I have been absent from my blog for about a year. The pandemic caused some unsuspected turmoil in my world. I had four good friends and one family member die with Covid 19, and several others including me getting sick. We were vaccinated and recovered. The ones that died were not vaccinated. In my biological world that was very significant. Enough said about that.
Life is back on track for me and I am still writing books. I decided that it was time to write a book that had something to say of value to everyone, not just a few. From global warming to sex, there are 28 different subjects I believe deserve consideration. The title of the new book is, “How to live according to Grandpa. The Wisdom and Philosophy of Tomateots “. It is available now in paperback and e-books from Amazon, Barnes and Noble as well as Apple. It will also be an audio book by the end of January.
The best way I can tell you what it is about is to share with you what I wrote on the back cover. I hope you will read the book. I wrote it for you. It is the only book of the 18 I have written that I am asking the public to buy. It will speak to you.
THE BACK COVER PAGE
“We are presented with several million options during our life that we have to make a choice between. The choices we make create the way we see the world and establish how we live in it. The environment, which we have created for ourselves, is called our world. Everyone has a world that is unique and personal to them.
Of course, our worlds are based on assumptions that for one reason or another, we choose to believe and call facts.
We are sure that what we believe takes precedence over everyone else’s beliefs, and that can make our world a bit of a challenge to live in at times. I have decided to share my world with the rest of the world. Not to convince anyone that my world is better than theirs but to share some of the things that I found helpful for the world at large.
In my eighty-nine years as a well-educated wonderer, many of my assumed facts have been proven wrong. I see that as progress, a good thing. The challenge is to be able to accept that one of your lifelong facts just isn’t true. I have only a few things that I learned that have stayed true for me so far and have been stabilizers in my world. I think they can be of use to almost everyone and need sharing.
I am not writing this book to encourage you to think like me but rather to just think. There are things changing all around you. So many new things to learn. So many new places to visit. So many edges out there you haven’t walked on yet. No matter how intelligent you are, your areas of vast ignorance are greater than your areas of knowledge.
There is so much to learn that when you throw your arms up and say,” I know nothing.” It will be true, but it is ok. Every other human on earth is in the same situation, they just don’t know it.
We have robots with Artificial Intelligence (AI) far beyond any human right now that are working for us. What will happen when they decide we are too dumb and of no use to them? I believe this could be a greater threat to human survival than global warming. What do you think, and why?”
The book is an easy read and covers many subjects that we encounter in our everyday life. I think much about them. This book is meant to stimulate conversation and perhaps provide some useful tips.
Thank you in advance for your help in spreading the word. I WROTE IT FOR EVERYONE TO READ, NOT JUST A FEW.

Three Big Cheers!!!
Happy New Year to you, John!
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Same to you and a big Hooooaaaa for 2024, The year of decision.
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Hey Cousin John! I am glad you are alive and kicking! I lost touch with you and was hoping to reconnect. I found some of your books on Amazon and enjoyed your insights. (I am Alexʻs granddaughter). If you remember your father was my favorite uncle.
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This is why I feel that Artificial Intelligence systems should be controlled by “D” cell flashlight batteries, or twisted rubber bands. We need more “built-in obsolescence” with these things.
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First, Happy New Year for you, John, and for all of us! Thank you for the fine introduction to your obviously very valuable new book, which I will try to order from my nest here in Norway. Probably no problem…I never know. Bob Triggs has said what I have been thinking for a long time about AI…”D”-size batteries would possibly be adequate to control the monster; At least it would be a try. When several apparently wise and also clever people have clearly stated similar feelings, perhaps those who are rushing us into this situation are, or at least will begin to be aware of the overall, long-term effect of their efforts, and provide safeguards. One can hope so.
The coming year can be very memorable, either way it falls. I truly hope for the Best, and reckon that most people on this planet do that as well. We should be very aware that we are not all that matters, that there are a multitude of other creatures who live here as well.
Best Wishes for all, and the planet as well!
Richard Edward (Jeffrey) Lane,
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Thank you for your comments and I agree. We think we know so much. It is the wise carbon unit that realizes they Know nothing. All I ever needed to know I learned in high school physics, running up and down stairs. We are the smart ones. Hang tough.
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