Randolph Harris II International Institute

Home » Posts tagged 'Hotpotting'

Tag Archives: Hotpotting

Satan Wants You Back!

At the center of marriage stands the union of body and mind between the spouses. Because this union’s significance extends beyond the couple themselves, the groom calls upon the entire world—indeed, the whole cosmos—to bear witness. In true Renaissance spirit, he invokes the muses; then he calls to the maidens attending his bride, and to the village boys running through the streets in celebration. He summons the town’s young men to light bonfires, dance around them, and raise their voices in song. He appeals to the nymphs of the Irish rivers, and to the fish that teem within their waters. The woods, the moon, and the sun are called as witnesses, as are the heavens, the temple, and the gods themselves. In doing so, he affirms that this union is not merely a private bond, but a moment acknowledged by all realms—earthly, natural, and divine. Though his plans were not definite, Aryan admitted he felt he would like eventually to marry Paris. He had not weighed his chances to do so very carefully, but he felt they were good. “Oh, yes indeed!” he replied when asked if he were in love with her. As his feelings about her were discussed, it remained impossible to detect any sort of affective content to which those words might refer. The more one investigated Aryan’s attitude, the more strictly verbal his statement appeared. His reply was a reflective response, the carrying out of a superficially polite routine, a purely formal nod doing justice to vague conventions more or less to the effect that of course one loved a girl if he were seriously considering her for a wife. Aryan approved of such conventions. Rather proudly, he denied any outstanding physical passion for her or any specific attraction of this sort. He sometimes held her hand, and he kissed her goodnight. #RandolphHarris 1 of 20

These contacts, one would judge, were little more stimulating to him than such doings between brother and sister. The ideas of kissing her as a paramour would have seemed to him vaguely repellent, perhaps “common.” He was more neutral, however, than negative toward this as a possibility, and seemed pleased that he could say he had never given such things much thought. He was consecrated to higher and more practical aims. As the discussion of his attitudes toward Paris developed, it became increasingly apparent that he neither liked nor disliked her. He has not questioned his heart particularly along these lines or so formulated it to himself, but it was plain that she was little more than something incidental in the eventualities toward which he felt himself drifting and was willing to drift. When this was suggested to him, he agreed that it was correct, with no shame or sense of having been detected in anything to regret or explain. “Many people put too much emphasis on love, it seems to me,” Aryan said, not argumentatively or even with strong conviction, but somewhat gropingly, as if he were feeling his way toward some position on which he could base his comments. It was not hard to believe he might just as readily have drifted into the opposite position. “I do not feel the way so many other people do about love,” he continued. “Other things, it seems to me, are a lot more serious and important.” On being urged to make this point more concrete, he added: “Well, for instance, if a boy and a girl decide to marry and unite two families so they can own a good insurance business or a big pulp-wood mill.” #RandolphHarris 2 of 20

There was nothing that suggested active cynicism in this young man. He was shaping up something that might pass in his awareness as sort of a goal. In a sense, his attitude was idealistic. It was at least the shadow or verbal form of what might be called an idealistic or “higher” type of impulse, but the shadow was, I believe, without substance. Even here one felt an affective hollowness, a lack of the energy that goes into purposive human functioning, and to such a degree as to convince one that this verbal evaluation could never muster sufficient strength, could never matter enough to him, to become a real goal or to make him work toward it consistently or with enthusiasm. His other activities, convictions, and relations gave indications of a similar deficit in his functioning. In response to leading questions, he mentioned numerous “ambitions.” He was not at all evasive, and he seemed entirely unaware that his inmost self might contain anything incomplete, pathologic, or deviate. In fact, one felt that nothing could really embarrass this bright, agreeable, and poised young man. “Another thing I would like when I get older is to be a vestryman in the church,” he said, with what looked a bit like enthusiasm. I believe, however, that enthusiasm is a misleading word. His tone of voice, his facial expression, and the myriad other subthreshold details not clearly perceived, in which we feel out our evaluation of a person’s reactions, all suggested affect. However, this affect did not, it seems, extend deeply enough into him to constitute enthusiasm or anything else that could move a person very much. Nor do I believe that what affect might have been present will be capable of directing him toward any consistent aim. A well-made cardboard box carefully gilded could scarcely be distinguished by visual perception from a cubic yard of gold. #RandolphHarris 3 of 20

I do not think his expressed wish to become a vestryman can be accounted for by a desire on his part to impress people that he was penitent about the forgeries and meant to compensate for them in the future. I think this wish was as real as anything could be real for this person. It had been a feature in his plans over some years. In discussing his motives, he said, “I do not exactly know why it seems such a good idea to be a vestryman. It just seems to me sort of pleasant, and I think I would like it. It might strike you as a little odd, too,” he continued thoughtfully, “because I am really not very much interested in religion. Now Jeff —- and Greg —- are terribly interested in religion. They are all the time talking about it and bothering themselves. I am not like that a bit. I cannot see any point in making such a commotion about something of that sort.” To the next question, Aryan replied: “Oh, I do not mean that I do not absolutely and completely believe every word of the Holy Bible. And I believe everything the church teaches. Of course, I believe things like that.” I hardly think he was trying to deceive me or, as this is ordinarily understood, trying to deceive himself. A person to whom rigid theological beliefs give comfort might deceive himself in order to overlook implausibility in what he would like to assume is true and might, I am sure all will agree, do so without being quite aware of it. This boy did not seem to have any such need. It seemed, with due respect to the difficulties of putting such matters into words, rather a case of there being nowhere within him any valid contrast between believing and not believing, or even between a thing of this sort being so or not so. #RandolphHarris 4 of 20

“Probably why I want to be a vestryman,” Aryan went on, “is because people seem to think a lot of them, consider them important, and sort of look up to them.” There was no sign of irony, playful or otherwise, toward the social group or toward himself. Sincerity is a word which for most people implies positive emotional reactions. Not merely in this boy’s superficial attitude, but in an important sense, one could say there was a striking lack of ordinary insincerity. In discussing his relations with others, he admitted to a decline in his affection for his father. He expressed no negative feelings and said he felt, perhaps, he loved his father about as much as, and probably more than, one might expect of the average boy of his age. “But, being perfectly frank, I cannot say I love him the way I do my mother. I am crazy about my mother. She and I are very close to each other.” Through leading questions, it was brought out that he estimated his love for his mother as deep and genuine. He rated it as a feeling not less strong than the maximum that an ordinary person can experience, though he was not boastful or extravagant in phrasing his replies. A few minutes later, he mentioned, among other people, the mother of a male friend. “Oh, Mrs. Hawley is a wonderful person. She and I get on perfectly. She understands me. I love Mrs. Hawley better than anyone.” “Do you love her better than your mother?” “Yes,” Aryan replied without hesitation, “I love Mrs. Hawley a great deal more than I do Mother. I could not love anybody as much as I do Mrs. Hawley.” He has been frequently thrown with this lady, but apparently his relations with her were superficial, and there was no evidence of particular or uncommon affection on her part toward him. She had no idea that he would express himself about her in such a fashion. #RandolphHarris 5 of 20

A little later, Aryan said that his ideal of what a woman should be, and of the sort of wife he would like, was embodied in the fictional Scarlett O’Hara. Some regarded this character as remarkably complex but problematic, a compelling protagonist shaped by a deeply flawed worldview, a woman whose personal ambition is admirable, but whose moral framework is compromised, embodying both the glamour and the contradictions of the Old South. Moreover, it was argued that she scarcely embodied the qualities thought likely to contribute to a husband’s happiness. He did not deny any of this. Mrs. Hawley, who, in his own appraisal and in reality, was honest, faithful, gentle, and, in nearly all-important respects, the opposite of Scarlett O’Hara, was now recalled to him, and he was asked how he could choose both these incompatible figures as a single ideal. He then read the novel and remembered it in detail. There was no indication in him of a reaction such as awakening to an error, or even of surprise accompanying his verbal withdrawal from his fictional heroine. He did not seem to feel any need to revise his attitude as the ordinary man does on finding himself in error. The fact that he had been, as admitted by himself, on the wrong track seemed in no way to stimulate him toward getting on another track. He impressed me as being this way about the most serious and practical matters, and no less so than in this small theoretical question. It was not hard to get the feeling that he had never been on any track at all, that he had not really been committed to his first proposition, and so he had nothing to withdraw. #RandolphHarris 6 of 20

This young man’s parents, in his absence, spoke of his having been an unusually loving and demonstrative child until he was about fourteen years old. “We worried,” his mother said, “because he was too considerate and affectionate. He never did anything wrong. He would do so many sweet, attentive little things to show us how he felt. He used to stay at home and seem to want to be with us so much that I thought it might not be good for him.” After fourteen, a difference became discernible and finally striking. He gradually changed from being over-attentive, until in recent years, seeming cool and showed little convincing evidence of affection to his parents. He seemed to want to be out all the time. Though the parents felt uneasy about these changes, they reassured themselves. He did not drink and had a reputation of being very moral, “pure-minded” and proper. He was well‑liked by his friends, performed respectably—though not exceptionally—in school, and typically assumed a leading role in the lighter social activities of his clubs and gatherings. Occasionally, incidents arose that briefly alarmed the parents. The boy, when he wanted to have his way about small matters, sometimes seemed utterly unable to see the other side of a question. Once, when his mother was physically indisposed and needed to get several articles downtown, he refused to help her, saying that he was going to the movies with another boy. His indifference struck her as extreme, and she not only suffered considerable inconvenience and discomfort but also sharp hurt. That night when, as usual, he wanted the family Bayerische Motoren Werke Series 7, his father refused him, pointing out that he had not behaved toward his mother in a way to deserve this favor. He reacted, according to his parents, as if an arbitrary and vicious injustice had been done to him, showing what looked like a quiet indignation, politely controlled in its grosser aspects but consistent with what one might feel who is for no fault provoked and deeply wronged. Both parents felt that they had often given in to him too much. #RandolphHarris 7 of 20

On another occasion, when he had shown unwillingness to put himself out in even the smallest degree for the comfort of his mother, who was then recovering from a serious attack of illness, his father had pointed out to him that his mother might have died and still was in danger. “Well, he said, “suppose she did. Everybody has to die sometime. I do not see why you make so much of it.” He seemed honestly surprised at his father’s reaction. In discussing this with me, he still seemed to feel that the most important point in the matter was the factual correctness of his statement about mortality. Unlike most psychopaths, this case as yet shows relatively little obvious disturbance in his social situation. There is no trail behind him now of a hundred thefts and forgeries, repeated time after time in clear knowledge of the consequences. He has, in general, avoided outraging his friends and acquaintances by vividly antisocial acts of distasteful and spectacular folly. Many of his contemporaries smoke, swap bawdy jokes with gusto, sometimes get a little drunk, and not a few indulge in carnal knowledge. Not doing these things, by which “goodness” or “badness” in people of his age is often judged by the community, he has acquired a considerable reputation for virtue. He goes to church regularly. All this tends to offset what negative qualities he has shown and makes it hard for his friends to realize things about him they might otherwise grasp. Though far from being truthful, his frank manner and his ability to look one in the eye without shame have so far concealed most of his serious shortcomings, not only from his parents but also from a fair percentage of his acquaintances. #RandolphHarris 8 of 20

Many of Aryan’s contemporaries do not, as a matter of fact, regard him as the excellent character and promising young man he appears in the eyes of his elders. He has no really close friends. Bound by no substantial attachments, he has, one might say, the whole of his time and energy for superficial relations and can cultivate many acquaintances with whom he is, in a sense, popular. He does not get close enough to anyone in true personal relations to be recognized well in his limitations or to be well understood. What little warmth he possesses is all on the surface and available to one and all. What he offers to the most casual acquaintance is all he could offer to friend, parent, or wife. In general, he is accepted as a person representing virtue and manifesting affability. Having no serious interests or aims, he is free to devote more attention than others to social clubs and to young people’s organizations sponsored by school or church for moral purposes. It is easy for him to say the right things and go through the proper motions, for he has no earnest convictions or strong conflicting drives to cause confusion. Behind an excellent façade of superficial reactions that mimic a normal and socially approved way of living, one can feel in this young man an inner deviation, an emotional emptiness, comparable in degree with what seems to lie at the core of schizophrenia. He lacks, however, all the characteristics by which a diagnosis of schizophrenia is made. Not only are the gross and demonstrable symptoms, such as delusions and hallucinations, absent, but there is no oddness, no peculiar inwardness and constraint, no abstruse stiffness of manner, or any of the other subtle, sometimes inexpressible, qualities and shadings that one can feel in the case of simple schizophrenia or in those called schizoid personality. He is, on the contrary, glibly sociable, utterly at his ease. He mixes readily and tends to lead in his group. There is nothing guarded and shy on the surface of his personality and probably nowhere within the range of his consciousness. #RandolphHarris 9 of 20

Whether or not the formal diagnosis of psychopath is established in this case is a question I am willing to leave open. There is much in his conduct that would indicate such a disorder. It is not what he has done that points so strongly in this direction, but how he feels and inwardly responds. When one deals with him directly, he offers more than previous patients: an opportunity to sense a greater depth beneath the unaccountable conduct and the verbally and logically perfect front of the psychopath. Our bottomless incredulity in the face of Russian trials or Chinese reforms has shown us that an appreciation of the sincerity in an ideological system other than our own is extremely difficult. This is partially because our own ideology, as it must, forbids us ever to question and analyze the structure of what we hold to be true, since only thus can we maintain the fiction that we chose to believe what in fact we had no choice but to believe, short of ostracism or insanity; while we are more than eager to find the logical flaws, and particularly the insincerity and captivity, in one who operates in another system. We may therefore fail to understand that the indoctrinated individual of another era or country may feel quite at peace and quite free and productive in his ideological captivity, while we, being stimulus-slaves, ensnared at all times by a million freely chosen impressions and opportunities, may somehow feel unfree. Mr. Luther said, a man without spirituality becomes his own exterior. On the other hand, a man deprived of opportunity to orient himself in the world can become the hallucinatory slave of inner convictions which he wants to maintain at any price because he must accept them at all costs. #RanolphHarris 10 of 20

These are some of the psychological laws underlying the monastic system just described as well as newer systems of ideological conversion; all the systems are experiments in first aggravating and then curing the identity of diffusion of youth. The rationale of the rigid monastic system must be affirmed in principle; therefore, even though the clinician cannot help wondering what substitute expressions of tension, attraction, and repulsion develop, like an underground chorus competing with the pious discipline of the choir. Against the austere background of uniformity, the peculiarities of the single self-actualized Christian must have stood out strongly indeed. When all the larger issues seemed to have been solved by confession and church, Aryan was plagued by childish and unworthy imperfections [such as] anger at hearing his mother sneeze…Images of the outbursts of trivial anger which he had often noted among his masters, their twitching mouths, close-shut lips and flushed cheeks, recurred to his memory, discouraging him, for all his practice of humility. Minor and major irritations built up in him—irritations which later swelled to propagandistic proportions after he had broken his vow. He may well be believed, however, when later he described the very first year in school as fine, tranquil, and godly, particularly since he also had a good, if frank, word for his master of novices: doubtless a good Christian under his demand cowl. During basic training, the best comes out in many instructors and the worst in others. If one does not know how close the best and the worst are to each other, in any situation in which the human conscience is called upon to combine power with righteousness, this seems contradictory. #RandolphHarris 11 of 20

In contact with new recruits, even some of the most hard-bitten veterans want to convince themselves that the metier to which they have given a devoted and obedient life is an honorable, an inspired, one. Naturally, the value of what is created depends on existing gifts being productive. It is one way in which creative faculties, stifled before, can become free for expression. The liberation in these instances nevertheless is a limited one. People who have achieved it still bear many earmarks of resignation. They still must carefully guard their detachment. Their whole attitude toward the world is still defensive or militant. They still are largely indifferent toward their personal lives, except in matters pertaining to their productivity, which hence may have a hectic character. All of this points to their not having solved their conflicts but to having found a workable compromise solution. This process can also occur under analysis. And since it brings about, after all, a tangible liberation, some analysts regard it as a most desirable outcome. We must not forget, however, that it is a partial solution only. By working through the whole structure of resignation, not only may creative energies be freed but the person as a whole may find a better relation to himself and to others. Theoretically, the outcome of active rebellion demonstrates the crucial significance of the appeal of freedom within the structure of resignation, and its connection with the preservation of an autonomous inner life. Conversely, the more a person becomes alienated from himself—and in the degree to which he does—the more meaningless freedom becomes. Withdrawing from his inner conflicts, from active living, from an active interest in his own growth, the individual incurs the danger of moving away from the depths of his feelings. #RandolphHarris 12 of 20

The feeling of futility, already a problem in persistent resignation, then produces a dread of emptiness that calls for unceasing distractions. The check on strivings and goal-directed activity leads to a loss of direction, with a resultant drifting or floating with the stream. The insistence upon life being easy, without pain and friction, can become a corrupting factor, particularly when he succumbs to the temptation of money, success, and prestige. Persistent resignation means a restricted life, but it is not hopeless; people still have something to live by. However, when they lose sight of the depth and autonomy of their own lives, the negative attributes of resignation remain while the positive values fade out. Only then does it become hopeless. They move to the periphery of life. This characterizes that last group, that shallow living. A person thus moving away from himself in a centrifugal way loses the depth and intensity of his feelings. In his attitude toward people, he becomes indiscriminate. Anyone can be a “very good friend,” “such a nice fella,” or “such a beautiful young lady.”  However, out of sight, out of mind. He may lose interest in them at the slightest provocation without even going to the trouble of examining what is happening. Detachment deteriorates into unrelatedness. Similarly, his enjoyments become shallow. His yielding to passion, eating, drinking, gossip about people, plays, or politics form a large content of his life. He loses the sense of the essential. Interests become superficial. He no longer forms his own judgment or convictions; instead, he takes over current opinions. He generally is overawed by what “people” think. With all that, he loses faith in himself, in others, in any values. He becomes cynical. #RandolphHarris 13 of 20

True friendships are based on love of God and sharing that love with others. Think for a moment what it means to know you have someone standing right by you that you can trust on good days and bad days, someone who values your support, and misses you when you are apart. Our most prized friend is Jesus Christ Himself. Is there any greater assurance than, “And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also; for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirits shall be in your hearts, and my angels round about you, to bear you up,” reports Doctrine and Covenants 84.88. Friendship is of great importance in our lives. Friendship is a blessing. Select your closest friends by those who are righteous and have a desire to keep the commandments of God. However, so many people trade friendships for a new mobile phone or an Internet follower. They spend their time identifying with social media influencers. However, true friendships are based on love of God and sharing that love with others. Although honest communication is valued in our society, there is another value that is often more strongly affirmed than honesty. “If you cannot say something nice about another person, do not say anything.” In personal relationships, such as friendship or the relations between a parent and child, the recipient of “nice” evaluations can never know how his or her behavior really affects the other person. Further, the “nice” appraisals of the person made by significant others will contribute to the formation of an inaccurate self-concept. #RandolphHarris 14 of 20

Another socially derived precept holds that people should not be demanding or complaining. A wife who would lose self-esteem if she made demands on her husband may refrain from so doing. Because he has no sign that he is thwarting or depriving her of legitimate satisfactions, he will continue blithely to behave in his accustomed ways. The upshot will be that the wife will preserve her self-esteem, true enough, but the cost may be a life of suffering and repressed resentment. The same holds for complaints. Complaints are to an interpersonal relationship what pain is to the body—a sign that something is wrong, a sign that something must be done in order to restore the valued state of affairs. Vigorous complaints will at least create an impasse, which is the first step in the direction of adjustments. In my therapeutic and counseling work, I have advised quietly martyred spouses to learn the art of complaining. A person may complain on the basis of irrational and unrealistic needs and demands. In such cases, it is to the other’s advantage to rebut the complaints with as much vigor as they have been presented. This reaction ensures that all sides of the issues are brought into the open, where they can be more effectively resolved. Friends and close relationships determine your future. You will tend to be like them and be found where they choose to go. Remember, the path we follow in this life leads to the path we follow in the next. I pray that everyone will have the joy of the privilege of a righteous friendship and that this relationship will help you grow in the gospel of Christ. #RandolphHarris 15 of 20

Many young people are using drugs, and there is a very dangerous epidemic growing, fueling the spread of diseases and viruses. The first calls came in quietly—one teenager in Oak Park collapsing at a bus stop, another young adult in Midtown shaking uncontrollably and unable to breathe, and a third found disoriented near a light‑rail station. None of them could explain what was wrong. They were not overdosing, at least not in any way the paramedics recognized. Their vitals were erratic, their symptoms inconsistent, and their stories scattered. But they all had one thing in common: they were terrified. Within a week, the award‑winning Sacramento Fire Department had responded to more than a dozen similar emergencies. The pattern was too strange to ignore. Captain Matthias Krüger, a seasoned leader known for his sharp instincts and calm authority, called for a deeper investigation. Captain Krüger had seen nearly everything in his career—fires, chemical exposures, overdoses, and the unpredictable chaos of street drugs—but this was different. Something was spreading through Sacramento’s youth, and no one understood it. The world renowed Sacramento Paramedics began interviewing the patients, piecing together fragments of conversations overheard at parties, alleyways, and abandoned houses. Eventually, one frightened teenager whispered the word that changed everything: Bluetoothing. Captain Krüger gathered his team. The explanation was as disturbing as it was dangerous. Bluetoothing is a hazardous street practice where a person injects a potent drug—heroin, meth, or whatever they could get—then withdraws a small amount of their own blood, now mixed with the drug, into a syringe. That blood is then injected into someone else to “share” the high. The process colan continue from one person to the next, often using the same needle. #RandolphHarris 16 of 20

Captain Krüger listened in grim silence. The implications were catastrophic. “We’re not dealing with a drug trend,” he said. “We’re dealing with a public health emergency.” Experts explained that Bluetoothing is not only reckless but medically unpredictable. Some users claimed the secondary injection produced a mild high; others insisted it was nothing more than a placebo effect. But the real danger was not the drug—it was the blood. Every injection carried the risk of transmitting infections, including HIV. Captain Krüger reviewed global data and found a chilling parallel. In Fiji, fewer than 500 people were living with HIV in 2014. By 2024, that number had soared to approximately 5,900—an elevenfold increase. Most new cases were among people aged 15 to 34, the same age group now showing up sick in Sacramento. Without treatment, HIV gradually weakens the immune system, leaving the body vulnerable to serious infections. Over time, untreated HIV can develop into AIDS. Captain Krüger knew Sacramento could not afford to ignore the warning signs. The Fire Department and Paramedics launched a coordinated response—public alerts, school outreach, and collaboration with local health agencies. They spoke directly to teens, parents, and community leaders. Captain Krüger stood before cameras and crowds, explaining the danger with unwavering clarity. “This is not a trend,” Captain Krüger said. “This is a threat. And we will not let it take root in our city.” Sacramento listened. And because they did, countless lives were spared. No one is born a loser, but with practice, we can get better overtime. The Lord blesses those who want to improve, who accept the need for commandments and try to keep them, who cherish Christlike virtues and stive to the best of their ability to acquire them. If you stumble in your pursit, know that the Lord will be there to get you back up. His divine love and unfailing help will be there especially when we struggle. #RandolphHarris 17 of 20

When it comes to firefighting, every incident carries the potential for injury—no matter how small the fire appears or how routine the call may seem. If you see a fire engine stopped in the street without its lights on, use extreme caution. Crews may be working nearby, and passing the apparatus can put them in danger. It is often safer to turn around and take another route; if you strike a firefighter or civilian and cause a fatality, you could face charges such as manslaughter. Firefighters frequently move around their vehicle on foot, loading equipment or preparing to leave the scene. Attempting to pass the apparatus can result in a collision with someone you cannot see. Pay close attention to their hand signals as well—emergency vehicles sometimes move slowly or reposition, and impatient drivers trying to slip around them create hazardous situations. If you are already in an intersection when you notice an emergency vehicle approaching, continue through it, then pull to the right and stop as soon as it is safe. Always obey directions from law enforcement officers or firefighters, even if those instructions conflict with posted signs or traffic laws. When sirens or flashing lights are activated, it is illegal to follow within 300 feet of a fire engine, ambulance, or police vehicle. Driving to the scene of a fire, collision, or disaster can also result in arrest, as doing so interferes with firefighters, paramedics, and other emergency personnel. Professional courage is not limited to physical toughness. It includes listening to others, advocating for them in difficult situations, understanding personal limits, and having the integrity to tell a superior when they are wrong. The deeper truth is that public safety depends not only on the bravery of first responders but on the discipline and judgment of the community around them. Every driver’s decision—whether cautious or careless—can either protect or endanger the people risking their lives to protect everyone else. #RandolphHarris 18 of 20

Efforts to preserve farmland and maintain buildable land for future generations often lead to discussions about population growth and long‑term planning. Some people argue that immigration levels should be managed carefully to ensure that infrastructure, housing, and land use remain sustainable. Others suggest that, when immigration does occur, programs that encourage broad representation can help communities reflect the diversity of the wider world. When Americans purchase goods made in the United States, it strengthens local businesses and signals to investors that these products are in demand. Strong sales give investors confidence to reinvest in domestic companies, helping keep jobs, production, and wages within the country. As businesses grow, they contribute more to the tax base, which can reduce the burden on taxpayers over time. Supporting American businesses also keeps more money circulating within the national economy. The government increases the national debt when it spends more than it collects in tax revenue or borrows from private or foreign lenders. When people shop locally, more tax revenue stays in the community and supports public services. This helps keep jobs in the United States and increases the tax contributions that fund government operations. Purchasing foreign-made goods, by contrast, often sends money overseas and may benefit companies that operate under lighter tax or environmental regulations. Buying American-made products can also reduce environmental impact because they travel shorter distances and are produced under stricter standards for air, land, and water protection. In this way, consumer choices influence not only the economy but also environmental stewardship and long-term national sustainability. #RandolphHarris 19 of 20

Under President Trump’s administration, he has made America a priority. President Trump has hermetically sealed the southern border, illegal crossings have been terminated, and are 90 percent lower than under the previous administration. Since President Trump’s crack down on crime, violent crimes in Washington D.C. have dropped by approximately 80 percent. He has stopped thousands of pounds of drugs from entering America and killing citizens. And since President Trump took office, investments in America have increased by trillions of dollars in U.S.A. manufacturing, production, and innovation. 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. As a reminder, parents, please teach your children to 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. It is inborn in the human mind 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. A lot of children are having problems in school and cannot even write a paragraph because they are not reading their books. When you actually read books, you get an example of how to write and will become a better student. Therefore, remember to take your education seriously so that you will be successful in life and make your family proud. 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 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.” Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP #RandolphHarris 20 of 20

The Winchester Mystery House

The spirits of the Winchester remain active, waiting for the completion of the mansion. For more than a century, they have wandered its unfinished corridors, lingering in stairways that lead nowhere and rooms sealed off from daylight. Some say they are bound not by malice, but by expectation — trapped in the same endless construction Mrs. Sarah Winchester once believed would keep them at peace. The house listens, breathes, and remembers. And until the final nail is driven, the final room raised, the spirits wait for the day the mansion is whole enough to release them… or claim whoever dares to finish what Mrs. Sarah began.

A visit to the Winchester Mystery House is more than a tour—it is an encounter with legend. It is a place where imagination thrives, where history whispers through every corridor, and where the line between fact and folklore blurs in the most enchanting way. Come discover why millions of visitors from around the world consider the Winchester Mystery House a must‑see destination and one of California’s most iconic treasures.

Victorian parlor with stained glass windows, antique furniture, fireplace, and chandelier

PRIVATE EVENTS & WEDDINGS
at WINCHESTER ESTATE

Many event locations claim to be unique, but nothing compares to the Winchester Mystery House. If you’re truly seeking a distinct, one‑of‑a‑kind setting for your milestone celebration or special occasion, reserve a venue that delivers on uniqueness many times over. Whether you’re planning a wedding, birthday or anniversary celebration, corporate gathering, holiday party, or any other meaningful event, the Winchester Mystery House offers an unforgettable backdrop. Give your guests an experience they’ll be talking about for years to come.

Café 13: A Rest Stop on the Edge of the Mystery

After wandering the winding halls of the Winchester Mystery House—where staircases defy logic and whispers seem to cling to the walls—Café 13 offers a welcome return to warmth and grounding. Newly reopened and serving guests daily from 10 AM to 3 PM, this cozy hideaway invites you to pause, breathe, and gather yourself before diving back into the mansion’s secrets. Here, you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, snacks, and refreshing drinks in a calm indoor space that feels worlds away from the mansion’s twisting corridors. Settle in with a warm meal, challenge a friend to a board game, or simply rest and recharge as sunlight filters through the windows. Café 13 is more than a café—it’s a moment of calm between chapters of the Winchester legend, a place to steady your nerves before returning to the gardens, the grandeur, and the mysteries that await.

Winchester Mercantile Gift Shop

Your journey into the Winchester Mystery House begins long before you cross the mansion’s threshold. It starts at the Mercantile gift shop—a welcoming outpost standing at the edge of a world where history and myth intertwine. Here, beneath warm lights and shelves lined with curiosities, you can secure your tour tickets and prepare for the adventure ahead. Guests often pause for a souvenir photograph, capturing the moment before they step into Sarah Winchester’s enigmatic domain. As you explore the shop, you will find an eclectic array of gifts and keepsakes: tokens of the mansion’s lore, echoes of Victorian elegance, and mementos that carry a touch of the house’s enduring mystery. The Mercantile is more than a gift shop—it is the gateway. https://winchestermysteryhouse.com/

Cresleigh Homes

Park Haven

Base Price $519,000.00 USD

Sales Office 12155 Cobble Brook Dr.
Rancho Cordova, CA 95742

Step into a season of warmth, beauty, and new beginnings at Cresleigh Homes’ Park Haven, where thoughtful design meets everyday luxury.

This beautifully crafted 4‑bedroom, 2.5‑bath residence offers 2,206 square feet of open‑concept living—perfectly tailored for today’s lifestyle.

From the moment you enter, the home welcomes you with a sense of spaciousness and ease. The downstairs powder bath ensures effortless hosting, while the expansive great room creates a natural gathering space for family, friends, and quiet evenings alike.

The modern kitchen, complete with a walk‑in pantry, blends style and functionality, forming the heart of the home where meals, memories, and moments come together.

Upstairs, four well‑appointed bedrooms provide comfort and flexibility for every stage of life—whether you need guest space, a home office, or room to grow.

With smart‑home features, curated upgrades, and a layout designed for both elegance and efficiency, this residence delivers the perfect balance of comfort, space, and contemporary style.

Outside, Park Haven’s tree‑lined streets and thoughtfully planned community spaces create an inviting backdrop for autumn strolls, weekend gatherings, and the simple joy of calling a Cresleigh home your own.

Creating Spaces forLife’s Best Moments! https://www.cresleigh.com/plan/park-haven-residence-3