Author| Retired Military| PhD Candidate. Meditations for Modern Man, Passamaquoddy Legends, Shadows of the Trees, Puzzle Books 1-3, Faith in Flux. https://cook-publications.mailchimpsites.com/ Eastport, Maine, United Stateshttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3mun4b7mscs2hMore grandparents. Fewer babies. For the first time in human history, there are officially more 65+ adults than kids under 5 on Earth. The demographic pyramid just flipped. Here is what it means for your pension and job: 👇03 Sep 2026 18:45 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3mun4b7mscs2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3mukkkfzfu22hWhy does sitting around a campfire feel so hypnotic? Spoken language started with storytelling after dark. Flickering firelight overlaps with human brain wave patterns, putting us in a hyper-focused state for stories. Next time you listen to Mr Ballen, light a candle 🕯️02 Sep 2026 18:23 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3mukkkfzfu22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3mudk2e6res2sOver 30% of college students change their path. My son is one of them. He wants to pivot to being a firefighter or a nurse. The reason: he wants to help people. We sat down with him today to map out his next 3-year plan and book an advisor visit. What’s your best advice? https://static.klipy.com/ii/e293a233a303a98e471f78d04e13a1b0/00/14/e1QUzLWt.gif?hh=270&ww=480&mp4=iW3dW3sOqtrJDR&webm=MbF7bLBvL1Gihkm30 Aug 2026 23:25 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3mudk2e6res2shttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3muanj4wns22qDo you trust AI over human judgment to select the news? A new Penn State and UGA study reveals people trust algorithms as much as traditional news editors! They viewed machines as unbiased, even when they’re not. Are we escaping human bias, or just outsourcing to an algorithm?29 Aug 2026 19:49 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3muanj4wns22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3mtzqghg5js2eIs Social Media the new Big Tobacco? The Meta Settlement ($17B) and the 1990s Tobacco deal ($200B+) have one shocking thing in common: 🛑 $0 goes to actual victims. Instead, the money pays the states and the lawyers. It’s a cash-grab, not justice.27 Aug 2026 01:53 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtzqghg5js2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3mtwjtw7k7s2wDolly Parton died today. I wanted to share this from a Premier Christianity article written in 2022 about Dolly Parton’s faith in God.25 Aug 2026 19:17 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtwjtw7k7s2whttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3mtn2rmdelc23An AI doctor is 10% more accurate than a human physician—but hallucinates 13% of the time. Would you trust it with a life-or-death decision? 🧵👇22 Aug 2026 00:53 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtn2rmdelc23https://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3mth7x5mdt222Education policies to combat potential student AI cheating missed the actual AI exploitation. 80%+ of teachers are using ChatGPT to build lesson plans, draft IEP goals, & write emails to parents. 65% of school districts don’t have a formal AI policy or guidance for its use.19 Aug 2026 17:10 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3mth7x5mdt222https://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3mterkyem422yClimate activists didn't get derailed by deniers online, they turned on each other. Social media warriors ate their own! Analyzing nearly 2M tweets, researchers found the biggest fights weren't with opponents, but internal arguments over nuclear energy, pipelines, and tactics.18 Aug 2026 17:47 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3mterkyem422yhttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3mt3fxhcvrs2wIf Star Wars had a $10 budget 🤣🤣🤣 https://youtu.be/0qy8Bnb9C1o?is=yR4GWgnGsvCilMLj15 Aug 2026 00:25 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt3fxhcvrs2whttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3mt2nhqwztc2nWant a stronger, healthier marriage? You don’t need marriage counseling or expensive date nights. A new study of 1,690+ couples found one simple habit drastically cuts marital conflict: Exercising together.14 Aug 2026 17:07 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt2nhqwztc2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3msyctmtne22o10,000 Americans turn 65 EVERY single day. By 2030, 1 in 5 people in the U.S. will be 65+. The "Silver Tsunami" is officially here and it’s about to reshape the entire housing market. Here’s what you need to know 🧵👇13 Aug 2026 18:52 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3msyctmtne22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3msvo74urkk2yEver wonder why Mister Rogers swapped his jacket for a cardigan and dress shoes for sneakers? It was a psychological masterclass for kids. Predictable routines create emotional safety. The sweater-and-sneakers shift helped young viewers transition into a calm, focused space.12 Aug 2026 17:37 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3msvo74urkk2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3mssivc4p522pNew DNA tools are completely rewriting human history: Neanderthals made art, jewelry, and glue. Sapiens weren't as unique as we thought. Two “ghost” ancestors haunt our family tree, not Neanderthals or Denisovans, but some other hominin populations Did you already know this?11 Aug 2026 11:24 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3mssivc4p522phttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3msmdaszuvs2yEverything you know about ancient history is wrong! 3,000-year-old civilization in China reveals -Alien-like Artifacts -Shattering History -Sudden Disappearance -Ritual Destruction What caused this empire to destroy its sacred treasures and vanish? Source: WSJ / Jonathan Cheng09 Aug 2026 00:27 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3msmdaszuvs2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3mshfr4kdek2fSudoku and crosswords are fun, but science says they might not be the best workout for your brain. New research shows computerized visual processing speed-training is linked to a 25% lower risk of dementia but affects men and women differently: Continues👇07 Aug 2026 01:29 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3mshfr4kdek2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3msdvczr66k2hDo you remember comic strip swearing using symbols? Called a grawlix (or obscenicon), artists used punctuation like !@#$%&* to replace profanity. The term was officially coined in 1964 by Beetle Bailey creator Mort Walker. Type your go-to @#$%! grawlix in the replies. 👇05 Aug 2026 15:56 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3msdvczr66k2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3msbmt4ktkk2dDo you know the origin of these symbols? # £ @ & § ¶ * † ‡ ‖ RobWords @robwordsYT has an interesting video #obvs04 Aug 2026 18:19 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3msbmt4ktkk2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3msbmrrpuhk2dDo you know the origin of these symbols? # £ @ & § ¶ * † ‡ ‖ RobWords @robwordsYT has an interesting video #obvs04 Aug 2026 18:18 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3msbmrrpuhk2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3ms4nx7d4zs2bDo you like Homeowner Associations? “There were 6,376 properties with HOA-related foreclosure filings in the first quarter [2026] up nearly 40% [in 24 months]... HOAs filed more than 285,000 liens last year, up about 8.8% from a year earlier…” Source: Wall Street Journal02 Aug 2026 18:56 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms4nx7d4zs2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3mrxpdidjf22kAre you ready? Youngest Baby Boomers (born 1946–64) reach age 65 by 2029. • $72.6 Trillion of the estimated $84.4T in assets will go directly to heirs (Cerulli Associates) • 13M–14.6M homes will hit the housing market, reaching up to 20M by the late 2030s (Fannie Mae/Zillow)31 Jul 2026 19:37 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrxpdidjf22khttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3mrsukt2lm22mWhat’s your favorite philosophical thought experiment? These aren’t meant to yield a right answer, it’s designed to test logical and moral reasoning. A slight change can completely flip your conclusion (e.g., Trolley Problem). Which one breaks your brain the most?29 Jul 2026 21:28 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrsukt2lm22mhttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3mrdbvuadzk2p🚨Are flock cameras for public safety or warrantless tracking? 117,000+ flock cameras track vehicles in USA logging license plate, precise location, and travel times in a searchable database. • CA 16,000+ • FL 7,169 • GA 7,046 • IL 5,822 Have you seen a flock camera yet?23 Jul 2026 16:44 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrdbvuadzk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3mr4i256m3k2vHave you noticed more AI-generated ads on broadcast TV? I just saw one with talking pets on @metv! According to peer-reviewed studies, AI ads face significant hurdles: • Eeriness Gap • Info vs. Emotion • Disclosure Penalty • Context Dependency What do you think? 👇20 Jul 2026 23:45 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr4i256m3k2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3mqphukt3as2dI have 3 kids in college navigating this. Which degrees have the best ROI in 2026? • 52% of new graduates are underemployed • 41.5% stay stuck in jobs that don't need a degree. • 93.2% tuition increased last 20 years What major leads to a real career today?15 Jul 2026 19:37 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqphukt3as2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3mqkkb34jrs2eJuly is a brutal writer’s reality check. It splits the year in half and forces you to reexamine optimistic January goals. It’s a second New Year’s resolution: reset your daily routine, adjust word count targets, and write fresh. I’m writing Chapter 8 of my WIP. Where are you?13 Jul 2026 20:37 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqkkb34jrs2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3mqdiwzxb4s24Have you ever seen a UFO? 🛸 A declassified US Air Force and Navy map reveals over 200 military UFO contacts recorded 1947-1948. Data shows distinct regional waves across the USA during the initial UFO phenomenon. (Source: Daily Mail) If you've had a sighting, where & when? 👇11 Jul 2026 01:25 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqdiwzxb4s24https://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3mpxfcim3zc26In honor of the 250th Anniversary of the USA:🇺🇸 👇 Hillsdale College - Revolutionary America Musical - 1776 Ken Burns - The American Revolution Schoolhouse Rock - America Rock Katharine Lee Bates - America the Beautiful History Channel - George Washington06 Jul 2026 05:47 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpxfcim3zc26https://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3mpoc5queyk2yOn July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted to approve the Lee Resolution, officially declaring the 13 colonies independent from Great Britain. #IndependenceDay02 Jul 2026 14:57 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpoc5queyk2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/mikecook-author.bsky.social/post/3mplyplnhfc2eHappy Canada Day! 🇨🇦 Here’s 6 fascinating facts about our neighbor’s holiday. 👉 Which of these facts surprised you the most? Share the number in the comments! 👇01 Jul 2026 17:03 +0000at://did:plc:ki5cusabaf7xdkfxf74gbu2x/app.bsky.feed.post/3mplyplnhfc2e