Thoughts and Ramblings of Life in US and the Philippines(Marinduque) and other miscellaneous topics close to my Heart.
Welcome to Marinduque-My Island Paradise
If this is your first time in my site, welcome! If you have been a follower, my heartfelt thanks to you, also. Help me achieve my dream, that someday, Marinduque will become a world tourist destination not only on Easter Week, but also whole year round. You can do this by telling your friends and relatives about this site. The photo above is Mt Malindig in Torrijos. Some of the photos and videos on this site, I do not own. However, I have no intention on the infringement of your copyrights. Cheers!
Marinduque Mainland from Tres Reyes Islands
View of Mainland Marinduque from Tres Reyes Islands-Click on Photo to link to Marinduque Awaits You
Norway has just reimagined how the world experiences the Northern Lights. The country has unveiled the world’s first panoramic night train designed specifically for aurora viewing, turning a once-chilly chase into a warm, unforgettable journey beneath a living sky. With floor-to-ceiling glass windows, dimmed interiors, and climate-controlled comfort, passengers glide through the Arctic night as waves of green, purple, and shimmering light dance overhead.
Instead of standing in the cold or waiting on forecasts, travelers relax in quiet cabins while the train routes through regions with the strongest aurora activity. It’s part moving observatory, part sustainable tourism milestone, bringing life to remote regions while respecting the fragile Arctic environment.
The Northern Lights have always been magical. Norway just gave them a front-row seat on rails.
Meanwhile,
Insane auroras over Stonehenge right now.
Tonight’s auroras are the strongest and brightest in more than 20 years.
In the coming hours, extreme auroras could be visible across all 50 U.S. states.
If skies are clear, step outside and look up. This is rare.
Meanwhile, Here's the List of the top 25 most influential persons in History:
Finally, here are Foods ( from Different Countries) That Bring Good Luck:
Does Generative AI Weaken Critical Thinking? A Blogger’s Reflection After 15 Years Online
A couple of weeks ago, I read an article by Larry Maguid asking a timely and unsettling question: Does generative AI weaken critical thinking?💚 It is a question many educators, parents, writers, and professionals are now wrestling with and one that resonates deeply with me as someone who has been blogging for more than 15 years.
When I started blogging in the late 2000s, the process was slow, deliberate, and sometimes uncomfortable. Writing meant wrestling with ideas, checking facts manually, revising drafts repeatedly, and occasionally publishing something imperfect. But that struggle was the point. It sharpened my thinking, clarified my values, and forced me to ask: What do I really believe, and why?
Thinking Before Tools
For most of my blogging life, technology assisted after thinking happened. Spellcheck corrected errors. Search engines helped confirm facts. But the core work forming an argument, telling a story, drawing connections remained stubbornly human.
Generative AI changes that sequence. Now, the tool can appear before the thinking. With a single prompt, a full article can appear in seconds, polished and confident. That efficiency is impressive but it also raises the concern Maguid highlights: If we outsource too much of the thinking, do we risk weakening the mental muscles that make thinking possible?
The Temptation of Convenience
As a long-time blogger, I understand the temptation. Writing regularly is demanding. Some days the words don’t come easily. AI can feel like a lifeline, an always-available assistant that never tires.
But I’ve also learned that the hardest posts to write are often the most meaningful. They come from reflection, uncertainty, lived experience, and sometimes even doubt. Those are not just writing challenges; they are thinking challenges. If AI removes that friction entirely, we may gain speed but lose depth.
AI as a Tool, Not a Substitute
From my perspective, the danger is not generative AI itself, but how passively we use it. Used thoughtfully, AI can enhance critical thinking rather than weaken it. It can:
Offer alternative viewpoints we might not have considered
Help organize complex ideas after we’ve formed them
Act as a sounding board, not a decision-maker
The key difference lies in authorship of thought. Am I using AI to clarify my thinking, or am I letting it do my thinking for me?
After 15 years of blogging, I know that my readers don’t come to my site for generic perfection. They come for perspective shaped by time, experience, and reflection, things no algorithm can genuinely replicate.
A New Responsibility for Writers
Generative AI forces writers and bloggers to take on a new responsibility: to be more intentional than ever about thinking first. The voice, judgment, and moral compass must remain human. Otherwise, we risk flooding the world with content that sounds smart but means very little.
Critical thinking has never been easy, and it was never meant to be. As bloggers, educators, and citizens, we should be cautious of any tool that promises to make thinking effortless. Effort, after all, is where understanding is born.
Final Thought
Generative AI is here to stay. The real question is not whether it weakens critical thinking, but whether we allow it to replace thinking instead of supporting it.
After more than a decade and a half of blogging, I remain convinced of this: tools may evolve, platforms may change, but the value of a well-thought-out idea earned through reflection and experience never goes out of date.
And that, perhaps, is the most critical thinking lesson of all.
Meanwhile, here's the AI Overview on the Above Topic:
💚The main argument of the blog post "Does Generative AI Weaken Critical Thinking? A Blogger’s Reflection After 15 Years Online," likely authored by Larry Maguid
, is that the impact of generative AI on critical thinking is nuanced: it can act as a substitute for rigorous thought, but also as a tool to enhance it by offloading mundane tasks.
The author draws on personal experience and existing research to present a balanced perspective on the issue, highlighting both potential pitfalls and benefits:
Potential for Weakening: The primary concern is "cognitive offloading," where relying heavily on AI for complex reasoning can diminish a person's ability to solve problems independently. Studies suggest a negative correlation between high AI usage and critical thinking scores, as users may focus less on deep analytical work and more on merely refining AI outputs. This reliance is often driven by a desire for efficiency and convenience.
Potential for Enhancement:When used intentionally, AI can free up cognitive resources from lower-order tasks like data gathering or basic writing, allowing users to focus on higher-order critical thinking activities such as evaluation, synthesis of conflicting information, and strategic reflection.
Shifting the Nature of Thinking: The use of AI shifts the user's role from a primary content creator/problem solver to a "task steward" or "editor". Critical thinking is still required, but it involves new skills like effective prompt-writing, verifying AI-generated content for accuracy and bias, and integrating the results into a final, reliable product.
A Broader Trend: The author suggests that the decline in critical thinking is not solely caused by AI but is an acceleration of a longer-term trend, partly driven by the superficial engagement encouraged by social media and other digital technologies.
The Importance of Intentional Use: The ultimate impact depends on how individuals and educators choose to use the technology. Intentional strategies, such as structured assignments that require human evaluation and the cultivation of "slow cognition" habits like sustained reading, are necessary to harness AI's benefits while preserving human analytical skills.
1) Trump’s Greenland Push and Rising Geopolitical Tensions
President Donald Trump is escalating controversy over his bid to take control of Greenland, linking it in private messages to not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize — fueling U.S.–Europe tensions, sparking diplomatic pushback and market jitters.
2) Severe Geomagnetic Storm & Global Auroras
A strong G4-level geomagnetic storm hit Earth (from a coronal mass ejection), producing spectacular auroras visible far from the poles and impacting technology and satellite systems.
3) Wall Street Near Three-Week Low Amid Greenland Dispute
U.S. markets slid as concerns about tariffs and geopolitical fallout from the Greenland tensions pressured stocks, dragging major indexes close to a three-week low.
4) Controversial ICE Home Arrest Reported in Minnesota
An AP report says ICE agents forcibly entered a U.S. citizen’s home in Minnesota without a warrant, detaining him at gunpoint — part of broader disputes over immigration enforcement tactics.
5) Anti-ICE Protester Disrupts Church Service
A Minnesota man accused of disrupting a church service to protest ICE also reportedly harassed congregants previously — adding to local tensions around immigration activism.
Fernando Mendoza & the Historic Rise of Indiana Football
To the casual football fan especially those used to the NFL, college football can feel like a completely different world. But the 2025-26 season will go down as one of the most unforgettable storylines in recent college football history, and at the center of it all was Indiana University’s quarterback Fernando Mendoza. My first article on Mendoza:
Fernando Mendoza wasn’t a preseason household name. A Miami, Florida native, he transferred to Indiana after beginning his college career at California. What followed was nothing short of spectacular. Mendoza led the Hoosiers with a season that culminated in him winning the Heisman Trophy, college football’s most prestigious individual award and becoming the first Heisman winner in Indiana history. His 33 passing touchdowns led the nation and set a school record, and his efficiency and leadership powered Indiana’s rise from a long-shot contender to college football’s top team.
A Perfect Season
In a sport where parity is the norm, undefeated seasons are extremely rare. But this year, Indiana achieved perfection.
📍 Regular Season Highlights
Indiana opened the season strong with big wins, including a 56–9 rout over Kennesaw State where Mendoza threw four touchdown passes.
A dominate road win against No. 20 Illinois, showcasing Mendoza’s ability to take over a game with five passing touchdowns.
Close, gritty victories - like the 20–15 win over Iowa, displayed Indiana’s ability to win in different ways.
In the Big Ten Championship Game, Indiana stunned the college football world by beating Ohio State in a nail-biter- the Hoosiers’ first outright Big Ten title in decades and a defining moment that secured their playoff berth.
Playoff Dominance
Once in the College Football Playoff, Indiana didn’t just win - they dominated:
🔹 Rose Bowl (Quarterfinal): Indiana crushed Alabama 38–3, their first bowl win in decades. 🔹 Peach Bowl (Semifinal): The Hoosiers powered past Oregon 56–22 in a performance that showed they were a true national contender.
Then, in the National Championship Game against Miami, Indiana capped their historic season with a hard-fought 27–21 victory, completing a perfect 16–0 season and winning the first national title in school history.
What This Means for Indiana Football
For decades, Indiana football was known more for basketball than the gridiron. But under head coach Curt Cignetti, and with Mendoza’s leadership, the program has transformed into a national powerhouse in a single season. Their success rewrote the program’s record books, delivered unparalleled excitement to Hoosier Nation, and brought national recognition to Bloomington.
Whether you’re a long-time college fan or someone who only tunes in for big NFL games, this Hoosiers season was a story of grit, breakthrough performances, and one deeply memorable championship run.
Meanwhile, here's the AI Overview on the Above topic:
Fernando Mendoza led the
Indiana Hoosiers to their first-ever national championship on January 19, 2026, defeating the Miami Hurricanes 27-21 at Hard Rock Stadium. This victory capped a historic 16-0 undefeated season, making Indiana the first team in modern college football history to achieve such a record. Mendoza, who transferred from Cal, also became the first player in Indiana history to win the Heisman Trophy.
2025-26 Championship Season
Under second-year head coach Curt Cignetti, Indiana completed a "rags-to-riches" transformation from one of the losingest programs in the country to national champions in just two years.
Championship Game: Mendoza secured the title with a 12-yard rushing touchdown on 4th-and-4 with 9:18 remaining.
Historical Milestones:
First outright Big Ten Championship since 1945.
First-ever victory at Penn State and a road win over a top-five opponent (Oregon).
Defeated Ohio State 13-10 to win the Big Ten title for the first time since 1967.
Fernando Mendoza 2025 Performance
Mendoza's Heisman campaign was defined by elite efficiency and record-breaking production.
Statistic
2025 Regular Season Stats
Total Season Stats (Incl. Postseason)
Passing Yards
2,980
3,349
Passing Touchdowns
33 (National Leader)
41
Completion Percentage
71.5%
73.0%
Interceptions
6
6
Rushing Touchdowns
6
6
Passer Rating
181.39
188.0
Sources:
Key Accolades
In addition to the Heisman Trophy, Mendoza swept several major national awards in 2025:
Maxwell Award (Player of the Year)
Walter Camp Player of the Year
Davey O'Brien Award (Best Quarterback)
AP College Football Player of the Year
Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year
Future Outlook
Mendoza is widely projected to be a top selection—potentially the No. 1 overall pick—in the 2026 NFL Draft. Following his departure, Indiana has already secured TCU transfer Josh Hoover to lead the program in 2026.
When the Guardian Breaks the Gate: Greenland and the End of Moral Authority
There are moments in history when the question is not whether something can be done, but whether it should ever be imagined at all.
Recent articles speculating about a U.S. invasion of Greenland fall squarely into that category. Greenland, vast, icy, sparsely populated, and strategically located has suddenly become a thought experiment in raw power politics. Some argue it would enhance Arctic security. Others frame it as access to minerals, shipping lanes, or geopolitical leverage.
But beneath these arguments lies a far more troubling question: What happens to the world when the self-appointed guardian of international order becomes its violator?
For decades, the United States has positioned itself, sometimes imperfectly, sometimes hypocritically, but consistently as a defender of sovereignty, alliances, and international norms. These claims were the moral counterweight to its immense military power. Remove that counterweight, and power becomes something else entirely.
If America were to seize Greenland by force, the message to the world would not be subtle. It would be deafening.
Vladimir Putin would hear it immediately. The invasion of Ukraine already justified in Moscow through a twisted lens of historical entitlement would gain new rhetorical oxygen. “If borders can be redrawn in the Arctic,” the argument would go, “why not in Eastern Europe?”
Xi Jinping would hear it too. Taiwan, long framed as a unique historical case, would suddenly appear less exceptional and more opportunistic. When norms dissolve, timing becomes everything.
And then there is the rest of the world, the quiet majority of nations that depend not on strength, but on predictability. For them, an American invasion of Greenland would signal that no treaty is permanent, no alliance sacred, no promise immune to power.
The United States would not merely be criticized. It would be redefined. World Hatred?
Once admired, often resented, but broadly trusted as a stabilizing force, America would risk becoming just another empire, feared, transactional, and morally unmoored. Hatred, in this sense, would not come from ideology but from disappointment. The deeper wound is always inflicted by those we believed would know better.
Those of us who have lived long enough remember when American leadership meant restraint as much as resolve. When strength was measured not only by what could be taken, but by what was deliberately not taken. That idea, fragile, imperfect, but real has kept the world from unraveling more times than we care to count.
Greenland, in the end, is not the issue. Ukraine is not the issue. Taiwan is not the issue.
The issue is whether the rules survive when the strongest player decides they no longer apply. History teaches us that once that gate is broken, it rarely closes again.
A closing reflection
May wisdom outpace ambition. May power remember humility. And may those of us watching in the twilight years of our lives never grow so cynical that we stop believing the world can still choose restraint over ruin.
Meanwhile, here's Chat GPT Take on the Topic:
If a U.S. president were to invade Greenland, a sovereign territory tied to Denmark and NATO, it would not be perceived as a strategic land grab but as a collapse of moral restraint by the very nation that has long claimed to uphold a rules-based international order.
The danger isn’t Greenland itself. The danger is precedent.
Putin would point and say: “You see? Borders are negotiable.”
Xi would say less, but calculate more.
Smaller nations would quietly begin hedging their alliances.
America’s moral authority, already strained would fracture beyond repair.
History shows that empires rarely fall because they lose power. They fall because they lose legitimacy.
And the AI Overview on the Above Topic:
Greenland and the End of Moral Authority" refers to contemporary discussions, notably by Michael McFaul, linking potential U.S. actions in Greenland (like Trump's earlier interest in buying it) to a loss of American moral standing, especially concerning China's potential actions on Taiwan, suggesting that invading or seizing Greenland would signify a disregard for international law, making criticism of others hypocritical
. The phrase highlights how actions in the strategic, resource-rich Arctic territory challenge international norms and postcolonial ideas, where Greenland seeks greater autonomy while balancing Danish ties and global interests.
Key Concepts:
Geopolitical Significance: Greenland's melting ice reveals mineral wealth and strategic Arctic location, attracting global interest from superpowers like the U.S., China, and Russia, notes Wikipedia.
Postcolonialism & Self-Determination: Greenland has significant self-rule but relies on Denmark for defense and foreign policy, with growing independence movements, creating complex international dynamics.
Moral Authority: This concept questions whether powerful nations (like the U.S.) can credibly uphold international rules if they act unilaterally or exploit smaller entities, with Greenland serving as a test case.
Context of the Phrase:
Trump's Interest: President Trump's expressed interest in acquiring Greenland from Denmark in 2019 sparked debate about U.S. imperialistic tendencies, notes Wikipedia.
McFaul's Argument: Author and former U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul uses the hypothetical of a U.S. "invasion" of Greenland to argue it would destroy any U.S. moral claim to criticize China's actions in Taiwan, highlighting the hypocrisy of violating sovereignty.
In essence, the phrase points to how powerful nations' actions concerning Greenland test global norms, potentially eroding their own legitimacy and "moral authority" in international affairs.
My Photo of the Day-Cravings for Dungeness crab
Satiated at the Last Night Dinner
Lastly, the top Five News of the Day
1. World Economic Forum 2026 opens in Davos Global leaders, executives, and politicians gather in Switzerland under the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue,” with security heightened and talks expected on AI, geopolitics, and major economic issues.
2. Severe geomagnetic storm watch issued A powerful solar flare and coronal mass ejection are expected to hit Earth tonight, possibly producing northern lights at lower latitudes and disrupting electronics.
3. Martin Luther King Jr. Day observances affect services Many U.S. government offices, markets, and schools are closed or operating on limited schedules for the national holiday.
4. Stock market recommendations for the week Analysts publish lists of stocks to watch as markets begin the trading week — part of broader investor-focused news today.
5. Latest crypto market developments Live crypto news updates highlight market movements and major developments in digital assets for January 19.
