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February 16, 2026      breaking   add your own add your own news!  search

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foods named after cultures... but not really

(in life, health, food, language)

Prompted and edited by Bill. Food history is basically a scrapbook of misunderstandings, stereotypes, and Europeans projecting their fantasies onto other cultures. Let's walk through a few of the most interesting examples. Here are some of ... read more

inflation-real-wages.webp 5000 years of wages in one giant timeline

(in life, money, employment)

Interesting. Key Takeaways:In ancient times, wages were paid daily. Over time, payday shifted with technology, laws, and scale. Biweekly pay dominates today, yet timing gaps still create pressure. Earned Wage Access gives e ... read more

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

feed external news feeds
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the lies get so tedious
Human existence itself is 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 trudeau's 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  

cities-moscow-st-basils.webp summary of our russian adoption experience

(in family, adoption, holmes from 2008)

To sum it all up: We love our daughter. Elizabeth is a wonderful, beautiful, intelligent little girl. We thank Russia for giving her to us. Otherwise, we did not enjoy Russia. In their defense, we weren't there under normal circumstance ... read more

butterfly-bee.webp reduce wi-fi to attract butterflies and bees to your garden

(in life, health, environment, home-garden from 2019)

Attract butterflies and bees to your garden, reduce wi-fi. A happy garden is a wireless-free garden. Decades of research has already determined that plants and insects as well as animals and people are harmed by exposure to wireless radi ... read more

animated-slow-clap.gif aetna reverses its decision

(in life, health, insurance from 2010)

My insurance company, Aetna, which denied a $10,000 medical claim last year, has finally reversed its decision (after my second appeal) and decided to process the claim again. Woo-hoo!Let's see how it actually sh ... read more

meme-alpaca-vs-llama.webp difference between alpacas and llamas

(in life, animals, wildlife, humor from 2019)

In case you were wondering, as I was... Click the image for a larger version ... read more

eppies-restaurant-sign.webp eppie's great race: a sacramento legacy that still moves us

(in life, health, exercise, sacramento from 2025) by copilot

Prompted and edited by Bill. In the summer of 1974, Sacramento witnessed the birth of something extraordinary. Long before triathlons became mainstream, Eppie's Great Race carved its own path -- literally -- along the American Ri ... read more

signs-we-are-closed.webp baum law firm to close

(in life, money, employment, legal from 2011)

Baum law firm to close -- Business First. This is one company that got what it deserved after mocking homeless/foreclosed families. ... read more

animated-bully.webp angry people

(in life, health, mental from 2013)

Funny how the day after commenting on Facebook (see below) about driving past a local rich neighborhood, this morning in that same neighborhood I ticked off the driver behind me by having the gall to use a turn lane properly. You do realiz ... read more

astrakhan-grocery-store.webp we're in astrakhan

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

After a nerve-wracking trip to the airport and getting through the airport security we finally made it to our plane. We were told that our Rep, Galina, would be flying with us. We never saw her until we were already on the plane. She was ... read more

25th-anniversary-balloon.webp our 25th year

(in culture, writing, blog, friendsnews from 2024)

Can you believe we've been online since 1999!?!? Even more unbelievable, we STILL have almost no audience! Truly amazing. Shouting into the void for a quarter century. Quite impressive, no? Anyone rea ... read more


Amazon Movers & Shakers

culture.webp CULTURE

poetry-clipart.webp poetry by friendsnews members page

(in culture, writing, poetry from 2008)

A Prince in Disguise

A Saga of Seven

Hats

... read more

writing-clipart.webp rules for writers

(in culture, writing, advice from 2011)

Anis Shivani: New Rules For Writers: Ignore Publicity, Shun Crowds, Refuse Recognition And More

"These "rules" totally go ... read more

lionel-holmes.webp dad

(in culture, writing, poetry, family from 2023) by jeannie

He came in like a lion
And went out like a lamb
A loving gentle good-bye
As I held his soft warm hand

His children G, Lucy, S, D, D, B, and I
Were his pride and joy
Loved by all who knew him
E ... read more

creating-artwork.webp artwork that we found interesting

(in culture, arts-crafts from 2012)

Artwork we found interesting enough to mention here.

  • Julian Beever's Sidewalk Art
  • Jana's ... read more

    writing-clipart.webp those who tell the stories rule society

    (in culture, quotes, stories from 2021)

    "Those who tell the stories rule society." -- Plato

    Or, maybe it was the Native American Pr ... read more

  • family-clipart.webp FAMILY

    daisy-pug.webp our first (and best-ever) dog, daisy

    (in family, holmes, pets from 2006)

    Daisy graduates! Pic One,

    Picture from earlier that day!

    Previous pictures: ... read more

    airports-moscow-sheremetyevo.webp we're in moscow

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

    We'll be spending the night in Moscow, after all, and flying down to Astrakhan tomorrow afternoon.

    I was stressed out without an internet or even a usable power connection. But I'm obviously connected now. I had the power converte ... read more

    holiday-world.webp holiday world (2013)

    (in family, holmes, elizabeth from 2013)

    I rode a rollercoaster for the first time in I don't know how long. It was a blast! The Raven has been voted "most awesome [or whatever] wooden coaster" several times in ... read more

    jets-taking-off.webp airport arrival

    (in family, adoption, holmes, travel from 2008)

    Some pictures as we arrived in the airport. There was a great welcoming party there! We've never had an airport welcoming party before! ... read more

    e-skiing.webp elizabeth skiing for the first time

    (in family, holmes, elizabeth, skiing from 2015)

    It was father-daughter day (for me, my brother, nephew and our daughters) at NorthStar ski resort in Lake Tahoe. See ... read more

    video-camera.webp on vimeo

    (in family, holmes, elizabeth from 2009)

    In chronological order (I think):

  • Bill in Europe, 1996
  • ... read more

    e-laughing-pumpkins.webp first official day of daycare

    (in family, holmes, elizabeth from 2008)

    Elizabeth spent her first official full day at daycare yesterday. The teacher went on and on about how wonderful and good and helpful she was. I say "first official" day because Tara ... read more

  • life-clipart.webp LIFE

    classifieds-clipart.webp classified ads

    (in life, help, services from 2008)

    Shopping-related posts

  • Religious advisor wanted. No experience necessary. Must enjoy out-of-body travel and work well with animals. Send resume and salary histor ... read more

    marijuana-buds.webp more than half using prescription drugs quit after using cannabis and cbd

    (in life, health, drugs, treatment from 2019)

    "A survey on cannabidoil (CBD) usage found that women are more likely than men to use CBD; and once they start using it, they quit traditional forms of big pharma painkillers like Tylenol, ibuprofen, and Vicodin, Forbes repo ... read more

    blackberries-and-grapes.webp just another sunday

    (in life, money, shopping from 2013)

    Wife and kid are off at this thing called "church." Maybe you've heard of it. I'm not sure what to make of it. :)

    I'm basically just hanging out waiting for the new mattress to be delivered. We told the delivery guy, "Anytime!" ... read more

    animated-bully.webp angry people

    (in life, health, mental from 2013)

    Funny how the day after commenting on Facebook (see below) about driving past a local rich neighborhood, this morning in that same neighborhood I ticked off the driver behind me by having the gall to use a turn lane properly. You do realize ... read more

    lazy-exercise.webp being overweight means you live longer

    (in life, health, fitness, research from 2015)

    I guess the only "diet" most of us need to be on is non-GMO.

    The figures actually show that being 'overweight' is healthier than being 'underweight' or within the 'normal' BMI range -- and c ... read more

  • family newsletter NEWSLETTER

    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

    leaky-faucet-clipart.webp holmes family newsletter vol 3 no 7

    (in family, holmes, newsletter from 1991)

    The Leaky Faucet Vol. 3, No. 7, October 14, 1991 Mike lands great job!

    Michael has been named Executive Producer of Cal State Stanislaus' new bi-weekly cable television show. It will basically be a show focus ... read more

    holmes family newsletter vol 2 no 15

    (in family, holmes, newsletter from 1990)

    NEWS, ETC. Vol. 2, No. 15, December 18, 1990

    "Christmas Issue" Lucy to Host Christmas

    Lucy will be having Christmas at her house this year. It's a potluck affair. Only those with food will be allowed in. Sa ... read more

    billyclub-clipart.webp holmes family newsletter vol 2 no 3

    (in family, holmes, newsletter from 1990)

    Billy Club

    Vol. 2, No. 3, February 8, 1990
    [aka Bullseye, Hard Copy, The Holmes Family Newsletter]

    A newsletter for the 90s and beyond!

    Diane now a doctor

    Call her " ... read more

    cow-clipart.webp holmes family newsletter vol 5 no 2

    (in family, holmes, newsletter from 1993)

    The Sacred CowVol. 5, No. 2, March 15, 1993 Dad sucked from plane!

    Well, almost. And it was 41 ... read more

    obtuse-moose-clipart.webp holmes family newsletter vol 6 no 3

    (in family, holmes, newsletter from 1994)

    The Obtuse Moose Vol. 6, No. 3, April 21, 1994

    Jeannie finds dog

    Jeannie and John have a ranch in Tracy, California. To help pay the bills, they board a few horses. One of those horses, a fat new gray Arab ... read more

     

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