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My Cousin Elmo says, “We shouldn’t be afraid of artificial intelligence because it’s no match for natural stupidity.”

As a man in my early sixties, I can tell when I am being looked through, ignored politely, and seen as less than valued in a conversation.

For example, while speaking with a woman who did not know me and whom I just struck up a conversation because we were seated next to each other, but felt bold enough to tell me, “Leave me alone, you old letch,” caused me to wonder what in her experience made her so nasty. I do not have an answer, but I turned away, ignoring her, and began talking to the couple on the other side from where I sat.

There are some things not worth trying to defend against as the “he doth protest too much,” rule will eventually come into play.

In a world increasingly interconnected through technology, there’s a paradoxical rise in fearing making connections through simple, face-to-face conversations that hinder individuals from experiencing the richness of humanity. Many people grapple with the fear of rejection, a deep-seated worry that their attempts at conversation will meet with indifference or dismissal.

Social anxiety, another common factor, amplifies nerves about engaging with others, particularly strangers, due to the fear of judgment or saying something embarrassing. Low self-esteem or a lack of confidence contributes to the hesitation to connect.

Individuals may doubt their conversational skills or feel they have nothing interesting to share because past negative experiences, such as rejection or conflict, can leave emotional scars that make people wary of opening up to others. Cultural and societal expectations also play a role.

Norms around personal space, privacy, and reserved behavior can create apprehension about initiating conversations, fearing the violation of established social boundaries. The digital age, marked by technology and social media dependency, introduces a new layer of trouble with communicating.

Online communication can make in-person conversations daunting, especially with the absence of non-verbal cues that often accompany face-to-face interactions. Meanwhile, introverted people who pray for deep connections find social interactions draining. Striking a balance between the desire for solitude and the fear of exhausting social energy can be — well — exhausting.

Despite these challenges, breaking the barriers to connection is essential for a sense of community. Overcoming the fear of simple conversation involves gradual exposure, building self-confidence, and recognizing the potential for positive outcomes in social interactions.

It is necessary to encourage conversation as opportunities for connection, learning, and mutual understanding. Embracing the unexpected, trusting one’s instincts, and seeking out like-minded individuals can lead to shared stories, experiences, and perspectives.

In a society where genuine connections are increasingly valued, it’s time to acknowledge these fears, confront them, and pave the way for a more connected and empathetic world. And finally, I ain’t no letch.

My Cousin Elmos says, “Took my son over to storage and after opening the door, ‘I told him one day this will be all yours.’ He looked at me and asked, ‘Are you threatening me?’”

A recent study published by Wisevoter has shed light on domestic violence in Nevada, ranking the state as the 2nd worst in the nation for overall domestic violence and 3rd worst for femicide.

The comprehensive study emphasized that domestic violence is a pervasive issue affecting individuals across all genders, sexual orientations, ethnicities, and backgrounds. The ramifications of such violence are far-reaching, impacting survivors with conditions such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and other mental health issues.

Data provided by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence revealed statistics showing approximately 20 people per minute experiencing physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner in the U.S., equating to over 10 million Americans annually. Additionally, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner at some point in their lives.

The consequences of domestic violence extend beyond the immediate victims, affecting families and communities at large. Individuals impacted may face challenges in maintaining employment and housing, and children exposed to such violence are more likely to suffer from behavioral problems.

Communities with high rates of domestic abuse often grapple with elevated levels of overall crime. Despite its widespread impact, domestic violence remains largely unrecognized and untreated across the nation due to its secretive nature and prevalence across all socioeconomic classes.

Nevada’s ranking as the 2nd worst state for domestic violence and 3rd worst for femicide underscores the urgent need for concerted efforts to address and combat this pervasive issue.

Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman was the headline speaker at a Washoe County Democratic Party fundraiser in Reno, held at the Neil Road Recreation Center, on Saturday, February 17, drawing such notables as Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and State Treasurer Zach Conine.

His message emphasized the critical importance of voter turnout in the upcoming November elections. He underscored the need for Democrats to unite and show up at the polls to re-elect President Joe Biden and Senator Jacky Rosen.

“If you aren’t excited about Biden or you are thinking about sitting out, or even throwing away your vote for some rando third, third party, it’s like you have made Trump your guy,” Fetterman said.

In his rallying call to action, Fetterman warned against complacency, asserting that abstaining from voting empowers figures like former President Donald Trump.

Beyond electoral politics, Fetterman addressed pressing global issues, advocating for the passage of the foreign aid package recently approved by the Senate. The proposed aid package of $95 million provides financial support to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Fetterman stressed the urgency of this legislation, warning that failure to pass it could have dire consequences, particularly for Ukraine.

Fetterman’s visit was such a big deal for Nevada Democrats, and his visit was so hush-hush that not even my wife knew he was there, despite being in the room next, as the City of Reno’s Neil Road Recreation Center building monitor.

My Cousin Elmo says, “I was trying for a fairy tale ending, not ending up in the Book of Revelation.”

In a recent series of law enforcement actions, Chinese nationals are involved in illegal marijuana grow operations in the Western region of the U.S., including Nevada.

In October 2022, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) served search warrants on an illegal 22-acre marijuana grow south of Gardnerville. The operation involved 60,066 plants in 160 hoop houses, totaling 123,900 pounds of marijuana.

Although authorities questioned 80 people, including Chinese nationals, only two arrests were made, one for an immigration violation and another for possession of a controlled substance. Authorities also seized the marijuana with an estimated street value in the millions.

A federal memorandum obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation in July 2022 shed light on the involvement of Chinese nationals in illegal marijuana grows within Western states. Chinese nationals with resident status or asylum claims that prevent their removal are heading the operations and are generally associated with foreign organized crime.

The federal memo also highlighted similar activities in Maine, where Chinese nationals, some with legal status, operate illegal marijuana grows estimated at $4.37 billion across 270 suspected operations. Many of the rural areas are also exploited by Chinese criminal organizations that produce and distribute marijuana, with profits potentially linked to Mexican cartels and the fentanyl trade.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified approximately 749 properties linked to Asian (Chinese) Transnational Criminal Organizations nationwide in 2020. Law enforcement efforts in Nevada, including a September 2021 operation in Lincoln and Nye Counties, targeted illegal marijuana grows operated by Chinese nationals.

My Cousin Elmo says, “Do not try to explain yourself to idiots. You are not the idiot whisper.”

The world around me is getting more dangerous as time moves forward.

Around 11 a.m., while delivering newspapers, I entered a business and exchanged the issues from the week before for the new ones. Having done that, I collected the money from the plastic container next to the paper holder and exited the business.

Not more than three steps into the gravel driveway, I was struck in the back of my head by someone. The blow was hard enough to throw me off balance, and I tumbled forward.

Rolling on my right shoulder as trained in self-defense courses, I came up on my feet, ready to fight. Suddenly, I heard a woman screaming at the man who had hit me.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” she said.

“I saw him steal money from the paper jar,” the man answered.

“It his damned money, you fucking idiot,” she continued. “He’s the newspaper guy!”

With the left side of his body exposed to me, he had turned slightly to look at the woman. As he started to look back at me, I unloaded a full-body punch to his jaw.

I launched my right fist into the corner of his mandible after I took a step and leaped from the ground, placing my entire 200-plus pound frame into the swing.

The man, about five inches taller than me, maybe 75 pounds less than I, and at least 25 years younger, stiffened and spun to his right, falling on his left side. He lay there, unconscious and quivering as if having an epileptic fit.

Because he was shaking so badly, someone called 9-1-1, and soon, the fire department, an ambulance, and two squad cars arrived on the scene. In short order, I found myself wearing cuffs, detained as the LEOs set about to figure out what happened.

Several people came forward as witnesses, and I was soon released. By then, paramedics had loaded the man up and left, taking him to the nearby hospital.

The LEO who had cuffed me told me that while he considers my action as self-defense, he still has to turn the case over to the district attorney, and that person might see it differently and charge me. I agreed to turn myself in if that should happen.

That’s the end of the story for now, but for the life of me, I cannot understand why this shit keeps happening and why I respond like I do.

My Cousin Elmo says, “My wife found a sink at our front door. I said, ‘Let that sink in.’”