Steve Holden's Blog

Near Real-Time Tracking

You can find out what I'm up to in near real-time via Facebook (sholden) and Instagram (@sholden).

Maybe more on BlueSky (@sdholden.bsky.social).

Less on X/Twitter (@sholden).

While I am not currently as engaged as I have been in the past, these AztecMedia.net produced sites are still out there: Chvrches Fan Podcast (@chvrchespodcast), ThePodCraft Beer Show (@thepodcraft, @techguysteve, Untapped, @techguysteven); Tech News Radio (@technewsradio), Air Gapped Networks (@airgapnet), Jersey Boys Podcast, and Veteran Stories.

... Updated: November 16, 2024 ...

Music Geekdom

One of my favorite podcasts - Sound Explorer - has a new thing they are doing with interviewing music geeks called Key Change.

The first version was with Sophie Thatcher, and the second was with Hanif Abdurraqib on The Clash.

As a big fan of The Clash, I enjoyed that podcast. The podcast with Sophie was also definitely worth listening to.

You can learn more about Hanif Aburraqib via:

• His 1968-2005  Playlist
• Lost Notes: 1980s
• Object of Sound Podcast

 

Truths vs. Lies

Mike Cosper (director at CT Media) recently pointed out in his podcast "The Bulletin - Gimme Some Truth" a paraphrase of this Kevin Williams quote -- "It takes 400 words to correct one stupid sentence."

A "lie" requires much "truth" to refute it.

And who has time for that? Especially when the lies per post on X or Truth Social are tens per hour. [Tracking Elon Posts - Tweets]

And if all people want to do is fight, bicker, and shout down each other, what is the point?

This is a key part of this podcast, "DOGE and the Mystery of the State Department Teslas" by Search Engine.

More news on the "Flood The Zone" strategy is going on.

 

Some Facts & Opinion About Ukraine & Current Foreign Policy Moves

Since many seem to be fast and loose about facts concerning Ukraine & American Foreign Policy, here are a few facts from the podcast "The Bulletin - Gimme Some Truth" & "The Bulletin - Acts Of Man" from Christianity Today:

• Russia started the war by invading Ukraine.
• The Russian leadership has personal internationally recognized sanctions leveled against them for their actions in this war.
• Russians have kidnapped Ukrainian children from their homes & families and are de-programing them during their imprisonment in Russia.
• Russians have committed war crimes against both soldiers and civilians during their invasion of Ukraine.
• Putin has ordered attacks against civilians, churches, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure (power, water, gas, transportation, etc.).
• America has not spent $350 billion on Ukraine.
• America has spent $183 billion in defense of Ukraine.  Europe (as a whole) has spent $202 billion:
  • 70% of the money has gone to American weapons manufacturers and the U.S. military (buying back stocks of armaments sent to Ukraine).
  • This means the U.S. Military is getting "new" armaments with a longer shelf-life.  If we hadn't sent the "old" armaments to Ukraine, we would have also had to pay to have them disposed of or sold to our other Allies (not guaranteed).
  • American weapons manufacturers have been increasing employment and infrastructure improvements in response to increased demands.
  • Keeping Ukraine in this fight causes Russia to continue to use up its resources (making it weaker).
• The Russian leadership has convinced the current North Korean dictatorship to send soldiers to fight and die in Ukraine.
• REMEMBER: The Russians were paying $200,000 for each dead American/Allied soldier during the Afghan War.  They paid out over $30 million during the war.

Here are my personal opinions:

• Putin and "Putinism" are a clear and present danger to the world order and peace. America should not create a "business deal" with this tyrant.
• Recent voting in the UN to not hold Putin accountable is morally outrageous.
• It is also ethically disgraceful and shameful to withdraw support to Ukraine and Ukrainian Refugees (legally protected) in America.
  • Deporting Ukrainians at this time is against Christian-values of hospitably and support of refugees.
    • If this annoys Putin, then so be it.
  • Freedom is not free.
• President Reagan was right with his "Peace through Strength" strategy.
  • Isolationism will not work.
  • The Cold War is still on.
  • We must check the Kremlin's objectives.
• America must support NATO and keep our agreements, commitments, & promises to Ukraine and our Allies.
• President Obama "kicked the can down the road" in 2014 when Russia illegally occupied Crimea.
  • Continuing this conflict is just an extension of that Putin land grab (which, if Ukraine falls, will include the Baltic States and, more than likely, Poland).
• The Russian propaganda machine is conducting "information warfare" against American citizens and leadership (deception, influence operations, false flags, cyber, etc.) to change, discredit, contradict, confuse, etc. facts and truths to match their false narratives.
• Canada, Mexico, Panama, Greenland, etc., are sovereign countries.
  • America should treat others as we would want to be treated. 
• President Zelenskyy is the war-time President of Ukraine.
  • He governs honorably within the laws of Ukraine and is not a coward.
  • He is a hero, a patriot, courageous, and a principled leader.
• Appeasement never works with a bully, blackmailer, or authoritarian leader. Did it work in 1938? No.
• China is watching our actions with Ukraine/Russia to determine what they are going to do with Taiwan. They are signaling they are willing to conduct both economic and kinetic warfare against America and the rest of the Free World to achieve their future goals.

Next step - watch "Darkest Hour: Never Give Up, Never Give In."

• "You cannot reason with a tiger when your head is in his mouth." - Winston Churchill
• Learn + Study + Practice + Act = Resist

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Composer Inna Zhvanetskay

I get this tremendously interesting weekly email of popular and new Wikipedia pages from the WEEKLYPEDIA from one week to the next.

This week, I opened up 10 new tabs to learn about.  One of them was the recent passing of composer Inna Zhvanetskay.

I listened to several of her compositions, and I like this one the best - 5 Haikus by TRIO Avance.

How To See The Humanity In Anyone

I got forwarded this link, "How to see the humanity in anyone" (Practicing a form of ‘deep curiosity’ can help you connect with yourself and others, even if they’re on the ‘other side’) by Scott Shigeoka.

Here are the key points from the end of the thoughtful article:

• Practicing deep curiosity can help you connect with yourself and others. It’s not just intellectual; it’s about searching for understanding in a way that can stir your heart and spirit.
• Let go of your assumptions, biases and certainty. Deep curiosity is a muscle you can strengthen, beginning with detaching yourself from the mental shortcuts that you usually rely on.
• Prepare your mindset and setting. Planning ahead for how you will act and speak in social situations can help you practise deep curiosity with greater intention.
• See the dignity of every person, including yourself. One way to do this is to ‘turn toward’ people – notice their bids for your attention and invite them to tell you more.
• Welcome the hard times in your life. It’s easy to fight or withdraw when you’re feeling overwhelmed. By learning to slow down and embrace your negative emotions, you’ll be better placed to recognise your own needs, find meaning in your experiences and connect with others.

More info at Greater Good and TED.

Bad EV Charging News

From Wired: "Feds Halt the National Electric Vehicle Charging Program - The US government has ordered states to retract their plans to build hundreds of federally funded EV charging stations."

Here is a link to the memo: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/nevi/resources/state-plan-approval-suspension.pdf.

And more coverage at Washington Post.

Google February 2025 Updates For Pixel Phones

Google has released a February 2025 operating system (OS) update for Pixel phones!

Tip - Where Does Your Rain Go?

This came in this morning's email newsletter from Recommendo.

This website will map out where rain goes based on the topography of the land:

•     https://river-runner-global.samlearner.com/

More Balloons To Burst - Podcast Recommendations

Right after the election, I posted links to podcasts that were helping me better see what might be happening in the United States post-election.  It was called "Bursting My Balloon - Reflecting On Today's Realities".

Here are some more recommendations to listen to if you are open to learning more about different perspectives and how to better engage with others:

• Panic World's BONUS: Meta Doesn't Care Anymore
• Panic World's Was January 6th A Success? (With Charlie Warzel)
• Big Questions' President Trump & AI
• Flightless Bird's Inauguration Week
• Search Engine's The New Zuckerberg
• Spy Cast's How Will President Trump Handle Intelligence In His Second Term
• Tangible's Resilient Witness In Dark Times
• The Bulletin's The Media In Trump 2.0 with Chris Stirewalt
• The Bulletin's Mr. Cosper Goes to Washington
• Work-Life With Adam Grant's Reimagining The US Political System With Sharon McMahon [transcript]
• Work-Life With Adam Grant's Fixing The Trust Crisis with Rachel Botsman [transcript]