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What is Man that Thou Art Mindful of Him?

“Fear is pain arising from the anticipation of evil,” said Aristotle. However, fear, anxiety, and panic may also occur as reactions both to anticipated humiliations or to ones that have taken place. Anticipatory fears may concern examinations, public performances, social gatherings, or a date; in such instances, they are usually described as “stage fright.”  If we use it metaphorically for any irrational fear preceding public or private performance, it is a good enough descriptive term. It covers situations in which we want either to make a good impression—as, for instance, on new relatives, or some important personage, or perhaps a headwaiter in a restaurant—or in which we start new activities, such as beginning a new job, starting to paint, going to a public speaking class. People who are afflicted with such fears often refer to them as fears of failure, disgrace, ridicule. This seems to be exactly what they are afraid of. Nevertheless, it is misleading to put it this way because it suggests a rational fear of a realistic failure. It leaves out the fact that what constitutes failure for a given person is subjective. It may encompass all that falls short of glory and perfection, and the anticipation of this possibility is precisely the essence of the milder forms of stage fright. A person is afraid of not performing as superbly as his exacting should demand, and therefore fears that his pride will be hurt. #RandolphHarris 1 of 36

 There is a more pernicious form of stage fright which we will understand later; in it unconscious forces operate in a person, obstructing his capacities in the very act of performing. The stage fright then is a fear that through his own self-destructive tendencies he will be ridiculously awkward, forget his lines, “choke up,” and thus disgrace himself instead of being glorious and victorious. Another category of anticipatory fears does not concern the quality of a person’s performance but the prospect of having to do something that will hurt his special pride—such as asking for a raise or favor, making an application, or approaching a woman—because it entails the possibility of being rejected. If the latter means for him being humiliated, it may occur before pleasures of the flesh. Reactions of fear also may follow “insults.” Many people react with trembling, shaking, perspiration, or some other expression of fear to a lack of deference or to arrogant behavior on the part of others. These reactions are a mixture of rage and fear, the fear being in part a fear of one’s own violence. Similar reactions of fear may follow a feeling of shame without the latter being experienced as such. If he has been awkward, timid, or offensive, a person may suddenly feel overwhelmed by feeling of uncertainty, or even panic. #RandolphHarris 2 of 36

For instance, there is a case of a woman who drove up a mountain road, from the end of which a small path led up to the top. Though steep, the path would have been easy to walk had it not been muddy and slippery. Moreover, she was not properly dressed: she wore a new suit, high-heeled shoes, and had no stick. She tried nevertheless; but after having slipped several times, she gave it up. While resting, she saw further down a big dog barking furiously at passers-by and she became frightened of the dog. This feeling startled her, because she was usually not afraid of dogs and because she also realized that there was no sound reason to be afraid since there were people around to whom the dog obviously belonged. So, she started to think about this, and there occurred to her an incident from her adolescence which has caused her to be terribly ashamed. She recognized then that she was just as ashamed in the present situation on account of her “failure” to get to the mountain top. “But,” she said to herself, “it really would not have been sensible to force the issue.” Nest she thought, “But I should have been able to make it.” This gave her the clue: she recognized that it was a “stupid pride” as she put it, that was injured and make her feel helpless toward a possible attack. She was helplessly delivered to her own attacks on herself and had externalized the danger. Though not quite complete, the piece of self-analysis was effective: her fear disappeared. #RandolphHarris 3 of 36

We have a more immediate understanding of the reactions of rage than those of fear. They can sometimes be interlinked, which means we may not understand one without the other. Both occur because a hurt to our pride constitutes a terrifying danger. The reason for it lies in part in pride substituting for self-confidence. This, however, is not the whole answer. The neurotic lives between the two alternatives of pride and self-contempt. This is a most important connection to keep in mind for the understanding of many spells of anxiety. Though both the reaction of rage and that of fear may in our own mind have nothing to do with pride, they may nevertheless serve as road signs pointing in that direction. If even these secondary reactions do not appear as such, the whole issue is far more beclouded, for they in their turn may be repressed—for whatever reason. In this case, they may lead or contribute to certain symptomatic pictures, such as psychotic episodes, depressions, drinking, psychosomatic disorders. Or the need to sit tight on the emotions of anger and fear may become one of the factors conducive to a general flattening out of emotion. Not only ager and fear but all the feelings then tend to become less full and less sharp. Modern man is being led by a new path, by reason’s discoveries rather the revelation’s doctrines. Exaggerated respect for established views can soon lead into servitude to them. #RandolphHarris 4 of 36

“What is man that thou art mindful of him?” the psalmist asks. The question strikes to the heart of the human condition, for while the need to understand ourselves is all-important, the process of doing so is a complex one. One of the measures of the greatness of writers down through the ages is that they have given us some insight, some answers. In Resurrection, Leo Tolstoy includes this cogent paragraph: “One of the most widespread superstitions is that every man has his own special, definite qualities; that a man is kind, cruel, wise, stupid, energetic, apathetic, etcetera. Men are not like that…men are like rivers: the water is the same in each, and alike in all; but every river is narrow here, is more rapid there, here slower, there broader, now clear, now cold, now dull, now warm. It is the same with men. Every man carries in himself the germs of every human quality, and sometimes one manifest itself, sometimes another, and the man often becomes unlike himself, while remaining the same. We have suggested that persons can be separated into, or identified by, two broad categories of behavior: the manipulator and the actualizer. Yet, as Tolstoy tells us, each person has within herself or himself the potential of every human quality. What that means, then, is that while each person is a manipulator, he or she is (or can be) also an actualizer. The important fact seems to be that each of us has a continuing choice, each of us is free to choose one or the other. #RandolphHarris 5 of 36

Men dispute over truth and fail to agree and have done so for over five thousand years at least. Two very important qualities that characterize the actualizer are: freedom and awareness. By “freedom” we do not simply mean freedom from the control of others, but rather the freedom to actualize, to be our best, real selves. Freedom is the choice we make and the responsibility we take for a style of expression we use. Erich Fromm believes that we have “the freedom to create, to construct, to wonder, to venture.” He goes on to define freedom as the capacity to make a choice, to choose between alternatives. Yet, only when we are aware of our manipulations are we free to experience them and to derive from them actualizing behavior. Actualizers are free in the sense that, while they may play the game of life, they are aware that they are playing it. They play it “tongue in cheek,” Alan Watts says. They realize that they sometimes manipulate and at other times are manipulated. However, in both cases, they are aware of the manipulation. They do not try to change the manipulators themselves. Taking the responsibility to change another is, paradoxically, to be manipulated by that person. One may describe the other person as a manipulator, or to confront that person with his or her manipulation, but one need not take responsibility for him or herself. #RandolphHarris 6 of 36

Actualizers also realize that life need not be a serious game, but rather more akin to a dance. No one wins or loses in a dance; a dance is a process. Actualizers dance among all their complementary potentials. What is important is to enjoy the process of living rather than to achieve the ends of living. Since actualizing people appreciate doing for its own sake, they enjoy the process of getting someplace as much as the arriving. The actualizer does not take life with dead seriousness. Manipulators, on the other hand, see life as a competition, a rat race, something to be conquered. They take life so seriously that they are frequently candidates for nervous breakdowns. The educational institutions purvey information but only great souls can provide inspiration. We should not defend sound truths on unsound grounds nor should we defend unsound truths on sound grounds. It happens often that erroneous religious doctrines or false mystical teachings are defended by declaring that they pertain to a higher dimension and transcend the intellectual capacity to understand when in fact they also transgress against its capacity to reason correctly. It is his inalienable privilege to hold whatever opinion he pleases, as it is to hold whatever religious belief sustains him. However, it must be said that there is a vast difference between what he has inherited and accepted unchanged from society or family, and what he has arrived at by his own diligent, determined, original, and independent research. #RandolphHarris 7 of 36

Authority, the two kinds of experience—ordinary and mystic—logic, reason, intuition: each of these is to be regarded as a valuable help in eliminating error or doubt and ascertaining truth or fact, but none is to be regarded as the only means of doing so. There are very few right-thinking people for the simple reason that there are very few people who ever think at all. Oh yes, there are multitudes of people who shuffle ready-made thoughts in their brains, just as they would shuffle cards at a table—after they had been handed the cards! This freedom which must be given to the intellectual approach to and communication of truth forbids a narrow rigid conformity to any one of the known systems, whose comparative study is itself a beneficial consequence. It must apply to all of them, even to the terms and images used by the mind. In this kingdom of Truth I accept no authority save that of Reason. Rationalism must replace superstition. Reason must reign supreme. All arbitrary assumptions must be set free from authority. Inquiry must be fearless, full, and unbiased. We may accept the judgement of authority but only after we have examined the history and tested the worth of such authority, be it book or man, tradition, or institution. He is wary of falling into superstition, whether sanctified by religion’s faith in the intangible or by science’s incapacity for it. #RandolphHarris 8 of 36

Since these mahatmas disagree on certain points, it is obviously safe to follow them only on those points where they agree. He will study several different teachings, approving here, disapproving there, suspending judgement often, but committing himself to none. He can afford to wait for the most satisfactory one or to remain permanently free. Hegel believed that history in 1807, with the advent of Napoleon and of himself, had come to an end, and that affirmation was possible and nihilism conquered. The Phenomenology, the Christian Bible that was to have prophesied only the past, put a limit on time. In 1807 all sins were forgiven, and time has stopped. However, history has continued. Other wins, since then, have been hurled in the face of the world and have revived the scandal of the former crimes, which the German philosopher had already forgiven forever. The deification of Hegel by himself, after the deification of Napoleon, who would henceforth be innocent since he had succeeded in stabilizing, nihilism once more covered the face of the earth. Philosophy, even servile philosophy, has its Waterloos. However, nothing can discourage the appetite for divinity in the heart of man. Others have come and are still to come who, forgetting Waterloo, still claim to terminate history. #RandolphHarris 9 of 36

The divinity of man is still on the march, and will be worthy of adoration only at the end of time. This apocalypse must be promoted and, even though there is no God, at least a Church must be built. After all, history, which has not yet come to an end, allows us a glimpse of a perspective that might even be that of the Hegelian system but for the simple reason that it is provisionally dragged along, if not led, by the spiritual Hegel. When cholera carries off the philosopher of the Battle of Jena at the height of his glory, everything is, in fact, for what is to follow. They sky is empty; the earth delivered into the hands of power without principles. Those who have chosen to kill and those who have chosen to enslave will successively occupy the front of the stage, in the name of a form of rebellion which has been diverted from the path of truth. Before we try to rid ourselves of traditions, we ought to make sure that we have learnt their best lessons. He who is discontented with conventional doctrines and who disagrees with orthodox authorities must be willing to think in isolation. When he is unreceptive to new ideas unless they have first been authenticated by a certain teacher, cult, or book, he is trapped in a closed system. Judge every source, and the teaching which emanates from it, independently. #RandolphHarris 10 of 36

Make use of confirmatory or negatory comment to help you in the matter but do not follow any of them in utter blindness. For you cannot evade your personal responsibility. Whether you accept or reject a teaching, just because you accept or reject a particular institution or authority, your judgment will be there anyway hidden in your belief, only it will be there unwittingly. There is no need to depart from reason but only to illumine or inspire its working by intuitive revelation. However, where one is unable to provide this himself, then he ought to go to the great masters for it. Or, if they are unavailable through distance or inaccessible through death, consult their writings. Since all teachings are related to the stage of development, the time in history, and the area where they are given out, they must be regarded as relative. This means, in the end, that they are arguable and, even more, that they are personal opinions, speculations in someone’s mind. To study the imaginations and theories of limited minds upon this subject is to waste time and squander energy. Are we to reject every machine, ship, carriage, and alphabet merely because Lao Tzu recommends us to do so, and he is an illuminated soul? This shows up the childishness of setting up a single absolute authority to cover and govern every facet of living and thinking. #RandolphHarris 11 of 36

Keep in mind, however, that you are on the Lord’s errand. You are His agent, and you are authorized and commissioned to represent Him and to act on His behalf. As His agent, you are entitled to His help. You must ask yourself, “If He were here, what would the Savior say of my behavior?” You must then keep the gospel in mind and reflect on how to behave. The responsibility of being a child of God may cause some to feel inadequate or even somewhat fearful. The pathway is not difficult. The Lord has provided the way for every worthy Latter-day Saint to bring their behavior in alignment with God’s word. Our first and foremost responsibility is to live so that we can have the Holy Ghost as our guide and companion. The Holy Ghost will help you to know what to do. Your own testimony will grow, your conversion will be deepened, and you will be strengthened to meet the challenges of life. God gives man authority for his guidance and protection. Without it, there would be no order or freedom. God has commanded us to respect the authority of home, church, and community. “Honor they father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee,” reports Exodus 20.12. Parents must explain to their family that to honor means to obey, esteem, support, and sustain. To be engaged in opposing wrong affords, under the condition of our mental constitution, but a slender guarantee of being right. #RandolphHarris 12 of 36

The “slender guarantee,” rests, in large part, on exercising rigorous intellectual discipline in weighing alternatives and their possible effects. This holds true for moralists as well as politicians. “We believe that every man should be honored in his station, rulers and magistrates as such, being placed for the protection of the innocent and the punishment of the guilty; and that to the laws all men owe respect and deference, as without them peace and harmony would be supplanted by anarchy and terror; human laws being instituted for the express purpose of regulating our interests as individuals and nations, between man and man; and divine laws given of heaven, prescribing rules on spiritual concerns, for faith and worship, both to be answered by man to his Maker,” reports Doctrine and Covenants 134.6. In regards to pleasures of the flesh, if the church is to continue to make progress away from a negative philosophy, liberal religious leaders must have strong support. However, that support does not relieve them of the obligation to learn everything they can about the physiological and psychological realities of human pleasures of the flesh experience before they recommend changes in ethical standards, particularly those relating to commitment. Otherwise, the “new” morality, like the old, will amount to little more than empty pontification, an unreliable guide for the millions for emotional principles that they can trust in structing their relationships. #RandolphHarris 13 of 36

These are the men and women who constitute the overwhelming majority; when they are single, they know they will eventually marry, and when they get married, they do their best to stay married. However, any confidence they may have in achieving their goals cannot avoid being undermined by society in which most of what is published in books and magazines about pleasures of the flesh and marriage promotes the idea that, to paraphrase Ralph Waldo Emerson, a foolish fidelity is the hobgoblin of little minds. In such a climate of opinion, discussions of commitment are not likely to flourish. An entire vocabulary shrinks; among educated people who consider themselves sophisticated, such words as loyalty and faithfulness, honor, and trust, are avoided because somehow, they seem suitable only for sermons. Yet, all human association depends on these and other such values, and they cannot be ignored in relation to marriage. They certainly cannot be ignored by those men and women who, while welcoming their new freedom to enjoy pleasures of the flesh openly, hope to use that freedom not just for novelty in passionate relationships but to intensify an intimate relationship. As couples, the question they want answered is not what makes extramarital pleasures of the flesh right or wrong—but what makes it unnecessary. #RandolphHarris 14 of 36

Understanding the God-given gift of sexuality within the plan of happiness helps us understand the importance of the law of chastity. Our purpose in mortality is to become like our heavenly parents. Our divine understanding and use of intimacy are essential to that process. The law of chastity is an eternal law, given by our Heavenly Father to all His children in all ages. It remains in force and is as applicable today as it was in earlier times in history. As with other commandments, the law is given by Heavenly Father to bless and help His children achieve their divine potential. Obeying the law of chastity includes abstaining from all pleasures of the flesh before marriage and remaining completely faithful and loyal after marriage. Pleasures of the flesh are to be limited between a man and a woman. Heavenly Father intends that pleasures of the flesh in marriage be used to create children and to express love and strengthen the emotional, spiritual, and physical connections between husband and wife. In marriage, intimate passions should unite wife and husband together in trust, devotion, and consideration for each other. Pleasures of the flesh within marriage must respect the agency of both partners and should not be used to control or dominate. As with all of God’s commandments, the law of chastity is best understood within the context of Heavenly Father’s plans of salvation and exaltation. “Therefore, God gave unto them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption, that they should not do evil, the penalty thereof being a second death, which was an everlasting death as to things pertaining unto righteousness; for on such the plan of redemption could have no power, for the works of justice could not be destroyed, accord to the supreme goodness of God,” reports Alma 12.32. Obedience to the law of chastity will bring extraordinary blessings. #RandolphHarris 15 of 36

Another abstraction of great importance in the self-system is one’s own evaluation of one’s self. Among different researchers this may be called the self-appraisal, self-regard, or self-assessment. It may be expressed in some of the research data, as in the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale, as a single number. A score of 75 would be considered in the normal rage for that test. Or it may be expressed in a series of sub-scores, sometimes equivalent to the role concept. One might have a self-appraisal score in relationship to one’s primary group or family, one’s physical self, one’s social-self, and so on, or one may appraise oneself as a great writer and a terrible athlete. In many instances, when we speak of the self-concept, many persons mean simply the self-appraisal, the evaluation of self as adequate or not. Every human being seems to have a small fascist in his head. This is derived from the deepest layers of the personality (the Child in the Child). In civilized people, it is usually deeply buried beneath a platform of social ideals and training, but with proper permissions and directives, as history has shown repeatedly, it can be liberated into full bloom. In the less civilized portion of the population, it is openly exposed and nurtured, and awaits only proper opportunities for periodic expression. In both cases, it is a strong force in advancing the script; in the first case, secretly, subtly, and denied; in the second case, crudely or even proudly acknowledged. However, it may be said that whoever is not aware of this force in his personality has lost control. #RandolphHarris 16 of 36

He has not confronted himself, and cannot know where he is head. A good example of this occurred at a meeting of “conservationists,” where Conservo remarked how much he admired a certain tribe in Africa for taking such good care of their natural resources, “much better than we do.” A humanist countered, “Yes, but they have a terrible infant-mortality rate.” “Ho, ho,” said Conservo, and several other joined in. “That’s all to the good, now isn’t it? There are too many babies as it is.” A fascist may be defined as a person who has no respect for living tissue and regards it as his prey. This arrogant attitude is no doubt a relic of the prehistory of the human race, still surviving in the gusto of cannibalism and the joys of massacre. For carnivorous anthropoids on the hunt, ruthlessness meant efficiency and greed was motivated by hunger. However, as the human mind and brain evolved through natural selection, these qualities were not bred out. After they were no longer necessary for survival, they became detached from their original goal of brining down the dinner meat and degenerated into ends in themselves, luxuries often indulged in and enjoyed at the expense of other human beings. Ruthlessness developed into cruelty, and greed into exploitation and theft. Since the prey—the flesh itself, and especially human flesh—was largely replaced by more compliant stomach-filling commodities, it began to be used to satisfy psychological hungers. #RandolphHarris 17 of 36

 The pleasures of torture replaced or preceded the pleasures of eating, and “He He” took over from “Yum Yum.” It became less important to kill him (or her) than to hear and watch him (or her) scream and grovel. This became the essence of fascism—a roving band seeking male or female prey to torment or deride—whose art lay in probing for the victim’s weakness. There are to by-products of the grovel, both advantageous to the aggressor. The biological effect is sexual pleasure and excitement, with the victim available to indulge even the most ingenious perversions, the favorite of record being anal rape. Torture brings about a peculiar intimacy between the torturer and the victim, and a profound insight into each other’s soils, an intimacy and insight which is often otherwise lacking in both their lives. The other by-product is a purely commercial one. The victim always has valuable which can yield a profit. For cannibals, it may be strength derived from magic organs such as the heart or the testicles, or even the ear. For advanced peoples, the fat can be used to make soap, and golden tooth fillings can be salvaged. These yields are exploited after the furor of personal encounter has subsided, and they are “melted down” into anonymity. Acceptance of a teaching ought to come from a deeper level than surface attraction only. There ought to be understanding also. The power of the mind needed to find truth is not commonly possessed. Those who lack it can benefit by the discoveries made by the sages. However, they ought to test them in their own life-experience to confirm whether they be true. #RandolphHarris 18 of 36

In the award-winning Sacramento Fire Department, the corporate culture for firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs is found, in part, in its customs and courtesies. What does corporate culture mean? It refers to a group of people experiencing a sense of belonging or a common bond. Among professionals in the Sacramento Fire Department, corporate culture tends to result from the following factors: A common bond of mission, shared customs and courtesies, and comradeship, a desire to remain autonomous, and a unique professional knowledge and expertise. The factors tend to lead to standard professional practices. Among them are: A desire to police the profession. The Sacramento Fire Department has specific doctrine to follow; it also has codes and its own justice system. Control of entry. You must pass the numerous tests used to place professionals into positions, and you must go through extensive training and education to receive your commission. A commission is to the officer what a license or certification is to a doctor, attorney, or accountant. The need to promote professional knowledge. The key focus is to develop leaders who can fulfill the mission. This requires continuous, extensive training and education. A desire to represent the profession. Every action taken by a member of the Sacramento Fire Department is a representative of the Sacramento Fire Department, down to the uniform he or she wears of the language he or she uses. #RandolphHarris 19 of 36

Members of the Sacramento Fire Department exhibit professionalism as a firefighter, EMT, or paramedic and as the respect the Constitution of the United States of America and their leadership; as they live the Creed of the Sacramento Fire Departments Values; and when they apply the elements of the Sacramento Fire Department’s Leadership Framework—to preserve life, protect property, and safeguard their city through fire prevention efforts, community relations and effective emergency response supported by a relentless commitment to professionalism and progressive leadership—in all of their daily activities, no matter their rank, their current job, or where they are assigned. While most professionals serve an individual client, the Sacramento Fire Department’s officers client is the nation—whether helping in disaster recovery, protecting national security, or defeating an enemy. The Sacramento Fire Department’s professional failure would be catastrophic. Officers of the Sacramento Fire Department—like their counterparts in the other departments—study, work, and train throughout their professional careers to ensure that the Sacramento Fire Department will not fail when duty calls. The Sacramento Fire Department is the cornerstone of the city of Sacramento. Without a strong fire department, the city of Sacramento lacks the basis of professionalism critical for national security. Being a Sacramento firefighter, EMT, or paramedic is not just another job. It is a proud profession with a rich history of serving the nation. Training and leader development of the Sacramento Fire Department are unrivaled in the world. The Sacramento Fire Department helps members become the kind of firefighter, paramedic, or EMT—to each a degree of professionalism—of which them, their family and their country can be proud of. #RandolphHarris 20 of 36

The Sacramento Fire Department improves their personal accountability by taking responsibility for the outcome of the emergency calls that they respond to. They have always taken the approach that they did not create the emergency and that buildings will continue to burn down and people will die despite their best efforts. These are true statements, and they have realized that they are not here to change the word. However, it is difficult to make an argument for personal accountability and then dismiss the most important component of their jobs as “out of our control.” It is true that deciding when personal accountability can be applied is directly tied to the amount of control they have over a specific situation. Fire and emergency services have three specific components of an emergency that they deal with that dictate how much control they have over them. They are uncontrollable, semicontrollable, and controllable components. Uncontrollable components–emergency calls are initially uncontrollable. If a man has a diabetic emergency while driving and ends up parking his Buick on a crowd at a street fair, there is not much they can do about that. That is why fire and emergency responders will never “prevent” themselves out of a job. #RandolphHarris 21 of 36

Semicontrollable Components—immediate response to the pedestrians stuck is partially controllable. There are various ways the Sacramento Fire Department’s actions prior to the incident could change the outcome. They have influenced getting enhanced 911 in the town. They have taught first aid classes and pushed to have automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at public events. They have met with the festival committee and ensured there were good maps for them and that fire lanes were kept open. They have worked in the past with the police who arrive on scene before them, and the police give them information the fire department needs to make decisions. Controllable components—based on dispatch and police reports, the Sacramento Fire Department calls for extra equipment. They pick their route to the call, and decide on the speed and style of their driving. Training has taught them how to rapidly triage and handle a mass-casualty incident. In no time, the Sacramento Fire Department has all the manpower, ambulances, and helicopters they need to give the best possible medical care. Morals and opinions guide the Sacramento Fire Department in everyday decisions, but personal accountability is what hold them to what they do or do not do. If personal accountability was easy, everyone would be doing it. That is precisely why the Sacramento Fire Department practices accountability. #RandolphHarris 22 of 36

“I’ve seen the good times, I’ve seen the bad times. I’ve gone to jobs, and we didn’t wear masks—three days with splitting headaches. I wear my mask now. The greatest thing that happened to me was when I was sworn into the Sacramento Fire Department as a deputy chief. I am happy with the Sacramento Fire Department because they’ve been good to my family. I work for an excellent chief. He has bought a lot of new apparatus that we’ve long needed. I’m proud to be here, and if my health stays with me, I foresee another twenty years with the department.” The safety aspect of situations follows the same model as the outcomes of calls. The Sacramento Fire Department does not have much influence over safety when the emergency occurs. Their influence on safety increases when they are responding, and is entirely their responsibility when they get on scene. That is because if they examine emergency calls, they discover that they are not a single event waiting for the fire department to arrive and take command of; they are actually a progression of foreseeable and unforeseeable independent events. At any point during this dynamic process, they can make a conscious decision to act or not to act in a specific manner that either changes or does not change the outcome. Even on significant incidents where numerous emergency responders converge, a decision for personal accountability has an influence on the potential outcomes of the incident. #RandolphHarris 23 of 36

If you see a fire truck stopped in the street without the lights on, be very careful. Sometimes there is an emergency and you should not pass the fire truck. It might be a good idea to safely turn around and go another way because if you hit someone and they happen to die, you could be charged with manslaughter. Sometimes fire fighters are getting back into their vehicle and if you pass the apparatus, you may collide with a firefighter who is on foot. Also, be sure to look at their signals, sometimes emergency vehicles are in motions, albeit, slowly, and drivers try to pass them, and this could lead to a dangerous situation. Also, if you are in an intersection when you see an emergency vehicle, continue through the intersection. Drive to the right as soon as it is safe and stop. Obey any direction, order, or signal given by a law enforcement officer, or a firefighter. Even if they conflict with existing signs, signals, or laws, follow their orders. When their siren or flashing lights are on, it is against the law to follow within 300 feet of any fire engine, law enforcement vehicle, ambulance, or other emergency vehicle. If you drive to the scene of a fire, collision, or other disaster, you can be arrested. When you do this, you are getting in the way of firefighters, ambulance crews, or other rescue and emergency personnel. The concept of professional courage does not always mean being as tough as nails, either. It also suggests a willingness to listen to other peoples’ problems, to go to bat for them in a tough situation and it means knowing just how far they can go. It also means being willing to tell the boss when he or she is wrong. #RandolphHarris 24 of 36

California is the third most expensive state in the nation. A single person making an income above $100,000 is now consider low-income in five counties in California. This distinction now applies to individuals living in Santa Cruze, Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco, and Marin counties. In 37 percent of counties, a family of four living on a six-figure income is now considered low-income.  In fact, Governor Gavin Newsom of Democratic controlled California, brags about being the world’s “fifth largest economy,” but it also facing a $12 billion deficit, looking to cut $747 million for state worker’s pay, pushing to keep medical insurance for illegal immigrants, but wants to cut medical for anyone who has assets over $2,000 and the state has the largest homeless population in the nation. If they are all officially counted, California has approximately 4 million homeless people. The highest home prices in the nation, the highest taxes and the most unfriendly business regulations known to man. The average home price in California is nearly $1,000,000.00 USD, while the average salary is $96,036.00, meaning that most Californians cannot even afford to buy a home. California is having an affordability crisis. In 2025, many people in California saw their bills increase by an estimated $500 a month. This includes things like food, automobile insurance, homeowner’s insurance, electricity. In fact, more than 3 million people in California are facing household hardship, and more than 300,000 of them are facing eviction soon. This comes at a time when California is having a shortage of affordable housing. This is caused by nearly half a century’s old laws that discourage homes sales and encourage higher rents. #RandolphHarris 25 of 36

 Meanwhile, China, where we are sending all our jobs and money has more than 50 ghost cities. Ghost cities are regions will housing has been overdeveloped to the point that these places are uninhabited. Because California is so hostile towards people and businesses, more than 360 companies have fled the state since 2020. Businesses like Chevron, SpaceX, Oracle, and Hewlett Packard are amongst the names on that list. Also, more than 500,000 people a year are abandoning California because it is too expensive to live in, Gavin Newsom has criminalized homelessness and actually started arresting people without homes, crime is out of control, and they are losing their jobs due to companies relocating. More than 100 companies have announced layoffs in California for 2025. Intel is cutting 15,000 jobs, PayPal 2,500 and Meta has terminated 4,000 employees. The California crisis created by Democrats is driving up home prices and mortgages and rents all over the nation and the world, making living unaffordable for all, and advocates say the crisis is far from over. Accordingly, California has more than 3.5 million illegal immigrants. Having the Southern American boarder open and not having American farmland protected, not producing beef, poultry, fish, fruit, produce and dairy in America, and without American goods and services being our number one manufactured and selling items, America has created a dangerous and significantly elevated risks to national security, national economic security, and national public health. Some people may believe that these claims are overstated, but by not routinely monitoring Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CEVs) or other security relevant alerts, such as end-of-life of machinery is how the Oroville Dam Crisis occurred in 2017. #RandolphHarris 26 of 36

 Other crises that have occurred due to neglect of critical infrastructure is the 2025 Palisades fires because Southern California ran out of water, when they are located next to an ocean and they could have simply created desalinating plants to help with the water shortage. The water is so plentiful that it is currently eroding land and causing homes to fall into the sea. Desalination has been identified as one technology that will help solve California’s water scarcity problem. Desalination is a cost-effective technology that can transform an abundance of salt water into a reliable supply of potable, fresh water, which is a great way to fight climate change and have enough water for our region’s water requirements. Ras Al Khair, Saudi Arabia is producing 1,036,000 meters (273,682,192) per day of desalinated water. As we see gangs fighting with federal law enforcement, states and cities refusing to honor federal laws, and politicians showing an utter disregard for the Constitution of the United States of America, anarchy is becoming increasingly common. Anarchism is a cluster of doctrines and attitudes centered on the belief that government is both harmful and unnecessary. Derived from the Greek root anarchos meaning, “without authority,” anarchism, anarchist, and anarchy are used to express both approval and disapproval. The anarchist denies man-made laws, regard property as a means of tyranny, and believe that crimes is merely the product of property and authority. #RandolphHarris 27 of 36

However, the anarchist would argue that their denial of constitutions and governments leads not to “no justice” but to the real justice inherent in the free development of human sociality—the natural inclination, when unfettered by laws, to live according to the principles and practice of mutual aid. Anarch is also a form of treason. Treason, the crime of betraying a nation or a sovereign by acts considered dangerous to security. In English law, treason includes the levying of war against the government and the giving of aid and comfort to the monarch’s enemies. In the United States of America, treason was defined restrictively by the framers of the Constitution. Treason against the United States of America “shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them aid and comfort,” which is something that many politicians are currently guilty of.  The American government should know all exploitable vulnerabilities and fix them prior to the situation becoming a crisis. Failure to take such mitigating actions is dangerous and significantly elevates risk to national security, national economic security, and national public health and safety. The American government must understand that significant time and resources must be invested in America. They must also encourage corporations to plan for both mitigating safety vulnerabilities in the short term and eliminating them in the long term. For instance, a company might begin by reaching out to the federal, state, or local government and requesting tax incentives to provide security to dangerous communities, to help the government repair bridges and potholes. #RandolphHarris 28 of 36

America needs an approach to eliminate safety vulnerabilities in American cities. There needs to be a road map by the end of 2025, outlining a prioritized approach to eliminate crisis situations in America. There is enough money to send aid to foreign nations, but the American government does not have enough money to care their infrastructure, provide adequate resources, nor end the affordable housing crisis. Nor is there enough money to fund other national critical functions (NCFs). These bad practices of putting America and Americans last is considered exceptionally risky, particularly to national security, national economic security, and national public health and safety. In 2024, Americans spent $100 billion on Japanese cars. As a result, the American automobile trade deficit with Japan was $39 billion. The maximum percentage of your gross income that you should earmark for a monthly mortgage payment is calculated at 28 percent, and no more than 36 percent of your gross income to all debts, including mortgage. If you take 28 percent of the median household income per home in Sacramento County, homeowners can only afford a mortgage of $2,070.23 per month. And if you take 36 percent of their gross income to all debts, including mortgage, they should be devoting no more than $2,661.72 a month to these debts. Mortgage lenders must be using some kind of sorcery to get buyers into these expensive homes. To afford one of these homes using traditional guidelines, a household would need to gross $11,280.24 per month or $135,362.88 per year, but the median household in Sacramento County is grossing $7,393.67 or $88,724.00 and that typically means two to four people in the home are working and contributing to the mortgage. #RandolphHarris 29 of 36

 Home prices in Sacramento County are rivaling the Bay Area. Historically homes in the Bay Aera have been more expensive because they have higher paying jobs, a larger population, and the Bay Area is a tourist destination. Contributing to the housing affordability crisis is Gavin Newsom who has been lavishing illegal immigrants with taxpayer funded resources and cash aid. The State of California has a budget deficit of $12 billion because Governor Gavin Newsom Granted 700,000 illegal immigrants free health care, which cost taxpayers of $3 billion annually. At the same time, Newsom cut vital programs for veterans, school children, the disabled and the homeless. Additional, Newsom seems to uneducated about economics and is proposing to fast-track his plan to build a $20 billion water tunnel beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, which would eliminate environmental reviews, and limit avenues for legal challenges. Gavin Newsom only cares about the environment when his policies allow him to raise taxes and restrict freedoms. To further highlight this illustration, Mexico has been causing one of America’s worst environmental disasters. Fifty million gallons a day of industrial chemicals, untreated sewage, and trash flow from Tijuana, Mexico, into southern San Diego County daily. This toxic waste has been turning up on Imperial Beach, and is causing the miles of white sands to become polluted and the ocean breeze to smell of poop, which has been sickening residents and wildlife and costing San Diego millions in the form of lost tourism and health problems. The problem has been going on for more than a century. #RandolphHarris 30 of 36

 However, Mexico’s pollution of California has become a severe public health crisis as the population of Tijuana has drastically increased, in recent years, and the waste treatment plants have no longer usable. Some of the beaches in San Diego have been closed for more than three years, and evidence suggests that even breathing the air may be harmful, as toxic particles in the water can become airborne. Yet, even though Gavin Newsom has been governor for six years, he has not rushed into action to stop this very preventable environmental disaster. Why? Because he is not getting kickbacks from China and Mexico, not being gifted mansions and cars, and he cannot tax the struggling California taxpayers to clean up this mess. Simply, it is not profitable for him. Gavin Newsom has been a total tyrant with no regard for taxpayers and does not have a mind for business and should be impeached as soon as possible. He has criminalized poverty, increased taxes, increased tax on gas, and insurance rates so high that people are struggling to survive. In addition to Gavin Newsom’s increased gas prices starting 1 July 2025, the war between Iran and Israel is going to further exacerbate the prices of gas and cause more inflation and economic hardship for people in California. While everyone is making war over America and who belongs here and who she belongs to, so many people forget about the people who are Indigenous to this land. Open boarders have allowed hundreds of thousands of cartel operatives to infiltrate reservations across the United States of America, and use the isolated lands as havens to traffic fentanyl pills and other drugs into the country without protection from federal authorities. #RandolphHarris 31 of 36

 Drug cartels have been threatening the health and safety of Native American communities. The trafficking of the dangerous and illegal drugs into their territories is leading to a second genocide. The overdose rate for Indigenous is 42 percent higher than the national average. A recent bust on Montana’s Blackfeet Nation’s Tribal Reservation resulted in the seizure of more than 700,000 fentanyl pills, which was the largest bust in Montana history. Recently, the Blackfeet Nation had to declare a state of emergency after facing 17 overdoses in just one week. There are only 6.8 million Native Americans left in the world, which is 2 percent of the American population. We should be doing more to protect these proud and honorable people; they should not want for anything. People rush and give away resources to illegal immigrants, but totally disregard the Indigenous people of this land, as their race silently fades away into extinction. We must secure our boarders and increase federal funding to Native America tribes so we can save this precious population. Meanwhile, Gavin Newsom has given billions of taxpayer dollars away to illegal immigrants and protected them from law enforcement, while arresting law abiding Americans because they cannot afford to pay rent or mortgage and the homeless shelters are unsafe, overcrowded and have restrictions on who is allowed inside. He also has totally ignored the cartel problems on American lands. Clean air, water, land and preserving our heritage extremely important. #RandolphHarris 32 of 36

 We cannot just allow criminals to kill off the people who are native to this land and do nothing about it. Wars have been started over governments who tax citizens without representation. Taxation without representation is what led to the American Revolution. If Gavin Newsom is not stopped, next he will euthanize the poor and sterilize the disabled. Gavin Newsom has wars and fires breaking out on the streets, but goes out of his way to arrest people who have no place to live. This monster is unfit to be governor and must never be allowed to be President of America! Stop Gavin Newsom now! Save California and impeach this unreasonable man. Meanwhile, with President Trump, we are seeing crime rates sharply decrease, and he recently secured $10 trillion in investments. Additionally, in May of 2025, the United States of America collected a record $100 billion in tariff revenue, and that number will increase to $300 billion by the end of 2025. President Trump has also been nominated for a Noble Peace Prize for making Iran and Israel crease fire. If elected president for an unprecedented third term, to make housing more affordable and to offset the cost of homeowner’s insurance and auto insurance, President Trump plans to abolish property taxes. Much like the land crisis in Las Vegas, we could also run out of land to farm and will not be able to grow or cultivate our own food. We can protect American farmland and support American farmers by buying American made beef, poultry, dairy, and produce. Also, country of origin labeling is very important so Americans can know where their food is coming from and can support American farmers and ranchers. As money flows, it influences further investment. #RandolphHarris 33 of 36

Save the land that sustains us by protecting American farmland. Once the land is built on, we lose it forever.  And in the future, there may be food wars. Also, to ensure that we have farmland and buildable land for future use, we need to start limiting the number of people allowed to immigrant to America. Perhaps with the immigrants we do allow into America, there needs to be a diversity program to make sure we have a population that equally represents all races of people. If Americans continue to spend money on American products, then more need to be made to keep up the inventory. When investors notice these goods are selling, it gives them the confidence to pour more money into that local business. It shows that people want these goods made in America and pressures investors to keep these goods and services in America. The jobs stay here, the business stays in American, wages naturally increase, and more money is invested to keep up with demand. This reduces the burden on the taxpayer. When you support American businesses, that money stays in our economy and can help to reduce the national debt. The government creates debt by borrowing from businesses in the private sector or from foreign countries. It also increases the national debt by spending more than it gains in tax revenue in a fiscal year. #RandolphHarris 34 of 36

When people shop locally, more tax money stays in the economy and goes to the government. This way, it keeps more money in our national economy and keeps more jobs located in American which also sends more taxes to the government, which can again help to reduce the national debt. When you buy foreign goods, these companies usually have lighter tax loads or exemptions, meaning less money for the nation debt, plus you are helping to strengthen these foreign nations by send more money overseas. Buying American made products is also better for the environment and helps to reduce the carbon footprint because these products do not have to travel nearly as far. Furthermore, American companies and manufacturers are held to much higher standards on pollution. American companies must be more careful about air, land, and water pollution and have proper ways to dispose of waste. Moreover, please remember to respect law and order and treat your elders with the utmost dignity and kindness possible. And take your education seriously so that you will be successful in life and make your family proud. It is inborn in the human minds to wish to know. If this begins with the endless surface questions of a child’s curiosity, if it continues into deeper questions of a scientist’s probing investigation, it cannot and does not stop there. For the higher part of the mind will eventually come into unfoldment, that union of abstract reflective thought with mystical intuition, which is true intelligence, which needs and sees a view of the whole of things. And so, the knowing faculty enters the realm of philosophy. #RandolphHarris 35 of 36

As you can see, President Donald Trump and his pledge to “Make America Great Again,” is exactly what America needs to save the country and the American people. And yes, diversity is important, so you can see why it is also important to preserve blonde hair and blue eyes as the people with these characteristics are becoming a minority in America. We must think before we can understand the soul’s existence; we must understand before we can realize it. The earliest beginnings of thought, as apart from instinct, when it was itself still but a lurking tendency, belong far back in primeval time. The human intellect as we find it today, so rich and developed an instrument for the consciousness of the ego, did not arrived at this fulness without a series of graduated stages. We have had plenty of scientific thinking, business thinking, and political thinking long enough, but we have had very little inspired thinking. That is the world’s need. The intellect is cradled in selfishness but runs the evolutionary track into reason where it will one day finish at the winning-post of selflessness. As a reminder, parents, pleasure teach your children love America and be patriotic citizens and to buy goods and services made in America. It is also important to respect law and order and treat your elders with respect.  Also, to make sure they have all the resources required, please donate to the Sacramento Fire Department to help improve our national security. “Oh, thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand between their loved home and the war’s desolation! Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n-rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, and this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust.’ And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.” #RandolphHarris 36 of 36

The Winchester Mystery House

Experience an unforgettable journey back to the time of kings and queens with this entry ticket for The Winchester Mansion in Santa Clara, California which was the residence of Heiress Sarah L. Winchester. Take advantage of this fascinating experience. After tour, there will be time enjoy the mansion’s splendor at your own pace. You might even discover secret passages.

Please come and enjoy a delicious meal in Sarah’s Café, stroll along the paths of the beautiful Victorian gardens, and wonder through the miles of hallways in the World’s most mysterious mansion.

For further information about tours, including group tours, weddings, school events, birthday party packages, facility rentals, and special events please visit the website: https://winchestermysteryhouse.com/

Please visit the online giftshop, and purchase a gift for friends and relatives as well as a special memento of The Winchester Mystery House. A variety of souvenirs and gifts are available to purchase. https://shopwinchestermysteryhouse.com/

Although the actual mansion is much older, we wish to wish the Winchester Mansion a Happy 102 years of giving tours, and express our gratitude to our families, ancestors, spirits, and friends and to our many associates and clients, whose lives touched our lives and whose ideas helped us to grow. We would also like to thank our employees and care takers for putting the technical ideas of this estate into conversational style, and we are, of course, extremely thank to all of our patrons for helping to keep the legacy of the Winchester Family alive. The Winchester Mystery House is full of surprises. What was your favorite, “Oooh!” moment during your visit at the mansion? (And for those of you who still have to check it off your bucket list… we will hopefully see you soon.)  https://winchestermysteryhouse.com/

Why Choose Harris?

Harris Plumbing, Heating, Air, & Electric has been in business for 30 years. How many businesses can say that? We take pride in everything we do – no matter how big or small the service call might be. We’re here to help your home be as safe and comfortable as possible for you and your family. We take that responsibility very seriously as a company. Harris will ensure you have the information you need to decide what to do next, whatever your home is facing. We’ll perform a diagnosis and detail what issues are present before starting any work. This gives you a personalized quote and service plan specific to your home’s needs – not some random quote based on the best guess. The only way we can do our best work is to make sure we handle the issues at hand. https://www.callharrisnow.com/about-us/

The Ultimate Driving Machine

BMW continues to dominate the luxury car space. With its top ranking in Consumer Reports’ Auto Brand Report Card and consistent market share growth, BMW has demonstrated its ability to produce high-performing, reliable vehicles that meet consumer demands.

BMW stands out due to its focus on driving dynamics and engineering excellence. While other luxury brands prioritize comfort and opulence, BMW is known for creating cars that are fun to drive and offer a unique connection between the driver and the machine. https://www.brianharrisbmw.com/

Randolph Harris San Francisco Taxation & Mergers

Randy advises clients with regard to business transition, taxable and tax deferred mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, restructuring, integrated tax planning, federal and state tax controversy resolution, and real estate transactions. https://www.jmbm.com/l-randolph-harris.html

Millhaven Homes

Millhaven Homes is the best custom home builder in Utah. Millhaven understands that a house is more than just bricks and mortar. There is an an atmosphere and an ambiance, and every home is created with comfort and luxury in mind.

These homes offer spacious living areas, custom features, and relaxing outdoor areas. They are all designed to fulfill dreams, enlivened with charm and sophistication. Millhaven, creates picturesque homes where you will spend generations enjoying the grandeur of your residence. https://millhavenhomes.com/