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

Get Ready

Watching the news lately can be overwhelming, but I fear it will worsen. If you are following the recent train derailment, this will be a bigger problem than the government officials tell us. The chemicals released into the air and waterways are not going away. This will have a long-term effect for years to come.

And Ukraine is another story where the worst is yet to come for the Ukrainians and the world.  The fact that Russia has pulled out of the nuclear weapons agreement signals that Russia will do whatever it takes to conquer Ukraine.

Getting ready for the ripple effect of these events is a tough issue to resolve when it comes to being prepared because of the unknown. But, at a minimum, everyone should be thinking about the three basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter individually because you should rely on something other than the federal government to help you.

Photo - pixabay - RainbowArt

 

Music Monday - The SteelDrivers - Blue Side Of The Mountain (Official Audio)

First Sunday of Lent

Mt 4:1-11

At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert

to be tempted by the devil.

He fasted for forty days and forty nights,

and afterwards he was hungry.

The tempter approached and said to him,

"If you are the Son of God,

command that these stones become loaves of bread."

He said in reply,

"It is written:

One does not live on bread alone,

but on every word that comes forth

from the mouth of God."

Then the devil took him to the holy city,

and made him stand on the parapet of the temple,

and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.

For it is written:

He will command his angels concerning you

and with their hands they will support you,

lest you dash your foot against a stone."

Jesus answered him,

"Again it is written,

You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test."

Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain,

and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence,

and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you,

if you will prostrate yourself and worship me."

At this, Jesus said to him,

"Get away, Satan!

It is written:

The Lord, your God, shall you worship

and him alone shall you serve."

Then the devil left him and, behold,

angels came and ministered to him.

Have Faith

 

Top news concerns in no particular order:

• Earthquake in Turkey - 46,957 dead
• The war in Ukraine - one year later
• North Korea testing missiles
• United States plans to expand the training of Taiwanese forces
• East Palestine, Ohio (US) Train Derailment disaster

These are just a few troubling news stories we should all be looking at.

I realize there will always be bad news every day, but it's usually just a couple of reports. Today is more than usual, and most of these have been ongoing.  

Throughout history, events like these have occurred and have always come to an end, but not without a cost.  We are at the point where the need for prayer is of the utmost importance.

Prayer is the most powerful act we can do, and when the world prays, change happens. Some might believe it has no effect, and those have little or no faith at all. Well, you cannot pray if you don't have faith and hope; they go together. 

So, if you are concerned about some world news, maybe it's time to start your conversation with God and have a little faith. 

 Matthew 17:20 

He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” 

Photo - pixabay - geralt

St. John Vianney Quote

 

No Football

The top news story today is about the Super Bowl.  This is to be expected because of all the hype that traditionally surrounds this major sporting event. Everyone cheers for their team, or they have wagered a bet, and some for the halftime show and commercials.

I, for one, did not watch it.  I am a former fan of the sport, a season-ticket holder, and a fantasy football fan player. Several years ago, I was saddened when all of the wokeness infiltrated the league. I was a fan because of the sport itself but mostly because it was a uniting event with no politics, no agenda, no X-rated halftime show, and an overall patriotic demonstration of two of the best teams in the world of an American sport. America seemed to be united, and political differences were put aside, and for the day, it was about the game of football.

The NFL, the Grammy award show, and other Hollywood liberals are doing their part with those who want to change how America has traditionally viewed the values for which this country was founded.  The Judeo-Christian values have become a thorn in the side of those who want to make America progressive to the point where anything goes; no matter the agenda, there would be no limit to what is said, no limit to what is shown. The one way to fight back is to voice your opinion openly and not give into the woke society pressure just because it's the popular thing to do.

Photo: - pixabay - alessandra1barbieri

Film Friday - Comedy/Romance

Valentine's Day is in a few days. I thought posting my top 8 comedy - romance movies would be appropriate. In romance, you must have a sense of humor. And as always, they are classic films.

Top 8 Romance-Comedy Films:

#8 Holiday Affair (1949)

#7 Living on Love (1937)

#6 The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

#5 The More the Merrier (1943)

#4 The Philadelphia Story (1940)

#3 Marty (1955)

#2 One Way Passage (1932)

#1 You Can't Take It with You (1938)

Earthquake Prayers Needed

The latest report of fatalities from the earthquake is over 11,000.

Syria and Turkey were hit with a 7.8 magnitude earthquake. Aid coming into the country has been difficult because of the political borders. It seems the world reacts and wants to help, but politics is getting in the way. Disasters like this always unite the world because of the humanitarian effort to save lives, and time is of the essence. Every minute that goes by, someone is dying under the debris. 

The amount of technology, structural engineers, and First Responders worldwide could quickly speed up the whole process. 

Please pray for the folks in this region. 

A balloon?

It has taken decades for our country to become a superpower, and a balloon has compromised our defense. 

How and why did this happen?

Those in charge of our air defense have clearly failed to protect our nation's airspace. If this situation had been a battleship off the coast, I would hope we would have deterred the advancement of a foreign country into our waters. But I'm not sure this would happen now. 

There should be more updates this week on this failure, but I cannot foresee any reason why this happened.

Photo: pixabay - susannp4