Healing & Hope: Check out the below Artwork

 I came across the below artwork while researching and writing this Easter 2025.  Advocacy is an honorable career to pursue peacefully. As far as I know the below artwork is non-partisan. If you find differing information please let me know. That is a concern of any of my writings published or unpublished during this political time for I have not yet crossed the line from being an independent on principle - A.T. Yoda Brooks 

Source: https://obeygiant.com/download-angel-of-hope-and-strength-for-free-from-amplifier/

To Have Power, But Not to Exercise it

To Have Power, But Not to Exercise it 

"The idiom "having power but using it quite" could be interpreted in a few ways, but it generally refers to someone who has influence or authority, but uses it sparingly or with restraint. It could also suggest a person who wields their power subtly or diplomatically, or perhaps even a person who is hesitant to use their power at all. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Here's a breakdown of the potential meanings: [1, 1, 2, 2, 5, 6]

• Using power sparingly: This implies the person is mindful of the consequences of their actions and avoids overuse or abuse of their authority.

• Using power subtly: This suggests the person employs their power in a way that is not overt or forceful, perhaps relying on manipulation or persuasion rather than direct orders.

• Using power diplomatically: This implies the person is skilled at navigating complex situations and uses their power in a tactful and understanding manner.

• Hesitancy to use power: This could mean the person is reluctant to exercise their authority, perhaps due to a fear of repercussions or a belief that power should be used only when necessary.

In essence, the phrase highlights the idea of power as a tool that can be wielded in various ways, and the person in question is choosing to use it with caution or in a restrained manner. [1, 2, 3]"

Generative AI is experimental.

[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/quotes/comments/ouqxn/the_strength_in_power_is_knowing_when_to_not_use/

[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/americandad/comments/evlz9q/sometimes_real_strength_is_having_power_and/

[3] https://www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/quote-archive1/peace-quotes

[4] https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/272480/idiom-for-someone-who-got-a-tiny-fraction-of-power-and-abuses-it

[5] https://www.reddit.com/r/kotor/comments/owwvem/when_do_you_think_the_game_gives_out_light_or/

[6] https://martinezlawcenter.com/undue-influence-estate-litigation-expert/

A Secret to Success: Power Napping

     I reviewed a report: news paper or in a magazine the details I do not recall which said a secret of successful leaders is too take power naps (naturally). Not sure where I found the original information on this but putting the advice out there in to the ether anyhow. It may help an emerging leader - and Leadership has nothing to do with gender. Lets move beyond this.....

    The caption below is not initially what had in mind however it is of the brother (Robert F. Kennedy Jr.) of the famous former American President J.F. Kennedy napping. Both brothers were respected during their "watch" of leadership. No further comment on that due to the political rhetoric of this era. Peace and love brothers and sisters. 

Source: https://foundr.com/articles/leadership/napping-for-productivity

https://www.verywellmind.com/power-napping-health-benefits-and-tips-stress-3144702

https://granarygallery.com/artist-item.php?itemId=3291693&title=Robert+Kennedy+Sleeping+1968+II&artistId=196778&artist=Lawrence+Schiller&fromCart=1

Supporting A Students Rights:

 Supporting A Students Rights: to control their educational track forward  in addition to privacy of records.

While students are being detoured from school, deported and blocked from advancing Checks & Balances Blog stands behind theirs to autotomy, to make decisions especially sending strength too our sisters across the globe. Education is an admirable goal to pursue; this post is more than an advocacy statement but in this social media era it is a drop in ether tilting the scales towards empowerment. Who are "them" we cam go back to promises afforded people during past wars. Them are America's allies! Let us not allow this spirit of oppression to encroach upon the pure spirit of America. No fear, no resentments, no regrets. A political revolution the USA is due for! From whatever angle we can support these students if their cases if they have merit.  A.T. Yoda Brooks, Founder Checks & Balances Blogspot

"FERPA, also known as the Buckley Amendment, defines educational records as all records that schools maintain about students. FERPA gives parents the right to review and confirm the accuracy of education records (information taken from the Florida Department of Education website).

Notable Cases:

• Mahmoud Khalil:
  A Columbia University graduate student, a permanent resident, and pro-Palestinian activist, was arrested and sent to a detention center in Louisiana for possible deportation. 

  Rumeysa Ozturk:
  A Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, was detained by ICE while on her way to meet friends and taken to a private prison in Louisiana, also facing possible deportation. 

  
  

  Badar Khan Suri:
  A Georgetown graduate student from India, was arrested near Washington, D.C., and sent to detention centers in Louisiana and Texas, facing deportation. 

• Yunseo Chung:
  A Columbia University student who is a legal permanent resident and was involved in pro-Palestinian protests, is fighting deportation in court. 

  Leqaa Kordia:
  A Palestinian student who overstayed her student visa and was arrested by ICE for participating in the Columbia protests. 
• 
  
Momodou Taal:
A Ph.D. student at Cornell University who participated in pro-Palestinian protests. 
• 
  

https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/7690/urlt/0070103-ferpa.pdf

[1] https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/09/us/us-immigration-student-visas-revoked/index.html

[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/07/us/student-visas-revoked-trump-administration.html

[3] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/scholars-targeted-deportation-trump-administration-rcna197331

[4] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/27/who-are-the-students-trump-wants-to-deport

[5] https://www.npr.org/2025/04/08/nx-s1-5351645/ice-detention-louisiana-university-scholars

[6] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-administration-takes-aim-immigrant-students-rcna198346

[7] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/10/how-many-student-visas-revoked

[8] https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/02/us/israel-protesters-us-students-deport/index.html

[9] https://www.chronicle.com/article/trump-has-revoked-student-visas-at-dozens-of-colleges-heres-what-that-means

Which King gave away his crown for love? - I actually think of Prince Harry

I actually think of Prince Harry when reading this historic story. And I have my opinion on it. I admire this family all the same; kindness, humility and a love for the environment. In this new era time for hatred, jealously, animosity shall we pray such emotions away.  His brother is the first but humbleness in him there is also. Many admire their mother's work throughout the world. Princess Dianna a champion of peace and I believe volunteerism as I am too. - A.T. Yoda Brooks

"King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom abdicated the throne in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee, which was a controversial decision at the time. 

Here's a more detailed explanation:

• The Abdication:

  On December 11, 1936, King Edward VIII, who had only ruled for a year, abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee. 
• The Reason:

  He famously stated that he could not carry out his duties as king "without the help and support of the woman I love". 
• The Context:

  At the time, marrying a divorcee was a strict no-no for the royal family, and the British government, public, and the Church of England condemned the decision. 
• The Aftermath:

  Edward VIII became the Duke of Windsor, and his younger brother, the Duke of York, became King George VI. 
• The Marriage:

  Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson married in France in June 1937. "

Source: https://www.deseret.com/utah/2024/12/11/deseret-news-archives-for-love-king-edward-viii-abdicated/#:~:text=Deseret%20News%20archives.-,On%20Dec.,Albert%2C%20became%20King%20George%20VI.

The DARK Side of ICQ and related Type of Technology: I am glad that it feel

 The DARK Side of ICQ and related Type of Technology: I am glad that it fell. Can we make a list of other technologies and apps with a dark side that should fall? TikTok survived the test lets hope they do not allow for the Chinese to steal our ideas and intellectual property. Standing by the right to privacy but not isolation. There is a dark of such apps in party culture; I am a person taking a journey of recovery out of it and thank God my partner and I did not get stuck in it. Peace, love and unity. -A.T. Yoda Brooks

"One of the oldest, still-running online platforms is finally closing its doors after 27 years. ICQ, a once-popular instant messaging service, announced on Friday via its website that it would be shutting down next month. 

"ICQ will stop working from June 26," reads a message on ICQ.com. "You can chat with friends in VK Messenger, and with colleagues in VK WorkSpace."

The alternative recommendations are messaging platforms belonging to VK, a Russia-based social media platform popular in the country and works much like Facebook. VK acquired ICQ in 2010 from AOL, which had bought the service in 1998.

The first of the instant messengers 

ICQ is considered one of, if not the earliest instant messaging service on the internet. 

The platform, named after the phrase "I Seek You," was developed by a small Israeli company named Mirabilis and launched in November 1996. ICQ predates other popular IM services like AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) which became synonymous with the instant messaging space.

From the mid-90s up until the aughts, instant messaging services reigned supreme on the internet. Services like AIM, MSN Messenger, and Yahoo Messenger backed by the online tech giants of the time, served as one of the the prime ways in which internet users interacted before social media.

However, despite these big competitors, ICQ caught on among the early adopters of the internet. In 1998, its biggest rival, AOL acquired the company for an upfront payment of $287 million, followed by an additional $120 million over three years based on the services' performance. 

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By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy PolicyIn 2001, AOL announced that ICQ had grown to over 100 million users. However, in the following years, the accessibility and access of social media apps like Facebook on mobile phones greatly cut into the IM market share. Instant messenger usage waned as users moved on to platforms like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. 

The end of IM

Of the previously mentioned IM platforms, MSN Messenger was the first to close in 2014, followed by AIM in 2017, and Yahoo Messenger in 2018. But, ICQ survived.

AOL sold the service to VK in 2010 for $187.5 million where it continued to serve a dedicated user base. According to VK, there were roughly 11 million ICQ users in 2022.

ICQ long enjoyed a healthy user base outside of the U.S., which likely helped keep it afloat much longer than its contemporaries. The service used ICQ numbers to identify users, along with the customary username, which helped its popularity in countries like China. In addition, Hong Kong residents flocked to ICQ in 2021 after users dropped WhatsApp due to a change in the platform's privacy policy. Due to VK's ownership, ICQ also had a large Russian user base.

However, there were signs that VK was planning to sunset the platform. ICQ's mobile apps disappeared from Apple's App Store and the Google Play store around 2022. ICQ was still accessible via its web-based platform and its desktop apps. However, those apps were last updated over a year ago.

Of course, 27 years is quite the run. However, with ICQ's demise, it does appear the age of instant messaging is officially dead. With that said, ICQ's official account on X appears to be having fun in its final days…or perhaps even hinting at something new in the future. "

Source: https://mashable.com/article/icq-instant-messaging-service-shutting-down#:~:text=In%202001%2C%20AOL%20announced%20that,like%20Facebook%20Messenger%20and%20WhatsApp.

https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/the-aclu-is-committed-to-protecting-your-personal-information