News?

My computer frequently displays headlines on the screen without my prompting. Generally, I ignore them. Mostly, I do not consider them news. Take, for example, the current 5 news headlines: one is concerning the Dallas Cowboys, which is sports, not news. Another is about the Colts. A third was about the New England Patriots wide receiver, which is also not news.

The company posting the “not news” is 24/7 News. Do you suppose they are having difficulty finding real news? More likely, they just don’t want to display actual news, like the type that would make Democratic governors or the former president appear bad. Do you suppose they don’t want Democrats running nonexistent child care facilities to look bad as they steal fortunes from the American Treasury?

Incidentally, they do have separate headlines for sports, where they could place all sports headlines. However, if they did that, they might have to resort to news articles in the news section. I get the idea they would rather not do that.

Is It Legal

I have taken note that by presidential order, drugs and drug smugglers are being sunk at sea. Some delight in questioning if it is legal. Every year Old Joe was in office they did nothing to intercept the drugs and ninety thousand a year died from drugs. Now, those characters have the nerve to ask if sinking those boats is legal.

My question is, why didn’t Old Joe do it. One might think Old Joe liked watching almost a hundred thousand of our youth die from drugs each year. Apparently, it didn’t much bother him. Maybe it would if he were forced to explain to all those families individually. Do you have any idea how long that would take?

Too Busy to Help a Customer?

Here’s a suggestion for a subject for a post: Should a restaurant ever be too busy to help hungry customers, especially during dinnertime? Should a customer ever have to wait over five minutes to order food while there are no customers in line in front of him?

Frustrated by the poor service, I finally drove next door to a welcoming restaurant where a friendly staff member greeted me warmly and swiftly took my order, providing the attentive experience I had been seeking.

TV & Reality

As my wife’s illness progresses, she has more difficulty with TV. I keep telling her the shows aren’t real. It angers her, accusing me of not knowing.

Reality television has increasingly blurred the lines between authenticity and scripted entertainment. Take, for instance, the popular storage auction shows that once seemed genuine. Initially, I believed in their raw, unscripted nature, much like how professional wrestling was once perceived as a legitimate sport. However, as I continued watching, the interactions became noticeably more choreographed. The verbal exchanges began to feel less spontaneous and more like carefully crafted dialogue, revealing the manufactured drama behind the scenes. This realization prompted me to question the credibility of reality programming and the extent to which these shows are actually “real.”

In contemporary television, scripted dialogue has evolved from polished, rehearsed exchanges to more spontaneous narratives that draw inspiration from current events, challenging viewers to engage more critically with the storytelling.

In our increasingly complex media landscape, discerning truth from fabrication has become a challenging endeavor. News programs, despite their polished studios and professional veneer, often present conflicting narratives that shift with alarming frequency. While these broadcasts remain our primary source of information, critical viewers must carefully navigate the terrain of reporting, constantly evaluating the credibility of each statement. The more inconsistencies and retractions emerge, the more skeptical audiences become, eroding trust in traditional media platforms and challenging our understanding of objective reality.

As I confide in my wife, professional football stands as our sole bastion of authenticity in a world of manufactured narratives. The raw intensity of athletes competing for championship glory seems unparalleled, a genuine spectacle of human determination. Yet, with recent gambling controversies casting long shadows across the sport, I find myself questioning its integrity. Perhaps the gridiron is slowly transforming into just another scripted performance, trading genuine athletic passion for manufactured drama.

Milkshakes & Memory

It had been ages since my wife and I indulged in a milkshake, a simple pleasure we’d long forgotten. After running an errand at the local pharmacy, we spontaneously decided to stop by McDonald’s. The moment the creamy, cold beverage touched our lips, nostalgia washed over us. The familiar, sweet taste transported us back to carefree moments of our past. My wife, savoring every last drop, continued to draw from her straw long after the liquid had disappeared, her contentment evident in her lingering smile.

During my freshman year of high school, I often relied on milkshakes as a quick meal replacement. These creamy beverages provided a satisfying blend of calories and temporary fullness, perfectly suited to my slender teenage metabolism. At a lean 130 pounds, I could indulge in multiple milkshakes without concern for immediate dietary consequences.

During my time in Da Nang, an unexpected craving haunted me: milkshakes. The mess hall had spoiled us with exceptional cuisine—diverse, well-prepared meals that defied the challenging circumstances. Yet, amid the culinary abundance, milkshakes remained conspicuously absent from the menu, leaving a sweet void in my dining experience.

During my R&R in Sydney, I embarked on a personal mission to savor a milkshake each day of my six-day stay. However, my culinary expectations quickly deflated when I discovered the local interpretation of a milkshake dramatically differed from my own. The beverages served were more foam than substance, with an airy composition that seemed to be at least 70% empty space, leaving me utterly underwhelmed and craving the rich, substantial milkshakes I knew from home.

Upon my return to the United States, two vivid memories stand out: savoring a creamy milkshake and enjoying a slice of pizza, though not in a single sitting. Curiously, the details of my actual arrival remain a blur. I can distinctly recall boarding the initial flight, spending a memorable week exploring Okinawa, and then embarking on the return journey. Yet, the specifics of landing on American soil—including the location—have completely escaped my recollection. The peculiarity of forgetting such a significant moment puzzles me, leaving me to wonder how one can simply lose track of such a pivotal experience.

So many little things I remember as if it were yesterday. My return from Vietnam is completely blurry. I sit here pondering, just how can this be?

Five Rules for New Gun Owners

  1. Until proven otherwise, assume all guns are loaded.
  2. When a gun is proven not loaded, assume it is loaded.
  3. Never, never point a gun in a direction where it might hurt or kill someone, even if you are sure it is not loaded. This means you need to be aware of anyone or anything beyond any potential target. By the way, a nine mm projectile can carry on for miles. That is to say, it can remain lethal far beyond that target you missed.
  4. A gun is a good equalizer. A five foot woman can use it to defend herself from a six, six hunk of a man. However, if she is not willing to use a gun in your defense, she should not get one. If she gets one, she is apt to have it used against her. The brandishing of a gun won’t always stop the bad guys. Actually, even shooting a bad guy doesn’t always stop him, especially if he is high.
  5. Do not let the bad guy get closer that ten feet from you. The bad guy can traverse that ten feet in a fraction of a second. Referring to rule four, pointing a weapon at someone does not always stop the bad guys.

Through years of observation, I’ve gained insights into firearm safety, despite not being an expert. The phrase “I didn’t know it was loaded” has become an all-too-familiar refrain, even among those who should understand better. I recall an incident involving a marine sergeant who tragically shot a friend during an ill-advised quick draw game. Another memorable moment from a news clip illustrated the critical importance of maintaining a safe distance: an assailant wielding a knife charged a police officer from ten feet away. The officer fired multiple shots while continuously retreating, and the attacker ultimately fell precisely where the officer had originally stood. This encounter reinforced my perspective on the significance of spatial awareness and defensive positioning in potentially dangerous confrontations.

If only we could universally share this wisdom, preventing others from repeating costly mistakes. Sadly, many individuals seem destined to learn life’s lessons through personal hardship rather than heeding the hard-earned insights of those who came before them.

Investing in basic firearm training is crucial, regardless of your background or intended use. As a veteran, I wasn’t mandated to complete a training course for my carry permit, but I chose to do so and found immense value in the experience. The knowledge and skills gained are invaluable for anyone considering firearm ownership or personal safety. I strongly recommend such training to everyone, even those without immediate plans to purchase a weapon. It’s important to recognize that any object, from a hammer to a baseball bat, can potentially be used as a weapon, underscoring the significance of proper safety education and awareness.

Do You Suppose Bill Was Listening?

Some time ago, I made a quote that I have repeated many times.

In a conversation about investment strategies, I was struck by Trace Adkins’ pragmatic perspective on wealth. His assertion that gold lacks inherent utility resonated deeply, as he emphasized the true value of essential resources: land for sustenance, seeds for cultivation, and lead for protection. This no-nonsense approach to preparedness has since become a personal mantra, reflecting a grounded view of survival and self-sufficiency.

I suppose over time, many have heard about it. Some might have heard Adkins directly. Others might have heard my quote. Then, too, still others might have heard a quote of a quote. Regardless, somewhere along the line, maybe Bill Gates listened and took heed. He sure has been buying a lot of farmland. It makes me wonder if he has been secretly stocking lead as well. I mean, worst comes to worst, how does he hold onto all that land?

Tariffs?

In principle, free trade without tariffs is an admirable goal. Yet, economic realities often demand a more nuanced approach. When foreign nations strategically employ tariffs to undermine domestic industries, a measured response becomes necessary. The alternative is watching critical sectors like manufacturing slowly erode, as witnessed in the Rust Belt’s decline before recent trade policy shifts.The reinvigoration of steel and aluminum industries demonstrates how targeted tariffs can protect national economic interests. Beyond economic considerations, there are profound strategic implications. A robust domestic steel industry is not merely an economic asset but a critical national security imperative. In potential conflict scenarios, dependence on foreign—potentially adversarial—steel supplies could compromise our strategic capabilities.While free trade remains an ideal, protecting core industrial capacities must take precedence when international economic dynamics threaten national economic and military preparedness. Balanced, strategic trade policies can help maintain both economic competitiveness and national resilience.

The global aerospace industry faces complex challenges, particularly in commercial aircraft manufacturing. European nations like England and France have strategically collaborated to develop Airbus, leveraging government funding to support design and production. This coordinated effort aims to compete directly with American aircraft manufacturers, potentially creating a dominant market position. The decline of McDonnell Douglas has already reduced competition within the United States, and increasing Airbus purchases could further impact domestic employment in the aerospace sector. These dynamics underscore the importance of maintaining a competitive and diverse industrial landscape across multiple sectors, not just aviation. We certainly DO NOT want to be caught with monopolies in Europe, or any other country, especially China.