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In a world that often pressures individuals to conform to societal norms, I think “fitting in” is overrated. The call for embracing individuality and uniqueness is gaining momentum, challenging the belief that conformity is a prerequisite for success and acceptance.

The advocates for this perspective argue that the pressure to conform stifles creativity, hinders personal growth, and limits the richness that diversity brings to communities. Prominent figures in various fields are joining the conversation, sharing their experiences of breaking away from the norm and finding success by embracing their authentic selves.

The shift is evident in educational institutions, workplaces, and social circles, where people reject fitting in. The emphasis on celebrating differences and encouraging authenticity is becoming a driving force for positive change.

Psychologists and experts in human behavior are weighing in on the discussion, highlighting the psychological benefits of embracing individuality. Studies suggest that individuals who are themselves experience higher levels of happiness, self-esteem, and overall well-being.

However, critics argue that the push against fitting in might lead to a fragmented society, where a lack of shared values could result in societal disintegration. They caution there needs to be a balance between celebrating individuality and a sense of unity and common purpose.

I am all for you doing you and me doing me.

In 2023, prominent Nevada leaders embarked on extensive journeys to destinations spanning the globe courtesy of third-party organizations.

Among the nearly 70 lawmakers and statewide elected officials, Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager stood out as the most traveled, with visits to Rio de Janeiro, Bayeux, Oslo, Dublin, and Mexico City, among others, amounting to nearly $39,000 in value. Attorney General Aaron Ford’s trips to South Africa, Poland, Israel, and South Korea cost $45,000, funded by the Attorney General Alliance.

The revelations come from an analysis of financial disclosure reports covering activities in 2023. The study encompassed the value of trips, meetings, and events sponsored by external groups and reported by the state’s constitutional officers and lawmakers.

Democrats were more likely to report trips financed by third parties, with 42 Democrats disclosing an aggregate value of $242,000 compared to $39,000 reported by 25 Republicans. Absences from reported trips are Governor Joe Lombardo and outgoing Senate Minority Leader Heidi Seevers Gansert.

The financial disclosures, mandated by state law, require officials to list educational or informational meetings, events, or trips from the prior year, along with their sponsors and aggregate value. Some top contributors to these trips in 2023 were the attorneys general group at $45,000, the National Conference of State Legislatures at about $33,000, and the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee at nearly $25,000.

While these funds cover a spectrum of expenses such as registration, lodging, meals, and travel, there are concerns regarding transparency and potential influence peddling. Ford defended the trips as vital for gathering information to combat crime and other issues, especially those with international dimensions.

Ford and Yeager also topped the list for the all-time value of reported trips, indicating a history of frequent travels compared to their counterparts. Ford emphasized the importance of international cooperation in combating transnational crime, arguing that such trips serve a crucial purpose in fostering partnerships and addressing global challenges.

The analysis also sheds light on the sponsors behind these trips, with the Attorney General Alliance emerging as a primary financier despite criticism for its ties to corporate donors. Ford maintained that these trips were solely aimed at advancing justice and serving citizens, dismissing concerns of undue influence.

Other groups like the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee provided free travel to elected officials. However, questions remain about the potential political motivations behind some trips, with examples like Assemblywoman Shea Backus’s trip to Washington, D.C., covered by a pro-abortion rights political action committee.

Peri & Sons Farms, headquartered in Yerington, has proposed an H-2A agricultural housing facility in Holtville, Cal., approved for seasonal employees.

The plan, presented by Peri & Sons Farms of California LLC, in collaboration with California Desert Properties LLC, was recently approved by the Planning Commission on Tuesday, February 20.

The proposed facility, slated for construction at 625 E. Fifth St., near downtown Holtville, is designed to accommodate approximately 660 seasonal employees at its peak, addressing the need for long-term, permanent housing solutions for agricultural laborers in the Imperial Valley.

During the meeting, Brad Johnston, outside counsel for Peri & Sons Farms, emphasized the necessity of a permanent housing solution, citing the company’s current practice of housing employees in short-term rentals or hotels in the Imperial Valley. Drawing from the success of similar facilities in Nevada, including Peri & Sons’ 2,000-person facility in Yerington, Johnston expressed confidence in the positive impact such housing could have on the local economy and community.

While the proposal received board approval, the number of units allowed in the area and the facilities amenities, including restrooms and parking spaces, became a concern for some neighboring residents. However, Peri & Sons assured the Planning Commission that the housing facility would adhere to state and federal regulations, including regular inspections and compliance with capacity limitations and safety standards.

Peri & Sons also said it was committed to providing a safe and comfortable living environment, highlighting measures such as security guards and transportation services to nearby stores. Despite some reservations, support for the project came from residents recognizing the potential economic benefits and the positive contribution to the local community.

In my life, there was a time when fitting in was not just a desire but a necessity for survival. Looking back, I do not regret the years spent trying to be normal.

Sometimes, you have to learn the rules before you can break them. It is a rite of passage.

But why did I care so much about being like everyone else when I did not start that way? The answer, I believe, lies in the influence of youth.

Little kids, we are weird. We are all born as our weird selves and stay that way until something profound happens, friends or maybe age.

School teaches us more than just reading, writing, and arithmetic. It teaches us that some people are deemed normal and others are not. The criteria for this designation are mysterious, but the result is clear-cut.

Bless those who do not let it bother them. Unfortunately, I cannot claim that for myself.

For me, society was like joining a school of fish. Whenever the group moved this way or that, I moved too because there was safety in numbers.

What else do you expect when you and everyone else, even those faking it, have no idea where we are going? Straying too far never seems like a good idea.

Normal is what is left after society has squeezed all the unconventional, aspiring fun juice out of a human being. Normal is a visible disappearing act of the self.

Wearing the shoes, the shirt, the haircut, saying the right things – fitting in perfectly – that is disappearing. But acting in the same manner as everyone else, following the crowd, being sheep is the real meaning of being unseen.

While I cannot speak for everyone, the times I have tried to fit in line up perfectly with the times I have felt least secure about who I am. I could not believe in myself.

By sacrificing myself to the God of Normal for years, life was rough. Confidence hit an all-time low.

Yet, if false friends got me into that mess, I knew real friends would get me out. Friends who, through social miscues, came to know me for who I was and did not care that I was weird.

Hopefully, you realize that normal is boring, and rewards await those willing to be different.

Realizing this takes me back to the rules we learn in the schoolyard, those ways we were ‘supposed’ to act for the sake of the group. Rules direct us to average behaviors, but if you are aiming, wanting, or needing to create exceptional works, then normal rules do not apply.

Average is nothing to aspire to. The goal is not to fit in; if anything, it is to amplify the differences, what does not fit, the odd characteristics unique to how you see the world.

Instead of sounding like others, value your voice.

Develop it.

Cherish it.

Use it.

It took a while, but eventually, I got more comfortable straying from the crowd and being different. I did not fully understand what changed until years later when I learned to like myself again, like the child I once was.

And I am still trying to love myself. Keyword: trying.

That is the whole thing, no?

Not everyone has gotten there in their heart of hearts. I am still working on it, but in the meantime, I think it starts by simply being kind to myself and others.

Not worrying about what someone thinks of me helps, as does leading the way to weird, using salt and light. All will be fine, if not okay.

Salt: speech; and light: actions. The two things we must engage in, whether alone or in a crowd.

Surround yourself with people, family, friends, frenemies, enemies, the normal and abnormal, Intellects, the ignorant, the strong and weak, the abled or disabled, the Popular people or the wallflowers, the jock, and the nerd. Each brings salt and light to your life table.

The one thing I do know for sure is that if you at least like yourself, you do not want to disappear. And if you do not want to disappear, well, then you are not normal either.

As for me, I want to live forever, even if through the remnant of a piece of paper I have left behind in my wake.

There is a striking parallel between findings from a 2018 audit of Reno city officials and ongoing financial improprieties in 2024. The audit, conducted internally, exposed numerous infractions, including undocumented donations to nonprofits, inappropriate travel authorizations, and excessive travel spending.

The audit, conducted under the oversight of Internal City Auditor Emily Kidd, identified 49 instances of violations in purchase card expenditures. Several infractions going back to the tenure of former city manager Andrew Clinger. Kidd’s audit emphasized the necessity of adherence to city expenditure policies, stressing that misappropriation of funds could occur without proper documentation and approval.

Among the audit’s revelations were instances of elected city officials failing to complete travel forms or obtain approvals for travel-related expenses. Despite the audit’s findings and recommendations, these spending practices persisted, as evidenced by recent records.

Furthermore, the audit highlighted systemic issues within city departments, including a lack of documented internal controls and procedures.

Specific instances of non-compliant expenditures, such as purchases of tables at charity events without appropriate approvals and undocumented donations to purported nonprofits, were also noted in the audit. Additionally, funds spent on exercise equipment, approved by previous management, were deemed violations of city spending rules.

Mayor Hillary Schieve and City Council members were reportedly not fully briefed on the audit’s findings despite being implicated in violating city policies. Initially, the city refused to make the audit public, further exacerbating concerns over transparency and accountability.

In response to the audit, city officials pledged to enact changes to prevent unauthorized and excessive expenditures. Mayor Schieve attributed the spending irregularities to the previous city manager and expressed confidence in the new management’s commitment to compliance and policy implementation.

Assurances regarding improvement in spending practices and oversight agreed to show issues persist within Reno’s municipal governance. Efforts to address these issues include stricter purchasing procedures, enhanced training for staff, and improved reporting practices.

You know it has gotten bad when people would rather live under a Communist dictatorship than in San Francisco. 87-year-old Rong Xin Liao, a Chinese immigrant residing in San Francisco, has decided to relocate to China after enduring multiple assaults in the city.

In 2021, Liao fell victim to a brutal assault that resulted in him being jump-kicked out of his walker. The severity of the attack necessitated surgery, with surgeons having to drill into his skull to address the injuries inflicted by 24-year-old Eric Ramos-Hernandez.

Ramos-Hernandez was released seven months later on mental health diversion. However, during his release, Ramos-Hernandez was arrested and convicted on misdemeanor trespassing charges in the South Bay.

Three years before, Liao was beaten unconscious in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district. Despite the severity of the attack, law enforcement eventually gave up on the investigation.

In 2023, Liao found himself being punched repeatedly during an assault at a Walgreens. The cumulative impact of these traumatic incidents has prompted Liao to leave San Francisco and return to China.

“I don’t want to be a drag to my son here,” Liao said as he booked his one-way ticket to China. “I don’t want him to worry about me all the time.”

It remains unclear whether Ramos-Hernandez will plead to any charges or face prosecution.

Sad.

Following the implementation of President Joe Biden’s federal taxpayer-funded student loan-debt cancellation program on Wednesday, February 21, the first state-level figures have revealed that 1,650 individuals in Nevada have benefited from a collective $13.9 million in debt relief.

“For the first time in my adult life, I am debt free from college,” said one Virginia City resident.

The program, Student Aid Verification for Education (SAVE), offers students the opportunity to alleviate their loan burdens. It specifically targets borrowers who have made payments for at least ten years and whose remaining principal is less than $12,000.

Those who enrolled in SAVE and met the eligibility criteria should have received a notification email from the Biden Administration. The email confirmed the cancellation of their remaining loans and assured recipients that no further action on their part was required.

Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson recently expressed concerns about the potential urbanization of Sparks, echoing fears of emulating the challenges facing larger cities while on Nevada Newsmakers.

Lawson emphasized the critical need for a federal land transfer to accommodate the city’s burgeoning population and prevent the onset of urban problems. He pointed to the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center (TRIC) in neighboring Storey County, an economic hub attracting thousands of workers to the region.

With the increasing influx of residents seeking employment opportunities in the burgeoning tech industries at the TRIC, Lawson sees a pressing need for housing and infrastructure development. He highlighted the urgency of securing a land transfer from the federal government to facilitate residential construction closer to the TRIC, ensuring convenient access for employees while alleviating pressure on neighboring communities.

The proposed acquisition of approximately 2,000 acres of federal land would address the housing shortage and provide essential amenities, such as sewer systems, to accommodate anticipated growth.

As the population of Sparks continues to swell, reaching an estimated 107,000 residents, the strain on housing resources becomes more pronounced.

Despite the efforts between Sparks and Storey County officials to address housing needs, challenges persist in navigating federal regulations and legislative processes as the proposed land transfer remains contingent on congressional approval.

With time running out to secure congressional approval for the land transfer, Lawson said there is a need for swift action by U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei and U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, who are pushing for its approval.

My Cousin Elmo says, “I can’t decide if I want to be feral or fabtabulous.”

In the upcoming Nevada Presidential Preference Primary (PPP), Democrats seem to be resorting to familiar tactics to tilt the scales in their favor. The recent voter turnout in Washoe County during the early voting period raises eyebrows, hinting at a potential failure in an orchestrated effort to manipulate the democratic process.

Currently, the voter turnout stands at 16 percent, with nearly 51,000 ballots cast by mail or in person out of the 319,000 registered voters. It is not unusual for Democrats to outpace Republicans in early voting.

During the early voting period, 29,698 registered Democrats cast their votes compared to 21,276 registered Republicans. However, it’s crucial to note that many Republicans have chosen to participate in the Nevada GOP caucus on Thursday, February 8, where the only candidates on the ballot are former President Donald Trump and Ryan Binkley.

The preference for mail-in ballots is another cause for skepticism, with 92 percent of votes cast through this method. While voting by mail is a legitimate option, such an overwhelming reliance on it raises questions about the security of the process and the potential for abuse.

What adds to the suspicion is the historical context surrounding Nevada’s PPP. The state last implemented this system in 1980, as Democrats were motivated by a fear of Ronald Reagan and desperate, tried to confuse voters and sway the outcome, they resorted to the PPP. Fast forward to the present, and it appears that Democrats are pulling the same old trick out of their bag to secure an advantage.

Add to this the mailing ballot for the PPP, which warns the voter that voting twice is against the law. While truthful, it can provide a sense of fear in anyone who exercises their right to vote “None of the Above” in the PPP and desire to exercise their right to caucus.

Judging by the early voting numbers, many voters are more intelligent than some believe.