Good morning Randy and the rest of the Yard.

Howdy Tom and all the rest of the pack.

Howdy- doodie Randy. Not a bad day today, and we did a little running around.

Actually, it was a REALLY nice day for me, emotionally, spiritually, mentally, what ever word you want to use. It just reinforced the reason for the season and that it IS greater to give than to receive.

Well about 3 weeks ago I was thinking of what to get my friend for Christmas and actually had no idea what to do. Then I remembered what they said about something I sent them a picture of, so I thought hmmm, maybe this. Well just about a week and a half ago I began thinking of this one item every day and just couldn’t get it out of my mind. So, off into the system it went.

He got it today. In his email to me after he went to pick it up he was floored as it was one of only two items of that kind he had any interest in. I mean the exact item he has been contemplating buying for some time yet never “dropped the hammer” to get and then here it showed up, the EXACT make and model he wanted.

When he contacted me about how surprised, excited and blown away over it he was, and this is the reason for this post, it GLADDENED my heart. I felt a spiritual calmness, a peace that warmed my heart beyond measure.

So my fellow dogs, it is not the price of something that makes it special, but the thought behind the gift and the reason we give it, to bless someone else as we receive a blessing in return.

Giving, from the heart truly is one of the greatest blessings we can receive.

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone and remember this is the season for giving joy and happiness, not just mindless “presents” as we have become so used to. The heart warming feeling it gives us if it is truly from the heart has no comparison when you experience the calmness and peace you get from your loving act.

Well stated.

Good evening Yard. We were without internet or phones for a while today, don't know the reason. Tomorrow a cold front moves in and brings bone-chilling temperatures overnight, so we will be staying in warm and cozy.

It was a ploy by starlink to see how long they had to take over all communication systems after initiating a blackout.

With all the rush for AI and pilot-less aircraft it reminds me of "SkyNet" from one of the Terminator movies, and robot armies as well.

I’ve always wondered if “The machines” could or would take over ever since I read a book as a kid called “Colossus the Forbin project”

Charles Forbin has dedicated the last ten years of his life to the construction of his own supercomputer, Colossus, rejecting romantic and social endeavors in order to create the United States' very first Artificially Intelligent defense system. Colossus is a supercomputer capable of in-taking and analyzing data rapidly, allowing it to make real time decisions about the nation's defense. But Colossus soon exceeds even Forbin's calculated expectations, learning to think independently of the Colossus Programming Office, processing data over one hundred times faster than Forbin and his team had originally anticipated. The President hands off full control of the nation's missiles and other defense protocols to Colossus and makes the announcement to the world that he has ensured peace. However, the USSR quickly announces that it too has a supercomputer, Guardian, with capabilities similar to that of Colossus. Forbin is concerned when Colossus asks-asks-to communicate with Guardian. The computer he built shouldn't be able to ask at all . . .

On that happy thought, good evening Scrap Yard. Getting down to 11 degrees tonight and only about 26 tomorrow during the day ; sure glad we have a full tank of propane.

Our high is supposed to be 22. Right now it’s 19 with a predicted low of 11 tonight.

Good morning, Yard.