{"id":860,"date":"2014-05-22T01:03:48","date_gmt":"2014-05-22T05:03:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/?page_id=860"},"modified":"2021-11-06T13:23:37","modified_gmt":"2021-11-06T17:23:37","slug":"blog","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/blog\/","title":{"rendered":"Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__list is-grid columns-2 has-dates has-author wp-block-latest-posts\"><li><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__featured-image\"><a class=\"post-thumbnail-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/violence-begets-violence-mostly-cold-civil-war\/\" title=\"Violence begets violence \u2013 a mostly cold civil war\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/06\/v-fsp-crop-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" \/><\/a><\/div><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/violence-begets-violence-mostly-cold-civil-war\/\">Violence begets violence \u2013 a mostly cold civil war<\/a><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-author\">by Varrin Swearingen<\/div><time datetime=\"2021-01-13T10:07:20-05:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">January 13, 2021<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">\u201cPeaceful transition of power\u201d \u2013 This phrase has been uttered countless times over the last several months in relation Joe Biden\u2019s election to replace President Donald Trump. Probably most of you have read, or even said, that phrase with emphasis on the peaceful part. I like peace. With respect to human action, peace is our \u2026 <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/violence-begets-violence-mostly-cold-civil-war\/\"> Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr; <\/span><\/a><\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/abandoning-facebook-droves\/\">Abandoning Facebook in droves?<\/a><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-author\">by Varrin Swearingen<\/div><time datetime=\"2020-11-08T18:45:06-05:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">November 8, 2020<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Many friends of mine have recently announced they&#8217;re leaving Facebook, mostly for some other social network. So far, every such recent announcement has indicated a destination that is structured in exactly the same bad way as Facebook. But, they all lack 2+ billion user advantage Facebook has (see Metcalfe&#8217;s Law). With this recent surge of \u2026 <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/abandoning-facebook-droves\/\"> Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr; <\/span><\/a><\/div><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/covid-19-analysis-predictions-recommendations\/\">COVID-19 analysis, predictions, and recommendations<\/a><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-author\">by Varrin Swearingen<\/div><time datetime=\"2020-10-30T17:12:14-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">October 30, 2020<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">The 2019-20 pneumonia season fatality data, which appears significantly influenced by COVID-19, appears to be reporting complete, so an update is in order. Sometimes the numbers change by small amounts for some time after they&#8217;re &#8216;complete&#8217; but I believe what&#8217;s available is now useful. Here&#8217;s a brief overview and analysis of the statistics: &nbsp; For \u2026 <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/covid-19-analysis-predictions-recommendations\/\"> Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr; <\/span><\/a><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__featured-image\"><a class=\"post-thumbnail-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/covid-19-thoughts-part-2-risk-management-whats-next\/\" title=\"COVID-19 Thoughts, Part 2 - Risk Management and What&#039;s Next\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/05\/v-headshot-e1400734675477-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/05\/v-headshot-e1400734675477-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/05\/v-headshot-e1400734675477-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/05\/v-headshot-e1400734675477.jpg 478w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><\/div><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/covid-19-thoughts-part-2-risk-management-whats-next\/\">COVID-19 Thoughts, Part 2 &#8211; Risk Management and What&#8217;s Next<\/a><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-author\">by Varrin Swearingen<\/div><time datetime=\"2020-04-14T20:06:17-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">April 14, 2020<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Intro and Disclaimer Hi! again from quarantine. This is the second of two overviews of my thoughts about the COVID-19 crisis. If you haven\u2019t already, I\u2019d encourage you to watch or read the first as I think it\u2019s more important than this one. Today, I\u2019ll talk specifically about COVID-19 and the global response to it, \u2026 <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/covid-19-thoughts-part-2-risk-management-whats-next\/\"> Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr; <\/span><\/a><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__featured-image\"><a class=\"post-thumbnail-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/covid-19-thoughts-part-1\/\" title=\"COVID-19 thoughts, Part 1 - Love God, Love People\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/05\/v-headshot-e1400734675477-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/05\/v-headshot-e1400734675477-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/05\/v-headshot-e1400734675477-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2014\/05\/v-headshot-e1400734675477.jpg 478w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><\/div><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/covid-19-thoughts-part-1\/\">COVID-19 thoughts, Part 1 &#8211; Love God, Love People<\/a><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-author\">by Varrin Swearingen<\/div><time datetime=\"2020-04-11T21:04:45-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">April 11, 2020<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">&nbsp; Intro Hi again from quarantine! This is the first of two installments containing a few of my thoughts about the COVID-19 crisis \u2013 both the disease itself, and the response to it. In this one, I\u2019ll share things that are generally applicable, at all times, and in any sort of crisis. In the next \u2026 <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/covid-19-thoughts-part-1\/\"> Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr; <\/span><\/a><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__featured-image\"><a class=\"post-thumbnail-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/taxes-humble-bragging-prayer-gods-blessings\/\" title=\"Taxes and &quot;Humble Bragging&quot; - Prayer and God&#039;s Blessings\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/03\/philippians-4-61-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Philippians 4:6\" style=\"\" \/><\/a><\/div><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/taxes-humble-bragging-prayer-gods-blessings\/\">Taxes and &#8220;Humble Bragging&#8221; &#8211; Prayer and God&#8217;s Blessings<\/a><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-author\">by Varrin Swearingen<\/div><time datetime=\"2019-03-21T12:06:30-04:00\" class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-date\">March 21, 2019<\/time><div class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-excerpt\">Taxes and Facebook Distractions I&#8217;m supposed to be doing my taxes today, which I don&#8217;t exactly love. I\u2019ve devoted a non-trivial chunk of my life opposing taxation. But I started on a positive note by adding up our charitable contributions for 2018. I\u2019m thankful that, despite a big pay cut resulting in my lowest-earning year \u2026 <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/taxes-humble-bragging-prayer-gods-blessings\/\"> Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr; <\/span><\/a><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-860","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Blog - Varrin&#039;s World<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sugargroup.net\/varrin\/blog\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Blog - 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