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February 5, 2026      breaking   add your own add your own news!  search

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are you ready?

(in education, research, preparedness, advice)

Readiness quiz. A fun way to assess how ready you are for an emergency. Supply chains are fragile. The grid is vulnerable. When disaster strikes, you're on your own. Take the quick quiz to get your Ready Score and discover your family' ... read more

schoolkids-running-down-hall.webp great homeschooling option

(in education, school, homeschooling)

This podcast interviews the creators of a homeschooling option that seems really terrific and very inexpensive called Firefly. They also mention how people can create classes on any subject to teach children and get paid for it. So if you ... read more

chatgpt.webp chatgpt reliability

(in education, tech, ai)

As a joke (and to point out how ChatGPT is frequently USELESS, I asked about the projection of silver for the next year (FYI, it already passed $100)Silver Price Outlook for the Next Year (2026)Base Case Projection (Most Likely)$40-$60 per ... read more

winter-driving.webp how to survive the big freeze

(in life, weather, advice)

Great ideas and tips. Watch on BitchuteIt reminds me of the Amish home I was invited into last week when it was about 25. It was very nice and toasty. As you know, they use their big iron sto ... read more

how to spot fake silver coins

(in education, research, money, coins)

Silver Nearing $100 Is Fueling Counterfeits. Here's How to Spot Fake Coins. But even more fake silver is paper silver ETFs. At least you get some interesting metal in a fake coin. ... read more

focused-female-entrepreneur.webp interesting tools and tips for entrepreneurs

(in life, employment, entrepreneurship)

Interesting tools and tips for entrepreneurs. This might inspire someone:Reinvent Yourself to PROSPER in 2026 and Beyond ... read more

how tattoos affect your immune system

(in education, health)

I've always suspected that they're unhealthy, long-term. Humans have been tattooing their skin for thousands of years, and the practice has grown in popularity across the world in recent decades. However, tattoos don't come without risks ... read more

gardening-filip-urban-unsplash.webp anybody can easily grow potatoes

(in life, health, food, gardening)

Here's an article that tells how to do it in leaves or cardboard: selfsufficientprojects/how-to-grow-potatoes-in-only-leavesReceived: 2025-12-23We h ... read more

finding your footing after life takes an unexpected turn

(in life, health, mental, advice)

Major life changes affect everyone. Whether it's a career shift, a move to a new place, the end of a relationship, a health diagnosis, or becoming a parent, these moments disrupt routines and challenge identity. This article explores prac ... read more

smiling-pc.webp the "greatest" names of modern-day personal tech

(in culture, tech, computers)

Bill: Seems like whenever people mention the greatest names of modern-day personal tech, they mention Steve Jobs (not Wozniack), Bill Gates (not Balmer), maybe Hewlett, Packard and Linus Torvalds, etc. No one mentions the founders of Wo ... read more

schoolkids-running-down-hall.webp the new core subject: teaching digital literacy in today's schools

(in education, tech, computers)

In an age where students learn, communicate, and create through screens, developing digital literacy has become as foundational as reading and writing. Schools across the world are redesigning curricula to help middle and high school stude ... read more

world-cup-trophy.webp copilot ai 2026 world cup prediction full bracket

(in culture, sports, soccer, world-cup)

2026 World Cup Prediction: Full Bracket ... read more

feed external news feeds
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the lies get so tedious
Human existence itself, actually. It's one version of reality versus another. The solution is to create a better reality.

what if nato died?
The world would rejoice.

ex-fifa prez backs call to 'stay away' from wc
The ridiculously high prices are already accomplishing that.

establishing relationships in your new locale, by sarasue
Good article.

jd vance: the new trump doctrine is "f*ck you!"
Classy, as always.

if trump succeeds at acquiring greenland, will he stop there?
No, he wants all of North America, and Bibi wants the entire Middle East.

court confirms trudeaus emergencies act invocation against freedom convoy was illegal
Conveniently, too little too late.

satire: nfl announces each quarter of playoff game will be broadcast on different streaming service
It is getting harder and harder to be a sports fan.

"you know they march every fbi member into the holocaust museum?"
I'm sure they march them into the Holodomor, Nakba and Armenian holocaust museums, too. Oh, wait...

danish pm warns us attack on greenland would destroy nato
You say that like it's a bad thing.

under trump's madness, insanity has consumed this country
Trump is just one of many insane misleaders on both sides of the aisle.

us imposes visa bans on key figures involved in global censorship pressure
...unless these censors are anti-Palestine and pro-Israel.

a victory for informed consent: cdc panel reverses decades-old newborn vaccine policy
So far, it looks like RFK Jr is the only good thing about this Trump administration.

"stop antisemitism" founder says antisemites will be hunted down and destroyed "for the rest of your life"
She can start with the world's worst anti-Semites, the Israeli government and military.

uk arrests 33 people a day for social media posts
I'll probably be arrested for this website if I ever visit.

the controversial call that may ultimately knock baltimore out of the playoffs
He had the ball in his hands for two steps. Horrible call.

adams sets semifinals goal for usmnt after draw
That's my hope, and that's what Copilot AI predicts.

how mls keeps getting better beyond messi's magic -- but no one seems to care
No one seems to care because it's all behind a paywall.

us institute of peace renamed after president trump
I thought this was satire, but apparently not.

trump announces invasion of venezuela to come
Such a pinhead.

rfk jr plans overhaul of child vaccine schedule: report
This is long overdue. Childhood vaccinations have gotten ridiculous.

trump invites netanyahu to his fifth white house meeting
Netanyahu is the one calling the shots, so it only makes sense.



One name, five books, a singular journey...
by William Arthur Holmes

Temporary Insanity, Operation Detour, Dobie's Dilemma, Lottery President and Another Way have been stitched together as an episodic saga starring Dobie Pokorny.

Yes, Benny, Alex, and Dub have new names. To those who loved them: thank you. This isn’t a rewrite; it’s a reframing. Each book still stands on its own.

The man, the myth, the legend? In his own mind, absolutely. Follow Dobie’s misadventures through bad breakups; cult and anti‑cult entanglements in L.A.; hit men and hit women across Southeast Asia; an unexpected lottery win and presidential run back home, complete with the by‑now expected assassination attempts; a manifesto, more assassination attempts, an alien or hallucination (depending on who you ask), confrontation with the powers-that-be, and true love at last.


random older posts  

at-home-1.webp what crickets eat

(in family, holmes, elizabeth, insects from 2011)

After catching a cricket and putting it into her bug cage (yes, she has a bug cage), my six-year-old daughter Elizabeth asked, Can you ... um ... look on the Internet and see what crickets eat?I just laughed and said, Yes, I can actual ... read more

co-working-corporate-unsplash.webp letter to a former co-worker

(in life, money, employment from 2010)

I'm glad you and Cathy are doing well. Our daughter Elizabeth is doing well, too. She spent last night with a cousin north of town so she can attend that little girl's birthday party today. Elizabeth's own birthday party was last month. ... read more

website-clipart.webp blog content

(in culture, writing, blog, internet from 2013)

I'm as guilty as anyone about trying to add content to my blog just for the sake of content (because search engines look for and rate highly based on how fresh your blog's content is). But someone whose blog/newsletter I subscribe to has ... read more

wine review

(in culture, food from 2010)

Yes, we do it all here at FriendsNews! If I said to you Bohemian Highway, California Merlot 2007, what would you think? Crap? Just this side of Thunderbird? Well, you'd be wrong. At the amazingly low price of $6 for the small bottle, it' ... read more

meme-dont-like-spam.webp you have a donation from clay tousey

(in culture, humor, internet, spam from 2022)

They try hard on this one to look legitimate, but the fact remains that nobody shares their money with strangers unless it's a charity. ... read more

joey-chandler-elizabeth-daisy.webp contentment is

(in family, holmes, pets from 2013)

... lying in bed, social networking on my laptop, listening to my wife and daughter fight/tease each other in the other room, while I've got the cat cuddled up on my left and two out of three pugs cuddled up on my right. ... read more

caduceus-clipart.webp never combine these over-the-counter drugs

(in life, health, drugs, advice from 2016)

Never combine these over-the-counter drugs. Your life may be endangered. Good to know! Painkillers and anti-anxiety medications. The metabolic pathways inside the body that are affected by opioid painkillers like hydrocodone (Oxycontin) ... read more

mother-daughter-home-garden.webp struggle in the vegetable garden

(in life, health, food, home-garden from 2013)

No, not just me and my pathetic crop management. While that's definitely been a struggle, there have apparently been physical altercations going on in the garden, specifically on top of the onions. The tops of those plants -- once so pr ... read more

wildlife-elephants-2.webp the world's loneliest elephant moving to sanctuary with other elephants, thanks to cher

(in life, animals, wildlife, elephants from 2020)

A lonely elephant at a zoo in Pakistan is finally moving to an animal sanctuary where he will be able to socialize with other elephants. Read, listen or watch the rest here: ... read more


Amazon Movers & Shakers

culture.webp CULTURE

poetry-clipart.webp a girl named lucy

(in culture, writing, poetry from 1998)

[from 1990]

This is a story 'bout a girl named Lucy
Otherwise known as "The Rappin' Watusi"
She lays down a beat that gets your toes tappin'
If your toes get tired, let your fingers do the snappin'
She says ... read more

reading-novel-clipart.webp a free library of classic books & novels

(in culture, writing, books, novels from 2025)

Here's the link: AmericanLiterature.com

  • 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ... read more

    thomas-edison.webp thomas edison quotes

    (in culture, quotes, science, health from 2022)

    "The doctor of the future will give little medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease." -- Thomas Edison ... read more

    fool-clipart.webp the problem with the world

    (in culture, people from 2022)

    The problem with the world is that truly stupid people -- with access and control over critical information -- are the ones running things.

    You don't have to be particularly intelligent to rule. In fact, it probably gets in the way. Yo ... read more

    music-notes.webp current favorite songs

    (in culture, music from 2020)

    Current favorite songs, in alphabetical order. The songs are not current, but their status as "favorite" is.

  • ... read more

  • family-clipart.webp FAMILY

    coca-cola-atlanta.webp back in atlanta

    (in family, adoption, holmes, travel from 2007)

    We're in the Atlanta airport now! Good to be on US soil, except that they keep mentioning George Bush (... as in the Houston Airport). :) It's 1:45a.m. Moscow time right now (5:45p.m. EDT), but I'm not tired. I'm anxious to c ... read more

    e-laughing-pumpkins.webp down by the creek

    (in family, holmes, elizabeth, bicycles from 2009)

    Elizabeth and I went down to the creek this cold fall morning. With all the recent rain, Indian and Mill Creeks both had a lot of rushing water. We walked along the edge of Mill Creek. Usually, we stick to the closer Indian Creek. Elizabeth ... read more

    cat-sleeping.webp missing cat returns

    (in family, pets, cats from 2010) by jinx

    Good news from best friends Julie and Bert in Las Vegas. One of their cats, Tobie, went missing this past January. He was an indoor/outdoor cat and one day just disappeared. Needless to say, they were heartbroken and spent many hours/days po ... read more

    dna-clipart-2.webp my own genealogy

    (in family, genealogy, holmes from 2020)

    Got my genealogy DNA test results back. I have bits from all over the world:

  • 1% E.Central Africa
  • 1% Native American (Chile)
  • 5% Middle Eastern
  • 91% Europe (Portuguese, Flemish, German, Hungarian, Slovak)
  • ... read more

    cities-moscow-st-basils.webp saturday with elizabeth

    (in family, holmes, elizabeth from 2010)

    As Elizabeth likes to say, she and I were "hanging out" today while Tara had a girls' day out with Ronica. I think Tara's was a belated birthday thing. Hers was on the 10th. Anyway, once Ronica finally called -- after Tara had starte ... read more

    animated-pets-clipart.webp pets page

    (in family, pets from 2008)

    Cool toys here!Pet-related posts

    ... read more

    unabomber-clipart.webp hiking with elizabeth

    (in family, holmes, elizabeth from 2019)

    Went hiking with my daughter, Elizabeth, yesterday evening. There's a nice little park in Thompson's Station with fairly extensive walking trails on its south end, near the water tower.

    We saw an owl, so, with her new birthday-gif ... read more

    life-clipart.webp LIFE

    radioactivity.webp radioactivity around chernobyl reduced by 47% using only processes of earth

    (in life, health, environment from 2021)

    Wow, this is great! Next stop Fukishima?

    As they committed to doing last April, on the occasion of the 35th commemoration of the Chernobyl accident, the Swiss-based company Exlterra has reported spectacular results ... read more

    just cuz you cut off its head

    (in life, animals, wildlife, reptiles from 2014)

    Just 'cuz you cut off its head... don't assume it's harmless.

    "Chef dies after spitting cobra he was cooking bit him on the hand... 20 minutes after he had cut its head off."

    : ... read more

    money-clipart.webp strike debt, debt resistance for the 99%

    (in life, money from 2012)

    "Strike Debt is a nationwide movement of debt resisters fighting for economic justice and democratic freedom."

    : ... read more

    animated-gunslinger-clipart.webp kir ammo

    (in life, health, self-defense, firearms from 2022)

    "Our Mission is to provide Freedom-Loving Americans with high quality ammunition at competitive prices and SAME-DAY shipping. Orders must be placed before 3pm CST Monday-Friday to qualify for SAME-DAY shipping. If you have any qu ... read more

    job-fair-line.webp economic inequality is not sustainable

    (in life, money, employment from 2013)

    "A Top-Heavy 1 Percent Will Topple Without a Stable Middle Class. Focusing exclusively on deficit reduction is the wrong policy. Focusing solely on cutting spending is the wrong policy. Focusing on jobs is the right policy now a ... read more

    family newsletter NEWSLETTER

    holmes family newsletter vol 3 no 1

    (in family, holmes, newsletter from 1991)

    news from La-La Land

    HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

    Vol. 3, No. 1, January 4, 1991

    Newsletter editor murdered!

    The editor of this newsletter was apparently murdered "some time over the weekend" a ... read more

    holmes family newsletter vol 1 no 2

    (in family, holmes, newsletter from 1989)

    The Holmes Family newsletter June 23, 1989 -- Vol. 1, No. 2 -- Since 1989

    [Editor's Note: This may be the last issue.] NEWS

    Jeannie's dog, Chance, finally had her puppies. Ten of twelve survived, eight of which ... read more

    holmes family newsletter vol 1 no 5

    (in family, holmes, newsletter from 1989)

    The Holmes Family Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 5, September 5, 1989 Jeannie breaks elbow Placed on Disabled List

    Lathrop -- While attempting a "sling-shot" maneuver during a roller derby match last month with t ... read more

    behind-the-8-ball-clipart.webp holmes family newsletter vol 6 no 5

    (in family, holmes, newsletter from 1994)

    Behind the Eight Ball Who is that behind the ei ... read more

    holmes family newsletter vol 1 no 7

    (in family, holmes, newsletter from 1989)

    The Holmes Family Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 7, October 5, 1989

    [Let's face it, these things are going to just keep coming.] Steve arrested ... read more

    holmes family newsletter vol 1 no 6

    (in family, holmes, newsletter from 1989)

    The Holmes Family Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 6a, September 17, 1989

    Everyone seems to be on a diet these days. Lucy and Jeannie are trying a low carbohydrate/high protein diet. Don's trying good new reliab ... read more

     

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