I recently returned from a solo trip to New England, where I visited my sister and her husband in Hampshire and my older brother and his wife in Connecticut.
My woman’s intuition told me from the very beginning that the COVID madness was just that - irrational fear and tyranny by those “experts” who lorded their authority over us. I did not comply then and I will never again listen to any of them!
Bless that "sixth" sense...mine kicked in too when I was out in my garage refinishing some furniture listening to Pandora that suddenly had TONS of commercials on regarding what "you can do to help spread the stop of this deadly virus"- The "we are all in this together" and other sayings were too scripted and planned in a short amount of time. That made me highly suspicious there was a force behind this that was fishy if not downright wrong and evil. I was determined to get the dreaded virus to show others it was less than getting the flu, so didn't comply to any "rules"- still haven't gotten sick at all in the last five years. What did I do "wrong"? haha...
You know I was quoting what I was hearing on the radio- right? NOT my words or thoughts at all..I didn't buy into it early on (April to be exact)- I think you might be responding to someone else...? Maybe?
I don't have a TV but was aware of how the injections were being pushed with the fear hysteria, appeals to emotion and authority, the" get injected to save Grandma" and "I am science and I am a doctor" idiocies. Add in all the actors and various celebrities and talking heads pushing getting injected and that was enough for me to completely reject what they were selling. Even if I hadn't already determined there was no threat. For some of the same reasons I don't have and will never have a "smart phone."
Agree the tv made it much worse. People were glued to the news and the number of total COVID cases rolling across the bottom of their screens! I thought it was all lunacy!
We have a tv but don't watch the garbage. We stopped watching tv when the plastic wars started in 2018, suddenly! I thought: yesterday plastic wasn't a problem. Today it is a huge one and we have to stop using it completely. Husband and I went "What? Why?" So after that no more teli, too many lies. I think that saved us as we never got scared of corona. Never worn face nappies either. Never took the holy poison but family think we are mad because of that. Yes, I want to get rid of phone but then husband thinks I am crazy, but we held back on child: she is the only 15yo we know who doesn't have a smart phone. She is good as she gets a lot of pity but doesn't care. x
You write: "Some said they‘ve been able to sustain relationships by pretending that the lockdowns, closures, mask, test and vaxx mandates never happened or by putting this elephant-in-the-room topic off-limits. I don’t think less of those who’ve avoided confrontation. I’m just unable to compartmentalize in this way."
I'm one of the compartmentalizers, given my family and professional situation. I manage, but it's very hard. I look forward to meeting you one day. But you know, I feel as if I already have.
P.S. For anyone who doesn't already know, the excellent maps from AAA are free with a membership. I think they're good to keep in the car even if you do use a smart phone because sometimes, for whatever reason, smart phones go on the blink.
I'd like to add— re: why it is so hard to compartmentalize.
1. It takes energy to keep my temper in check (I don't anger easily, generally speaking, but I really want to shake some of these people insisting on their 8th booster and, for example, dissing RFK as a loon) and;
2. It takes energy to remain always on high alert— I can't relax and be myself with them (if I speak openly about what I know and what I think about covid and the jabs they'll attack me, possibly visciously, both to my face and behind my back).
So why do this, compartmentalize? Like I said, I have a family and professional situation I want to honor, many long-time relationships I'm not ready to discard, and so this is my choice. Back in 2021 I decided to make my stance that of respect for medical privacy, that is, I don't ask anyone about their jab status, and I don't take questions about mine, either. Also in 2021 I decided to make doing the transcripts of censored and shadow-banned videos my contribution towards establishing the historical record for those who would preserve our freedoms now and in the future. And not to go on about that, but my anonymity best serves this purpose.
So: the costs of compartmentalizing are indeed painful, but for now, I choose to assume them. I do what I can to mitigate them and I expect that, in time, it will get easier. Meanwhile, thanks, Mark, and thanks also to those of you who comment here.
Agreed. All my siblings are multi-jabbed, and since traveling to visit them during the 'pandemic' was verboten, we started a weekly
all-siblings video chat that we still continue. They think I'm weird because I was never afraid of the bug and adamently refused the jab, but they aren't going to disown me over it, so long as i don't preach to them about it. So I compartmentalize for the sake of family harmony. But, oh, I am tempted to speak out at times! I (mostly) resist.
It used to be, not so long ago, that, in case of emergency, in the US gas stations would sell paper maps or at least the clerk would be able to provide some basic directions. My experience of late is that, nope, that's gone.
Twice recently, I had the paper maps to go to an address in big city. I was close but the maps weren't that good or I wasn't. So I stopped at a cafe and asked for help. In one case the waitress brightly and expertly got on her smart phone and said, Oh, go two blocks and turn left and there I was. In the other case in big city, a lady customer did the same thing after overhearing how do I get to this address to the waiter? I gave her a gold back. I should have given the first one a gold back. I regret not doing that.
I have felt very lonely since covid. Very few people with whom I can have a like minded conversation. I live in a very “ blue” state. I have withdrawn from society in large part because I just can’t relate. When I do on occasion find someone who thinks like I do, they feel like a kindred spirit.
I wish i wasn’t addicted to my smartphone. I used to live in New Jersey before smartphones were invented. I once found myself on one of the bridges headed into NYC. Being originally from a small town in the midwest, I was terrified but survived. Mark, If I still lived in NJ, I would stop by and visit you. If you are ever in Hawaii, let’s get together for a chat.
I feel lonely too even though there's loads of kindred spirits online and even some in real life too. But I'm still not over the shock that so many people went along with it ... and so many still are really.
Actually, I live in an apartment complex whose gardens were managed by paid gardeners until recently when a resident (also a lawyer) took over as the strata representative, replacing the biggest crook ever - our complex was recently featured on a current affairs program on strata crookery - and he with another resident have started taking over some of the gardening and turned it into a communal affair which is great. So I might have some gardening questions for you! I know nothing about gardening at this point.
Lol, I had to use Google and critical thinking to get to the bottom of that one! I'm our condo association president, but had never read about strata laws.
Thank you, Mark, for providing this place of Sanctuary for those of us who chose not to go along w/ the madness. Your presence and essays here gave me the strength to stand firm in my decision even in the face of losing the trust of my five siblings and husband.
Fences are being mended but the topic of shots and the pandemic are all off-limit. I did have a conversation w/ my son who just married and his wife about shots and hope and pray that they will heed my advice and listen to my hard-won wisdom for themselves and their children. They seem to be very open to what I'm showing them though and I know my son has not gotten a Covid shot so there is that.
Again, thank you for the refuge you provided from the storm. My continued sanity is due in large part to you and your readers...
I absolutely agree. Your substack posts as well as all others that comment on your substack helped me understand that I am not alone. At the start of the scam, there were so few of us that saw it for what it was, just fear mongering and information control. The government and media shut off all communication avenues for us. Facebook, Twitter and other social media apps were controlled to stop all discussion of the vaccine that wasn't government approved (just like North Korea and the old Soviet Union). Isolating us using psychological warfare was the goal of Fauci, the government, the media, big pharma, the medical establishment .... the list goes on and on. Their goal was to isolate non-compliant individuals and make their lives unbearable. I personally find that disgusting. The government and those institutions don't deserve anyone's trust.
“The recognition of the insuperable limits to his knowledge ought indeed to teach the student of society a lesson of humility which should guard him against becoming an accomplice in men’s fatal striving to control society – a striving which makes him not only a tyrant over his fellows, but which may well make him the destroyer of a civilization which no brain has designed but which has grown from the free efforts of millions of individuals.”
It truly is a fatal striving, one rooted in arrogance, hubris, and a superiority complex that does not allow acknowledging, let alone learning from, mistakes.
I had this bright idea to buy a phone plan that included calls/texts to/from US/Canada/Mexico so that when I drove from BC down to the US last fall, I would have Google Maps to guide me. Fortunately I had one AAA map of Washington and Oregon, and another that covered 'Indian Country.' I had sporadic GPS coverage and Ironically, when I crossed the border into California, Google Maps stopped working and I had no map coverage at all. Strange sensation: driving and not knowing where you are! A few times when I reached a settlement of any size where I might find a wi-fi signal (once at an Office Depot, once in a Supermarket, and once outside of a Starbucks), I was able to use my laptop to open Google Maps, check the map, write directions for myself, and continue on my way. As soon as I reached my destination, I cancelled the phone plan. So, no I also don't carry a phone around and currently have no plan. I mostly use WhatsApp when I have a wi-fi signal, to communicate with friends and family. As for the last few years, it has ontinued to feel lonely when so many (mostly former) friends bought the vaxx con, and the Kamala Harris con. I sympathize with you Keakalina. It's how I feel. When I meet like-minded individuals, the first thing I do is give them a big hug.
As far as the smartphone, I used to give my smartphone to my granddaughter, she has had aspirations for one while I don't give a damn about them, had it for work, but an accident in the car last Christmas fixed that, I had to get one for her just so I could never travel without, just like the un-licensed driver that hit me.
It warms my heart to know that more of your readers have taken the opportunity to spend time in person with you Mark. That's quite a subversive move these days, given that we are constantly being goaded and pushed to experience our entire life alone through a screen (WFH), including even our formerly most intimate encounters (RFK, Jr for example). We are isolated and alone now, but without privacy, and far more vulnerable than we realize. It's not until there is no cell phone access(Superstorm Sandy), or the planes are suddenly grounded (this past July), or the entire banking system goes down (Australia, twice) that we get a peak behind the curtain. We need each other, in person, in community. That is our strength.
Your essays have long been a lovely drink of water in a parched land. Thank you. We all have stories of things that deeply wounded us during the Scamdemic and I’m not sure we’ll fully recover. “Wary” is my new attitude. Saw something online yesterday that broke my heart: the question posted (lightheartedly) by Musk at DOGE was “Who or what should we go after first?” A responder wrote: “I watched my Dad die on FaceTime. Fauci.”
By the way, some Southern has rubbed off on you, probably via your U of A kids: I caught that ‘y’all!’
I was fortunate to have a group of friends who were of like mind, maybe because we had all demonstrated our willingness to buck the trend by homeschooling our kids back in the 90's when it was decidedly uncool. None of us had been anti-vax before. Some flat-out refused as soon as the shots were announced, and some of us took a wait-and-see attitude. I will be grateful for the rest of my life for Substack and its brave writers, like you, who shared the real science and convinced me not to give in to the hysteria. My husband nearly caved, because he was the only one at work who hadn't. He worked on a large corporate farm, and basically just had to avoid people, which wasn't hard. He live din his truck anyway.
If I ever find myself in that area of the world I will seriously consider dropping by. My time in Bangkok was delightfully refreshing for meeting two fellow substack dissidents! It nurtures the soul and restores faith in humanity to know that others like this were out there the whole time...
Each and every essay is like I’m reading my own writing. Thing is, you are a much better writer than I.
I’m also an ‘anti-cellular’. It’s a good way of keeping up ancient traditional skills like having dozens of phone numbers memorized, enjoying a music concert without needing to document it, people watching when killing time and yes, even map reading. Pro tip: I sometimes need more detail than a map gives and that’s when I screen shot zoomed in maps on my ipad and bring it along for the ride.
But, if you have the numbers memorized, that is a useful skill.... however, you need to input them into a device, correct? So, do you borrow a phone? Payphones have gone the way of the dodo bird almost totally. As have landlines - so quickly becoming extinct it makes your head spin!
I'm not seeking to argue, I do admire people who resist the pull of the cell phone. It's just interesting to read about coping without Google maps, etc. I have chosen to live with a cellphone, despite having very mixed feelings about it. And I work to retain useful paper map reading skills. On a recent trip to New England, we found that some of the visitor centres had paper maps, but most did not. Also, it seems evident that some of the detail in paper maps is lost, as they become increasingly irrelevant to more and more people. And unreadable by more and more people. It is interesting to muse what life will be like if the grid is down for long. .. although I guess a lot of people wandering around lost will probably be the least of our worries if that happens!
Thanks for all you do Mark. I have loved your essays through this crazy time. And unfortunately I am mostly surrounded by people who bought everything, every bit of the message (in Canada I think we had very high compliance, sigh). Including most family. It is incredibly isolating. I'm thankful for the like minded people on line. And I'm thankful for a reasonably limited social circle.... it reduces the time spent pretending that things aren't a bit "off"!
Yeah it really sucks when the signs are tiny and non reflective!
If you got a tablet with GPS, you can use apps like Here maps or Google maps offline mode. Just be sure to have the maps downloaded for the states you're driving in.
Internet connected mind eraser addict here. When I started my business we had alphanumeric grid based map books to get around. I retain quite a few and taught the Bamm Bamms too learn to navigate via maps for the certainty of future GPS interruptions. Keeping my maps.
Love the article.
Would love to one day make a personal visit myself.
My woman’s intuition told me from the very beginning that the COVID madness was just that - irrational fear and tyranny by those “experts” who lorded their authority over us. I did not comply then and I will never again listen to any of them!
I also knew from Day 1.
Sincere thanks for seeing the Scam.
Bless that "sixth" sense...mine kicked in too when I was out in my garage refinishing some furniture listening to Pandora that suddenly had TONS of commercials on regarding what "you can do to help spread the stop of this deadly virus"- The "we are all in this together" and other sayings were too scripted and planned in a short amount of time. That made me highly suspicious there was a force behind this that was fishy if not downright wrong and evil. I was determined to get the dreaded virus to show others it was less than getting the flu, so didn't comply to any "rules"- still haven't gotten sick at all in the last five years. What did I do "wrong"? haha...
Worst virus in history? The only one we locked down healthy people over? And only very old people are dying?
"We're all in this together?"
Count me out.
You know I was quoting what I was hearing on the radio- right? NOT my words or thoughts at all..I didn't buy into it early on (April to be exact)- I think you might be responding to someone else...? Maybe?
I knew that, Cheryl. I was agreeing with you.
Things just don't come across sometimes like they are meant to... :-)! Thanks!
What you said was clear to me as well.
I don't have a TV but was aware of how the injections were being pushed with the fear hysteria, appeals to emotion and authority, the" get injected to save Grandma" and "I am science and I am a doctor" idiocies. Add in all the actors and various celebrities and talking heads pushing getting injected and that was enough for me to completely reject what they were selling. Even if I hadn't already determined there was no threat. For some of the same reasons I don't have and will never have a "smart phone."
Agree the tv made it much worse. People were glued to the news and the number of total COVID cases rolling across the bottom of their screens! I thought it was all lunacy!
that is the purpose of TV, predictive programming and propaganda.
We have a tv but don't watch the garbage. We stopped watching tv when the plastic wars started in 2018, suddenly! I thought: yesterday plastic wasn't a problem. Today it is a huge one and we have to stop using it completely. Husband and I went "What? Why?" So after that no more teli, too many lies. I think that saved us as we never got scared of corona. Never worn face nappies either. Never took the holy poison but family think we are mad because of that. Yes, I want to get rid of phone but then husband thinks I am crazy, but we held back on child: she is the only 15yo we know who doesn't have a smart phone. She is good as she gets a lot of pity but doesn't care. x
Dear Mark, your essays are always a balm.
You write: "Some said they‘ve been able to sustain relationships by pretending that the lockdowns, closures, mask, test and vaxx mandates never happened or by putting this elephant-in-the-room topic off-limits. I don’t think less of those who’ve avoided confrontation. I’m just unable to compartmentalize in this way."
I'm one of the compartmentalizers, given my family and professional situation. I manage, but it's very hard. I look forward to meeting you one day. But you know, I feel as if I already have.
P.S. For anyone who doesn't already know, the excellent maps from AAA are free with a membership. I think they're good to keep in the car even if you do use a smart phone because sometimes, for whatever reason, smart phones go on the blink.
I'd like to add— re: why it is so hard to compartmentalize.
1. It takes energy to keep my temper in check (I don't anger easily, generally speaking, but I really want to shake some of these people insisting on their 8th booster and, for example, dissing RFK as a loon) and;
2. It takes energy to remain always on high alert— I can't relax and be myself with them (if I speak openly about what I know and what I think about covid and the jabs they'll attack me, possibly visciously, both to my face and behind my back).
So why do this, compartmentalize? Like I said, I have a family and professional situation I want to honor, many long-time relationships I'm not ready to discard, and so this is my choice. Back in 2021 I decided to make my stance that of respect for medical privacy, that is, I don't ask anyone about their jab status, and I don't take questions about mine, either. Also in 2021 I decided to make doing the transcripts of censored and shadow-banned videos my contribution towards establishing the historical record for those who would preserve our freedoms now and in the future. And not to go on about that, but my anonymity best serves this purpose.
So: the costs of compartmentalizing are indeed painful, but for now, I choose to assume them. I do what I can to mitigate them and I expect that, in time, it will get easier. Meanwhile, thanks, Mark, and thanks also to those of you who comment here.
Thank you TB, for this and all you have done to inform and preserve.
Agreed. All my siblings are multi-jabbed, and since traveling to visit them during the 'pandemic' was verboten, we started a weekly
all-siblings video chat that we still continue. They think I'm weird because I was never afraid of the bug and adamently refused the jab, but they aren't going to disown me over it, so long as i don't preach to them about it. So I compartmentalize for the sake of family harmony. But, oh, I am tempted to speak out at times! I (mostly) resist.
Waiting for you in NJ, TB.
Thank you for the AAA map info!
It used to be, not so long ago, that, in case of emergency, in the US gas stations would sell paper maps or at least the clerk would be able to provide some basic directions. My experience of late is that, nope, that's gone.
Twice recently, I had the paper maps to go to an address in big city. I was close but the maps weren't that good or I wasn't. So I stopped at a cafe and asked for help. In one case the waitress brightly and expertly got on her smart phone and said, Oh, go two blocks and turn left and there I was. In the other case in big city, a lady customer did the same thing after overhearing how do I get to this address to the waiter? I gave her a gold back. I should have given the first one a gold back. I regret not doing that.
Gold back dollar ? Where do you buy them?
https://www.goldback.com/
various precious metals dealers carry them.
Nice . I’ve seen them before on my computer feed if I click on a silver bullion dealer ad . Thanks I didn’t know I was going to buy some until now .
Yes, gone!
I have felt very lonely since covid. Very few people with whom I can have a like minded conversation. I live in a very “ blue” state. I have withdrawn from society in large part because I just can’t relate. When I do on occasion find someone who thinks like I do, they feel like a kindred spirit.
I wish i wasn’t addicted to my smartphone. I used to live in New Jersey before smartphones were invented. I once found myself on one of the bridges headed into NYC. Being originally from a small town in the midwest, I was terrified but survived. Mark, If I still lived in NJ, I would stop by and visit you. If you are ever in Hawaii, let’s get together for a chat.
Thanks, Kea.
That's why I made and wear my t-shirt. Others also saw the Scam and they come up to me and we hug and talk.
I feel lonely too even though there's loads of kindred spirits online and even some in real life too. But I'm still not over the shock that so many people went along with it ... and so many still are really.
That's why it's been great to talk to sensible people on the phone or, better, in person.
If you want to talk, Petra, please email me at foreccheck32 at g mail.
Thank you, Mark.
Actually, I live in an apartment complex whose gardens were managed by paid gardeners until recently when a resident (also a lawyer) took over as the strata representative, replacing the biggest crook ever - our complex was recently featured on a current affairs program on strata crookery - and he with another resident have started taking over some of the gardening and turned it into a communal affair which is great. So I might have some gardening questions for you! I know nothing about gardening at this point.
I know a good amount about growing food. I'm happy to share what I've learned, Petra.
But I know nothing about strata cooking.
Lol, I had to use Google and critical thinking to get to the bottom of that one! I'm our condo association president, but had never read about strata laws.
LOL.
Just making sure your email has 2 c's after the "e" in fore?
This is sad and so unfair! People are just flat out looney when it comes to COVID mania. I am truly sorry for you;-(
Thank you, Mark, for providing this place of Sanctuary for those of us who chose not to go along w/ the madness. Your presence and essays here gave me the strength to stand firm in my decision even in the face of losing the trust of my five siblings and husband.
Fences are being mended but the topic of shots and the pandemic are all off-limit. I did have a conversation w/ my son who just married and his wife about shots and hope and pray that they will heed my advice and listen to my hard-won wisdom for themselves and their children. They seem to be very open to what I'm showing them though and I know my son has not gotten a Covid shot so there is that.
Again, thank you for the refuge you provided from the storm. My continued sanity is due in large part to you and your readers...
Thank you, ceecee. It was important to me to know that some people saw the Scam. I wish I had found all of you in March, 2020.
Cheers to you, dear ceecee.
I absolutely agree. Your substack posts as well as all others that comment on your substack helped me understand that I am not alone. At the start of the scam, there were so few of us that saw it for what it was, just fear mongering and information control. The government and media shut off all communication avenues for us. Facebook, Twitter and other social media apps were controlled to stop all discussion of the vaccine that wasn't government approved (just like North Korea and the old Soviet Union). Isolating us using psychological warfare was the goal of Fauci, the government, the media, big pharma, the medical establishment .... the list goes on and on. Their goal was to isolate non-compliant individuals and make their lives unbearable. I personally find that disgusting. The government and those institutions don't deserve anyone's trust.
100%, Steve.
“The recognition of the insuperable limits to his knowledge ought indeed to teach the student of society a lesson of humility which should guard him against becoming an accomplice in men’s fatal striving to control society – a striving which makes him not only a tyrant over his fellows, but which may well make him the destroyer of a civilization which no brain has designed but which has grown from the free efforts of millions of individuals.”
Friedrich A. Hayek
This is a big idea. Thanks for sending it, Gwyneth.
It truly is a fatal striving, one rooted in arrogance, hubris, and a superiority complex that does not allow acknowledging, let alone learning from, mistakes.
Perfect description of Bill Gates, Soros and company. Their pretentious superiority and NEED TO CONTROL ALL OF US knows no bounds.
Thanks for sharing Gwyneth. That's a great quote.
Indeed it is.
I had this bright idea to buy a phone plan that included calls/texts to/from US/Canada/Mexico so that when I drove from BC down to the US last fall, I would have Google Maps to guide me. Fortunately I had one AAA map of Washington and Oregon, and another that covered 'Indian Country.' I had sporadic GPS coverage and Ironically, when I crossed the border into California, Google Maps stopped working and I had no map coverage at all. Strange sensation: driving and not knowing where you are! A few times when I reached a settlement of any size where I might find a wi-fi signal (once at an Office Depot, once in a Supermarket, and once outside of a Starbucks), I was able to use my laptop to open Google Maps, check the map, write directions for myself, and continue on my way. As soon as I reached my destination, I cancelled the phone plan. So, no I also don't carry a phone around and currently have no plan. I mostly use WhatsApp when I have a wi-fi signal, to communicate with friends and family. As for the last few years, it has ontinued to feel lonely when so many (mostly former) friends bought the vaxx con, and the Kamala Harris con. I sympathize with you Keakalina. It's how I feel. When I meet like-minded individuals, the first thing I do is give them a big hug.
An excellent read.
As far as the smartphone, I used to give my smartphone to my granddaughter, she has had aspirations for one while I don't give a damn about them, had it for work, but an accident in the car last Christmas fixed that, I had to get one for her just so I could never travel without, just like the un-licensed driver that hit me.
Thanks, Edwin.
Glad you came out OK. I'm not trying to talk anyone out of using a phone. For me, it would be more trouble than it's worth.
Thank you Mark and commenters for providing virtual kinship - we are not home alone - we just need ways to find each other - very grateful!
It warms my heart to know that more of your readers have taken the opportunity to spend time in person with you Mark. That's quite a subversive move these days, given that we are constantly being goaded and pushed to experience our entire life alone through a screen (WFH), including even our formerly most intimate encounters (RFK, Jr for example). We are isolated and alone now, but without privacy, and far more vulnerable than we realize. It's not until there is no cell phone access(Superstorm Sandy), or the planes are suddenly grounded (this past July), or the entire banking system goes down (Australia, twice) that we get a peak behind the curtain. We need each other, in person, in community. That is our strength.
Momo is great company.
As are you. I hope after this even more of your readers reach out to meet you.
Your essays have long been a lovely drink of water in a parched land. Thank you. We all have stories of things that deeply wounded us during the Scamdemic and I’m not sure we’ll fully recover. “Wary” is my new attitude. Saw something online yesterday that broke my heart: the question posted (lightheartedly) by Musk at DOGE was “Who or what should we go after first?” A responder wrote: “I watched my Dad die on FaceTime. Fauci.”
By the way, some Southern has rubbed off on you, probably via your U of A kids: I caught that ‘y’all!’
Thanks, Theresa.
I def would love to see Covid Nuremberg.
Northerners make fun of Southern twang. But ah lock it! Being called "Mr. Mark" is fun.
I was fortunate to have a group of friends who were of like mind, maybe because we had all demonstrated our willingness to buck the trend by homeschooling our kids back in the 90's when it was decidedly uncool. None of us had been anti-vax before. Some flat-out refused as soon as the shots were announced, and some of us took a wait-and-see attitude. I will be grateful for the rest of my life for Substack and its brave writers, like you, who shared the real science and convinced me not to give in to the hysteria. My husband nearly caved, because he was the only one at work who hadn't. He worked on a large corporate farm, and basically just had to avoid people, which wasn't hard. He live din his truck anyway.
If I ever find myself in that area of the world I will seriously consider dropping by. My time in Bangkok was delightfully refreshing for meeting two fellow substack dissidents! It nurtures the soul and restores faith in humanity to know that others like this were out there the whole time...
Each and every essay is like I’m reading my own writing. Thing is, you are a much better writer than I.
I’m also an ‘anti-cellular’. It’s a good way of keeping up ancient traditional skills like having dozens of phone numbers memorized, enjoying a music concert without needing to document it, people watching when killing time and yes, even map reading. Pro tip: I sometimes need more detail than a map gives and that’s when I screen shot zoomed in maps on my ipad and bring it along for the ride.
But, if you have the numbers memorized, that is a useful skill.... however, you need to input them into a device, correct? So, do you borrow a phone? Payphones have gone the way of the dodo bird almost totally. As have landlines - so quickly becoming extinct it makes your head spin!
I'm not seeking to argue, I do admire people who resist the pull of the cell phone. It's just interesting to read about coping without Google maps, etc. I have chosen to live with a cellphone, despite having very mixed feelings about it. And I work to retain useful paper map reading skills. On a recent trip to New England, we found that some of the visitor centres had paper maps, but most did not. Also, it seems evident that some of the detail in paper maps is lost, as they become increasingly irrelevant to more and more people. And unreadable by more and more people. It is interesting to muse what life will be like if the grid is down for long. .. although I guess a lot of people wandering around lost will probably be the least of our worries if that happens!
Thanks for all you do Mark. I have loved your essays through this crazy time. And unfortunately I am mostly surrounded by people who bought everything, every bit of the message (in Canada I think we had very high compliance, sigh). Including most family. It is incredibly isolating. I'm thankful for the like minded people on line. And I'm thankful for a reasonably limited social circle.... it reduces the time spent pretending that things aren't a bit "off"!
Yeah it really sucks when the signs are tiny and non reflective!
If you got a tablet with GPS, you can use apps like Here maps or Google maps offline mode. Just be sure to have the maps downloaded for the states you're driving in.
Internet connected mind eraser addict here. When I started my business we had alphanumeric grid based map books to get around. I retain quite a few and taught the Bamm Bamms too learn to navigate via maps for the certainty of future GPS interruptions. Keeping my maps.
Love the article.
Would love to one day make a personal visit myself.
Stay free
#freedomisessential