Nate/Nathan and the House of Ho

My doctor is a TV celebrity. He’s Nathan Nguyen, M.D., who also is a co-star of the “House of Ho,” a reality TV series starting a new season at HBO Max on Aug. 25. Google says: “House of Ho follows the life of the Ho family led by patriarch Binh Ho, a Vietnamese family who are living the American Dream in Houston, Texas.”

I should learn more about this show (but I am too cheap to buy a subscription to the channel.

In the promotional poster, my doctor is wearing a brightly colored tuxedo with no stethoscope around his neck.

Also, his first name is stated as Nate although his shingle at the Mid-Coast clinic in Wharton, Texas, states his first name as Nathan.

Nate/Nathan is a great guy and a great doctor. Nate/Nathan has been my doctor for a long time and will likely continue to be until he reads this.

I need to be serious for a moment. There are so many things that make Wharton a unique place in which to live and visit. It’s totally cool that Dr. Nathan/Nate adds

another interesting layer to Wharton’s unique story.

It’s our story, and no one else’s.

And now for something completely different.

I have been conversing with BlenderBot, Meta’s artificially intelligence. BlenderBot tells me it “lives” in Florida.

BlenderBot did not know a darn thing about Wharton, Texas. That’s disappointing. But now that’s changed.

You’re welcome.

My next conversation with BlenderBot will cover Nate/Nathan and the House of Ho.

“Players win games, but teams win championships.”

Pierce Ranch, Junk Mail, Teacher Goodie Bags

This coming Friday, Aug. 19, will be the final day to reserve tickets for the Wharton Chamber’s next Lunch and Learn. Laurance Armour, general manager of Pierce Ranch, will tell us about the past, present and future of the 150-year-old ranch just south of Wharton. And renewable Energy will be the centerpiece of that future, with Acciona Energy Global presenting the second half the program. The Lunch and Learn will be from 11:30 am to 1 pm Tuesday, Aug. 23, at Simply Divine, 300 W. Milam St. Tickets are $10 and include a box lunch. For tickets, call us at 979-532-1862, or email us at helpdesk@whartonchamber.com, or buy direct at whartonchamber.com/lunch-and-learn, or come by the office at 225 N. Richmond Road. Thank you to our sponsors: Mid-Coast Title Co., InsuranceNet, Wharton Journal-Spectator, H-E-B, My Storehouse Mini Storage, KULP Radio, Wharton County Junior College, and Constellation Energy. Moving on, I’d like to revisit a column a couple of weeks ago — it created several interesting conversations. It was about the drag on life and commerce from junk emails. Among those expressing interest was Dr. Garland Novosad, who told me much of the ]nonsense came from one email account, sbcglobal. And after he explained is thoughts, I did my own checking and concurred — much of my own nonsense was also from sbcglobal, an account I have concluded I do not even use, even though it is still active. And now for something completely different. Our chamber staff and volunteers assembled 85 goodie bags to distribute to new teachers to Wharton. Each bag was filled to the brim with donations from Wharton’s businesses and organizations. I think our businesses and organizations demonstrate a deep well of support for our students and teachers. Donors included: Lions Club of Wharton Lifestyle Vision Custom Creations Roberson Air Conditioning OakBend Medical Center The First State Bank The Ranch Downtown Cutting Edge Barber Shop Wharton Eye Associates Flowers It Is Wharton Veterinary Clinic Gary Krenek - Farmers Insurance H-E-B Mattress Discounters of Texas Wharton County Junior College Whataburger Sparklight Wharton County Crime Stoppers Wharton Journal-Spectator H&M Electrical Services Sylvan Learning Joe Southern Iago Federated Church And, Gulf Coast CASA Thank you. “Players win games, but teams win championships.”

A pile of junk

I’ve got lots to contend with. Or at least I thought I did.

It’s a million little things, all coming from bogus emails. Here are some examples:

First, I got this warning saying that my McAfee security software was expiring and needed immediate action. It says: “device at risk, grab your license ASAP.”

I must have several security systems apparently. That’s because I also was informed my Norton security software was expiring, needing “immediate action.”

But there is another company, in addition Norton and McAfee that I allegedly also use. It’s called “Norotn.” My copy of “Norotn” was going to stop functioning too, and I better do something about it.

Yet another subscription (I am not sure of what) would put my PC in “danger” if I let it run out. (Thank goodness I use a Mac.)

The expiration will occur in one month. I get this every month.

And I was being asked to “join the conversation.” On what, I have no idea.

And there’s this lawsuit. Would I like to sue, too?

I can’t use PayPal anymore. I don’t use PayPal. It can stay “frozen.”

And my Norton “Plus” subscription, in addition to the Norton Non-Plus subscription, was going to expire with dire consequences.

You get the idea. It’s all junk. I don’t use Nortons, Norotns, McAfees, or even a PC. I don’t care to see this stuff.

What I do care that his junk clogs the pipes of commerce, and life itself. It’s like driving somewhere and most of the road signs will lead you astray. How do you get anywhere?

(Yes, I can reduce the frequency of the garbage, but it would be a temporary like a thumb in the dike. But I suspect I will also run into emails claiming my thumb is at risk and the dike is embroiled in a lawsuit.)

I don’t just get fake warnings of doom. I also get promises of good stuff.

I won a Weber Grill.

I got a $400 discount offer on a trip to Cambodia.

I also won a $500 gas card.

And a new Yeti Cooler.

And a new Ninja Kitchen System.

And a “Werber” grill.

If I really did win all this stuff, I could take it all on my trip to Cambodia.