Learning to find the "truth" is a skill that can be taught.  First, we have to understand the role of stories in humanity and recognize there is often little connection between our stories and the "truth".   We have to learn to sort information into a rainbow of options from fact, to unlikely, to probably correct, etc. while understanding the role of our biases in making those calls.  Our democracy depends on us getting better at sorting out fact from fiction in this new era of story generation and proliferation by social media. 

Elijah, this is the first story I remember in my life.  Your great-granddad and great-grandma, your great uncle Alex, and I were in a car and the car died as we went over the train tracks.  A train was coming.  I was only three, sitting in the back seat, but I knew this was not good.

The Biden Presidency has seen its high water mark with the infrastructure bill.  Accepting that allows us to focus on the next Presidential election.  What could Biden do to give the Democrats the best chance of winning the 2024 elections?

My grandson is ten days old.  My daughter, his mom, since she was a child would ask me if I have a child when I am 20, how old will you be when he is 10.  I want him to know you.   The last time she asked me, my answer was 85.  She decided it was time.   

These talks, Elijah, are to you.  When you get to an age that you care about your history, who I was, who your great grandparents were, and who all the family I hold in my memory were, I hope you will be able to come here to find out.  Even more important, I hope you come here to learn about values, what is important in life.  You don't need to believe as I do, but I hope I challenge you to think about what kind of person you want to grow up to be.  I hope you grow up to be a wise, happy person.  Your mom has lots to teach you as do most humans around you.  Be a sponge, absorb the best from all humans.   

Namaste,

Grandpa

We are unable to effectively stop global warming in our country because we are unwilling to make the necessary engineering tradeoffs; instead, we simplify complex technology and decisions processes necessary to reach viable alternatives.  We have an unrealistic view of how our decisions are changing the balance of power in the world.  When we go to NIMBY on new mines and technology to meet global warming challenges we are turning over our future to China.

See this video for why we need chips in cars.

https://youtu.be/VjggV6j9NNg

My grandchild, my grandson, is making me pay attention to what is happening in the world.  There are some very big changes happening across the globe that we can not be aware of sitting in our isolated houses listening to our self-centered biased news.  But, just because we are not aware of the changes does not mean they are not happening.  They do not need the less than 5% of the world population that we represent.   My new grandson will come into the world that is no longer dominated by the United States.  Most Americans do not care to know or accept the new world where we will follow and not lead.

Science during my lifetime has given us progress in so many areas it is unbelievable.  It also provided us with a belief that all problems could be solved by science.  That belief is disappearing and the beliefs that we are now considering to take the place of science are going in two directions: one of them encouraging, the other disturbing.

So, is it true what Dr. Kory says?

Independent of which side of the fence you are on, how are your energies going to be spent in States where abortions are no longer legal, for example, in Texas.   New moms and babies are going to appear in places like Texas where the baby is not wanted, or where the mother is not prepared to be a mom.  What is the game plan?  What is going to be your plan for moms suffering from a botched abortion in a state that has the highest percentage of medically uninsured?