HETTY

Category: Biographies

  • 1997!

    If you could relive one year of your life, which one would it be?

    So I have been thinking about my past, and there has been years I don’t want to do over again, but there were bright spots in those years. Otherwise, I probably wouldn’t be alive to be answer this prompt. 1985, 1991, 2009, 2015, and 2020. 2020 should be obvious why it was a bad year, although I did take a 12 day fun trip to Las Vegas and I didn’t get COVID.

    There are years I do want to relive, even though work stress and lack of a romantic relationship were common themes. 1994, 2008, 2012, 2017, and last year were good years relatively. There was still crappy moments, but enough was going on where I could cope well enough. I did have relationships and was in a better mood.

    I think I should single out 1997 though. I was 23-24 years old, was in the United States Air Force, and was stationed in the United Kingdom for over 2 years. Some Americans are lucky to be able to afford to spend a week vacation in the UK, but I was very lucky to be in the country long enough to go to London several times. And from 1996 to 1998 was one of the best times to be in the UK and London. And I was young enough to enjoy it.

    London is one of the best cities for nightlife, and I was able to go to London once or twice a month for the weekends. BritPop, UK Speed Garage, and French House music were popular in the country at the time. I went to dance clubs and concert venues to see the local acts. Not huge international performers, but big enough bands and performers that played on BBC Radio regularly. Most times I went alone, but other times with coworkers and I had fun.
    I did see some of the famous landmarks while in London. I wish that I had a better camera back then to be able to take photos, but at least I saw Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London, and the Riverwalk near Thames. London as a city has one of the richest cultures and histories.

    I drank the local pints at pubs, and I got into Stout beers like Guinness and Beamish. I still like those beers, and I have them when they are available, and I can afford them. Maybe it’s not a good thing to have been drinking more heavily, but don’t regret it.

    More importantly, I had friends. Most of the friends I did have were military and civilian coworkers at the dining hall I mostly worked at on base. But we worked well together, and we would hang out at times after work. Sometimes to rent videos to watch together, or play video games. Austin Powers was released around that time, and we enjoyed that and even understood some of the references specific to British culture.
    It’s strange that I mostly hanged out with women, but they were good people.

    Oh, it gets better! Cuz I also had temporary duty in other countries like Denmark and Spain. The deployments were mostly NATO training exercises for one or two weeks, but I appreciated going to other countries that I probably wouldn’t be able to afford to go to otherwise.

    So last year, I had a layover at a London airport after spending over 3 months in Tirana Albania. It was for 8 hours, and I was very tempted skip the next flight to spend 3 days there to enjoy the nightlife and see how the country changed over 30 years. I decided against it cuz of cost, but I hope to be able to afford to go to London again. Even if it’s for 2 days or so.

  • I Watch Less TV and Cable Now.

    I Watch Less TV and Cable Now.

    What’s something you do completely differently from how you were raised?

    This is probably the biggest difference in my life now. Growing up in the 70s and 80s, I lived in a 2 television household. One TV was a smaller portable black and white television that I often watched in the kitchen or in my bedroom with my 2 brothers. The other color television stayed in the living room. It was too heavy for my brothers and I to carry it. Indeed, the television likely required 2 people to carry the television, or one very fit person with a strong back.

    So growing up, I watched a lot of TV shows and sometimes syndicated movies on broadcast networks. I saw some of the classic series over the years, and then some shows that may last one or 2 seasons.

    My family also invested in premium cable television and later a VCR device and video game consoles. Atari, HBO, and a Nintendo console. Even more time in front of the television. Probably a good fraction of my life was in front of the TV watching some of the theatrical movies, some made for cable series, playing the early more primitive video games. I was entertained enough back then.

    I still love some shows, like I’m still a big Simpsons fan. But over the past 10 years, I started to drift away from watching so much television.

    Maybe streaming services have a lot to do with that, having a laptop and smartphone changed my viewing habits even more. I replaced one screen for another.

    I don’t know exactly why my viewing habits changed. I think I became wiser and more experienced, and became more familiar with the tropes and cliches of TV series. Like I can’t really tolerate laugh tracks on sitcoms any more, cuz some of the jokes on shows aren’t that funny. Other times, television shows like dramas reference real life events, such as real life crimes. I can read about the unsanitized real life events online instead.

    But also maybe I spent too many days coming home from work or school, and ended up watching television or playing video games alone for hours. Not always, cuz I will still watch television with others, but it’s often sport games or a show or movie I’m not that invested in. I think my attention span dwindled over time. I have other interests now.

    So TL;DR version. I grew up in a 2 TV set household watching a lot of television and I eventually drifted away from that to the point where I barely watch any TV or cable programs. I’ll read online articles, go on social media, or play more simple video games on my smartphone.

  • A Lucky Find (Part 2)

    A Lucky Find (Part 2)

    What’s the best thing you’ve ever found randomly on the street?

    Sometimes I find money in the street, but it doesn’t happen as often as I’d like. I already wrote an essay/ short story about a time I found 50$ decades ago and was able to afford to go to a state fair. But there’s been other incidents where I was lucky and found money.

    Around 2011, I was working a different part time job as a dishwasher and still struggling (I was fired from that telemarketing pledge job in 2004 after 3 months), I was riding my bicycle at night from work  and again found money. This time 30$ laying in the grass. A 20$ and a 10$ , not in a wallet. Again, I picked it up cuz I desperately needed it. I spent that 30$ on food and the cheapest brand of cigarettes I could get. I was grateful at the time.

    But another incident was when I was more stable living on disability pensions and took a solo trip to Las Vegas. I was more comfortable, and had more leeway with my spending. It was my second time in Las Vegas, and I went in 2020 during the COVID pandemic.

    I actually didn’t gamble much during my 2 trips to Las Vegas. Maybe 125$ total, but between the 2 trips I won over 400$ playing penny slots. I take risks, but relatively low risks. I was grateful to have won money at all.

    Anyways, I was walking back from a convenience store, and saw a small object shining in the sun. Curious, I stopped and looked closer. It appears to be a coin of some type in a small transparent plastic case. I picked it up. It looked like a small gold bullion with an imprinted buffalo and some printing. Huh.

    It took me a month of online research to find out what it was. It’s not solid or 24 carat gold, but rather a gold plated copper bullion. Not much gold, not worth much money. Maybe worth 6 or 7$. It contains roughly 5 milligrams of 24 carat gold.

    I still have it, cuz it’s not really worth much. However, if I get really desperate again, I could try to sell it. It did take me a month of online research to identify the coin and it’s actual value. If I was desperate enough to be shady, and could find a specific kind of buyer……..🤔

  • My Talk Therapist Pulled Through

    What’s the kindest thing someone has ever done for you?

    I really had to think about this prompt, cuz acts of kindness towards me seem to be rare, or at least hard to recall outside of my own family. But I’m a disabled US veteran, and I needed help back in 2011. I was able to get it at a VA hospital thanks to the medical staff.

    So back in 2011, I was in bad shape, but I didn’t want to admit it. I wanted to “pull myself by my own bootstraps” even though I was underemployed, had student loan debt I was afraid that I couldn’t repay without great difficulty, had and currently have severe depression and a good level of anxiety.

    I smoke heavily, toked and drank with what little money I had. I had to be hospitalized for mental health issues once before, and I didn’t want to be hospitalized again. I’ll figure it out, I thought, even though I was homeless again. I couldn’t make rent for a studio apartment.

    I ended up at a veterans group home, and I started to see a psychologist I’ll call Dr. Sandra. Her first name, but I’ll withhold her last name. A blonde middle aged woman. Over time, I would talk through my problems. I had a lot. I sometimes was harassed and bullied at work and school. I had deaths in the family. I struggled to find and keep jobs, after my time in the service. I have physical, psychological, and it later turned out neurological disabilities.

    I found out that I’m neurodiverse, but the medical staff didn’t notice it until I gradually noticed patterns, did some reading, and brought it up to the doctors. After group therapy sessions and medical tests, it turns out that I had several diagnoses, including hearing impairment and a type of autism.

    Anyways, Dr. Sandra encouraged me to file for disability benefits, she listened to what I had to say and offered advice to problems I had, and she taught group sessions with other veterans that gave better life skills than what I had before. I had to file a appeals claim after my disability case was denied the first time, and she wrote a letter to social security administration listing the various disabilities I’ve had, and why I can’t work full time anymore.

    I was approved for disability pensions. A modest income, but it is more than my income during my working life. Yes, even more than when I was active duty. I’m grateful that I met Dr. Sandra, and she gave me help and a listening ear for when I needed it.

    Do I still have problems and worries? Oh yes. But I’m able to cope better, I volunteer, donate, and help people when I can, and I have better problem solving abilities than before. And I have changed over time. I’m not as passive as I tried to be before, but I have learned that it’s ok to walk away if some issue is stressing me out. It’s ok to quit a job or school due to stress, end a toxic relationship, and failure can make one think of alternatives if something isn’t working out.

    I also read some books that Dr. Sandra recommended, and I got into the current version of the BBC show Sherlock because she is a fan. Which I actually liked.

    I have a better life now, thanks to the medical staff at the Veterans Administration hospital and Dr. Sandra.

  • Retirement

    If the salary was the same, what job would you be doing right now and why?

    Retirement. Why work if you don’t have to? You can do what you want. Sleep 14 hours a day even. There’s gonna be more automation in the future, so it’s gonna be harder to find good paying jobs.

    However, if I had to work, I’d choose sex worker. Legalized and decriminalized, of course. And women only. That’s a sweet deal.

  • The Dead Artist Club: 11 Iconic Artists

    The Dead Artist Club: 11 Iconic Artists

    “The Dead Artist Club” is a playful or informal term sometimes used to refer to famous artists who have passed away but whose work continues to inspire and influence the art world. Here’s a list of some iconic members of this “club”:

    – **Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519)** – Renaissance master known for the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.

    – **Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890)** – Post-Impressionist known for Starry Night and his vibrant use of color.

    – **Frida Kahlo (1907–1954)** – Mexican painter celebrated for her powerful self-portraits and exploration of identity.

    – **Pablo Picasso (1881–1973)** – Cubist pioneer and prolific artist with works like Guernica and Les Demoiselles d’Avignon.

    – **Claude Monet (1840–1926)** – Founder of Impressionism, famous for his water lilies and light-filled landscapes.

    – **Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475–1564)** – Sculptor, painter, and architect best known for the Sistine Chapel ceiling and David.

    – **Edgar Degas (1834–1917)** – Impressionist painter renowned for his depictions of dancers and everyday life.

    – **Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669)** – Dutch master celebrated for his portraits and use of chiaroscuro (light and shadow).

    – **Salvador Dalí (1904–1989)** – Surrealist icon famous for dreamlike, bizarre imagery such as The Persistence of Memory.

    – ** Jackson Pollock (1912–1956): Abstract expressionist known for his drip paintings.

    – **Georgia O’Keeffe (1887–1986): American modernist painter known for her large-scale flower paintings and depictions of the Southwest.

    These artists, though no longer with us, have left an indelible mark on the art world and continue to inspire countless creatives today.

  • Super Mario World

    Which fictional world would be the most fun to vacation in?

    There were good reasons why I played those Super Mario games so often growing up. They helped me cope with the pressures of school and/or work, the loss of a parent, and the existential pains of puberty.

    I saw the 90s live action movie version of Super Mario brothers, and I still think it’s terrible. I was like, what the hell is this? I saw it once, and never again. Even some of the cast thought the movie was shitty.  No, I would never want to live in such a world.

    However, I saw the CGI version of Super Mario, and that was a much better movie. The creators got the tone and visuals right, and it was a fun movie. The Nostalgia was there.

    I’ll get around to seeing the sequel eventually (streaming most likely), but yes it’s a fun, colorful, and quirky world, with a more cartoonish and simple version of good vs evil.

    Plus, there’s magic mushrooms with special powers, Tanooki suits that are capable of flight, and dinosaurs still exist.

    “Hedonism World” doesn’t exist in fiction, as far as I know, so I’ll take the fun, thrills, and joy of Super Mario World as a vacation location.

  • Shy and introverted celebrities

    Shy and introverted celebrities

    Here’s a list of celebrities known for their shy or introverted nature, focusing primarily on current public figures:

    – **Billie Eilish** – The singer-songwriter has spoken openly about her introverted personality and preference for privacy.

    – **Ariana Grande** – Often described as introverted and selective about social interactions.

    – **Daniel Radcliffe** – The “Harry Potter” star has shared how he’s naturally introverted and values quiet time.

    – ** Kristen Stewart** – Known for her reserved and introspective demeanor in public.

    – **Keanu Reeves** – Famously low-key and private, often described as shy and humble.

    – **Lady Gaga** – Despite her bold stage persona, she has spoken about her introverted side.

    – **Ryan Gosling** – Recognized for being more reserved and private compared to many of his peers.

    – **Emma Stone** – Has spoken openly about her shyness and social anxiety.

    – **Adele** – Known for being reserved and private outside of her music career.

    – **Maggie Rogers** – The singer-songwriter identifies as an introvert and has discussed how it influences her music.

    – **Johnny Depp** – Though very famous, he is often described as shy and introspective offstage.

    – **Jennifer Lawrence** – Has talked about being shy and awkward in social situations.

    – **Robert Pattinson** – Prefers to keep his personal life private and is known for being introspective.

    – **Taylor Swift** – Identifies as introverted and has spoken about needing time alone to recharge.

    -** Lorde**: Identifies as introverted and prefers solitude.

    **Notable Figures from the Past:**

    – **Audrey Hepburn** – Known for her grace and quiet personality off-camera.

    – **Albert Einstein** – Often described as introverted and thoughtful.

    – **J.D. Salinger** – Famous for his reclusive lifestyle.

    – **Billie Holiday** – The legendary jazz singer was known to be introverted and struggled with stage fright.

    – **Emily Dickinson** – The poet lived a very private and introverted life.

    – **Bill Withers**- Known for his quiet and private lifestyle.

    – **Harper Lee**- The author of “To Kill a Mockingbird” was famously private and introverted.

    These celebrities demonstrate that shyness and introversion can coexist with public success and creativity.

  • Ooo, Me, Me!

    What’s a thing you were completely obsessed with as a kid?

    Hey, I’ll answer. Since it turns out that I have an autistic spectrum disorder, yes I developed obsessions, especially as a kid.

    I grew up in 1980s, with it’s several classic science fiction movies that are now a part of pop culture, I developed an obsession with robots and future tech. It got to the point where I wanted to work in the robotics field, most likely as a technician.

    The bad news is that I never worked in that field, although I do have an IT related degree. The good news is I have a robotics hobby, and I sometimes come up with interesting designs.

    I became obsessed with Leonardo Da Vinci as a kid. I know quite a bit about his life, art, and his dabbling in architecture and engineering. That’s something I mostly kept to myself over the years, but I was able to visit the Leonardo Da Vinci Science and Technology Museum in Milan recently.

    I liked some of the 80s music, and even some of the current music I listen to has that 80s influence, or samples music from the 1980s. Michael Jackson, Prince, The Gap Band, Alexander O’Neal, and so on.

    I had a healthy obsession (maybe unhealthy, since it affected my grades) with video games in the 1980s, I had video game consoles over the years, and I would argue that playing video games helped me survive a rough childhood. I since cooled down from playing video games, at least until a Holodeck technology becomes real.

    I had numerous Transformers toys (again robots), and I was obsessed with the supernatural and paranormal. Yes, I read about aliens and UFOs, ghosts, the cryptids like the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot. I later became a skeptic and atheist. Funny how that turned out.

    On the bad side, I had an obsession with infectious diseases like Rabies and then HIV. I had a phase where I was washing my hands several times a day because of anxiety of getting sick. I outgrown that phase though.

    I’m happy to say that I don’t have either disease, as far as I know. I suppose I got more educated about viruses because I was afraid of getting sick with such diseases. I never got COVID, and in fact helped in a small way in the creation of the mRNA vaccines.

    So obsessions can be a good thing, if channeled properly.

  • Free from pain and fear, money no obstacle

    If you had to describe your ideal life, what would it look like?

    I think the title is self explantory, but I will elaborate. I wish that I could have an easier life than I do now. I still worry about making ends meet month to month, although I’m more comfortable than I have been before. And I live with a fair amount of anxiety and fear, especially about my health and the future. My ideal life would be to be able to do whatever I wanted (within reason), and I wouldn’t be afraid of the consequences. Like loss, harm, or failure.

    Like before I started my HETTY blog, I had an idea for a certain style of cookbook. It was gonna be postmodern, but I’m afraid of saying more than that vague description. But I have no connections in the publishing industry, there’s already a lot of cookbooks published, and maybe the specific style I wanted to write the cookbook in wouldn’t land with the public, and it would later end up in the bargain bin. So after some thought, early efforts, and worry, I didn’t write anything substantial.

    If I was more secure financially and socially, I would have probably written the cookbook, without the fear of failure. I would be willing to take more risks.

    There’s also been times where I have been too timid to ask certain women out on dates throughout my life. Again, the fear of failure and possibly of harm. Also times where I was afraid of speaking up when it could be required. Cuz I’m sometimes afraid of saying the wrong thing at inappropriate moments. So I clam up more often than not.

    So that ideal life remains a fantasy so far. I still have ideas and aspirations, so maybe I can luck out someday and get to a place where I can take more reasonable risks. But I would like to be free from pain, fear, and be more financially comfortable.

  • I have various hobbies and interests

    How do you unwind after a demanding day?

    I’m pretty much retired now due to various health issues, so I have much more free time than the average person. So yes, I have various hobbies and interests.

    Many ways I unwind can be found online. I’m one of those chronically online people, but I watch videos (yes, even those ones), read the news and various articles, listen to music, sound washes and colored noise therapy. Brown, green, and white noises work the best for me, plus variations.

    I watch movies, comedy bits and shows, play video games. I cook or prepare my preferred comfort foods, which tend to be the fattening foods. Tacos, Pizza, Burgers, various stir fries, and so on.

    I have time for other hobbies. I go fishing at times, although I’m not very good at it. I fly drones, which I am pretty good at. I play musical instruments, which I’m not good at. I have that robot hobby, and sometimes I dabble in amateur engineering and small electronics.

    I don’t have many friends, but sometimes I text them or family.

    If it’s a really long or bad day, I’ll try to nap or sleep. I have sleep conditions though, including insomnia.

    I’m dabbling in AI generated images, writing and videos. I’m warming up to it, but mainly because it’s not going away anytime soon, and I want to prepare for a future where AI is more prevalent. It just may even lead to a job or increased income in the future.

    There, I think that about covers it.

  • I’m already writing for free!

    What job would you do for free?

    It’s true. I’m trying to monetize my WordPress blog, which I started in October 2025. I planned on relying on donations for my writing, which mostly focuses on poverty relief. How much have I made so far for the articles I posted? Zero!

    I’ll admit that I used AI generated content for some of the articles I posted. I just wrote the prompts, edited the generated content as needed, and copy and pasted the articles to my blog space. But some articles I wrote myself.

    I’m in fact losing some money from paying for Blaze advertising at times, paying for the WordPress domain, and then paid for the AI writing app. I also at times spend money to make certain recipes or go to events, and then write about them later.

    I also admit that I have the financial means to support myself now so I can write about different subjects. But my experience so far with blog writing has been discouraging, if I focus more on earning a living from writing.

    I recently read a social media post about someone else who tried and failed to make money online. It can be very hard, almost impossible if someone can’t invest massively in advertising or a lucrative service and/or product.

    Anyways, as far as jobs I would do for free that exist in real life, that are worth the stress and investment of time and effort? Not many. Maybe a club DJ, an astronaut, or a male porn star. The fringe benefits have to be worth it. Which of those 3 are more likely to happen in my lifetime though?

  • I Learned Better Outside of School.

    I Learned Better Outside of School.

    Who was your most influential teacher? Why?

    I struggle to recall the names of any of my prior teachers, and I had many of course. I went to public school, and I can only remember Ms. Lloyd-Jones, my kindergarten teacher. I think I only remember her name because it was hyphenated.

    I admit that I was barely above average as a student, but I learned better outside of school. And I have an unconventional education. Years of public school, a military apprenticeship mostly learning cooking, an associate’s degree in Computer Information Systems (not financially lucrative yet), and I dropped out of getting a bachelor’s degree in Technical Writing, but I only had a year left in getting one.

    I remember Jean-Claude, the French Chef who had a gentle way of teaching military cooks to improve on cooking methods. He was a mentor and supervisor, but I didn’t know him well. He had advice that I still remember.

    But I would say Leonardo (Da Vinci) was my best overall teacher, even though he lived centuries ago. He was more than an artist, from what I read of him. He worked in different fields, and for some reason I find him fascinating. Mainly for his designs of flying machines, anatomy drawing, and mechanical devices. I saw how gears, ropes, frames, and pulleys worked together for a certain purpose.

    I think I’m a dreamer like he was, and it’s only in recent years I’ve been dabbling in different fields like video generation, robotics, AI generated projects, music, experimenting with food recipes, painting, and writing. My blog counts.

    The most influential Leonardo quote I remember? “It’s not enough to know. We must also do.”

    I was able to visit the Leonardo Da Vinci Science and Technology Museum in Milan earlier this month, and I mostly went to take photos and absorb info so I can be inspired to make my own inventions and designs. Yes, I have some ideas I want to work on. Let’s see if I can succeed.

  • There’s 2 Versions of Compliments

    What was the best compliment you’ve received?

    There’s 2 versions of compliments I’ve gotten. One is a “clean” version, and then there is a more inappropriate compliment. But both were from women I knew.

    The “clean” version of a compliment I’ve received, that I actually took to heart, is a female coworker called me creative. I was in the Air Force then working at a fitness center, and I have more of an Arty/Nerdy vibe. I believe the young woman was of a junior rank and is Hispanic. She was hanging out at the fitness center cuz her boyfriend at the time worked there, and we were chatting about different things, and she called me more of a creative type without me mentioning that I’m like that. I talk about music, movies, video games, TV shows, pop culture in general often, and I’m a fan of comedy. So I appreciated the compliment.

    I’ve been called a good person before, but I never think I’m good enough. And I am flawed and a constant work in progress (I can’t always help others, as an example.)

    The more inappropriate version of a compliment I’ve gotten was from an ex girlfriend, near fiance. You can probably see where this is going, so maybe some of you more sensitive readers should stop reading by now.

    ———-NSFW and/or NSFL——-

    For those who really want to know, and have their curiosity sated, she said that she had the best sex she ever had with me. And sometimes she would call me handsome and good looking , even though I don’t think I am. And although we broke up, I still think about her, and wish that things went differently than they did.

    I’m thinking about her again. Maybe in time I’ll write about my ex more in detail, cuz it was the most complicated relationship I ever had by far.

  • I’ll take the more affordable option

    I’ll take the more affordable option

    You’re going on a cross-country trip. Airplane, train, bus, car, or bike?

    I have experience with all forms of the listed transportation, but it depends on the country I’m in.

    The US unfortunately doesn’t have a good train network compared to Europe, but if it’s more affordable and accessible to take the train, I’ll do it. I will take flights to different cities if there are no train routes there.

    Buses I will take only for shorter distances, say no more than 100 miles one way. I once took a longer round trip from Little Rock to Chicago by bus, and I found the experience unpleasant. Every single bus there and back was late, sometimes by over an hour. The rest stops were too brief, and sometimes the buses would be stuck in traffic congestion. I got too stressed, so no more of that.

    A round trip by Amtrak from Little Rock to Milwaukee was more of a pleasant experience. I’d recommend trips by train whenever possible, even though it can take almost a day to travel one way.

    If I’m not rushed to go to a specific city or destination, I’ll take the scenic route by train. A flight otherwise, and then a bus is my last option. Bikes and cars only for shorter trips of no more than 5 miles, if I can help it.

  • The Nerd List

    What movies or TV series have you watched more than 5 times?

    Oh, I got a list alright. Prepare yourself for the Nerd List:

    The Simpsons

    Scooby Doo

    Alien

    Aliens

    Star Wars (all of non Disney movies except for Rogue One)

    Predator

    The Lord of the Rings

    The Indiana Jones original trilogy

    Anchorman

    Beetlejuice

    Terminator 1 and 2

    The Matrix

    Airplane!

    The Thing

    Halloween

    Dawn of the Dead

    Pee Wee’s Big Adventure

    Seinfeld

    Family Guy

    Goodfellas

    Forrest Gump

    The Exorcist

    Fright Night

    The 40 Year Old Virgin

    Fargo

    The Big Lebowski

    Silence of the Lambs

    The Cosby Show

    American Werewolf in London

    Edward Scissorhands

    There’s probably more movies and shows I forgot to list, but these are the main ones. Note that there isn’t many indie movies or art films among the list. Some foreign films I only saw once.

  • HL Mencken: 14 Great Quotes

    HL Mencken: 14 Great Quotes

    Henry Louis Mencken (1880-1956) was one of the greatest journalists, essayists, and cultural cititics of the 20th Century. Here are some of the best quotes by H.L. Mencken, along with their sources:

    1. **”For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.”***Source:* Often attributed to Mencken; appears in various writings but exact origin is uncertain.

    2. **”The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out for himself.”***Source:* *The American Mercury*, 1926.

    3. **”Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.”***Source:* *Notes on Democracy*, 1926.

    4. **”Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.”***Source:* Attributed in various works; exact source uncertain but reflects Mencken’s critiques of morality.

    5. **”No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.”***Source:* *The American Mercury*, 1920s.

    6. **”Nobody ever lost a dollar by underestimating the taste of the American public.”***Source:* Similar in theme to above; from Mencken’s critiques of popular culture.

    7. **”The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.”***Source:* *In Defense of Women*, 1918.

    8. **”On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”***Source:* *The American Mercury*, 1920.

    9. **”The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule it.”***Source:* From Mencken’s commentary on social movements, particularly in *The American Mercury*.

    10. **”In every man under thirty there is a lawless anarchist, and in every man over thirty there is a conformist coward.”***Source:* From Mencken’s *A Mencken Chrestomathy* (1949).

    11. “An idealist is a person who helps other people to be prosperous.”— Source: From Mencken’s writings on social criticism and human nature.

    12. **”It is the dull man who is always sure, and the sure man who is always dull.”***Source:* From *The American Mercury*, December 1925.

    13. **”The education of a man is never completed until he dies.”***Source:* Paraphrased from Mencken’s writings on education and lifelong learning.

    14. **”Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under.”***Source:* From *The American Mercury*, 1925.

    These quotes showcase Mencken’s sharp wit and often cynical view of politics, society, and human nature. For full context, many are found in his essays and articles published primarily in *The American Mercury* magazine during the 1920s.

  • Carry the Bear Spray Around Me

    Which animal would you compare yourself to and why?

    The bear comes easy as an answer, and I guess I’m more like a black bear than a brown or polar bear, or any of the other species. Let me explain the ways:

    I’m fairly big and hairy, with dark fur. I can eat a lot, and I gained some weight for the winter. I’ll try to lose it in coming months. I tend to be less active and sleep more during the winters, almost like a state of torpor hibernation.

    I’m fairly docile and sometimes even timid, except when I’m not. I will flee threats in most cases, but I will fight back if cornered or to protect the ones I care about.

    What else? I tend to be picky about what I eat, but I like tasty high fat, sugary, and salty foods. I can eat a whole lot of berries. I’m not much of a runner, but I can sprint at times.

    I lived in (man) caves, and often alone (not always).

    So I’m somewhat cuddly and somewhat deadly. LOOK OUT!🐻

  • York The Dork

    What is your middle name? Does it carry any special meaning/significance?

    York is my middle name, and it was my father’s first name. I think one of my nephews also has that middle name.

    The name is ancient, and it evolved from the Brittonic Celtic word Eboracon, which I read means Yew Tree Place. It has British and Norse origins. Of course, there’s modern cities with either York as a full name or part of the name. British-American usage in the modern world.

    My first name means a channel of water, my middle name means an area of a bunch of trees, and my last name comes from one of the main disciples of The Nazarene. Maybe it has some significance, but I doubt my parents put that much thought into my full name.

    So yes, I probably have some British and Scandinavian ancestry, base on ancestry research I’ve done on my dad’s side of the family. But York is an unusual name in modern times. I sometimes make jokes about my middle name or middle initial.

    I had no idea how Eburācon became Eboracum, then Eoforwīc, then Jórvík, and finally York. They don’t even have much similarity, and I never encountered those specific words before.

    Yes, I had to use the internet to research the origin of my second name: A place of Yew Trees. What the hell is that?!

  • The Night Door

    What is the last thing you learned?

    I’m currently staying in a hotel in another country, and it seems at night the front entrance is locked for security reasons. My first night here, I was trying to go outside to vape at 10pm, but the door can’t open. There is an button near it, so I press it. The door is still locked; I can’t open it still.

    There’s a woman at reception, telling me something in a language I can’t hear or understand much of. I wear hearing aids due to moderate to severe hearing loss, but I didn’t have them in cuz I just wanted to vape outside and I take the hearing aids out when they get uncomfortable after awhile, or I turn in for the night.

    After some time of me being puzzled, the woman walks to the front door, presses the button and opens the door at the same time. Oh, thank you! I say in the language I have limited knowledge of.

    I learned at least one thing, technically 3. One thing is that I learned how to open that hotel entrance door by pressing that electronic button and opening the door at the same time, that specific method. The other thing is that I should wear my hearing aids any time I expect to be around any other people, cuz I never know when I’m gonna have to hear or speak to other people, and the last thing is I need to learn more of that language I took 2 high school courses and having a basic proficiency in decades ago.

    I’m vague about where I am cuz of the interesting times we live in.

  • “Do you have any money you could give me/us?”

    What is one question you hate to be asked? Explain.

    There’s variations of this question, but it’s a common one that happens the most often that irks me. Homeless or needy people asking me for any help I can offer. Advertising, political ads, and fundraisers asking me for buy or give. Sometimes friends or family will ask me to help them out. There’s various other examples.

    I have a limited income, and while it’s enough to support myself, I have to go without certain indulgences. I try to be frugal and yet I can be generous at times

    The problem is, while I can be generous and have a history of volunteering, there’s limits to my generosity. Like, I can give 2$ to a panhandler at times, but I can’t give the person 20$ or more. At least not too often. I definitely can’t buy the person a new home or even a hotel room for the night. And I can’t afford to give 2$ to 20 or more panhandlers in a day. That has happened before when I’m in cities.

    Another example. There is an annual pledge drive from a famous website that I and millions of others use and appreciate. I have donated smaller amounts at times, but I can’t afford to do larger donations every year. I also can’t afford to give to various fundraisers, only maybe one or 2 per year. There’s times when my bank account is close to going negative.

    I have a hard time saying “no”. There’s often a social pressure to say yes and give money to help others, buy certain products or services, or donate to different causes or political parties and candidates. I try to use my own judgement. I buy, donate, or give when I can afford it, but I can’t always afford it.

    So I end up feeling a lament that my generosity isn’t enough, or my income is too meager to make a big difference in someone’s life with my income, buy a more expensive product/service, or to support a cause I wish that I could. I buy/donate/give to a certain point, but if I go over that limit, I go into survival mode and start saying no or declining more often.

    So there’s a struggle in me between altruism and selfishness. It’s partly why keep to myself much of the time, or I have to cut people off if I’m asked to give more.

    The main reason I struggle with my generosity is, if I ever need financial help, I too often can’t find it. I’m lucky to have the income I have now, cuz I know there’s people living with much less.

  • My Robot Hobby

    My Robot Hobby

    Describe the most ambitious DIY project you’ve ever taken on.

    I’m a fairly creative person. I’m not highly creative; I know that there’s people out there who are more so. But I have written certain papers and I’m technically published, cooked different foods, created my own songs, painted and drew over the years, gathered supplies for my own Halloween costumes and makeup, and I’m dabbling in AI generated written articles, images, and videos.

    I also “drew” the first few pages of a comic book that went nowhere when I was a teenager.

    However, I would say that my robot hobby is the most ambitious project I’ve done. Yes, I build kits and sets, although I have tried to make simple designs using a single hobby motor, gears, and hobby supplies like glue, paper clips, plastic lids, and popsicle sticks.

    Robotics is one of my special interests, and I’m proud that I was able to complete 8 robot projects, although I made several more science based mechanisms, and I had some botched projects.

    The most ambitious robot was a black plexiglass Hexapod (six legs). 13 motors, LED lights, an Ultrasonic sensor, and a Arduino clone circuit. It did require programming in C++ and Python.

    That was a difficult project, and while it could move somewhat, and I could make the LED lights turn on, it couldn’t move fully. I was disappointed of what I could do with the Hexapod kit, so I ended up discarding it during a move.

    Robotics is hard, but I’m proud of what I could do with little formal education, and limited resources. I know that there’s robots currently being made that are more advanced and expensive than what I made, but I was able to accomplish things I couldn’t dream about 15 years ago.

    For example, I built a type of robot that I could voice control using an app, and a “Whegged”robot that could crawl on different terrain like grass and rocky terrain. I made a cargo type of treaded robot that could carry lightweight objects like drinks and articles of clothing.

    I’ll keep dreaming and trying new things. Maybe it can lead to something in the future.

  • Tropical Heat🥵

    What is the biggest challenge you will face in the next six months?

    I’m currently in a country with a Mediterranean climate, even though it’s technically winter here. Not too hot, not too cold. It rarely snows here, although a jacket and knit cap may be required during the night time. I dealt with frigid temperatures before, so it’s comfortable enough here.

    However, next month I’m traveling to a country with a tropical climate, and it’s hot and humid almost all year. Near unbearable heat, similar to Miami weather.

    I’ve endured extreme heat and cold before, but that climate is something else.

    I’ve been to the country before last year, and I tried everything to stay cool without access to more expensive air conditioning. Drinking ice water and cold drinks, wearing shorts and t-shirts, swimming and showering several times a day, having a fan close by blowing wind on me, staying in shade, and minimizing my activity outside. Having a frozen water bottle cool me down. Very little relief, still sweating like crazy.

    It got to the point where I was suffering heat stress and developing health issues. So after 3 weeks, I finally gave in and stayed in lodging with regular air conditioning. Finally, some real relief, and my health improved.

    I plan to stay in this country for 6 months, at least! Possibly longer. I don’t like extreme hot or frigid weather, but between the two, I’ll chose the hotter weather. At least I don’t have to deal with the snow and gloom.

    I don’t know how the local people tolerate the climate, but they adapted well enough that they can wear long shirts and pants outside. And here I am from a Midwestern climate, sweating buckets minutes after being outside in shorts and a t-shirt.

    And it could get even hotter in coming years! Yes, a challenge I’ll try to meet. I still like being in the country though, I just complain about the climate. I’ll manage somehow.

  • The World Needs Misfits

    What advice would you give to your teenage self?

    Oh, I would have to make a list of the things I would tell my younger self. But I’ll start with changing the mindset about loneliness. Being alone can be an advantage in some ways , and I developed in such a way that I can tolerate isolation better than others. Maybe not try so hard to make friends and date. It will happen in time with less pressure.

    Save money as much as possible. I fell for the materialistic creed, and thought that I would always be fairly comfortable financially. There were definitely lean times in my life, and there may be more in the future. So try to be more frugal.

    Study engineering in university. I wouldn’t say that I have a talent in engineering, more like a general interest that could have developed further with formal schooling. Maybe I could have worked as in robotics, materials science, or even in artificial intelligence. There’s more opportunities for engineers than the other fields I studied.

    Don’t smoke or toke, no matter how stressed or upset you get. I developed bad habits in my late teens and twenties, mainly cuz I don’t cope with stress well. I didn’t know that those habits would cause more stress and difficulty over time, plus I would be able to save money if I didn’t develop those habits. I didn’t fully understand how a mind could be addicted to substances.

    Read more science and philosophy. I read a lot, but the stuff I was reading as a teenager is different than what I read now. I would recommend Bertrand Russell, Arthur Schopenhaur, Albert Camus, and maybe some other ones, since their works would help me understand the world better, and help me cope with problems I would have throughout my life. I could have developed a different mentality.

    Walk more, and be more creative. I still love music, but I can barely play. I could have developed my music skill more, maybe using studio software. And walking and biking seem to exercise that I can tolerate. Paint, draw, and write, maybe some opportunities would come up.

  • The Curse of being Atypical.

    What bores you?

    So, what bores me? It’s more like what doesn’t bore me. I have been more selective of how I spend my free time.

    Formal education bores me. I went to school for several years, including a technical college and university. Going to lectures, listening to 2 or 3 professors or teaching assistants per day lecture for hours at a time, sometimes reading about subjects that can be tedious. It often took an innovative or charismatic teacher for me to pay attention in class, or I took a course that I have familiarity and interest in.

    Sports bore me. While some people find athletic teams and individuals fascinating, I often don’t. It’s more like I count how many sport injuries can happen during a game or match.

    Many television shows and oftentimes movies can bore me. Television comedies seem to be my go-to, but it has to be very funny for me to keep sustained interest.

    While I used to like movies, I think I saw so many over decades that I can predict plot twists and movie tropes. I maybe see one or 2 movies a year now, and they tend to be the blockbuster type of film. I was bored seeing the second Avatar movie, it was so long.

    I read everyday, but I find books boring now. I don’t think I have the attention span to read novels, but I will read the occasional non-fiction book. I may not finish though, but I will read up on summaries and profound quotes after. And certain articles are Too Long; Didn’t Read, so I’ll skip to the last 2 paragraphs.

    I tended to job hop after 18 months-2 years in most cases, cuz I would grow bored with the routine over time. I would get excited at first once I got a job, I would then learn the routines, and over time have contempt over the routine. And often the pay wasn’t good enough for me to tolerate the stress and boredom and stay longer.

    What else? Some music genres can be uninteresting for me, like Country music, Folk, Jazz. While I was a fan of the early days of Rap and HipHop, it seems like even the modern artists these days are going through the motions.

    I partly left the US cuz I found my newer residence boring. When shopping and eating are the main pastimes there, I was ready to move after 5 years. Nice weather though.

    Maybe it’s me. I lived too long, had my fill of experiences, and became burnt out and world weary. It’s harder to find interesting things about living on Earth. I will probably dabble more in virtual reality in the near future, if I can afford it. Longing for the Holo-Deck, or Death. Whichever comes first….

  • A Cuppa Coffee for a Neurodiverse Mind

    What is your favorite drink?

    I have a cup of coffee near me now. Instant coffee and heated mineral water, a little milk, and I currently don’t add sugar, or add a little sweetener. I probably drink way too much coffee. When I brew coffee, I can easily drink a pot or more a day.

    I do like other drinks, like Soda (Pop), fruit juices, alcoholic beverages, tea at times. Milk I only drink if I can get a gallon jug of it, otherwise I use it for cereal or for cooking. But since I have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I limit consuming the other drinks.

    Coffee is relatively affordable, healthy, and a comfort to drink. It’s possible that I self medicate and stimulate with coffee due to my autism and possible ADHD, but it probably does contribute to whatever sleep and anxiety problems I have.

    My parents and grandparents were coffee drinkers, and I’m currently in a country with several cafes. I tend to make my own brews though to save money. I don’t mind Espresso, but my go to coffee is brewed American style. I feel like I get my money’s worth, even though it’s just extra water.

    Coffee has been repeatedly proven to have several antioxidants and can offer resistance against several diseases and increase lifespan. And perhaps the coffee grounds can be used as a bio-char to add to strengthen concrete. So there’s probably a good reason why I drink so much coffee.

  • Hetty Green: “The Witch of Wall Street”

    Hetty Green: “The Witch of Wall Street”

    I’m going to diversify the topics of articles on my blog, and write about the inspiration for the name of my blog. HETTY was named after Henrietta “Hetty” Green, an American investor and secret philanthropist during the late 19th and 20th century. At one time, she was the wealthiest woman in the US.

    I did limited research about her, but what I’ll write what I know. She came from a wealthy Quaker family based in Massachusetts, and received an 6 million$ inheritance after the deaths of her father and aunt in 1865. She was educated enough in finance by her father and grandfather to make her own investment decisions in her own modest home or in banks, and invested in mortgages, real estate, government bonds, railroad stocks, and other diverse investments.

    In 1867, she married Edward Henry Green, and soon after had 2 children, Edward Green II and Sylvia. It’s notable that her husband was also wealthy, but they kept their finances separate, and there was a pre-nuptial contract before the marriage. Hetty continued to invest and live frugally.

    Hetty was a shrewd investor, and she was known to have lived an extremely frugal lifestyle, bordering on miserliness. She ate simple meals (oatmeal is rumored to be part of her regular diet), lived in modest housing with her family, avoided paying for hot water and electricity, and after her husband died, she wore a single simple black mourning dress daily until it had to be replaced with other simple clothing.

    She may have been a miserly money hoarder, but she was also a financial genius, succeeding in an industry dominated by men. The media and business rivals of the time spread rumors about her extreme frugality, but she lived a simple life based on her Quaker upbringing. I see the frugal traits of Warren Buffet and the Financial Independence, Retire Early movement in her modest way of life.

    She was also misunderstood during her time. She did anonymously donate to charities in her life, and her 2 grown children later donated the majority of their 100 million dollar inheritance to various charities after Hetty Green’s death in 1916.

    I chose HETTY as the name as my blog, cuz I believe in Hetty Green’s philosophy of living as frugal as possible, lifelong learning, and low key generosity. I sometimes post articles at times about financial advice, money saving lifehacks, and ways to make and save money.

    Hetty Greene died in 1916 at her son’s home. She was able to turn a 6 million dollar inheritance into a fortune of over 100 million dollars. Adjusted for inflation in today’s dollars, that is over 2 billion dollars.

    Was Hetty Green truly a Witch, or the Queen of Wall Street?

  • Blue Dockers Hiking Boots

    Tell us about your favorite pair of shoes, and where they’ve taken you.

    I’m not picky when it comes to shoes, which seems to be a problem for my brothers. As long as they are affordable and they fit me, I’ll wear them. However, the best pair of shoes I ever owned were dark blue, black, and gray Dockers Hiking boots.

    I didn’t buy the high rise shoes myself, but rather they were a Christmas gift from my youngest brother some years ago. He most of all would complain about me buying cheaper lower quality shoes that I tended to wear longer than the time they should have been replaced.

    I liked the stylish almost futuristic design, they were snug and comfortable, and looked good with various articles of clothes. They kept my feet warm and dry, especially while walking in several inches of snow during the winter. The soles had good grip on ice and other slippery surfaces.

    While I wish that I can say that I traveled far and wide in different countries while wearing those shoes, but in most cases I wore the boots around my hometown. I wore them when I went to bars and clubs, wore them outside during the winter and walked in puddles and grassy areas, and when I visited family and friends. I’m sure I wore them at work when I was allowed to.

    I kept the higher quality boots for over 2 years, probably closer to 3 years, but I eventually replaced the hiking boots cuz they were worn out and uncomfortable to my feet. And I’m sure that I went back to the affordable lower quality shoes. Hey, old habits die hard.

  • ShowTime Pizza!

    ShowTime Pizza!

    Share one of the best gifts you’ve ever received.

    I went to ShowTime Pizza Place as a kid, likely after getting on my parents’ case begging to go. I remember being told no more than once, they can’t afford it. Understandable now, I didn’t understand at 8 years old. 50$ was a bigger chunk of change then.

    ShowTime Pizza was a family friendly Pizzeria with a gimmick. It had a video game arcade with many of the most popular cabinet video games at the time- Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, Joust, Defender, Burger Time, Sinistar and so on. Maybe some more obscure games that I don’t remember playing.

    It also had a dining hall with a stage featuring singing and talking Animatronic Animal Characters, like Billy Bob Brockali, Looney Bird, Rolfe DeWolfe, and various other animal characters. These animatronic characters, along with the Chuck E Cheese Animatronics, were the inspiration for the antagonistic robots in Five Nights at Freddies “horror” movies and video games.

    No, I never thought the animatronics were creepy. I thought of the furry characters as robots, which I continue to be fascinated by.

    Anyways, my parents gave in, and I was able to go to ShowBiz Pizza Place for my 9th birthday. I remember the Pepperoni pizza and pitchers of Pepsi were tasty enough for a grade school kid. I remember being proud that I could eat 4 slices of pizza then.

    I loved the video games, of course, and tried and failed to play the Legendary laser disk game Dragon’s Lair. I loved the Don Bluth animation, and that game ate up many of the tokens my parents gave me. I couldnt go far with that game though.

    But what I remember the most about that pizza party at ShowBiz Pizza, was during the birthday meal, “The Rock-afire Explosion” band “talked and sang” to me directly to wish me a happy birthday. And I remember being touched by the nice gesture and being near tears that my parents cared enough about me to arrange the birthday shout-out with the Pizzeria staff.

    So, yes, I enjoyed my time at ShowBiz Pizza, and I understand that it later merged With Chuck E. Cheese Pizza. One of those nostalgic fond memories, and it also contributed to my interests in robots, video games, comedy, and good food.

  • Financial Anxiety

    Write about your approach to budgeting.

    I live on 2 pensions, and I’m grateful I have them. I’m a disabled veteran with a good number of invisible disabilities. Maybe the fact that I wear hearing aids is the most evidence that I have a long list of physical, psychological, and neurological disabilities.

    Unfortunately, I have debt and bills, but I live a decent lifestyle so far. About a third of my monthly income goes towards debt, phone bill, insurance, and other fees, a third goes towards rent and other expenses, and then a third on food, transportation, entertainment options.

    Every month, I use the calculator on my phone to figure out my monthly budget. It’s based on financial anxiety, cuz I try to figure out my expenses after I pay my bills and rent, and see if I have enough to have any disposable income.

    The expenses vary month to month. Some months I stick to a budget, other times I go over and have to use credit or cut expenses elsewhere. I cook my own meals more often (food service experience has come in handy), I tend to buy the cheapest food products of foods I will likely eat. I will shop at thrift stores and discount supermarkets. I buy the cheapest brand of cigarettes, or switch to vaping if it’s the cheaper option.

    I have a smaller amount left over for fun money, and sometimes I help out family and friends. I’m treading water financially, but I lived through worse. It’s at the point where I’m looking into passive income and side gig work.

    I wish that I was better with money, but at the same time don’t want to give up certain comforts and conveniences. I have made small investments that I hope pay off, and I hope that I have the wisdom, connections, and funds to see a good bargain or opportunity in the future.