understanding of how planets and comets form, both here and across the galaxy.

The comet presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As a pristine object that had never passed close to a star, it remained an untouched relic of its birth, billions of years ago in a now-distant planetary system. The scientists tracked it carefully as it approached the sun, expecting typical cometary behavior. Instead, they documented a dramatic and sustained surge in brightness when the comet was still 2.5 times the distance from Earth to the sun....<<<Read More>>>...

Food for Thought #861

 

Uyghur Ancient Cities: Gobi Myths Meet Modern Discoveries

 Uyghur ancient cities are said to have thrived across the Gobi Desert. Long ago, these sites were described as ocean ports. Today, only sand remains. Legends also claim advanced flying craft—sometimes linked to ancient vimanas—moved between hidden hubs in Northern Tibet and the Gobi.

In the 1930s, Russian explorer Nicholas Roerich reported a metallic disc over northern Tibet. Some researchers connect that sighting to lost Gobi settlements. In addition, older traditions say the “Ancient Ones” or “Thirteenth School” left the Gobi for Tibet before a global upheaval...<<<Read More>>>...

The Dead Daisies - Resurrected

Petrol Cars Now Cheaper to Run Than EVs After Tax Raid (Unless You Have a Driveway)

 Rachel Reeves’s new pay-per-mile tax will make petrol cars cheaper to run than electric vehicles unless drivers have a driveway and can charge them at home. The Telegraph has the story.

Motorists forced to rely on public chargers will be left paying an estimated £290 more per year in running costs and taxes for their EVs compared to a petrol alternative, according to electric car advice site Electrifying.com.

Home charging is now a ‘make or break factor’ for electric car affordability following the planned introduction of Rachel Reeves’s pay-per-mile tax, which is intended to replace fuel duty.

The Chancellor confirmed last week that EVs will be subject to a 3p-per-mile levy starting in 2028.

In the wake of the changes, Electrifying.com compared the cost of owning and operating an electric Volkswagen ID.3 with that of a petrol Volkswagen Golf, based on driving both for about 8,000 miles per year.

The electric car’s annual running costs would average about £898, compared with £1,198 for a petrol Volkswagen Golf, based on current prices.

However, drivers without a garage or driveway who rely solely on public charging would see their annual running costs rise sharply, to around £1,490. Approximately 30% of British households do not have access to off-street parking.

Drivers who can access a cheaper overnight rate when charging at home could enjoy substantially lower running costs, at £558.

Many drivers will likely use a mix of public and private charging, meaning they will be charged up to 60p per kilowatt hour (kWh) on public chargers for at least some of their journeys.

Plug-in hybrids, meanwhile, which will be subject to a 1.5p per mile charge from 2028, would become more expensive to run than a petrol vehicle if they are not regularly charged at home....<<<Read More>>>...

Food for Thought #860

 

Surviving an EMP: How to keep your car running when modern tech fails

 Cars built after the 2000s are packed with electronic control units (ECUs) and sensors, making them susceptible to EMP attacks, while older (pre-1970s) mechanical vehicles have better survival odds.

Stockpile essential components like ECUs, transmission control modules (TCMs), ignition coils, fuel pumps and sensors to increase your odds to reviving your car post-EMP.

Paper repair manuals and OBD-II scanners can help you diagnose and replace damaged parts post-EMP.

Spare parts must be stored in Faraday cages (metal trash cans, shielded bags or lined garages) to block electromagnetic interference.

If a car fails, attempt a restart, battery reset and scanner diagnostics. If electronics are fried, systematically replace shielded spares—starting with the ECU—with the help of repair manuals.

The threat of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP)—whether from a solar storm, nuclear detonation or directed-energy weapon—poses a catastrophic risk to modern society. One of the most immediate casualties would be transportation, as nearly every vehicle manufactured in the last two decades relies on delicate electronics vulnerable to EMP-induced failure. For people who depend on their cars for survival, preparation is key—but not all vehicles are equally at risk. Understanding which cars are most susceptible, how to shield critical components and what repairs may be necessary could mean the difference between mobility and being stranded in a crisis...<<<Read More>>>...

Quote for the Day

 

Cap-and-invest: A US programme to ration energy and then tax the rations

 Several US states have implemented or are developing Cap-and-Invest programmes, including California, Washington State and New York State.

Climate change catastrophists will say that these programmes are to save the planet from global warming. But as with all things related to the climate change agenda, it has nothing to do with climate change and everything to do with money and control.

Carbon taxes and cap-and-invest systems have much in common. Both are market-based policies to make “carbon emitters” pay for their “emissions.”

Using climate change jargon: Cap-and-Invest is a tool designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by setting a declining cap on total emissions from covered sources, such as large industrial facilities, fuel distributors and utilities. Each covered entity must hold an allowance for every tonne of emissions it produces, with the total number of allowances equal to the annual emissions cap, which decreases over time to achieve long-term climate goals. This system creates a financial incentive for businesses to reduce emissions, as they can either cut their own pollution or purchase allowances from others, with the price of allowances determined by supply and demand....<<<Read More>>>...

The Real Map Of The World, Part 2 - What They Hid From You

Food for Thought #859

 

Living in the Moment

 Life, in all of its fullness, is happening right now. When our thoughts are elsewhere, beautiful opportunities and moments are being passed over and lost to the flow of time. And though we cannot possibly fully experience each leaf that falls to the ground, sometimes we get so attached to reaching our goals that we don’t pay attention to the wonder all around us. When we live in a world that exists only in our heads, we miss life itself. There is so much to be enjoyed and appreciated that we need to remember to pay attention to the present moment because it is the only space in which we can experience being alive.

We learn from our past, but dwelling on it keeps us from being fully present to life in the moment. We create our lives with our thoughts. But focusing so firmly on our imagined future keeps us from co-creating with the universe, so we might never allow ourselves to live our dreams as they manifest. It’s possible to be so happy and comfortable in our inner worlds that we lose touch with the business of life.

Life must be attended to, and if we are wise, we can enjoy it at the same time. We can awaken ourselves to the moment we are living right now by taking a deep breath and simply looking around. In doing so, we refocus our attention on our location in the real world. Then we can learn to appreciate the process of working toward our goals as much as their attainment. Balancing ourselves between the present moment and eternity, we can experience and enjoy the full range of reality available to us as spiritual beings living on Earth. (Daily Mail)

Quote for the Day

 

Labour’s Plan to Turn England’s Best Farmland Over to Developers is About to Come to Pass

There is a moment, familiar to anyone who has ever driven through the English lowlands at dusk, when the hedgerows close in, the church spire pricks the sky, and the illusion of permanence feels almost tangible. Somewhere in that landscape a farmer is standing at his kitchen window, mug of builder’s tea cooling in his hand, watching a council officer walk up the lane with a compulsory-purchase notice in his briefcase.

This is no Victorian melodrama. It is the direct and foreseeable consequence of Labour’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill — a 150-clause juggernaut that completed its final Parliamentary skirmish in the House of Lords on November 24th 2025 and now awaits only Royal Assent in early December.

The Government presents the legislation as the long-overdue antidote to decades of planning paralysis — the indispensable fix if Britain is to deliver 1.5 million homes this Parliament and achieve clean power by 2030. Housing Secretary Steve Reed repeats the mantra “getting Britain building again” with the weary conviction of a man who has never laid a brick in anger, insisting the reforms will unlock growth without “selling out” communities or the natural world. The official factsheets speak of “fair compensation rather than inflated prices” and a “win-win” for the economy and the environment. The language is soothing. The reality is not.

Tucked away in clauses 83 to 92 of Part 5 is a provision that fundamentally rewrites the rules of compulsory purchase. Local authorities — district councils, county councils, even parish councils in certain circumstances — may now acquire land, including some of the most productive farmland in Europe, at “existing use” value, typically £8,000 to £13,500 an acre for prime arable. Once planning permission is secured, the same land can be resold at ‘hope’ value — anything from £500,000 to £1.5 million an acre, often far more. The uplift goes neither to the Treasury nor to the dispossessed farmer. It lands, unring-fenced, in the council’s bank account. There is no duty to audit it, no obligation to spend it locally, and no legal barrier to diverting it elsewhere. In the wrong hands — and many councils are now hundreds of millions in the red — that is not a windfall. It is an invitation. Ministers insist forthcoming statutory guidance will require “fair and reasonable” use of the power and some sharing of uplift with local communities, but as presently drafted the Bill imposes no statutory duty to do so, and no ring-fencing or audit requirement whatsoever....<<<Read More>>>...

Journey - Send Her My Love

People Are Turning to AI for Therapy, Grief & Love – And It’s a BIG Problem

 More people than ever are asking AI chatbots to talk them off the ledge, help them say goodbye to loved ones, and find life partners. It feels private, always available, and cheaper than human alternatives. But when the mediator is software optimised for engagement, we hand over the parts of life that define us.  

Here’s what’s happening in the world of chatbot therapy, grief companions and dating assistants, including what they promise – and what it’s really doing to those who trust the models in their most fragile moments. 

Artificial therapy provides an instant listener with a perfect memory and no judgement. The obvious upside is access: people who would never sit on a waiting list or be able to afford human support can talk immediately. But the risk most are underestimating is false competence. Models can mirror warmth and recall your triggers, but it cannot carry legal duty of care, clinical judgement, or the moral weight of advice in life-or-death situations. 

Using bots as grief tools can offer a digital presence of the dead. Families upload messages, voice notes and photos, and the systems generate a familiar tone that replies on cue. The benefit here is comfort, but the real downside is arrested grief. It’s a farewell that never ends, and the living can get stuck in looped conversations with a simulation that never moves on. 

Dating assistants within AI models are on the rise, promising better profiles, cleaner openers, and round-the-clock coaching. Users get more confident, with timid people starting conversations, busy people filtering faster through potential partners, and neurodiverse users develop structure. The risk here should be obvious: outsourcing charm all but guarantees that you end up matching strangers who expect the scripted version of you when meeting face-to-face....<<<Read More>>>...

The quiet death of the British family farm

 The U.K. government is implementing inheritance tax reforms that cap long-standing relief for family farms.

Critics argue the policy forces the breakup of multigenerational farms to pay large tax bills, leading to a surge in farmland sales.

The changes incentivize converting productive agricultural land into solar farms, wind projects and rewilded estates for tax efficiency.

This shift threatens domestic food security, with Britain's food self-sufficiency already declining.

The policy is projected to raise £520 million annually for the Treasury but could add hundreds of pounds to household food bills.

In a move that is reshaping the British countryside, the government is proceeding with inheritance tax reforms that critics label a "net zero death duty." The policy, which caps a 40-year relief for agricultural land, is forcing multigenerational family farms onto the market. The resulting land rush is not being led by neighboring farmers, but by institutional investors seeking to convert prime farmland into solar arrays, wind farms and rewilded carbon sinks, raising profound questions about national food security and the true cost of environmental policy....<<<Read More>>>... 

Food for Thought #858

 

Navy “UFO Patent” Documents Talk Of “Spacetime Modification Weapon

 The US Navy’s “UFO” patents sound like they were taken from a sci-fi novel.

The US Navy has filed patents for strange and obscure technologies. According to patents filed by the Navy, they are working on a compact fusion reactor capable of powering a city, an engine powered by “inertial mass reduction”, and a “hybrid aerospace-submarine vehicle”, as well as a patent for “quantum reality alteration”.

Called “UFO patents” these are not mere fantasies. The US Navy sponsors the construction of prototypes of some unusual technologies to prove they work.

Dr. Salvatore Cezar Pais is the man behind the patents. Pais has worked in various departments of the Navy, including the Aircraft Division of the Naval Air Force Center (NAVAIR/NAWCAD) and the Strategic Systems Program Division. It is responsible for developing submarine-launched Trident-class nuclear missile technology.

All patents build on each other, but they are based on what Pais called the “Pais effect”....<<<Read More>>>..

Saxon - Strong Arm of the Law

Restricting Jury Trials Will Undermine Free Speech, Lammy Warned

 Government plans to scrap jury trials for most crimes will undermine free speech, David Lammy has been warned, with research showing juries are twice as likely to acquit on free speech grounds. The Telegraph has the story.

Campaigners claim the Justice Secretary’s proposals will mean defendants who use free speech as a defence for ‘offensive’ language are less likely to be acquitted.

Research by the Free Speech Union (FSU) found defendants justifying their actions on the basis of free speech were almost twice as likely to be found not guilty in a crown court, where juries determine verdicts, as they were in magistrates’ courts, where there are no juries.

The research followed high-profile ‘hate speech’ cases such as that of Jamie Michael, a former Royal Marine. A jury took just 17 minutes to acquit him of stirring up racial hatred with a Facebook post urging people to exercise their democratic rights over illegal immigration following the Southport murders.

Lord Young, the Director of the FSU, said his organisation would be campaigning against Lammy’s plans. “Trial by jury is a bulwark of British liberty and if people charged with speech offences are denied that right, they’re more likely to be convicted,” he said.

In an attempt to tackle a record backlog of 80,000 cases, Lammy will on Tuesday use a Commons statement to set out the Government’s ‘once in a generation’ plans to scrap the right to jury trial for defendants facing offences likely to result in prison sentences of under five years.

Under the proposals, only defendants facing charges carrying a possible jail term of more than five years, such as murder, rape and other serious sexual offences, terrorism, manslaughter, GBH and possession of firearms, will be entitled to jury trials....<<<Read More>>>....

Food for Thought #857

 

Mind-altering weapons emerging from the latest advances in neuroscience

 The idea of a weapon that can hijack the human brain, turning thoughts into weapons and emotions into ammunition, has long been the stuff of dystopian fiction. Yet, a growing chorus of scientists is raising the alarm that this chilling prospect is inching closer to reality, moving from the pages of novels into the research labs of world powers. 

The very science that promises to heal conditions like PTSD and Alzheimer's is also unlocking the potential to create a new class of mind control weapons that target the core of human experience: perception, memory, and behavior. This dual-use nature of neuroscience presents a profound ethical and security dilemma, suggesting that the next major arms race may not be for physical territory, but for the contested landscape of the human mind itself. 

Examples of mass formation psychosis and group think hysteria are all around us now - making one wonder whether mind altering weapons are already being deployed using technologies that we barely understand....<<<Read More>>>... 

****SPECIAL FEATURE**** - Image of the Month

URAMBI HILLS CANBERRA

 

Everything is Watching: A Field Guide to Everyday Surveillance Tech

 The problem is not just that we’re being tracked more than ever; it’s that everyone is actively paying for the surveillance. 

Video doorbell ownership in the US rose from 4% to over a 35% between 2017 and 2024. Smart TVs – which track and sell your viewing analytics – are now in 86% of homes, up from 47% a couple of years ago. 75% of cars shipped in 2024 were embedded with cellular modems, permanently streaming live data about drivers and passengers. 

The average online household in the US has a staggering 17 connected devices. And the data-broker market – the industry buying and selling your personal information – will soon reach $500 billion annually. 

We have more eyes on us than at any point in history, more people analysing our every move, and a lot of questionable legality about it all. Here’s how your connected devices are creating a whole new industry worth hundreds of billions of dollars. ...<<<Read More>>>...

****SPECIAL FEATURE**** - Thought of the Day

 

Embracing New Information

 Living in an information age, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the constant influx of scientific studies, breaking news, and even spiritual revelations that fill our bookshelves, radio waves, and in-boxes. No sooner have we decided what to eat or how to think about the universe than a new study or book comes out confounding our well-researched opinion. After a while, we may be tempted to dismiss or ignore new information in the interest of stabilizing our point of view, and this is understandable. Rather than closing down, we might try instead to remain open by allowing our intuition to guide us.

For example, contradictory studies concerning foods that are good for you and foods that are bad for you are plentiful. At a certain point, though, we can feel for ourselves whether coffee or tomatoes are good for us or not. The answer is different for each individual, and this is something that a scientific study can’t quite account for. All we can do is take in the information and process it through our own systems of understanding. In the end, only we can decide what information, ideas, and concepts we will integrate. Remaining open allows us to continually change and shift by checking in with ourselves as we learn new information. It keeps us flexible and alert, and while it can feel a bit like being thrown off balance all the time, this openness is essential to the process of growth and expansion.

Perhaps the key is realizing that we are not going to finally get to some stable place of having it all figured out. Throughout our lives, we will go through the processes of opening to new information, integrating it, and shifting our worldview. No sooner will we have reached some kind of stability than it will be time to open again to new information, which is inherently destabilizing. If we see ourselves as surfers riding the incoming waves of information and inspiration, always open and willing to attune ourselves to the next shift, we will see how blessed we are to have this opportunity to play on the waves and, most of all, to enjoy the ride. (Daily OM)

Food for Thought #856

 

Families on Benefits ‘£18,000 Better Off’ Than Working Neighbours

New analysis by the Centre for Social Justice finds that families on modest incomes will be £18,000 worse off than parents on benefits after Rachel Reeves scrapped the two-child cap in the Budget. The Mail has more.

A salary of around £71,000 a year is now needed to match the benefits income for some bigger families, a think-tank has warned.

Calculations from the Centre for Social Justice have laid bare the impact of Labour’s decision to axe the two-child cap.

Rachel Reeves has been trumpeting the £3 billion a year move in the Budget, insisting it will slash child poverty.

A family with one adult full-time and one part-time worker would take home roughly £28,000 after tax, according to the estimates.

But that is £18,000 less than the welfare income now available to an equivalent three-child family outside work on combined benefits.

The CSJ – chaired by Tory former Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith – said: “Matching that level of support through earnings alone would require a pre-tax salary of around £71,000.”

The split for single parents is even starker, the think-tank’s report said.

A parent with children on combined benefits would be expected to receive roughly £38,000 per year. That could rise to £43,000 if the adult themselves is receiving health benefits, according to the CSJ.

That is some £22,000 more than the take-home pay from a full-time job on £20,600....<<<Read More>>>...

Quote for the Day

 

UK’s open border policy is not normal; nor is it acceptable

It is not normal to allow your country to be invaded by military-aged men from foreign countries with misogynistic cultures, Laura Perrins writes.

A man has pleaded guilty to the rape of a 12-year-old girl in Warwickshire, in a case that prompted anti-asylum protests in Nuneaton.”

Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, of no fixed abode, changed his plea at Warwick Crown Court on Friday, admitting the single charge of rape of a child under 13 on 22 July.

Mulakhil, an Afghan national, had previously denied abducting a child, three counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 at a hearing on 28 August.

Co-defendant Mohammad Kabir, 23, of no fixed abode, previously pleaded not guilty to attempting to take a child, aiding and abetting rape of a child under 13, and intentional strangulation of the girl at the hearing in August.

Mulakhil was assisted in the hearing with a Farsi interpreter and pleaded guilty to a single count of oral rape. Mohammad Kabir was assisted with a Pashto interpreter. The hearing did not mention the men’s nationalities or immigration status.

The judge, Kristina Montgomery KC, remanded the two men in custody before a hearing on 12 December and a trial on 26 January.

This got very little coverage over the weekend, but let’s give the media the benefit of the doubt because a trial is to come. Nothing I say here should be taken to influence that trial. I am speaking about the guilty plea entered by Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, of no fixed abode, admitting the single charge of rape of a child under 13 on 22 July.

The Guardian helpfully adds, “the incident sparked protests in Nuneaton in August. Protesters marched along the town’s high street holding St George’s cross and Union Jack flags, while a handful wore clothing bearing Nazi imagery. Speakers told the crowd: ‘England is doomed. You cannot stop it by protesting. The far right must unite’.

So, you see, you have to be a member of the far–right and indeed have Nazi inclinations if you are protesting the rape of a 12-year-old girl. No decent person would join such a protest....<<<Read More>>>...

Deep Purple - Portable Door

“America First” policy extends to national parks: Foreign visitors to face steep fee increases in 2026

 Starting Jan. 1, 2026, foreign visitors to U.S. national parks will pay $250 for an annual pass and face a $100 surcharge at 11 popular parks, including the Grand Canyon and Rocky Mountain National Park.

The Trump administration frames the move as prioritizing taxpayer-funded access for Americans while requiring international visitors to contribute more toward park maintenance and upgrades.

Previously free holidays like Presidents' Day and Constitution Day will now only apply to U.S. residents, eliminating universal free access. Revenue will fund conservation, facility upgrades and digital improvements.

The National Park System saw 331.9 million visits in 2024, the highest ever, with overcrowding forcing some parks (like Shenandoah's Old Rag Mountain) to implement reservation systems.

Critics warn the fees could deter international tourism, while supporters argue they ensure U.S. taxpayers aren't subsidizing foreign visitors’ access to national treasures.

Starting Jan. 1, 2026, foreign tourists visiting U.S. national parks will pay significantly higher fees under a new policy announced by the Department of the Interior on Tuesday, Nov. 25. Nonresidents will be charged $250 for an annual parks pass—more than triple the $80 cost for U.S. citizens and permanent residents—while also facing a $100 surcharge at 11 of the most popular parks, including the Grand Canyon and Rocky Mountain National Park.

The move, framed as an "America First" initiative by the Trump administration, aims to prioritize taxpayer-funded access for Americans while requiring international visitors to contribute more toward park maintenance and upgrades.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum emphasized that the policy aligns with President Donald Trump's longstanding commitment to putting American citizens first.

"President Trump's leadership always puts American families first," Burgum said in a statement. "These policies ensure that U.S. taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations."

The fee overhaul will also eliminate universal free-admission days on holidays like Presidents' Day and Constitution Day, reserving those benefits exclusively for U.S. residents. Revenue from the increased fees will fund facility upgrades, conservation efforts and digital improvements, including mobile-friendly park passes and expanded coverage for motorcycles....<<<Read More>>>...

Food for Thought #855

 

Haunted by Hungry Ghosts: The Joe Fisher Story

 In the 1970s, Joe Fisher forged a reputation as one of Canada’s leading investigative reporters. But there was another side to him. The rebellious son of Christian fundamentalists, he grew increasingly enthralled by Eastern religions, eventually becoming a popular media expert on paranormal phenomena.

 While investigating the practice of “trance channeling,” he abandoned his professional skepticism, falling in love with a spirit entity named Filipa – an obsession that would lead him down a dangerous path.

Of those of us who do take mediumship and channelling seriously, and believe wholeheartedly in the existence of discarnate entities, very few of us are willing to concede that such beings may be liars and manipulators – and not just that, but purposely malevolent. There is, acknowledges the novelist Michael Prescott, “a dark side to the paranormal. It is not all benevolent angels and comforting words from deceased relatives. There can be obsession, deterioration of rational thought, shared fantasy, even a descent into madness. There can be hungry ghosts.” ...<<<Read More>>>...

Pushing Buttons

 We’ve all had our buttons pushed to the point we feel we can’t take it anymore, and chances are, we’ve all pushed somebody else’s buttons — with or without knowing it. The button pusher may not be conscious of what they’re doing, but in the end, the buttons belong to us. We are the ones who must deal with what comes up. The more we take responsibility for our own feelings and reactions, the less tender these buttons will be.

We’ve all had the experience of having someone snap at us, seemingly out of nowhere. This happens when we unconsciously push a button that we didn’t even know was there. This can happen with a complete stranger, or with a person we’ve been close to for years. We may even have a relationship with someone whose buttons we secretly like to push. Buttons are soft spots that have been touched one too many times, and they symbolize some pain that needs to be acknowledged and healed. This may be a wound from childhood or some recent trauma that hasn’t been adequately tended. Whatever the case, when our own buttons get pushed, the person who most needs our attention and caring is us, and blaming the button pusher only distracts us from finding a true resolution to our suffering.

At the same time, if someone continually opens our wounds so that they never have time to heal, we are well within our rights to set a boundary with that person. Compulsive button pushers, who seem to find pleasure or satisfaction in hurting us, are not welcome in our personal space. In the end, knowing where our buttons are enables us to do the work necessary to heal. Freedom comes when we deal with the pain behind the button, thus disconnecting our automatic reaction to being pushed. (Daily OM)