Life Is Such A Sweet Insanity.

The Future I Hoped For.

There’s a LOT of stuff going on in the world today. For the folks that thought things would magically get better with the arrival of 2026, I still hold hope with you, but so far 2026 is not doing the 180 we were hoping for.

I recently saw an ad for a new Star Trek series coming out. I believe it’s called Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. I saw a teaser a couple of months ago and I couldn’t help but notice that it looked like a sci-fi tinged teen drama series on The WB. It wasn’t really my thing so I decided I would pass. While I was a diehard Trekker through Star Trek: Voyager and the series that came immediately after it (snicker), since the Kelvin timeline movies and whatever the NuTrek series were suppose to be, I haven’t really had an interest. I will admit that I’ve watched a couple of seasons of “Strange New Worlds” (good, but too uneven) and “Lower Decks” (very enjoyable).

The NuTrek series seem to focused on destruction, photon torpedoes, angst, and a bleak look at the future, especially compared to what we saw in the franchise prior to “Deep Space Nine”. I desperately want a Star Trek series that focuses on Gene Roddenberry’s original vision for the future. This is what has driven me to better myself and hope for a better humanity for the past 50+ years. It’s articulated quite well in this scene from “Star Trek: First Contact”.

Money doesn’t exist in the 24th century. The acquisition of wealth is no longer the driving force in our lives. We work to better ourselves and the rest of humanity.

What a brilliant future that would be. It gives me such a feeling of hope. It’s something I strive for to this day, and I wish our society was moving away from the “breads and circuses” we’re being fed by those in charge and instead we were working to better ourselves and each other.

Can you imagine a future where the amount of money held by Elon or Zuck or any of them was irrelevant? What contribution would they be making to society today if they weren’t motivated by their greed?

13 January 2026 by J.P. Ponderings and Musings 0

Randomness.

To give you a peek into my thought processes, I am stacked up with a lot on my plate at work today. This is a good thing. While I’m working through my list, I am also lost in thought on how the two way tailgates worked on the 1991-1996 Chevrolet Caprice and matching years Buick Roadmaster station wagons.

I’ve never owned either of these types of vehicles and honestly, I thought they were on earlier models.

Hold, please.

Yes, in fact, they started with this dual action tailgate in 1977, the year they shrunk the Chevy Caprice and Impala down a little bit when compared to the previous year. I learned to drive in a 1978 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe, because my father would only own two door vehicles. Four door vehicles were for old folks.

Here’s a video to show you what I’m talking about.

And here’s a video showing off the 1978 variant in a vintage ad from the era.

13 January 2026 by J.P. Ponderings and Musings 0

Reactionary.

In these very reactionary times, sometimes it’s good to reframe your thought processes.

“The purpose of setting goals is to win the game. The purpose of building systems is to continue playing the game. True long-term thinking is goal-less thinking. It’s not about any single accomplishment. It is about the cycle of endless refinement and continuous improvement. Ultimately, it is your commitment to the process that will determine your progress.”

— James Clear

12 January 2026 by J.P. Ponderings and Musings 0

Green.

Record breaking temperatures this winter and typical seasonal rains is making for a little more green than usual in these parts.

We have green showing up all around our property. It probably won’t last for very long, as there is no precipitation in the forecast for the next 10 days.

The outside plants maintained by Chris and Mike are remaining healthy in the colder night temperatures of the time. Friday to Saturday was forecasted to dip below freezing, but I don’t think that happened here at home.

A quick look at the stats for this year remind me of why we live in the Southeast United States, especially during the winter.

Intrigued, I took a look at the stats since the weather station was installed on our roof nearly two years ago.

I’m impressed.

11 January 2026 by J.P. Desert Life. 0

Descants.

Today is Pat Benatar’s 73rd birthday. Happy birthday! I found this live performance of “Love Is A Battlefield” from a couple of years ago and I had to share.

One of the things I have always loved about this track is the background vocals. Many cover artists simply ignore them, but Pat still includes them on her performances. The descants, especially during the 2nd part of the 2nd chorus still gives me chills. Pat is leaning hard into her Julliard training to bring life to those notes.

I love that both Pat and Neil are aging gracefully, still together, and still full of smiles. We need more folks like them in the world.

10 January 2026 by J.P. DJ 0

Humanity.

This blog post has been bouncing around in my head for the past couple of days. The “patriotic” (and I use that term loosely here) mentioned at the beginning of what you’re about to read pushed me to write these feelings down. I shared this on Facebook earlier today.

Last night a large Ford pickup passed us on Speedway here in Tucson. Emblazoned across the rear window was a demonstrative, prideful depiction of Jesus Christ on the cross, enshrouded in the U.S. flag. At the feet of Jesus, an AR-15 with the words “In God We Trust, God Bless America”.

This grotesque display goes against everything Jesus Christ represents.

I hold my spiritual beliefs very close and do not readily share details of my spiritual relationship with the Universe. But I will say this: I read the Bible, every day. I complete structured Bible lessons, every day. I pray, every day. Nowhere amongst these holy words are there passages outlining a chosen area of land called the United States to be specially anointed by God. Nowhere in scripture does Jesus Christ single out those with citizenship of the United States as being particularly special or the singular object of his blessings. Nowhere.

Many may think that I’m just another left-wing Democrat that’s against the current administration in Washington. I’m not. Far from it. I’m an American because my parents were American. That’s it. What I am against is an administration using agents cowardly hiding behind masks shooting down Americans. Anyone that thinks the woman in Minneapolis is of the same caliber as Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber, really needs to reevaluate their morals and values. Domestic terrorist? My god.

I hold the men and women of our Armed Forces in very high esteem. I also believe in the immigration laws of the United States, which need reform. These ICE agents are not a member of our Armed Forces and are perverting these immigration laws. This is not the answer. We are being lied to and gaslighted by the leadership of ICE. She is not a good human being. She is far from the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Anyone hiding behind claims of Christian values and condoning what’s happening with ICE needs to go back to reading the Bible. God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit… all God’s creatures. All human beings.

What is happening today is beyond a tragedy and is horrifyingly far away from the teachings of the Bible.

10 January 2026 by J.P. Why. 0

Caturday.

Truman likes to go out on the roof over our garage to see what’s going on at ground level. He keeps tabs on coyotes, javelinas, and other desert natives that like to pass through the property.

I keep an eye on him when he’s out there and always give him an escape route if an owl decides to invade his space.

10 January 2026 by J.P. Desert Life. He's A Feline. 0

Under God.

Photo courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/HistoricalPhotosYT/photos

I follow an account called “Historical Photos YT” on Facebook. I delight in seeing the old photos on my Facebook timeline; it helps distract from the chaos and fighting usually in progress at any time.

The photo above appeared a couple of days ago. Taken in Norfolk, Virginia in 1941, these school children are reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of their class day. As common at the time, the students saluted the flag.

Of course there’s a litany of comments under the photo talking about how no one recites the Pledge of Allegiance any more (a very false statement) and that they should say “Amen” when finishing the recitation, as God intended.

So let me set the record straight.

The addition of “Under God” to the United States Pledge of Allegiance was codified in law on Flag Day, June 14, 1954. The Knights of Columbus did not start adding “Under God” until during World War II. The first version of the Pledge of Allegiance was first officially recognized by Congress on June 22, 1942

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

I fully believe American students in the American public school system should recite the Pledge of Allegiance in their classrooms at the start of the school day. This practice instills a sense of citizenship and a sense of what the United States stands for. In fact, during my junior and senior years of high school, I led the entire school by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance over the PA system before then reading the morning announcements. A social studies teacher once referred to me as the high school’s “Voice of America”.

While I believe this practice should carry on today, I also believe that any student that can articulate why they do not want to recite the Pledge of Allegiance should be able to sit out the activity. They shouldn’t be ostracized. Being able to say why you don’t want to recite the Pledge of Allegiance is just as strong a lesson in citizenship and civic responsibility

But the folks screaming about the Under God part and how it’s “always been there”, no. That’s completely false. The Founders wouldn’t be able to recite the Pledge of Allegiance; it would be one and a half centuries before it ever became a thing. It’s a solidly mid 20th century practice.

9 January 2026 by J.P. Inspiration and Motivation. 0

Muzak.

Every once in a while I’m in the mood for instrumental music that will help me find a calmer, gentler frame of mind in this chaotic world. For months I’ve been trying to achieve this with various symphony and other instrumental stations and tracks but it wasn’t quite what I was looking for. Then I stumbled upon this video of a couple of hours of Muzak. I realized that as a person born in the late 1960s, my mind was searching for a bit of Muzak.

I now play this in my office from time to time. It’s perfect music for me when I’m trying to find focus.

8 January 2026 by J.P. Quirky. 0

I Wish.

In 1994… wait, was that really 32 years ago? My god. In 1994 I worked for a Top 40 radio station called “Rock 107, Central New York’s All Hit Music Station”. It was my first regular radio gig and something I really, really enjoyed. I worked weekends and filled in for the night jock from time to time. I loved Top 40 music back then, right before grunge took over, and there were a ton of interesting tracks coming from the record companies.

The second single from singer Gabrielle was called “I Wish”. This radio remix was released in early 1994, and it was a no brainer to mix it into “Don’t Walk Away” by Jade, which had come out a couple of years earlier.

Both this remix and “Don’t Walk Away” sample the percussion from “Jungle Jazz” by Kool and the Gang, which was released in 1975.

While Gabrielle’s previous release “Dreams” reached top 30 status in the United States, “I Wish” didn’t reach the top 50, stalling out at #52. It was still a fun track to mix in during my club gigs and when I filled in on “Dance Tracks” on Rock 107.

From 1994, here’s “I Wish (Radio Remix)” by Gabrielle.

For reference to the “Don’t Walk Away” by Jade reference, here’s their original video from 1992.

7 January 2026 by J.P. DJ 0

The Future I Hoped For.

Randomness.

Reactionary.

Green.

Descants.

Humanity.

Caturday.

Under God.

Muzak.

I Wish.

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