Diary of a Senior Geek
Diary of a Senior Geek

Diary of a Senior Geek

Gary Fisher

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Currently I'm mostly talking about current events and how they are affecting my family, friends, the world, and me. I also talk about my personal philosophy and things I've learned over seven-plus decades, and am still learning. The RSS link for this podcast is https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/1576740.rss If you have an iOS device please add it to the built-in Podcasts app. You have no idea how much it helps. seniorgeek.substack.com

Recent Episodes

Now What?
NOV 22, 2024
Now What?
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit <a href="https://seniorgeek.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_7">seniorgeek.substack.com</a><br/><br/><p>Note: This post is for paid subscribers only, all five of you. Thanks to Greg, Sam, Jim, Stephen and tcnymex. If you want to see the rest of it please become a paid subscriber:</p><p><strong>Music Credits:</strong></p><p><strong>"News Theme" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)</strong><strong>Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License</strong><strong>http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</strong></p><p><strong>and:</strong></p><p><strong>"The Whip (Extended Version)" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)</strong><strong>Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License</strong><strong>http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</strong></p><p>For the last two weeks I’ve been rationing my news intake and watching, reading and listening to a lot of comedy, trying to retain my sanity in a country that appears to be losing its collective mind.</p><p>But I’m enough in touch to know that the unqualified huckster who was elected president two weeks ago has started nominating a veritable clown car full of unqualified white men for his cabinet. <a target="_blank" href="https://seniorgeek.substack.com/p/twelve-years-of-2016-the-podcast?r=3mkriv">I wrote on that last week</a>.</p><p>He’s threatening GOP senators who don’t agree to adjourn for at least 10 days so he can just name whoever he wants with no input from the legislature. The constitutionality of this is suspect, to say the least. Then again, he seems to have at least six members of SCOTUS in his pocket.</p><p>They’ve already ruled that he’s immune from prosecution for anything he does that can be described as an official act, something that completely flabbergasted me.</p><p>Since I originally posted the text version of this column, his nominee for Attorney General (I was planning on calling him AG Butthead) has dropped out and the AG of Florida has been put forward, so the clown car is full of white men with one blond MAGA white woman in there. I hope she’s wearing full armor and carrying a cattle prod.</p><p>Remember:</p><p><p><em>I don’t know, and I doubt you do</em></p></p>
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0 MIN
Twelve Years of 2016 - The Podcast
NOV 16, 2024
Twelve Years of 2016 - The Podcast
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit <a href="https://seniorgeek.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_7">seniorgeek.substack.com</a><br/><br/><p>Note: This podcast is for paid subscribers only. If you want to listen to the whole thing please:</p><p>Here’s what the inside of my brain looks like right now:</p><p>Prequel:</p><p>Since I originally wrote and <a target="_blank" href="https://seniorgeek.substack.com/p/twelve-years-of-2016">published</a> this column last Tuesday, November 12, 2024, our new (old) President-elect has started nominating people for cabinet positions. A few of them make sense, but:</p><p>A Faux Gnus weekend anchor to lead the Department of Defense? </p><p>An accused sex offender and one of the least liked members of the House for Attorney General? </p><p>An inexperienced House member who used to be Vice Chair of the Democratic Party with, shall we say, an unusual view of the world, for Director of National Intelligence?</p><p>A multi-billionaire with no government experience to head up a so-far non-existent Government Efficiency department? I read somewhere today that it should be named the Department of Redundancy Department because we already have the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.gao.gov/">Government Accountability Office</a> for that.</p><p>And finally, so far, a guy from a political dynasty who has some good ideas (reduce chemical additives in our food and improve nutrition in the food schools feed our kids), and some that are completely whacko, i.e. there are no safe and effective vaccines. AND, he has a dead worm in his brain.</p><p>Last week’s election did not go the way I’d hoped, to put it mildly.</p><p>It turns out that, in spite of the fact that I get my news and information from a variety if sources, including some I rarely agree with, I’ve been living in a liberal bubble.</p><p><aside></p><p>I do NOT watch Faux Gnus. </p><p>The folks I watch and listen to still live on Earth One but interpret things differently than I do. People like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.politicspoliticspolitics.com/">Justin Robert Young</a>, who tries to analyse the balls and strikes of the horserace (to mix a metaphor), <a target="_blank" href="https://mightyheaton.com/aboutandrewheaton">Andrew Heaton</a>, who is way more libertarian than I am, but admits that he’s sure he’s wrong about a lot of things, he’s just not sure which things (me too) and <a target="_blank" href="https://congressionaldish.com/about-the-host/">Jennifer Briney</a>, who’s <a target="_blank" href="https://congressionaldish.com/">Congressional Dish</a> podcast digs deep into important legislation passed by the US Congress. Together the three of them have a podcast called “<a target="_blank" href="https://werenotwrong.fireside.fm/">We’re Not Wrong</a>”</p><p></aside></p>
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DOASG Ep099 - I Dissent! - The Podcast
JUL 2, 2024
DOASG Ep099 - I Dissent! - The Podcast
<p></p><p>The notes for this podcast are nearly identical to the newsletter I wrote yesterday, with the addition of this link to the Wikipedia article on “<a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/With_great_power_comes_great_responsibility#Use_in_Spider-Man_media">With great power comes great responsibility</a>.”</p><p>I’ve also embedded related articles at the end.</p><p>As near as I can tell, three of the current members of the Supreme Court of the United States are guilty of perjury during their confirmation hearings before the Senate and another two are guilty of, at the very least, taking bribes.</p><p>We must impeach them. Now. They have illustrated very clearly that they don’t understand how a constitutionals democracy works.</p><p>As I understand it is black letter law in this country that nobody, NOBODY, is above the law.</p><p>This especially applies to the President of the United States. Apparently five members of our current SCOTUS are concerned that a President might be “chilled” from taking action if he feared prosecution once he left office.</p><p>GOOD! Given the extreme power currently held by the Chief Executive in our country, there MUST be consequences if that power is abused.</p><p>Subscribed</p><p>A very conservative former Federal Judge, <a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Michael_Luttig">Michael Luttig</a>, has <a target="_blank" href="https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4750245-luttig-trump-other-presidents-now-above-the-law/#:~:text=Retired%20federal%20judge%20J.%20Michael,powers%20are%20immune%20from%20prosecution.">strongly criticized </a>today’s SCOTUS ruling on presidential immunity.</p><p>In my humble opinion the three most recently appointed justices committed perjury before the U.S.Senate when they assured them that they believed in <a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precedent">stare decisis</a> (established Legal Precedent), then proceeded to overrule Roe v Wade which has been in force for over half a century and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.scotusblog.com/2024/06/supreme-court-strikes-down-chevron-curtailing-power-of-federal-agencies/">Chevron Deference</a>, which has been on the books for more than 4 decades.</p><p>It’s too soon to know what effects the Chevron Deference ruling will have, but the results of overturning Roe are abundantly clear. In many states it is now very dangerous to be a woman of child-bearing age. An ectopic pregnancy or other complication cannot be treated without likely major legal consequences for the woman, her doctor, hospital, and possibly even the person that drove her to the hospital.</p><p>All this in the (as far as I can tell) <a target="_blank" href="https://seniorgeek.substack.com/p/you-do-you">mistaken belief</a> that God doesn't want women to have control over their own bodies.</p><p><p>Thank you for reading Diary of a Senior Geek. This post is public so feel free to share it.</p></p><p>The “exeptions” in some state laws would be laughable if they weren’t so tragic. Often a doctor would need to defend their actions in criminal court if they use medical best practices to treat an ectopic pregnancy or other complication affecting the woman’s health, life and/or fertility.</p><p>But I digress. It is clear to me that at least five of the nine justices on the Supreme Court are not-so-closeted Christian Nationalists who are not ruling constitutional balls and strikes.</p><p>Instead they have their own agendas which are not aligned with our constitutional democratic republic. A couple of them try to mask their true intentions as “originalism”, “textualism” or some such. This is, to use a technical term, b******t.</p><p>There is no way the founders could have envisioned such things as AR-15s, bump stocks, or even hedge funds. Trying to determine how people who had never seen a railroad or an automobile would legislate today is ludicrous.</p><p>These activist justices must be removed, and in some cases prosecuted for using their positions for their own personal enrichment.</p><p>Or, expand the court to dilute their influence. I used to be dead set against that, but I think it’s time for extreme measures.</p><p><strong>In fear for our democracy, I DISSENT!</strong></p><p>Lastly, in the upcoming election, vote for candidates who understand and support democracy and our constitution. If you can’t bring yourself to vote for a Democrat for president, write yourself in, or leave that line blank, then vote for non-MAGA senators, representatives and other down ballot candidates.</p><p>Alright. When I started this column I was PISSED! [could you tell?]</p><p>I feel a little better now.</p><p>If you want to support my efforts and be able to comment you can start a paid subscription 60% off the regular price, <strong>$2 a month or one year or $20 per year.</strong></p><p>Or send me a one-time donation of a dollar (or more) to SeniorGeek49 on <a target="_blank" href="https://venmo.com/u/SeniorGeek49">Venmo</a>.</p><p>You can find me at any one of these places:</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://seniorgeek.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">seniorgeek.substack.com/subscribe</a>
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9 MIN
Diary of a Senior Geek - Ep028 - Remixed
JUN 29, 2024
Diary of a Senior Geek - Ep028 - Remixed
<p><strong>ChatGPT Summary:</strong></p><p>In Episode 28 of Diary of a Senior Geek, Gary reminisces about the early years of his daughter Amanda, affectionately called AJ. He describes the magical moment when he realized she was becoming a little person, mirroring his actions like scratching her nose and tugging her ear. These interactions were a revelation to him, highlighting her growing awareness and individuality.</p><p><p>Diary of a Senior Geek is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></p><p>Gary reflects on the bedtime routines he and his wife Debbie established, starting with reading to Amanda from birth. Despite his initial skepticism, Debbie's dedication to early reading paid off as Amanda developed favorite books and a love for stories. As she grew, bedtime included lullabies and songs, often leading Gary to improvise with campfire songs and Beatles tunes. The reading tradition continued until Amanda was about 14, ending naturally without a specific decision.</p><p><p>Thank you for reading Diary of a Senior Geek. This post is public so feel free to share it.</p></p><p>Gary also shares fond memories of their outdoor adventures, exploring parks guided by a Thomas's Guide, and enjoying frozen yogurt together. He humorously recounts how Amanda's first taste of chocolate yogurt led to her becoming a lifelong chocoholic. The episode concludes with reflections on his grandfathers and a thoughtful analysis of the Beatitudes, emphasizing the value of living an ethical life despite societal challenges.</p><p><strong>Music Credit:</strong>[Looped]</p><p><em>Be Chillin’</em></p><p>By Alexander Nakarada </p><p>A lovely piece of music🎻</p><p>that is not copyrighted🔓</p><p>so you can use it as background music💡</p><p>for your videos🎥</p><p>without any restrictions✌.</p><p>💗Visit my channel for more: 🌼</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCteqIJCFipjrHvUwI9jIPMg">   / @nocopyrightbackgroundmusic5596  </a> 👉</p><p>If you want to support my efforts and be able to comment you can start a paid subscription 60% off the regular price, <strong>$2 a month or one year or $20 per year.</strong></p><p>Or send me a one-time donation of a dollar (or more) to SeniorGeek49 on <a target="_blank" href="https://venmo.com/u/SeniorGeek49">Venmo</a>.</p><p>You can find me at any one of these places:</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://seniorgeek.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">seniorgeek.substack.com/subscribe</a>
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16 MIN
DOASG Ep 27 (Sort of) - Cutting the Cord
JUN 23, 2024
DOASG Ep 27 (Sort of) - Cutting the Cord
<p>For some reason between last week and today ChatGPT and Copilot have started getting snippy about summarizing text. That’s OK, I can summarize myself:</p><p>In November of 2019, in Episode 27 I talked about our journey to cut the cord to our Cable TV company and start using streaming services instead.</p><p><p>Diary of a Senior Geek is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></p><p>This episode didn’t age well, so I’ve recorded new audio detailing our current streaming experiences.</p><p><p>Thank you for reading Diary of a Senior Geek. This post is public so feel free to share it.</p></p><p><strong>Music Credit:</strong></p><p>´Inventing Flight” </p><p>Written by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.paypal.me/BryanTeoh">Bryan Teoh</a>. Delightful, pleasant, grand, discovery or NatGeo.</p><p>This music is available for commercial and non-commercial purposes.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://wiki.creativecommons.org/wiki/CC0">CC0 - Creative Commons</a></p><p>If you want to support my efforts and be able to comment you can start a paid subscription 60% off the regular price, <strong>$2 a month or one year or $20 per year.</strong></p><p>Or send me a one-time donation of a dollar (or more) to SeniorGeek49 on <a target="_blank" href="https://venmo.com/u/SeniorGeek49">Venmo</a>.</p><p>You can find me at any one of these places:</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://seniorgeek.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">seniorgeek.substack.com/subscribe</a>
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6 MIN