Religion vs. women

 Today I fell down another "rabbit hole".  This time it was about women and history as it is applied by religion.  Oh my God! What a huge "rabbit hole" I found.  As a feminist of long standing (I am a child of the 60s after all) I have always denounced how women are treated everywhere, but until I fell into this hole, my thoughts could not congeal into one focused thread.  Now, I can and it is that Power under the guise of Religion (see I used a capitol letters there?) is the basis for all the mistreatments that women have endured since the beginning of time. 

It Really is All About Retention of POWER

Keeping women in a down position is all about power, no matter the words used to continue this treatment of women.  Power.  I'll say that again.  Power.  Men fear women because we have the power to create life, and because we are the main caretakers of our children, we also have the power to mold the children's minds. This is unacceptable to Men (I used a capitol letter here again on purpose).  

Now, I grant that men play a part in the creation of children.  Without sperm, there would be no child. However, there are species that can reproduce without males and I am sure that science is ongoing to figure out how that can happen.  Once they figure it out, men may become obsolete!  No wonder men are so afraid.

Let's review some history:

The Middle Ages

In the middle ages, witch hunts took place with women being burned at the stake because they refused to bow to the men in power.  They openly decried the state of the world as they knew it and used herbalism and alternative measures to try to protect themselves from the violence they saw.  Those witch hunts/burnings were all about power, not fear.  The men in charge saw these women as threats to the way things were and feared that other women would follow them and upend the life they knew.  Religion was just the vehicle these men chose to use as cover.

During the evolution of Catholicism, women were always seen as a threat to the male dominated religious leadership.  Women were not allowed to participate in the clergy so as to keep them in powerless roles.  Women were not allowed control of their bodies by the Church; and dogma stated that women must always subserve themselves to their husbands. Once again, religion was just the vehicle men chose to use as cover.

Maybe religion was just seen as less abhorrent than power grabbing to the world's population.

Current Times

Today, nothing is different. China uses forced sterilization, forced abortions, forced implants, forced marriages and even death is used to control women and remove the threat of power.  In the middle east, women are raped, killed, forced into marriages, and forced to convert to Islam.  The Islamic religion, as some now see it, is not good or helpful for women at all.  Women under Islam are less than property. This is all about power.

In Africa, women are raped, sold, enslaved, tortured, forced to live with female genital mutilation.  They also are considered forms of currency and they are the possession of the dominant male in their family. This is a way to enforce and keep their power over the women in their lives.

Now, in the United States, women once had some rights to the control over their bodies but the Supreme Court decided to end that right.  There has also been some talk about rescinding the woman's right to vote.  This also is all about power.  We have old, white men in power and they fear the power that women have to disrupt the status quo.

None of this has anything to do with religion or religious freedom.  If things continue as they are now, there will be no such thing available for women. This is all about POWER and the ability to enslave women and bend them to their beliefs and rules.

When I went to college, I enrolled in a Women's Studies course (this was in 1988) and in my Women in Literature class, we were to read a book about women's rights and write a paper on it.  I read A Handmaid's Tale  by Margaret Atwood.  This book scared the pants off of me because I truly believed that it was a foretelling of the future for women. 

If you have seen the Hulu version only, you have missed some of the most egregious parts of the book.  But, still, if you saw at least the first few episodes, you understand why I was so moved and afraid.  Tell me, now that we are seeing this come to pass, was I wrong?  

I don't think so.  I can only hope that the youth of our nation wake up and see that they are in danger.  The youth movements of the 60s changed laws and if the youth of today could also form together, I think they could wield the same power.  I can only hope for the best.  My time has passed and no matter what happens, it probably won't affect me, but it will affect my daughters.  

                            (AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES)

 Some articles to check out if this interests you:

https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2016/mar/01/commentary-the-religious-war-on-women-2/

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2022/05/03/nothing-christian-about-war-on-womens-reproductive-rights.html

https://bigthink.com/articles/the-religious-war-on-women-continues/

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2023-03-08/the-link-between-religicide-and-violence-against-women

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/feb/28/laura-bates-witch-hunts-never-stopped-now-theyre-online

Artificial Intelligence, Anyone?

 As a blogger, I was excited to learn about AI and the advent of ChatGPT.  It seemed that was all you heard about online.  Everyone jumped on the bandwagon, and to be honest, I checked it out myself.

I found ChatGPT very useful but a bit limited.  It is unable to access any information after 2021, so you sometimes do not get current or even correct information because of that. 

However, after the big "hooplala" started to fade, it seemed that everyone was getting into the AI ring.  I could easily list about 75-100 new AI tools that are now available for writing, editing videos, text to talk for videos, copywriting, marketing, art, and more.  It seems everyone wants a piece of this pie.

I have used ChatGPT in the past to help me gather information for some of my blog posts, but I rarely just copy and paste the results into my blog.  I usually have to "tweak" it some to fit my niche, or I have to rewrite parts to bring it up to date.  Even with the need to make those changes, it really does help you put out content on a regular basis.

Lately, ChatGPT has been either down or very, very slow. Maybe because they are working on updating it or something.  So I have been trying out some of the other tools available that are also free to use (although they usually have a finite number of times you can access it before they want money). Let me say here that ChatGPT is open source and totally free unless you choose to upgrade it.

Anyway, today I decided to use TailWind's Ghostwriter tool to write this post.  It was really supposed to be about living with a compromised immune system in the post-Covid-19 era.  Since I live with my youngest daughter who underwent a Kidney/Liver transplant 6 years ago and is always going to be on medication to keep her immune system fairly inactive, we still have to be very, very careful in order to keep her healthy.  Hence, the choice of topic for this blog post. 

I know I changed my mind, but I will post for you what I got from using the TailWind Ghostwriting tool so you can see what you get:

The Overlooked Struggle: How Immunocompromised Individuals Are Still Facing Restrictions

As the world slowly begins to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a collective sense of relief and excitement. However, for those who are immunocompromised, the end of restrictions doesn't necessarily equate to a return to normalcy. The reality is that these individuals are still facing numerous challenges and limitations that most of us don't even consider. 

In this article, we will explore the ongoing struggle that immunocompromised individuals are facing, the continued need for caution and public health measures, and the importance of advocating for their rights. 

We will also delve into the specific restrictions these individuals are dealing with and the negative impact it's having on their personal and professional lives. Ultimately, our goal is to increase awareness and empathy for this overlooked struggle and encourage society to take action towards creating more inclusive and accommodating environments.

Need for Continued Caution:

While it's important to acknowledge the progress being made in overcoming the pandemic, we must also recognize that immunocompromised individuals are still at risk. As we move forward, it's crucial to advocate for their rights and create more accommodating environments.,

As the world adjusts to the "new normal," it's important not to forget about the needs of immunocompromised individuals. While many people may see vaccination as the way to move on from the pandemic, it's not that simple for those with weakened immune systems. It's crucial for us to push for more inclusive policies and accommodations for the immunocompromised community.

This starts with amplifying the voices of those who may feel unheard. By advocating for immunocompromised individuals, we can help ensure that their unique needs are taken into consideration when policies are being made. This may include pushing for more remote work and education options, as well as accommodations for medical appointments and treatments. 

We must also work to create more accessible and accommodating public spaces. This may involve mask mandates and social distancing guidelines that take into account the needs of immunocompromised individuals, as well as increased sanitation measures in high-traffic areas.

Overall, advocating for immunocompromised rights isn't just important during the pandemic - it's something that should be a priority in our society. By prioritizing the health and safety of all individuals, we can create a more inclusive world that works for everyone.

The continued restrictions faced:

Despite the initial lift of restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals in some areas, immunocompromised individuals still face a range of limitations due to their increased vulnerability to infections. Many are still advised to stay home, limit contact with others, and avoid crowded areas - all of which can be hugely isolating.

This continued isolation has led to an array of challenges for immunocompromised individuals, including mental health struggles, financial difficulties, and problems with basic tasks such as grocery shopping. Furthermore, the lack of clear guidelines and protections for immunocompromised individuals has resulted in many feeling unsupported and neglected by society.

These ongoing restrictions serve as a reminder that more needs to be done to ensure that those with compromised immune systems are not left behind in the wake of the pandemic. The next section will examine some of the specific problems that isolation creates for these individuals in their personal and professional lives.

Problems that isolation creates at work and at home

Isolation has not only affected the mental and financial aspects of immunocompromised individuals' lives, but it has also caused significant difficulties at work and home. One of the main challenges is the inability to work in a conventional office environment, which has caused job loss or a significant reduction in work hours for many. Working remotely has become the new norm, but not all jobs allow for it, creating unequal opportunities for those who cannot work from home.

Moreover, isolation has made it difficult for immunocompromised individuals to manage their households, especially if they live alone. Simple tasks such as grocery shopping, getting prescriptions filled, and running errands have become a challenge, putting their health at risk if they have to leave their homes. Additionally, they may have to rely on others for help, which can be inconvenient and create feelings of guilt and dependence.

Children of immunocompromised individuals also face difficulties in remote learning and socializing, causing added stress for parents who have to juggle work, homeschooling, and caring for their family's health. The lack of in-person interactions further exacerbates feelings of isolation and loneliness, causing significant mental health issues.

In conclusion, isolation has not only created mental and financial difficulties for immunocompromised individuals but also created problems for them at work and home. Society needs to provide more support and clear guidelines to ensure that they are not neglected or left behind in the wake of the pandemic.,

It's easy to forget that, while most of us have taken steps towards returning to our pre-COVID-19 routines, there are people who still cannot. Immunocompromised individuals have to navigate a world that is not designed with their unique needs and challenges in mind, and it's our responsibility as a society to create a more equitable and accessible environment for everyone. 

We need to continue advocating for their rights, supporting them with resources, and prioritizing public health measures that keep them safe. As we move forward, let's keep in mind that the fight against COVID-19 is not over for everyone, and that we all have a role to play in making sure that everyone can participate fully in society. Let's not forget the words of disability rights activist Judy Heumann, who said, "We must continue to demand that our rights be protected, that our dignity be respected, and that our voices be heard."

Not bad, huh?  This will still need to be "tweaked" if I were to use it as a blog post.  I have to add the images later myself, and that is always a struggle to find the correct image to align with the posts, but so far I have been able to do so.

If AI interests you, there are many, many videos about all the different ones out there now on YouTube.  I can also provide you with a long list of AI tools divided by use/application if you want it.  Just subscribe to my blog and send me message that you want one.

Tik Tok and all the Hullabaloo around it!

 Today's ramblings are courtesy of the internet and all the articles about banning Tik Tok due to possible use by China as a means to spy on Americans and cause undue influence on Americans beliefs and actions.

First, I have Tik Tok on my phone, but rarely use it.  I downloaded it so I could see the shorts that my youngest sends me from Tik Tok.  Otherwise, I am not on the platform. As I stated, my youngest daughter spends almost all of her free time watching Tik Tok videos and claims that she learns interesting and useful things all the time just by watching them. So, I am not on the ban the platform bandwagon as yet.

The US Government has tried before to ban this platform and failed.  I am not really sure that our government has the power to ban an app from existence.  There are still ongoing talks to ban Tik Tok from government phones, which I agree with.  Why do you need a social media platform on a work phone anyway?

This action is quickly being followed by other nations.  The UK and the EU both have enacted bans of Tik Tok on government phones due to the possibility of surveillance and safety of user information. 

Tik Tok is located in Beijing, China and is owned by a private company called ByteDance.  The company denies any sharing of information with the Communist Chinese Government. This company is doing quite a lot to try to show the world that using the platform is safe and secure.

They are moving the customer information servers to other countries; they have engaged with the US Government and are diligently trying to meet their requirements to assure the safety of the platform.  There are, however, still many politicians who fear the company and the possibility of using the stored information about its users for covert intelligence and policy determination, as well as the possibility of making the younger users believe false information that is pro-China and anti-US.  Since the demographic of this platform is mostly teens and young adults, this is not a silly concern.

Overall, this is an issue that is yet to be resolved and is getting major coverage in the news media, so you can't help but see it or read about it, unless you live under a rock.

I am still making up my mind.  I can see both sides of this issue and will wait to make a permanent stand once I see what the Tik Tok Company does to ease the political concerns of our government as well as the other governments.

What do you think about this issue? Have you any thoughts on the matter?  If so, please, let's talk about it.  Leave me a comment and we can begin a conversation (as long as we both can do so civilly).

Now, totally unrelated to this topic, I want to tell you that today is National Panda Day!  Can you think of anything cuter?

  Resources for further reading:

• https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/16/uk-bans-tiktok-on-government-devices-following-us-move.html
• https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/23/eu-commission-bars-employees-from-using-tiktok-citing-security-risks.html
• https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/13/lawmakers-unveil-bipartisan-bill-that-aims-to-ban-tiktok-in-the-us.html
• https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-eu/sharing-an-update-to-our-privacy-policy

With Easter coming upon us, you might enjoy a previous post about my attempts to make Easter decorations for work here.

Ageing--the Good, the Bad, and the Ridiculous

 Recently, I have been thinking more and more about growing older and what exactly that means to me and what I expect for myself.  There was a time when I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 62, when I feared I might die.  I was not ready to throw in the towel at 62.  I had always said I intended to live to 100 because I want to see how the world turns out.  

So, I did what I knew I had to do and I fought cancer.  I had chemotherapy, which was arduous and unpleasant.  I had 33 radiation treatments during which I had to lay on a table with my breasts exposed while strange people walked around behind me. I learned to divorce myself from my body to prevent embarrassment from being so exposed.  I did everything in my power to be healthy again.  I ate right, I got plenty of sleep, I spent time with my family.  Eventually, it all paid off and I beat cancer.

Once you have had cancer, there is a place in your mind that always says, "just wait for the next shoe to drop", so there is a constant tension.  I decided that instead of waiting I would become VERY proactive.  I went on a Keto diet which has had success with keeping cancer at bay.  I began an exercise program and exercised for 1 hour 5 days a week.  I joined a group of people who became my friends and I enjoyed my social activities with them.  I decided I wasn't dead yet, so I would choose to live.

Now here I am, age 72.  I still intend to live to 100.  I still do everything I can to stay healthy.  But, somewhere in my head there has been a shift, or a change of attitude about what it means to me to grow older.

I watch my sister, who is only 3 years older than I am, grow weak and feeble. She has serious memory issues and is frequently incapacitated by illness and requires hospitalization.  This has become her norm.  Is this what I want for myself?  Am I a bad sister for not wanting to be like her?  

We have always been diametrically opposed in our thoughts and actions.  She has been uncaring about her health and just living her life the way it came.  I have always been interested in ways to improve health.  I love exercise and when I found Keto, I began to feel better with that diet.  We have never seen eye to eye on much.  It seems, looking back, that I was more the big sister to her because I spent years taking care of her and her children.

But now I am thinking about how I want to spend the rest of my life.  Do I want to be healthy? Uh, yes! Do I want to be able to be independent? Uh, yes again!! So what do I need to be doing now to accomplish this?

Ageing today is not the same as it was for my mother and father or my grandparents.  There is much scientific investigation into the physical aspects of ageing that show promise in possible slowing down the process or even halting is entirely.  There is much scientific investigation into the psychological aspects of ageing that show promise in alleviating some of the negative effects ageing has on your self-worth.

Our society adores youth.  It has always been a youth oriented society.  Is this a good thing?  I don't know.  I don't see it changing anytime soon, so we must learn as older adults to make our way in a society that demeans and devalues us.  Sad, but true.

Here are a few articles you might enjoy:

• https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/10/adults-control-aging
• https://www.wired.com/brandlab/2018/04/the-future-of-getting-old/
• https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/ss/slideshow-aging-surprises

Boomers get blamed for everything

I was surfing the internet the other day, which I do frequently when I am between projects or just bored.  I ran across an article that interested me and before I knew it, 3 hours were gone and I was "down a rabbit hole".  The article was about how the boomers had ruined everything for the millennials.  Here is the link to that article.  I read the entire article and then sat and gave it serious thought.  Then I searched for other articles on the topic, making sure I got views from various sources and age groups.  I even went to Reddit and Quora to read what they had posted.  

The more I read, the angrier I became.  It isn't that the facts presented were untrue or slanted (much).  Yes, because of our age now, we do possess the most money, power, etc.  The generations that came after us do not have the same base we do and do not have the American drive that we had drilled into our heads.  I did not take umbrage to the facts they presented but rather to the tone and the vitriol expressed by many of the authors.

I feel that putting all of the baby boomers into a neat little package and then condemning the package is morally wrong.  It is just another form of Ageism in my book.  I understand where most of the younger generation is coming from, but the reality is that we inherited the world we live in, just as they will.  Our parents made messes and mistakes that we had to either correct or learn to live with.  

Most of the people in my generation grew up in a family that either struggled or just made it by.  We, as a group, were not this elite, entitled group.  I grew up learning to make things for myself and when I wanted something from a store, I had to wait for a holiday or birthday to maybe get it.  My parents worked really hard and they told me that I would have to do so too.  We were not poor, but we were far from rich.  Both my parents had to work and my sister and I were "latch-key" babies before there was such a term (much to my chagrin because my sister was mean).

It is not our fault that we were the first generation to have access to birth control and as a result had much smaller families.  Our smaller families, in turn, also had small families.  So the result of that one event in our society is that the Boomers continued to be the largest group with all the following groups being much smaller.  Now, we have a generation coming up that may or may not even have families, so our population will just continue to get smaller and smaller which will have a positive effect on the economy, the environment,  and all the other complaints being thrown about.

Here is another article if you care to join me down the "rabbit hole". This is also another article to peruse.

My answer to all this angst is to tell the younger generations to just wait a few more years and we will be mostly gone.  We are losing our generation daily and when we are all gone, you can run the show.