patrick.net

gabbar says

Travel is big for kids and educational. I'd take the plane out of that meme. The other things I'd agree with.

https://philbak.substack.com/p/things-that-matter

Family. One or two friends who are the same as family. Spirituality. These are the Things That Matter.

And if organized religion is the only way to recapture it, then so be it.

I am hopeful for the future, and I am confident in our ability to course-correct. If that means we embrace organized religion and revive the church, then revive the church we must.

Our culture is dying. We’ve lost sight of Things That Matter. And we better start talking about it before it is too late.

Invite your family over for a meal.

Go to church.

Put in the effort for those Things That Matter.

I took this picture yesterday, at Gannon University, a Catholic University in Erie, PA. Its a sculpture dedicated by a son (student at Gannon in 1970s) to his nurturing parents. I don't believe in religion but I still found this inspirational and moving because of that family. Whether you believe in God or not; may God bless you.

Thank you Patrick. I tried to find that scene from The Wire...I will keep looking.

gabbar says

I don't believe in religion but I still found this inspirational and moving because of that family. Whether you believe in God or not; may God bless you.

Religion is good. But there are still bad actors unfortunately in every religion. I know of a few including family. Uncle used it for contracting leads. Then screwed the people over. Has probably $90M in cash and assets. We all know the catholic church as well.

Not trying to be negative, but I'd guess religion is 60% good and 40% bad unfortunately. They launder money as well. They definitely shouldn't be tax except either on property of tithing.

WookieMan says

Religion is good. But there are still bad actors unfortunately in every religion. I know of a few including family. Uncle used it for contracting leads. Then screwed the people over. Has probably $90M in cash and assets. We all know the catholic church as well. Not trying to be negative, but I'd guess religion is 60% good and 40% bad unfortunately. They launder money as well. They definitely shouldn't be tax except either on property of tithing.

Its a profession, business, I reckon and its important to see it this way.

https://yuribezmenov.substack.com/p/power-law-normal-distribution-democracy-tension

On a micro level, we must optimize what we can control for. In an age of artificial intelligence, authentic humanity will matter more than ever. Raise families that will value building and beauty instead of destroying and ugliness. Have fun in real life with them and your friends. Forge high trust communities. Keep your mind and body strong. Support local craftsmanship of unique, high quality items. Adapt with agency and motivation to create a unique skill stack and network. Become irreplaceable and ungovernable. That is the key to happiness.

Children learn the fundamental principles of natural law at a very early age. Thus they very early understand that one child must not, without just cause, strike, or otherwise hurt, another; that one child must not assume any arbitrary control or domination over another; that one child must not, either by force, deceit, or stealth, obtain possession of anything that belongs to another; that if one child commits any of these wrongs against another, it is not only the right of the injured child to resist, and, if need be, punish the wrongdoer, and compel him to make reparation, but that it is also the right, and the moral duty, of all other children, and all other persons, to assist the injured party in defending his rights, and redressing his wrongs. These are fundamental principles of natural law, which govern the most important transactions of man with man. Yet children learn them earlier than they learn that three and three are six, or five and five ten. Their childish plays, even, could not be carried on without a constant regard to them; and it is equally impossible for persons of any age to live together in peace on any other conditions. It would be no extravagance to say that, in most cases, if not in all, mankind at large, young and old, learn this natural law long before they have learned the meanings of the words by which we describe it. In truth, it would be impossible to make them understand the real meanings of the words, if they did not first understand the nature of the thing itself.

—Lysander Spooner, The Science of Justice

Patrick says

Children learn the fundamental principles of natural law at a very early age. Thus they very early understand that one child must not, without just cause, strike, or otherwise hurt, another; that one child must not assume any arbitrary control or domination over another; that one child must not, either by force, deceit, or stealth, obtain possession of anything that belongs to another; that if one child commits any of these wrongs against another, it is not only the right of the injured child to resist, and, if need be, punish the wrongdoer, and compel him to make reparation, but that it is also the right, and the moral duty, of all other children, and all other persons, to assist the injured party in defending his rights, and redressing his wrongs. These are fundamental principles of natural law, which govern the most important transactions of man with man. Yet children learn them earlier than they learn that three and three are six, or five and five ten. Their childish plays, even, could not be carried on without a constant regard to them; and it is equally impossible for persons of any age to live together in peace on any other conditions. It would be no extravagance to say that, in most cases, if not in all, mankind at large, young and old, learn this natural law long before they have learned the meanings of the words by which we describe it. In truth, it would be impossible to make them understand the real meanings of the words, if they did not first understand the nature of the thing itself.

—Lysander Spooner, The Science of Justice

My son went to Montessori school until he was 8 years old. It was a college town, and many of the children at the school were highly intelligent, and others displayed dark triad characteristics.

The younger children adopted a method for dealing with bullies among the older children. They called it "The mommy game," and it involved mass young'uns swarming the bully and hugging him until he toppled over under a pile of 20 or more children. The school had a strict "no hitting" policy, but hugs were allowed.

Fiendishly creative - I was impressed.

Patrick says

OR:
He came in his pants at the sight of al her little classmates.....

gabbar says

Live life now. My posts about travel are not intended as a brag. I kind of hope it's motivation. Hike up a mountain to a lake and have some beer in Montana with a buddy you see 1-2 times a year. Kids can have gatorade or beer if they want.. lol. If they're invited. Legit want to have beers with my kids if my time expires early. 16+ which I think is legal in IL at home and they don't drive obviously.

I like politics here and housing, but I don't discuss it anywhere else. We all have negative energy at times but I try to keep that out of my personal life with friends and family. This is the place where I bitch the most. I personally feel it's a positive. You need a place to vent and argue or tell good stories.

Like I said I love travel and I want to see anyone on this site go where they've always wanted. You won't regret it. Money is a thing, but you ain't taking it with when you're 6' under or burned to ashes. Just go.

Larry Ellison says you have to be different and Gael Monfils was not only different but more than tennis
(can't say that about any other tennis player)

Francine is back at Lowe's in Richmond Virginia

So, yeah, he's impressive. He does make me question if I'm doing everything I could with my life, if I'm thinking big enough. That said, I have no desire to be Elon Musk. I don't want to die on Mars. I'm perfectly happy on Earth. I'm not obsessed with building rockets or electric vehicles. I admire them as technological marvels. But he, he does make me say there's a guy who's following his most intense passions and he's following them publicly. Am I following my own passions as intensely as he is following his?” - Naval Ravikant

Patrick says

Many years back, we were at a church based pre-kindergarten school gym where a social event was going on with parents and students. My kid was playing with a toy. Another kid took it from his hands and started playing. My kid didn't react. Then, I saw a bearded man walking swiftly and purposefully towards us. He took the toy back from that kid and gave it back to my kid. I will never forget it. I was stunned, couldn't say anything. I assume he was that kid's dad.

That was the right thing for that dad to do.

Patrick says

That was the right thing for that dad to do.

Yes and he looked a bit like that dad who wet his pants with water to go pick up his daughter who had similar accident.

"I go sit at a restaurant by myself and realize that, man that's pretty enjoyable to do. … I tell people all the time I used to see guys sitting at a bar by themselves, or just sitting by themselves eating, and grabbing a little meal. And I'm like, 'Man, I feel so bad for that guy.' You always want to go join them. And now I realize that dude was in heaven. And not to say - that's obviously not what I want. I'd rather be at home sitting at the dinner table with my kids and hearing what the hell they were talking about all day. But if you have to do it, then you might as well take advantage of it." - Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals

Patrick says

That was the right thing for that dad to do.

Unless the kid thought your wet pants were mocking her.

"I am never close to giving up. I love the feeling of working hard and accomplishing a goal.” - Natalie Grabow, Finished Ironman World Championship at 80 years, October 24, 2025

Brave AI:

On 10 June 1990, British Airways Flight 5390, en route from Birmingham to Málaga, Spain, experienced a catastrophic event when the captain’s side cockpit windscreen blew out due to improperly installed, incorrectly sized screws, causing explosive decompression at an altitude of approximately 17,300 feet.

The sudden pressure differential violently sucked Captain Tim Lancaster halfway out of the cockpit, with his body partially exposed to the extreme conditions of high-speed winds and sub-zero temperatures, while his legs remained trapped under the control column.

In a remarkable display of teamwork and composure, the first officer, Alastair Atchison, managed the aircraft alone while two flight attendants, Nigel Ogden and Simon Rogers, held onto Lancaster’s legs to prevent him from being completely ejected, a situation that lasted for about 20 minutes.

Despite suffering severe injuries including frostbite, fractures, and shock, Lancaster survived and made a full recovery, returning to flying just five months later, while the aircraft made a successful emergency landing in Southampton.