Quote of the Day

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donotdestroy:

“It is not length of life, but depth of life.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

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donotdestroy:

Van Gogh sold one painting in his lifetime. Was he not an artist?

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“A deep state is a type of government made up of potential, unauthorized secret networks of power operating independently of a state’s political leadership in pursuit of their own agenda and goals.”

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Musk’s Social Security Claim

Social Security fraud does exist, but it’s relatively small compared to the total benefits paid. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has multiple fraud prevention measures, but errors and fraud still happen.

How Much Money Is Lost to Fraud?

1. Annual Estimated Losses

  • The SSA’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) investigates fraud cases. In 2023, their reports estimated that around $8 billion in improper payments occurred. However, not all of this is fraud—many are errors (such as overpayments due to outdated records).
  • True fraud cases (deliberate deception) are harder to quantify but likely in the range of hundreds of millions rather than billions.

2. Types of Social Security Fraud

  • Receiving Benefits for a Deceased Person – Sometimes, relatives fail to report a beneficiary’s death and continue collecting payments.
  • Disability Fraud – People who falsely claim to be disabled while working or living a normal life.
  • Identity Theft – Criminals use stolen Social Security numbers to claim benefits fraudulently.
  • Representative Payee Fraud – A person managing benefits for someone else misuses the funds.

3. SSA’s Response to Fraud

  • The SSA cross-checks records with government death databases to prevent improper payments.
  • Banks are required to report deaths, and any checks sent to deceased individuals are supposed to be returned.
  • In 2022, the OIG recovered over $100 million in fraud cases.

How Big Is the Fraud Problem?

Compared to the $1.4 trillion Social Security pays out yearly, the fraud and improper payments make up less than 1% of total spending. While it’s a concern, it’s not a major drain on the system.

By ChatGPT

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donotdestroy:

“The value of art lies in its power to inspire, not in its price tag.”

— Unknown

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donotdestroy:

“It is important to ask yourself whether your thoughts are consistent with facts or logic. There could be another explanation for a situation that is truer than your interpretation. Sometimes it is hard to break from long-held beliefs that have become part of your reality. Understand that it can take time and patience to overcome any negative preconceived notions toward your life that you’ve built up.”

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donotdestroy:

“The man who has no imagination has no wings.”

— Muhammad Ali

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Asian Conical Hat

The Asian conical hat (often called a sugegasa in Japan, dǒulì in China, nón lá in Vietnam, etc.) itself is not inherently racist—it is a traditional and practical piece of headwear used for centuries in many Asian countries, primarily for sun and rain protection. However, it can become problematic in certain contexts:

  1. Stereotyping & Caricature – When used as a costume or paired with exaggerated accents, clothing, or mannerisms, it can contribute to racial stereotypes, reducing rich and diverse cultures to a simplistic image.
  2. Mockery & Disrespect – If worn in a way that mocks or trivializes Asian cultures, especially in Western media or Halloween costumes, it can be offensive.
  3. Historical Context – In some places, the conical hat has been used to depict Asians in a demeaning way, such as in propaganda or racist cartoons.

If it’s used to stereotype, mock, or dehumanize, it can be offensive.

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donotdestroy:

“So bullshitting isn’t just nonsense. It’s constructed in order to appear meaningful, though on closer examination, it isn’t. And bullshit isn’t the same as lying. A liar knows the truth but makes statements deliberately intended to sell people on falsehoods. bullshitters, in contrast, aren’t concerned about what’s true or not, so much as they’re trying to appear as if they know what they’re talking about. In that sense, bullshitting can be thought of as a verbal demonstration of the Dunning-Kruger effect—when people speak from a position of disproportionate confidence about their knowledge relative to what little they actually know, bullshit is often the result.”

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donotdestroy:

by Anthony Burrill

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donotdestroy:

“The value of art lies in its power to inspire, not in its price tag.”

— Unknown

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donotdestroy:

“Wanting to be someone else is a waste of who you are.”

– Kurt Cobain

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