FriendsNews header

February 4, 2026      breaking   add your own add your own news!  search

  latest local posts

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
click here for more

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  

poetry-clipart.webp hats

(in culture, writing, poetry from 2008) by jeannie

by JeannieJoseph wore many hats in his life,the first one was of son,next an officer, a Dutch Marine,that to him was funIn Maastricht, in '49,he married his childh ... read more

money-clipart.webp the 1930s chicago plan vs the american monetary act

(in life, money, economy from 2012)

If the purpose of money and credit were to discourage the exchange of goods and services, to destroy periodically the wealth produced, to frustrate and trip those who save, our present monetary system does that most effectively! ... read more

gold-coins.webp coins cashed in

(in life, money from 2017)

Woo-hoo! I took the new cookie (coin) jar to the Coinstar machine today (11. 9% fee, are you kidding me?!). I came away with $93. 54! It rejected a few coins, repeatedly, forcing me to just pocket them. One of those wa ... read more

quiz-clipart.webp take this quiz

(in culture, people from 2014)

From somewhere on the Internet ... Name the five wealthiest people in the world. Name the last five Heisman Trophy winners. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize. ... read more

doormats-beer.webp doormats with a difference

(in culture, humor, jokes from 2010) by joker

A few doormats for your consideration... ... read more

barrel-toxic-waste.webp bayer to end u.s. residential sales of glyphosate-based herbicides

(in life, health from 2021)

In a move that environmental groups celebrated as a historic victory following years of campaigning to remove Roundup and similar weedkillers from store shelves, Bayer on Thursday announced that it will halt the sale of glyphosate-based he ... read more

iphone.webp no service

(in culture, humor, phones from 2021)

No Service. That's what my phone said when I arrived at the restaurant to pick up my teenage daughter. I couldn't text her to say I'd arrived. I would have to do the unthinkable: Get out of the car, physically walk in, and risk human int ... read more

alan-shore.webp alan shore's stick it! speech

(in culture, movies-tv-video, legal from 2013)

Alan Shore's closing argument (from ... read more

cities-moscow-st-basils.webp another great visit

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

We're feeling closer and closer to our child, especially after today. And I think we passed the test of having the psychologist there, observing. She was pretty cool, actually. She didn't stay the entire visit. I think she could see t ... read more


Amazon Movers & Shakers

culture.webp CULTURE

aleksandr-solzhenitsyn.webp solzhenitsyn quotes

(in culture, quotes, politics from 2020)

The simple step of a courageous individual is not to take part in the lie. One word of truth outweighs the world.

  • "The timid civilized world has found nothing with which to oppose the onslaught of a sudden revival ... read more

    poetry-clipart.webp hats

    (in culture, writing, poetry from 2008) by jeannie

    by Jeannie

    Joseph wore many hats in his life,
    the first one was of son,
    next an officer, a Dutch Marine,
    that to him was fun;

    In Maastricht, ... read more

    russian-ritz-dance.webp puttin on the ritz in moscow

    (in culture, dance-stage from 2012)

    "Sparrow Hills, Moscow"

    : Puttin' on the Ritz in Moscow ... read more

    garden-hoe.webp diary: saturday, november 18, 2023

    (in culture, writing, blog, chores from 2023)

    Today started, as usual, with feeding Cleo, our Boston terrier, and leaving the back door open. It was cool out but not too cold, and I prop the door open, weather permittin ... read more

    facebook.webp this sort of thing is why i quit facebook and twitter

    (in culture, tech, internet, social from 2021)

    "The tech giant continues to police discussions about the coronavirus.

    : ... read more

  • family-clipart.webp FAMILY

    cities-moscow-st-basils.webp light at the end of the tunnel

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

    We visited Elizabeth again today. We caught her when she was in the music room with all the ot ... read more

    website-clipart.webp internet access

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

    I'm wondering about internet access now that we've tentatively planned to stay in a weekly apartment in Astrakhan instead of the hotel the entire time. We'll probably want/need that internet access for the sake of something to do ... read more

    red-square-9.webp this time next week

    (in family, adoption, holmes from 2007) by tara

    I'm happy to say that this time next week, we will be in Astrakhan, Russia! We leave the States on Friday, September 28 and arrive in Moscow on the 29th. Depending upon the schedule of the flights to Astrakhan, we may have to stay in Mos ... read more

    holiday-inn-1.webp first time in moscow

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

    Well, we made it to Moscow!

    After a long plane trip, we managed to get through passport control and customs with no problems. And all of our luggage made it!

    Our CHI Rep and driver were late getting to the airport and we were worried, bu ... read more

    elizabeth.webp an entire day with elizabeth

    (in family, holmes, elizabeth from 2009)

    I can't believe I made it. Of course, it's not over yet. It's only dinner time. It's been a LONG day. I'm at McDonald's as I write this. I tried to get online with their free wi-fi, but you have to have an account ... read more

    astrakhan-kremlin-3.webp it's a girl, it's a girl

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

    Oh My Gosh what a difference 1 day makes! So, we have a beautiful blond-haired, blue-eyed, 2-1/2-year-old girl!

    First, the obvious question: "What happened to the 4-year-old boy?" We don't know. After 2 trips to the Minister ... read more

    cities-moscow-st-basils.webp update to the update's update

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

    I went ahead and paid for the 24-hour internet connection from the room. It wasn't even double the cost of one hour. I also swapped out the flaky cable and that seems to have fixed the connection problem. [Wrong. I had to call the te ... read more

    life-clipart.webp LIFE

    thumbs-up-clipart.webp don't take potassium iodide unless already exposed to radiation

    (in life, health, advice, treatment from 2011)

    Click below: dont-take-potassium-iodide-unless

    Here's a website all about nuclear energy, courtesy of my brot ... read more

    safety-clipart.webp safety first

    (in life, health, safety, home-garden from 2010)

    Always wear your safety glasses when mowing the lawn or weed-eating. I didn't today (though I do half the time), and I got hit in the eye with a rock that was launched by the mower blade, bounced off the side of the house, and hit me in ... read more

    eagle-on-water.webp eagle sends drone to watery grave in brazen attack over lake michigan

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

    "Michigan state officials said a drone [that was] mapping shoreline erosion in the Upper Peninsula was sent to a "watery grave" in a "brazen attack" by a bald eagle."

    ... read more

    preikestolen, one of norway's most visited attractions

    (in life, travel, europe from 2010)

    "Preikestolen is one of Rogaland county, Norway's most visited attractions, and one of the country's most spectacular photo subjects. It has been named one of the world's most spectacular viewing points by both CNN Go ... read more

    veggies.webp this year's (2013) vegetable garden

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

    My checklist for this year's vegetable garden:

    Soil tilled? Check! Top soil added? Check! Plants bought? Check! Seeds for plants not available for purchase? Check! Plants planted? Check!

    Now the watering ... and waiting begins! Oh, y ... read more

    family newsletter NEWSLETTER

    leaky-faucet-clipart.webp holmes family newsletter vol 4 no 3

    (in family, holmes, newsletter from 1992)

    The Leaky Faucet Vol. 4, No. 3, March 18, 1992

    "More of the same, basically." Doug elected president

    With this nation in the throes of its quadrennial tradition of political rhetoric and ... read more

    gargoyle-laughing.webp holmes family newsletter vol 2 no 14

    (in family, holmes, newsletter from 1990)

    The Daily Gargoyle Vol. 2, No. 14, November 16, 1990
    "Just when you thought it was safe to open the mailbox!"

    [Editor's note: For those of you who actually believed, or hoped, that there wouldn't be any more newsletters, we ... read more

    happy-hairball.webp holmes family newsletter vol 5 no 8

    (in family, holmes, newsletter from 1993)

    The Happy Hairball

    (something we keep coughing up)
    Volume 5, Number 8 December 20, 1993
    Publisher: This guy ->>
    Editor: Same guy
    Distributor: Brave little delivery boys and girls worldwide
    Address: Nashville ... read more

    squawk-clipart.webp holmes family newsletter vol 5 no 6

    (in family, holmes, newsletter from 1993)

    Hoot and a HollerVol. 5, No. 6, September 28, 1993 -- Nashville edition
    Journalism at its finest! -- Yearly subscription rate: $135

    Brouns family buys property

    LATHROP, CA -- John, Jeannie, their kids, Tiffany an ... read more

    holmes family newsletter vol 3 no 3

    (in family, holmes, newsletter from 1991)

    and
    now...
    THE NEWS Vol. 3, No. 3 (yes, only "No. 3")

    April 26, 1991 Doug returns from Hungary

    On March 21, Doug left Sacrament ... read more

    holmes family newsletter vol 1 no 8

    (in family, holmes, newsletter from 1989)

    The Holmes Family Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 8, October 23, 1989 earthquake! Where were you when it hit?

  • Don was just leaving his office on the 15th floor in downtown San Francisco when the whole building s ... read more

  •  

    © 1999-2026 · Original content may be copied and used ONLY under the Fair Use Doctrine. All other rights reserved.
    about · sitemap · Contact Us or DONATE · privacy · substack
    We use affiliate links, which earn a tiny (infinitesimal) commission if you make a purchase after clicking it.
    host = dreamhost · our IP = 67.205.28.165 · your IP = 216.73.216.144 · search