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Beyond Suffering
When one has been through a lot, worked hard, and still feels far from where one thought one would be, the future can start to look like a narrowing hallway rather than an open horizon. That feeling is not a personal failure—it is just a very human response to long-term strain, disappointment, and the weight of expectations that were never small to begin with. When one takes the time to stop and reflect, the past can feel heavy, the present can feel insufficient, and the future can feel uncertain. No matter how successful they are, this is something that many people are currently facing. However, the fact that one has taken time to reflect on one’s life means one is still searching for ways to achieve one’s goals. There is a psychological reality taking place. Because one has faced so much hardship, one’s mind becomes incredibly good at looking out for danger and truly bad at imagining the possibility. This does not mean that one is feeling hopeless. It means that one is exhausted. Many often think about the trials of life that seem endless, shattered dreams, and mistakes. It is important to dwell on this point because much of the lasting sense of doubt, and of the indignity of punishment and restriction common to so many, is a consequence of frustration in marriage, in work, and in citizenship. Where large numbers of people have been prepared in childhood to expect from life a high degree of personal autonomy, pride, and opportunity, and then in later life find themselves ruled by impersonal organizations and machineries too intricate to deal with now, the result may be chronic disappointment. #RandolphHarris 1 of 15
However, keep in mind that one’s future is not only determined by one’s expectations. Many are still building their future and creating their story. It is important to keep in mind that one is not in the same place one once was. As one has gone through life, one has accumulated skills, insight, resilience, and clarity that one did not have long ago. While those things may not show up on a resume or in one’s bank account, they change the trajectory of a life in ways that are not always visible in the moment. They may be possessed, instead, by irrational fears of losing what is left of their autonomy or of being sabotaged, restricted, and constricted in their free will by anonymous enemies, and, at the same time, paradoxically enough, of not being controlled enough, of not being told what to do. This is characteristic of the struggles and triumphs adults face when crossing into unfamiliar territory. To believe that one is turning away from everything one knows, not by choice, but by necessity, in many ways, is an emancipation. For this reason, one can also regress partially (and sometimes wholly) to a demanding and plaintive search for guidance which their cynical independence seems to disavow. Apart from such “clinical” evidence, however, the decisive contribution to becoming a new adult is the courage to stand as an independent individual who can choose and guide the direction of their own life. The past never disappears; it settles into the growing personality as a residue — a sediment of impressions, identifications, and early convictions. On many hierarchical levels, and especially within the individual’s sense of identity, this residue forms an echoing conviction: “I am what I hope I have and give.” #RandolphHarris 2 of 15
Yet the analogous residue of the stage of autonomy is of a different order. It crystallizes into the conviction: “I am what I can will freely.” Here the self no longer defines itself solely by its possessions, its attachments, or its capacity to please and provide. Instead, it discovers the inward axis of volition — the ability to initiate action, to choose among alternatives, and to bear the consequences of one’s own decisions. In this sense, autonomy is not merely a developmental milestone but a psychological reorganization. The individual learns that freedom is not the absence of constraint but the presence of an inner capacity to direct one’s energies toward chosen ends. The will becomes the instrument through which the self asserts continuity with its past while refusing to be imprisoned by it. The adult personality emerges at precisely this juncture: where inherited residues meet the dawning realization that one’s future can be shaped by deliberate, self‑guided action. Being firmly convinced that one is an individual, one must now find out what kind of life one can create. Several are, of course, deeply and exclusively “identified” with their past, which most of the time appears powerful and beautiful, although often quite unreasonable, disagreeable, and even dangerous. Three developments support this stage: one experiences more freedom, one has unlimited potential, but also there is uncertainty; one’s sense of behavior becomes perfected to the point where one understand and can do innumerable things; and both this new identity and sense of freedom permit one to expand their horizons to so many roles one cannot evade inevitably confront one’s self with the very experiences and imaginings that arouse fear. Nevertheless, out of all this, one must emerge with a sense of initiative as a basis for a realistic sense of ambition and purpose. #RandolphHarris 3 of 15
Where there once was a crisis beset with some new estrangement, one finds ways to resolve it in such a way that one suddenly seems to be “more oneself,” more loving, more relaxed, and brighter in one’s judgment—in other words, vital in a new way. Most of all, one is more activated and activating; one is in the free possession of a certain surplus of energy which permits one to forget many failures rather quickly and to approach new areas that seem desirable, even if they also seem dangerous, with undiminished zest and some increased sense of direction. On the other hand, prevailing conditions may not contain even the partially favorable elements just described here. If the inner tension is great and the environmental conditions are difficult, one not only may become extremely miserable, but one’s equilibrium may break down. Whatever the symptoms—panic, insomnia, anorexia (loss of appetite)—it comes about and is characterized by hostility breaking the dam and overflooding the system. All one’s piled-up, bitter accusations against others then come to the fore; one’s claims become openly vindictive and unreasoning; one’s self-hate becomes conscious and reaches formidable proportions. One’s condition is one of unmitigated despair. One may have severe panics and the danger of suicide is considerable. A very different picture from that of the too-soft person who is so anxious to please. And yet, the beginning and the end stages are part and parcel of one kind of neurotic development. It would be a wrong conclusion to think that the amount of destructiveness appearing in the end stages has been under check all the time. Certainly, under the surface of sweet reasonableness, there has been more tension than meets the eye. However, only a considerable increase in frustration and hostility brings about the end stages. #RandolphHarris 4 of 15
Every neurosis entails real suffering, usually under the shackles that prevent one’s expansion, under one’s self-abuse, under one’s ambivalent attitude toward others. All of this plain suffering; it is not the service of some secret purpose; it is not put on to impress others in this or that way. However, in addition, one’s suffering takes over certain functions. This suffering results from this process of neurotic or functional suffering. Suffering becomes a basis for one’s claims. It is not only a plea for attention, care, and sympathy, but it entitles one to all these. It serves to maintain one’s solution and hence has an integrating function. Suffering is also one’s specific way of expressing vindictiveness. Frequent indeed are the examples where the psychic ailments of one of the marriage partners are used as a deadly weapon against the other, or where they are used to cramp the children by instilling in them feelings of guilt for an independent move. How does one square with oneself the infliction of so much misery on others—one who is anxious not to hurt anybody’s feeling? One may be more or less dimly aware that one is a drag on one’s environment, but one does not squarely face it because one’s own suffering exonerates one. To put it briefly: one’s suffering accuses others and excuses oneself! It excuses in one’s mind everything—one’s demands, one’s irritability, one’s dampening of the spirits of others. Suffering not only assuages one’s own self-accusations, but also wards off the possible reproaches of others. And again, one’s need for forgiveness turns into a claim. One’s suffering entitles one to “understanding.” If others are critical, they are unfeeling. No matter what one does, it should arouse sympathy and the wish to help. #RandolphHarris 5 of 15
Also, to pay the currency of suffering does not make one feel free, as it were, to “sin again.” The inner tribunal does not accept suffering as adequate compensation. Its dictates are so numerous, so rigid, and so absolute that the individual cannot help but violate them again. This is the paradox of the harsh superego: it demands perfection, yet constructs a moral universe in which perfection is impossible. The more one tries to appease it through self‑punishment, the more it tightens its grip. Suffering becomes not a release but a confirmation of guilt; the individual pays and pays, yet the debt is never reduced. Thus, one find one’s self caught in a cycle: an impossible standard, an inevitable failure, a self‑inflicted punishment, and a renewed sense of moral contamination. In this way, the inner tyranny reproduces itself. It is not satisfied by remorse, nor by pain, nor by the sincere wish to do better. It thrives precisely on the impossibility of ever being fully absolved. The individual is left with the haunting sense that they are always already in violation — that their very humanity is a kind of transgression. Lastly, neurotic suffering may entail a playing with the idea of going to pieces, or an unconscious determination to do so. The appeal of doing so naturally is greater in times of distress and can then be conscious. More often in such periods, only reactive fears reach consciousness, such as fears of mental, physical, or more deterioration, of becoming unproductive, of becoming too old for this or that. These fears indicate that the healthier part of the person wants to have a full life and reacts with apprehension to another part which is bent on going to pieces. This tendency may also work unconsciously. The person may not even be cognizant that one’s whole condition has —that, for instance, one is less able to do things, is more afraid of people, more despondent—until one day when one suddenly wakes up to the fact that one is in danger of going downhill, and that something in oneself drives one down. #RandolphHarris 6 of 15
In times of distress, the “going under” may have a powerful appeal to an individual. For it appears as a way out of all one’s difficulties: giving up the hopeless struggle for love and the frantic attempts to fulfill contradictory shoulds, and freeing oneself from the terror of self-accusations by accepting defeat. It is, moreover, a way which appeals to one through one’s very passivity. It is not as active as suicidal tendencies, which rarely occur at such times. One simply stops struggling and lets the self-destructive forces take their course. Finally, going to pieces under the assault of an unfeeling world appears to one as the ultimate triumph. It may take the conspicuous form of “dying at the offender’s doorstep.” However, more often, it is not a demonstrative suffering that intends to put others to shame and to raise claims on these grounds. It goes deeper, and hence is more dangerous. It is a triumph primarily in the person’s mind, and even this may be unconscious. When we uncover it in analysis, we find a glorification of weakness and suffering supported by confused half-truths. Suffering, per se, appears as the proof of nobility. What else can a sensitive person in an ignoble world do but go to pieces! Should one fight and assert oneself, and hence stoop down to the same level of crude vulgarity? One can but forgive and perish with the crowning glory of martyrdom. #RandolphHarris 7 of 15
All these functions of neurotic suffering account for its tenacity and depth. And all of them stem from the dire necessities of the whole structure, and can be understood only against this background. To put it in terms of therapy: one cannot dispense with them without a radical change in one’s whole character structure. For the understanding of the self-effacing solution, it is indispensable to consider the totality of the picture: both the totality of the historical development and the totality of processes going on at any given time. When briefly surveying the theories on this subject, it seems that their inadequacies stem essentially from a one’s sided focus on either intrapsychic or interpersonal factors. We cannot, however, understand the dynamics from either one of these aspects alone but only as a process in which interpersonal conflicts lead to a peculiar intrapsychic configuration, and this latter, in turn, depends on and modifies the old patterns of human relations. It makes them more compulsive and more destructive. Moreover, some theories, like those of Dr. Freud and Karl Menninger, focus too much on the conspicuously morbid phenomena such as “masochistic” perversions, wallowing in guilt feelings, or self-inflicted martyrdom. They leave out trends which are closer to the healthy. To be sure, the need to win people, to be closer to others, to live in peace are determined by weakness and fear and hence are indiscriminate, but they contain germs of healthy attitudes. The humility of this type and one’s capacity to subordinate oneself in oneself (granted one’s spurious foundation) seem closer to the normal than, for instance, the flaunting arrogance of the aggressive-vindictive type. These qualities make the self-effacing person, as it were, more “human” than many other neurotics. Not understanding one, as an intrinsic part of the whole solution, inevitably leads to misinterpretations of the entire process. #RandolphHarris 8 of 15
Lastly, some theories focus on the neurotic suffering—which is indeed a central problem—but divorce it from the whole background. This inevitably leads to an undue stress on strategic devices. Thus, Alfred Adler saw suffering as a means to get attention, to shirk responsibility, and to attain a devious superiority. Theodore Reik stresses demonstrative suffering as a means to get love and to express vindictiveness. Franz Alexander, as already mentioned, emphasizes the function which suffering has for removing guilt-feelings. All these theories rest on valid observations but nevertheless, when insufficiently embedded in the whole structure, bring into the picture an undesirable approximation of popular beliefs that the self-effacing type simply wants to suffer or is only happy when miserable. To see the total picture is not only important for theoretical understanding but also for the analyst’s attitude toward patients of this kind. Through their hidden demands and their special brand of neurotic dishonesty, they may easily arouse resentment, but perhaps even more than the others, they need a sympathetic understanding. We can always counter any doubts about our biological origin with ordinary defenses and typical phantasies; but when we are helpless against the recurrent discovery of the icy fact that at one time we did not exist at all—particularly helpless when, as children, we are acutely deprived of parental sponsorship. It is even probable that much of the preoccupation with mysterious origins which occurs in infantile phantasies and in the myths of peoples is an attempt to cover up, with questions of whence and how, the “metaphysical” riddle of existence as such. “Metaphysical anxiety,” is like an ego chill, a shudder which comes from the sudden awareness that our nonexistence—and thus our utter dependence on a creator who may choose to be impolite—is entirely possible. Ordinarily, we feel this shudder only in moments when a shock forces us to step back from ourselves, and we do not have the necessary time or equipment to recover instantaneously a position from which to view ourselves again as persistent units subject to our own logical operations. Where man cannot establish himself as the thinking one (who therefore is), he may experience a sense of panic; which is at the bottom of our myth-making, our metaphysical speculation, and our artificial creation of “ideal” realities in which we become and remain the central reality. #RandolphHarris 9 of 15
The sense of identity, which is not wanting in most adults, prevents such a feeling of panic. To be an adult usually means, among other things, to see one’s own life in continuous perspective, both in retrospect and in prospect. By accepting some definition as to who one is, usually based on a function in an economy, a place in the sequence of generations, and a status in the structure of society, the adult can selectively reconstruct one’s past in such a way, that step for step, it seems to have planned one, or better, one seems to have planned it, In this sense, psychologically we do choose our parents, our family history, and the history of our kings, heroes, and gods. By making them our own, we maneuver ourselves into the inner position of proprietors, of creators. If we can weather the repeated crises throughout childhood and youth, and become ourselves begetters and protectors of children, then most of us become too busy for metaphysical questions. Yet, unconsciously, we are by no means sure, not just that we are the begetters of a particular child, which we mostly can convince ourselves of reasonably well, but that in any respect we can be a first cause, a causa causans. This doubt helps to make us overeveluate those jealousies and rivalries, those radical and personal myths, those ethnocentricities and egocentricities, that make us feel that if we are more caused than causing, at least we are a link in a chain which we can proudly affirm and thus, somehow will. #RandolphHarris 10 of 15
We can feel like a causa causans if we accept the inevitable in such a way that it becomes ornamented with some special pride—pride in our power to resign ourselves, or pride in the inevitable as something so patently good that we surely would have chosen it if it had not chosen us. If adult man, then, ever comes close to an ego-chill, he has available automatic recourse to a context in which he is needed, or in which others will him so that he may will them, or in which he has mastered some technique which brings visible returns. He forgets the sacrifices which he must make to achieve this functional relatedness to other occupants of his cultural universe. He forgets that he achieved the capacity for faith by learning to overcome feelings of utter abandonment and mistrust; the sense of free will by resigning himself to a mutual limitation of wills; relative peace of conscience by submitting to, and even incorporating into himself, some harsh self-judgments; the enjoyment of reason by forgetting how many things he wanted to solve and could not; and the satisfaction of duty by accepting a limited position and its obligations in his technology. In all these areas, he learns to develop a sense of individual mastery from his ability to adapt himself to a social system which has managed to orchestrate religion, law, morals, and technique; he derives from the accrual of his sacrifices a coherent measure of historical identity. He can further enhance this feeling of identity by partaking of the arts and sciences with all their grandiose displays of magic omnipotence. Deep down, he believes that a Toscanini writes the works he conducts, nay, creates them out of the orchestra while he is conducting; and that an Einstein creates the cosmic laws which he predicts. #RandolphHarris 11 of 15
The child is not yet in possession of such a seemingly self-sustaining universe; and he often is not willing, before he is forced to, to suffer all the adult sacrifices. He may, therefore, develop deep anxieties; and these, especially when they are interwoven with psychosexual phantasies, belong to the best documented phenomena in psychoanalytic literature. Psychoanalysis has emphasized and systematized the sexual and aggressive drives and contents are repressed and disguised, to reappear subsequently in impulsive acts and in compulsive self-restraints. However, psychoanalysis has not charted the extent to which these drives and contents owe their intensity and exclusivity to such depreciations of the ego and of material available as buildingstones for a future identity. If they are halfway worth the name, the child does have his parents. Their presence will define for him both the creative extent and the secure limitations of his life tasks. The one most exposed to the problem of his existential identity is the late adolescent. Shakespeare’s Hamlet, a very late adolescent with a premature, royal integrity, and still deeply involved with his Oedipal conflicts, poses the question “to be or not to be” as a sublime choice. The introspective late adolescent, trying to free himself from his parents, who made and partially determined him, and trying also to face membership in wider institutions, which he has not as yet made his own, often has a hard time convincing himself that he has chosen his past and is the choser of his future. Moved by his ravenous pleasures of the flesh, his commanding aggressive power, and his encompassing intellect, he is tempted to make premature choices, or to drift passively. When he can make a few choices, they have greater finality because they decide his estate: peasant, miner, or computer science engineer. When he must make many choices, as he does in our society, they may provoke a false sense of freedom, of indefinite time in which to experiment, and thus lead to moments in which it becomes suddenly clear to him that even in playing around, he has been typed, and in trying things out, become committed to them. #RandolphHarris 12 of 15
Whether or not all this comes upon the young person suddenly and traumatically depends on his society. Some cultures prepare him in childhood and youth by symbolic ceremonials which convincingly anticipate all these ego-dangers; some cultures limit and retard his magic rites and confirmations which make him a member of a group with a strongly predefined identity; while others teach him social and technological methods of mastering dangerous forces which take the forms of enemies, animals, and machines. In each case, the young person finds himself part of a universal framework which reaches back into an established tradition, and promises a definable future. However, in a time of rapid change, be it the disintegration of the old or the advancement of the new, the meaning of confirmation changes. Some ceremonies and graduations, while ancient and profound, no longer speak to young people; others, while sensible and modern, are somehow not magic enough to provide that superlative shudder which alone touches on the mystery of experience. Many young people, eager for an image of the future, find the confirmations and ceremonies offered by their parents’ churches, clubs, or orders designed more for their parents’ spiritual uplift than for their own. Others go along with the make-believe identities proffered in many occupational and professional schools, but find that streamlined adaptiveness proves brittle in the face of new crises. What academic institutions teach and preach often has little to do with the immediate inner needs and outer prospects of young people. #RandolphHarris 13 of 15
Today, this problem faces us most painfully on that frontier where leaderless and unguided youth attempt to confirm itself in sporadic riots and other excesses which offer to those who have temporarily lost, or never had, meaningful confirmation in the approved ways of their fathers, an identity based on a defiant testing of what is most marginal to the adult world. The mocking grandiosity of their gang names (“Black Barons,” “Junior Bishops,” “Navahoes, “Saints”), their insignia, sometimes even tattooed into the skin, and their defiant behavior clearly indicate an attempt to emulate that which gives other people the background of a group identity: a real family, nobility, a proud history—and religion. A healthy personality is impossible without the ability to enter into a variety of non-intimate social roles and the complementary ability to enter close personal relationships, where mutual self-disclosure and intimate knowing are of the essence. Social roles make life with others possible, yet they are a hidden source of stress and demoralization that can make people sick. Roles are invisible to us, for they are at the heart of our identities, and we simply live them. A sociologist, studying a group like a family, or an entire society, is able to see that people’s behavior with others displays recurring patterns. Interpersonal relationships do not occur in a random fashion, but instead are seen to follow rules, like a script for a play. Thus, the older male in a family group typically earns the living and protects the women and children. The woman nurtures young children, is affectionate and loving to the older man, and is careful to avoid intimacy with other males. #RandolphHarris 14 of 15
When seen from the perspective of a sociologist, roles are prescribed ways for people to divide the labor of a society and to interact with others. They keep the social system going and prevent it from changing. Because the stability of a society is so important, people are carefully trained to live within the limits defined by their roles, and strong penalties await those who violate role definitions. The task of training people for their roles is assigned to the agencies and agents of socialization, whereas that of keeping people in conformity with their roles is the responsibility of agents and agencies of social control. Agencies of socialization include the family, schools, and the mass media, such as television, Internet, and radio; these are all institutions within society that train people in the “right” ways to act. The agents of socialization are the actual persons who shape the behavior of a growing and learning person so that this behavior will fit the definition of the roles and the person is to assume. Thus, one’s parents, siblings, and peers are all socializing agents, as are the teachers one encounters in school. Agents of social control are the persons who provide punishment for violations of the rules, laws, and customs. The police are clearly agents of social control. The institutions of the law—the legal system, the courts, prisons, and the police force—are all social control agencies. Parents, peers, and neighbors are social control agents who control our behavior by threatening to withdraw love and friendship and through criticism and shaming. They also reward and encourage other behavior through approval, gifts, and the bestowal of friendship. A more subtle agent of social control is the person’s conscience, which functions like an invisible parent or police officer, inflicting guilt and self-hatred at each lapse from the behavior that is deemed right and proper for the person. The deeper truth behind our suffering is that we cannot understand it apart from the whole of our lives, and just as a friend comes to lift us out of a painful situation when we cannot get away on our own, Jesus does the same with our lives when we call on Him. #RandolphHarris 15 of 15
People say the Winchester Mansion is strange because Mrs. Sarah Winchester built it that way — staircases to nowhere, doors that open into air, rooms that appear without warning. But those who have studied the deeper folklore whisper something else: that the house inherited stories far older than California, stories that drifted across oceans and centuries until they found a place to root themselves again. They say the mansion carries echoes of another place — a fortress of stone, a house of trials, a home of restless spirits. And at the center of those echoes stands a single figure. The Watcher. Long before the mansion rose from the California soil, the Watcher belonged to a different tower — a high, narrow room where he kept vigil over a land filled with fear, accusations, and unanswered questions. But when Mrs. Sarah Winchester began her endless construction, something in her grief called to him.
Visitors to the mansion sometimes see him in the uppermost windows: a tall silhouette, unmoving, always looking outward as if guarding something only he understands. Guides say the tower is empty. Workers say no one goes up there. Yet the figure appears, night after night, watching. Some believe he is a guardian. Others say he is a witness. But the oldest version claims he is both — a presence drawn to places where sorrow builds walls and fear carves corridors. In the eastern wing, guests sometimes report a pale woman drifting through the hallways, her gown trailing like mist. She never speaks. She never approaches. She simply moves from room to room as though searching for something she lost long ago. Some say she is a memory Mrs. Sarah could not let go of. Others believe she is one of the mansion’s “unfinished stories,” a spirit who followed the Watcher across the sea and found a new home in the labyrinth Mrs. Sarah built.
On fog-heavy nights, the mansion grounds echo with the sound of a horse-drawn carriage approaching the front steps — though nothing ever arrives. The clatter of wheels, the snort of horses, the creak of leather harnesses… all vanish the moment someone opens the door. Locals say it is the carriage of a former visitor returning to the house, eternally repeating his journey. Others whisper that it is the Watcher’s escort, arriving to collect the lost or guide the wandering. In the farthest corridors, where the house seems to fold in on itself, visitors sometimes hear heavy footsteps pacing behind them — too slow for a person, too deliberate for an animal. Some claim to hear low growls echoing from the walls, as though something unseen is patrolling the mansion’s edges. Mrs. Sarah herself once wrote of “shadows that walk like men but breathe like beasts.” Whether she meant it literally or metaphorically, no one knows. But the stories persist.
The legend says Mrs. Sarah Winchester did not create these hauntings — she inherited them. Her grief, her isolation, her relentless building formed a kind of beacon. The house became a sanctuary for wandering spirits, a place where old stories could settle into new rooms. And the Watcher, drawn by the same sorrow he had known in his first tower, took up his post again — not to frighten Mrs. Sarah, but to accompany her. To stand guard over a woman who built a labyrinth not to trap spirits, but to give them somewhere to go. Some nights, when the mansion is especially still, visitors swear they see him turn from the window, as if acknowledging them. As if reminding them that every house with a history has someone watching over it.
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.
The Mercantile Gift Shop: Your First Step Into the Mystery
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.
Once you pass through its doors, the legend begins to unfold. https://winchestermysteryhouse.com/
The Weight of Invisible Forces
Very few people wake up thinking, “I’m going to be cruel today.” Instead, they reinterpret their actions so they can continue seeing themselves as decent. This is why the “guilty heart” does not jolt them awake at night—they have already rewritten the story. Harmful behavior tends to emerge from a combination of fear and insecurity, dehumanization, power without accountability, learned behavior, and moral disengagement. People who feel threatened often lash out, even when no real threat exists. When individuals or groups stop seeing others as fully human, cruelty becomes easier. Institutions and individuals who face no consequences often drift toward abuse. Harm is frequently inherited—passed down through families, cultures, or systems. Furthermore, people justify their actions by convincing themselves that the victim “deserved it. None of these excuses the harm. However, if we hope to interrupt it, understanding the roots of destructive behavior is essential. When someone is repeatedly harmed—emotionally, socially, or institutionally—the experience can create a sense of entrapment. The “black hole” metaphor becomes a lived reality as agency collapses, hope narrows, and trust erodes—the world feels hostile and coordinated against you. This is not weakness. It is a predictable human response to prolonged adversity. Our institute teaches that when people feel trapped in this way, they are not simply reacting to individual acts of cruelty—they are reacting to the cumulative weight of injustice. “Where justice is denied… neither persons nor property will be safe,” says Fredrick Douglas. #RandolphHarris 1 of 20
One of the most disturbing features of human behavior is that evil is rarely committed by people who appear monstrous in everyday life. Ordinary individuals—neighbors, clerks, teachers, parents—have, in certain circumstances, participated in acts that violate the most basic moral norms. This is not just a historical curiosity; it is a structural feature of human psychology and social life. People rarely act from a single, clear intention. Fear, conformity, resentment, ambition, confusion, and misplaced loyalty can all combine in ways that even the person acting may not fully understand. That is why “Why did they do it?” is often unanswerable in a clean, satisfying way. A long line of research in social psychology suggests that context can exert enormous pressure on behavior. People who consider themselves decent can be swept into harmful actions when authority figures demand obedience, group norms reward compliance, responsibility feels diffused, and moral reflection is suppressed by urgency or fear. This does not excuse wrongdoing, but it helps explain why it can emerge so suddenly and so widely. Self‑Deception Is a Powerful Force. Humans have an extraordinary ability to reinterpret their own actions in ways that preserve a sense of moral adequacy. People can convince themselves that they are “just following orders,” the harm is necessary or justified, and the victims are less deserving of moral concern. Why does slandering the victim make it easier to cause harm? It reduces empathy. If someone can be portrayed as dangerous, immoral, foolish, or “less than,” then the natural human impulse to empathize weakens. #RandolphHarris 2 of 20
People find it easier to ignore suffering when they have been convinced the sufferer somehow “deserves” it. This internal narrative can make even severe wrongdoing, to the perpetrator, feel like something other than what it is. When a community hears repeated negative claims about a group or individual, it becomes easier for bystanders to rationalize inaction. They may think: “Maybe it’s not my place to intervene.” “Maybe they really did something wrong.” “Maybe this is not as unjust as it looks.” Slander creates moral fog. Most people want to see themselves as decent. Slandering victims helps them maintain that self‑image even while doing something harmful. It is a form of self‑deception that shields them from confronting the moral weight of their actions. Human situations are often messy. Blaming victims provides a clean, emotionally satisfying story: “They are bad; we are good.” This simplicity is seductive, especially in moments of fear, uncertainty, or conflict. When people slander victims, they are not just attacking someone else—they are protecting themselves from the discomfort of acknowledging injustice. It is a way of avoiding moral responsibility. Whatever the resentment these people have against their victim, attacking the individual is a way of giving birth to values—a resentment experienced by creatures who, deprived as they are of the proper outlet of action, are forced to find their compensation in an imaginary revenge. #RandolphHarris 3 of 20
Many moral philosophers—Kant most famously—argue that humans possess an innate or rational awareness of basic moral principles: that persons deserve respect, that harm requires justification, and that truthfulness is a duty. On this view, when someone commits wrongdoing, they are not acting in ignorance of morality but in defiance of it. They know the victim is a person deserving moral regard, but they choose to override that knowledge. Evil is often not a failure to know the good, but a refusal to honor it. Sociopaths can charm others into attempting dangerous ventures with them, and as a group, they are known for their pathological lying and conning, and their parasitic relationships with “family.” From a Kantian perspective, every rational agent possesses an awareness—however faint—of the basic demands of morality. What distinguishes morally corrupt action is not ignorance, but the deliberate subordination of the moral law to self‑interest, impulse, or desire. This refusal becomes especially stark in individuals whose psychological makeup includes profound deficits in empathy or emotional depth. Such persons may display a striking capacity for charm, manipulation, and deception, drawing others into harmful ventures through sheer force of personality. Their relationships tend to be exploitative rather than reciprocal, and their histories often reveal a pattern of rule‑breaking, irresponsibility, and a persistent unwillingness to acknowledge fault. From a Kantian standpoint, what is most troubling is not simply the absence of certain emotional capacities but the way these individuals consistently choose maxims that elevate their own advantage above the dignity of others. Their emotional shallowness does not absolve them of responsibility; rather, it reveals how fully they have embraced a principle of action that treats other persons merely as instruments. Without empathy to restrain them and without remorse to recall them to the moral law, they do not experience the inner conflict that troubles most human beings. Their callousness is not merely a psychological fact—it is a moral posture, a systematic rejection of the humanity of others. #RandolphHarris 4 of 20
Not all harmful or disruptive behavior stems from malice; sometimes it reflects deeper patterns rooted in personality and emotional functioning. Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is a mental health condition that can affect the way a person thinks and interacts with others, and it may involve manipulating or deceiving people, exploiting others for personal benefit, disregarding the law or the rights of others, and feeling little or no remorse for harmful actions. When these behaviors are misunderstood, they can easily be mistaken for deliberate cruelty, but in many cases, they reflect an underlying mental health condition that has never been recognized or addressed. People diagnosed with ASPD often show a consistent lack of respect for others, ignore the consequences of their actions, or refuse to take responsibility for the harm they cause. Because these patterns can lead to physical or emotional harm to oneself or others, ASPD is considered a serious condition. It is one of several personality disorders, which are conditions that influence the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves over time. How common is antisocial personality disorder? Antisocial personality disorder affects an estimated 1 to 4 percent of adults in the United States of America. What we first began investigating might have looked like deliberate cruelty or evil, but in some cases, these behaviors can actually stem from an underlying mental health condition rather than intentional malice. #RandolphHarris 5 of 20
What are the symptoms of antisocial personality disorder? Symptoms of antisocial personality disorder may include physical aggression, hostility, or violence toward others; reckless or impulsive behavior; breaking the law; disregarding rules and social norms; feeling angry, more powerful, or superior to others; using wit, flattery, or charm to manipulate, lie, or deceive for personal gain or enjoyment; refusing to take responsibility for actions; and showing little or no remorse, regret, or concern for harmful behavior. The person we were describing earlier displayed many of these same behaviors, but recognizing the symptoms of antisocial personality disorder helps us see that such actions may not always be intentional or rooted in malice. Antisocial personality disorder may look different for each person who experiences it, and individuals might lean more toward certain behaviors than others. This variation means that the same underlying condition can appear in many different ways, depending on the person and their circumstances. What age does antisocial personality disorder develop? Antisocial personality disorder usually begins before age 15, and the initial diagnosis in childhood is called conduct disorder. Children with conduct disorder often show a pattern of aggressive or disobedient behavior that can harm others. They may lie, steal, ignore rules, or bully other children, and two behaviors that are considered early warning signs of ASPD are setting fires and harming animals. #RandolphHarris 6 of 20
Sometimes parents or healthcare providers miss the early signs of conduct disorder, especially because its symptoms can overlap with other conditions such as attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, or oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). When conduct disorder is identified and treated early in childhood, there is a chance that the behaviors may not continue into adulthood. If they do persist, the diagnosis becomes antisocial personality disorder after age 18. Studies suggest that symptoms of ASPD tend to be most severe between ages 20 and 40 and often improve after age 40. The causes of antisocial personality disorder remain uncertain, for no single influence can fully account for its development. Physicians and scholars alike have long observed that such a condition appears to arise from a confluence of forces—some rooted in one’s inherited constitution, others shaped by the circumstances of early life. Increasing attention has been given to the workings of the brain itself. Certain individuals seem to possess irregularities in the regulation of serotonin, a chemical substance believed to steady the emotions and govern one’s sense of well‑being. When this delicate balance is disturbed, it may give rise to the impulsive, aggressive, or detached behaviors so often associated with the disorder. Thus, what may outwardly appear as willful misconduct may, in truth, reflect deeper disturbances within the mind’s own machinery. #RandolphHarris 7 of 20
Is antisocial personality disorder genetic? It has long been observed that one’s hereditary constitution may incline an individual toward the development of antisocial personality disorder. Though modern inquiry continues to investigate the precise manner in which our genes contribute to this condition, the particular elements responsible have yet to be identified with certainty. Nevertheless, studies consistently show that the likelihood of exhibiting such traits increases when a biological relative has been similarly afflicted. Thus, heredity appears to play a notable, though not yet fully understood, role in the emergence of this disorder. Borderline personality disorder, marked by unstable moods and at times manipulative conduct, may present in ways that resemble the disturbances seen in antisocial personality disorder. Likewise, narcissistic personality disorder, characterized by an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance, can give rise to behaviors that appear similar in nature. Even disorders of substance use—wherein an individual becomes dependent upon alcohol or other intoxicating agents—may imitate the outward signs of antisocial tendencies. Such conditions, though distinct in their origins and course, can easily be mistaken for one another when viewed only through the lens of their external manifestations. Antisocial personality disorder is notoriously difficult to treat, for the individual so afflicted may scarcely perceive that his thoughts and actions are harmful to himself or to others. It is not uncommon for such a person to respond with agitation or resentment when assistance is offered, mistaking concern for intrusion. Yet it is important to understand that treatment remains available whenever one is prepared to receive it. Though the undertaking is neither simple nor swift, proper care can safeguard the individual and protect those within his sphere. #RandolphHarris 8 of 20
At times, when one finds oneself among persons whose conduct appears disordered in mind, or who seem united in concealing misdeeds of a dubious nature, it becomes exceedingly difficult to discern whether their actions arise from illness of the spirit or from a deliberate inclination toward wrongdoing. When escape from such company is not immediately possible, the confusion and strain upon one’s own faculties may grow severe. In circumstances where an individual feels oppressed or unsettled by the behavior of others, it is often wise to seek the counsel of a trusted professional or confidant, for the constant pressure of such surroundings can weigh heavily upon one’s emotions. Should formal assistance be beyond one’s means, the simple practice of keeping a private journal—recording the events of the day, the feelings they stirred, and envisioning a just and honorable resolution—may offer a measure of clarity and steadiness to the mind. While antisocial personality disorder may heighten the likelihood of harmful or unlawful conduct when left unaddressed, it does not, by any means, determine the ultimate course of a person’s life. Many who bear this condition never engage in acts of violence, and likewise, numerous individuals who commit grievous offenses do not meet the criteria for such a disorder. For those who seek to understand the behavior of another—or who have themselves been troubled by the actions of someone in their midst—it is essential to recall several truths. Only a trained professional is qualified to render a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder. Harmful deeds arise from a multitude of influences, of which mental illness is but one. Above all, one’s own safety and well‑being remain of the utmost importance, irrespective of the causes that may lie behind another’s conduct. #RandolphHarris 9 of 20
However, should you find yourself in circumstances where your safety feels uncertain, and those around you have issued threats or committed acts of violence or damage against your person or property, and you are aware that they have escaped consequence for grievous harm done to another, it is prudent to consider that such conduct may yet escalate. In such a case, it is wise to convey your concerns to a person of proper authority, that your welfare may be safeguarded and the matter attended to with the full seriousness it warrants. The pursuit of one’s destiny is a strong, slow, and boring field of hard boards. It takes both passion and perspective. Certainly, all historical experience confirms the truth he had reached for the impossible. However, to do that, a man must be a leader, and not only a leader but a hero as well, in a very sober sense of the word. And even those who are neither leaders nor heroes must arm themselves with that steadfastness of heart which can brave even the crumbling of all hopes. This is necessary right now, or else men will not be able to attain even that which is possible today. Only he has the calling for the art of living who is sure that they shall not crumble when the world, from his point of view, is too stupid or too base for what he wants to offer. Only he who, in the face of all this, can say, “In spite of all,” has the struggle for a meaningful life. There is usually an eerie balance between destructiveness and constructiveness, between suicidal Nothingness and dictatorial Allness, in a young man who feels responsible for everything, is dominated by an overweening conscience and a kind of premature integrity such as characterizes all ideological leaders. Many a delinquency, on a smaller scale, begins by society’s denial of the one gift on which a destructive individual’s precarious identity depends—for instance, Prew’s bugle in From Here to Eternity. #RandolphHarris 10 of 20
Therefore, it is of great importance that one not permit the malice of others to draw him into delinquency, for those who seek to do harm will often endeavor to corrupt the very character of the one they persecute. To withstand such influence is an act of quiet fortitude, and a safeguard to one’s own integrity. One would like to believe that great men of more “abstract” aspirations—in science or theology, say—are totally removed from any comparison with men of political and of destructive military action. While we learn to mistrust power seekers, we glorify men of science, determined to consider their role in making machines of destruction possible as a historical accident which they surely did not desire when they directed their genius to the mastery of physical forces. However, if one scans history, one may well want to consider the relationship between the will to master totally, in any form, and the will to destroy. Leonardo, the creator of the immortal da Vincian smile, was also an inveterate tinkerer with war machines; on occasion, he caught himself and relegated a design to the bottom of a deep drawer. Today, however, only a large-scale reconsideration of conscious aims and unconscious motives can help us. Some people who have gone on to become great men, because of their situations, had an almost pitiful fear that they might be nothing. Such men sometimes chose to challenge this possibility by being deliberately and totally anonymous; and only out of this self-chosen nothingness could a man become everything. Allness or nothingness, then, is the motto of such men; but what specific gifts and what extraordinary opportunities permit them to impose this alternative on whole nations and periods—of this, we know little. #RandolphHarris 11 of 20
Doubt may be regarded as the brother of shame; for while shame depends upon a consciousness of one’s outward aspect—of having, as it were, both a front and a back, and most especially a “behind”—doubt arises from that same inward division of the self. Each is born of an awareness that one may be seen, judged, or exposed, and thus they walk together as close and troublesome kin. For this reverse area of the body, with its aggressive and libidinal focus in the sphincters and buttocks, cannot be seen by the youth, and yet it can be dominated by the will of others. The “behind” is the small being’s dark continent, an area of the body which can be magically dominated and effectively invaded by those who would attack one’s power of autonomy and who would designate as evil those products of the bowels which were felt to be all right when they were being passed. This basic sense of doubt, in whatever one has left behind, is the model for the habitual “double take” or other later and more verbal forms of compulsive doubting. It finds its adult expression in paranoiac fears concerning hidden persecutors and secret persecutions threatening from behind (and from within the behind). Again, in adolescence, this may be expressed in a transitory total self-doubt, a feeling that all that is now “behind” in time—the childhood family as well as the earlier manifestations of one’s personality—simply do not add up to the prerequisites for a new beginning. All of this may then be denied in a willful display of dirtiness and messiness, with all the implications of “dirty” wearing at the world and at oneself. The compulsive or “anal” personality has its normal aspects and its abnormal exaggerations. If eventually integrated with compensatory traits, some impulsiveness releases expression even as some compulsiveness is useful in matters in which order, punctuality, and cleanliness are of the essence. The question is always whether we remain the masters of the modalities by which things become more manageable or whether the rules master the ruler. #RandolphHarris 12 of 20
It takes stamina as well as flexibility to train a child’s will to help him to overcome too much willfulness, develop some “goodwill,” and (while learning to obey in some essential ways) maintain an autonomous sense of free will. As far as psychoanalysis is concerned, it has focused primarily on excessively early toilet training and on unreasonable shaming as causes of the child’s estrangement from his own body. It has attempted at least to formulate what should not be done to children, and there are, of course, any number of avoidances which can be learned from the study of the life cycle. Many such formulations, however, are apt to arouse superstitious inhibitions in those who are inclined to make anxious rules out of vague warnings. We are gradually learning what exactly not to do to what kind of children at what age; but then we must still learn what to do, spontaneously and joyfully. The expert, to quote Frank Fremont-Smith, can only “set the frame of reference within which choice is permissible and desirable.” The kind and degree of a sense of autonomy which parents are able to grant their small children depends on the dignity and sense of personal independence they derive from their own lives. An infant’s sense of trust is a reflection of parental faith; similarly, the sense of autonomy is a reflection of the parents’ dignity as autonomous beings. For no matter what we do in detail, the child will chiefly perceive the spirit in which we live—whether we stand before him as loving, co‑operative, and steadfast beings, or whether we reveal ourselves as anxious, divided, and embittered. From this it follows that children are not merely raised by instruction, but by the very character and conduct of those who surround them; and thus, their welfare and the cultivation of their interests become matters of the greatest social concern. #RandolphHarris 13 of 20
Politics is the most inclusive means of creating a world order in this world; theology is the most systematic attempt to deal with man’s existential nothingness by establishing a metaphysical Allness. The monastery, in its original conception, is a systematic training for the complete acceptance of earthly nothingness in the hope of partaking of that allness. The aim of monasticism is to decrease the wish and the will to the master and to destroy to an absolute minimum. “I was holy,” Martin Luther said, “I killed nobody but myself.” To this end, the monastery offers methods of making a meditative descent into the inner shafts of mental existence, from which the aspirant emerges with the gold of faith or with gems of wisdom. These shafts, however, are psychological as well as meditative; they lead not only into the depths of adult inner experience, but also downward into our more primitive layers, and behind into our infantile beginnings. We must try to make this clear before we encounter our own struggles, so that we can build a bridge between the historical condition of greatness and its condition in individual childhood. Ideological leaders, so it seems, are subject to excessive fears which they can master only by reshaping the thoughts of their contemporaries; while those contemporaries are always glad to have their thoughts seem to fear only more consciously what in some form everybody fears in the depths of his inner life; and they convincingly claim to have an answer. The actor identifies with the socially objectivated typifications of conduct actu, but re-establishes distance between the actor and his action can be retained in consciousness and projected to future repetitions of the actions. In this way, both acting self and acting others are apprehended not as unique individuals, but as types. By definition, these types are interchangeable. #RandolphHarris 14 of 20
We can properly begin to speak of roles when this kind of typification occurs in the context of an objectified stock of knowledge common to collectivity of actors. Roles are types of actors in such a context. It can readily be seen that the construction of the role of typologies is a necessary correlate of the institutionalization of conduct. Institutions are embodied in individual experience by means of roles. The roles, objectified linguistically, are an essential ingredient of the objectively available world of any society. By internalizing these roles, the same world becomes subjectively real to him. In the common stock of knowledge, there are standards of role performance that are accessible to all members of a society, or at least to those who are potential performers in the roles in question. In the common stock of knowledge, there are standards of role performance that are accessible to all members of a society, or at least to those who are potential performers of the roles in question. This general accessibility is itself part of the same stock of knowledge; not only are the standards of role X generally known, but it is known that these standards are known. Consequently, every putative actor of role X can be held responsible for abiding by the standards, which can be taught as part of the institutional tradition and used to verify the credentials of all performers and, by the same token, serve as controls. The origins of roles lie in the same fundamental process of habitualization and objectivation as the origins of institutions. Roles appear as soon as a common stock of knowledge containing reciprocal typifications of conduct is in process of formation, a process that, as we have seen, is endemic to social interaction and prior to institutionalization proper. The question as to which roles become institutionalized is identical with the question as to which areas of conduct are affected by institutionalization, and may be answered the same way. All institutionalized conduct involves roles. Thus, roles share in the controlling character of institutionalization. As soon as actors are typified as role performers, their conduct is ipso facto susceptible to enforcement. Compliance and non-compliance with socially defined role standards cease to be optional, though, of course, the severity of sanctions may vary from case to case. #RandolphHarris 15 of 20
The roles represent the institutional order. This representation takes place on two levels. First, the performance of the role represents itself. For instance, to engage in judging is to represent the role of a judge. The judging individual is not acting “on his own,” but qua judge. Second, the role represents an entire institutional nexus of conduct. The role of the judge stands in a relationship to other roles, the totality of which comprises the institutional law. The judge acts as the representative of this institution. Only through such representation in performed roles can the institution manifest itself in actual experience. The institution, with its assemblage of “programmed” actions, is like the unwritten libretto of a drama. The realization of the drama depends upon the reiterated performance of its prescribed roles by living actors. The actors embody the roles and actualize the drama by representing it on the given stage. Neither drama nor institution exists empirically apart from this recurrent realization. To say that roles represent institutions is to say that institutions endure only insofar as living individuals enact them, allowing these structures to appear again and again as a real presence in human experience. In this light, the economic forecasts of Marx—however compelling in theory—have been called into question precisely because the roles individuals assume within economic life have not always aligned with the patterns he anticipated. Institutions persist or transform not by historical necessity alone, but through the daily conduct, choices, and contradictions of the people who inhabit them. What remains true to his vision of the economic world is the establishment of a society more and more defined by the rhythm of production. However, he shared this concept, in the enthusiasm of his period, with bourgeois ideology. #RandolphHarris 16 of 20
The bourgeois illusions concerning science and technical process, shared by the authoritarian socialists, gave birth to the civilization of the machine-tamers, which can, through the stress of competition and the desire for domination, be separated into enemy blocs, but which on the economic plane is subject to identical laws: the accumulation of capital and the rationalized and continually increasing production. The political difference, which concerns the degree of omnipotence of the State, is appreciable, but can be reduced by economic evolution. Only the difference in ethical concepts—formal virtue as opposed to historical cynicism—seems substantial. However, the imperative of production dominates both universes and makes them, on the economic plane, one world. The accumulation of capital, together with the rationalized and ever‑increasing demands of production, creates a continual pressure for businesses to seek higher returns. This relentless pursuit contributes to the rising cost of goods and services, for expansion requires ever‑greater consumption. Not long ago, many believed the world to be approaching the limits of its population at five billion souls; yet today, more than eight billion people inhabit the earth. Governments may at times contemplate limiting population growth, but large commercial enterprises often depend upon expanding markets, and a growing populace increases both potential revenue and the tax base upon which states rely. At the same time, however, a larger population also increases the number of individuals who depend upon public services, creating a tension between economic ambition, governmental capacity, and human need. #RandolphHarris 17 of 20
In any event, if the economic imperative can no longer be denied, its consequences are not what Marx imagined. Economically speaking, capitalism becomes oppressive through the phenomenon of accumulation. It is oppressive through being what it is, it accumulates in order to increase what it is, to exploit it all the more, and accordingly to accumulate still more. At that moment, accumulation would be necessary only to a very small extent in order to guarantee social benefits. However, the revolution, in its turn, becomes industrialized and realizes that, when accumulation is an attribute of technology itself, and not of capitalism, the machine finally conjures up the machine. Every form of collectivity, fighting for survival, is forced to accumulate instead of distributing its revenues. It accumulates in order to increase in size and so to increase in power. Whether bourgeois or socialist, it postpones justice for a later date, in the interests of power alone. However, p, by its very nature, opposes other forms of power. It arms and rearms because others do the same; it accumulates ceaselessly, driven by the conviction that only greater strength can secure its survival. It does not willingly halt its advance, and one might imagine that it would continue to expand until the day it reigned alone upon the earth. In our own age, this restless impulse is mirrored in the rapid development of artificial intelligence. Many already fear that such systems may one day supplant their labor, and speculate that machines could assume an ever‑greater share of human tasks. Yet even as technology grows more capable, its role will always be shaped by the choices, constraints, and values of the societies that create and govern it. In other words, one day the world will only be populated by a small percentage of humans who are considered “desirable.” #RandolphHarris 18 of 20
Moreover, for that to happen, it must pass through a war or another pandemic. Some have come to believe that the pandemic served as a kind of proving ground for the management of future crises, observing how swiftly populations accepted restrictions upon movement, commerce, and daily life. Many felt that their customary liberties were suspended with startling ease, as governments sought to contain a threat whose nature was still imperfectly understood. Generous unemployment benefits were welcomed by some as a temporary relief, though such measures inevitably carried costs that would later be felt elsewhere. Only those deemed “essential” continued their labors, a distinction that revealed how fragile many occupations had become in an increasingly automated age. With the rapid advance of artificial intelligence, there is a growing apprehension that even these essential roles may one day be assumed by machines. After the crisis, certain workplaces required vaccination as a condition of return, a policy that, for many, symbolized the tension between public health, personal choice, and economic necessity. This dynamic was captured with unsettling clarity in the Ray Bradbury Theater adaptation of The Pedestrian, in which David Ogden Stiers and Grant Tilly portray two men who are stopped and pursued by a hovering police craft simply for stepping outside during a mandated lockdown. Bradbury’s vision, though fictional, reflects a deeper anxiety about how swiftly ordinary freedoms may be suspended when authority deems it necessary, and how easily individuals may be treated as suspects for engaging in the most human of acts—walking, talking, or seeking fresh air. The scene serves as a reminder that power, once mobilized in the name of safety, can become self‑justifying, expanding its reach not through overt coercion alone but through the quiet expectation that people will comply. #RandolphHarris 19 of 20
Until that day, the proletariat will receive only the bare minimum for its subsistence. The revolution compels itself to construct, at a great expenditure in human lines, the industrial and capitalist intermediary that its own system demands. Revenue is placed by human labor. Slavery then becomes a general condition, and the gates of heaven remain locked. Such is the economic law governing a world that lives by the cult of production, and the reality is even more bloody than the law. Revolution, in the dilemma into which it has been led by its bourgeois opponents and its nihilist supporters, is nothing but slavery. Across the country, people are already protesting the rising cost of living, for the strain has become impossible to ignore. Foreclosures have increased by 32 percent since last year, and many households find themselves unable to keep pace with wages that lag behind inflation. Yet public attention is often diverted toward other, more immediate controversies. Large demonstrations form around immigration policy, while the deeper economic pressures that make life increasingly unaffordable receive far less sustained focus. It is as though the nation’s anxieties have been redirected from the structural conditions that shape everyone’s daily existence to issues that, while important, do not address the fundamental question of how ordinary people are to live, work, and support themselves in an economy that no longer seems to support them in return. Unless the system changes its principles and its path, it can have no other final result than servile rebellions, obliterated in blood or the hideous prospect of atomic suicide. The will to power, the nihilist struggle for domination and authority, has done considerably more than sweep away the American Dream. This has become, in its turn, a historic fact destined to be put to use like all other historic facts. This idea, which was supposed to dominate history, has become lost in history; the concept of abolishing means has been reduced to a means in itself and cynically manipulated for the most banal and bloody ends. The uninterrupted development of production has not ruined the capitalist regime to the benefit of the revolution. It has equally been the ruin of both bourgeois and revolutionary society to the benefit of an idol that has the snout of power. Therefore, it becomes essential to cultivate an understanding of psychology, of the conditions of life, of the workings of family, and of the forces that shape political society, so that one may act not out of fear or confusion but with informed judgment. Only through such knowledge can individuals discern the pressures placed upon them, recognize the motives of those who wield authority, and make decisions that genuinely serve their own well‑being and the common good. #RandolphHarris 20 of 20
The Winchester Mystery House: Where Legend Walks Beside Every Stair
The Winchester Mystery House is not merely a mansion—it is a legend carved in timber and shadow. To historians, it is a marvel of Victorian craftsmanship. To gardeners, its grounds are a sanctuary of color and quiet. But to those who come seeking the uncanny, it is something far more compelling: a labyrinth built on whispers, grief, and the enduring myth of a woman who refused to surrender to silence.
For 36 unbroken years, from 1886 until her death in 1922, Sarah Winchester oversaw the ceaseless construction of this sprawling estate. Hammers rang through the night. Lanterns glowed in upper windows long after midnight. Rooms appeared, vanished, and reappeared in impossible configurations. Doors opened into walls. Staircases climbed into ceilings. Hallways twisted like riddles.
Some say Mrs. Winchester built to confuse the restless spirits said to follow her. Others claim she was simply a visionary—an architect of her own private universe. Whatever the truth, the mansion stands today as a monument to the tension between fact and folklore, beauty and dread.
On the guided Mansion Tour, guests traverse 110 of the home’s 160 rooms—each one a fragment of the myth.
You will step into the rooms where Mrs. Winchester walked alone at night, consulting her mysterious “Blue Séance Room.” You will see the infamous staircases that lead nowhere, the doors that open into thin air, and the ornate details that seem almost too deliberate to be accidental.
Every corner feels touched by intention. Every turn feels like a question.
The Winchester Mystery House is not simply visited—it is experienced.
It is a place where history breathes, where architecture bends toward the uncanny, and where the line between myth and memory blurs just enough to make you wonder what Sarah Winchester truly saw in the shadows of her vast, ever‑growing home.
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.
The Mercantile Gift Shop: Your First Step Into the Mystery
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.
Once you pass through its doors, the legend begins to unfold. https://winchestermysteryhouse.com/
A Shadowed History and the Echoes That Remain
In the late 1800s, long before the mansion became a destination for curious travelers, the surrounding lands were steeped in fear and superstition. When deer and cattle were found dead under mysterious circumstances, panic spread through nearby communities. Whispers of curses and shapeshifters took hold, and in an era ruled more by fear than fact, several residents were tragically accused—and even executed—under the belief that they were werewolves. The land carried those stories like scars.
Today, the legends have not entirely faded. Staff and visitors alike have reported strange occurrences within the mansion’s twisting halls and shadowed corners: sudden banging sounds with no source, footprints appearing where no one has walked, drifting white mists that vanish as quickly as they form, and the unsettling sensation of someone exhaling softly against the back of the neck.
Whether these moments are echoes of the past or simply the house playing tricks on the senses, one thing is certain—the Winchester Mystery House has a way of reminding guests that history never truly stays silent.
The palace is now one of the most popular tourist attractions in Santa Clara, California; but according to some tales, some of its former royal residents still linger. https://winchestermysteryhouse.com/
If You Hear Voices, You’re Crazy!
In the struggle to preserve self-worth, pride often becomes both shield and prison—deflecting painful truths that threaten one’s constructed identity. Aside from a Perpetrator’s externalizations, one’s main defense on this score is an armor of self-righteousness so thick and so impenetrable that it often makes one inaccessible to reason. In arguments that may arise, a harmful actor may seem to be unconcerned about the truth of any statement one interprets as a hostile attack, but automatically responds with counterattacks—like a porcupine when it is touched. One simply cannot afford to consider even remotely anything that might engender a doubt in one’s rightness. The impulse to dominate others often masks deeper insecurities, manifesting as a vindictive refusal to share rights or respect with others. Many people engaging in harmful behavior excel at manipulating individuals who have no interest in them at all, relying on power—not connection—to maintain control. When people who feel rejected gain access to legal, medical, or financial systems and misuse them for revenge, the recipient of the behavior faces an especially dangerous and unjust situation. A subtle form of this manipulation occurs when individuals are cut off from their true peers and instead placed among those who posture superiority to keep them feeling small and dependent, and it keeps the problematic individual in control because the environment itself becomes part of the manipulation. If it were not for the cogent necessity of a manipulator protecting oneself against the onslaughts of one’s own self-hate, even with all one’s vindictiveness, one could be more reasonable in what one demands of others.
Seen from this viewpoint, the person exhibiting controlling behavior claims that others should behave in such a way as not to arouse in one any guilt feelings or any self-doubts. If one can convince oneself that one is entitled to exploit or frustrate them without their complaining, criticizing, or resenting it, then one can keep from becoming aware of one’s tendencies to exploit or frustrate. If the aggressor is entitled to have the affected individual not expect tenderness, gratitude, or consideration, then their disappointment is their hard luck and does not reflect on one’s not giving them a fair deal. Any doubt the perpetrator might allow to emerge about one’s failings in human relations, about others having reason to resent one’s attitudes, would be like a hole in a dike, through which the flood of self-condemnation would break and sweep away one’s whole artificial self-assurance. When we recognize the role of pride and self-hate in this type, we not only have a more accurate understanding of the forces operating within the person engaging in harmful behavior, but may also change our whole outlook on that individual. As long as we primarily focus on how the harmful actor operates in one’s human relations, we can describe that individual as arrogant, callous, egocentric, sadistic—or by any other epithet indicating hostile aggression which may occur to us. And any of them would be accurate. However, when we realize how deeply the aggressor is caught within the machinery of one’s pride system, when we realize the efforts one must make not to be crushed by one’s self-hate, we see the problematic individual as a harassed human being struggling for survival. And this picture is also accurate.
Of these two different aspects, seen from two different perspectives, is one more essential, more important than the other? It is a question difficult to answer, and perhaps unanswerable, but it is in one’s inner struggle that analysis can reach one at a time when one is averse to examining one’s difficulties in regard to others, and when these difficulties are so infinitely precarious that one rather anxiously avoids touching them. However, there is also an objective reason for tackling the intrapsychic factors first in therapy. We have seen that they may contribute, in many ways, to one’s outstanding trend, the arrogant vindictiveness. We cannot, in fact, understand the height of one’s arrogance without considering one’s pride and its vulnerability—or the intensity of one’s vindictiveness without seeing one’s need for protecting oneself against one’s self-hate, et cetera. However, to take a further step: these are not only reinforcing factors; they are the ones which make one’s hostile-aggressive trends compulsive. And this is the decisive reason that it is and must be ineffective and indeed futile to tackle the hostility directly. The patient cannot possibly evolve any interest in seeking it, and still less in examining it, as long as the factors which render it compulsive persist (in simple terms: as long as one cannot do anything about it anyhow). One’s need for a vindictive triumph, for instance, certainly is a hostile-aggressive trend. However, what makes it compulsive is the need to vindicate oneself in one’s own eyes. This desire originally is not even neurotic.
The problematic individual starts so low on the ladder of human values that one cannot simply must justify one’s experience, prove one’s values. However, then, the need to restore one’s pride and protect oneself from lurking self-contempt makes this desire imperative. Similarly, one’s need to be right and the resulting arrogant claims, while militant and aggressive, become compulsive through the necessity to prevent any self-doubt and self-blame from emerging. And, finally, the bulk of one’s faultfinding, one’s punitive and condemnatory attitudes toward others—or, at any rate, what renders these attitudes compulsive—stem from the dire need to externalize one’s self-hate. Moreover, if the forces usually counteracting it are malfunctioning, as we pointed out at the beginning, a rank growth of vindictiveness can occur. And again, the intrapsychic factors constitute the main reason for these checks not operating. The choking off of tender feelings, starting in childhood and described as the hardening process, is necessitated by the actions and attitudes of other people and is meant to protect one against others. The need to make oneself insensitive to suffering is greatly reinforced by the vulnerability of one’s pride and climaxed by one’s pride in invulnerability. One’s wish for human warmth and affection (both giving and receiving it), originally thwarted by the environment and then sacrificed to the need for triumph, is finally frozen by the verdict of one’s self-hate, branding one as unlovable. Thus, in turning against others, one has nothing precious to lose. One unconsciously adopts the maxim of the Roman emperor: oderint dum metuant. In other words: “It is out of the question that they should love me; they hate me anyhow, so they should at least be afraid of me.” Moreover, healthy self-interest, which otherwise would check vindictive impulses, is kept at a minimum through this utter disregard for one’s personal welfare. And even the fear of others, though operating to some extent, is held down by one’s pride in invulnerability and immunity.
In this context of missing checks, one factor deserves special mention. If any, the person with the problematic behavior has very little sympathy for others. This absence of sympathy has many causes, lying in one’s hostility toward others and in one’s lack of sympathy for oneself. However, what perhaps contributes most to one’s callousness toward others is one’s envy of them. It is a bitter envy—not for this or that particular asset, but pervasive—and stems from one’s feeling excluded from life in general. And it is true that, with one’s entanglements, one actually is excluded from all that makes life worth living—from joy, happiness, love, creativity, and growth. If tempted to think along too neat lines, we would say here: had not one turned one’s back on life? Is one not proud of one’s ascetic not-wanting and not-needing anything? Does one not keep on warding off optimistic feelings of all sorts? So, why should one envy others? However, the fact is, one does. Naturally, without analysis, the person creating the hostile environment has such an arrogance that would not permit the individual to admit it, in plain effect, that, of course, everybody is better off than the perpetrator. Or one may realize that one is infuriated at somebody for no other reason than that the latter is always cheerful or intensely interested in something. The individual responsible for the behavior indirectly explains. The controlling person feels that such a person wants to humiliate one viciously by flaunting their happiness in one’s face. Experiencing things this way not only gives rise to such vindictive impulses as wanting to kill joy but also produces a curious kind of callousness by stifling one’s sympathy for others’ suffering.
Thus far, the perpetrator’s envy reminds us of a dog locked in a manner attitude. It hurts his pride that anybody could have something which, whether he wants it or not, is out of his reach. However, this explanation does not go deep enough. In analysis, it gradually appears that the grapes of life, though one has declared them sour, are still desirable. We must not forget that one’s turning against life was not a voluntary move, and that the surrogate for which one exchanged living is a poor one. In other words, the perpetrator’s zest for living is stifled but not extinguished. In the beginning of analysis, this is only a hopeful belief, but it proves justified in many more instances than is usually assumed. Upon its validity hinges the auspices for therapy. If there were not something in the individual with the problematic behavior that does want to live more fully, how could we help the individual? This realization is also relevant for the analyst’s attitude toward such a patient. Most people respond to this type either by being intimidated into submissiveness or by rejecting the person with the problematic behavior altogether. Neither attitude will do for the analyst. Naturally, when accepting the individual as a patient, the analyst wants to him the controlling individual. However, if the analyst is intimidated, they will not dare to tackle one’s problems effectively. If the analyst inwardly rejects the perpetrator, one cannot be productive in one’s analytic work. The analyst will, however, have the necessary sympathetic and respectful understanding when one realizes that this patient, too, despite one’s protestations to the contrary, is a suffering and struggling human being.
Among the indispensable co-ordinates of identity is that of the life cycle, for we assume that not until adolescence does the individual develop the prerequisites in physiological growth, mental maturation, and social responsibility to experience and pass through crisis as the psychosocial aspect of adolescing. Nor could this stage be passed without identity. We may, in fact, speak of the identity crisis as the psychosocial aspect of adolescing. Nor could this stage be passed without identity having found a form which will decisively determine later life. For man, in order to remain psychologically alive, he constantly resolves these conflicts just as his body unceasingly combats the encroachment of physical deterioration. A healthy personality actively masters its environment, shows a certain unity of personality, and is able to perceive the world and oneself correctly—it is clear that all of these criteria are relative to the child’s cognitive and social development. In fact, we may say that childhood is defined by its initial absence and by its gradual development in complex steps of increasing differentiation. How, then, does a vital personality grow or, as it were, accrue from the successive stages of the increasing capacity to adapt to life’s necessities—with some vital enthusiasm to spare? Whenever we try to understand growth, it is well to remember the epigenetic principle which is derived from the growth of organisms in utero. This principle states that anything that grows has a ground plan, and that out of this ground plan the parts arise, each part having its time of special ascendancy, until all parts have arisen to form a functioning whole.
This, obviously, is true for fetal development, where each part of the organism has its critical time of ascendance or danger of defect. At birth, the baby leaves the chemical exchange of the womb for the social exchange system of its society, where one’s gradually increasing capacities meet the opportunities and limitations of one’s culture. How the maturing organism continues to unfold, not by developing new organs but by means of a prescribed sequence of locomotor, sensory, and social capacities, is described in the child-development literature. As pointed out, psychoanalysis has given us an understanding of the more idiosyncratic experiences, and especially the inner conflicts, which constitute the manner in which an individual becomes a distinct personality. However, here, too, it is important to realize that in the sequence of one’s most personal experiences the healthy child, given a reasonable amount of proper guidance, can be trusted to obey inner laws of development, laws which create a succession of potentialities for significant interaction with those persons who tend and respond to one and those institutions which are ready for one. While such interaction varies from culture to culture, it must remain with “the proper rate and the proper sequence” which governs all epigenesis. Personality, therefore, can be said to develop according to steps predetermined in the human organism’s readiness to be driven toward, to be aware of, and to interact with a widening radius of significant individuals and institutions.
For the most fundamental prerequisite of mental vitality, a sense of basic trust is a pervasive attitude toward oneself and the world derived from the experiences of the first year of life. By “trust,” I mean an essential trustfulness of others as well as a fundamental sense of one’s own trustworthiness. In describing a development of a series of alternative basic attitudes, including identity, we take recourse to the term “a sense of.” It must be immediately obvious, however, that such “senses” as a sense of health or vitality, or a sense of the lack of either, pervade the surface and the depth, including what we experience as consciousness or what remains barely conscious or is altogether unconscious. As a conscious experience, trust is accessible to introspection. However, it is also a way of behaving, observable by others; and it is, finally, an inner state verifiable only by testing and psychoanalytic interpretation. All three of these dimensions are to be inferred when we loosely speak of “sense of.” As usual in psychoanalysis, we learn first of the “basic” nature of trust from adult psychopathology. In adults, a radical impairment of basic trust and a prevalence of basic mistrust are expressed in a particular form of severe estrangement which characterizes individuals who withdraw into themselves when at odds with themselves and with others. Such withdrawal is most strikingly displayed by individuals who regress into psychotic states in which they sometimes close up, refusing food and comfort and becoming oblivious to companionship. What is most radically missing in them can be seen from the fact that, as we attempt to assist them with psychotherapy, we must try to “reach” them with the specific intent of convincing them that they can trust us to trust them and that they can trust themselves.
Familiarity with such radical regressions as well as with the deepest and most infantile propensities in our not-so-sick patients has taught us to regard basic trust as the cornerstone of a vital personality. Children express their wishes in visual images; but what do they say about them, the final display through the final common pathway, is determined by auditory images, or voices in the head, the result of a mental dialogue. This dialogue between parent, adult, and child is not “unconscious,” but preconscious, which means that it can easily be brought into consciousness. Then it is found that it consists of sides taken from real life, things which once were actually said out loud. The therapeutic rule is a simple derivative of this. Since the final common pathway of the patient’s behavior is determined by voices in one’s head, this can be changed by getting another voice into one’s head, that of the therapist. If this is done under hypnosis, it may not be effective, since that is an artificial situation. However, if it is done in a waking state, it may work better because the original voices were implanted in the patient’s head also in the waking state. Exceptions occur when a witch or ogre parent shouts the child into a state of panic, which is essentially a traumatic fugue. As the therapist gets more and more information from different patients as to what the voices in their heads are saying, and becomes more and more experienced in relating this to their behavior as expressed through final common pathways, one develops a very acute ability and judgment in this regard. One begins to hear the voices in a patient’s head very quickly and accurately, usually before the patient can clearly hear them.
If the therapist asks a loaded or sensitive question, which the patient takes a little time to answer, the therapist can observe a twitch here, a contraction there, and a shift of expression, so that the therapist can follow the “skull dialogue” almost as though one were listening to a tape recording. Once the therapist understands what is going on, their next task is to give the patient permission to listen, and to teach the patient how to hear the voices which are still there in their pristine force from childhood. Here, the therapist may have to overcome several kinds of resistance. The patient may be forbidden to listen by Parental directives, such as: “If you hear voices, you’re crazy.” Or the patient’s inner child may be afraid of what one will hear. Or the patient’s adult self may prefer not to listen to the people governing one’s behavior in order to maintain one’s illusion of autonomy. Many “actionistic” therapists become very skilled at bringing these voices to life by special techniques, where the patient finds oneself carrying on the dialogue out loud, so that both the individual and the audience can plainly see that what he says has been in his head all along. Gestalt therapists often use “the empty chair,” where the patient moves from one chair to the other, playing two parts of oneself. Psychodramatists supply trained assistants who play one role while the patient themselves plays another. Watching or reading about such sessions, it soon becomes clear that the sides for each role come from different ego states or different aspects of the same ego state, and consist of dialogue which has been running in the patient’s head since one’s early years.
However, almost everybody mutters to oneself at some time or another, so every patient has a good start toward unearthing one’s mental dialogue without such special techniques. As a general rule, phrases in the second person (“You should have,” et cetera) come from the Parent, while those in the first person (“I must,” “Why did I?” et cetera) come from the Adult or Child. With some sort of encouragement, the patient soon becomes aware of one’s most important script directives as spoken in one’s head, and can report them to the therapist. The therapist must then give the patient the option of choosing between them, discarding the nonadaptive, useless, harmful, or misleading ones, and keeping the adaptive or useful ones. Even better, one may enable the patient to get a friendly divorce from one’s parents and make a fresh start altogether (although often the friendly divorce will be preceded by an angry phase, as most divorces are at the beginning, even if they eventually end up friendly). This means one must give the patient permission to disobey the Parental directives, not win rebellion, but rather in autonomy, so that one will be free to do things one’s own way and not have to follow one’s script. An easier way to handle this is to give the patient medication such as meprobamate, phenothiazines, or amitriptyline, all of which mute the Parental voices. This relieves the Child’s anxiety or depression and thus “makes the patient feel better.” However, there are disadvantages. First, these drugs tend to dumb down the whole personality, including the voice of the Adult. Some physicians, for example, advise the patient not to drive a car while one is takeing them.
Second, the medications make psychotherapy more difficult precisely because the Parent’s voices cannot be heard clearly, and so the script directives may be masked or de-emphasized. And third, therapeutic permission given under such conditions may be freely exercised, since the Parental prohibitions are temporarily out of commission, but if and when the medication is discontinued, the Parent usually comes back in full force, and may even take revenge on the Child for the liberties one took while the Parent was decommissioned. Growth, according to the present metaphor, entails a return to the place one had left, in order to make it suitable for living, and moreover, living as a person of enlarged perspective. A growth cycle is completed when persons affirm their larger experience of self and world and modify their concept of self, their public self, and their self-ideal in the light of enlarged awareness. They now know they are more, and can be more, different, than they hitherto believed possible. This alteration and enlargement of one’s sense of self is desirable and conducive to a healthy personality. The process of integrating the larger consciousness of self and world is helped immeasurably by re-engagement in life projects and personal relationships. Indeed, it is the demands, challenges, and rewards of work, play, and personal relationships that provide the incentive to grow, and the rewards of such growth. Without such ways of being engaged in the world, I believe efforts to let go and to open oneself to new experiences have destructive and regressive consequences. Chronic users of psychedelic drugs, like fanatics at yoga or meditation, confuse means with ends; they spend their time “in their experience,” but out of action.
The return is often difficult because the people with whom one has been engaged may not have changed; further, they may resent the changes that the growing person has introduced into their world. They may impose considerable pressure upon the individual to revert to the way one was prior to the episode of growing. To yield to such pressure is disastrous, for it makes a non-event out of the persons’ growth. At about the seventh year, says Aristotle, man can differentiate between good and bad. Conscience, ego, and cognition, we would say, are by then sufficiently developed to make it probable that a child, given half a chance, will be able and eager to concentrate on tasks transcending play. One will watch and join others in the techniques of one’s society, and develop an eagerness for completing tasks fitted for one’s own age in some craftsmanlike way. All this, and not less, is implied when we say that a child has reached the “stage of industry.” At the age of seven, there was a boy who was sent to a school which would teach him Latin—then the principal tool of the technology of literacy. Obviously, only parents with higher aspirations for their children would send them to such a school. However, halfway-qualified teachers were employed at schools like this only when they could get no other work—while they were still young, or when they were no longer employable. In either case, they were apt to express their impatience with life in their treatment of the children, which was very similar to the treatment that some people give their donkeys. The teachers rarely relied, and therefore, could not rely on conscience, ego, or cognition; instead, they used the old and universal method of Pauken, “drumming” facts and habits into the growing minds by relentless mechanical repetition. They also drummed the children themselves mit Ruten in die Aefftern, on the behind, other body parts being exempt.
According to the professor, an occasional “lusty caning” did not harm the student any more than it did any other children: but the professors and his school must present him as entirely intact and unweakened by any ordinary or special childhood event, so that the divine event, the catastrophe, which later concluded his academic education so unexpectedly, appears as divine interference. The priest and the psychiatrist, however, believed that this was an impressionable age for a child, and school years can make a child fearful for life. In retrospect, the student found that the gains in learning were in no way commensurate with the “inner torture.” At the most, he felt such teaching prepared a man to be a priest of low caliber, a Pfaff; otherwise, he was not taught enough to “either cackle or lay an egg.” It is certain that the disciplinary climate of home and school, and the religious climate in community and church, were lumped together in his mind as decidedly more oppressive than inspiring; and that, to him, this seemed a damned and unnecessary shame. He blamed his atmosphere for his strict and rigid doctrines, his intensity of monastic “scrupulosity,” his obsessional preoccupation with the question of how on earth one may do enough to please the various agencies of judgment—teacher, father, superior, and most of all, one’s conscience. School children, he reported, were caned on the behind; it is probable that home discipline was concentrated on the same body area. To those who believe in corporal punishment, this seems to take the sting out of the matter, and even to make it rather funny.
We grant the buttocks can take a lot of pressure, and lend themselves to bawdy jokes; but we cannot ignore the fact, brought out by the researchers of psychoanalysis, that the anal zone, which is guarded and fortified by the buttocks, can, under selective and intense treatment of special kinds, become the seat of sensitive and sensual, defiant and stubborn, associations. The devil, according to the student, expresses his scorn by exposing his rear parts; man can beat him to it by employing anal weapons, and by telling him where his kiss is welcome. Language provides the fundamental superimposition of logic on the objectivated social world. The edifice of legitimations is built upon language and uses language as its principal instrumentality. The “logic” thus attributed to the institutional order is part of the socially available stock of knowledge and taken for granted as such. Since the well-socialized individual “knows” that his social world is a consistent whole, he will be constrained to explain both its functioning and malfunctioning in terms of this “knowledge.” It is very easy, as a result, for the observer of any society to assume that its institutions do indeed function and integrate as they are “supposed to.” De facto, then, institutions are integrated. However, their integration is not a functional imperative for the social processes that produce them; it is rather brought about in a derivative fashion. Individuals perform discrete institutionalized actions within the context of their biography. This biography is a reflected-upon whole in which the discrete actions are thought of not as isolated events, but as related parts in a subjectively meaningful universe whose meanings are not specific to the individual, but socially articulated and shared. Only by way of this detour of socially shared universes of meaning do we arrive at the need for institutional integration.
This has far-reaching implications for any analysis of social phenomena. If the integration of an institutional order can be understood only in terms of the “knowledge” that its members have of it, it follows that the analysis of such “knowledge” will be essential for an analysis of the institutional order in question. It is important to stress that this does not exclusively or even primarily involve a preoccupation with complex theoretical systems serving as legitimations for the institutional order. Theories also have to be taken into account, of course. However, theoretical knowledge is only a small and by no means the most important part of what passes for knowledge in a society. Theoretically sophisticated legitimations appear at particular moments of an institutional history. The primary knowledge about the institutional order is knowledge on the pretheoretical level. It is the sum total of “whatever everybody knows” about a social world, an assemblage of maxims, morals, proverbial nuggets of wisdom, values and beliefs, myths, and so forth, the theoretical integration of which requires considerable intellectual fortitude in itself, as the long line of heroic integrators from Homer to the latest sociological system-builders testifies. On the pretheoretical level, however, every institution has a body of transmitted recipe knowledge, that is, knowledge that supplies the institutionally appropriate rules of conduct. Such knowledge constitutes the motivating dynamics of institutionalized conduct. It defines the institutionalized areas of conduct and designates all situations falling within them. It defines and constructs the roles to be played in the context of the institutions in question. Ipso facto, it controls and predicts all such conduct.
Since this knowledge is socially objectivated as knowledge, that is, as a body of generally valid truths about reality, any radical deviance from the institutional order appears as a departure from reality. Such deviance may be designated as moral depravity, mental disease, or just plain ignorance. While these fine distinctions will have obvious consequences for the treatment of the deviant, they all share an inferior cognitive status within the particular social world. In this way, the particular social world becomes the world tout court. What is taken for granted as knowledge in the society comes to be coextensive with the knowledge, or at any rate provides the framework within which anything not yet known will come to be known in the future. This is the knowledge that is learned in the course of socialization, and that mediates the internalization within individual consciousness of the objectivated structures of the social world. Knowledge, in this sense, is at the heart of the fundamental dialectic of society. It “programs” the channels in which externalization produces an objective world. It objectifies this world through language and the cognitive apparatus based on language, that is, it orders it into objects to be apprehended as reality. It is internalized again as an objectively valid truth in the course of socialization. Knowledge about society is thus a realization in the double sense of the word, in the sense of ongoingly producing this reality.
For example, in the course of the division of labor, a body of knowledge is developed that refers to the particular activities involved. In its linguistic basis, this knowledge is already indispensable to the institutional “programming” of these economic activities. There will be, say, a vocabulary designating the various modes of hunting, the weapons to be employed, the animals that serve as prey, and so on. If one is to hunt correctly, there will be a collection of recipes that must be learned. This knowledge serves as a channeling, controlling force in itself, an indispensable ingredient of the institutionalization of this area of conduct. As the institution of hunting is crystallized and persists in time, the same body of knowledge serves as an objective (and, incidentally, empirically verifiable) description of it. A whole segment of the social world is objectified by this knowledge. There will be an objective “science” of hunting, corresponding to the objective reality of the hunting economy. The point need not be belabored that here “empirical verification” and “science” are not understood in the sense of modern scientific canons, but rather in the sense of knowledge that may be borne out in experience and that can subsequently become systematically organized as a body of knowledge. Again, the same body of knowledge is transmitted to the next generation. It is learned as objective truth in the course of socialization, and this is internalized as subjective reality. This reality, in turn, has the power to shape the individual. It will produce a specific reality.
The reality will produce a specific type of person, namely the hunter, whose identity and biography as a hunter have meaning only in a universe constituted by the aforementioned body of knowledge as a whole (say, in a hunters’ society) or in part (say, in our own society, in which hunters come together in a subuniverse of their own). In other words, no part of the institutionalization of hunting can exist without the particular knowledge that has been socially produced and objectivated with reference to this activity. To hunt and to be a hunter implies existence in a social world defined and controlled by this body of knowledge. Mutatis mutandis, the same applies to any area of institutionalized conduct. There is a certain measure of safety in the deliberate cultivation of rational thought based on observed fact as a guide to action. This is the way that science has travelled with the discoveries of, and profits by, natural law. This is the way that industry and commerce have traveled, with solid results for all to see. Its value, when applied to methods of achievement, is a proven one. The sciences are useful to man and need not be cursed for the evil results of their abuse by man. He needs rather to learn how to make a better, more prudent, and wiser use of them. The spirit of science—which happens to be the spirit of this age—has rationalized us, and we are naturally impatient of all misguided persons who appear irrational. Even if we later recognize that certain educational methods were harsh or misguided, they shaped us during a time when we did not have alternatives. Our success gives us the space to reflect on them critically, but those experiences still formed part of the path that brought us here.
If there is a Fog, the Monsters Can’t See Me!
Domestic burglary is a huge societal problem, and one of the most frequently occurring crimes. In the United States of America, 1.1 million domestic burglaries are reported to the police each year. To give a sense of community dysfunction associated with the problem of domestic burglary, the very commonly reported issue is theft of goods and money from the family home or mailbox, which may be used buy drugs. And, sometimes, it is not always by a family member; the theft could be perpetrated by one’s neighbor, or even a stranger. There is, of course, the inconvenience of the theft to consider, but the damage is far greater than can be measured in material terms. Domestic burglary victimization is a traumatic experience, because most people consider their home as an extension of the self and a place where the self is protected against others. Intrusions to such a highly valued place are therefore regarded as attacks to both one’s personhood and one’s safety and privacy, and may render victims at risk of psychological distress. Some of the victims develop trauma-related disorders or mood or anxiety disorders, which may put them at risk of social, financial, economic, and physical health problems. The monetary costs of these burglaries (exempli gratia, due to damaged properties and stolen goods, police investigations, and victim services) are enormous. For example, the total monetary costs of domestic burglary have been estimated to amount to more than $9 billion a year in the United States of America (which comes down to $2,675) per burglarized house. #RandolphHarris 1 of 32
To mitigate crime victims’ psychological distress, they must receive adequate support services. To ensure that they have access to such services, police officers and other professionals working with crime victims should screen them for factors shown to be related to the experience or development of psychological distress. Drug users in the general population are more likely than nonusers to commit crimes. Another dimension of drug-related crime is that 25 percent of State prison inmates and 20 percent of convicted jail inmates reported committing their offenses to get money to buy drugs. Offenders convicted of robbery, burglary, and larceny/theft were most likely to commit their offense to obtain money to buy drugs. Many chronic drug abusers—the individuals we commonly regard as addicts—often simultaneously suffer from a serious mental disorder. Drug treatment and medical professionals call this condition a co-occurring disorder or a dual diagnosis. Chronic drug abuse is the habitual abuse of licit or illicit drugs to the extent that the abuse substantially injures a person’s health or substantially interferes with his or her social or economic functioning. Furthermore, any person who has lost the power of self-control over the use of drugs is considered a chronic drug user. Chronic drug abuse may occur in conjunction with any mental illness identified in the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-IV). Some common serious mental disorders associated with chronic drug abuse include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, manic depression, attention deficit hype disorder (ADHD), generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, and antisocial personality disorder. #RandolphHarris 2 of 32
Co-occurring disorders are very common. Approximately 6 million adults met the criteria for both serious mental illness and substance dependence or abuse in the past year. Some people suffering from serious mental disorders (often undiagnosed ones) take drugs to alleviate their symptoms—a practice known as self-medicating. According to the American Psychiatric Association, individuals with schizophrenia sometimes use substances such as marijuana to mitigate the disorder’s negative symptoms (depression, apathy, and social withdrawal), to combat auditory hallucinations and paranoid delusions, or to lessen the adverse effects of their medication, which can include depression and restlessness. In other cases, mental disorders are caused by drug abuse. For example, MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, commonly known as ecstasy) produces long-term deficits in serotonin function in the brain, leading to mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. Chronic drug abuse by adolescents during formative years is a particular concern because it can interfere with normal socialization and cognitive development and thus frequently contributes to the development of mental disorders. However, chronic drug abusers who suffer from mental illness, and especially whether treating both conditions simultaneously leads to better recovery. Currently, the two conditions are often treated separately or without regard to each other. As a result, many individuals with co-occurring disorders are sent back and forth between substance abuse and mental health treatment settings. #RandolphHarris 3 of 32
Although one cannot always distinguish neatly between alienation from the actual self and that from the real self, the loss of self is sickness unto death; it is despair—despair at not being conscious of having a self, or despair at not being willing to be ourselves. However, it is a despair which does not clamor or scream. People go on living as if they were still in immediate contact with this alive center. Any other loss—that of a job, say, or a leg—arouses far more concern. Patients coming for consultation complain about headaches, sexual disturbances, inhibitions in work, or other symptoms; as a rule, they do not complain about having lost touch with the core of their psychic existence. There are many forces, including drugs, responsible for the alienation from self. It is in part the consequences of the whole neurotic development, especially of all that is compulsive in neurosis. Of all that implies, “I am driven instead of being the driver.” It does not matter in this context what the particular compulsive factors are—whether they operate in relation to others (compliance, vindictiveness, detachment, et cetera) or in relation to self, as in self-idealization. They very compulsive character of these drives inevitably deprives the person of his full autonomy and spontaneity. As soon as, for instance, his need to be liked by everybody becomes compulsive, the genuineness of his feelings diminishes; so does his power to discriminate. As soon as he is driven to do a piece of work for the sake of glory, his spontaneous interest in the work itself decreases. Conflicting compulsive drives, in addition, impair his integration, his faculty to decide and give direction. Last but not least, the neurotic pseudo-solutions, though representing attempts at integration, also deprive him of autonomy because they have become a compulsive way of living. #RandolphHarris 4 of 32
It does not matter, in this context, what the particular compulsive factors are—whether they operate in relation to others (compliance, vindictiveness, detachment, et cetera) or in the relation to self, as in self-idealization. The very compulsive character of these drives inevitably deprives the person of his full autonomy and spontaneity. As soon as, for instance, his need to be liked by everybody becomes compulsive, the genuineness of his feelings diminishes; so does his power to discriminate. As soon as he is driven to do a piece of work for the sake of glory, his spontaneous interest in the work itself decreases. Conflicting compulsive drives, in addition, impair his integration, his faculty to decide and give direction. Last but not least, the neurotic pseudo-solutions, though representing attempts at integration, also deprive him of autonomy because they become a compulsive way of living. Secondly, the alienation is furthered through process, likewise compulsive, which can be described as active moves away from the real self. The whole drive for glory is such a move, particularly through the neurotic’s determination to mold himself into something he is not. He feels what he should feel, wishes what he should wish, like what he should like. In other words, the tyranny of the should drives him frantically to be something different from what he is or could be. And in this imagination, he is different—so different, indeed, that his real self fades and pales still more. #RandolphHarris 5 of 32
Neurotic claims, in terms of self, mean the abandoning of the reservoir of spontaneous energies. Instead of making his own efforts, for instance, with regard to, human relations, the neurotic insists that others should adjust to him. Instead of putting himself into his work, he feels entitled to having it done for him. Instead of making his own decisions, he insists that others should be responsible for him. Therefore, his constrictive energies lie fallow, and he actually is less and less a determining factor in his own life. Neurotic pride removes him a step further from himself. Since he now becomes ashamed of what he actually is—of his feelings, resources, activities—he actively withdraws his interest from himself. The whole process of externalization is another active moving away from his self, actual and real. It is astonishing, by the way, how closely this process coincides with Dr. Kierkegaard’s “despair of not wanting to be oneself.” Finally, there are active moves against the real self, as expressed in self-hates. With the real self in exile, so to speak, one becomes a condemned convict, despised and threatened with destruction. The idea of being oneself even becomes loathsome and terrifying. The terror sometimes appears undisguised, as one patient felt it when thinking: “This is me.” This appeared at a time when the neat distinction she had made between “me” and “my neurosis” started to crumble. As a protection against this terror, the neurotic “makes himself disappear.” He has an unconscious interest in not having a clear perception of himself—in making himself, as it were, deaf, dumb, and blind. #RandolphHarris 6 of 32
Not only does he blur the truth about himself, but he has a vested interest in doing so—a process which blunts his sensitiveness to what is true and what is false not only inside but also outside himself. He has an interest in maintaining his haziness, although he may consciously suffer under it. One patient, for instance, in his associations often used the monsters of the Beowulf legend, who emerged at night from the lake, to symbolize his self-hate. And one he said: “If there is a fog, the monsters can’t see me.” The result of all these moves is an alienation from self. When we use this term, we must be aware that it focuses on only one aspect of the phenomenon. What is expressed accurately is the subjective feeling of the neurotic of being removed from himself. He may realize in analysis that all the intelligent things he has said about himself were, in reality, disconnected from him and his life, that they concerned some fellow with whom he had little if anything to do, and the findings about whom were interesting but did not apply to his life. In fact, this analytic experience leads us straight into the core of the problem. For we must keep in mind that the patient does not talk about weather or television: he talks about his most intimate personal life experiences. Yet, they have lost their personal meaning. And, just as he may talk about himself without “being in it,” so he may work, be with friends, take a walk, or sleep with a woman without being in it. #RandolphHarris 7 of 32
His relation to himself has become impersonal; so has his relation to his whole life. If the word “depersonalization” did not already have a specific psychiatric meaning, it would be a good term for what alienation from self essentially is: it is a depersonalizing, and therefore a devitalizing process. The alienation from self does not show as directly and blatantly as its significance would suggest, except (speaking of neuroses only) in the state of depersonalization, feelings of unreality, or amnesia. While these conditions are temporary, they can occur only in person who are estranged from themselves anyhow. The factors precipitating the feelings of unreality are usually severe injuries to pride together with an acute increase of self-contempt, exceeding what is tolerable for the particular person. Conversely, when—with or without therapy—these acute conditions subside, his alienation from self is not thereby essentially changed. It is merely again restrained within such limits that he can function without conspicuous disorientation. Otherwise, the trained observer would be able to perceive certain general symptoms pointing to an existing alienation from self, such as deadness of the eyes, an aura of impersonality, an automatonlike behavior. For the analyst, it is a source of never-ending astonishment how comparatively well a person can function with the core of himself not participating. Let us consider a problem from another region. A woman from the Middle West, rather unusually feminine and sensitive, uses a visit with relatives in the East to consult a psychoanalyst concerning a general feeling of affective constriction and an all-pervasive mild anxiety. #RandolphHarris 8 of 32
During an exploratory analysis, she seems almost lifeless. After some weeks, she occasionally produces a sudden flood of associations, all concerning horrid impressions of pleasures of the flesh or death. Many of these memories emerge not from unconscious depths, but from an isolated corner of her consciousness where all those frightening matters were boarded off which on occasion had broken through the orderly factualness of the upper-middle-class surroundings of her childhood. This isolation of life segments is similar to that met with in compulsive neurotics anywhere. In this case, it was part of a sanctioned way of life, an ethos, which in our patient had become truly uncomfortable only at a time when she was being courted by a European and was trying to envisage life in a cosmopolitan atmosphere. She felt attracted but at the same time inhibited; her imagination was vividly provoked but restrained by anxiety. Her bowels reflected this conflict with disturbing alternations between constipation and diarrhea. The final impression gained was one of a general inhibition rather than of a basic impoverishment of imagination in matters either dealing with pleasures of the flesh or social. The patient’s dreams gradually reveled a hidden source of untapped freedom. While she still seemed pained and lifeless in her free associations, her dream life became humorous and imaginative in an almost autonomous way. She dreamed of entering a quiet church congregation in a flaming red dress and of throwing stones through respectable windows (which would be a major felony and probably ban her from being hired for most jobs after a lengthy prison sentence). However, her most colorful dreams put her into Civil War days—on the Confederate side. #RandolphHarris 9 of 32
The climax was a dream in which she sat on a toilet, set off by low partitions in the middle of a tremendous ballroom, and waved to elegantly dressed couples of Confederate officers and southern ladies who swirled around her to the sounds of powerful brass. These dreams helped to unearth and highlight an isolated part of her childhood, namely, the gentle warmth awarded her by her grandfather, a Confederate veteran whose world was a fairy tale of the past. However, for all its formalism, the grandfather’s patriarchal masculinity and gentle affection had been experienced through the child’s hungry senses and had proved more immediately reassuring to her searching ego than either her father’s or mother’s promises of standardized success. With the grandfather’s death, the patient’s affects went dead because they were part of an abortive ego-identity formation which failed to receive nourishment either in the form of affection or of social rewards. The psychoanalytic treatment of women with a prominent identity element of the southern lady (an identity which pervades more than one class or race) seems complicated by special resistances. To be sure, our patients are usually dislodged southerners, their ladyhood a defense, almost a symptom. Their wish for treatment finds its limits in three ideas which are all connected with the particular provisions in southern culture for safeguarding caste and race identity by imposing the prototype of the lady on the small girl. #RandolphHarris 10 of 32
There is, first, a pseudoparanoid suspicion that life is a series of critical tests in which vicious gossips attempt to stack up minor weaknesses and blemishes against the southern woman toward an inexorable final judgment, namely, to be—or not to be—a lady. Second, there is the all-pervading conviction that men, if not restrained by the formalities of a tacitly approved double standard which grants them lesser and darker sex objects at the price of overt respect for ladies, will prove to be no gentlemen and that they will at very least try to blacken the lady’s name and with it her claim to a socially superior husband and the prospect of having her children marry upward. However, there is also the equally ambivalent implication that any man who does not proceed to shed his gentleman’s inhibitions when the opportunity of sexual conquest offers itself is a weakling who only deserves to be mercilessly provoked. The usual feelings of guilt and inferiority thus all exists within the co-ordinates of a life plan dominated by the conscious hope for higher social status, and made morbid by its ambivalent counterpart, the hidden hope for the man who will dissolve the woman’s need to be a lady in a moment of reckless passion. In all this, there is a basic inability to conceive of any area in life where the standards and the words of a man and a woman could honestly coincide and be lifted above a certain primeval antagonism. Needless to say, such unconscious standards cause severe suffering in sincere and enlightened women, but only the verbalization of these internalized stereotypes, concomitantly with the analysis of the patient’s transfer to the analyst of her whole conflictful imagery of men, makes psychoanalysis possible. #RandolphHarris 11 of 32
Psychoanalysts, of course, are consulted primarily by those who cannot stand the tension between alternatives, contrasts, and polarities which governs the American style of today: the unceasing necessity to remain tentative in order to be free for bigger and better opportunities. In their transferences and in their resistances, patients repeat abortive attempts at synchronizing fast-changing and sharply contrasting remnants of national, regional, and class identities during critical stages of their childhoods. The analyst is woven into the patient’s unconscious life plan. Especially if he is European-born, and compared with the patient’s more homogeneous ancestors, or he is resisted as the brainy enemy of a potentially successful American identity, he is idealized. The patient, however, can gain the courage to face the discontinuities of life in this country and the polarities of its struggle for an economic and cultural identity not as an imposed hostile reality, but as a potential promise for a more universal human identity. This, as we have seen, finds its limits where individuals were either fundamentally impoverished in their childhood sensuality or are stalled by the “system” in their freedom to use opportunities. Why did Pythagoras put mathematics among the necessary preliminary disciplines for the study of philosophy? Here was part of the way to counteract man’s natural materialism. It trained him to think abstractly, to hold pure ideas whose exactitude and truthfulness were indisputable. And he supported the teaching by pointing to the fact that the universe was founded on a number. Finally, the higher use of mathematics was as an assistant in symbolizing metaphysical principles. #RandolphHarris 12 of 32
When we begin to operate with abstract concepts in the practical world, we begin to know their true worth. Except as an intellectual exercise, I would discourage abstract speculation upon which so many intellectuals have frittered away their time, as our medieval theologians frittered theirs. We seek truth for various reasons. One is because is possesses a certitude that gives us anchorage and rest. Mathematics is fortunate in having been able to invent a language of symbols and signs which is adequate to the most exacting demands of precision. The connotation of each sign is definite. It derives a fixed meaning from the common universe of discourse which is implicit as the background of both speaker and hearer. The mathematician must give every symbol he uses a clear meaning in his own mind as well as to those who are to read his symbols. Therefore, he is compelled to provide a common medium of understanding about which there can be no two opinions. Mathematics is thus placed in a position of superiority in reference to language and rigorous reasoning when compared to other subjects. It provides perfect instruments for the expression of an idea. The meaning of the arithmetical minus sign is forever invariable and forever precise. The man who has thought well about thinking itself may put forward more clever ideas in a single hour than others do in a single week. The brain of the intellectual man multiplies thoughts, but the brain of the self-actualized Christian subtracts and reduces them. #RandolphHarris 13 of 32
Thinking in terms of mental images is a valuable faculty, but thinking in words alone is not less valuable. Both are needed to the balanced person. The value assigned to the symbol X must be strictly adhered to throughout the series of equations, and, being predetermined, no confusion concerning what it stands for can ever arise. However, when we turn to words, we find them to be imperfect, elastic, and indeterminate. When we deal with mathematical symbols, we expect and find a determinate meaning has been assigned to them, but when we deal with words, we cannot always expect and often fail to find any fixed meaning at all. The ordinary man who is used to dealing only with concrete things his eyes can see and his hands can touch, quite pardonably feels, when he is asked to deal with abstract conceptions, that he is at once out of his depth. When one does not know his Real Self, that is, his own deepest being, it is of little avail to ponder on difficult questions of an intellectual nature. The symmetry of the universe’s patterns appears best in the figure of a circle. The ability to think abstractly and metaphysically is not a waste of time as so many scientists, activists, and practical men of the world think. On the contrary, it is needed as a counterbalance to the ability to think concretely. So long as a man gets all his ideas from experiences gained through the body alone, so long may he pardonably accept the belief in materialism. However, as soon as he begins to get them from thinking alone—and the difference can not be properly grasped until he has practiced prayer sufficiently and successfully—so soon will he see the falsity of this belief. #RandolphHarris 14 of 32
There was a body named Jeff, and he was one of four children, none of whom had permission to succeed. The parents were both a little dishonest in socially acceptable ways, and the children each carried this tendency a little further. One day, Jeff told about his troubles at university. He was falling behind in his work, so he had paid a ghost writer in advance to do his thesis. The group listened with interest as he described his negotiations with this man, and told how the ghost writer had also undertaken to write theses for some of Jeff’s friends, all of whom had paid in advance. The other members asked questions here and there, until finally Jeff came to the point. The writer had absconded to Europe, taking all the money, he had collected, and without leaving any theses behind. At this, the group broke into uproarious laughter in which Jeff joined. The others said they thought the story was funny for two reasons: first, the way Jeff told it, as though he expected them to laugh, and would be disappointed if they did not; and second, because it was the sort of thing they expected, or perhaps even hoped, would happen to Jeff because of the complicated way he went about doing things instead of carrying out his obligations in a straightforward, honest way. They all knew that Jeff was supposed to fail, and it was amusing to see how much effort he put into it. They joined in Jeff’s laughter the same way the crowd had joined in Jeff’s when they first heard. Later, they would all be depressed about it, Jeff most of all. His laugh said, “Ha, ha, ha mother, you always loved me when I failed, and here I go again.” #RandolphHarris 15 of 32
The Adult in the Child, the Professor, has had the task from earliest years of keeping mother contented so that she will stay with him and protect him. If she likes him and expresses the liking with a smile, he feels safe even when he is actually in trouble or even in dire peril of death. In normal mothering, mother’s Parent and Child both like kids. So when mother smiles, both her Parent and her Child are pleased with her offspring, and things will proceed smoothly between them. In other cases, mother’s Parent smiles at her son because she is supposed to, while her Child is angry at him. He can get on the good side of her Child, and get a smile that way, by behavior which her Parent might disapprove of. For example, by demonstrating that he is “bad,” he may get a Child smile because he has proven that he is not-O.K., and that pleases the Child in mother—what we have previously called “the witch mother.” Both script and anti-script can be considered attempts to evoke mother’s smile: the anti-script for the approving smile of mother’s (and father’s) Parent, the script for the smile of mother’s Child, who enjoys the baby’s pain or discomfiture. The gallows laugh, then, occurs when Jeff “finds himself” with the rope around his neck, and his Child says: “I did not really want to end up this way: How did I get here?” Then Mother (in his head) smiles, and he realizes that she has conned him into it. He then has the choice of either going crazy, killing her, himself, or laughing. At such moments, he may envy the brother who chose instead to go to the mental hospital, or the sister who elected to kill herself, but he is not ready for either of those—yet. (Suicide or Crisis Lifeline call or text 988. A counselor is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the help is free.) #RandolphHarris 16 of 32
The gallows laugh or the gallows smile occurs after a special kind of stimulus and response called the “gallows transaction.” A typical example is an alcoholic who has not had a drink for six months, as everyone in the group knows. Then one day, he comes in and lets the others talk for a while. When they have gotten all their troubles off their chests, so that he has the stage to himself, he says: “Guess what happened over the weekend?” One look at his slightly smiling face and they know what happened. They get ready to smile, too. One of them sets up the gallows transaction by asking: “What happened?” “Well, I took one drink and then another, and the next thing I knew”—by this time he is laughing and so are they—“I went on a three-day bender.” In the case of the Alcoholic, when the audience is told about last week’s bender while the audience (including, perhaps, the therapist) beams with delight. The smile of the Children in the audience parallels and reinforces the smile of the witch mother or ogre who is pleased when people obey the injunction (“Don’t think—drink), and in effect tightens the noose around their necks. The gallows laugh (which results from a gallows transaction) means that if the patient laughs while recounting a misfortune, and particularly if the other group members join in the laughter, that misfortune is part of the catastrophe of the patient’s script. When the people around him laugh, they reinforce the payoff, hasten his doom, and prevent him from getting well. In this way, the parental come-on is brought to fruition, ha ha. Semantics deals with those subtleties of language which escape the notice of uneducated people and are ignored by those who shrink a little labour. #RandolphHarris 17 of 32
Technology should be viewed as a vital layer of protection, but it does have its limitations, and we should not become overreliant on technology because some time in the near future, America could be without power, without Interent and no GPS, so people will have to park their cars like their parents did, they may have to use maps to find locations, and they may have to go to the library to do research with physical books. Therefore, it is still a good idea to learn how to use a compass, drive a car with a manual transmission, and learn how to drive without technology assistance. However, for most of us, it is hard to imagine a time when emergency vehicles responded to emergencies and had no communication with dispatch or other apparatus once en route to an incident. Technology will continue to be an asset to emergency services, adding safety and providing more effective operations. Although it should be welcome, we must continue to insist on rigorous testing and consider the applications to emergency services. The new technology must be trained on and used in conjunction with the other tools we must provide an effective system. Clinicians are even in the process of testing technology to scan the brain to see what mental impairments human beings have. While that is welcoming, critics worry it could lead to “mental profiling.” Based on brain scans, the government could track people who are at high risk of committing violent crimes without knowing or having due process, and take them into custody. Few words invoke more fear than the word investigation. We never want to be a suspect in a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigative and intelligence process, an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) investigation, a murder investigation, or a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigation. #RandolphHarris 18 of 32
Humans have natural defense mechanisms that resist being probed, examined, or scrutinized by any authority that has the power to discipline, sanction, or even confiscate aspects of our lives. The fear that is that an investigation could conclude with the allocation of blame for something we did or were a part of. Although it is true that a component of investigations is to find fault where faults exist, it is not limited to liability. Another valuable component is to search for and identify the actions and contributing factors that allowed an event to occur. By identifying these aspects, actions can be taken to prevent future occurrences. Take, for instance, a firefighter who falls from an extension ladder at a structural fire. Although seriously injured, he survives the fall. Which of the following is a thorough investigation likely to lead to: Disciplinary action for the incident commander and the firefighter holding the ladder? Liability for the ladder manufacturer, resulting in a lawsuit? Recommendations to eliminate contributing factors in order to prevent a similar incident? Obviously, the last choice is the most probable. Fault and culpable liability are always possible, but recommendations and changes in policy are almost guaranteed. Initiative 9 calls for the thorough investigation of all injuries, deaths, and near-misses in an effort to reduce the chances of the next one. As a result, specific components of an effective system include reporting, investigating, evaluating, and implementing changes. The award-winning Sacramento Fire and Emergency Services have several individual components in place, yet continue to work toward linking information into one effective system. #RandolphHarris 19 of 32
Little do Fire Chief’s know at the time, but they are often witnesses to many large fires in their career. Some are massive and dangerous. On one occasion, there was a blaze in September in response to the report of smoke coming out of the front of a mid-rise apartment building. As the four firemen stretch a hose into the basement of the building, little did they know that they were beginning a fight that would last 40 hours and would send eight people to the hospital with injuries before it was declared out. The men worked their way slowly towards the seat of the fire near the front of the building. After nearly two hours in the intense heat and blinding smoke, a fireman collapsed to the floor and was dragged outside. The decision was then made to leave the basement as it was discovered that the fire had spread along the rafters into the building next door. The entire fire department had arrived by that time and lines were being stretched around the building to try and contain the rapidly spreading blaze. Around 2.30 a.m., an explosion rocked the building. Two firemen were operating a hose just inside the front doors of the building when the explosion occurred. They were blown 15 feet out into the street as the front of the building was destroyed by the blast. In the rear alley, Fire Chief and Police Chief were spraying water into a basement window. Fire Chief was knocked to the ground, but the Police Chief was not as fortunate. He was blown across the alley and through a window at a neighboring house. Both men were treated for minor injuries but remained at the scene. One of the other firemen in the explosion at the front of the building was taken to the hospital with burns on his face, eyes and nose and the other fireman was treated for minor burns but stayed at the scene as well. #RandolphHarris 20 of 32
Both buildings had now become a mass of flames and looked to engulf the entire block. Nine streams were deployed to try to contain the fire. Apparatuses fought the fire from the roofs of the buildings and the blaze was kept to the two affected buildings. The fire raged until the floors collapsed into the basement around 7 a.m. Around the same time, another firefighter collapsed, giving in to smoke inhalation and exposure. As he was being helped into an ambulance, an EMT also collapsed and was taken to the hospital. That firefighter spent the rest of the weekend in the hospital with burns and an infected throat from the smoke. He was x-rayed and it was discovered that he had broken several bones in his back. He wore a back brace for months afterward. An additional firefighter spent the night in the hospital due to smoke inhalation. Three other firefighters were treated for minor burns and released. The collapse of the floors was the beginning of the end of the fire. Several containers of cooking grease in the kitchen and propane tanks continued to feed the flames in the basement until Sunday morning, when the fire was finally declared out, 40 hours after the first alarm was sent into the department. The Fire Captain later said that the fire was one of the worst in the city’s history. The estimated losses later added up to $15 million. The two buildings were completely destroyed. Other businesses and homes on the same block reported heavy smoke damage and heavy losses from smoke and water after the fire. An investigation revealed that the buildings were not up to code. One had indoor hallways with open-air windows with no glass to the outside, which gave the fire fuel to rage out of control. High-rise buildings with indoor hallways and windows without glass can be a violation of specific fire codes and regulations. The fire department was also undermanned and short on firefighting equipment. The fire departments were badly in need of more aerial trucks and other equipment. #RandolphHarris 21 of 32
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 firefighters 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 motion, 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 people’s 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 22 of 32
California is the third most expensive state in the nation. In 37 percent of counties, a family of four living on a six-figure income is now considered low-income. 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. A single person making an income above $100,000 is now considered low-income in five counties in California. This distinction now applies to individuals living in Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco, and Marin counties. 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. The 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 a month or $88,724.00 annually, and that typically means two to four people in the home are working and contributing to the mortgage. Home prices in Sacramento County are rivaling the Bay Area, and in some cases, homes in the Bay Area are more affordable. Historically, homes in the Bay Area 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, when state workers should be receiving a 25 percent wage increase instead. #RandolphHarris 23 of 32
In 2025, many people in California saw their bills increase by an estimated $500 a month. This includes items such as food, automobile insurance, homeowners’ insurance, and 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. The crisis is caused by nearly half a century-old laws that discourage home sales and encourage higher rents. The incompetence in California is very easy to see. From 2018 to 2023, California received $24 billion, which they used to fund 30 homeless and housing programs. These programs created 100,000 units. That is an average cost of $240,000 per unit. In comparison, Roger Lucas, owner of Grand Castle, LLC, spent $50 million to build The Grand Castle, which is a 522-unit residential apartment community in Grandville, Michigan. The community includes studios, 1 bedroom, 2 bedrooms, 3 bedrooms, and even a multi-level penthouse. Rents generally range from $1,000 to $2,500. The community is a 23.6-acre site. It features 750 covered parking spaces, a clubhouse, a resort-style swimming pool, and was built over a period of 12 to 18 months. The average cost was about $95,785.45 per unit, which is $144,214.55 less per unit than California spent. California also has the highest unemployment rate in the country at 5.4 percent, while the national average is 4.5 percent. As people are seeing their bills skyrocket, and minimum wage has increased to $20 an hour, people on Social Security retirement are really bearing the burden with the checks the typically equate to $5-$7 an hour. Furthermore, while Americans are struggling to find and afford housing, Gavin Newsom, Democrat governor of California, signed two bills into law on February 7, 2025, to protect illegal immigrants. Bills SBX 1 1: Budget Act of 2024, and SBX 1 2: Budget Act of 2024, allocates $50 million to protect illegal immigrants from deportation. Governor Gavin Newsom also granted 700,000 illegal immigrants free health care, which costs taxpayers $3 billion annually. At the same time, Newsom cut vital programs for veterans, school children, the disabled, and the homeless. 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. #RandolphHarris 24 of 32
Meanwhile, China, where we are sending all our jobs and money, has more than 50 ghost cities, with 65 million vacant homes. Ghost cities are regions where housing has been overdeveloped to the point that these places are uninhabited. 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. 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 among 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 is cutting 2,500, and Meta has terminated 4,000 employees. California also has the highest unemployment rate in the country at 5.4 percent, while the national average is 4.1 percent. 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 border 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 risk 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 the end-of-life of machinery is how the Oroville Dam Crisis occurred in 2017. #RandolphHarris 25 of 32
Additionally, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom seems to be uneducated about economics. Newsom has spent $300 million to try to stop proposition 50. Proposition 50 would replace the maps drawn by the state’s independent commission with districts drawn by legislators solely to gain or protect Democratic seats. Newsom only cares about the environment when his policies allow him to raise taxes and restrict freedoms. To further highlight this illustration of incompetence by Governor Gavin Newsom, 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 feces, 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, and by 2030, Mexico plans to dump one hundred and twenty million gallons of sewage a day into Imperial Beach. Other crises that have occurred due to neglect of critical infrastructure such as the 2025 Palisades fire. Southern California ran out of water because Newsom is totally neglecting the state and the American people. And while the fire departments in California are critically understaffed and underfunded, Governor Newsom vetoed firefighter pay raise. The Palisades fire cost $275 billion, which is money that could have been used to insure the State of California had the resources it needed. Furthermore, when Southern California is located next to an ocean, Newsom should have invested in desalination plants to help with the water shortage in California. The water in the ocean 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. #RandolphHarris 26 of 32
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 for its infrastructure, provide adequate resources, or 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 are 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. Additionally, Japan exported 1.4 million cars to the United States of America, but only imported 16,000 American-built automobiles. However, Japan imported approximately 143 thousand motor vehicles from the European Union. This is why President Trump created tariffs. We need to balance the trade deficit that America faces with other nations so we are not taken advantage of and so America can go bank to being a creditor nation, instead of borrowing money for other countries. Each year, President Trump is bringing $400 Billion in Tariff revenue into America and hundreds of thousands of new jobs. With this money, America is paying down debt, and with a portion of it, President Trump plans to send Americans a stimulus check anywhere in the range of $1,000 to $2,000. However, if President Trump’s Tariffs are deemed illegal by the Supreme Court, taxpayers will have to pay back trillions and trillions of dollars. As we literally and /or figuratively see gangs, federal judges, and Governor Gavin Newsom fighting with federal law enforcement and President Trump– states and cities refusing to honor federal laws. Politicians are also showing an utter disregard for the Constitution of the United States of America, and anarchy is becoming increasingly common. #RandolphHarris 27 of 32
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, regards property as a means of tyranny, and believes that crimes are merely the product of property and authority. 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. Anarchism 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 before the situation becomes 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 32
Drug cartels have been threatening the health and safety of Native American communities. The trafficking of dangerous and illegal drugs into their territories is leading to a second genocide. The overdose rate for Indigenous people 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 borders and increase federal funding to Native American 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 has also totally ignored the cartel problems on American lands. Clean air, water, land, and preserving our heritage are extremely important. 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 that tax citizens without representation. Taxation without representation is what led to the American Revolution. #RandolphHarris 29 of 32
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. 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 immigrate 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 America, 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 30 of 32
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 America 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 national debt, plus you are helping to strengthen these foreign nations by sending 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. Under President Trump’s administration, he has make America a priority. President Trump has closed the southern border, illegal crossings have fallen to an all time low, 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. #RandolphHarris 31 of 32
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 arrive at this fullness 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, 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. 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.” #RandolphHarris 32 of 32
According to locals, over a century ago, the land that houses The Winchester Mansion had been vacant forever. Then, sometime in the early afternoon of Saturday, March 13, 1886, Sheriff Angel Camilio began getting reports that a massive castle made of wood had suddenly appeared. Gables rose, towers peaked into the sky as the mansion mushroomed into a labyrinth overnight.
The house’s sudden manifestation had been both disconcerting and fascinating to the community. Some felt dark curses flowing from the estate, and things moving around in the darkness. Others saw a fairytale castle glimmering in the spring sunlight. Perhaps this is why there are no records of construction, no blueprints, and no permits filed with the county. And then one day, a hearse came tearing through the gates, and in that hearse was a coffin, some believed it contained Mrs. Winchester.
According to legend, when Sarah Lockwood Pardee (Winchester) married William Wirt Winchester in 1862, she enjoyed a life of extravagant luxury. William Winchester, President of the Winchester repeating rifle, became a very wealthy man through the sale of his guns, and the couple were among the elite New England society.
However, in 1866, the death of their infant daughter drove Mrs. Sarah Winchester into a deep depression from which many thought she would never emerged. Several years later, she lost her husband to tuberculosis, and her grief was overwhelming. Mrs. Winchester sought the counsel of a Boston medium to reach her beloved dead family members. The medium told the grieving widow that she was cursed and demons straight from hades had sought revenge by ending the lives of her beloved husband and darling baby girl.
She also told Mrs. Winchester they would kill her too, unless she moved out West and built a great house for the spirits. In addition, Mrs. Winchester was told construction on the house must never end in order to appease the spirits and keep her alive, perhaps even give her eternal life. Mrs. Winchester followed the medium’s suggestions, and in 1886, she moved to the Santa Clara valley just outside San Jose, where she bought an 18-room farmhouse and property to build her mansion. At its peak, the Mansion once stood 9-stories tall and had as many as 600-rooms. Today, the stately mansion is 4-storys, and over 100,000 square feet.
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. Come and see what secrets this so-called, “Winchester Mystery House” may hold. Take advantage of this fascinating experience. After the tour, there will be time to enjoy the mansion’s splendor at your own pace. You might even discover secret passages that lead to hidden chambers within the mansion. These chambers served as safe places for valuables, precious documents, and as private sanctuaries for Mrs. Winchester, and allowed her to move stealthily throughout her home. At one time, there were even secret tunnels that extended beyond the mansion, leading to nearby Victorian houses that were also on the property, and other structures, creating a network of escape routes or hidden pathways.
Please come and enjoy a delicious meal at Sarah’s Café, stroll along the paths of the beautiful Victorian gardens, which once spanned 740 acres, all the way down to Stevens Creek Boulevard; wander 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 for purchase. https://shopwinchestermysteryhouse.com/
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/
With its top ranking in Consumer Reports’ Auto Brand Report Card and consistent market share growth, BMW, The Ultimate Driving Experience, 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. This is why BMW is known as The Ultimate Driving Machine. https://www.brianharrisbmw.com/
Randolph Harris San Francisco Taxation & Mergers
Building strong and lasting client relationships is crucial for a successful legal career. Many lawyers mistakenly believe that mastering legal skills alone ensures success, but law is fundamentally a service industry—our job is to solve problems through the time we sell. To build long-term relationships, attorneys must focus on three core elements: knowing their clients, understanding how their legal issues fit into a larger context, and consistently delivering exceptional service.
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. Trust is the cornerstone of any client relationship. Ultimately, my clients feel they are in capable hands with someone who genuinely understands their problems and goals. https://www.jmbm.com/l-randolph-harris.html
Rancho Cordova, CA | low $500s
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Welcome to Cresleigh Park Haven, the newest home community in Rancho Cordova.
Nestled in the heart of Rancho Cordova, Park Haven is a thoughtfully planned neighborhood of 71 homes designed for comfort, convenience, and connection. Adjacent to Exploration Park, it offers the perfect blend of modern living and outdoor adventure right at your doorstep.
Choose from five floor plans ranging from 1,342 to 2,547 square feet, with options for 3 to 5 bedrooms, flexible spaces, and open layouts tailored to today’s lifestyles. Whether you are a first-time buyer, a growing family, or looking to simplify without giving up style, there is a home here for you.
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With maintenance friendly yards, nearby shopping and dining, and access to top rated schools, Park Haven is more than just a place to live. It is a place to thrive. https://cresleigh.com/park-haven/
Every house where love abides and friendship is a guest is surely a Cresleigh Home. https://cresleigh.com/park-haven/residence-4/
“Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves; and, under a just God, can not long retain it.” -President Abraham Lincoln
America is a nation founded on godly principles, by God-fearing men. As a nation, we have convinced ourselves of our uniqueness with concepts such as Manifest Destiny and American exceptionalism. Manifest destiny was the imperialist belief in the 19th-century United States that American settlers were destined to expand from sea to shining sea.
American exceptionalism, idea that the United States of America is a unique and even morally superior country for historical, ideological, or religious reasons. As a nation we appear favored and blessed by the Lord with success and prosperity unparalleled in human history.
America has a lot of amazing things – its beautiful natural scenery, vibrant cities, unique culture, and some of the world’s most iconic landmarks — it us no wonder many choose to make America their home.
The Last Enemy that Shall be Destroyed is Death!
After one has learned how to listen, he must learn what to listen for. From the psychiatric point of view, there are four basic vocal signals: sounds, accents, voices, and vocabulary. The commonest breathing sounds and their usual meanings are as follows: coughs (nobody loves me), sighs (if only), yawns (buzz off), grunts (you said it), and sobs (you got me); and various kinds of laughs such as jollies, chuckles, snickers, and titters. The three most important types of laughs, known colloquially as Ho Ho, Ha Ha, and He He, will be discussed further on. Culture has very little to do with scripts. There are winners and losers in every layer of society and in every country, and they go about fulfilling their destinies in much the same way all over the world. To further highlight this situation, the prevalence of mental illness in any large group of people is pretty much the same all over, and there are suicides everywhere. As the late Tupac said in the lyrics of his song, “So Many Tears,” “I’m suicidal, so don’t stand near me. My every move is a calculated step to bring me closer to embrace an early death. Now there’s nothin’ left.” Every large group in the world also has its leaders and its rich men. Nevertheless, foreign accents do have some meaning for the script analyst. First, they make possible educated guesses about early Parental precepts, and that is where culture does come in: “Do as you are told,” in Germany, “Be quiet,” in France, and “Do not be naughty,” in Britain. #RandolphHarris 1 of 31
Secondly, accents indicate the flexibility of the script. A German who has been in this country for twenty years and still speaks with a thick accent probably has a less flexible life plan than a Dane who speaks good American after only two years. Thirdly, if the therapist can speak that language, the script is written in the native language of the Child, and script analysis is swifter and more effective. A foreigner living out his script in America is the equivalent of putting on Hamlet in Japanese in the Kabuki theater. If the critic does not have the original at hand, a great deal is going to be lost or misunderstood. Particularly if they are affected, native accents are also informative. A man who speaks with a Brooklyn accent but throws in a few Boston or Broadway broad a’s clearly shows the influence of a hero or a parental person he is carrying around in his head. Even if the patient denies it, that person must be tracked down, because his influence is probably widespread. “She passed a remok, or I should say an epigram,” or “We left oily, but did not get to the game until hof time,” clearly indicates a splint in the Parental directives. Each patient has at least three different voices, Parent, Adult, and Child. He may keep one, or even two of them carefully hidden for a long time, but they will slip out sooner or later. Usually, a careful listener can hear at least two of them in any fifteen minutes. #RandolphHarris 2 of 31
The patient may say a whole Parental paragraph with only one Child whine, or a whole Adult paragraph with only one Parental scold, but an alert listener will pick up the key phrase. Other patients change voices from one sentence to another, or even use two or three voices in a single sentence. Each of the voices reveals something about the script. A Parental voice, speaking to another person, uses Parental slogans and precepts, and duplicates what the father or mother would have said in the same situation: “Does everybody not?” “Look who is talking,” “You have got to keep your mind occupied,” “Why do you not try harder?,” “You cannot trust anybody.” An unanswering Adult voice usually means that the Child is being suppressed by Parental command in favor of some humorless pedantic pattern, perhaps loaded with a few “official” or anal jokes. This indicates that the Child will therefore find devious ways of expression or periodically explode, giving rise to the nonadaptive behavior and waste of energy which makes a loser. The Child voice indicates the script role: “Cute Kid,” “Little Old Me,” “Clinging Whine,” for example. Thus, the parental voice tells the counterscript, The Adult voice gives the pattern, and the Child voice takes the script role. Each ego state may also have its own vocabulary. Parental words, such as “bad,” “stupid,” “coward,” and “ridiculous,” tell what Jeder is most afraid of being, and tries hardest to avoid. #RandolphHarris 3 of 31
A persistent Adult technical vocabulary may be simply a way of avoiding people, as is common in engineering, aviation, and finance, under a script directive of “Do great things but do not get involved personally.” The Adult “helpnik” vocabularies (PTA, psychology, psychoanalysis, social science) may be used in an intellectual Rite of Spring, where the victim’s dismembered psyche is left scattered over the floor on the theory that he will eventually join himself together and be more fertile afterward. The storyline of this script reads: “I will tear you apart, and remember I am only trying to help you. However, you will have to put yourself together, since nobody else can do it for you.” Sometimes the patient is his own favorite Ritual victim. The Child vocabulary may be the obscene words of revolt, the clichés of compliance, or the sweet phrases of charming innocence. A typical triad often found in the same person is Parental marshmallow-throwing, Adult dissection, and Child obscenity. To further highlight this illustration: “We all have our ups and downs; I think you are handling it beautifully. Of course, you must split off your autonomous ego from your identification with your mother. After all, it is a harsh world.” This script comes right out of Dante’s Inferno: “How to keep smiling while reading a textbook when you are up to your neck in sewage.” #RandolphHarris 4 of 31
Adjectives and abstract nouns are name-calling. The correct response to a person who says that he suffers from “passive dependency” or that he is “an insecure sociopath” is “What names did your parents call you when you were little?” Action euphemisms such as “aggressive expression” or “pleasures of the flesh,” should be eliminated by asking, “What did you call that when you were little?” “Expressive aggression” is a pure artifact and means that Pat has gone to a modern dance class or been wrestled by a Gestalt therapist, while being involved in “pleasures of the flesh” means that he attends meetings of the Sexual Freedom League.” Adverbs are a little more intimate. Thus, “I sometimes feel sexual excitement” is over there in the vague distance, while “I sometimes get sexually excited” is over here. The precise psychological significance of adverbs, however, remains to be clarified. Pronouns, verbs, and concrete nouns are the most real parts of speech, and “tell it like it is.” Telling it like it is may mean that the patient is ready to get well. Thus, a woman who is afraid of the pleasures of the flesh often stresses adjectives and abstract nouns: “I had a satisfactory sexual experience.” Later, she may emphasize pronouns and verbs: “We really turned on.” One woman went to the hospital the first time to have “an obstetrical experience.” The second time, she went to have a baby. Patients “express hostility against authority figures.” When they become real people, they just swear or tear up the papers. #RandolphHarris 5 of 31
On the therapist’s side, the one who reports: “We initiated the interview by exchanging beneficial greetings. The patient then related that he had expressed hostility by performing an act of physical aggression against his wife,” is having a harder time than the one who says: “The patient said Hello and told me that he hit his wife.” In one case, the therapist maintained that a boy “attended a residential school setting in the private area,” while the boy said that he merely “went to boarding school.” The most important single word in script language is the particle “but,” which means “According to my script, I do not have permission to do that.” Real people say: “I will,” or “I will not,” or “I won,” or “I lost,” while “I will but…” “I will not but…” “I won but…” or “I lost but…” are all scripty. Various women live in worlds populated by wolves, beasts, charmers, cats, creeps, suckers, and pricks, and their menfolk see them as dishes, b*tches, grooves, chicks, foxes, chicks, broads, whores, and some other unpleasant terms. All these are script words which emerge in the course of conversation on group treatment. The script scenes are usually centered around one or other room of the house: the nursery, the bathroom, the kitchen, the living room, and the bedroom, and these are located in such expressions “plenty to drink,” “all that crap,” “a regular fest,” “all those people,” and “sock it to them.” #RandolphHarris 6 of 31
Each of these rooms has its own vocabulary, and the person stuck in any of these chambers will use the appropriate expressions over and over. Equally common is the workroom, signified by “Get your kiester over there.” Closely allied to script words are metaphors. Thus, Mary had two different and separate vocabularies of metaphors. In one, she was all at sea, could not fathom anything, could hardly keep her head above water, had stormy days, and waves of feelings. At other times, life was a feast, she could eat her words, she had lots of goodies, or she might feel sour or bitter because that was the way the cookie crumbled. She married a sailor and complained of obesity. When she felt at sea, all her lingo was maritime, and when she was overeating, it was culinary. Thus, she fell from the ocean to the kitchen and back again, and the therapist’s problem was to get her feet on the ground. Metaphors are an extension of the script scene, and a change in metaphors means a change of scene. In her case, the stormy waters turned out to be a sea of anger. Some people must go through certain rituals or make certain gestures before they begin to talk, in order to protect themselves or apologize for speaking. These rituals are addressed to their Parents. Abelard, to further highlight this illustration, always slid his hands under his belt before he began to talk. It was evident that he was protecting his testicles from some inner assailant who was scheduled to attack him when he was off guard because he was speaking to somebody, so he always took care of that danger before he ventured to speak. #RandolphHarris 7 of 31
To tell people the simple, if subtle, truth is to provoke them to partisan wrath. To such unintelligent objections, we may well answer with old Dr. Johnson, “I have found you a reason, sir—I am not bound to find you an understanding.” These people possess a remarkable talent for finding out difficulty in what is perfectly plain. They complain about our arguments because, in brief, the latter have been directed to a higher intellectual level than that of a boy of ten. Argument can be refined, dignified, and courteous and still remain argument. However, the crude and immature think it necessary to express themselves by abuse and vilification in order to prove their points! The pompous pedantry of some academic circles is not less unbalanced than the illiterate inarticulateness of those who scorn them. These lopsided characters who make intellect their sole judge, guide, and support have imprisoned themselves in it and refuse to leave their jail. Are they not foolish? They use their minds only to deal with matters and to answer questions arising from their personal desires and social situations, only for the private satisfaction of their earthly interests. A higher use of it makes no appeal. We must not only renounce such an unsatisfactory doctrine, but also denounce it. In the new loyalty to a narrower view of truth, they abandon the High, the Holy, the Beautiful, and the Refined. The practical benefits of their education are plain, but why become a dwarf to get them? #RandolphHarris 8 of 31
They are imprisoned by their own illusory concepts, and unless something or someone from outside comes to release them, they will continue to be captive, limited, and unnecessarily lost in illusions. The meaning of a word or phrase may be multiple, which is why translations vary, why interpretations are disputed, and why statements in bureaucratic jargon leave some persons uncertain and others unclear. Hence, lawyers are hired, teachers of semantics arise, and sects flourish. However, turn to numbers and one knows precisely what one is dealing with. They fulfill their function without debate. No mist arises. So Pythagoras can boldly assert: “The universe is founded upon numbers.” The power of abstract thought has characterized the best class of minds since time immemorial. Joseph de Maistre refutes Jacobinism and Calvinism, two doctrines which summed up for him, “everything bad that has been thought for centuries,” in the name of a Christian philosophy of history. To counter schisms and heresies, he wanted to re-create “the robe without a seam” of a really catholic Church. His aim—and this can be seen at the period of his Masonic adventures—is the universal Christian city. Maistre dreams of the protoplatic Adam, or the Universal Man, of Fabre d’Olivet, who will be the rallying-point of individual souls, and the Adam Kadmon of the cabalists, who preceded the Fall and who must now be brought to life again. When the Church has reclaimed the world, she will endow this first and last Adam with a body. #RandolphHarris 9 of 31
In the Soirees in St. Petersburg there is a mass of formulas on this subject which bear a striking resemblance to the Messianic formulas of Hegal and Marx. In both the terrestrial and the celestial Jerusalem that Maistre imagines, “all the inhabitants pervaded by the same spirit will pervade one another and will reflect one another’s happiness.” Maistre does not go so far as to deny personal survival after death; he only dreams of having been annihilated, there will be no more passion nor self-interest,” and where “man will be reunited with himself when his double standard will be obliterated and his two centers unified.” In the city of absolute knowledge, where the eyes of the mind and the eyes of the body became as one, Hegel also reconciled contradictions. However, Maistre’s vision again coincides with that of Marx, who proclaims “the end of the quarrel between essence and existence, between freedom and necessity.” Evil, for Maistre, is nothing but the destruction of unity. However, humanity must rediscover its unity on earth as in heaven. By what means? Maistre who is an ancient regime reactionary, is less explicit on this point than Marx. Meanwhile, he was waiting for a great religious revolution of which 1789 was only the “appalling preface.” He quotes Saint John, who asks that we make truth, which is exactly the program of the modern revolutionary mind, and Saint Paul, who announces that “the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” Humanity marches, by way of crimes, violence, and death, toward this final consummation, which will justify everything. The earth for Maistre is nothing but “an immense altar on which all the living must be sacrificed, without end, without limit, without respite, until the end of time, until the extinction of evil, until the death of death. His fatalism, however, is active as well as passive. “Man must act as if he were capable of all things and resign himself as if he were capable of nothing.” We find in Marx the same sort of creative fatalism. Maistre undoubtedly justifies the established order. #RandolphHarris 10 of 31
In dreams, we are closer to the reality of ourselves. And this dream in particular seemed to emerge from a great depth, and to present a profound and square insight into the danger of the dreamer’s particular self-destructiveness. The reaction of pity for self, in this instance as in many others, was at that time not constructive: it did not move her to do anything in her own behalf. Only when the hopelessness and the intensity of self-contempt abates, can the unconstructive self-pity turn into a constructive sympathy with self. And this indeed is a forward move of great significance for anybody in the clutches of self-hate. It goes with a beginning feeling for his real self and a beginning wish for inner salvation. The reaction to the deteriorating process can also be stark terror. And, considering the formidable danger of self-destructiveness, this reaction is completely adequate as long as one continues to feel a helpless prey to these merciless forces. In dreams and associations, they may appear in many succinct symbols, such as a homicidal maniac, Dracula, monsters, a white whale, or ghosts. This terror is the nucleus of many fears otherwise inexplicable, such as the fear of the unknown and of the dangerous depth of the sea; the fear of ghosts; of anything mysterious; of any destructive process within the body, such as poison, worms, cancer. It is a part of the terror many patients feel toward anything that is unconscious, and, therefore, mysterious. It may be the center of panic without an apparent reason. #RandolphHarris 11 of 31
If it were always present and alive, it would be impossible for anybody to love with such a terror. He must and does find ways to assuage it. Surveying self-hate and its ravaging force, we cannot help but see in it a great tragedy, perhaps the greatest tragedy of the human mind. Man in reaching out for the Infinite and Absolute also starts destroying himself. When he makes a pact with the devil, who promises him glory, he must go to hell—to hell within himself. Dr. Darwin dealt with man’s biological origins. His achievement, and his sin, was a theory that made man a part of nature. To accomplish this, and only for this, he was able to put his neurosis aside. Dr. Freud, however, had to “appoint his own neurosis that angel who was to be wrestled with and not to be let go, until he would bless the observer.” Dr. Freud’s wrestling with the angel who was to be wrestled with and not to be let go, until he would bless the observer.” Dr. Freud’s wrestling with the angel was his working through of his own father complex which at first had led him astray in his search for the origins of the neuroses in childhood. Once he understood his own relationship to his father, he could establish the existence of the universal father image in man, break through to the mother image as well, and finally arrive at the Oediups complex, the formulation of which made him one of the most controversial figures in the history of ideas. In The Interpretation of Dreams, Dr. Freud gave psychoanalysis its orientation as the study of unconscious motivation in the normal as well as the pathological, in society as well as the individual. At the same time, he freed his own creativity by self-analysis and was able to combine strict observation with disciplined intuition and literary craftsmanship. #RandolphHarris 12 of 31
Language, which may be defined here as a system of vocal signs, is the most important sign system of human society. Its foundation is, of course, in the intrinsic capacity of the human organism for vocal expressivity, but we can begin to speak of language only when vocal expressions have become capable of detachment from the immediate “here and now” of subjective states. If I snarl, grunt, howl, or hiss, although these vocal expressions are capable of becoming linguistic insofar as they are integrated into an objectively available sign system, it is not yet language. The common objectivations of everyday life are maintained primarily by linguistic signification. Everyday life is, above all, life with and by means of the language I share with my fellowmen. An understanding of language is thus essential for any understanding of the reality of everyday life. Language has its origins in the face-to-face situation, but can be readily detached from it. This is not only because I can shout in the dark or across a distance, speak on the telephone or via the radio, or convey linguistic signification by means of writing (the latter constituting, as it were, a sign system of the second degree). The detachment of language lies much more basically in its capacity to communicate meanings that are not direct expressions of subjectivity “here and now.” It shares this capacity with other sign systems, but its immense variety and complexity make it much more readily detachable from the face-to-face situation, including matters I never have and never will experience directly. #RandolphHarris 13 of 31
In this way, language is capable of becoming the objective repository of vast accumulations of meaning and experience, which it can then preserve in time and transmit to following generations. The mechanisms of defense might just as legitimately be called mechanisms for increasing self-alienation or methods of evading growth, for such are their consequences. They are modes of behavior undertaken by a person with a relatively weak ego when a threat to the self-structure arises. If they are effective, they reduce anxiety and guilt, but whenever the defenses are themselves weakened, threat is again experienced, for its causes continue to be operative. A defense is like a drug; it must be kept operative if it is to reduce discomfort. However, a defense, like a drug, does not remove the conditions responsible for the pain and discomfort. What are the major patterns of defensive behavior and how may they be recognized? The individual can seldom recognize his or her own defensiveness, except under special conditions. The observer may be able to infer, from certain signs, the nature of the defense, the consequences of the defense, and the aspects of the real self that are being defended against. Repression is the most basic defense. It consists in actively excluding from awareness any thought, feeling, memory, or wish that would threaten the self-structure. Dr. Freud introduced the concept of repression to explain some phenomena that he regularly observed in his efforts to treat neurotic patients. He found that his patients displayed resistance to the injunction that they say everything that came to mind. #RandolphHarris 14 of 31
Dr. Freud used the term resistance to describe any deviation from unselected, uncensored talking. The term repression was invoked to explain the efforts of the person to avoid not merely speaking about embarrassing topics, but even thinking about these topics. Repression manifests itself by the omission in a person’s speech, emotion, and behavior repertoire of responses that might ordinarily be expected under given circumstances. To further highlight this illustration, if a person has been deeply insulted by someone and displays no overt signs of hostility, the hypothesis can be entertained that the person has repressed these feelings. It should not be assumed that because some thought, feeling, or need has been repressed, it simply fades out of existence altogether. Rather, what appears to occur is that the repressed feelings and tensions continue to operate as unconscious determiners of behavior because the causes of these feelings persist in life itself. The represser may betray many signs of the repressed feelings to a keen observer—in dreams, accidents, slips of the tongue, and so on. Repression also manifests itself as chronic tensing of various muscle groupings. If a person has repressed rage, yet lives continuously among the people who provoke it, that person may chronically display tension in the muscles of the jaw, the neck, and the shoulders. When a set of muscles has relaxed, in response to the therapist’s manipulations, the patient would express rage, or tears, and convulsions sobbing; moreover, the patient might then recall with vividness some childhood events related to the original repression. #RandolphHarris 15 of 31
An important indicator of repression is a refusal by the person to examine and consider any other motives for a given action than the one he or she presently admits. Thus, a parent may spank his or her children quite severely, may forget their birthdays, never spend time with them at enjoyable activity, and continually scold them. An observer may gather the impression that such behavior expresses hatred and dislike for the children and asks the parent why he or she treats the children so. The parent says, “Because I love them, and I am trying not to spoil them. I am trying to raise them right.” If the observer asks, “Could it be that you do not like your children?” the parent might become quite indignant and refuse to explore the possibility that this might be true. This person is repressing hostility to the children. For the parent to admit disliking the children might threaten his or her self-structure to a profound degree. Another important indicator of repression is selective recall of the past. In relating aspects of the past, much may be omitted from the account. If the observer knows what has been omitted, he or she may confront the person with these details, only to have the person deny that the events occurred. It is as if this person had a vested interest in forgetting these details, in order to preserve the present concept of self. Many experimental studies have shown how our recall and our forgetting are determined to a high degree by the need to maintain self-esteem and to preserve the present self-concept. #RandolphHarris 16 of 31
Many experimental studies have shown how our recall and our forgetting are determined to a high degree by the need to maintain self-esteem and to preserve the present self-concept. In principle, a person can repress any aspect of the real self, whether it is socially desirable or socially reprehensible. Thus, a person may repress antisocial sexual urges and hostility but may also repress feelings of attraction, his or her own intellect, and strength and resources if these aspects of the real self imply some threat to the self-structure. The authoritarian character who exaggerates personal weakness and the strength of the hero or boss is repressing his or her own powers and ascribing them (projecting them) to the authority figure in question. Dr. Fromm has detailed this point in his discussion of authoritarianism in everyday life and even in religion; he has suggested that the image of an all-powerful God, in contrast with weak, powerless humans, rests on our repression of our own powers and the ascription of these very powers to the deity. Repression is quite an unstable mechanism, calling as it does for unremitting (but unconscious) effort from the person. Whenever there is any reduction in the energy devoted to repression, there is likely to be a breakthrough of the repressed aspects of the real self. When this occurs, the person may be incredibly threatened by feelings and impulses that he did not know he possessed. #RandolphHarris 17 of 31
The feelings may be so intense that he explodes into uncontrolled activity—for instance, sexual or hostile violence. Probably many of the sex and homicide crimes which one reads about in the papers (“Nobody would have expected him to do that, he was always so nice, so moral”) illustrate the breakthrough of repressed feelings and impulses. When a person is fatigued, or ill, he may be overwhelmed with fantasies, feelings, and impulses that are shocking to him and to those who know him. Although repression is usually involuntary and unconscious, it can be conscious and deliberate. Every reader will recall occasions when they have had thoughts that were fully conscious, but quite repugnant. On those occasions, they may have striven to get rid of the unwanted thoughts by just putting them out of my mind or by trying to change the subject of thinking, in order to think of more pleasant things. Such efforts, if successful, may be called voluntary and conscious repression. They are analogous with the conversation between two persons; when an unpleasant subject comes up, the person who finds it is unpleasant will ask that the subject be changed, or else may skillfully guide the conversation so that the dangerous topics are avoided. Typically, few venture to do more than peep beyond the portals, for they are unable to bear the hard strain of prolonged philosophical thinking. However noble they may be morally or however abstract they may be metaphysically, it is not by living in the ideas in his mind that a man can ever live in his true self. Somewhere in his field of consciousness, all thinking must be transcended if he is ever to do this. The logic of your thinking must be as universally valid as mathematics. Nobody can cheat mathematics. #RandolphHarris 18 of 31
It is not difficult to prevent or abort a heroic act. Sometimes this results from the confluence of situational circumstances; sometimes it is a calculated effort motivated by selfish factors. It apparently may also occur through the mere acknowledgement that the person has done something laudatory. Given society’s continued need for heroes, we need to know how to better protect heroism against these influences. The award-winning Sacramento Fire Department heroes are celebrated and remembered by the community based on their exceptional and dramatic performance in critical situations. At approximately 2.45 on a hot, sunny afternoon, a small fire was discovered in a pile of wrapping paper near the rear of a store. An employee spotted the fire near the wrapping counter and called for a manager nearby. He began to fight the rapidly expanding blaze, while another employee ran to the basement for water. By the time he returned, the manager had already called the fire department, was fruitlessly battling the flames that had spread to the nearby elevator shaft and were spreading rapidly to the second floor. Several employees fled to the front of the store to escape the now roaring fire that was being fed by a current of air from the outside through the open doors at both the front and rear of the store. As they reached the front door, the fire had created a tremendous draft into the store that it sucked the doors shut, catching the manager’s foot and trapping a few other employees inside the store. The employees struggled with the doors for a few seconds but managed to escape just as the firefighters arrived. “The door was shut when I reached it,” said one employee later. “It was all I could do to pull it open, so strong was the pressure…neither of us could have stood it a minute longer in the building.” #RandolphHarris 19 of 31
The fire department arrived just as the occupants were leaving the building. The Fire Chief immediately ordered three hydrants tapped, and the fight to contain the fire began. As the firemen deployed five streams around the building, the blaze vented itself by shattering all of the windows and shooting through the roof. Despite the intense heat, the Fire Chief led several men with a lead hose into the building, but little progress was made, and they pulled back as the roof and upper floors were about to collapse. Although there was little or no wind, the danger to surrounding buildings was incredible due to the flying embers and the extreme radiant heat from the store. As the heat shattered the front windows, the large plate glass windows in the building directly across the street cracked, but they did not shatter, and the fire did not gain entrance to the building. The flying sparks and embers wreaked havoc on other businesses. The first fire was extinguished quickly, but another building received considerable damage to the second floor and roof. Eventually, the roof collapsed in the store that initially caught fire. There were three firemen injured during the blaze, but none were seriously. The Fire Chief had a cut on his stomach, but remained on the scene until the fire was out. By chance, the Assistant Fire Chief was traveling through the street on an outing with his wife when he spotted the fire and offered his assistance. After the fire was under control, he was water-soaked, and his new suit was ruined from the heat. #RandolphHarris 20 of 31
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 firefighters 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 motion, 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 people’s 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 21 of 31
California is the third most expensive state in the nation. In 37 percent of counties, a family of four living on a six-figure income is now considered low-income. 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. A single person making an income above $100,000 is now considered low-income in five counties in California. This distinction now applies to individuals living in Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco, and Marin counties. 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. The 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 a month or $88,724.00 annually, and that typically means two to four people in the home are working and contributing to the mortgage. Home prices in Sacramento County are rivaling the Bay Area, and in some cases, homes in the Bay Area are more affordable. Historically, homes in the Bay Area 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, when state workers should be receiving a 25 percent wage increase instead. #RandolphHarris 22 of 31
In 2025, many people in California saw their bills increase by an estimated $500 a month. This includes items such as food, automobile insurance, homeowners’ insurance, and 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. The crisis is caused by nearly half a century-old laws that discourage home sales and encourage higher rents. The incompetence in California is very easy to see. From 2018 to 2023, California received $24 billion, which they used to fund 30 homeless and housing programs. These programs created 100,000 units. That is an average cost of $240,000 per unit. In comparison, Roger Lucas, owner of Grand Castle, LLC, spent $50 million to build The Grand Castle, which is a 522-unit residential apartment community in Grandville, Michigan. The community includes studios, 1 bedroom, 2 bedrooms, 3 bedrooms, and even a multi-level penthouse. Rents generally range from $1,000 to $2,500. The community is a 23.6-acre site. It features 750 covered parking spaces, a clubhouse, a resort-style swimming pool, and was built over a period of 12 to 18 months. The average cost was about $95,785.45 per unit, which is $144,214.55 less per unit than California spent. California also has the highest unemployment rate in the country at 5.4 percent, while the national average is 4.5 percent. As people are seeing their bills skyrocket, and minimum wage has increased to $20 an hour, people on Social Security retirement are really bearing the burden with the checks the typically equate to $5-$7 an hour. Furthermore, while Americans are struggling to find and afford housing, Gavin Newsom, Democrat governor of California, signed two bills into law on February 7, 2025, to protect illegal immigrants. Bills SBX 1 1: Budget Act of 2024, and SBX 1 2: Budget Act of 2024, allocates $50 million to protect illegal immigrants from deportation. Governor Gavin Newsom also granted 700,000 illegal immigrants free health care, which costs taxpayers $3 billion annually. At the same time, Newsom cut vital programs for veterans, school children, the disabled, and the homeless. 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. #RandolphHarris 23 of 31
Meanwhile, China, where we are sending all our jobs and money, has more than 50 ghost cities, with 65 million vacant homes. Ghost cities are regions where housing has been overdeveloped to the point that these places are uninhabited. 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. 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 among 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 is cutting 2,500, and Meta has terminated 4,000 employees. California also has the highest unemployment rate in the country at 5.4 percent, while the national average is 4.1 percent. 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 border 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 risk 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 the end-of-life of machinery is how the Oroville Dam Crisis occurred in 2017. #RandolphHarris 24 of 31
Additionally, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom seems to be uneducated about economics. Newsom has spent $300 million to try to stop proposition 50. Proposition 50 would replace the maps drawn by the state’s independent commission with districts drawn by legislators solely to gain or protect Democratic seats. Newsom only cares about the environment when his policies allow him to raise taxes and restrict freedoms. To further highlight this illustration of incompetence by Governor Gavin Newsom, 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 feces, 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, and by 2030, Mexico plans to dump one hundred and twenty million gallons of sewage a day into Imperial Beach. Other crises that have occurred due to neglect of critical infrastructure such as the 2025 Palisades fire. Southern California ran out of water because Newsom is totally neglecting the state and the American people. And while the fire departments in California are critically understaffed and underfunded, Governor Newsom vetoed firefighter pay raise. The Palisades fire cost $275 billion, which is money that could have been used to insure the State of California had the resources it needed. Furthermore, when Southern California is located next to an ocean, Newsom should have invested in desalination plants to help with the water shortage in California. The water in the ocean 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. #RandolphHarris 25 of 31
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 for its infrastructure, provide adequate resources, or 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 are 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. Additionally, Japan exported 1.4 million cars to the United States of America, but only imported 16,000 American-built automobiles. However, Japan imported approximately 143 thousand motor vehicles from the European Union. This is why President Trump created tariffs. We need to balance the trade deficit that America faces with other nations so we are not taken advantage of and so America can go bank to being a creditor nation, instead of borrowing money for other countries. Each year, President Trump is bringing $400 Billion in Tariff revenue into America and hundreds of thousands of new jobs. With this money, America is paying down debt, and with a portion of it, President Trump plans to send Americans a stimulus check anywhere in the range of $1,000 to $2,000. However, if President Trump’s Tariffs are deemed illegal by the Supreme Court, taxpayers will have to pay back trillions and trillions of dollars. As we literally and /or figuratively see gangs, federal judges, and Governor Gavin Newsom fighting with federal law enforcement and President Trump– states and cities refusing to honor federal laws. Politicians are also showing an utter disregard for the Constitution of the United States of America, and anarchy is becoming increasingly common. #RandolphHarris 26 of 31
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, regards property as a means of tyranny, and believes that crimes are merely the product of property and authority. 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. Anarchism 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 before the situation becomes 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 27 of 31
Drug cartels have been threatening the health and safety of Native American communities. The trafficking of dangerous and illegal drugs into their territories is leading to a second genocide. The overdose rate for Indigenous people 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 borders and increase federal funding to Native American 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 has also totally ignored the cartel problems on American lands. Clean air, water, land, and preserving our heritage are extremely important. 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 that tax citizens without representation. Taxation without representation is what led to the American Revolution. #RandolphHarris 28 of 31
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. 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 immigrate 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 America, 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 29 of 31
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 America 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 national debt, plus you are helping to strengthen these foreign nations by sending 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. Under President Trump’s administration, he has make America a priority. President Trump has closed the southern border, illegal crossings have fallen to an all time low, 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. #RandolphHarris 30 of 31
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 arrive at this fullness 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, 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. 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.” #RandolphHarris 31 of 31
According to locals, over a century ago, the land that houses The Winchester Mansion had been vacant forever. Then, sometime in the early afternoon of Saturday, March 13, 1886, Sheriff Angel Camilio began getting reports that a massive castle made of wood had suddenly appeared. Gables rose, towers peaked into the sky as the mansion mushroomed into a labyrinth overnight.
The house’s sudden manifestation had been both disconcerting and fascinating to the community. Some felt dark curses flowing from the estate, and things moving around in the darkness. Others saw a fairytale castle glimmering in the spring sunlight. Perhaps this is why there are no records of construction, no blueprints, and no permits filed with the county. And then one day, a hearse came tearing through the gates, and in that hearse was a coffin, some believed it contained Mrs. Winchester.
According to legend, when Sarah Lockwood Pardee (Winchester) married William Wirt Winchester in 1862, she enjoyed a life of extravagant luxury. William Winchester, President of the Winchester repeating rifle, became a very wealthy man through the sale of his guns, and the couple were among the elite New England society.
However, in 1866, the death of their infant daughter drove Mrs. Sarah Winchester into a deep depression from which many thought she would never emerged. Several years later, she lost her husband to tuberculosis, and her grief was overwhelming. Mrs. Winchester sought the counsel of a Boston medium to reach her beloved dead family members. The medium told the grieving widow that she was cursed and demons straight from hades had sought revenge by ending the lives of her beloved husband and darling baby girl.
She also told Mrs. Winchester they would kill her too, unless she moved out West and built a great house for the spirits. In addition, Mrs. Winchester was told construction on the house must never end in order to appease the spirits and keep her alive, perhaps even give her eternal life. Mrs. Winchester followed the medium’s suggestions, and in 1886, she moved to the Santa Clara valley just outside San Jose, where she bought an 18-room farmhouse and property to build her mansion. At its peak, the Mansion once stood 9-stories tall and had as many as 600-rooms. Today, the stately mansion is 4-storys, and over 100,000 square feet.
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. Come and see what secrets this so-called, “Winchester Mystery House” may hold. Take advantage of this fascinating experience. After the tour, there will be time to enjoy the mansion’s splendor at your own pace. You might even discover secret passages that lead to hidden chambers within the mansion. These chambers served as safe places for valuables, precious documents, and as private sanctuaries for Mrs. Winchester, and allowed her to move stealthily throughout her home. At one time, there were even secret tunnels that extended beyond the mansion, leading to nearby Victorian houses that were also on the property, and other structures, creating a network of escape routes or hidden pathways.
Please come and enjoy a delicious meal at Sarah’s Café, stroll along the paths of the beautiful Victorian gardens, which once spanned 740 acres, all the way down to Stevens Creek Boulevard; wander 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 for purchase. https://shopwinchestermysteryhouse.com/
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/
With its top ranking in Consumer Reports’ Auto Brand Report Card and consistent market share growth, BMW, The Ultimate Driving Experience, 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. This is why BMW is known as The Ultimate Driving Machine. https://www.brianharrisbmw.com/
Randolph Harris San Francisco Taxation & Mergers
Building strong and lasting client relationships is crucial for a successful legal career. Many lawyers mistakenly believe that mastering legal skills alone ensures success, but law is fundamentally a service industry—our job is to solve problems through the time we sell. To build long-term relationships, attorneys must focus on three core elements: knowing their clients, understanding how their legal issues fit into a larger context, and consistently delivering exceptional service.
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. Trust is the cornerstone of any client relationship. Ultimately, my clients feel they are in capable hands with someone who genuinely understands their problems and goals. https://www.jmbm.com/l-randolph-harris.html
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“Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves; and, under a just God, can not long retain it.” -President Abraham Lincoln
America is a nation founded on godly principles, by God-fearing men. As a nation, we have convinced ourselves of our uniqueness with concepts such as Manifest Destiny and American exceptionalism. Manifest destiny was the imperialist belief in the 19th-century United States that American settlers were destined to expand from sea to shining sea.
American exceptionalism, idea that the United States of America is a unique and even morally superior country for historical, ideological, or religious reasons. As a nation we appear favored and blessed by the Lord with success and prosperity unparalleled in human history.
America has a lot of amazing things – its beautiful natural scenery, vibrant cities, unique culture, and some of the world’s most iconic landmarks — it us no wonder many choose to make America their home.
Our Cover Was Blown on the Plane from Cairo to Beirut
Youth have a right to expect that we will help the organization of this world in cooperation and goodwill so that tens of millions of them will never in the future have to pay the price of a grim disaster. However, all spheres—intellectual, psychic, political, economic, religious—to some extent follow the developments of their own. The increasingly unshatterable prestige of prophecy in general has rested upon those few cases that were terribly impressive for the prophet’s contemporaries, and in which the prophets by their success were unexpectedly in the right. Ideas, selected and reinterpreted from the original doctrine, do gain an affinity with the interests of certain members of special strata; if they do not gain such an affinity, they are abandoned. Thus, by distinguishing the phases of the personal and charismatic origin of ideas and their routinization and social impact, we can consider several complications, which are reflected in changing shades of meaning. Both the ideas and their publics are seen as independent; by a selective process, elements in both find their affinities. Modern capitalism in its early stages requires a specific type of personality. This personality type, in turn, is psychologically constructed because of a set of ideas that unwittingly led to the development of those specific personality traits useful in capitalist conduct. #RandolphHarris 1 of 28
Dr. Freud has shown that sexuality begins with birth, and he has also given us tools for demonstrating the fact that social life begins with everyone’s beginnings. Child training seems to be integrated with a well-defined economic system. The method by which a group’s basic ways of organizing experience, or what we may call group identity, is transmitted to the infant’s early bodily experiences and, through them, to the beginnings of his ego. As a child develops, they learn that we live in a world of machines, far from remaining an extension of the body, destined to be whole human organizations that are extensions of machinery; magic serves as intermediate links only, and childhood becomes a separate segment of life with its own folklore. The expansiveness of civilization, together with its stratification and specialization, demanded that children base their ego models on shifting, sectional, and contradictory prototypes. To be “one who can walk” becomes one of the many steps in child development which, through the coincidence of physical mastery and cultural meaning, of functional pleasure and social recognition, contributes to a realistic self-esteem. #RandolphHarris 2 of 28
This self-esteem gradually grows into a conviction that the ego is capable of integrating effective steps toward a tangible collective future, that it is developing into a well-organized ego within a social reality. This sense is called ego identity. The conscious feeling of having a personal identity is based on two simultaneous observations: the perception of the selfsameness and continuity of one’s existence in time and space, and the perception of the fact that others recognize one’s sameness and continuity. Ego identity, then, is the awareness of the fact that there is a self-sameness and continuity to the ego’s synthesizing methods, the style of one’s individuality, and this style coincides with the sameness and continuity of one’s meaning for significant others in the immediate community. For each individual, there is a characteristic posture, gesture, mannerism, tic, or symptom which signifies that he is living “in his script,” or has “gone into” his script. As long as people display “script signals,” one is adjusting to life, but still may be making progress. As an individual progresses in life, he may be less miserable, or happier, living in his script world, and this will be confirmed by his dreams, his outside experience, and his attitude toward authority figures and the other members of the group. #RandolphHarris 3 of 28
The script signal is usually first perceived intuitively by those he knows well (preconsciously, not unconsciously). The script is what permits people to behave in certain ways. Some people may feel more comfortable laughing, and they may do this with great vigor and enjoyment at every opportunity, but may not have permission to speak. If addressed, one may go through a complicated, sluggish routine before answering. Then, will slowly show maturity and present a cohesive thought. Because his prohibition against talking is so severe, an individual may display signs that he is uncomfortable speaking by trying to protect part of his body that he feels is in jeopardy. And, that is why some people never speak, unless someone has given them permission to by asking him a question. As long as this script signal is present, he will not be free to talk spontaneously, nor to decide other matters that are bothering him. A more common and similar script signal occurs among women, and may also be perceived intuitively for a long time before it comes into full awareness. Some women sit relaxed until a subject comes up that involves pleasures of the flesh, and then they not only cross their knees, but wind the upper instep around the lower ankle, often simultaneously crossing their arms over their chests and sometimes also leaning forward. This posture forms a triple or quadruple protection against a violation which exists only in their script worlds and not in the real world of the group. #RandolphHarris 4 of 28
Other script signs are blinking, tongue-chewing, jaw-clamping, sniffing, hand-writing, ring-turning, and foot-tapping. Posture and carriage are also revealing. The tilt of the head in “Martyr” and “Waif” scripts is one of the commonest script signals. The script signal is always a reaction to some Parental directive. In most neuroses, there are disturbances which constitute valid reasons for discontent with the functioning of the mind. A fear of being aggressive may hamper critical thinking; a general reluctance to commit oneself may render it difficult to arrive at an opinion. The compelling need to appear omniscient may interfere with the capacity to learn. General tendencies to becloud personal issues may also befog the clarity of thinking; just as people blind themselves to their inner conflicts, they may be oblivious to other sorts of contradictions. They may be too fascinated in the glory to be achieved to be sufficiently interested in the work they are doing. I remember a time when I thought that such actual difficulties accounted fully for the feeling of stupidity; when I hoped to be helpful in saying something like: “Your intelligence is perfectly in order—but what about your interests, your courage; what about all that has to go into your capacity to work?” Of course, to work at all these factors are necessary. However, one is not interested in freeing oneself to use his intelligence in his life; what one is interested in is the absolute intelligence of the “master mind.” #RandolphHarris 5 of 28
What I did not recognize, at the time, was the power of the self-devaluating process, which sometimes reaches gigantic proportions. Even people who have attained genuine intellectual achievements may prefer to insist on considering themselves stupid than to avow their aspirations, since at any cost they must avoid the danger of ridicule. And in quiet despair, they accept this verdict, rejecting all evidence or assurance to the contrary. The self-belittling process disturbs the active pursuit of any interest to a varying degree. A neurotic succumbing to self-contempt may feel so discouraged that it does not occur to him that he could change a tire, speak a foreign language, or talk in public. Or he may start some activity but give it up at the first difficulty that arises. Or he may become frightened before or at public performances (stage fright). Again, as in regard to vulnerability, both pride and self-contempt operate to engender these inhibitions and fears. They result from a dilemma caused by needs for a sweeping acclaim on the one hand and active self-disgracing or self-defeating forces on the other. When, despite all these difficulties, a piece of work is finished, well done, and well received, the self-disparagement does not end. “Anybody could have achieved the same thing with so much work put in”; the one passage that did not come out to perfection in a piano recital looms large: “this time I got by, but the next will be a debacle.” A failure, on the other hand, calls forth the full force of self-contempt, and this discouraging far beyond its actual significance. #RandolphHarris 6 of 28
When a person is acting without taking responsibility for choosing the action, life is then lived automatically. Thus, the person may evade conflict and the necessity to make decisions by following an inflexible moral code. The authoritarian character never chooses, seeking the leader’s wishes and expectations and conforming with them, like a soldier getting orders from a superior officer. The other-directed person likewise does not choose actions, but instead acts as he or she believes peers would wish. In none of these cases do the persons realize that they are free to choose their actions in every situation they encounter. They can change their actions at will, though at times it may be difficult. Human beings are free, and hence responsible for their actions and the consequences. However, as the existential philosophers point out, awareness of such freedom and its accompanying responsibility may be terrifying: it is certainly common for people to wish to “escape from freedom.” Dr. Erich Fromm’s book of that title is a classic and should be read for the insight into the human situation that it affords. Authentic being, or being one’s real self, means that the person explores the opportunities and challenges afforded by each situation and then chooses a response that expresses his other true values, needs, feelings, and commitments. An authentic person is less predictable than an inauthentic, self-alienated person, because each life situation, each problem, each encounter with a person is experienced as new, with different invitations and demands issuing from it. #RandolphHarris 7 of 28
However, such authenticity is only possible when the person has not repressed entire dimensions of experiencing, but is, instead, in steady contact with the real self. It takes courage to be real in this sense, because one’s own experiencing often gives rise to fright and sometimes disgust. Moreover, such authenticity requires a person to face decisions time and time again, with the awareness that the outcomes of his or her life are the person’s own responsibility, not the responsibility of parents, superior officers, or public pressure. Authentic decision-making of this nature is most likely to be started by a person after somehow realizing, with intensity, the fact that he or she will die someday. An encounter with death functions as an invitation for many people to live more decisively, more intensively, and more authentically. Authentic being is a sign of a healthy personality, and it is the means of achieving healthy personality growth. When persons are authentic, they not only acknowledge the truth of their feelings, needs, and wishes, but they are capable of revealing their true being to the other people with whom they have personal relationships. We humans can lie to one another, aiming to be seen by others as a person we know we are not. We also have the capacity for entering into true dialogue with our fellows, disclosing what we think, feel, and are planning, without reserve. #RandolphHarris 8 of 28
Obviously, such transparency exposes a person to real danger, because to be that open with others means to be without defenses. If persons can disclose themselves honestly and spontaneously to others, the interests of a healthy personality are served. People are more likely to be cautious than to be excessively open, with the result that they are relatively safe, but lonely and misunderstood by others. It may seem paradoxical, but a person comes to know their real self, and becomes able to introspect honestly, as a consequence of the spontaneous disclosure of self to another person. The individual who has a trusted friend or relative to whom he or she can express thoughts, feelings, and opinions honestly is in a better position to learn the real self than the one who has never undergone this experience, because by revealing the self to another, the person is also revealing the self to himself or herself. The act of stating one’s experience to another, making oneself known, permits one to “get outside oneself” and see oneself. This process of self-discovery through making one-self known to another is facilitated if the other person reflects back what he or she has heard you say. This reflection or restatement, like a mirror, then permits you to compare your words with your experience as you feel it directly and immediately. The capacity to be a transparent self in one’s personal relationships is a sign of a healthy personality. #RandolphHarris 9 of 28
It follows that relations with others in the face-to-face situation are highly flexible. Put negatively, it is comparatively difficult to impose rigid patterns upon face-to-face interaction. Whatever patterns are introduced will be continuously modified through the exceedingly variegated and subtle interchange of subjective meanings that goes on. For instance, I may view the other as someone inherently unfriendly to me and act toward him within a pattern of “unfriendly relations” as understood by me. In the face-to-face situation, however, the other may confront me with attitudes and acts that contradict this pattern, perhaps up to a point where I am led to abandon the pattern as inapplicable and to view him as friendly. In other words, the pattern cannot sustain the massive evidence of the other’s subjectivity that is available to me in the face-to-face situation. By contrast, it is much easier for me to ignore such evidence as long as I do not encounter the other face-to-face. Even in such a relatively “close” relation as may be maintained by correspondence, I can more successfully dismiss the other’s protestations of friendship as not actually representing his expressivity. It is, to be sure, possible for me to misinterpret the other’s meanings even in the face-to-face situation, as it is possible for him “hypocritically” to hide his meanings. All the same, both misinterpretation and “hypocrisy” are more difficult to sustain in face-to-face interaction than in less “close” forms of social relations. #RandolphHarris 10 of 28
On the other hand, I apprehend the other by means of typificatory schemes even in the face-to-face situation, although these schemes are more “vulnerable” to his interference than in “remoter” forms of interaction. Put differently, while it is comparatively difficult to impose rigid patterns on face-to-face interaction, even it is patterned from the beginning if it takes place within the routines of everyday life. (We can leave aside for later consideration cases of interaction between complete strangers who have no common background of everyday life.) The reality of everyday life contains typificatory schemes in terms of which others are apprehended and “dealt with” in face-to-face encounters. Thus, I apprehend the other as “a man,” “a European,” “a buyer,” “a jovial type,” and so on. All these typifications ongoingly affect my interaction with him as, say, I decide to show him a good time on the town before trying to sell him my product. Our face-to-face interaction will be patterned by these typifications as long as they do not become problematic through interference on his part. Thus, he may come up with evidence that, although “a man,” “a European,” and “a buyer,” he is also a self-righteous moralist, and that what appeared first as joviality is actually an expression of contempt for Americans in general and American salesmen in particular. At this point, of course, my typificatory scheme will have to be modified, and the evening planned differently in accordance with this modification. Unless thus challenged, though, the typifications will hold until further notice and will determine my actions in the situation. #RandolphHarris 11 of 28
The typificatory schemes entering into face-to-face situations are, of course, reciprocal. The other also apprehends me in a typified way—as “a man,” “an American,” “A salesman,” “an ingratiating fellow,” and so on. The other’s typifications are as susceptible to my interference as mine are to his. In other words, the two typificatory schemes enter into an ongoing “negotiation” in the face-to-face situation. In everyday life, such “negotiation” is itself likely to be prearranged in a typical manner—as in the typical bargaining process between buyers and salesmen. Thus, most of the time, my encounters with others in everyday life are typical in a double sense—I apprehend the other as a type and I interact with him in a situation that is itself typical. He who examines and enquires will necessarily become the foe of hollow, meaningless formulae. It is better to submit these statements to rational weighing in the scales on one’s independent judgment rather than to accept credulously or dismiss wildly. Without the slightest training in the science of evidence, people airily deliver themselves of judgments that will not stand expert dissection for five minutes. Metaphors do not make arguments: they merely illustrate them. Fling up the coin of their rhetoric and when it comes down on the ground of test, you will know it to be base. Psychology endeavors to establish what is demonstrably true in human behavior, including such behavior as expresses what to human beings feels true. #RandolphHarris 12 of 28
The fact that each new vital focus of psychoanalytical research inadvertently leads to a new implied value system obliges us to ask ourselves whether or not we mean what we seem to be saying. It obligates us, as well as our critics, to differentiate psychoanalysis from psychoanalysis, and to realize that ours is not only a profession recognized among professions, but also a system of thought subject to fashionable manipulation by molders of public opinion. Our very success suggests that our partisanship be judicial. Religion, on the other hand, elaborates on what feels profoundly true even though it is not demonstrable: it translates into significant words, images, and codes the exceeding darkness which surrounds man’s existence, and the light which pervades it beyond all desert or comprehension. In some periods of his history, and in some phases of his life cycle, man needs (until we invent something better) a new ideological orientation as surely and as sorely as he must have air and food. Sometimes revolution has nothing to do with liberation, justice, and inspiration: it is the death of freedom, the triumph of violence, and the enslavement of the mind. Fascism is an act of contempt, in fact. Inversely, every form of contempt, if it intervenes in politics, prepares the way for, or establishes, Fascism. Fascism cannot be anything else but an expression of contempt without denying itself. Junger drew the conclusion, from his own principles, that it was better to be criminal than bourgeois. #RandolphHarris 13 of 28
Mr. Hitler, who on this occasion, is endowed with more coherence, knew that to be either one or the other was a matter of complete indifference, from the moment that one ceased to believe in anything but success. Thus, he authorized himself to be both criminal and bourgeois at the same time. “Fact is all,” said Mr. Mussolini. And Mr. Hitler added: “When the race is in danger of being oppressed…the question of legality plays only a secondary role.” Moreover, in that the race must always be menaced in order to exist, there is never any legality. “I am ready to sign anything, to agree to anything…As far as I am concerned, I am capable, in complete good faith, of signing treaties today and of dispassionately tearing them up tomorrow if the future of the German people is at stake.” Before he declared war, moreover, Mr. Hitler made the statement to his generals that no one was going to ask the victor if he had told the truth or not. The leitmotiv of Goring’s defense at the Nuremberg trials returned time and again to this theme: “The victor will always be the judge, and the vanquished will always be the accused.” That is a point that can certainly be argued. However, then it is hard to understand Mr. Rosenberg when he said during the Nuremberg trials that he had not foreseen that the Nazi myth would lead to murder. When the English prosecuting attorney observes that “from Mein Kampf the road led straight to the gas chambers at Maidenek,” he touches on the real subject of the trial, that of the historic responsibilities of Western nihilism and the only one which, nevertheless, was not really discussed at Nuremberg, for reasons only too evident. A trial cannot be conducted by announcing the general culpability of a civilization. Only the actual deeds which, at least, stank in the nostrils of the entire world were brought to judgment. #RandolphHarris 14 of 28
It follows that in cultural contexts where the beliefs in the supernatural powers of the ancestors are widespread, the departure of an individual might involve not only rituals aimed at separating the deceased from the realm of the living (funerary rituals), but also specific ritual actions aimed at transmuting the deceased into an ancestor (ancestralization), by transforming the latter into a preternatural being capable of affecting everyday life of the living. Among them, the most famous is certainly the so-called double burial studied by Hertz (1905-1906). If not even from the primeval form of religion, ancestor worship has been for a long time considered as a characteristic feature of archaic society. Spencer, in particular, considered the awe aroused by the deceased forebears and their potential vengeful attitude against transgressors as the main cause which led to the observance of the religious rites and, therefore, morality. Several studies have shown that the beliefs and practices concerning the interactions between the living and the dead are among the most spread ones around the world. Some scholars have even postulated that “ancestor worship” may be considered as a “universal phenomenon” and that certain religious phenomena, such as the cult of the saints or the concept of God as a “Father,” might be understood as forms of “metaphorical ancestors.” “Untamed religious activities,” which also include the beliefs and practices concerning ghosts and ancestors, are a kind of religious phenomena that occur in human minds by virtue of natural selection and are not only particularly resilient but also show a certain tendency in being recreated from scratch in diverse cultural contexts throughout human history. #RandolphHarris 15 of 28
If heroes arise through an interaction of personality traits tending toward altruistic behavior and a situation demanding a risk to self for the benefit of others, then heroes and heroines are archetypal in that they emanate and embody an immediate, recognizable pattern. Humans know when they see one. Researchers have used archetypal heroes to address many societal issues, including mental disorders, youth development, bullying in schools, and leadership development in organizations. The archetypal hero is a powerful metaphor that can be applied in many settings, including schools, teen and youth development, family systems, psychotherapy, leadership, management, and firefighting. The archetypal hero is a model of how to map the human condition and convey patterns to navigate life’s difficulties. Seeing life as a heroine’s journey gives emotional stability with a structure. The archetypal hero is a metaphor of hope and a guidebook with markers for gaining a perspective that allows resiliency in the face of adversity. It gives a purpose of seeing life’s journey as right action to transform toward wholeness and be of service to others through this mysterious journey called life. The award-winning Sacramento Fire Department is full of classic heroes. They are wealthy and of high reputation, and respectable persons. One summer, shortly before midnight, several calls poured into the fire department as several neighbors of a shop reported a fire. The fire stations responded to the scene in a short time, only to find the fire shooting through the roof and the flames endangering nearby buildings and homes. The blaze, fed by a stiff wind, quickly destroyed the main shops and set fire to several piles of lumber situated throughout the yards. A nearby home caught fire several times from the heat, but was quickly extinguished with only minor damage to the roof and siding. A factory located just to the south, suffered broken windows, smoke and water damage, but the damage was mostly minor. #RandolphHarris 16 of 28
The firemen remained on the scene until 6:30 a.m., watering down hot spots as the first major fire in the area was declared struck out at that time. Few words invoke more fear than the word investigation. We never want to be involved in an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) investigation, a murder investigation, or a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigation. Humans have natural defense mechanisms that resist being probed, examined, or scrutinized by any authority that has the power to discipline, sanction, or confiscate aspects of our life. The fear is that an investigation could conclude with the allocation of blame for something we did or were part of. Although a component of investigations indeed is to find fault where fault exists, it is not limited to liability. Another valuable component is to search for and identify the actions and contributing factors that allowed an event to occur. By identifying these aspects, actions can be taken to prevent future occurrences. Take, for instance, a firefighter who falls from an extension ladder at a structural fire. Although seriously injured, he survives the fall. Which of the following is a thorough investigation likely to lead to? Disciplinary action for the incident commander and the firefighter holding the ladder, or liability for the ladder manufacturer, resulting in a lawsuit, or recommendations to eliminate contributing factors in order to prevent a similar incident? Obviously, the last choice is the most probable. Fault and culpable liability are always possible, but recommendations and changes in policy are almost guaranteed. Initiative 9 calls for the thorough investigation of all injuries, deaths, and near-misses in an effort to reduce the chances of the next one. As a result, specific components of an effective system include reporting, investigating, evaluating, and implementing changes. Fire and emergency services have several individual components in place, yet continue to work toward linking information into one effective system. #RandolphHarris 17 of 28
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 firefighters 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 motion, 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 people’s 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 18 of 28
California is the third most expensive state in the nation. In 37 percent of counties, a family of four living on a six-figure income is now considered low-income. 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. A single person making an income above $100,000 is now considered low-income in five counties in California. This distinction now applies to individuals living in Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco, and Marin counties. 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. The 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 a month or $88,724.00 annually, and that typically means two to four people in the home are working and contributing to the mortgage. Home prices in Sacramento County are rivaling the Bay Area, and in some cases, homes in the Bay Area are more affordable. Historically, homes in the Bay Area 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, when state workers should be receiving a 25 percent wage increase instead. #RandolphHarris 19 of 28
In 2025, many people in California saw their bills increase by an estimated $500 a month. This includes items such as food, automobile insurance, homeowners’ insurance, and 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. The crisis is caused by nearly half a century-old laws that discourage home sales and encourage higher rents. The incompetence in California is very easy to see. From 2018 to 2023, California received $24 billion, which they used to fund 30 homeless and housing programs. These programs created 100,000 units. That is an average cost of $240,000 per unit. In comparison, Roger Lucas, owner of Grand Castle, LLC, spent $50 million to build The Grand Castle, which is a 522-unit residential apartment community in Grandville, Michigan. The community includes studios, 1 bedroom, 2 bedrooms, 3 bedrooms, and even a multi-level penthouse. Rents generally range from $1,000 to $2,500. The community is a 23.6-acre site. It features 750 covered parking spaces, a clubhouse, a resort-style swimming pool, and was built over a period of 12 to 18 months. The average cost was about $95,785.45 per unit, which is $144,214.55 less per unit than California spent. California also has the highest unemployment rate in the country at 5.4 percent, while the national average is 4.1 percent. While Americans are struggling to find and afford housing, Gavin Newsom, Democrat governor of California, signed two bills into law on February 7, 2025, to protect illegal immigrants. Bills SBX 1 1: Budget Act of 2024, and SBX 1 2: Budget Act of 2024, allocates $50 million to protect illegal immigrants from deportation. Governor Gavin Newsom also granted 700,000 illegal immigrants free health care, which costs taxpayers $3 billion annually. At the same time, Newsom cut vital programs for veterans, school children, the disabled, and the homeless. 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. #RandolphHarris 20 of 28
Meanwhile, China, where we are sending all our jobs and money, has more than 50 ghost cities, with 65 million vacant homes. Ghost cities are regions where housing has been overdeveloped to the point that these places are uninhabited. 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. 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 among 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 is cutting 2,500, and Meta has terminated 4,000 employees. California also has the highest unemployment rate in the country at 5.4 percent, while the national average is 4.1 percent. 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 border 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 risk 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 the end-of-life of machinery is how the Oroville Dam Crisis occurred in 2017. #RandolphHarris 21 of 28
Additionally, Newsom seems to be 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 of incompetence by Governor Gavin Newsom, 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. Other crises that have occurred due to neglect of critical infrastructure are 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 desalination 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. #RandolphHarris 22 of 28
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 for its infrastructure, provide adequate resources, or 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 are 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. Additionally, Japan exported 1.4 million cars to the United States of America, but only imported 16,000 American-built automobiles. However, Japan imported approximately 143 thousand motor vehicles from the European Union. This is why President Trump created tariffs. We need to balance the trade deficit that America faces with other nations so we are not taken advantage of and so America can go bank to being a creditor nation, instead of borrowing money for other countries. As of 31 August 2025, President Trump has brought $142 Billion in Tariff revenue into America and hundreds of thousands of new jobs. However, if President Trump’s Tariffs are deemed illegal by the Supreme Court, taxpayers will have to pay back trillions and trillions of dollars. As we literally and /or figuratively see gangs, federal judges, and Governor Gavin Newsom fighting with federal law enforcement and President Trump– states and cities refusing to honor federal laws. Politicians are also showing an utter disregard for the Constitution of the United States of America, and anarchy is becoming increasingly common. #RandolphHarris 23 of 28
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, regards property as a means of tyranny, and believes that crimes are merely the product of property and authority. 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. Anarchism 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 before the situation becomes 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 24 of 28
Drug cartels have been threatening the health and safety of Native American communities. The trafficking of dangerous and illegal drugs into their territories is leading to a second genocide. The overdose rate for Indigenous people 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 borders and increase federal funding to Native American 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 has also totally ignored the cartel problems on American lands. Clean air, water, land, and preserving our heritage are extremely important. 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 that tax citizens without representation. Taxation without representation is what led to the American Revolution. #RandolphHarris 25 of 28
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. 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 immigrate 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 America, 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 26 of 28
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 America 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 national debt, plus you are helping to strengthen these foreign nations by sending 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. Under President Trump’s administration, he has make America a priority. President Trump has closed the southern border, illegal crossings have fallen to an all time low, 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 percent. 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. #RandolphHarris 27 of 28
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 arrive at this fullness 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, 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. 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.” #RandolphHarris 28 of 28
According to locals, over a century ago, the land that houses The Winchester Mansion had been vacant forever. Then, sometime in the early afternoon of Saturday, March 13, 1886, Sheriff Angel Camilio began getting reports that a massive castle made of wood had suddenly appeared. Gables rose, towers peaked into the sky as the mansion mushroomed into a labyrinth overnight.
The house’s sudden manifestation had been both disconcerting and fascinating to the community. Some felt dark curses flowing from the estate, and things moving around in the darkness. Others saw a fairytale castle glimmering in the spring sunlight. Perhaps this is why there are no records of construction, no blueprints, and no permits filed with the county. Come and see what secrets this so-called, “Winchester Mystery House” may hold.
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 the tour, there will be time to enjoy the mansion’s splendor at your own pace. You might even discover secret passages.
Please come and enjoy a delicious meal at Sarah’s Café, stroll along the paths of the beautiful Victorian gardens, which once spanned 740 acres, all the way down to Stevens Creek Boulevard; wander 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 for purchase. https://shopwinchestermysteryhouse.com/
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/
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Randolph Harris San Francisco Taxation & Mergers
Building strong and lasting client relationships is crucial for a successful legal career. Many lawyers mistakenly believe that mastering legal skills alone ensures success, but law is fundamentally a service industry—our job is to solve problems through the time we sell. To build long-term relationships, attorneys must focus on three core elements: knowing their clients, understanding how their legal issues fit into a larger context, and consistently delivering exceptional service.
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Mother, I Would Rather Do it My Own Way
People’s beliefs about themselves—their self-conceptions—play a central role in their psychological experiences and can be powerful determinants of their thoughts, feelings, and actions. Self-concepts are important considerations in domains as diverse as social perception, self-evaluation, interpersonal relationships, decision making, and even consumer behavior. The characteristics of specific self-aspects, including the associated traits and their importance, determine the ease of activating them and the consequences of that activation. While the cognitive mechanisms behind these phenomena are quite simple, the implications are far-reaching: A person’s currently active self-aspect shapes what they remember, how they judge others, and how easily they can focus on current tasks or goals. Of course, these self-aspects exist within the broader network of the individual’s self-concept, and the overall organization of the self-concept (id est, self-complexity) is similarly influential. With identity, we deal with a process “located” in the core of the individual and yet also in the core of his communal culture, a process which establishes, in fact, the identity of those two identities. #RandolphHarris 1 of 17
If we should now pause and state a few minimum requirements for fathoming the complexity of identity, we should have to begin by saying something like thus (and let us take our time in saying it): in psychological terms, identity formation employs a process of simultaneous reflection and observation, a process taking place on all levels of mental functioning, by which the individual judges himself in the light of what be perceives to be the way in which others judge him in comparison to themselves and to a typology significant to them; while he judges their way of judging him in the light of how he perceives himself in comparison to them and to them and to types that have become relevant to him. This process is, luckily, and necessarily, for the most part, unconscious except where inner conditions and outer circumstances combine to aggravate a painful, or elated, “identity-consciousness.” Furthermore, the process described is always changing and developing: at its best, it is a process of increasing differentiation, and it becomes ever more inclusive as the individual grows aware of a widening circle of others significant to him, from the maternal person to “mankind.” The process “begins” somewhere in the first true “meeting” of mother and baby as two people who can touch and recognize each other, and it does not “end” until a man’s power of mutual affirmation wanes. #RandolphHarris 2 of 17
As pointed out, however, the process has its normative crisis in adolescence, and is in many ways determined by what went before and determines much that follows. And finally, in discussing identity, as we now see, we cannot separate personal growth and communal change, nor can we separate the identity crisis in individual life and contemporary crises in historical development, because the two help to define each other and are truly relative to each other. The whole interplay between the psychological and the social, the developmental and the historical, for which identity formation is of prototypal significance, could be conceptualized only as a kind of psychosocial relativity. A weighty matter then: certainly, mere “roles” played interchangeably, mere self-conscious “appearances,” or mere strenuous “postures” cannot possibly be the real thing, although they may be dominant aspects of what today is called the “search for identity.” Given all of this, it would be wrong to let some terms—such as self-conception, self-imagery, or self-esteem, on the other hand, and role ambiguity, role conflict, or role loss, on the other—take over the area to be studied, although teamwork methods are, now, the best approach in this general area. #RandolphHarris 3 of 17
What these approaches as yet lack, however, is a theory of human development which attempts to come closer to something by finding out wherefrom and whereto it develops. For identity is never “established” as an “achievement” in the form of a personality armor, or of anything static and unchangeable. The traditional psychoanalytic method, on the other hand, cannot quite grasp identity because it has not developed terms to conceptualize the environment. Certain habits of psychoanalytic theorizing, habits of designating the environment as “outer world” or “object world,” cannot take account of the environment as a pervasive actuality. The German ethologist introduced the word “Umwelt” to denote not merely an environment which surrounds you, but which is also in you. And indeed, from the point of view of development, “former” environments are forever in us; and since we live in a continuous process of making the present “former” we never—not even as a newborn—meet any environment as a person who never had an environment. One methodological precondition, then, for grasping identity would be a psychoanalysis sophisticated enough to include the environment; the other would be a social psychology which is psychoanalytically sophisticated; together, they would institute a new field which would have to create its own historical sophistication. #RandolphHarris 4 of 17
In the meantime, we can only try to see where a historical instance or a bit of normative development, a fragment of case history, or an event in a biography becomes clearer when something like identity development is assumed to exist. And, of course, it helps to note down in detail what and why and how an item seems to become clearer. What about the awareness of self-hate? What is expressed in Hamlet, Richard III is not restricted to clear-sighted knowledge of the agonies of human sols. During longer or shorter intervals, many people experience self-hate or self-contempt as such. They may have flashing feelings of, “I hate myself,” or “I despise myself”; they may be furious at themselves. However, such alive experiencing of self-hate occurs only in periods of distress and is forgotten as the distress subsides. As a rule, the question does not arise whether such feelings—or thoughts—are more than a temporary response to a “failure,” a “stupidity,” a feeling of wrong done, or a realization of some psychic handicap. Hence, there is no awareness of the subversive and lasting operation of self-hate. Regarding that form of self-hate which is expressed in self-accusation, the range of differences in awareness is too wide to allow for any general statement. Those neurotics who have entrenched themselves in a shell of self-righteousness have so silenced all self-accusations that nothing reaches awareness. Opposed to these are the self-effacing types who frankly express self-reproaches and guilt feelings, or betray the existence of such feelings by their flagrantly apologetic or defensive behavior. Such individual differences in awareness are significant indeed. #RandolphHarris 5 of 17
However, the awareness does not justify the conclusion that the self-effacing types are aware of self-hate; because even those neurotics who are aware of self-recriminations are aware neither of their intensity nor of their destructive nature. They are also unaware of their intrinsic futility and tend to regard them as testimony to their high moral sensitivity. They do not question their validity, and as a matter of fact, cannot do so if they judge themselves from the perspective of a godlike perfection. However, almost all neurotics are aware of the results of self-hate: feeling guilty, inferior, cramped, tormented. Yet, they do not in the least realize that they have brought about these painful feelings and self-evaluations. And even the bit of awareness they may have, can be blurred by neurotic pride. Instead of suffering from feeling cramped, they are proud of being “unselfish…ascetic…self-sacrificing…a slave to duty”—terms which may hide a multitude of sins against the self. Therefore, self-hate in all essentials is an unconscious process. In the last analysis, there is a survival interest in not being aware of its impact. This is the ultimate reason that the bulk of the process is usually externalized, id est, experienced as operating not within the individual himself but between him and the outside world. #RandolphHarris 6 of 17
We can roughly distinguish between active and passive externalization of self-hate. The former is an attempt to direct self-hate outward, against life, fate, institutions, or people. In the latter, the hate remains directed against the self but is perceived or experienced as coming from the outside. In both ways, the tension of the inner conflict is released by being turned into an interpersonal one. The expressions of self-hate are identically the same as those of hate in interpersonal relations. To illustrate the latter by a historical example that is still fresh in our memory, Governor of California, Gavin Newsom’s hatred for Americans, we see that he intimidated and accused them viciously, he humiliated them, he disgraced them in public, he deprived and frustrated them in every form, shape and manner, he destroyed their hopes for the future, and tortured them. If he is not impeached, people fear Gavin Newsom may start killing Americans. In more civilized and concealed forms, we can observe most of these expressions of hate in everyday life, in families or between competitors. Love needs no defense. In its genuine expression, love is a natural, perhaps even a virtuous, impulse in an individual. But anger? Anger is akin to sin, some believe. Many confuse anger with hate, with violent rage, with monumental destructiveness. #RandolphHarris 7 of 17
Yet, anger is as natural to the human as love is. Historically, collective anger has played a significant role in combating injustice and establishing and safeguarding individual rights. We may feel sorrow for the starving or abused child, but it is our anger that energizes us to do something about it. And the student who receives a low grade and the comment, “poorly written” on an essay may feel hurt and defeated, but it is anger that energizes the student to, “show that teacher what I can really do” on the next assignment. The power and energy of anger that many of us fear and believe we must suppress is one of our strongest motivations. Rather than suppressing and controlling anger, actualizers can direct the powerful emotion in ways that are enhancing to themselves and to their relationships with others. Honest expression of genuine anger is called assertion. Assertion is being able to confront others directly and truthfully. It is trusting yourself and others sufficiently to be able to face up to conflicts. Assertion is an antidote to rage, violence, and betrayal. It is the ability to recognize that the loud music on your co-worker’s radio is making it difficult for you to concentrate (you are annoyed); that you can remedy the problem (eliminate the annoyance) with a direct, honest statement to the co-worker—“Would you mind turning off the radio? I’m having trouble concentrating”—and that you can confront another person as a fellow human being, not as an object to be avoided or feared. #RandolphHarris 8 of 17
Assertion simply requires three things: Recognizing and acknowledging your genuine feeling of annoyance or anger. Knowing you have the right to express that annoyance. Trusting that the other person can respond as a reasonable human being. Manipulators are often so detached from their feelings that they fail to accurately recognize and to acknowledge their feelings of annoyance. They feel miserable but are seldom able to name correctly the feeling or to perceive the reality surrounding their feelings. Instead, they see themselves as victims and others as enemies. This is because there are relentless demands on self, merciless self-accusation, self-contempt, self-frustration, self-tormenting, and self-destruction. What one conceives as something that should be is much determined by self-hate as by pride, and the furies of self-hate are unleashed when they are not fulfilled. They can be compared to a holdup in which a gunman points a revolver at a person, saying: “Either you give me all you have, or else I will shoot you.” The gunman’s holdup is likely to be the more humane of the two. The threatened person can save himself by complying, while the shoulds cannot be appeased. And, being shot, for all the finality of death, seems less cruel than a lifelong suffering under self-hate. His real self is stifled by the neurosis, the Frankenstein monster originally designed for his protection. And it makes little difference whether you live in a totalitarian country or a private neurosis, either way, you are apt to end up in a concentration camp where the whole point is to destroy the self as painfully as possible. #RandolphHarris 9 of 17
The shoulds are, in fact, self-destructive in their very nature. However, as yet, we have seen only one aspect of their destructiveness: that they put a person into a straitjacket and deprive him of inner freedom. Even if he manages to mold himself into a behavioristic perfection, he can do so only at the expense of his spontaneity and the authenticity of his feelings and beliefs. The shoulds aim, like any political tyranny, at the extinction of individuality. They create an atmosphere like that in the seminary described by Stendhal in The Red and the Black (or George Orwell in Nineteen Eighty-Four) in which any individual thinking and feeling are suspect. They require an unquestioning obedience, which is not even felt as obedience. Dr. Freud believed that neurosis was partly caused by an overly severe, mainly unconscious, infantile conscience. (He called it the superego.) According to his view, a neurotic sufferer was obliged to avoid pleasures of the flesh, even fantasies about pleasures of the flesh, to be free of guilt. One aim of psychoanalytic therapy was to help the patient modify the conscience so that its taboos were less restrictive and more in keeping with adult life. Mowrer disagreed with the psychoanalytic views. According to Mowrer, a neurotic is a person who persists beyond childhood in the pursuit of irresponsible pleasures, including sexuality, and who represses the conscience to avoid guilt. Neurotic symptoms arise as defenses against guilt, not against infantile sexuality, as the Freudians might maintain. #RandolphHarris 10 of 17
Consequently, Mowrer claims, the aim in therapy is not to render the conscience more lenient, but to make it conscious, so that a person will feel guilt more acutely and seek in the future to obey the conscience rather than to repress it. Clinical experience shows that neither Dr. Freud nor Mowrer is wholly correct or wholly incorrect. Some neurotic patients do indeed have a conscience that is too strict; to remain guilt-free, they must refrain from all the pleasurable activities, including those that society condones. Other patients have the makeup Mowrer has regarded as nuclear to all neurosis—they repress conscience so they can break social taboos without conscious guilt. In still others, both patterns of unhealthy conscience may be found. If a person’s conscience is based on a cruel and punitive morality, that person will have an exaggerated sense of duty that makes him or her forego even legitimate pleasures. Thus, a parent may deny himself or herself all fun in life, insisting upon a Spartan existence, to provide for the children. The necessity to repress anger, resentment, and temptation to enjoyment can impose excessive stress upon the person and demoralize him or her such that resistance to infectious illnesses is diminished. If it is inhumanely demanding and restrictive, conscience can kill a person. Such a conscience is often found in persons with various forms of stress-induced disease, such as high blood pressure, cancer, and heart disease. #RandolphHarris 11 of 17
As the years go by and the script becomes adapted by experience, the controls, patterns, and prescriptions become blended so that it is hard to distinguish one from the other in the person’s behavior, and to determine which is a “final common pathway.” One adopts a program or routine which synthesizes them all. The major script payoffs occur in the form of a “final display.” If the payoff is a bad one, the script elements may be quite apparent to an experienced observer, as in cases of psychosis, delirium tremens, car-crashing, suicide, or murder. With good payoffs, it is more difficult to dissect out the script directives, partly because in such cases, there are usually extensive permissions granted by the parents, which may obscure the directive. Most people spend their lives comfortably embedded in their script matrices. It is a bed which their parents made for them and to which they have added a few trimmings of their own. It may have glitches in it and be lumpy, too, but it is their very own, and they have been accustomed to it since their earliest years, and so, few people are willing to trade it in for something better built and more adapted to their circumstances. Matrix, after all, is just Latin for mother’s womb, and the script is as close and cozy as they can get once they have forever left the real thing. However, for those who do decide to strike out for themselves, and say, “Mother, I would rather do it my own way,” there are several possibilities. If they are lucky, mother herself may have included a reasonable release or spellbreaker in the matrix, in which case they may do it on their own. Another way is for their friends and intimate and life itself to help, but this is rare. The third way is through competent script analysis, from which they may get permission to put their own shows on the road. #RandolphHarris 12 of 17
Even if the origins (but probably not the insertions) of the script directives vary in individual cases, the script matrix nevertheless remains one of the most useful and cogent diagrams in the history of science, compressing, as it does, the whole plan for a human life and its ultimate destiny into a simple, easily understood, and easily checked designed, which also indicates how to change. We are helped indeed every time that we discover in somebody else’s writings an idea which has been trying to formulate itself in our own mind but which could not pierce the clouds of obscurity, vagueness, and uncertainty which surrounded it. Even though it is indirect and not personal, the help which is given thousands of people through the printed sheet possesses a worth which only those who benefit by it can properly estimate. When he finds his own inner experiences described in the pages of a book, he feels more assured about their reality. Those who complain that this philosophy is unintelligible, thereby expose their own insufficiency of intelligence and their own lack of mental capacity wherewith to grasp its position and conclusion. For there must be an affinity between the creativeness of the writer and the comprehension of the reader; without it both will be peering at each other through an opaque frosted-glass window. #RandolphHarris 13 of 17
Many persons have never even had access to books on these subjects, nor the chance to get tuition personally. However, now all that is changed. For all who can read can uncover today the once-hidden wisdom of the ancient scholars. And today, the proportion of those who can read is not only immensely larger but is rapidly enlarging. It is true that reading sheets of printed paper cannot take the place of personal inner experience. However, this does not stamp them as useless. They provide bridges to support the aspirant and thus help him find his way from his present familiar state to the farther one he seeks to reach. No teacher and no book, however inspired, can transform a disciple into something new. What they can and usually do is to kindle the disciple’s latent capacities, to bring out his innate views, and to clarify his vague tendencies. Books can be used to stimulate thought or to escape from it: it depends on the reader whether they are used to help fulfill the duty of thinking for oneself or to evade it. Through books, we may borrow the experience of others and save ourselves costly experiments. Such living by proxy is painless. Where a teaching is said to be based on an ancient tradition yet never quotes a traceable source, an original document, one may need to use some caution in quoting it. #RandolphHarris 14 of 17
He will learn to know some truth better through experience than through books but more truth through both together. The mystics decry intellect and disparage the worth of literature. However, many men have turned in hard periods to the classics among book and recieved power against depression, got wisdom, guidance, or consolation from them! In our lifetime, we have been favored with ongoing communication from the heavens, which have been open to the prophets of our time. Much revelation received, in this time as well as anciently, has been doctrinal. Some of it has been operational and tactical. Much of it is not spectacular. President John Taylor reminds us: “Adam’s revelation did not instruct Noah to build his ark; nor did Noah’s revelation tell Lot to forsake Sodom; nor did either of these speak of the departure of the children of Israel from Egypt. These all had revelations for themselves. Those who have gone through trials recognize that there are tragedies that are so difficult we cannot understand them. We do not have an answer in this life for every adversity. When trials come, it is time to turn our souls to God who is the author of life and the only source of comfort. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you,” reports John 14.27. Christ has suffered more than any of us, and He knows the intensity of our afflictions. There is no suffering we have that He did not undergo in Gethsemane and on Calvary. That is why He understands and can help us. “Christ stated: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall live,” reports John 11.25. The greatest tragedy that can happen to a person is not the loss of his possessions, or his intellect, or his moral life, but rather to lose eternal life, which is the free gift of God. #RandolphHarris 15 of 17
Admiration is a beneficial affective response to witnessing excellence in others. While admiration was divided into two emotion constructs in psychology, elevation as admiration for virtue and admiration as limited to admiration for skill, continues to be treated as one moral emotion in philosophy. Admired others manifest an ideal or value of importance to the admirer in their behavior or characteristics. Admiration motivates individuals to praise, affiliate with, and emulate the admired other and to internalize the ideal embodies by the other. Admiration functions to enhance the admiring individuals’ agency in promoting an ideal in themselves and others through facilitating the social transmission of associated skills, motivation, knowledge, and ways of conduct. Emotions often are elicited by moral beauty and that are linked to purpose in life and commitment to the furtherance of some greater cause. This category features emotions such as being moved, poignancy, awe, inspiration, compassion, and gratitude. As evident in the partial overlap between the listed emotions, there is no clear separation between overarching emotion categories. We typically admire people who are brave, courageous, selfless, moral, caring, altruistic, helpful, honest, smart, strong, determined, charismatic, resilient, reliable, and inspiring (which includes being admirable) and three main functions of the hero: enhancing and uplifting others, protecting these around them, and modeling morals for other. These are all qualities that members of the award-winning Sacramento Fire Department possess. #RandolphHarris 16 of 17
We can admire a person at zero acquaintance and are often drawn to the person initially because of one admirable act or characteristic. Nevertheless, admiration hinges on the attribution of the admirable act or characteristic to the underlying psychology of the person: It is not a result of external forces but rather is representative of this person’s dispositional behavior and traits. Why do people admire the Sacramento Fire Department? The object of admiration is a successful behavioral manifestation of an ideal way beyond expectations. The admirer appraises it as rare to see this ideal embodied in such an outstanding way, but as a signal that is possible to live up to it. The admired firefighter, EMT, or paramedic is appraised as a source of knowledge for how one could lead one’s life in pursuit of the ideal and of motivation to promote the ideal. Admiration assists the social transmission of skills, knowledge, and ways of conduct by creating attention and attachment to and emulation of exemplars embodying a specific ideal, which entails a sense of increased potential efficacy of the admirer. The admiring individual further seeks to praise, affiliate with, cooperate with, and if necessary, defer to the admired other, thus promoting the cultivation and expression of the value in others. In this way, admiration serves to regulate the social hierarchy within and between groups. If you do not have much experience with situational awareness, consider spending some time with the Sacramento Fire Department. Ask about some near-misses that are categorized as situational awareness. You will likely be surprised at how many times emergency responders encounter it. #RandolphHarris 17 of 17
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BMW i8 and Left No Crumbs!
Some people claim that no one cares about your success because they really want to see the journey of how you got there. However, I do not believe that is true. When you are down and struggling and stuck with a bunch of rejections, bad news, failure, and debt, do you notice that no one is around, people avoid you, and no one offers help. Yet, when you are successful and doing well, you have all of the friends in the world. More than you will ever need. In the process of living, we will face struggles, many of which will cause us to suffer and to experience pain. Many people will suffer in personal struggles, while others will suffer as they watch their loved ones in pain. To gain strength in our struggles, we must have an optimistic perspective of the principles in the plan of salvation. We must realize that we have a personal Savior whom we can trust and turn to in our times of need. We must also learn and live in the principles that the Lord has given to receive the strength needed during our struggles. In the Grand Counsil in Heaven, the decision was made to “make an earth whereon these may dwell,” reports Abraham 3.24. This earth is the place to prove ourselves worthy and to prepare to return to the presence of the Lord. He explained, “And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them,” reports Abraham 3.25. #RandolphHarris 1 of 29
Before we can achieve the creative awareness, we need to overcome the manipulations in our lives, we must learn to identify, experience, and honestly express real feelings, not counterfeit emotions. Some of the manipulator’s repertoire of counterfeit emotions follow. Substituting one emotion for another. Many of us express anger when we pretend anger instead of express hurt. Thus, we hear the lady tears welling in her eyes, cry out: “You make me so mad!” She is not made at all; she is hurt. Her body does not like. Using the same counterfeit pattern, we express anger when we are really afraid. “You make me so angry when you forget to take your medicine,” a young woman screams at her ill mother. Her anger hides her fear. She is worried about her mother health. If she does not take her medicine, she might die. Feelings as a delayed reaction. Here we meet the person whose pace is so slow that he says: “I was mad at you last week.” Last week? It took him a week to find out? Not really. He knew how he felt last week, but he was afraid to express it then for fear he would be attacked in return. A favorite poly of the withdrawing and avoiding manipulator is to hide his or her real emotion at the time it is felt to avoid contact with another. The delayed reaction also provides an advantage to the manipulator: time to prepare a surprise attack. It is just another way to control rather than to make contact with another. #RandolphHarris 2 of 29
Making a virtue of not having normal feelings, or pretending you do not. Most of us know some couple who boast that they have never had a fight. Our response would have to be “Tommyrot!” Normal people who have any contact at all with each other must rub each other the wrong way at times. Of course, they have fights. They have them because they have normal feelings, as much as they would like to appear virtuously free of them. Confusing your feelings with facts. You say to someone, “You are stupid!” Your statement is not a fact at all, since you have not actually measured that person’s intelligence. If you said instead, “I feel that you are stupid,” then you would be stating a fact about your feelings, not a fact about the other individual’s intelligence. Expressing your feelings as you are poised for flight. Such a person may let true feelings slip out, but is ready to run the instant anyone reacts to them. A sign of immaturity, such timidity stunts one’s emotional growth and the development of relationships. With all his strenuous efforts toward perfection and with all his belief in perfection attained, the neurotic does not gain what he most desperately needs: self-confidence and self-respect. Even though godlike in his imagination, he still lacks the earthy self-confidence of a simple shepherd. The great positions to which he may rise, the fame he may acquire, will render him arrogant but will not bring him inner security. #RandolphHarris 3 of 29
He still feels at bottom unwanted, is easily hurt, and needs incessant confirmation of his value. He may feel strong and significant as long as he wields power and influence and is supported by praise and deference. However, all of these feelings of elation collapse easily when, in a strange environment, this support is lacking; when he incurs failure; or when he is by himself. The kingdom of haven does not come through external gestures. Let us survey what happened to self-confidence in the course of a neurotic development. Apparently, for self-confidence to grow, the child needs help from the outside. He needs warmth, feeling welcome, care, protection, an atmosphere of confidence, encouragement in his activities, constructive discipline. These factors given, he will develop “basic confidence,” to use a well-chosen term of Marie Rasey’s which includes both confidence in others and in self. Instead, a combination of injurious influences prevents a child’s healthy growth. However, there are some reasons which render it specifically difficult for him to arrive at a proper self-evaluation. A blind adoration may inflate his feeling of significance. He may feel wanted, liked, and appreciated not for what he is but merely for satisfying his parents’ needs for adoration, prestige, or power. A rigid regime of perfectionist standards may evoke in him a feeling of inferiority for not measures up to such demands. Misdemeanors or bad marks at school may be severely reprimanded, while good behavior or good marks are taken for granted. Move toward autonomy or independence may be ridiculed. #RandolphHarris 4 of 29
All these factors, in addition to a general lack of genuine warmth and interest, give him the feeling of being unloved and unworthy—or at any rate of not being worth anything unless he is something he is more. Moreover, the neurotic development, initiated by the early unfavorable constellation, weakens him at the core of his being. He becomes alienated from himself and divided. His self-idealization is an attempt to remedy the damage done by lifting himself in his mind above the crude reality of himself and others. And, as the stories of the devil’s pact, he gets all the glory in imagination and sometimes in reality. However, instead of solid self-confidence, he gets a glittering gift of most questionable value: neurotic pride. The two feel and look so much alike that an understandable confusion is created in most minds about their differences. A definition in an ole edition of Webster, for instance, says that pride is self-esteem, based either on real or imagined merits. The distinction is made between real and imagined merits, but they are both called “self-esteem,” as if this difference did not greatly matter. The confusion also develops through the fact that most patients regard self-confidence as a mysterious quality arising from nowhere but most desire to have. It is but logical then that they expect the analyst to instill it into them in some way or other. Which always reminds me of a cartoon in which a rabbit and a mouse got an injection of courage; they then grew give times their ordinary size, were bold and full of indomitable fighting spirit. #RandolphHarris 5 of 29
What the patients do not know—and are anxious indeed not to realize—is the strict cause-and-effect relation between existing personal assets and the feeling of self-confidence. This relation is not any less definite than the way in which the financial status of a person depends upon his properties, his savings, or his earning capacity. If these factors are satisfactory, a person will have a feeling or economic security. Or, to take another example, the fisherman’s confidence rests on such concrete factors as his boat being in good shape, his nets being mended, his knowledge of weather and water conditions, and his muscular strength. What are regarded as personal assets vary to some degree with the culture in which we live. For Wester civilization, they include such qualities or attributes as having autonomous convictions and acting upon them, having the self-reliance that stems from tapping our own resources, assuming responsibility for ourselves, taking a realistic appraisal of our assets, liabilities and limitations, having strength and directness of feelings, and having the capacity for establishing and cultivating good human relations. The well-functioning of these factors shows subjectively in a feeling of self-confidence. To the extent that they are impaired, self-confidence will be shaky. Healthy pride likewise is based on substantial attributes. It may be a warranted high regard for special achievements, such as feeling proud of a deed of moral courage or of a job well done. Or it may be a more comprehensive feeling of our own value, a quiet feeling of dignity. #RandolphHarris 6 of 29
Once upon a time there was a man named George, who was equally celebrated for slaying dragons and for fertilizing barren women. He wandered around the countryside as a completely free spirit—or so it seemed. Cantering through the meadows on a summer’s day, he saw columns of smoke and forks of flame shooting upward in the distance. As he approached the scene, he heard a terrible roaring, mingled with the shrill screams of a maiden in distress. “Aha!” he cried, couching his lance. “This is my third dragon and maiden in less than a week. I will slay the dragon, and no doubt my bravery will be richly rewarded.” A moment later, he cried to the dragon: “Avast, lubber!” and to the maiden: “Have no fear!” The dragon drew back and began to paw the ground in anticipation not only of a double meal, but also of what he loved best, a good fight. The maiden, whose name was Ursula, threw her arms out and cried: “My hero! I am saved.” She was delighted, not only in anticipation of being saved and watching a good fight, but also (since she was not really a maiden) at the prospect of showing gratitude to her rescuer. George and the dragon backed off from each other, preparing for the charge, whole Ursula cheered them both on. At the moment, another figure appeared on the scene, richly accoutered with a silver-mounted saddle and fat alforjas filled with gold coins. #RandolphHarris 7 of 29
“Hey boy!” cried the new arrival. George turned and said in surprise: “Father! How nice to see you!” He turned his back on the dragon, dismounted from his horse, and went to kiss his father’s foot. A lively conversation ensured, with George saying, “Yes, father. Certainly, father. Whatever you say, father.” Neither Ursula nor the dragon could hear father’s side of the conversation, but it soon became apparent that it was going to go on indefinitely. “Oh, for Christ’s sake!” said Ursula, stamping her foot in disgust. “Some hero! As soon as his old man appears, he’s right over there bowing and scraping, and he has no time for poor little me.” “You said it,” said the dragon. “This is going to go on forever.” So, he turned off his flame thrower and rolled over and fell asleep. However, eventually, the old man rode off, and George was ready to return to the fray. He couched his lance again, and waited for the dragon to get up and charge and Ursula to cheer him on. Instead, Ursula said: “Jerk!” and walked away. The dragon got to his feet and said: “Crumb!” and he, too, walked away. When George saw that, he yelled: “Hey dad!” and galloped after his father. Ursula and the dragon both turned at the same moment and both shouted after him: “Too bad he’s so old, or I would take him on instead of you.” #RandolphHarris 8 of 29
When I was young, several times it happened that I was “in love” and enjoying serenity and peace. Then I noticed frictions building, and I left before they could be damaging to either of us. This seemed to me best. I did not wish to be harmful to the other or to myself. I was called “callous.” It did not seem that way to me. However, when I had been called “callous” often enough, I thought I was, and stayed—with damage to all of us, including the children, which it took years to heal, and some of it is not entirely clearly up yet. The “loose morals” and “irresponsibility” (about work, with employers) of Hawaiians, Navajos, and Hopis seem to me to make better sense, to be more human, because they are less damaging to other humans and to my humanity. That we “criticize our neighbors for what are our own faults,” could be easily misunderstood. When my neighbor chains his dog on a short leash and blows smoke in the dog’s eyes, I do not like this, but it is not something that I do or even have ever wanted to do. However, when I have “held” someone insistently so that I could tell this individual what one did not wish to hear, is that different? It is not the act itself, but what the act is doing. As a child, when my mother told a “story” to someone who had come to the door, I wished she would not do it. I was “criticizing her”—to use grown-up language. However, I did not yet know this way to think about it. I did not blame her. I wished she would not do it because it opened up a path to me that I did not wish to go, and if she had done this, I would not have known it was there. #RandolphHarris 9 of 29
I knew only honesty until something else was shown to me. It was a very strong factor in my close identification with my father that he was honest. This I liked. I felt steady. He also made it possible for me to be honest with him—when I was small. Later on, he did not. If I want to be told the truth, I must be willing to accept it. And if I wish to have love, I must be willing to receive it. Now, when I feel critical of other people, I often notice that what I am really feeling is, “Please do not do that. It is what I do not want to do, and I so easily fall into it when you are doing it.” This is certainly true of stereotyped chatter about world affairs, gossip, literature, anecdotes, and such, and people who are forever planning, who never live now. Other people’s intellect/ego calls out mine, and then I do not like me. I would like there to be an irreligious order where I could go at times, to be with others who wish to work out the same corrections in themselves, to strengthen me in making mine. However, it can also be simply and directly true that what I criticize in others may be something that I do, too. It is certainly wise to look into myself and check—and also ask others whether it seems to them that I have this fault. It may seem to me that I am only “reminding” someone else (being helpful) while to others it may seem that I am “always nagging.” Then I may understand better how someone else’s nagging (as it seems to me) appears to them. #RandolphHarris 10 of 29
Because people do not feel their inward divinity, they often deny it. In ancient and even medieval times, they were satisfied that it did exist because their simplicity, their uncultivated intellects, created no barriers to this feeling or to faith in it on the authority of tradition and their prophets. We must understand the inevitability of their present skepticism and prove the fact of the Soul as logically, as evidentially as possible. Yet to offer intellectual proof alone is not enough, although a truly excellent step forward. We must also show them how to get the experience of verification for themselves. Skepticism makes conditions which require that truth be presented in a rational form and argued out. Otherwise, the intellectual reactions to it will not be fair and just to its value. The value of metaphysical skepticism is to overcome mental inertia, to liberate us from strict and rigid doctrines, and to teach us tolerance. It frees us to search for higher truths and nobler values. They may try to escape from their doubts, perhaps by stifling them, perhaps by ignoring their very existence, perhaps by going to the guru and getting his reassurance again. This course may succeed for a time, even for a lifetime. However, it is not conducive to their true welfare. There are two ways open to a skeptic. One is to seek the actual experience of transcending intellectual proof of it. The first is a hard and long way; the second short and easy. #RandolphHarris 11 of 29
Just as the very presence of suffering starts a search for its relief, so does the very existence of doubt cause a search for truth to begin. We must begin by suspecting the data furnished by our five senses. We must learn that appearances are dubious, that they are not to be accepted without searching enquiry. Not only is he to question the dogma which orthodoxy hands him but even the doubts which skepticism offers instead of them. Those skeptics who reject the possibility of attaining truth are already stating something as truth and thereby refuting their own theory. Because there is no room in philosophic study for naivete or gullibility, those who suffer from these mental disabilities should first get cured. Where belief comes too easily, error may follow too quickly. To doubt everything and stop at that point, to assent to nothing but criticize every presentation, to meet all affirmative statements with the skeptic’s questions—this is the product of sharp intellect, blunt speech, and negative feeling. If a man is too suspicious of being deceived, he may err when truth is presented to him, and so miss the change of acquiring it. Balance is needed here as elsewhere. To bring one’s natural skepticism into a fine balance with the intellectual sympathy, these subjects demand is not an easy task, but he must try to do it. #RandolphHarris 12 of 29
We can accept nothing on trust as far as the quest of truth is concerned, although we can and needs must accept most things on trust, so far as the practical purposes of life are concerned. No arguments are capable of moving the absolute skeptic, for he does not look into its truth but only into tis weaker places. If you do not know whether God exists, do not fall into the error of denying that he does exist. It is an error because it is something which we do not know and to make such a positive statement has no justification. In the West, physical bulkiness, with large, prominent musculature, has long been a masculine ideal, and such robustness has been praised in popular magazines and valued by women in their men. Heavy musculature has been cultivated by violent exercise, vigorous calisthenics, and comparable feats of endurance. One function of such heaviness (not obesity, just heavy musculature) is to decrease sensitivity to pain and to enhance endurance. In the East, perhaps because patterns of nourishment have been different, slenderness is more the rule. The disciplines of Hatha yoga have been employed in India for several thousand years as a way to bring the body under more control, so that meditation and contemplation will not be obstructed by an insensitive, or a tense, uncomfortable body. Hatha yoga is one part of the Hindu religion and is one of the means of achieving the experience of “union of inner and outer,” or dissolving the ego and unifying awareness. #RandolphHarris 13 of 29
Since prehistoric times, controlled fire has been a source of comfort and warmth, but uncontrolled fire has brought death and destruction. Some of the most important lessons have been learned in the aftermath of tragic fires that resulted in devastating loss of life. The success of the Sacramento Fire Department depends on their ability to think critically and creatively and to communicate their intention and decision to others. The ability to communicate clearly—to get their intent and ideas across so that others understand their message and act on it—is one of the primary qualities of leadership. While you are a college student, your channels of communication include presentations and term papers. When you become a Sacramento Fire Fighter, Paramedic, or EMT, these channels will expand to include training meetings, briefings, and operation orders. The means to effective communication within the Sacramento Fire Department has required team members to develop their speaking and writing skills so that they are able to deliver any message to any audience effectively. They also keep in mind that communication also includes receiving messages from others through reading and listening. #RandolphHarris 14 of 29
Early in your career with the Sacramento Fire Department, much of your communication is direct. For example, coaching team members often requires communication that is one-on-one, immediate, and spoken. Later in your career with the Sacramento Fire Department, as your leadership responsibilities increase, you will inform subordinates and leaders through written orders, procedures, memos, and e-mail. This form of communication is indirect—it goes through other people or processes, is time-delayed, and written. As a member of the Sacramento Fire Department, your ability to communicate—to write, speak, and listen—affects your ability to inform, tech, coach, and motivate those around you. The good news is that you can develop these essential skills. It is difficult to overemphasize the importance of these skills. In Sacramento Fire Department operations, as elsewhere, the inability to write and speak can have tremendous costs. History is replete with examples of misunderstood messages. For example, many Civil War scholars believe that victory at Gettysburg may have depended on how a subordinate interpreted Confederate GEN Robet E. Lee’s use of the word “practicable.” [On the first day of the battle of Gettysburg, Pa, Confederate attacks drove Union troops through the town to the top of Cemetery Hill, a half mile south.] The battle so far appeared to be another great Confederate victory. #RandolphHarris 15 of 29
However, General Lee could see that so long as the enemy held the high ground south of town, the battle was not over. He knew that the rest of the [Union] Army of the Potomac must be hurrying toward Gettysburg; his best chance to clinch the victory was to seize those hills and ridges before they arrived. So, General Lee gave Ewell discretionary orders to attack Cemetery Hill “if practicable.” Had Jackson still lived, he undoubtedly would have found it practicable. However, Edwell was not Jackson. Thinking the enemy position too strong, he did not attack—thereby creating one of the controversial “ifs” of Gettysburg that have echoed down the years. The Gettysburg vignette illustrates the parts of the communication process. General Lee was the sender. He sent the message: Attack Cemetery Hill. Ewell, the receiver, read the words, “if practicable,” decided that Union artillery on the hill made an attack not “practicable,” and did not attack. The words, “if practicable” made the message vague. (Who and what should define “if practicable”?) Obstacles to communication, such as this lack of clarity—along with other considerations, such as the demands of time, the ease of understanding the sender’s speech, the ability to read the sender’s handwriting, or the distractions in the area—make up what communications theorists call noise. Noise works against the clarity of communication. #RandolphHarris 16 of 29
Looking again at the vignette above, you find that General Lee never checked with Ewell to see if he understood General Lee’s intent: “What do you intend to do?” Ewell never checked to see if he understood General Lee’s intent: “What do you mean by ‘if practicable’?” The communication process included no feedback. Assume for a moment, as some historians do, that General Lee intended that Ewell attack Cemetery Hill immediately and decisively. (Those historians argue that General Lee was used to issuing such vague orders to the aggressive Stonewall Jackson, who had died a few months earlier.) Throwing Billy Yank off the hilltop might well have allowed General Lee to command the battlefield, perhaps even forcing the advancing Union armies to withdraw. That might have led to General Lee’s domination of southern Pennsylvania, choking off Washington from the North and ending the war on the Confederacy’s terms. If that were General Lee’s intent, the message failed. Ewell did not attack. The Union held onto the high ground and won the battle two days later—the beginning of the end for the Confederacy. Effective communication occurs when the receiver’s perceived idea matches the sender’s intended idea. The receiver understands what the sender means, not just what the sender says or writes. And that is why people like to hire and work with people they know and trust. Those who have the required skills for the job. #RandolphHarris 17 of 29
“I wouldn’t do any other job, I enjoy this one too much. I’ve spent my life preparing for it, and it would be hard for me to find employment doing something else. I don’t think I’d want to, I wouldn’t be as happy. I’m with the Sacramento Fire Department for the long haul. I’m still single, and I’m still young. I’m hoping to advance here as far as I can go, but I still have this desire to work in a very heavy urban area, such as New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia. It’s just something that I need personally to do. Here in Sacramento, I’ve only been a captain a year, and I’m looking forward to getting my own company. I would like to have a shifting on the new rescue company that’s going to be put into service here in the near future. I like what I’m doing now because I work with different people all the time and ride different territories. It’s good experience. I’ve been fortunate enough to work in a battalion where most of the people are like me, interested from a very early age, want to do their best, very gung-ho. Professional, very professional. When the company looks bad, everybody looks bad, and people’s perception of us will go down. I try to be as professional as I can, because that’s the way it should be. We should be good.” When intelligence is applied so thoroughly as to yield a whole view and not merely a partial view of existence, when it is applied so persistently as to yield a steady insight into things rather than a sporadic one, when it is applied so detachedly as to be without regard to personal preconceptions, and when it is applied so calmly that feelings and passions cannot alter its direction, then and only then, does a man become truly reasonable and capable of intellectually ascertaining truth. #RandolphHarris 18 of 29
If you see a fire truck stopped in the street without the lights on, be very careful. Sometimes there is an emergency situation and you should not pass the fire truck. It might be a good idea to safely turn around and go another way. 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 19 of 29
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. To help our firefighters, pleasure donate to the Sacramento Fire Department to ensure they have all the resources they require. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. 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. Islam is the fastest growing religion in America, out pacing Christianity. While American was once a nation of generations, there are still many indigenous people lift and others who have been here for generations. To protect America and make sure it will remain a land of the free and home of the brave, we must be patriotic and put Americans first. Democrats and Atheists would like nothing more than red blooded American warriors to become slaves in their own country. They would like nothing more than to close American schools so children can be forced into child labor again. It is not time to roll back, nor will it ever be to remove protection for American citizens. If you have not noticed, crime is spreading to communities that had never seen crime before. Homelessness is on the rise. #RandolphHarris 20 of 29
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, and 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. Meanwhile, China, where we are sending all of 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. #RandolphHarris 21 of 29
Also, more than 500,000 people a year are abandoning California because it is too expensive to live in, 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. 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. #RandolphHarris 22 of 29
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. 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. #RandolphHarris 23 of 29
In an effort to help America pull through the massive national deficit, please buy American made cars. American made cars used to be the envy of the World and because American car brands are offering a wide range of options, from family SUVs to electric vehicles and luxury sedans, we are now seeing a resurging interest. American made cars are equal or superior to those made overseas. The Chevrolet Trax, for instance, is a well-designed, fuel efficient, and safe SUV. And as you know, there is no better car on Earth than 1950-1970s American Muscle Car. As an incentive to buy American made cars, President Trump plans to made interest on loans for American cars tax deductible. Americans surely make superior products, but we are buying things from other nations. American food imports have risen by 300 percent since 1999. American farmland declined by nearly 20 million acres between 2017 and 2022. As of 2022, there were 880.1 million acres of land dedicated to farming, compared to 900.1 million in 2017. The data shows there are now little more than 1.9 million farms in the country. Americans and American corporations spent $136 billion on food and beverages from other countries. It is a national security risk to lose American Farms and farmers. If there is a war, and most of our meat, produce, poultry, dairy, and fruit is coming from foreign counties, we stand the risk of starving. With war breaking out all over the World, in these uncertain times, it is very important to bring American farms back. Las Vegas is running out of buildable land and is expected to reach its maximum number of homes in 2032. So, home prices are expected to rise dramatically. #RandolphHarris 24 of 29
Additionally, with inflation rates at an all-time high, American being in an unofficial recession for about a decade, all insurance in California is becoming unaffordable. State Farm has received an approval for an emergency rate increase, which was approved by the California Insurance Commissioner, to stabilize the market and protect policyholders. Starting 1 June 2025, homeowners will see an average of 17 percent increase, rental dwellings will see an increase of 38 percent, and Condo owners will see a rate increase of 15 percents. These rate increases are due to the distressed caused by the recent wildfires, which accumulated over $7 billion in claims. Furthermore, in 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1107, also known as the Protection California Drivers Act, into law which increases the minimum auto lability limits for bodily injury to $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident. Senate Bill 1107 also increased the minimum liability limits for property damage to $15,000 per accident and the DMV deposit for uninsured drivers to $75,000. The bill went into effect on January 1, 2025. This means that drivers with existing policies with lower limits will renew at the new minimum limits on or after January 1, 2025, and insurance premiums could increase by as much as 54 percent. America is in a state of crisis right now because of mismanagement by democrats. With the median household income in Sacramento County being $88,724 and a 4-bedroom 2.5-bathroom Cresleigh home costing $798,059, how are people able to afford homes? Because an $800,000 home with a one percent downpayment of $8,000, 30-year fixed loan at 4.176 percent interest comes with a monthly mortgage payment of $4,241. #RandolphHarris 25 of 29
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. Prices in Sacramento County are actually rivaling the Bay Area, and the Bay Aera is so expensive because they have more higher paying jobs and is a tourist destination. And with the State of California being in a budget deficit of $12 billion, Governor Gavin Newsom Granted 700,000 illegal immigrants free health care at a cost to taxpayers of $3 billion annually, while cutting vital programs for veterans, school children, the disabled and the homeless, and is proposing to fast-track his plan to build a $20 billion water tunnel beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta by eliminating 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. 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. #RandolphHarris 26 of 29
Meanwhile, with President Trump, we are seeing crime rates sharply decrease, and he recently secured $10 trillion in investments. 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 have the ability to support American farmers and ranchers. As money flows, it influences further investment. 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 27 of 29
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 in regard to pollution. American companies have to 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 28 of 29
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. “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 29 of 29
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 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/
We wish to 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/
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/
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
The Period of Monsters Has Come to an End
Humans are continuously behaving within ever changing internal and external environments that contain critical antecedent, co-occurring, and consequating events. Completely understanding the complex interactions that occur among multiple behaviours within these continuously changing contexts can be considered the ultimate goal of behaviour assessment. An assessor cannot, however, conduct continuous observations of all relevant modes and dimensions of behaviour across all relevant contexts. Manipulative behaviour is part of a borderline syndrome. The verb “manipulate” is defined as “to influence or manage shrewdly or deviously,” as in “to manage or control artfully or by shrewd use of influence, often in an unfair or fraudulent way.” Both definitions suggest that the manipulating individual intends to influence another person by indirect, insidious, or devious means. Indeed, when they are trying to influence someone, borderline individuals are typically direct, forceful, and, if anything, unartful. It is surely the case that borderline individuals do influence others. Often, the most influential behaviour is parasuicide or the threat of impending suicide; at other times, the behaviours that have the most influence are communications of intense pain and agony, or current crises that the individuals cannot solve themselves. #RandolphHarris 1 of 22
Such behaviours and communications, of course, are not by themselves evidence of manipulation. Otherwise, if we respond to their communications of distress, we would say have to say that people in pain or crises are “manipulating” us. The central question is whether or not borderline individuals purposely use these behaviours or communications to influence others artfully, shrewdly, and fraudulently. Such an interpretation is rarely in accord with borderline individuals’ own self-perceptions of their intent. Since behavioural intent can only be measured by self-report, to maintain that the intent is present in spite of the individuals’ denial would require us either to view borderline individuals as chronic liars or to construct a notion of unconscious behavioural intent. My own experience in working with suicidal behaviour as “manipulative” is a major source of their feelings of invalidation and of being misunderstood. From their own point of view, suicidal behaviour is a reflection of serious and at times frantic suicide ideation and ambivalence over whether to continue life or not. Although the patients’ communication of extreme ideas or enactments of extreme behaviours may be accompanied by the desire to be helped or rescued by the persons they are communicating with, this does not necessarily mean that they are acting in this manner in order to get help. #RandolphHarris 2 of 22
These individuals’ numerous suicidal behaviours and suicide threats, extreme reactions to criticism and rejection, and frequent inability to articulate which of a number of factors are directly influencing their own behaviour do at times makes other people feel manipulated. However, inferring behavioural intent from one or more of the effects of the behaviour—in this case, making others feel manipulated—is simply an error in logic. The fact that a haviour is influenced by its effects on the environment (“operant behaviour,” in behavioural terms) says little if anything about an individual’s intent with respect to that behaviour. Function does not prove intention. For example, a person may quite predictably threaten suicide whenever criticized. However, the fact of the correlation in no way implies that the person is trying or intending to change the criticizer’s behaviour with threats, or is even are of the correlation. Thus, the behaviour is not manipulative in any standard use of the term. To say then that the “manipulation is unconscious is a tautology based on clinical inference. Both the pejorative nature of such inferences and the low reliability of clinical inferences in general make such a practice unwarranted in most cases. However, it is also important to remember that manipulative behaviour may be “appropriate” and normal for persons who are dealing with a hostile system. #RandolphHarris 3 of 22
Many humans have eternal conflict between self-support and environmental support. There is a good deal of this conflict in employer-employee relationships. Often an employee, even when given the authority to make decisions and to take action, cannot do so. Unable to trust his or her own ability to know general company policy and to adapt it to changing situations, the employee defers decisions to higher-ups or to so-called authorities. Such an employee refuses to depend on self-support, but must look to authorities—environmental support. On the other hand, many employers refuse to trust the individual abilities of their employees. A salesman, for example, may be treated like a machine, whose sole function is to perform within the limited framework of the employer’s sales manual. This “sales machine,” robbed of personality, treats the customer in the same depersonalized manner. Not trusting oneself for support, a manipulator tends to believe that salvation lies in the hands of others. Yet, not trusting others completely, he or she manipulates the other in an effort to have the support. The manipulator rides the coattail of the other person and then attempts to steer him or her. Refusing to drive himself or herself, the manipulator drives the driver. #RnadolphHarris 4 of 22
The operative word here is distrust. We do not trust the natural organismic balance each of us has, which would allow us to live our lives simply and feelingly. Married couples often form a complex manipulative partnership to cope with their distrust of self-sufficiency and of others. For example, a husband with a penchant for withdrawing and avoiding uses his wife, who has an inclination for blaming and attacking, as his “mouthpiece.” It is the perfect solution for the husband, who feels he is insufficient to confront others about his needs. He lets his wife convey his demands to others. Such an arrangement is a safe haven for a withdrawing and avoiding husband. His wife is on the front line, and if his demand elicits a negative or hostile response from the other, she gets the heat. And, of course, he can resort to blaming and attacking her when his manipulation has failed. It was her fault. Erich Fromm has suggested a second cause for manipulation. He reasons that the ultimate relationship between two humans is that of love and that love is knowing a human being as he or she is and loving his or her ultimate essence. We believe that this desire to love and be loved is a wonderfully healthy, innately human experience, but our manipulative inclinations to be lovable and to make lovable are sabotaging elements. #RandolphHarris 5 of 22
If loving is knowing a human being as he or she is, we fear that we are not very lovable as we truly are, and the other person is not very lovable as he or she truly is. So, we begin masking and costuming ourselves in an effort to make ourselves lovable, and we begin our attempts to change and mold others to meet our expectations of what is lovable in them. Those of you who have had extramarital relationships, have any of you ever had to cope with feelings of regret, remorse or guilt because of your extramarital affairs? When you tell lies to your husband or wife about your involvements, do you feel you are protecting him or her? Or the marriage? At first, many people feel that they would never do anything to jeopardize their marriage, the believe that they would never tell a lie, and do not even think that they. However, you have to be somewhat optimistic that life is basically going to work out. In other words, you do not start an affair with the idea of being discovered. Sure, there is this fear that it might result in injury. If their spouse did find out, some people do not believe that the individual would leave, but that it would be worse—he or she would stay and try to find some other ways to get back at them. Still, the desire to have more relationships with other people is stronger than their fear of being found out. The thought of spending forty—three years married to one lovely person and never knowing anybody else is just something that some people do not honestly envision when they take their wedding vows. #RandolphHarris 6 of 22
In our society, it is common that when you get to know somebody at great depth that the most natural thing in the World is to go to bed with him or her. The truth of the matter is many people have affairs with the people that they work with because that is where they relate to others. Whether it becomes an act involving pleasures of the flesh or not is almost immaterial. So, the idea that someday it may come out, which most people would sincerely regret, is outweighed by other considerations, probably selfish ones. Yet, being around people that you want to know well—people that are very talented, very cosmopolitan does not necessarily involve being intimate with them, too. Relationships are a way of expressing yourself at the time and in the place and under the circumstances. Certainly, pleasures of the flesh are, after all, a means or form of communication, handled in different ways depending on one’s maturity and one’s security. It may be a form of sport or a form of expression or a form of barter. Two forms for infidelity come through quite clearly. One is a desire to settle a score with their partner, to square accounts—a way of getting back at their partners for what they see as injustice or inadequacy. At the same time, it could also be a way to express culturally stereotyped attitudes. Pleasures of the flesh, of course, are only one area in which a sense of “arrested development of self” is experienced by a man or a woman after they have been married for a while. #RandolphHarris 7 of 22
People become aware that they have not had a chance to try their wings and they belatedly feel the urge to discover how far and how well they can fly. This awareness becomes focused on pleasures of the flesh, chiefly because society has made it such a charged aspect of life. It is certainly reasonable for someone to wish to catch up with himself, to experience the feelings that he—or she—feels are legitimately his and which he feels capable of achieving. However, this search for identity is a much wider problem than can be encompassed by pleasures of the flesh alone. It is just that when pleasures of the flesh are not good, when pleasures of the flesh deprivation or distress with pleasures of the flesh of any kind is occurring, it tends to dominate the individual’s feelings. Under those circumstances, many people see pleasures of the flesh as the only really important thing in their lives—they feel deprived, even cheated, of one of life’s great satisfactions. Consequently, they often become overly dramatic, indulging themselves in emotional baths, losing perspective on the totality of their lives. It is this preoccupation with pleasures of the flesh-for-the-sake-of-pleasures of the flesh that makes so much extramarital pleasures of the flesh ultimately self-defeating become in time it is the totality of an individual’s life that determines whether pleasures of the flesh will continue to be a fulfilling experience or will become a demoralizing one. #RandolphHarris 8 of 22
It would be just as reasonable, and more logical, for a man or a woman who lack a sense of self-esteem and who feels cheated of satisfaction with pleasures of the flesh to begin the search for greater happiness by undertaking achievements in other aspects of their lives—whether in a career or by cooperating in some community project or by turning to education for the achievement of new skills and greater knowledge. Out of such efforts, a sense of self materializes that may very well lead either to the improvement of existing emotional relationships or to the begging of new ones that promise more enduring satisfaction—including pleasure with pleasures of the flesh. Infidelity is a very chancy and unreliable means to use in searching for one’s identity a very chancy and unreliable means to use in searching for one’s identity, in exploring one’s deepest feelings and beliefs and responses may be, but also communicating them to someone else. This is true for many reasons, including the fact that a man and a woman who are involved in an affair generally have different investments in their relationship, and these affairs are most often conducted under less than encouraging conditions. In addition, social attitudes—including those internalized by the man and woman—make it certain that in a good number of cases, the individuals will have to cope with feelings of guilt, one way or another. #RandolphHarris 9 of 22
Either the guilt will intrude on their ability to accomplish their goals—to discover dimensions of their own personality—or it will require them to deny that the feelings exist, and in doing so, to sweep other feelings under the rug along with the discomfort of guilt. Undeniably, even so little a thing as a few kind words, and certainly a sense of companionship or—even more importantly—the first achievement of “excitement,” carries wit it a significant strengthening of motivation for change and may nurture self-esteem to a point where a man or woman have that much more confidence in their ability to develop more rewarding patterns of behaviour. However, it is very difficult to depend on a single happening, or a series of happenings, to sustain the energy, interest, courage, and zest required by a “lost” individual who is trying to develop in the important ways that he or she feels are necessary if life is to have more meaning. If they are to become real and lasting achievements, real and lasting achievement of goals which require a significant change of emotions, attitudes and habitual conduct must be carried out across a broad spectrum of one’s life. It is true that when one partner finds satisfaction in extramarital relationships, this may turn a potentially destructive relationship into a cautious friendship, at best, or supportive “acquaintanceship,” and in that sense it is better than open material warfare with all its attendant bitterness and destructiveness. #RandolphHarris 10 of 22
However, this is not marriage in the sense of two human beings with full regard for each other, sharing the wish to negotiate differences between them and developing mutual pleasures to the fullest extent possible. Making do in marriage is not fulfillment through marriage. Even, if infidelity represents the first step in a positive direction—toward making do instead of making war—its is still a long distance away from the goal of becoming committed: true to oneself and loyal and vulnerable to one’s partner. A minority of the population is afflicted with the vast majority of illnesses that come to the attention of physicians. Defective heredity or a weak constitution only partly explains this high incidence of recurrent illness. We must look as well into the ways of life of these people with a talent for sickening. Studies of the frequently ill show they share many traits. Among other things, it is found that they may simply not take care of themselves; that is, they do not eat, sleep, or exercise sensibly. Another, less obvious, factor in frequent illness is stress. Many people encounter more stress in everyday life than is objectively necessary. They find everyday interpersonal relationships lacking in satisfaction, and, indeed, positively stressing. Demanding roles are a source of such stress. #RandolphHarris 11 of 22
If persons must present themselves to others as something that they are not—if they are obliged to seem friendly when they are unfriendly, or if they are obliged to hide their real feelings and wants from others—then every moment spent in the presence of others is stressing. It is as if they are traveling incognito, with their true identity hidden. They feel that if they are “found out” by others, terrible harm will be fall them. Consequently, they trust no one and keep their guard up. Other people by their very existence then function as stressors, adding to the stress of daily life. Another factor in frequent illness is an overdeveloped sense of duty. Persons who feel obliged by their consciences to keep working at unsatisfactory jobs or to stay involved in unrewarding relationships are actively creating the conditions for their own illness. Periods of being sick may thus function as periods of respite from a dispiriting way of life. If they could change their work or their ways of relating even slightly, they would become ill less often. A brief vacation from work of family is usually less expensive than a stay of equal length at a hospital—and the vacation may forestall the illness. The will-power machinery is switched on in certain types as soon as they become aware of foibles. They resolve, and try, to keep a budget, to mix with people, to be more assertive or more lenient. If they showed an equal interests in understanding the implications and sources of their troubles, this would be fine. #RandolphHarris 12 of 22
Unfortunately, this interest is sadly lacking. The very first step, which is to see the whole extent of the particular disturbance, would go against their grain. It would indeed be the exact opposite to their frantic drive to make the disturbance disappear. Also, since they feel they should be strong enough to conquer it by conscious control, the process of careful disentangling would be an admission of weakness and defeat. These artificial efforts are bound, of course, to abate sooner or later; then, at best, the difficulty is a little more under control. All that is sure is that it has been driven underground and that it continues to operate in a more disguised form. The analyst, naturally, should not encourage such efforts but should analyze them. Most neurotic disturbances resist even the most strenuous efforts at control. Conscious efforts simply do not avail against a depression, against consuming daydreams. One would think that this would be clear to any person who had gained some psychological understanding during analysis. However, again, the clarity of thinking does not penetrate to the “I should be able to master it.” The result is that he suffers more intensely under depressions, etcetera, because, in addition to its being painful anyhow, it becomes a visible sign of his lack of omnipotence. Sometimes the analyst can catch this process at the beginning and nip it in the bud. #RandolphHarris 13 of 22
Thus, a patient who had revealed the extent of her daydreaming, while exposing in detail how subtly it pervaded most of her activities, came to realize its harmfulness—at least to the extent of understanding how it sapped her energies. The next time she was somewhat guilty and apologetic because the daydreams persisted. Knowing her demands on herself, I injected my belief that it would be neither possible nor even wise to stop them artificially, because we could be sure that they fulfilled as yet important functions in her life—which we would have to come to understand gradually. She felt very much relieved and now told me that she had decided to stop the daydreams. However, since she had not been able to, she felt I would be disgusted with her. Her own expectation of herself had been projected to me. Many reactions of despondence, irritability, or fear occurring during analysis are less a response to the patient’s having discovered a disturbing problem in himself (as the analyst tends to assume) than to his feeling impotence to remove it tight away. Thus, the inner dictates, while somewhat more radical than the other ways to maintain the idealized image, like the others do not aim at real change but at immediate and absolute perfection. They aim at making the imperfection disappear, or making it appear as if the particular perfection were attained. If, as in the past example, this becomes especially clear the inner demands are externalized. #RandolphHarris 14 of 22
Then what a person actually is, and even what he suffers, becomes irrelevant. Only what is visible to others creates intense worries: a shaking of the hand, a blush, an awkwardness in social situations. The shoulds, therefore, lack the moral seriousness of genuine ideals. People in their grip are not striving, for instance, toward approximating a greater degree of honesty but are driven to attain the absolute in honesty—which is always just around the corner, or is attained in imagination. They can achieve at best a behaviouristic perfection, such as Pearl Buck has described in the character of Madame Wu in the Pavilion of Women. Here is the portrait of a woman who always seems to do, feel, think the right thing. The superficial appearance of such people is, needless to say, most deceptive. They themselves are bewildered when, seemingly out of a blue sky, they develop a street phobia or functional heart trouble. How is that possible, they ask. They have always managed life perfectly, have been the leaders in their class, the organizers, the model marriage partners or parents. Eventually, a situation which they cannot manage in their usual way is bound to occur. And, having no other way to deal with it, their equilibrium is disturbed. The analyst, when getting acquainted with them and the enormous tensions under which they operate, rather marvels that they have kept going as long as they have without gross disturbances. #RandolphHarris 15 of 22
The contribution of intellect is indispensable. However, it is night enough. It leaves a most important part of the psyche—the intuition—still untouched. The danger of slipping into this overstress on intellectual activity and not retaining the healthy balance between it and intuitional activity, is large and real. The intellect has so dominated the modern man that his approach to these questions is first made through it. Yet, the intellect cannot provide the answers to them. They come, and can only come, through the intuition. When a difficult and important decision has to be made, the mind can impartially take in both the pros and cons, can circle all around the facts, yet in the end return baffled to where it started. Reason exerts itself in vain and only exhausts itself in such a process. The next step is to try outside advice, authority, or, if one can, intuition. The intellect may be convinced and confess to the truth but the faculty which actually recognizes it is the intuition. It is the latter’s light failing upon, and passing through, the intellect which really certifies an idea to be true. Semantic analysis and reasoned reflection help to uncover the lesser errors, the little illusions. The intellect cannot go beyond its own limitations, however; a higher faculty, insight, is needed to uncover the larger errors, the major illusions. The intellectual knowledge of the Truth is merely its shadow and not the Truth itself. #RandolphHarris 16 of 22
The Truth is a higher state of awareness which leads you out of a little personal and physically materialistic everyday life into a new World of being—the World of your higher self which transcends these things. It is a real experience and not a mere speculation. It beings with it the peace which passeth understanding of which Saint Paul spoke, frees you from anxieties, fears, and all other negative ideas. It reveals to you that God, in the sense of a Universal Intelligence and Universal Power, is actually the basis of all existence. A religion that executes its obsolete sovereign must now establish the power of its new sovereign; it closes the churches, and this leads to an endeavour to build a temple. The blood of the gods, which for a second bespatters the confessors of Louis XVI, announces a new baptism. Joseph de Maistre qualified the Revolution as satanic. We can see why and in what sense. Michelet, however, was closer to the truth when he called it a purgatory. An era blindly embarks down this tunnel on an attempt to discover a new illumination, a new happiness, and the face of the real God. However, what will this new god be? Let us ask Saint-Just once more. The year 1789 does not yet affirm the divinity of man, but the divinity of the people, to the degree in which the will of the people coincides with the will of nature and of reason. If the general will is freely expressed, it can only be the universal expression of reason. If the people are free, they are infallible. #RandolphHarris 17 of 22
Once the King is dead, and the chains of the old despotism thrown off, the people are going to express what, at all times and in all places, is, has been, and will be the truth. They are the oracle that must be consulted to know what the eternal order of the World demands. Voc populi, vox naturae. Eternal principles govern our conduct: Truth, Justice, finally Reason. There we have the new God. The Supreme Being, whom cohorts of young girls come to adore at the Feast of Reason, is only the ancient god disembodied, peremptorily deprived of any connection with the Earth, and launched like a balloon into a Heaven empty of all transcendent principles. Deprived of all his representatives, of any intercessor, the god of the lawyers and philosophers only has the value of a demonstration. He is not very strong, in fact, and we can see why Rousseau, who preached tolerance, thought that atheists should be condemned to death. To ensure the adoration of a theorem for any length of time, faith is not enough; a police force is needed as well. However, that will only come later. In 1793, the new faith is still intact, and it will suffice, to take Saint-Just’s word, to govern according to the dictates of reason. The art of ruling, according to him, has produced only monsters because, before his time, no one wished to govern according to nature. The period of monsters has come to an end with the termination of the period of violence. #RandolphHarris 18 of 22
“The human heart advances from nature to violence, from violence to morality. Morality is, therefore, only nature finally restored after centuries of alienation. Man only has to be given law, “in accord with nature and with his heart,” and he will cease to be unhappy and corrupt. Universal suffrage, the foundation of the new laws, must inevitably lead to a universal morality. “Our aim is to create an order of things which establishes a universal tendency toward good.” Spiritual self-realization is the main thing. Study of the teachings concerning cosmical evolution and the psychical evolution of man are but intellectual accessories—things we may or may not take on our journey, as we like. That part of man which reasons and speculates—mortal mind—is not the part which can discover and verify the existence of God. We are not necessarily helped or hindered on the divine path by taking up the lore of science or by becoming versed in the ways of sophistry. Once we live out our spiritual life in the heart, the rest sinks to second place. What the Overself really is defines adequate statement. For reason falters and fails before its mysterious Void. It dares not claim a capacity beyond what it actually possesses. Thus, the mystery of the World is the mystery of a soluble riddle hidden within an insoluble enigma. Nevertheless, we need not despair. For even if metaphysics is unable to explore this mysterious territory, it is at least able to point out its location. That is a definite gain. However, what is not all. What reason cannot do can yet be done by the faculty which towers transcendently above it—insight. #RandolphHarris 19 of 22
Safety officers, in one form or another, have been present in the American work force for a long time. Some of the first safety officers came out of the fire service. As safety officers, the Sacramento Fire Department and EMTs make it a priority to stay in shape. Practicing the basic exercise principles is crucial for you to develop an effective fitness-training program. The principles of exercise apply to everyone at all levels of physical training, from the Olympic champion to the weekend golfer. They apply especially to fitness training for military personnel because having standard fitness principles across the organization saves time, energy, resources—and prevents injury. If you recall the P-R-O-V-R-B-S acronym, you can easily remember the basic principles of exercise: Progression—The intensity and duration of exercise must gradually increase to improve your fitness level. A good guideline for improvement is a 10 percent gain at specified intervals. Regularity—To achieve affective training, you should schedule workouts in each of the first four fitness components at least three times a week. Regularity is also key in resting, sleeping, and following a good diet. Overload—The workload of each exercise session must exceed the normal demands placed on your body to bring about a training effect. You have often heard this expressed as “No pain, no gain.” A fitness training, such as your instructor in the Sacramento Fire Department, can help you learn to tell the difference between pain that results from an optimum level of overload and pain that indicates potential injury. Variety—Changing activities reduces the boredom and increases your motivation to progress. Recovery—You should follow a hard day of training for a given component of fitness by an easier training or rest day for that component. This helps your body recover. Another way to promote recovery is to alternate the muscle groups you exercise every other day, especially when training for strength and muscle endurance. Balance—To be effective, a fitness program should address all the fitness components, since overemphasizing any one of them may detract from the others. Specificity—You gear training toward specific goals. For example, if their training emphasizes running drills and techniques, members of the Sacramento Fire Department become better runners. Although swimming is great exercise, it will not improve a two-mile-run time as much as a coordinated running program does. #RandolphHarris 20 of 22
The Sacramento Fire Department has been using safety officers for over a century. The most common injuries for all fire service activities are strains, sprains, and muscle pain, followed by cuts, lacerations, and bruises. Considering only fireground injuries (and those that are consider moderate to severe) strains and sprains are still the most common injury type, followed by thermal burns. Generally speaking, the community image of a member of the Sacramento Fire Department and EMTs are ones of a protector or hero. Likewise, the firefighting profession is often included on my “most dangerous” top 10 lists. Historically, firefighters and EMTs have worn these images with a certain pride or swagger. More recently, the image fails to realistically depict the effect that a firefighter injury or death has on the humans involved. “Here at the Sacramento Fire Department seldom, we seldom curse when talking about the job, because the profession brings out the best in people. We have those noble ideals, and noble ideals are hard to envision when you are in the gutter. We have a purpose in life, and when we start talking about that, I think we watch our language. When we start talking about other things, then maybe we revert to more normal levels of tough talk. We love risk taking as firefighters. That attracts a lot of us. We are a nation of risk takers, who do not believe in absolute safety. Perhaps it’s in our genes from those Europeans who chose to leave an old, established life and embark on a new one at great risk. It shows up in the entrepreneurial spirit we see in our country today. I think firefighters mature on the job and realize that the reality is different from the image. #RandolphHarris 21 of 22
To help save lives and keep the community safe, 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. 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. To help our firefighters, pleasure donate to the Sacramento Fire Department to ensure they have all the resources they require. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. #RandolphHarris 22 of 22
Never has there been a building so talked about. You will find The Winchester Mystery House in what was once the countryside known as “Winchester Valley,” where it has left past guests feeling a little spooked passing through certain rooms. It is well known for its reputation of being the world’s most haunted location. Do you fear the dark? Does the idea of the supernatural scare you? Do you sometimes anticipate the worst that can happen to you? Do you shiver when you read about victims of violent crime and think “that could have been me?” Does life seem insane? When you walk through the twisting hallways of The Winchester Mansion, are you apprehensive about what might be around the next corner? While standing at the door-to-nowhere, have you ever worried that life may have no meaning? Are you anxious that the next day might be your last? Do your days sometimes seem irremediably gloomy? Are you afraid of dying? We have examined your case thoroughly and think you will find the antidote for your condition at The Winchester Mystery House. A daily dose of horror is just the tonic you need. If fortifies the spirit with bracing jolts of terror. It inoculates the soul against fears that hound us all. It quickens the reflexes against life’s inhospitable surprises and tempers the imagination with thoughts unthinkable. Here you will find madmen in a variety of shapes and sizes who will help make things seem more rational. Feeling a bit self-absorbed? There is nothing like a tale of Mrs. Winchester’s hauntings to give you the right perspective.
The Winchester Estate dates back to the late 19th century, and it has a history that is packed full of legends and stories of spirits. The guided post-sunset walk takes visitors through the history of the mansion, while also offering a chance to spot some of the more well-known Winchester ghosts. There are stories of a little girl playing in the hallways and tugging at bedcovers at night and a woman in white who crosses the courtyard and passes through the walls. Lightening in colours no one can name sear across the infinite and multihued sky in jagged shards the size of which no one can conceive. Alien winds scream their impossible being in warring cacophony of notes no one can ever believe at volumes none can bear. And when the winds pick up on the fourth floor of the mansion, they make an eerie whining noise. It sounds as if everything around you is screaming. Right before a quick scratching sound, then something flares. A small spot of light glides like a firefly toward you. Another flare, then a dull yellow flow. A thin man has been said to step into the light. “Found some others out there,” is all he says before disappearing before your very eyes, and then everything is absolute darkness. Outside, the winds are said to kick up; it screams across the night. Well, maybe it is the wind. We all know the story of The Winchester Mansion.
The carpenters, who worked day and night for 36 years to build the mansion, that was once nine stories high, containing as many as 600 rooms. They knew the area was dense in spiritual energy. The hallways often possessed a great river of shadows. As these men felt a moan rising from a core of solid fear, they were so afraid that they would stand frozen for the space of one deep, shuddering breath. It was believed even the objects they could see were enemies, because they were keeping secrets. They knew, but were not telling. The cold quiet of The Winchester Mansion was a familiar song. Often, Mrs. Winchester’s guests would crough down, huddling against the floor, until help arrived. The mansion is situated over the crossing of two Ley Lines. In these areas, the veneer between the physical and spirit realms is thinner and much more permeable. This permeability and natural energy allow entities to manifest much more readily than in a normal location. Any thought or action in these areas, whether positive or negative has a much stronger and more focused effect. In the case of The Winchester Mansion decades of compounded suffering, negativity and strong emotional experiences have left a marked effect on the atmosphere in and around the mansion.
Some tour guides have heard chanting coming from outside the mansion and have heard their names being called. Others have reported seeing a woman hovering in the mansion. Many who have seen Mrs. Winchester claimed that she was “supernaturally beautiful, her skin glistens, and there’s a kind of light in her eyes that you can’t look away from.” Although her journals are sometimes vague, Mrs. Winchester experienced bizarre poltergeist activity during construction. She mentions to a friend the incredible amount of poltergeist activity that occurred during the time spent building the front of the mansion. One night, when darkness fell, the mansion was filled with eerie music like nothing Mrs. Winchester had ever heard before. Creatures from her maddest nightmares filled into the Grand Ball Room in some kind of funeral procession. She watched from the hallway, terrified of being seen yet unable to turn away. The very last thing she saw was her maid at the end of the procession, following the creatures off into the darkness. Later that night, Mrs. Winchester watched the shadows of leaves on the wall and drifted into a peaceful, safe, sleep, happy that the nuisance of her waking hours was gone. The very next day, on September 5, 1922, construction efforts were suddenly stopped when the ladders several carpenters were working from were pushed away from the wall, forcing them to jump several stories. Moments later, it was discovered that Mrs. Winchester had passed away in her sleep.
Mr. Hasen, one of Mrs. Winchester’s foremen, had written about his tools getting moved to the far corners of the room when his back was turned. Mr. Hansen was left staring in disbelief at a kaleidoscope World of shifting, flickering lights, a surfaceless void with an unimaginably distant vanishing point near which huge amorphous shapes twisted and withered in a constant fury of becoming. He had seen a hint that the matter that made up the forms of this World which everyone accepted as solid and separate was in fact all one and that only probability kept everything as it was and kept our reality apart from a multiverse of others. A solitary bead of sweat formed high on his brow and trailed a meandering pattern down his cheek and through the stubble that lay below. Although the sky was clear, the moon was but a crescent; its weak glow lit only a corner of the night ceiling. Through the darkness, beyond the curtain of trees. The mansion’s cry intruded upon his thoughts. Its shrillness disturbing him from his rapture. lost in a spell of Llanada Villa, Mr. Hansen walked slowly through the mansion. Climbing the stairs, he heard a hoarse voice whisper, “And what do you dream?” He had a moment to think, to realize, that he had never felt this way before, then the emanations flooded him, carrying him away on waves of darkness. He gave in weakly to the sensations that swept over him. As the mansion cried out again, its cry pierced the night, resounding like the cry of a thousand lost souls. That night, he went to his cold bed and dreamt of men with furlined capes and armor who became fearsome beast and tore through lines of their enemies.
Although they were paid three times the going rate, provided with medical care, subsidized groceries, and lived in Victorian cottages that were once on the estate, carpenters employed by Mrs. Winchester frequently suddenly left and did not come back, never giving a reason to their departure. However, it is suspected that the vast distances in the mansion had something to so with it. These carpenters would sometimes come to work to unfamiliar walls. After working for three hours with panic on his back, every minute having seemed like an hour, one man said, “I had been through a Hell of distance and time, indeed–and the Hell is still with me.” Wandering to the window and parting the drapes, he found it to be very late. He still felt disoriented, adrift, and threatened, but he sensed that he could he was free. With his pounding heart, he walked out into the dark mansion. There were no other carpenters present, and few caretakers. Others might be afraid of ghost, but the panic had taken care of that. If you already felt menaced for no reason, then the real dangers held no terror for you. He walked for many miles, past more rooms, libraries, and long closed rooms. Then he noticed a young woman walking on the other side of the mansion. Without thinking twice, he crossed over and joined her. They stopped, and he poured out his heart, his nameless fear. She held his hands. They agreed to meet again. However, he was left once more alone on a large room, wondering if it had been real. So he cut over to the hallway and started back. The mansion rest of the mansion was deserted, too, his steps echoing hollowly on the mahogany floor. It was dark, and only the light from the windows was visible. He could hear more than see. The panic had gotten stronger again, and he needed to return to the security, if marginal, of his home.
Gradually, he became aware of a man walking about a hundred feet behind. He himself stopped and pretended to look out the window. He wanted the man to pass him. However, the man stopped when he reached him, then went down some steps to the third floor. The man smiled, opened a bag, and offered him some Brandy. He went down and accepted. When he woke up, he was lying on his stomach, which felt warm and wet. There was no pain. However, when he tried to get up, he found that he could not. So, he crawled up the steps into the ballroom on the 4th floor. The crawling went all right, at first. However, then he became weaker. And he grew conscious of the thin red trail he was leaving behind him. The panic, suddenly and forever, was gone. It had indeed been replaced, expunged, by the reality. All that was left was a certain sadness. The mansion that has survived such a long history, is a marvel to see in person. Today, it stands four stories high, and has an estimated 160 rooms, of which 110 are open for tour. There has been some restoration over the years and ongoing maintenance. Come inside the mansion to see the priceless architecture and learn of its history. The guided tours are exquisitely led by a well prepared and enthusiastic team, who make sure that you and all guests are entertained by the great stories. 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. Even if you do not believe ghost stories, you might still get goosebumps passing through the most infamous basement. Enjoy panoramic views and discover quirky features such as secret staircases, doors that open to nowhere, stairs to the ceiling, hidden trapdoors, and other unusual features.
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/
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/
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There are None so Blind than those Who Will Not See
People have a way of throwing their toxic behaviour in our way and sometimes this comes along with their toxicity. When something goes wrong in the neighbourhood, something gets vandalized, stolen, or broken into, the default answer is always, “Some kids did it.” However, it is time to reevaluate that negative stereotype because it is not always boys and girls that are doing bad things. There is this one community, where most of the people are in their 60s and 70s, some in their 50s and some even younger, and usually when there is a disturbance, something gets broken, stolen, vandalized or there is a loud party or a fight, someone doing drugs or harassing someone else it is usually an adult in their 60s or older. I have never in my life seen such a large group of immature people. The thing with children is you can usually modify their behaviour. You can threaten them with a time out, you can punish them, or you can put them on medication and their behaviour usually improves. However, with senior citizens, some of them are thugs and gangbangers and when they do something bad or get in an altercation with someone a fraction of their age, they pretend to be a weak and disabled senior citizen who can do no harm and sometimes this act works. While there are some senior citizens who are weak and cannot defend themselves, there are others who are stronger than a 20-year-old man in shape. #RandolphHarris 1 of 23
The modern human is a manipulator. She is the computer sales person, talking us into buying more “essential” extras than we could use in a lifetime, understand how to use in two, or pay for in three. He is the “responsible” parent, repeating the negative criticisms he heard as a child from his parents for the “benefit” of his own children. He is the minister, preaching in platitudes lest he offend important parishioners. The realtor assures us that a particular piece of property will make our dreams come true. The teenager assures his parents that the party planned in their home will not include booze or marijuana and that they should plan to spend the entire evening out. And even the aging parent embraces illness as a tool to manipulate the special attentions of busy sons and daughters. The manipulator is legion. The manipulator is all of us, consciously or unconsciously enjoying all the phony tricks learned between cradle and grave. In the process, we reduce ourselves and those around us into things to be controlled. Not all of our manipulating is evil, of course. Some of it appears necessary in the competitive area of earning a living. Much, however, is harmful since it masks real self-defeating tendencies that can explore into shattered lives, broken marriages, and ruined careers. #RandolphHarris 2 of 23
Manipulation, we believe, is the “social sin” that separates us from one another in our marriages, alienates us from others at our jobs, and leaves us limping through life, handicap with distorted selves. The twenty-first century has brought a deeper psychological understanding of the process by which the modern manipulator has developed a personality resistant to growth and change. We know, for example, that manipulators lack the capacity to enjoy themselves, to use their knowledge, and to achieve a sense of aliveness and satisfaction. The manipulator’s understanding of human nature becomes rigid; it focuses on the drive to control. To one degree or another this is true of most everyone—you, us, the couple down the block, co-workers, friends, relatives. Even toddling infants soon learn to drool or coo or cry with a vengeance on cue to get what they want—now! Little wonder then that the teenager, who is the most modern of modern people, feeling that life owes him or her a living and loving, refusing to meet life’s challenge, astutely picks up subtle tactics of control and seduction. Teenagers find models everywhere: in real life, in movies, on television. Some tactics they learn from father, who stereotypically plays the controlling parent because he has a secret need for “omnipotence”; some from mother, who stereotypically manipulates with guilt-provoking statements to keep the individual “tied to her apron strings.” #RandolphHarris 3 of 23
Manipulations are so much a part of our everyday life that the unskilled observer notices only the most blatant. They are like the birds that are all about us in the natural World. Do we actually identify or describe them? Manipulation can be harmful to people. Unhealthy patterns can develop in any relationship. Recognizing them can uncover abuse or stop it before it starts. If a frustration is unfair or if, on the basis of neurotic claims, it is felt unfair only then does hostility arise. And it has then the specific characteristic of indignation, or of feeling abused. The misfortune, or the injury, done then appears magnified to sometimes ludicrous proportions. If one feels abused by another person, that person suddenly becomes untrustworthy, nasty, cruel, contemptible—id est, this indignation drastically influences our judgment of others. Here is one source for neurotic suspiciousness. Here is also a reason, and an important one, for many neurotic people being so insecure in their estimates of others and for their turning so easily from a beneficial friendly attitude to one of total condemnation. If I may oversimplify, the acute reaction of anger, or even rage, may take one of three different courses. It may be suppressed hostility—appear in psychosomatic symptoms: fatigue, migraine, stomach upsets, et cetera. On the other hand, it may be freely expressed, or at least fully felt. #RandolphHarris 4 of 23
In this case the less the anger is warranted in fact, the more one will have to exaggerate the wrong done; one will then inadvertently build up a case against the offender that looks logic tight. The more openly vindictive a person is, for whatever reason, the more prone will he be to take vengeance. The more openly arrogant he is, the surer will he be that such vengeance is the doling out of justice. The third kind of reaction is to plunge into misery and self-pity. The individual then feels extremely hurt or abused, and may become despondent. “How can they do this to me!” he feels. Suffering in these cases becomes the medium to express reproaches. It is easier to observe these reactions in others than in oneself, for the very reason that the conviction of righteousness inhibits self-examination. It is in our real interest, however, to examine our own reactions when we become preoccupied with a wrong done to us, or when we begin to ponder the hateful qualities of somebody, or when we feel the impulse to get back at others. We must then scrutinize the question of whether our reaction is in any reasonable proportion to the wrong done. And if with honest scrutiny we find a disproportion, we must search for hidden claims. Provided we are willing and able to relinquish some of our needs for special prerogatives, and provided we are familiar with the special forms of our suppressed hostility may take it is not too difficult to recognize an acute reaction to an individual frustration and to discover the particular claim behind it. #RandolphHarris 5 of 23
Having seen the claims in one or two instances does not mean, however, that we are rid of all of them. We usually have overcome only those which were especially conspicuous and absurd. The process is reminiscent of a tapeworm cure in which parts of the worm eliminated. However, it will regenerate and keep sapping our strength until the head is removed. This means that we can relinquish our claims only to the extent to which we overcome the whole search for glory and all that it entails. However, unlike a tapeworm cure, in the process of coming back to ourselves every step counts. There is this young lady who was brought up in Brooklyn in a puritanical background, and she managed to be a virgin when she finished art school and came to Manhattan. She was an unbelievable 19. Then she met her husband. He was a lawyer. And they enjoyed pleasures of the flesh together. She really loved it. However, very soon, she could not accept being married to one man. She bragged about how marvelous her husband was, but she did not really love him, and found her series of extramarital relationships much more wonderful. All of these new men are marvelous to her. After 23 years of marriage to this one man, she will always love him, but she changed and cannot be with him anymore. #RandolphHarris 6 of 23
Her husband’s career as a lawyer is his number one priority and refuses to have pleasures of the flesh with her. Even on vacations, he denies her and she feels that he is sick. There is an indication that this woman equates love with money because when her husband refused to pay for therapy any long, it made her believe that he is unstable, even though he has had a steady career as a brilliant lawyer. She admits that he is brilliant and that she loves to live with him. Some sense of her self-esteem is dependent upon being free of the customary rules that apply in most people’s lives. This is clearly a marriage of convenience. Most men in these situations are aware that the wives are unfaithful. Particularly, if these men are intelligent and educated, their tendency is to be secretly relieved that their wives find ways of gratifying their pleasures of the flesh outside their marriage. These men share attitudes with wives of previous generations, who accepted as a fact their husbands’ extramarital affairs but insisted that those affairs be kept discreet. Sure, awareness is not always conscious, of course, and it can best be described as self-deception. It represents a human being’s efforts to keep his feelings in some kind of emotional equilibrium. As long as such an individual derives genuine satisfactions from being married, he—or she—is a living illustration of the old adage that there are none so blind as those who will not see. #RandolphHarris 7 of 23
I think it is the proper function of one’s intellect to be practical, to enable one to get around and do things in the service of one’s self and others. The error comes in when one’s intellect makes the first decision, which it sees as its possessions. The original meaning of “sin” is to “miss the mark” and it seems to me that this is the way in which many people miss it. When one moves through the center of the snowflake pattern—the bull’s eye–one has the feeling of hitting the mark. When a man’s intellect acts in the service of himself (which includes others), rather than itself, everything comes out well—with ups and downs but still the total is good in every respect. Sometimes a man does not wish that he had done other than he had. There are no regrets. Intellect or false-ego has not interfered with him. His troubles are take-able—acceptable, not more than he can bear. In fact, without clinging to them, it feels good to go through them, and as though without them something would be missing—like the seasons, which occur even in Hawaii. “Always” scripts follow Arachne, who dared to challenge the Goddess Minerva in needlework, and as a punishment was turned into a spider and condemned to spend all her time spinning webs. Such scripts come from spiteful parents, who say: “If that is what you want to do, then you can just spend the rest of your life doing it.” #RandolphHarris 8 of 23
“Until” or “Before” scripts follow the story of Jason, who was told that he could not become a king before he had performed certain tasks. In due time, he got his reward and lived for ten years in happiness. Hercules had a similar script: he could not become a god until he had first been a slave for twelve years. “After” scripts come from Damocles. Damocles was allowed to enjoy the happiness of being a king, until he noticed that a sword was hanging over his head, suspended by a single horsehair. The motor of “After” scripts is “You can enjoy yourself for a while, but after that your troubles begin.” “Over and Over” scripts are Sisyphus. He was condemned to roll a heavy stone up a hill, and just as he was about to reach the top the stone rolled back and he had to start over again. This is the classical “Almost Made It” script, with one “If only” after another. The “Open-Ended” script is the nonwinner or “Pie In The Sky” scenario, and follows the story of Philemon and Baucis, who were turned into laurel trees as a reward for their good deeds. Old people who have carried out their Parental instructions do not know what to do next after it is all over, and spend the rest of their lives like vegetables, or gossiping like leaves rustling in the wind. This is the fate of many a mother whose children have grown up and scattered, and of retired men who have put in their thirty years of work according to the company regulations and their parents’ instructions. #RandolphHarris 9 of 23
“Senior Citizens” communities are filled with couples who have completed their scripts and do not know how to structure their time while waiting for the Promised Land where people who have treated their employees decently can drive their big black cars slowly down the left-hand lane without being honked at by a bunch of ill-bred people in their hot rods. “Was pretty feisty myself as a youth,” says Dad, “but nowadays.” And Mom adds: “You would not believe what they…And we have always paid our…” Skinniness. Just as we deplore being above average weight in our society, so do we pity the “skinny” person. If suitable food is available, chronic underweight resulting from undernourishment is a fairly simple malady to remedy. However, many persons are thin in spite of a sizable caloric intake. There are usually reasons for inability to put on weight, for example, overactive thyroid glands or a finicky appetite; but these may derive from more basic psychological causes. An intensive personality diagnosis may disclose many unhealthy personality traits in the chronically thin person. In such instances, psychotherapy may produce as a side effect a desirable increase in weight. Sometimes simply changing the amount of exercise that the person takes will suffice to stimulate appetite and promote a desirable gain in weight. #RandolphHarris 10 of 23
There is a simplicity which is too much like stupidity to be worth cultivating. Neither tries to take in the other party’s case but each presents only his own. Neither is willing to listen or believe the other side has any case at all. So reason never really gets a chance, only ego-centered self-interest. Each is far removed from any real wish to find the truth as it really is, objectively. To limit one’s ideas to those of the environment in which he happens to be born is a common fault. Many aspirants fail to realize that they move mostly in the realm of their own personal ideas, and not necessarily in the realm of utter truth. The intellect is endlessly curious, ever wanting to know; this is why its activity is hard to still. Intellectual acumen is useful on this quest, but alone it is quite insufficient If thoughts and ideas are removed, what is left of the intellect? If not the aggregate of all these mental activities, what is it? A doctrine comes into being through theorizing by intellect or activity by feeling, that is, it is an opinion or a belief. An item of knowledge, for example scientific knowledge, is neither. The intellect has to receive truth before it can be satisfied. And, if it is to be acceptable, it requires that truth to be presented by giving reasons and using logic. The work of the intellect in tracing causes to effects, in analyzing situations and substances, in forming theories and making studies, and even in synthesizing the results of all these operation is still a limited one. #RandolphHarris 11 of 23
In the 19th Century the British Empire performed extraordinary feats of genetic transportation—squirting sperm-egg cargoes throughout the globe. By moving their dom-species domesticated adult Protestants from Scotland to Ireland, they ruthlessly compressed the barbarian teenager Catholic-feudal culture of the Emerald Isle. Faced with loos of the land Catholic gene pools were forced to migrate. Each Irish family selected its most intelligent, mobile, adaptable, attractive member to send “across the water.” This occurred one of the most successful genetic experiments in planetary history. America was flooded with sperm-egg units carefully selected for mobility-nobility. The first generation of Irish migrants threw railroads across the continent. The second generation, which blossomed after World War II, produced the first Irish-American generation of philosopher-scientists. The brilliant, innovative Irish servants who emerged in the mid-20th Century replaced the Jewish intellectuals. Before that Jewish intellectuals carried the neurogenetic signal. Since Jewish people were born out-castes, they were able to transcend hive limits and fabricate new realities. After World War II, Jewish culture became hive establishment and the role of genetic exploration fell to the Irish. The American Celts were prepared perfectly to play the role of Evolution Agents because of their intellectual history. #RandolphHarris 12 of 23
In premigration Ireland, the active intellectual person was forced into rebellion. The only educational choices for smart, young Irishmen were the alien, Rome-oriented feudal priesthood or the academies of the enemy Protestants. Young Irish woman had no educational avenues open to them. Irish brains were thus encouraged to be anti-hive. From this out-caste position, they were able to create new post-hive realities. Different sites for different rites. Kings were put to death long before January 21, 1793, and before the regicides of the nineteenth century. However, Ravaillac, Damiens, and their followers were interested in attacking the person, not the principle, of the king. They wanted another kind and that was all. It never occurred to them that the throne could remain empty forever. 1789 is the starting-point of modern times, because the men of that period wished, among other things, to overthrow the principle of divine right and to introduce to the historical scene the forces of negation and rebellion in the previous centuries. Thus, they added to traditional tyrannicide the concept of calculated decided. The so-called freethinkers, the philosophers and jurists, served as levers for this revolution. The kings themselves collaborated in this by allowing political power gradually to encroach on religious power, thus threatening the very principle of their legitimacy. #RandolphHarris 13 of 23
In order for such an undertaking to enter into the realms of possibility and to be considered legitimate, it was first necessary for the Church, whose infinite responsibility it is, to place itself on the side of the masters by compromising with the executioner—a step that developed into the Inquisition and was perpetuated by complicity with the temporal powers. Michelete is quite correct in wanting to recognize only two outstanding characters in the revolutionary saga: Christianity and the French Revolution. In fact, for him, 1789 is explained by the struggle between divine grace and justice. Although Michelete shared the taste for all-embracing abstractions with his intemperate period, he saw that this taste was one of the profound cases of the revolutionary crisis. Even if the monarchy of the ancient regime was not always arbitrary in its manner of governing, it was undoubtedly arbitrary in principle. It was founded on divine right, which means that its legitimacy could never been questioned. Its legitimacy often was questioned, however, in particular by various parliaments. However, those who exercised it considered and presented it as an axiom. Louis XIV, as is well known, rigidly adhered to the principle of divine right. Bossuet gave him considerable help in this direction by saying to the kings of France: “You are gods.” The king, in one of his aspects, is the divine emissary in charge of human affairs and therefore of the administration of justice. Like God Himself, he is the last recourse of the victims of misery and injustice. #RandolphHarris 14 of 23
Climate and culture describe the environment in which you lead. Climate refers to the environment of units and organizations, primarily those shaped by organizational and direct leaders. Culture refers to the environment of the Sacramento Fire Department as an institution and of major elements or communities within it. The Sacramento Fire Department and EMTs take care of people and maximize their performance by influencing their organizations climate. Climate is how members feel about the organization and comes from shared perceptions and attitudes about the unit’s daily functions. These things have a great impact on their motivation and the trust they feel for their team and their leaders. Climate is generally a short-term experience, depending on a network of the personalities in a small organization. The climates change as people come and go. When a firefighter says, “My last captain was pretty good, but this new one is great,” the firefighter is pinpointing one of the many elements that affect an organization’s climate. Culture is longer lasting and more complex set of shared expectations than climate. While climate is a reflection about how people think and feel about their organization right now, culture consists of the shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterize the larger institution over time. It is deeply rooted in long-helped beliefs, customs, and practices. The Sacramento Fire Department established a climate consistent with the culture of firefighters and EMTs as an enduring institution. You must also use the culture to let your people know they are part of something bigger than just themselves, that they have responsibilities not only to the people around them but also to those who have gone before and those who will come after. #RandolphHarris 15 of 23
“Our organization has gone through a tremendous change. We’ve come a long way from the old methods. We are training close to forty hours a month. And, also, now we’re a class one fire district in Sacramento County. A fireman joined our fire service three years ago. He was really turned the department around. Not only did the money help, but from his twenty years’ experience, he’s been able to give us education, to teach us how to fight fires correctly. He’s been tremendous. There’s a lot to be done. If you get called to a house fire at two or three in the morning and you’re there for three or four hours. What’s so hard about the American society’s view of firefighters is, when something has happened, whether it’s a small or large disaster, they expect you to be there. You should be there, it’s your job, why ain’t you there? And you see very little in the way of gratitude. But it still does us good to know that we’ve been able to go in there and accomplish something and save somebody’s house or save their lives in a vehicle accident, it does me a world of good just knowing I’ve been able to help somebody like that. One thing about the United States, there are many people who really care. If they didn’t care, I don’t believe you’d have such a great crew in the ambulance service or firefighting service, and all the other people who volunteer in hospitals and other services. There are always going to be people who want to help others. #RandolphHarris 16 of 23
“We have a lot of problems with our budget shortfalls. We have political problems. That’s the business aspect of it. As for the fire suppression side of it, the firegrounds run real well. We’ve been very fortunate as far as injuries on the job are concerned. In the six years I’ve been around, the only injury we’ve have was when a firefighter jumped off the back of a pumper a little early and broke his kneecaps on the tailboard of the truck. No really severe burns or major medical problems. We have had two DOAs at fires and maybe ten more at major accidents. But in the fire service itself, we’ve been really fortunate. Everybody’s goal is to work together. Before the big plane crash, we had a smaller one, a commuter plane in which nine people were killed. It was the first time I had seen anything like that. “Let no one mistake intellectual understanding for the wholeness of knowing, rather let it be to him a spur and a help to reach deeper within himself to the Overself in full surrender. The situation may be summed up thus: If the activity of thinking is directed towards external objects and inspired by the desire to attain or retain them, in binds a man to his spiritual ignorance. If, however, it is directed towards God or his divine soul and inspired by the desired to attain it, then it leads him to spiritual intuitions. To understand intellectually is good but to glimpse intuitively is better. Best of all is not merely to look at truth but to enter into it. #RandolphHarris 17 of 23
One thing we witness all the time during emergency situations is people ignoring the sirens of fire trucks and ambulances. Often times, people even try to outrun the emergency vehicles and this can create dangerous situations. Citizens, remember to give the right-of-way to any law enforcement vehicle, fire engine, ambulance, or other emergency vehicle using a siren and red lights. Failure to pull over may result in a ticket. Drive to the right edge of the road and stop until the emergency vehicles(s) have passed. When approaching a stationary emergency vehicle with flashing emergency signal lights (hazard lights), move over and slow down. 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. Moral courage is the willingness to stand firm on values, principles, and convictions. It enables you to stand up for what you believe is right, regardless of the consequences. #RandolphHarris 18 of 23
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. 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. 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. 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. #RandolphHarris 19 of 23
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. 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. #RandolphHarris 20 of 23
In an effort to help America pull through the massive national deficit, please buy American made cars. American made cars used to be the envy of the World and because American car brands are offering a wide range of options, from family SUVs to electric vehicles and luxury sedans, we are now seeing a resurging interest. American made cars are equal or superior to those made overseas. The Chevrolet Trax, for instance, is a well-designed, fuel efficient, and safe SUV. And as you know, there is no better car on Earth than 1950-1970s American Muscle Car. As an incentive to buy American made cars, President Trump plans to made interest on loans for American cars tax deductible. Americans surely make superior products, but we are buying things from other nations. American food imports have risen by 300 percent since 1999. American farmland declined by nearly 20 million acres between 2017 and 2022. As of 2022, there were 880.1 million acres of land dedicated to farming, compared to 900.1 million in 2017. The data shows there are now little more than 1.9 million farms in the country. Americans and American corporations spent $136 billion on food and beverages from other countries. It is a national security risk to lose American Farms and farmers. If there is a war, and most of our meat, produce, poultry, dairy, and fruit is coming from foreign counties, we stand the risk of starving. With war breaking out all over the World, in these uncertain times, it is very important to bring American farms back. Las Vegas is running out of buildable land and is expected to reach its maximum number of homes in 2032. So, home prices are expected to rise dramatically. #RandolphHarris 21 of 23
Additionally, State Farm did ask the California Department of Insurance if they could raise homeowner insurance rates by 22 percent, but this request was denied. However, in 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1107, also known as the Protection California Drivers Act, into law which increases the minimum auto lability limits for bodily injury to $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident. Senate Bill 1107 also increased the minimum liability limits for property damage to $15,000 per accident and the DMV deposit for uninsured drivers to $75,000. The bill went into effect on January 1, 2025. This means that drivers with existing policies with lower limits will renew at the new minimum limits on or after January 1, 2025, and insurance premiums could increase by as much as 54 percent. America is in a state of crisis right now because of mismanagement by democrats. If elected 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 have the ability to support American farmers and ranchers. As money flows, it influences further investment. 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. #RandolphHarris 22 of 23
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. 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 in regard to pollution. American companies have to 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. 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. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. #RandolphHarris 23 of 23
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 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/
We wish to express our gratitude to our families 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/
Randolph Harris II International Institute 