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Updated 09/23

  

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About These Blogs

“Perspective gives us the ability to accurately contrast the large with the small, and the important with the less important. Without it, we are lost in a world where all ideas, news, and information look the same. We cannot differentiate, we cannot prioritize, and we cannot make good choices. “ -John Sununu 

Today there are so many talking heads who bombard the airwaves, magazines, and periodicals with their version of events and issues that affect our lives and the world. And with so many jIBBER-Jabbers reporting at home and abroad, often it becomes difficult to distinguish what’s accurate and what’s not. I’m sure you’ve heard the term: “Fake News”? Therefore, it’s up to each of us to go behind the headlines to distinguish the difference between facts and fiction to make a conscious decision as to what the truth might be.

These Blogs are filled with articles and opinions that are not necessarily headlines or openly discussed. It's also filled with an accumulation of insightful information for a bit more clarity on the issues, including pictures and videos for your entertainment.

I hope these blogs will be an open window to a better understanding of the world around us, and through this understanding try and make life better for all. There is no one perfect way, but hopefully, with eyes open wide, we can rise above the hype and find mutual awareness that hopefully will resolve our differences. It’s also a place where readers, like you, can contribute to the conversation.

- Blogs -

JERSEY SHORE is strictly about opinions and information seldom included in headline news. It attempts to point beyond the headlines to allow you the reader to understand what the issues might truly be, ugly or otherwise.

FAITH is spiritual without “religion”. It’s not about converting, but solely to enlighten, as well as challenge our faith. Since faith is a personal journey it’s important to be knowledgeable of the facts to avoid being manipulated by a religious system that is pretty much void of truth.

ODEUM is all about videos, entertainment news, reviews, and more.

JOURNAL is about my journey in life.

GALLERY is a display of my photography, arts, and crafts.

- Posting Schedule -

Posting - Every Two Weeks

(Not Written In Stone)

Vacation - June to September

Always remember, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. The more you search to understand, life can be a journey filled with enlightened confidence and positive choices.

Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy your visit.

Asexuality

New research on asexuality shows why it’s so important for doctors and therapists to distinguish between episodes of low libido and a consistent lack of sexual attraction

By Allison Parshall

In graduate school people often asked Megan Carroll whether she was gay. Her sociology dissertation was on inequalities within communities of gay fathers, so her research participants were curious about how she identified. “I would say, ‘Oh, I'm maybe mostly straight? I don't really know. It's complicated.’”

It was, at the time, the closest she could get to the truth. She'd had crushes on both boys and girls in high school and had been in a relationship with a man; being around her romantic interests sent her heart fluttering in her chest. But nothing like that happened when she considered having sex with any of them—she simply wasn't interested. Her friends assured her she just needed to meet the right person, someone who would light her fire.

When that hadn't happened by the time she was 18, Carroll thought she might simply have a low libido and went looking for an explanation. Thinking her birth control might be to blame, she spoke with a nurse, who suggested that perhaps her boyfriend was “just a bad lover.” Then Carroll wondered whether it was the pills she was taking to treat her depression. Over the next 12 years she visited multiple therapists, psychiatrists and physicians and tried different antidepressants—including a less commonly prescribed drug that gave her tachycardia, or a faster heart rate. Eventually she settled on one that had shown no measurable effect on sex drive in clinical trials.

Throughout these years of experimentation, Carroll's libido—the physiological desire for sexual stimulation and release—did fluctuate. But what remained constant was that her libido was rarely, if ever, directed at another person, even her crushes.

In 2016 Carroll stumbled on a Facebook post about asexuality. She'd heard the term, typically defined as experiencing little to no sexual attraction, but had never felt that it applied to her. Then Carroll read a comment that mentioned demisexuality, a specific experience of feeling sexual attraction only after developing an emotional bond with someone. The idea that asexuality was a spectrum opened an entire world that had never been discussed in her gender and sexuality courses—one in which sexual desire was not necessary for a fulfilling life.

Because this idea subverts a cultural assumption about what it means to be human, it is often difficult for asexual people to recognize, let alone embrace, their identity. “Your very existence is, in some way, in opposition” to the societal norm, says CJ Chasin, an asexual gender and sexuality scholar at the University of Windsor in Canada. Even after realizing she probably was asexual, Carroll still visited doctors to experiment with her medications before finally accepting that she just is the way she is.

Over the past two decades psychological studies have shown that asexuality should be classified not as a disorder but as a stable sexual orientation akin to homosexuality or heterosexuality. Both cultural awareness and clinical medicine have been slow to catch on. It's only recently that academic researchers have begun to look at asexuality not as an indicator of health problems but as a legitimate, underexplored way of being human.

In biology, the word “asexual” typically gets used in reference to species that reproduce without sex, such as bacteria and aphids. But in some species that do require mating to have offspring, such as sheep and rodents, scientists have observed individuals that don't appear driven to engage in the act.

This behavior is more analogous to human asexuality, a concept rarely mentioned in medical literature until recently. In a pamphlet published in 1896, pioneering German sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld described people without sexual desire, a state he called “anesthesia sexualis.” In 1907 Reverend Carl Schlegel, an early gay rights activist, advocated for the “same laws” for “the homosexuals, heterosexuals, bisexuals [and] asexuals.” When sexologist Alfred Kinsey devised his scale of sexual orientation in the 1940s, he created a “Category X” for the respondents who unexpectedly reported no sociosexual contacts or reactions—exceptions from his model whom he estimated made up 1.5 percent of all males between the ages of 16 and 55 in the U.S. Asexuality was largely absent from scientific research over the subsequent decades, although it was occasionally referenced by activists and scholars in the gay liberation movement. -Scientific America

Thought

 

A ‘Sexual Plague’ On Society

Candace Owens has called LGBTQ+ people a “sexual plague” on society in an outburst on social media.

The founder of non-profit BLEXIT, which is powered by right-wing group Turning Point USA and aims to encourage black economy independence, Owens shared her views on queer people in tweet on Thursday (4 January).

Posting to her 4.5 million followers she ranted about big Pharma being responsible for “clinical promotion of insanity” and linked it to mass shootings.

“We are mass drugging children and conducting psychiatric experiments on them in classrooms across America,” she wrote, in reference to gender-affirming healthcare.

Owens added: “Gender dysphoria is a mental disorder and the entire LGBTQ movement brought with it a sexual plague on our society.”

The Republican, who hosts a show on conservative news site The Daily Wire and is a mum-of-three, has become well-known for for spouting dangerous claims about LGBTQ+ people.

Trans journalist Erin Reed called out Owens hateful post, accusing the right-wing activist of “jumping straight to the genocidal language”.

In September 2023, Owens was suspended from YouTube, following previous punishments for ongoing hate against the LGBTQ+ community. There have been no similar repercussions on Twitter.

At the time of her YouTube suspension a spokesperson told PinkNews the platform had issued the Candace Owens Podcast channel a strike for “violating our hate speech policy”.

In June that same year, Owens’ YouTube content was demonetised for her continued misgendering of trans people, which the platform said at the time was in breach of its “hateful conduct” policy.

YouTube operates a “three-strike” system and anyone who violates its policy three times within a 90 day period can be permanently banned from the platform. -Pink News

Unseen: The Boy Victims of the Sex Trade

Carrot Cake with Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting

This rich, moist carrot cake recipe has all the flavor, without all the fat and calories. Because it is so full of carrots, pineapple, and nuts, it is similar to a fruit bread. For the best flavor, bake the cake one day ahead.

By Meghan Miller

Cake:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 teaspoons baking soda

• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 2 large eggs

• 1 ½ cups white sugar

• ¾ cup buttermilk

• ¾ cup unsweetened applesauce

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 2 ½ cups grated carrots

• 1 ½ cups chopped pecans

• 1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple in juice, drained and juice reserved

Frosting:

• 1 (8 ounce) package Neufchâtel cheese, softened

• 1 tablespoon reserved pineapple juice

• 1 (16 ounce) package confectioners' sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 pinch salt

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

• Make cake: Sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Lightly beat eggs in a second large bowl; add sugar, buttermilk, applesauce, oil, and vanilla and mix until well combined. Stir buttermilk mixture, carrots, pecans, and drained pineapple into flour mixture just until mixed; pour into the prepared baking dish

• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of cake comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool in the baking dish on a wire rack, about 1 hour. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap; refrigerate for 8 hours to overnight.

• Make frosting: Beat together Neufchâtel cheese and 1 tablespoon reserved pineapple juice in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add confectioners' sugar, vanilla, and salt; beat until frosting is smooth.

• Spread frosting over cold cake

Happy Easter

Whitney Houston - I Look to You

Nearly A Third Of Gen Zers Identify As LGBTQ

Democratic poised to have significant influence in elections

By Amber Laenen

New data from the Public Religion Research Institute shows 28 percent of Generation Z adults who are between 18-25 identify as LGBTQ.

This significant increase in self-identification among Gen Z highlights a positive shift in the societal acceptance of LGBTQ individuals, setting the stage for a more inclusive and diverse future.

The findings, based on PRRI polling and focus groups conducted between August and September, not only sheds light on the evolving landscape of sexual orientation identification, but also suggests that younger generations are increasingly comfortable and empowered to openly embrace their sexuality and gender identity.

The study reveals that 16 percent of millennials, 7 percent of Generation X, 4 percent of baby boomers and 4 percent of the Silent Generation identify as LGBTQ. This stark generational difference underscores the ongoing positive transformation in societal attitudes toward the LGBTQ community. 

Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson emphasized the significance of LGBTQ visibility and Gen Z’s role in fostering change.

“Whether at the polls, in marches and rallies, or online, LGBTQ+ visibility matters and Gen Z is a force for change,” she said.

Robinson further highlighted the political consequences of anti-LGBTQ attacks, noting LGBTQ youth who are turning 18 will influence elections.

With nearly 30 percent of Gen Z adults identifying as LGBTQ, the LGBTQ community is rapidly becoming one of the fastest-growing voting blocs in the country. This demographic shift is poised to reshape the American electoral landscape, with projections indicating that the LGBTQ voting bloc could constitute nearly a fifth of all voters by 2040. This voting bloc is expected to wield substantial influence, permanently transforming and reshaping the political landscape in the United States. -Washington Blade 

Thoughts

 

Bisexuality, Risk-Taking, And Fatherhood

However, the findings are proving rather controversial.

By Trudy Ring

Genetic factors related to male bisexuality often mean more risk-taking and fathering more children, according to a new study out of the University of Michigan.

For the study, published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances, the university’s researchers looked at information from 450,000 people, all of European ancestry, in the United Kingdom’s Biobank database of genetic and health information. The information included responses to a questionnaire, on which one of the questions was “Would you describe yourself as someone who takes risks?”

The research team “concluded that the genes underlying bisexual behavior are distinct from those driving exclusive same-sex behavior, and may be intertwined with a propensity for taking risks,” says an article in Science, a related journal.

“This connection to risk-taking, the authors suggest, may also explain why men with a history of bisexual behavior still have a reasonably high number of offspring, albeit fewer than heterosexual men, possibly explaining why the genes driving such sexual behavior have persisted,” the article continues.

The findings have been somewhat controversial, the article notes. There are fears that linking risk-taking to bisexuality may perpetuate false and harmful stereotypes about bi people and lead to discrimination.

But U of M biologist Jianzhi Zhang, lead author of the study, told Science that he and coauthor Siliang Song, a graduate student, “hold no moral judgment on risk-taking and believe [it] has pros and cons (depending on the situation), as almost any trait.”

In the study itself, the authors wrote, “The topic explored in this study intersects with sexuality and identity and potentially bears civil and political ramifications for sexual minority groups. We want to make it clear that our results predominantly contribute to the diversity, richness, and better understanding of human sexuality. They are not, in any way, intended to suggest or endorse discrimination on the basis of sexual behavior.”

They limited their research to people of European ancestry, they wrote, “to avoid spurious results caused by population stratification.” They added that because of this limit, “our results may or may not represent a general pattern across populations with diverse cultural, social, economic, and/or political environments.”

Some scientists, however, said the data may not be representative in a variety of other ways. “It is a study of sexual history, rather than sexual identity, and is not fully capturing the experiences of people who identify as bisexual,” Catherine Saunders, a University of Cambridge researcher who studies health in the LGBTQ+ community, told Science.

Also, most of the people whose data is in the U.K. Biobank are over 50 and therefore grew up in a time when homosexuality and bisexuality carried greater stigma, which may have affected how they answered questions, Yale School of Medicine geneticist Steven Reilly and others told the publication.

Zhang acknowledged that some of the data could be unreliable, but he said the subject is still worth studying. “Because that’s a controversy — is sexuality discrete or continuous? Do [homosexuality and bisexuality] have [a] different genetic basis or do they have the same genetic basis?” he told The Hill. -Advocate 

The Brutal Truth About Being Gay In Prisons

Avocado Ranch Pork Chops and Rice

It only takes 5 minutes to prep this recipe for Avocado Ranch Pork Chops and Rice, which makes it perfect for a busy weeknight.  We show you how to cook the rice and the pork chops at the same time, so that you can have a home-cooked dinner on the table in 30 minutes!  Two pantry favorites, condensed cream soup and ranch dressing mix, blend with chili powder and Southwest seasoned vegetables for a Tex-Mex spin on the usual pork chops and rice.  Serve with fresh avocado and cilantro on top to make it look as good as it tastes!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups water
• 2 cups frozen seasoned Southwest vegetable blend (corn, peppers, onions)
• 1 envelope (1 ounce) ranch dressing mix (amount divided in recipe steps below)
• 1 1/2 cups uncooked long grain white rice
• 6 boneless pork chop, 3/4-inch thick (about 2 pounds)
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 can (10 1/2 ounces) Campbell’s® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup or 98% Fat Free Cream of Mushroom Soup
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 avocado, pitted, peeled and diced (about 1 cup)

Instructions:

Tips

You can substitute 1 cup whole kernel corn (drained canned or thawed frozen) and 1 cup drained canned black beans for the Southwest vegetable blend, if you like.

Step 1

Heat the water, frozen vegetables and 1/2 package dressing mix in a 3-quart saucepan over medium-high heat to a boil. Stir in the rice. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 20 minutes or until the rice is tender. 

Step 2

While the rice is cooking, season the pork with salt and pepper and sprinkle with the chili powder.  Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the pork and cook for 6 minutes (make sure the skillet and oil are hot before adding the pork to prevent sticking) or until browned on both sides.  Stir in the soup, milk and remaining 1/2 package dressing mix iand heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until the pork is done.

Step 3

Stir the cilantro into the hot cooked rice.  Top the pork with the avocado and additional chopped cilantro, if desired.  Serve the pork and sauce with the rice. -Campbells

Apologies

Over the past two weeks, We've experienced computer issues. Apparently, a virus infected our computers thus we were unable to do any work or updates to these blogs. Thankfully, the virus was eradicated and our systems are updated and now running smoothly. We apologize for this inconvenience and as soon as possible we will begin posting again. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

PS

UK Govt Considers Havoc Of Porn Epidemic On Society

The Government has launched an investigation into pornography’s devastating impact on society as part of a review of current regulation following the passing of the Online Safety Act.

The Call for Evidence, which is part of the Independent Pornography Review, will collect views on “the impact of pornographic content on relationships, sexual behaviours, mental health and people’s views of women and girls”.

It is set to address the separate regimes covering online and offline pornographic material to ensure restrictions are consistently applied.

‘Abhorrent’

Baroness Bertin, who is leading the review, said there is a “whole tonne” of “completely abhorrent” online pornography, which the British Board of Film Classification would prohibit from sale on DVD or video.

She called for the loopholes to be shut, so content involving child-like actors or those purporting to be family members would no longer be available either online or offline.

The Peer stated: “The damaging impact that extreme pornography is having on society cannot be allowed to continue unchecked.”

Violence

National Police Lead for Child Protection Ian Critchley welcomed the review as he warned teenagers and under-tens have increased access to “violent pornography and indecent images of children”.

He said it would “provide a greater evidence base allowing us to better understand the impact violent pornography is having on the behaviour of young people and adults who continue to pose the greatest risk of harm to children”.

Baroness Bertin is expected to publish her findings later this year.

Child abuse

Earlier this month, it was revealed that more than half of child abuse cases in England and Wales are now committed by other children.

The National Analysis of Police-Recorded Child Sexual Abuse & Exploitation Report found that 52 per cent of 106,984 offences recorded by 42 police forces in 2022 were committed by ten to 17-year-olds, at an average age of 14.

The report called it a “growing and concerning trend (previously thought to be a third) involving a wide range of offending” from sharing indecent images to rape.

Americans On The Edge Of Politics

Untethered from partisan politics and uninterested in keeping up with political news, here is how some Americans view the current state of U.S. politics.

In a fractious political environment often dominated by the loudest voices on the left and right, some people are saying: Count us out.

Last year, we talked to a group of people who, while they may vote, are not strongly attached to either political party. They don’t closely follow news about politics or government, though some feel guilty when they don’t. By and large, they look at the nation’s politics as a topic better avoided than embraced.

With the first votes of the 2024 election about to be cast, these are people whose voices are largely overlooked. Last May, we conducted six focus groups of adults who have soured on politics and political news. Here’s what they told us.

They have a sense that politics is everywhere – and often in a bad way. They find themselves overwhelmed by how much information they confront in their day-to-day life.

Many – but not all – of these people vote. While they acknowledge they could be more engaged with following politics, many say they have no desire to, or say it’s important to avoid the topic to protect their mental health.

Most are frustrated with the two parties. They often don’t feel represented by either party or feel that the parties are too extreme. And while some would prefer for there to be no parties at all, others wish there were more than two.

Many of the participants pointed to the vitriol and negativity in politics today, noting that there is too much fighting and not enough progress being made on issues that are important to everyday people.

How would these people change politics? Their ideas run the gamut: While some discussed changes to the Electoral College, term limits or reducing the role of money in politics, others said they simply would like more choices, less negativity and more progress on important issues.

Note: This essay is designed to be a snapshot of how some Americans who are not particularly engaged with politics feel about the system. These focus group participants do not necessarily represent the broader population of all less engaged Americans.

This publication is a collaborative effort based on the input and analysis of the following individuals: Carroll Doherty, Jocelyn Kiley, Hannah Hartig, Gabe Borelli, Rebecca Leppert, David Kent, Andrea Caumont, Claire Dannenbaum, Andy Cerda, Shanay Gracia and Katy Lin (former intern).

Illustrations by Christian Northeast. Design, production and web development by Alissa Scheller, Reem Nadeem and Chris Baronavski. -Pew Research

School Board Pulls Dictionaries

School district officials say that the dictionary contains terms, references, and description of “sexual conduct.” 

By Evy Kwong

A school district in Florida has pulled 1,600 books including dictionaries and encyclopedias from their shelves after school board members said the books violated a law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in the GOP’s ongoing war on education.

Escambia County School District officials say that the dictionary, along with books like The Guinness Book of World Records and Ripley’s Believe it or Not, contain terms, references, and description of “sexual conduct.” 

The law, HB 1069, which went into effect on July 1, 2023, aims to limit sexual education by banning topics like sexual health, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Because of this, the school district said they decided to remove the dictionary from school libraries over the summer break, as they contain terms that fall under those banned topics.

In May 2023, PEN America, an organization fighting for freedom of speech and access to literature, along with publisher Penguin Random House and several authors, filed a federal lawsuit against the school board for impeding free speech. This week, a judge ruled that the suit could move forward.

“Ensuring that students have access to books on a wide range of topics and that express a diversity of viewpoints is a core function of public education—preparing students to be thoughtful and engaged citizens,” PEN America wrote. It added that the removal of the books violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution “because the books being singled out for possible removal are disproportionately books by non-white and/or LGBTQ authors.”

In a statement, Escambia County School District said that the books weren’t actually banned from schools, but just pulled for “further review” to determine whether they violate DeSantis’s legislation.

According to a 2022 poll by the American Library Association, the vast majority of parents in America are against Republican-led efforts to ban books in schools. “Three quarters of parents of public school children (74%) express a high degree of confidence in school librarians to make good decisions about which books to make available to children,” the ALA wrote in its findings. Florida schools have the highest percentage of book removals and restrictions in the country, according to PEN America. -Vice 

GIF

 

The Fourth Amendment

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

magine you’re driving a car, and a police officer spots you and pulls you over for speeding. He orders you out of the car. Maybe he wants to place you under arrest. Or maybe he wants to search your car for evidence of a crime. Can the officer do that? 

The Fourth Amendment is the part of the Constitution that gives the answer. According to the Fourth Amendment, the people have a right “to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures.” This right limits the power of the police to seize and search people, their property, and their homes. 

The Fourth Amendment has been debated frequently during the last several years, as police and intelligence agencies in the United States have engaged in a number of controversial activities. The federal government has conducted bulk collection of Americans’ telephone and Internet connections as part of the War on Terror. Many municipal police forces have engaged in aggressive use of “stop and frisk.” There have been a number of highly-publicized police-citizen encounters in which the police ended up shooting a civilian. There is also concern about the use of aerial surveillance, whether by piloted aircraft or drones.

The application of the Fourth Amendment to all these activities would have surprised those who drafted it, and not only because they could not imagine the modern technologies like the Internet and drones. They also were not familiar with organized police forces like we have today. Policing in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries was a responsibility of the citizenry, which participated in “night watches.” Other than that, there was only a loose collection of sheriffs and constables, who lacked the tools to maintain order as the police do today. 

The primary concerns of the generation that ratified the Fourth Amendment were “general warrants” and “writs of assistance.” Famous incidents on both sides of the Atlantic gave rise to placing the Fourth Amendment in the Constitution. In Britain, the Crown employed “general warrants” to go after political enemies, leading to the famous decisions in Wilkes v. Wood (1763) and Entick v. Carrington (1765). General warrants allowed the Crown’s messengers to search without any cause to believe someone had committed an offense. In those cases the judges decided that such warrants violated English common law. In the colonies the Crown used the writs of assistance—like general warrants, but often unbounded by time restraints—to search for goods on which taxes had not been paid. James Otis challenged the writs in a Boston court; though he lost, some such as John Adams attribute this legal battle as the spark that led to the Revolution. Both controversies led to the famous notion that a person’s home is their castle, not easily invaded by the government.

Today the Fourth Amendment is understood as placing restraints on the government any time it detains (seizes) or searches a person or property. The Fourth Amendment also provides that “no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.” The idea is that to avoid the evils of general warrants, each search or seizure should be cleared in advance by a judge, and that to get a warrant the government must show “probable cause”—a certain level of suspicion of criminal activity—to justify the search or seizure. 

To the extent that a warrant is required in theory before police can search, there are so many exceptions that in practice warrants rarely are obtained. Police can search automobiles without warrants, they can detain people on the street without them, and they can always search or seize in an emergency without going to a judge.

The way that the Fourth Amendment most commonly is put into practice is in criminal proceedings. The Supreme Court decided in the mid-twentieth century that if the police seize evidence as part of an illegal search, the evidence cannot be admitted into court. This is called the “exclusionary rule.” It is controversial because in most cases evidence is being tossed out even though it shows the person is guilty and, as a result of the police conduct, they might avoid conviction. “The criminal is to go free because the constable has blundered,” declared Benjamin Cardozo (a famous judge and ultimately Supreme Court justice). But, responded another Supreme Court justice, Louis Brandeis, “If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for the law.”

One of the difficult questions today is what constitutes a “search”? If the police standing in Times Square in New York watched a person planting a bomb in plain daylight, we would not think they needed a warrant or any cause. But what about installing closed circuit TV cameras on poles, or flying drones over backyards, or gathering evidence that you have given to a third party such as an Internet provider or a banker?

Another hard question is when a search is acceptable when the government has no suspicion that a person has done something wrong. Lest the answer seem to be “never,” think of airport security. Surely it is okay for the government to screen people getting on airplanes, yet the idea is as much to deter people from bringing weapons as it is to catch them—there is no “cause,” probable or otherwise, to think anyone has done anything wrong. This is the same sort of issue with bulk data collection, and possibly with gathering biometric information.

What should be clear by now is that advancing technology and the many threats that face society add up to a brew in which the Fourth Amendment will continue to play a central role. -Constitution Center

Thoughts

 

Three Steps To A Purposeful Year

Before you set goals and resolutions, take some time to reflect on what makes you unique and what kind of life you aspire to.

By Christine Carter

“This year, I want to do something more meaningful. I don’t love my job or where I live, so I’m going to make some changes.”

As a coach, I’m happy when my people are ready for change. But the best first move usually isn’t an outer change to our circumstances—to a new job or city, for example. Pursuing achievements that improve our social status and bring us wealth or fame can be tempting—but people who prioritize those things tend to have lower well-being.

Instead, the best first move is almost always inner work. It’s identifying a vision for the coming year that animates our best selves. When we align our aspirations with our intrinsic interests and values, we tend to increase our well-being and the odds of achieving our goals.

But that task can feel daunting! Here’s how to get started.

Begin from your strengths rather than your weaknesses

Start by identifying some of your unique attributes: those things that make you you. As a coach, I’m most interested in the person you are without the normal social influences of the people around you. This is your intrinsic self, and it can be a compass for you in uncertain times.

Don’t worry if you’ve lost touch with your intrinsic self. We’re surrounded by external influences that shape us from the moment we’re born. Over time, it can be challenging to determine whether our goals and ambitions come from the hopes and expectations of our family, our culture, the media, our social circle—or our deepest sense of self and our truest values.

When we aren’t in touch with our intrinsic selves, our aspirations and goals are often based on external things like our jobs or roles, our appearance, and status-oriented stuff like houses and cars. These things are by nature all fleeting and fragile.

The good news is that your intrinsic self is always within you. It’s your center. You are like the block of marble that Michelangelo carved “The David” statue into. David was always in there, but the marble needed to be chipped away. I believe that, like “The David,” you are already “in there.”

Sometimes that idea—that you are already, always enough—can be tough to swallow. You are probably more in touch with the areas you want to strengthen and grow than the ones where you already feel good enough. But it can be more illuminating to see who you are than it is to lament who you aren’t.

For example, it’s easy for me to look back on the past year and wish I would have done more of some healthy thing, like meditation or yoga. When I focus on my deficiencies (I hardly meditated at all last year! I paid for a membership to a yoga website I barely used!), I feel inadequate and pessimistic about my ability to change. But when I consider my top strengths—zest and gratitude—I can see how my gratitude practices and love of outdoor exercise were enough. And, also, that I can grow these existing strengths. When I begin there, with my strengths, I feel optimistic about the year to come.


It’s counterintuitive, but, in my experience, people don’t tend to grow or accomplish the goals they set for themselves from a place of deficiency or fear that they aren’t good enough. Something liberating happens when we are no longer on the hunt for things to criticize about ourselves.

So allow yourself a moment to set aside the things you’d like to change about yourself and focus on the unique gifts you bring to the world.

Think about what makes you feel alive or at peace

If none of your unique attributes are obvious to you, reflect on times you’ve felt passion in your life, or when you’ve felt a peaceful sense of contentment. Maybe it’s something common, like a passion for helping others, or maybe it is quirky, like having a passion for Star Wars or an ability to identify owl calls. It might not seem all that “important,” but it’s something that energizes you. It doesn’t need to be interesting to anyone other than you. The things my adult children make fun of me for—like my tendency to cite research I’m excited about before I give them unsolicited advice—usually point to what makes me me.

If your passions aren’t obvious, consider what you loved as a child. What did you do before you worried about being judged or good enough—before the world started telling you what you should or shouldn’t like? When did you feel a sense of mystery, adventure, or magic? When did you feel a spark? Similarly, when have you felt fully at peace?

Set an aspiration for how you’d like to live

Can you think of a story or memory about yourself that illustrates some of the passions or unique attributes you’ve identified? What aspects of that story capture something unique about you? You might use one of those stories, or a combination of them, to name something you aspire to. No one else will need to understand it, but it should be meaningful to you.

For example, one of my clients, whom I’ll call Mike, set this aspiration: “I aspire to channel Brother James to inspire others to do hard things.” In our work together, Mike told me about a special relationship with a teacher who’d truly seen his potential and encouraged him to be his best self. In his work now, he feels most energized and motivated when he interacts with his colleagues in the way that Brother James interacted with him. Mike set an aspiration that tapped into the emotional feeling that being with Brother James gave him, one that animated and inspired him to do his best work in the world—and that, in turn, helps him inspire the people he manages at work.

Research by BetterUp, the coaching organization where I’m a leader, found that doing the above aspiration-setting exercise with a coach increased people’s well-being, authenticity, meaning, self-certainty, and life satisfaction. The effect was surprisingly large. (So large that the psychologists Em Reit and Rainy Gu conducting the study reanalyzed the data multiple times to ensure that what they were seeing was correct.)

So this year, before you reach for a familiar resolution or try to make a big change to your circumstances, take a step back and consider what you aspire to. How can you live your life in a way that reflects what makes you unique? From there, you are more likely to set goals and resolutions that help you do your best work and live your best life. -Greater Good 

Avocado Ranch Pork Chops and Rice

It only takes 5 minutes to prep this recipe for Avocado Ranch Pork Chops and Rice, which makes it perfect for a busy weeknight.  We show you how to cook the rice and the pork chops at the same time, so that you can have a home-cooked dinner on the table in 30 minutes!  Two pantry favorites, condensed cream soup and ranch dressing mix, blend with chili powder and Southwest seasoned vegetables for a Tex-Mex spin on the usual pork chops and rice.  Serve with fresh avocado and cilantro on top to make it look as good as it tastes!

Ingredients

• 3 cups water
• 2 cups frozen seasoned Southwest vegetable blend (corn, peppers, onions)
• 1 envelope (1 ounce) ranch dressing mix (amount divided in recipe steps below)
• 1 1/2 cups uncooked long grain white rice
• 6 boneless pork chop, 3/4-inch thick (about 2 pounds)
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 can (10 1/2 ounces) Campbell’s® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup or 98% Fat Free Cream of Mushroom Soup
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 avocado, pitted, peeled and diced (about 1 cup)

Instructions

You can substitute 1 cup whole kernel corn (drained canned or thawed frozen) and 1 cup drained canned black beans for the Southwest vegetable blend, if you like.

Step 1

Heat the water, frozen vegetables and 1/2 package dressing mix in a 3-quart saucepan over medium-high heat to a boil. Stir in the rice. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 20 minutes or until the rice is tender. 

Step 2

While the rice is cooking, season the pork with salt and pepper and sprinkle with the chili powder.  Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the pork and cook for 6 minutes (make sure the skillet and oil are hot before adding the pork to prevent sticking) or until browned on both sides.  Stir in the soup, milk and remaining 1/2 package dressing mix iand heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until the pork is done.

Step 3

Stir the cilantro into the hot cooked rice.  Top the pork with the avocado and additional chopped cilantro, if desired.  Serve the pork and sauce with the rice. -Cambell’s

One Last Toast To The Season

We Welcom This Year