Big Sky Writer

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Episode 55 “My Annual Exam”

For those of you who pay taxes, I want to thank you for my medical care.

You pay for it.

You see, I receive my medical care from the Veterans Administration because I was in the Army and served in Vietnam.

That means your taxes cover my medical costs.

So … thanks.

ANNUAL EXAM

A few days ago I went in for my annual exam.

The VA Clinic is a new facility only a few blocks from where I live. I have to admit it’s very nice. Thank you for that also, since you paid for that as well.

First there was paperwork to fill out and then the nurse came out to get me and take me into the exam room. She had a number of questions for me before handing me over to the doctor.

I was floored when she asked if I identified as a male or female or …

I stopped her before she could continue with her list.

It was the first time I had ever been asked that question.

Now I knew that she was required by the government to ask the question but I found it hard to believe that I was sitting in a doctor’s office and being asked if I was a man.

Is it possible that I was going to trust my medical health to someone who couldn’t tell the difference between a boy and a girl?

I tried my best to be kind but it was difficult.

I grant you I may not be in the best of shape — I’m fat, I’m old, I’ve had replacement body parts (knees) installed in my body to keep me functioning.

But male or female?

What do they cover in medical school or nursing school?

I kept coming back to the thought … I’m trusting my medical care to someone who doesn’t know the difference between a boy and a girl.

That was not a confidence inspiring thought.

But it did make me think about the past.

THE DISTANT PAST

Way back in the olden days some people actually understood reality.

And they would even speak about it out loud.

Yep.

Out loud.

Even in children’s shows they talked about boys and girls.

If you haven’t seen this clip from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, I would encourage you to check it out.

Do you think any network today would let the star of a children’s show say such things as Mr. Rogers did in this clip?

O wait.

There is an explanation. He is white and he is male so that must be why he says boys are boys and girls are girls.

He’s a racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic … white guy.

He would definitely be cancelled if he were around today.

We’ve come such a long way.

BACK TO THE EXAM

So that’s what I learned from my annual exam.

Medical personnel don’t know the difference between boys or girls.

I’m sure they covered other stuff but that was the take away for me.

Thanks again for paying for it.

BLESSING

Before I go I’d like to share a blessing with you from the Old Testament.

“May the Lord bless and protect you; may the Lord’s face radiate with joy because of you; may he be gracious to you, show you his favor, and give you his peace.”Numbers 6:24-26 (The Living Bible)

Until next time … be the reason someone smiles today!

Clint

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clintmorey.substack.com

For those of you who pay taxes, I want to thank you for my medical care.

You pay for it.

https://clintmorey.substack.com

Free Newsletter: https://clintmorey.substack.com
Website: https://clintmorey.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clintmorey.substack.com

Tips from God. 
How to live life well.
A user’s guide for those of us in the trenches of life.

The goal of this Monday podcast is to share a tip with you on how to live life well.

These tips aren’t from the latest media guru or megastar on social media. These tips are from Someone who is an actual expert on how to do this life thing the right way — God.

The key for each of us is to try to apply this tip every day for the next week as we seek to make it a habit in our lives.

Free Newsletter: https://clintmorey.substack.com
Website: https://clintmorey.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clintmorey.substack.com

TRANSCRIPT

Every year I try to attend the Consumer Electronics Show and see what new products and services are coming our way. Some of those innovations make it into the stories that I write and some of them I share through this newsletter.

This year there were “only” about 110,000 people who attended the show — they usually get a whole lot more — but there were a lot of things to see.

Rather than just list a bunch of stuff, I’d like to share with you a couple of the items that impressed me.

MEDICAL

Medical applications were everywhere.

There were devices that could monitor just about every physical condition you could think of. Some devices even claimed to monitor the user’s mental state, anxiety, or possible depression.

Since my heart attack I’m much more aware of some of the things that need monitoring, and many of the smart devices on display could check your heart rate, blood pressure, blood flow, irregular heart rate, and so many other items of medical interest.

These devices could then let the user know they need to take a particular action and some even communicated directly to the user’s doctor.

It was fascinating to see what is being worked on around the world in this area.

A side note: there were several companies that developed medical technologies and applications for animals - primarily dogs and cats.

VEHICLES

As might be expected in today’s world, there were lots of electronic vehicles. - cars, bikes, scooters, etc. Some of them are quite powerful and have long ranges.

And there were also many charging stations for those vehicles.

I even saw one bike that claimed to have a speed of over 120 miles per hour.

Definitely NOT a battery operated toy.

ROBOTICS

Robotics were also a big deal at CES 2023.

There were robotic people, robotic animals, and robotic machines that were task specific.

There was an interesting device that mixed drinks and could be used in a restaurant, coffee shop, or other location. I had a chance to talk to one of the sales reps and found they had already placed several in coffee shops.

They even had a food truck set up where the robot fixed drinks for people. I took advantage of the opportunity to have it mix me a drink. I’m not sure what the drink was but it was fun to watch it being made by the machine.

And then there was the smart yard tool. Depending on the attachment, it could mow your yard, be a leaf blower, or even be a snow blower. It mapped out your yard configuration and then ran on its own.

GLASSES

I need to mention the glasses also.

Glasses?

Yep.

There were glasses that displayed the identity of various landmarks as you walked through a city. They’ve been around for awhile. We have the gaming industry to thank for that.

There were also glasses that translate languages for you. We’ve had translators for some time. In fact I have a translator app on my phone. I haven’t had to use it yet, but I’m ready if the day comes. But the glasses give you a print out on your lens in English as the person speaks to you.

But the glasses I really liked were the ones that printed out the conversation you are having with someone. It would be very useful for those with hearing difficulties. I tested it with one of the sales reps and we chatted as hundreds of people walked around us and were carrying on their own conversations. The glasses did an excellent job of displaying our conversation in the lens.

FISH TANK

There’s one more device I want to share with you.

They had a futuristic fish tank with curved glass and a wood display for the fish to swim around on the bottom of the tank. The tank was large and very impressive. And the fish were beautiful. This could easily be the dominate feature in a room.

But why was it at the Consumer Electronics Show?

What did a bunch of fish have to do with electronics?

And then I noticed.

There was no water in the tank.

In fact, there was no tank … just beautifully designed glass shapes on a couple of sides.

How did they get the fish to …

That’s when I realized why they were displaying at CES 2023.

The fish weren’t fish. The beautiful multi-colored fish swimming around in the display were holograms. Beautiful, life-like holograms.

Very impressive.

I COULD GO ON

I could go on, but I think you get the idea. There was some great stuff to see and I had a lot of fun looking at it.

I have to admit there were large sections of the convention focused on gaming and the Metaverse. While the applications are interesting, I really don’t care all that much about those fields so I tended to skip those areas.

Overall, however, it was a great convention.

REVIEWS & LINKS

Here are some items I’ve run across that you might find interesting. I would encourage you to check them out.

“ChatGPT Is So Effective, It’s Already Being Banned in New York” by Jeff Brown. There is no denying the incredible impact Artificial Intelligence (AI) is having on virtually every segment of society. While some believe AI could be the ultimate friend to humankind, others worry it could instead become our greatest enemy. It's an increasingly controversial topic of debate where strong opinions are plentiful. Only time will tell how these new technologies truly affect us. Nevertheless, one thing is for sure: AI is undoubtedly fascinating and its implications worth considering!

“CDC Principles to Avoid Wrong-Speak” by Robert W Malone. It’s funny how the CDC in now telling us how we should write and speak. Aren’t they supposed to be dealing with things like … you know … diseases and vaccinations?

“Baby Born 16 Weeks Premature With 10 Percent Survival Odds Is Now a Happy 2-Year-Old” by Louise Chambers. Is this a mass of tissue or a person?

“Farmland Wars: The Global Takeover of America’s Land” by Glenn Beck. A 48 minute video about efforts to control farmland, food production, energy, and money supply. It’s an interesting presentation worth watching.

SHAMELESS PROMOTION

It’s a new year and one of my writing goals for 2023 is to increase the circulation of this newsletter on Substack. If you enjoy these newsletters, would you share them with friends? 

Thanks.

BLESSING

Before I go I’d like to share a blessing with you from the Old Testament.

“May the Lord bless and protect you; may the Lord’s face radiate with joy because of you; may he be gracious to you, show you his favor, and give you his peace.”Numbers 6:24-26 (The Living Bible)

Until next time … be the reason someone smiles today!

Clint

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clintmorey.substack.com

Every year I try to attend the Consumer Electronics Show and see what new products and services are coming our way. Some of those innovations make it into the stories that I write and some of them I share through this newsletter.

This year there were “only” about 110,000 people who attended the show — they usually get a whole lot more — but there were a lot of things to see.

Rather than just list a bunch of stuff, I’d like to share with you a couple of the items that impressed me.

https://www.clintmorey.substack.com

Free Newsletter: https://clintmorey.substack.com
Website: https://clintmorey.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clintmorey.substack.com

I want to get something straight.

I can swim.

Now I’m not a competitive swimmer by any means, but I’m also not a dog paddler.

If I jump in a pool I can usually manage to work my way across the length of the pool to the safety of the side.

I really do know how to swim … but I have had a couple of close calls while swimming.

Free Newsletter: https://clintmorey.substack.com
Website: https://clintmorey.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clintmorey.substack.com

Finally.

After two months of Basic Training, a brief stint on Temporary Duty, two months of Fire Direction Control School, a month of leave, and a few extra days at Fort Lewis retaking all my shots … 

Finally I arrived by plane at Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam.

Free Newsletter: https://clintmorey.substack.com
Website: https://clintmorey.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clintmorey.substack.com

I want to get something straight.

I can swim.

Now I’m not a competitive swimmer by any means, but I’m also not a dog paddler.

If I jump in a pool I can usually manage to work my way across the length of the pool to the safety of the side.

I really do know how to swim … but I have had a couple of close calls while swimming.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clintmorey.substack.com

I hope you had a good Thanksgiving.

My Thanksgiving was excellent!

We had family and friends coming over for dinner, so my wife began her cooking routine very early in the morning.

Being the good husband that I am, I did not leave her to labor alone for hours mixing and baking.

I stepped right in to help.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clintmorey.substack.com

Free Newsletter: https://clintmorey.substack.com
Website: https://clintmorey.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clintmorey.substack.com

Episode 52: “I Was a Street Walker”

Not that kind of street walker!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit clintmorey.substack.com