The Good from the Bad

Good comes from something bad.

This a simple statement that almost always holds true. 

The Nashville school shooting and all the evil that took place on that day have caused a city and nation to unite in the after moments. And that one uniting thing is prayer. 

In the last few days of watching and reading the latest updates, usually, someone will say, please continue praying for the victims of this tragic event. We have seen this so many times in the past how people are united in prayer. 

If you are new to daily prayer, take this time to start, especially now, but continue to pray daily because there is always something to pray for.

Photo - pixabay - Godsgirl_madi

Generation X

I recently read an article about Cracker Barrel and Walmart closing some of their stores in Portland, Oregon. Several articles stated it was due to the pandemic, crime, and staffing issues.

These businesses are an everyday staple around the United States. What is the future of retail trade in general? These two companies are popular and employ thousands across the United States. But it doesn't stop here. Other business industries are struggling with the same issues.  

I have stated in past blog posts that the pandemic has changed how business is conducted. And crime is clearly continuing to go up. And the economy is in a downward spiral. The sad thing is we cannot do anything about it. This is a generation issue. Those in the 20 to 40 age range are the keys to turning this around. And I don't believe this generation is prepared to take on these responsibilities. Sure, there are a few who will strive to be successful. My concern is this generation will be the future leaders of businesses and government. And this will directly affect the baby boomer generation, which includes me. They will be affected by the decisions made by the younger generation.

I don't know the answers to these questions, but I hope things will get better somehow.

Photo - pixabay - Mimirebelle

 

Everyday Diplomacy

Diplomacy is a powerful word, but it is used even more powerfully when it is in action. It is generally used in the context of nations in a debate about a policy to be negotiated, but this is at a higher level than the average person.   

As conversations go for the day-to-day interactions of the general public, it's necessary to apply this action to everything we do.  Some would say, "I'm going to say exactly what is on my mind," without considering the consequences of those words. This literally applies to not only words but all thoughts and actions. It's about control of yourself.  If you think about this for a moment, if everyone said precisely what was on their mind, there would be considerable disagreement. Once this action is engaged, one could be in an unending conversation cycle. But diplomacy is a more controlled way of speech. It's kinder, considerate, negotiable, and should always be honest.

Photo - pixabay - geralt  

Benjamin Franklin - Quote

 

Bluebirds 23.2

 

The progress continues, but no eggs yet.  The nest will fill within 5 days with 3 to 4 eggs. 

More info to come.

Film Friday - Catholic Movies

Today's Film Friday list.

Happy St. Patrick's Day 

St. Patrick was a Catholic Priest, so I thought it would be appropriate to list some of my favorite catholic movies.  I could have created a list of Irish films but I haven't watched enough to generate a worthy list here. 

My Top 10 Catholic Movies:

10. Angles in the Outfield (1951)

9. Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957)

8. When in Rome (1952)

7. Trouble Along the Way (1953)

6. The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968)

5. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)

4. The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)

3. Going My Way (1944)

2. The Song of Bernadette (1943)

1. The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (1952)

What is the Tipping Point?

The recent news of the SV Bank collapse is just one example of a business that was mismanaged, but there are plenty of other companies that are struggling to continue to operate daily. The banks are just the tip of the iceberg.  

Think about this, if banks are in trouble and they are in the business of money, which is the lifeblood of all companies, and they are struggling, imagine what a small business is going through now. I am not an economist or an expert on money management. This is just an observation.

• More banks are in trouble and are being looked at by federal regulators.
• Businesses are laying off employees by the thousands.
• The economy is the worst it's been since 2008.
• The cost of everything is up.

And this is general information anyone can find in the news.

What will be the tipping point for the US economy?

Photo - pixabay - Mediamodifier 

Bluebirds 23.1

 

The Bluebirds are officially making their nest for the first time this season.  

More to come in a week......

The Question

Those who read my post here know I will sometimes start with a question, and every day all of us should question most, if not all, of what is happening in the world.

And if those who do not start with a question first thing in the morning, it should be. The complacent way of thinking is terrible for us and society. There are better ways to go than going along with the flow of everything and doing nothing.  Can I complete my tasks for the day? What will hinder me from achieving those tasks?  Is there anything I'm missing? What is in the news that will affect me or my relatives, friends, or co-workers?

This thought process is a simple one and can be achieved. Because if not, laws are passed, your job changes, world events affect your country, tasks are moved to a later date, and more importantly, these could affect you directly, all because you didn't think to question why. 

Questions should have answers, and answers should result in action or not, depending on your situation.

Be the action to your questions, and don't become detached from the world.

Photo - pixabay - geralt

Concealed Truth

Why does the truth have to be concealed? 

Who has the absolute authority to conceal it? 

Why does anyone have that much power?

There are a lot of questions here.

Watch the video. Tucker: Here is unseen video from January 6 | Fox News Video

The battle continues for the truth about what happened on January 6th.

The number of people involved on the day is in the thousands. I'm sure a majority of those there expressing their right to free speech and assembly are innocent of any wrongdoing. But with that said, there are also those (progressives) who took advantage of this conservative movement and exploited a situation into an absolute conspiracy, and the January 6th committee took full advantage of their access to videos and carefully edited and selected videos to convince the public that those in the conservative party where the enemy. But now we discover the real truth; the democrats withheld information and manipulated the videos. 

Another investigation will take place and the truth will be known, but time will tell as the battle continues.

Photo - pixabay - OpenClipart-Vectors

Film Friday - TV Series

Here is a list of some of my favorite TV series.

I probably have a few more I would generally watch, but these are the ones I have given a high IMDb rating IMDb: Ratings, Reviews, and Where to Watch the Best Movies & TV Shows. 

And then scanning the channels; if one is on, I'm more inclined to watch it.

In no particular order:

• The Rifleman (1958-1963)
• The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)
• The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968)
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955-1962)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999)
• Blue Bloods (2010-Present)
• On Patrol: Live (2022-Present)

Photo - pixabay - Pexels

Technology over the Top

What?  Technology over the top

Ford wants to allow your car to lock you out — and even drive itself to an impound lot or scrapyard — if you miss payments (msn.com)

I completely understand why; if someone does not make their monthly payment, they want their car back. I get it, but if this technology is here to stay, how will it be applied to other vehicle applications.

For instance, air quality for the day is bad, and car manufacturers decide to lock you out of your car until air quality improves. And everyone would either walk or take another mode of transportation. This is a step to move more in the direction of all-electric vehicles with even more control over your individual property. The more AI (artificial intelligence) is installed the less freedom. 

The article mentioned having a geofence for the driver of the vehicle. Limiting the travel area so the car would only have a small range of travel. This application could be under government control, and you can imagine the extent of ways to limit one's journey from one place to another. 

The solution is buying a 1990s car and turning off your cell phone.

Photo - pixabay - RyanMcGuire