Anyone have any insights on "Apple Intelligence," as in artificial intelligence developed by apple? Is it secure and private, or is that simply a selling point?
The aquarian age incorporates great leaps in technology, but the residue of toxic Capricorn issues lingers with Apple product, doesn't it?
A realization, which I have held for the past 10+ years, is the 'break-then-fix' pattern that the country has been in, stretching back to the 1980's. The R's tend to break things, the country then votes in the D's who spend much of their time fixing things, and then its 'rinse & repeat' over and over, as short memories perpetuate this cycle. Perhaps things will break so badly this time, that the cycle will be broken.
So, it seems that light will come only if we experience a severe enough darkness, and perhaps we have not been through dark enough times to then experience sustained light. This understanding will help me on the path forward, as I hope it will help many others.
Want to share this very powerful image that I received recently as my holidays gift to each of you…
We are the village of Whoville who form a circle and sing joyously despite losses and hardships. We won’t allow our hearts to grow cold and hard.
Namaste
The thing about lessons, and not learning them, each time we get the opportunity to learn the lesson ~again~, it's often much harder than the previous time. My guides actually told me this on my morning walk, that if we don't listen and learn the lesson the first time, the next time will be so much more difficult. (I've had to learn this the hard way myself) I hope that we, as mainly a group of light workers, will be spared the very worst that 45 will be bringing to the general population. But what about family members. I support my 89 year old mom, who voted for that fraudster. I just hope I won't get sucked into her lesson as she is very manipulative - nothing is ever her fault, it's only my fault mentality. And managing/worshipping money is her main lesson in life. My husband wants to put her into a low-cost nursing home, which would be an awful experience for her. I'm just not sure I can do that.
I think many people who have marginal financial resources are going to be the most affected. Often these are the elders among us.
If things happen the way they may happen, people that rely on SS and/or earnings from their savings/investments will be highly impacted. Immediate impacts will be higher prices for everyday needs across the board. I'm not sure people realize that the deportations will lead to higher prices for quite a few things. So, many who favored the deportations will be quite surprised by the correlation. Then there are the tariffs, which will increase the cost of most of the durable goods we all buy. Again, I am not sure people realized the cost impact at a consumer level.
These higher prices will lead to less consumer spending and lower corporate profits (so lower/no dividends). Add in the probable cuts to SS & Medicare and you've got financial pressure coming from both sides . . . higher costs for just about everything and lower personal income for many. Then there are the inevitable layoffs. This will be a difficult path forward for many across the age spectrum.
Each of us should work up a plan for the next few years. I have given thought even before the election to how to best navigate the next few years if T won. Personal finances have been top of mind for me. Now with reality having struck, my path forward will be to reduce expenditures as much as possible. Our family (wife & I) did so on several occasions during our lives. One was when the children came along and we decided to drop down to 1 income. The second was after 9/11 (and the Internet bubble burst) when there were significant layoffs. During each of those times, it was amazing to see our ability to reduce our spending and still be comfortable. Looks like we may need to dust off that playbook in 2025-26 so as not to dig into our financial reserves.
Regarding current headlines:
I am glad he pardoned his son. With the incoming cabinet, for his recovery, prison would not be beneficial in any way.
I'm glad too. t has promised revenge on his so-called "enemies"-- the pardon leaves Hunter Biden less vulnerable to any vengeful schemes. I imagine that is why Joe did it. He couldn't leave his son exposed to the wolves.
So here we are between what was and what's going to be at best a @#$Q% show. And while I think it might be rocky, good always wins. There might be some blood on the ground, but good wins. And it wins in odd ways! just saw Wicked - and everyone loves it. I thought it was tedious but it's going to be seen by millions and what it's about is bad taking hold to the point that good is being squeezed out. And the Wizard and Trump comparisons are hard to miss. So, while people are being entertained they are also being reached, that you stand up for good, that you are down but you can still win. And it will reach parts of people that might be rusty and might soon be needed. And it's a fun movie if you don't think it's boring AF. It's no Fiddler on the Roof.
The dems and the GOP are like the addict (GOP) and the enabler (dems). Dems keep fixing the messes but the GOP takes credit for the good times that were made possible by the dems fixing things. Not sure how you stop that, and it's very dispiriting when half the country is asleep and doesn't see what's actually happening.
@the-happy-medium Good to hear from you. Wish you would pop in here more. I appreciate your take on things.
@anya I agree with you 100%. There was no way Joe Biden wasn't going to pardon his son after we learned who may be taking over the FBI. Biden is fiercely loyal to his family. He had every right to do it, and I'm glad he did.
I want to point out that one of Jeanne's Forum Guidelines is to not promote other psychics here. Some folks may not be aware of that.
Nothing lasts, nothing is permanent. That includes D.J. Trump, et. al.
Here is a little uplifting from Amanda Gorman:
“We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it. Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy. The effort nearly succeeded. But while democracy cane be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated. In this truth, in this faith, we trust. For while we have our eyes on the future, history has it’s eye on us.”
“Somehow we’ve weathered and witnessed, a nation that isn’t broken, but simply unfinished. There is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” – Amanda Gorman.
“We will rise from the gold-lined hills of the west; we will rise from the windswept northeast. Where our forefather first realized revolution. We will rise from the lake rimmed cities of the Midwest. We will rise from the sunbaked south. We will rebuild, reconcile, and recover. In every known nook of our nations and every corner called our country, out people diverse and beautiful will emerge, battered and beautiful. When day comes we step out of the shade, aflame an unafraid. The new dawn blooms as we free it. For there is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.
(I find she helps when I feel myself getting pulled to far in the negative. We really need the poets and the artists and musicians. They can speak to people beyond the disinformation and noise and lies.)
Regarding current headlines:
I am glad he pardoned his son. With the incoming cabinet, for his recovery, prison would not be beneficial in any way.
I'm glad too. t has promised revenge on his so-called "enemies"-- the pardon leaves Hunter Biden less vulnerable to any vengeful schemes. I imagine that is why Joe did it. He couldn't leave his son exposed to the wolves.
AP news is reporting the Biden is considering blanket , preemptive pardons for his allies and administration officials--- for the same reason some of us believe he pardoned his son. Here's an excerpt from the article:
Pardons are historically afforded to those accused of specific crimes – and usually those who have already been convicted of an offense — but Biden’s team is considering issuing them for those who have not even been investigated, let alone charged. They fear that Trump and his allies, who have boasted of enemies lists and exacting “retribution,” could launch investigations that would be reputationally and financially costly for their targets even if they don’t result in prosecutions.
https://apnews.com/article/biden-pardons-trump-f36ead0eb92ea30e47cbfddfaf326f20
If t were a "normal" president with some semblance of a moral compass, I would be against the pardons. But he's not. He's a crazy, vengeful maniac and people need to be protected from him.
I was so looking forward to hearing Amanda Gorman at this inauguration, but it is not to be 😯 . Her words at the 2020 inauguration were inspirational.
We could contact our individual states and demand that Medicaid, Medicare, and Obamacare be provided by our individual states.
@anya, Medicaid is 50% funded by the federal government, and Medicare is 100 percent funded by the Feds, not the states. So it is unrealistic to think that states could fully fund these programs, but I am out of my depth when it comes to the complexities of the federal-state partnerships.
Well, it might be unrealistic right now to think that the states could fund the programs, but how would you suggest any of us do any damage control if it is cut further?
New York and California house some of the wealthiest people in the nation. Couldn't a sharp tax on the top one percent of earners fund it for the next four years? It's unsustainable that burger flippers make more than museum docents and have to somehow pay out of pocket for covered california, or Medicaid, or anything similar.
The federal government is funding these programs through our collective taxes.
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/what-is-medicare
Hi
As you are talking about healthcare at the moment after that murder. I thought you might be interested in how ours works and how it is funded.
It’s not necessarily the best way but it’s how we do it.
What is Medicare?
Medicare is the insurance scheme that gives Australian citizens, permanent residents and other eligible people access to healthcare. This includes a wide range of health and hospital services at no cost or low cost.
Medicare is funded by Australian taxpayers, who pay 2% of their taxable income to help cover healthcare costs. This 'Medicare levy' is automatically calculated when you submit your tax return.
Depending on your financial circumstances, you may be eligible for a reduction or exemption from the Medicare levy.
So I guess if you earned $75,000 at 2% your Medicare insurance payment for the year would be $1500 or $125 a month.
Advantages of Medicare
- Receive treatment with no up-front bills or at a reduced cost.
- You could save money if you’re prepared to wait for elective surgery.
- Most common health conditions are listed on the MBS and will be covered up to 75% by Medicare when treated in a private hospital or 100% when treated as a public patient in a public hospital.
- In most instances, you’ll be seen quickly for emergencies.
- There are no yearly premiums or excess to pay for insurance.
Disadvantages of Medicare
- The treatment you require may not be covered, such as dental treatment or physiotherapy.
- You could be subject to longer wait times for treatment in a public hospital.
- No choice of when and where you’re operated on and who performs the surgery.
- Depending on your income and circumstances, you may need to pay the MLS.
(MLS is the Medicare Levy Surcharge)
What is the Medicare Levy Surcharge?
The Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) is a surcharge imposed on Australian taxpayers who earn over $97,000 as a single or $194,000 as a couple/family each financial year but don’t hold an eligible private hospital insurance policy throughout the financial year. The surcharge is intended to ease pressure on the public health system by encouraging high-income earners to take out private hospital cover.
You may incur a surcharge of 1%, 1.25% or 1.5% depending on your annual taxable income for MLS purposes. You’ll be subject to the MLS for any period during a financial year that you don’t hold suitable private health cover that includes hospital admissions.
Your MLS is calculated based on the following criteria:
- Your family status
- Number of dependent children (if applicable)
- Individual or combined annual income
- Whether you hold an eligible private hospital cover
In my case when. I go to see my GP doctor at the moment sometimes he bulk bills, depending on the service, which means I pay nothing. Other times he will charge his normal fee of $75.00 which I pay electronically, the information goes direct to Medicare than my refund goes straight back into my account of $42.85 which means my actual cost for the doctors visit is $32.15.
If I need a prescription filled because I have a concession card it costs me $7.70 (normally $31.60 for anyone). My husband and I between us hit the safety net amount for the calendar year so the last nearly 3 months of the year our prescriptions have been free. We will go back to being charged from 1st Jan.
We have also taken out private health insurance a couple of years ago. We are covered for free public hospital care under Medicare but depending on waiting lists time can blow out before you have that op. So we decided to have hospital cover so if knees and hips etc need doing we can get it done much much sooner and with the doctor we want rather than who is available. As we are over 70 we get a 32.812% government rebate on the premium cost, it’s 24.608% for under 65, this is to help the public system by having people go to private hospitals instead of public.
People on a government pension or part pension don’t pay a Medicare levy it’s only people who have a taxable income. Our part pension and pension from our superannuation fund is tax free.
https://www.health.gov.au/stronger-medicare
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/medicare-claims?context=60092
I suppose thats all as clear as mud.
Regards to all
Matildagirl
@matildagirl Thank you for the information. It sounds similar to the system in Canada.
I'll post something written by a musician who I will not cite, in order not to stir up potential trouble, but these stories make many americans wish they were french.
Here’s a creative “path forward” - if you’re finalizing some Christmas shopping consider buying the cook in your life some spices from www.penzeys.com. A forum member gifted me some along with some gift boxes to give to my new teacher mentees back when I was just starting to wear that hat and only and 5 (I now have more than 20 😂) Not only was it the best Paprika I’ve ever cooked with but you should check out the tab in the menu bar next to “About Us”.