NARA'S NOTEPAD: April 2025

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

NARA'S NOTEPAD

VOLUME 22

APRIL 2025

NUMBER 4

NARA'S NOTEPAD

IS SUPPORTED BY READERS LIKE YOU

ACCEPT THAT WE CANNOT FIX

CONTROL EVERYTHING

BLIND BELIEFS

Blind beliefs refer to unquestioning acceptance of ideas or concepts without evidence or critical thinking. They are often rooted in tradition, culture, or personal experiences rather than rationality or logic. Here are some examples and explanations.

1. Superstitions: Many superstitions are based on blind beliefs. For instance believing that walking under a ladder brings bad lucks, or that breaking a mirror results in seven years of misfortune. These beliefs lack scientific evidence but are widely accepted in certain cultures.

2. Astrology: Some people believe in astrology, which suggests that celestial bodies’ positions influence human affairs and personalities. However, scientific studies have not substantiated these claims, yet many individuals make life decisions based on astrological readings.

3. Religious Beliefs: While faith and spirituality are deeply personal, some religious beliefs can be considered blind when adherents accept doctrines without questioning or evaluating them critically. For example, believing in the literal interpretation of creation myths without considering scientific evidence for evolution.

4. Conspiracy Theories: Conspiracy theories often thrive on blind believes. For instance, the belief that the moon landing was faked or that a secret society controls world events. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, adherents hold onto these ideas.

5. Traditional Medicine: In some cultures, traditional remedies or alternative medicines are followed without scientific validation. This can include practices like using herbs for healing or relying folk remedies for serious illness.

6. Cultural Practices: Certain cultural practices, such as rituals or customs, can be based on blind beliefs. For example, avoiding certain foods or activities during specific times of the year due to perceived negative consequences, without any scientific basis.

7. Personal Beliefs: Individuals may hold beliefs about themselves or others that are not based on evidence. For instance, believing one is unlucky or destined to fail or judging someone based on stereotypes without knowing them personally.

Blind beliefs can have significant impacts on individuals and society, shaping how people perceive the world and make decisions. Let’s delve deeper into the consequences and challenges posed by blind beliefs.

1. Impact on Decision Making: Blind beliefs can lead to decisions based on unfounded assumptions rather than facts or data. This can affect personal choices, such as career paths, relationships, or health decisions, as well as broader societal decisions when influential groups or leaders subscribe to blind beliefs.

2. Resistance to Change: Blind beliefs can create resistance to new ideas or information that contradicts established beliefs. This can hinder progress and innovation, as people may reject scientific advancement or refuse to consider alternative perspectives.

3. Division and Conflicts: Strong adherence to blind beliefs can lead to polarization within communities or societies. Conflicting believes often fuel arguments, prejudice, and even violence, as individuals or groups defend their beliefs without critical examination.

4. Misinformation and Misinterpretation: Blind beliefs contribute to the spread of misinformation and misinterpretation of events. People may selectively accept information that aligns with their beliefs, leading to a distorted understanding of reality.

5. Stagnation in Learning: When individuals hold onto blind beliefs, they may miss out on opportunities for learning and growth. Openness to new ideas and willingness to question beliefs are essential for intellectual and personal development.

6. Health and Well-being: Blind beliefs in alternative medicine or pseudo scientific practices can have negative consequence on health. Relying solely on unproven remedies or rejecting evidence-based treatments can lead to worsened health outcomes.

7. Erosion of Critical Thinking: Constant reinforcement of blind beliefs can erode critical thinking skills. Without questioning or evaluating beliefs, individuals may become less adept at discerning valid information from misinformation.

Addressing blind beliefs requires a multifaceted approach that includes education, critical thinking development, and fostering open dialogue. Encouraging skepticism, promoting evidence-based reasoning, and providing access to reliable information can help individuals and communities navigate away from blind beliefs towards more informed decision-making and understanding.

TIPS TO PROTECT FROM SCAMS

1. Be aware of phishing scams: Phishing scams are fraudulent online attempts to steal sensitive information like user names, passwords, and credit card details. Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown or suspicious e-mails.

2. Use strong passwords: Strong passwords help to deter scammers from hacking into your accounts. Avoid using short, simple passwords that are easy to guess.

3. Keep your computer or software up-to-date: Software developers often release updates to fix vulnerabilities, so make sure you have the latest software installed on your computer.

4. Be careful with online transactions: Before entering your credit card details, ensure that the website is secure and trustworthy. Look for the padlock icon in the address bar, and check that the web address begins with “https” rather than “http.”

5. Use antivirus software: Antivirus software can help protect your computer from malware, which is malicious software designed to harm your computer or steal your information.

6. Be cautious of unsolicited calls or e-mails: Scammers may use the guise of official-looking e-mails or phone calls to trick you into giving them sensitive information. Always verify the authenticity of the source before sharing any information.

7. Trust your instinct: If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers often use the promise of easy money, free gifts, or prizes to lure people into giving up their personal information. Be wary of any unsolicited offers that seem too good to be true.

FOOTBALL

Football is one of the most loved and popular sports around the world. It is played by millions of people in various countries and is watched by billions of people on television.

A football game is an exciting and adrenaline-filled event that brings people together. It involves two teams of eleven players each, where each team tries to score a goal against the other. The game usually lasts for 90 minutes, with two halves of 45 minutes each. However, the referee can add extra time for injuries or stoppages in play.

Before the start of the game, both teams warm up and go through their pre-game strategies. The players are highly competitive and focused on victory. The coaches give their players tactical instructions, and the team captain leads the team onto the field.

The game starts with a coin toss, and the team that wins the toss chooses which goal to defend. The game is then started with a kickoff, where one team kicks the ball to the other team. The players then try to keep the ball in their possession and pass it to their teammates. The objective is to get the ball past the other team's defenders and score a goal.

To score a goal, the ball has to cross the goal line and go into the net. The game continues until the end of the regulation time or until one team scores more goals than the other. The team with the most goals at the end of 90 minutes or extra time is declared the winner. The excitement of a football game is in the unpredictability of the outcome. The game can change quickly, and a team can come from behind to win. The cheers and celebration of fans add to the atmosphere of the game, and it is an experience like no other.

In conclusion, a football game is a beautiful experience that brings people together and creates a sense of unity and community. The passion and intensity of the game are unmatched, and it is truly a spectacle of sportsmanship and competitiveness.

TO QUOTE

Silence is the most perfect expression of scorn – G. B. Shaw

Victory belongs to the most tenacious – Roland Garros, Paris

What worries you, masters you – John Locke

Be grateful for what you have. Don’t take your blessings for granted – Jimmy Carter

JUST TO LAUGH

A man goes into a pet shop to buy a parrot. The shop owner points to three identical-looking parrots on a perch and says, "The parrot on the left costs $500 dollars."
"Why does the parrot cost so much?" asks the man. The owner says "Well the parrot knows how to use a computer."
The man then asks about the next parrot and learns that it costs $1,000 dollars because it can do everything the first parrot can do plus it knows how to use the UNIX operating system.
Naturally, the increasingly startled man asks about the third parrot, only to be told that it costs $2,000 dollars. Needless to say, this begs the question, "What can it do?"
To which the owner replies, "To be honest, I have never seen it do anything, but the other two call him boss!"