Monday, August 29, 2022

We Must Take Back Our Country


Have the citizens of the United States become complacent about decisions made by the federal government on their behalf?

Why does it seem that our elected officials are implementing their own opinions about laws that govern the people who put them in office?

I realize some decisions are made on our behalf because it is a matter of ongoing day-to-day business that all political parties can agree on.

Lately, laws like the Inflation Reduction Act are being introduced and passed without any voice. 

Highlighted below are the points that have nothing to do with inflation or reduction.  This is where politicians will insert their personal opinion on how the federal government should spend our money.

From Wikipedia:

 Background


The Build Back Better Plan was a legislative framework proposed by United States President Joe Biden between 2020 and 2021. Generally viewed as ambitious in size and scope, it sought to make the largest nationwide public investments in social, infrastructural, and environmental programs since the 1930s Great Depression-fighting policies of the New Deal.[7]


The plan was divided into three parts: one of them, The American Rescue Plan, a COVID-19 relief spending bill, was signed into law in March 2021.[8] The other two parts were reworked into different bills over the course of extensive negotiations within and among Congressional entities. The American Jobs Plan (AJP) was a proposal to address long-neglected infrastructure needs and reduce America's contributions to climate change's destructive effects;[9] the American Families Plan (AFP) was a proposal to fund a variety of social policy initiatives, some of which (e.g. paid family leave) had never before been enacted nationally in the U.S.[10]


The Build Back Better Act was a bill introduced in the 117th Congress to fulfill aspects of the Build Back Better Plan. It was spun off from the American Jobs Plan, alongside the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, as a $3.5 trillion Democratic reconciliation package that included provisions related to climate change and social policy. Following negotiations, the price was lowered to approximately $2.2 trillion. The bill was passed 220–213 by the House of Representatives on November 19, 2021.


In December 2021, amidst of negotiations and parliamentary procedures, Senator Joe Manchin publicly pulled his support from the bill for not matching his envisioned cost of about $1.75 trillion[citation needed], then subsequently retracted support for his own compromise legislation. This effectively killed the bill as it needs 50 senators to pass via reconciliation, and all 50 Republican senators opposed it. Continued negotiations between Manchin and Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer over the course of months eventually resulted in the $737 billion Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.[11]


The sudden deal on the Inflation Reduction Act, which was negotiated in secret and announced on July 27, 2022, was widely regarded as a 'shocker' as Democrats had voiced that there was little hope for a revival of many of their priorities in addition to Manchin himself being rather pessimistic on the prospect in public.[12]


As the revised bill made its way through the chambers of Congress, the new reality of Biden unexpectedly having a clear path to enacting substantial portions of his domestic agenda into law led to a wide reevaluation of the success of the Biden presidency thus far and is expected to give the President and his party a boost while campaigning for the upcoming 2022 Midterm elections.[13][14][15]

This is just one example of what goes on behind closed doors that directly affect us as taxpayers.

We must take back our country!


Photo: Prettysleepy - Pixabay

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Top Ten Western Movies

 Here is a list of my top 10 Western movies:

10. The Shootist (1976)

9. Shane (1953)

8. Seraphim Falls (2006)

7. Jeremiah Johnson (1972)

6. The Magnificent Seven (1960)

5. The Man from Laramie (1953)

4. High Noon (1952)

3. El Dorado (1966)

2. Rio Bravo (1959)

1. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)



Thursday, August 18, 2022

To Preach

 


What is preaching?

This can go in many different directions.  One can say they will "get on their soapbox" or preach about how bad the game was last night: even preaching about procedures at work. Some will even say they will rant about something.

All of this is correct; we all do this from time to time. But what is preaching from God's perspective?

This can be in a few forms, and I will elaborate more in an upcoming post.  Here is a short list:

  • Speaking the Word
  • In your everyday action
  • Good knowledge of God's plan
  • Knowledge of your faith
  • Setting an example of a Christian
  • Exposing the Devil for the liar he is to deceive the world
Preaching aims to get the Good News to people who have never heard of God or someone who is in despair that there is hope in God and saying the right words at the right time.  


Photo: Pixabay FotoRieth

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Retreat Weekend

 

This past weekend I went on a retreat to the Bethany Retreat House.  This is usually a yearly event, but due to the virus, this was the first time in a little over three years. I am a Lay Dominican formally known as Third Order Dominican. More on this in a later post.

The retreat is my vacation for the year. It's a silent retreat meaning no talking except while eating. The basic structure of the weekend is a Catholic Priest will have several sermons at various times along with long hours of silence, prayer, and reflection on the theme of the weekend. I would highly suggest if you ever have an opportunity to go on retreat, it will revive your soul and open you to God.


Here are a few pictures  


Small Pond




Hiking Trail




Stations of the Cross




The Great Room




The Chapel







Evening on the last day



Wednesday, August 10, 2022

The Last Summer Eggs




I took a bit of a risk taking this photo. I knew it was getting close to them fledging.





And I was correct, within a few days they were gone.  

 

Friday, August 5, 2022

Gasoline vs Electric

 About 137 years ago, the gasoline engine was produced and manufactured for public use for those who could afford it.  During that time, only the rich could buy this luxury item.


Gasoline


Think about this:

  • gasoline was very limited - no gas stations because most of the population did not own a car.
  • parts for the car when something broke, again limited demand - no manufacturing parts because no factories to produce them.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Electric



Now, think about this comparison:

  • Electric cars are somewhat limited, and public charging stations are limited.  Home charging stations are expensive.
  • Parts are limited because of supply chain issues, especially at this time.

 

So, here are my final thoughts on this topic.  

I will be ready to buy my first electric car in 137 years.



Wednesday, August 3, 2022

My Opinion - on the war in Ukraine

 


No significant change from a few months ago.  I think primarily due to the military weaponry coming into the country from all over the world. 

I do not understand why the US media has stopped reporting on this war when we send billions of funds and equipment. Does the US know something and is not telling the American people?  Are the repercussions of this silence something that would be unpopular?  Could there be some conspiracy theory? 

One thing that has caught my attention is the high level of US government officials visiting a country currently at war.  This raises concern for me.  And why would the leader of Ukraine come to the United States for a photo op with Vogue Magazine?


If your country is under a major attack by a border nation, why would one of your priorities be a photo op?

This goes deeper into an international war crime, and the US and other countries fund it.


 

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Summer Eggs 3


I'm really surprised these guys survived.  The temperatures have been in the 100's.  This is late in the year to see bluebirds of this size still in the nest.


Friday, July 29, 2022

Politics and Religion


 What does this say about how we interact with each other?

Most people say, " I won't talk about politics or religion" Well, it seems that politics is an essential part of deciding on new friends, yet no one wants to talk about it. Politics should be an open and civil conversation.  Most would say they would not speak because they are afraid of an argument about trying to convince others of their opinions. Discussions on politics should be openly discussed with the exception, not without the consent of the other to talk about it. If individuals are willing and open, I believe it should take place.

As for religion, this is a tricking one because estimates are about 10,000 religions in the world.  This is difficult because one would need some common knowledge of all faiths. I think it should be discussed but with limits; if there are some common values, it's good. One would need to understand some general aspects to have a reasonable discussion. But, as I said about political debates if both are willing to engage, go for it.

Music and entertainment are not essential factors in deciding on friends.



Disclaimer: I do not endorse NBC News or any other progressive media. But there is a need to know what the other side is discussing. 



Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Summer Eggs 2


 Finally, after a few weeks they are here.

More later..... 

Saturday, July 23, 2022

What is Bill Gates Planning?


Why would someone with as much money as Bill Gates spend it on farmland?

Answer: control


Having that amount is all about control of the food supply; it should be against the law.

I wonder what other plans he has for the land.



 

Monday, July 18, 2022

Quote - Schwarzkoph


"It doesn't take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle."

General H. Norman Schwarzkoph 



Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Summer Eggs

 


I was surprised to discover this because it is so late in the summer. 

More as this develops....



Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Bookstore Current Affairs

 


This is the Current Affairs section at Barns & Noble's bookstore. If this is any indication of the direction of our country, we are in trouble. 


Monday, July 11, 2022

July Christmas


 

This past weekend I went to Hobby Lobby with my wife; there was not much for me to look at, but this caught my attention.

It's July, and Christmas is in December. People will prepare 6 months before December the 25th, and on the 26th, all the decorations are boxed and stored away. The month of December is Advent - the preparation for Christ's birth, a time of deep reflection. The 26th is the first day of Christmas, not the 1st of July. The 12 days of Christmas are the days after the 25th. 

I will usually go on this rant every July.  Let's keep the holidays within their respective months.


Friday, July 8, 2022

Decipher

 Continuing from the last post...

Should journalists/media report all the news, good or bad?

I believe they are responsible for reporting both because they are lying to us if they don't. They are withholding the truth.

The news is so biased it is hard to decipher what is true and what is not.

Just my opinion...

 

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

July

 


July - America's month

On the 4th, we celebrated our independence, which I believe most people take for granted.  Our independence from England allowed us to form a new nation based on freedoms and rights for individuals written in the words of the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

One freedom that is exercised every day is the freedom of speech. We see and hear this in the news, on social media, and on this blog.  Some people could only dream of being able to voice their opinion about whatever they wanted without being persecuted or arrested. 

Freedom is a God-given right, and those who live with this freedom should thank God every day.