Indiana Men's Basketball Sucks so Bad. It Makes me kind of Ill.

    Out-coached, out-played, out-hustled, out-thought-- The Cats are much better than IU, proving it twice in the last two or so weeks. The death knell was being snookered and out-punched by them in Bloomington not too long ago. Tonight is sadder still. The United Center, a place to beat an inferior squad.

    NO!

    So bad. More later. Maybe. Likely.

 States and Quasi-States: 2026

    Most of us know about the strong states of the world today, the countries and governments that have powerful militaries, financial or commodity strength that imbues them with powerful authority and influence.

    

    We know the big ones: China. United States. Nigeria. India. Russia. Germany. Brazil. Japan. Mexico.

    There are many small ones that we do not pay much attention to: Andorra, Malta, Vanuatu, Tuvalu.

    However, there are some states that are not even recognized by most of the world: Somaliland, Puntland, Baluchistan, Kurdistan. Nations, or peoples, without states.

    Note that many, or most of these quasi-states are Muslim. East Timor, a newer country that emerged in 2002, (not 2003, as a government interviewer tried to be brow beat me about not knowing), broke off from Muslim Indonesia. Is the religion or culture of Islam prone to separating from other states and governments?

    

    Quebec wants to be independent from Canada, at times. Some are ardent about it. Natives the world over have desires of more than autonomy, but fierce independence from their sovereign owners, if you will.

    What are the states and quasi-states that you know of?

Dear Niece[s]: I have Been thinking about you. From the Uncle Guy, sort of Far Away

    Hello there, my niece! This is for you. I take being an uncle somewhat seriously, but my life is fashioned in a way that I have concerns that distract me from being as good an uncle as I would like to be. If it were up to me, I would have a dream job where I would work about two days per week, earn about 50,000 per month (I am not asking too much, right?), and I would have money and time to visit you, take you places, and have a really good time. Caution: I do not drink or smoke, and I would not encourage that behavior with people in my company, but I think we could make do. My dad always said that we saved so much money by not drinking alcohol or smoking, that we could afford real butter and nice dishes and deserts. But travel is about imbibing and savoring the local foods and libations, yes? But for me and us, we will stay away from fermented things and chemicals. Unless it is gnarly kim chi that does not make us drunk.

    Sounds good, huh?

    We could go a lot places; normally I would take one or more of my children with us. My kids will soon be living in five different places, so maybe we would visit them. That would be awesome, I know. But we would go to other places, like islands and continents that people do not care much about. I have looked at a lot of maps all my life, and I have some fun ideas to do. Would you go with me, maybe my wife and kids, if I could pay your way? Too good to be true, no?

    Anyway, I do not want to be too bossy or imperious upon you and your life. Mostly I would like to show you and your parents that I think that you are neat. Special. Family. Children of my siblings and siblings-in-law, cousins of my children, all deserving to have some good times and experiences.

    For the record, I have nieces in the following places: West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana, Texas, Utah, Idaho, Washington, and California. Did I miss anyone? There are a lot! From eleven total siblings and in-laws with kids, I reckon. Oh, I think I have one in Minnesota. They keep spreading around! I think 50k monthly would allow me to accomplish some visiting and travel goals.

    Yeah. Travel and world visits. That would be great. But not so likely, it seems.

    Sorry. I am not that guy. Yet. Maybe ever? Time will tell. Some money and some materials could come my way... Eventually. Maybe not.

    What else? Whether I have the time or money to help you do some fun travels, that might not materialize. (Sure, maybe we can arrange some more affordable visits?). But what else is there about being a good uncle?

    Know that I think and I care about you. I want you to be happy, and what is best for you. You, in my and many people's estimations and considerations, are a daughter of God and your potential is limitless. You deserve to be happy. And, as my daughter recently expressed, gratitude is something even more important than happiness. Gratitude contains and imbues joy. Be joyful! And thankful. This is something wished for by me, my family, your family, parents, siblings, cousins, grandparents, and on and on.

    Great men and women throughout history want what is best for you.

    We--I want you to be with the best people, and have the best lives. I do not want to be bossy nor iperious.

    I care for my own children, I want the best for them. I love my siblings, my in-laws, our parents, who are all pulling for you.

    Advice? Work hard, be humble, try to be fair. I cannot always do all those things, but I will continue to try. Expect the best from others; do not put up with those that abuse or denigrate you. Live in a way within your means and try to serve others as you can.

    I hope to see you sooner or later; I hope we can share a meal together, a trip or a show, or simply a nice conversation.

    Love, 

    Your uncle 

PS: I directed this to the girls who are my nieces, but much if not all of the above is for the nephews, too. Maybe more with them later.

The Human Family: It's Forever Started January 9, 2026

 The Human Family: It's Forever

Even if there is no God or Angels recording all our movements and actions, the human family is being recorded, now more than ever.

We are now registering and saving, safeguarding or compiling our lives through so many ways that we in many  aspects have created an eternal race of beings, united through the clicks of mouses and the revving up of hard drives and a dozen other man-made wonders.

Scientists look at the detritus of our past; paleontologists, archaeologists, chemists, anthropologists. Physics cosmologists and astronomers, and perhaps a dozen other specialists like metallurgists and geologists look into the physical realms to discover the ancient until the present, peering into the collective futures that we plan on inhabiting.

    Now it is March, 2026. Sunday the 8th. Time has marched on.

Gusanitos -- Little Worrms - Winter Ending

 Gusanitos -- Little Worms - Winter Ending

    In front of my building today, I saw dozens of little, skinny, brown, dead, worms. It had rained a bit the last few days. They were laying on the sidewalks where there had been snow and ice in the weeks before. They survived the longer winter underground, I guess.

    Days pass. 

    My ideas lie dormant, or distracted, like the dead little worms that laid across the warming sidewalks. Even days after the warmer fog and gloom they are there. Gusanitos. Dood, in Arabic. The plural, who knows? Doowadie?

    The cycles come and go, another spring is at hand. Now a week into March.

    2026. 

    I was reading an old journal from 1992, the first year after returning from my life altering Church mission. I started it in 1991, or 2000-9.

    It was the year 2000, miles and years away.

    Now it is a lifetime later.

    Still keeping some sort of a journal, only now expostulating on dead worms in the spring and the changes of seasons.

    Little dead worms help the birds along, and the grounds and the grass. Right?

    The grasses surrounding the memorials of those killed at my building during their honorable service.

    Amen.

    Some miracles are positive, others are not. But they all come from God.

    Ah men, and ahmen.

 Spanish Lesson - Gustar

    I like the city.

    Me gusta la ciudad.

    I like the cities.

    Me gustan las ciudades.

    I liked the city.

    Me gusto' la ciudad. (The apostrophe is the accent, that goes over the letter, tilting right.)

    I liked the cities.

    Me gustaron las cities.

    I used to like the city. I was liking the city (over a period of time).

    Me gustaba la ciudad.

    I used to like the cities. I was liking the cities.

    Me gustaban las ciudades.

    I wanted you to like the city.

    Queri'a quu a ti' te gustara la ciudad.

    

    Confused? Let's discuss.

    

Six Killed on the American Side, So Far - 3 Days In

    We are in a new chapter in United States history: we are at war with Iran. They have bombed our guys, killing some and injuring three times more, six and 18. How long will this conflict last?

    God bless the legacies and the families of those that we lost. I am still looking for their names and origins. May their contributions be meaningful.