MORNING THOUGHTS. Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

In my younger years as a journalist, I also reviewed (recorded) music and rock concerts. Of course, I organized musical events and managed bands. But my (aesthetic) appreciation and pleasure of music started and evolved from the 1960s to the end of the 20th century. Although it was easy for me to enjoy my dad and mom’s Elvis Presley, Connie Francis, and Matt Monro LPs, not so much with most music from 2000 onwards. Do I need to elaborate? I don’t need to. 🎸🎼🎷

AP: “Why Trump's alarmist message on immigration may be resonating beyond his base.” Those who downplay or deny the U.S. border breach crisis are either thinking via partisan A.I. brain cells or simply not paying attention beyond hate memes. Many would rather hide behind Left/Right shields or anchor their dogma per Liberal/Conservative shell instead of poring over government policies that are flawed. Ah. The idiocy that partisanship zeal creates upon us. 👈👁👉

Life happens and we age. We get older with a thick book of experiences to reflect on. The good things are easy as Simon and Garfunkel songs wafting along with a lazy afternoon breeze. The “bad” things are harder. Stupid things that we did when we were young. Silly, gullible, hard-headed. Although I didn’t do illegal drugs, broke into houses for kicks, or figured in bar brawls and got jailed, I had episodes of craziness as well. WTH did I do those?!? Stoopid me! 🧑‍🦰👨‍🦰👴

What if Donald Trump is actually jailed and bankrupted yet still allowed to run as President? The first two would surely satisfy his haters. But the third would irreparably divide the nation, whether he wins or loses. In fact, the massive crack in American society was sort of predicted by historian Howard Zinn before he died in 2010 though Mr Trump wasn’t yet in GOP’s prez shortlist at that time. Yet The D is the Perfect Alibi for such a wide Left/Right fissure in the U.S. 🗽🇺🇸🗽

Whenever the word “maid” or “servant” is mentioned, many define it as “plantation slave.” A linear gaze (sic) at slavery, mostly in a (Western) political sense. Yet “maid” in the Philippines, for example, is usually a distant relative from the province who seeks life in the city. Not hired via the job market. They are not called “alila” or “muchacha” as handed down by Spanish colonizers. They are members of the family who help in house chores. Kin. 

       Younger househelps are also sent to school by owners of the house. Some “yaya” or care providers for children also join the family on trips abroad or they live with them in the U.S. or wherever the family decides to live, beyond the Philippines. 😼😾😼

Thankfully, nice stuff and things are also present on Facebook beyond the eerie disinformation, distorted memes, and juvenile banter. Cooking videos, for example. Try Twins TV, two young ladies cooking in the forest, firewood and all. Also, these two Chinese fishermen who feast on seafoods, my favorite chow! Cat videos are very funny, funnier than dogs. But the Golden Retriever Mau Mau is not only hilarious, he is also smart. Smarter than most hoomans. Fun! 🐈🦀🐕

NY Times: “It’s the Cat’s Meow but You Just Don’t Understand.” And adds: “A study suggests that humans often misinterpret a pet’s signals; even purring doesn’t guarantee a contented cat.” Never had a problem getting along with cats. Our cat, my cat, their cat/s. I guess, I also act, behave or exist like a cat. I am aloof, calculating, careful, curious, and territorial. I don’t “touch” or hug strangers, especially. I love a crowd as long as they don't mind me. 😼😎😾

SUNDAY Easter Day THOUGHT. Yet we still come across memes and posts that vilify or insult Christian ritual as religious observance or cultural festival. Hate. When I was in India, Japan, Vietnam, and with the Muslim in Mindanao island back home, I joined days of worship and celebration. Hindu, Shinto, Buddhist. Islam. Wicca. Paganism. Atheism. We are what we are. Respect is cool. We share the good, and reject the bad. Easter Egg hunt is good. And fun. Happy Easter to y’all! ✝️🥚☮️

This side of the political caterwaul who continually demonize Christianity are concerned or just heckling-hot? that Donald Trump sells Bible copies. Mr Trump is a business person. He knows his market. And with a flood of legal hassles on his way, The D raises some dough due to the obvious. As he campaigns for November. What am I concerned with? The billions$ tossed to two current wars. As RFK Jr. puts it, military aid is “laundered” American taxpayer money. ✝️🗽☮️

Another time of year to demonize Christians, I guess? “Holy Week.” Ah. Can’t we post stuff and things that’d be enjoyed, appreciated, and shared per our commonality? Is it really pleasing, validating and self-gratifying to engage in hate frolic as Social Media activity? I was born Catholic but I am not the religious sort. I can also say a lot that I dislike about the religious or irreligious, or Pagans or Islam, Hindu etcetera. But why would I? Because it is cool to offend them? ✝️☮️☪️

About Dogs and Cats and their Buddies. And other quick jokes.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

DOGS spend much of their day snoozing, but in the hours they're awake, they probably spend time thinking about some of the same things that a 2- or 3-year-old child would: Solving problems, what's for dinner, what's that over there? Until cats taught them stuff like objectivist epistemology, cognitive psychology, cultural anthropology, constructivist pedagogy of babedawgs and koolcats etcetera. 🐕🙄🐕

NUMEROUS studies indicate that social media use is linked to increased risks of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and low self-esteem. Other studies also say self-esteem is negatively associated with mobile phone addiction. The higher the individual's self-esteem, the lower the degree of mobile phone addiction. Fake news? I guess? Maybe it depends on what brand of cellphone you own? Samsung Galaxy S24 or Apple 1Phone 15? You reckon? 🥹📱📲

THE majority of cats can happily coexist with a dog if they are given time to comfortably get to know each other. If a puppy and kitten are raised together, they generally will learn right away to tolerate each other, and some cats and dogs grow to be real friends, even playing and napping together. Also, when they get really friendly with each other, cats teach dogs how to play chess and Uno, and how to google stuff or fiddle with the TV remote. 🐈🫂🐕

CAN a cat learn chess? While many animals have demonstrated impressive cognitive abilities, training them to play chess is highly unlikely. Chess requires a complex understanding of rules, strategy, and abstract thinking, which are difficult for most animals to grasp. Fizz The Wiz: “Fake news! Pasckie Dude, whoever told you that is wrong! I can teach that personage Sicilian Defense, Caro-Kann Defense, Ruy Lopez Opening, or my invention Shinobi Fizzo Tensai Variation.” 🐱♟🐱

DIGITAL wallets are online payment tools, usually in the form of an app. The wallet securely stores virtual versions of debit and credit cards, so you don't need to enter your card details or carry a physical card at all to make payments. You may also get yourself an “digital (--your name–)” a.k.a. A.I. to “hold” your digital wallet. Uh huh. 🤖👝🤖

YUP. AI or robots can now walk your dog. The robot does the job by continuously comparing sent and expected sensor information, running reflex loops, and adapting its motor control patterns. Algorithm stuff. Uh huh. But then, machines malfunction. So when AI/robot and doggie get lost, you’d see posts like: Has anybody seen a border collie with a robot dressed like a Barbie singing Bad Bunny’s `Me Porto Bonito’ repeatedly somewhere in your neighborhood?” 🦮🚶🏃

WHEN it comes to the type of pet owned, conservatives seem more likely to own dogs than cats, with no such difference existing among liberals. Experts say. So conservatives and liberals care for their dogs and cats the way they judge others, read, listen to music, watch a TV series, view Tay-Tay, do sex–based on their ideological paradigm yadda yadda. So when dogs and cats hang, they go, dog: “Hey, are you conservative or liberal?” / cat: “Hello? Just look at my hooman!” 🐈🤔🐕

SNIFFING is just something all dogs, puppies to adult dogs, do to get the lay of the land, mark their regular routes in the neighborhood, and sniff out familiar scents from other dogs marking those spots. Scent sniffing also helps them understand if something, or some new dog, is in their area. You may try it, too. When you walk your dog, sniff with him/her. You’ll know it makes sense. 🐕👃🐕

CATS don't thrive on a grain-rich diet because they should get their calories from animal protein. If you want to share some noodles with your cat, don't. They can be harmful. In fact, Fizz told me via a text that fact a day after she and sis Ching got here from Brother Wolf almost two years ago. Fizz also told me that a cat named Komofukfuk invented noodles but he didn't eat noodles. Like drug lords who don't use (illegal) drugs but they sell them. 🐱🥡🐱

CELLPHONE as a distraction is one of the most urgent issues that worry parents. Recent data from iKeepSafe suggest that 28 percent of teens report that their iPhone time interferes with stuff. So when a mom asks a teenager to wash the dirty dishes, the Gen Z says, “mom, I am busy with TikTok!” mom goes, “Oh okay, sorry. Never mind, I’ll just do it.” If you take your child away from the gadget for 15 solid minutes, that’d make her/him sad, hence depressed. You dig? 👧📱👦