I Was Just Curious

From the time I was seven, I was brought up near Disneyland. Actually, that’s not 100% true. The theme park was just an orange grove at the time.

Yup. For some time, when we passed the spot, the remark was made, “That’s where they’re building Disneyland.” Perhaps the one thing that was most visible was the Peter Pan pirate ship.

The transformation that followed was simply unimaginable. The area around Disneyland went from orange trees to hotels, motels, restaurants and parking lots.

The whole Disney empire exploded as well. The studio turned out one huge success after success. The theme park grew in size and attendance.

First time I attended, it was about 3 or 4 dollars a person. If you didn’t go on the rides, that was it. Most, however, bought books which included admission, a few each of A through E tickets. The A tickets, well, most used about half of them. The prize tickets were the E tickets. Invariably, most bought extra E tickets.

For a while it actually caused a frequently used expression, “Well, that was an E ticket,” implying it was a really good experience.

Well. Things have changed and they have changed. Just getting into the park is horribly expensive. I don’t know how people afford it.

Just out of curiosity, I looked it up on line. First, I had a difficult time determining what it costs for 1 day. All the quotes I saw were for three days or for multi-park costs. It seemed to me a classic up salesmanship.

It is as if, if I want just a day in the park, then they have no interest in me. Well, I did find the cost, sortof. It changes, depending on the time of the year.

Well, they may not have much interest in me. The feeling is mutual. Ever since Walt Disney died, the whole empire has been taking a dive, big time. Their movies are failing. Their park attendance is slipping and even ABC is having problems.

It’s sort-of what happens when companies go woke. It’s sort of what happens when they produce children’s movies with adult subjects and inappropriate material in them.

Moreover, they seem to lack originality. They keep redoing old movies with a woke touch. It just really doesn’t work. Most parents won’t put up with it.

It’s showing up on Disney’s bottom line and they just don’t get it. It would seem they believe that if they keep trying, that round peg is going to go though that square hole.

Controllers

I don’t exactly know why it is but there is always an element of society that likes to be in control. Throughout history, we have had our pharaohs, kings, tzars, emperors, casers and on and on. Invariably, they have two things in common. They say they have the good of the people in mind and they always have huge egos. In some cases, they proclaim themselves to be gods and frequently do all they can to live eternally. (Not with much success)

Well, actually, they have two more things in common. They love to have absolute control over the entirety of their realm, and they want their realm to include the entirety of world.

Hitler and Mussolini had dreams of world dominance. Naturally, had we lost the war, the three empires would eventually have to fight it out to determine if we all would speak German, Italian or Japanese. As controllers, they would have never been willing to share.

It seems as one controller goes down to defeat another stands ready willing and able to take over. Here lately, they’ve been coming at us in bunches. Even before Hitler, Stalin was ready to take his position in history. We finally deal with Hitler and Mao shows up on the world stage.

Then, there are the dozen, or so mini dictators who kept popping up. They showed up in Central and South America. They tried to seize control of Africa. Then, while we drive one dictator out of Cuba, we find out we just installed another. I’m sure the Cuban’s appreciated that. Of course, Castro said it was for the good of Cuban people. I think that was a lie and I suspect there are few Cubans that would agree.

Now, we have Putin, the man that snatched monarchy out of the immature democracy that preceeded him. At least the man is honest. He’s not doing it under the premise of creating a utopian society where all are equal. (You notice, always these utopias always have people who are more equal than others.)

All the folks like me just want to live out our lives in peace. The problem is that every time we turn around someone else comes along and starts a war with us, of course, promising peace and equality.

The Bible tells us that there will be a man who will be successful in taking total control of the world. He will promise peace and prosperity. For a while, there will be peace but not for long. The man will bring war, hunger and a horrible economy. The average family will not be able to purchase a loaf of bread. There will be disease and I would suspect riots. Not many will sit by under these conditions and do nothing.

For seven years the man will be the ultimate controller. At the end of the seven years God will put an end to it. He will put Satan and the man away for a thousand years. During that time, Christ will rule this world. The controllers popping up and taking control will cease. Jesus will see to it.

For sure, you do not want to be around to see those seven years. They will be the worst seven years on this planet.

There is a way to avoid it. Accept Jesus Christ as your savior. Before this all happens, Jesus will take those who are saved out of this world. We who are born into the Kingdom of God will be with Jesus through the whole thing. The suffering will only be for those who refuse to accept Jesus as their savior.

Maybe, possibly sounds like a good idea to accept Jesus as your savior, the earlier the better.

As for those controllers. They will get everything they have coming to them, including the devil. You certainly don’t want to be counted among them.

Controllers in Control of the Churches

It is no new idea of mine that it is time for our churches to rid themselves of control by DC. One might ask, “How is Washington controlling our churches?” By the tax-exempt status. The law says that if the preacher speaks on politics, then they are in danger of losing their tax-exempt status. Therefore, they don’t speak on politics. Therefore, DC controls the subject from the pulpits. It is the same way that Washington controls the schools, the speed limits and who knows how many other things.

But, if we give up our exempt status, then people will stop giving to the church. They will go to other churches. Sounds just exactly like what they want us to say. Hence, I say, DC has control of the churches. Right now, it is in a minor way. However, I suggest it will only get worse, not better.

Moreover, I don’t think God likes the idea of Old Joe controlling what is said from the pulpit. If God directs the preacher to speak on the subject, regardless of the subject, Joe really ought not have any say.

Next, do they call abortion a political issue. Already, it is getting difficult to bring up homosexuality, though the Bible makes it quite clear that it is not political. What happens when Old Man Joe fusses for churches speaking about January 6. The instant a preacher says those imprisoned should be pardoned, bang, there goes the tax status.

After a while, the line between politics and religion will be blurred more and more through time. Better that we lie down the gauntlet now. Tell them, it’s First Amendment territory. They have no business telling us what we preach or when we preach it. It is called freedom of speech. It’s called freedom of religion. It’s not called Remote control by DC by improper taxation.

We might lose some folks from the pews. Maybe it is better.

Then again, those churches that don’t mind receiving instruction from DC, then, by all means, say nothing about politics. Say nothing about abortion. Say nothing homosexuality. Careful about what say about crime and law enforcement. Mostly, don’t say a word about the candidates and what they believe. If we take money, then it’s not legal.

As my aside. Bear in mind, there are churches that have no problems maintaining their tax-exempt status while talking about politics, politicians and even encouraging politicians to speak from their podiums. They teach what the dems teach and they have no difficulty in blatantly disobeying the law. The dems have no difficulty blatantly ignoring the disobedience. And of course, one must be very careful about pointing this out.

Is it Right or Is it Wrong?

In last few days the Supreme court has made some decisions. Old Joe has said he will need to find another way. The homosexuals have said they have been slighted. The dems are upset that there is no longer a quota system in the colleges. It would seem there is a whole lot of disagreeing going on. One says one thing. The other says the other.

So, the question is arising, were they right or were they wrong? I submit to you. it is very easy to tell. When the dems hate it, the Justices can suspect they got it right. When the NY times complains about the decision, it goes beyond suspicion. When the major news anchors complain as if someone has them by the little toe, then they will know, beyond any reasonable doubt that they have it right.

Not in My Lifetime

Channel ten is the local station for PBS. I do watch it from time to time. They do have two or three good shows. Although here lately, it’s getting rarer. Then too, they like to preach to me about climate change. Not that it matters but I would suspect the folks that run that network generate a lot more carbon dioxide in an hour than I do in a month. I likely use less water and I certainly don’t take up nearly as much space in my little 900 square foot home. I really don’t think they have any right preaching their message at me. They are the ones who need to take their own advice.

Nonetheless, they like to ask me for contributions. That is not going to happen. Certainly not while they try to convince the world of that garbage. Now, here lately, they’ve gotten on that homosexual related binge, the one where they uses up almost all the letters in the alphabet. If I were to give one dime to any outfit that preached that stuff as normal, God would be completely justified in taking me off this planet immediately.

Why should I give anyway. Ignoring the homosexual thing, they don’t have any programming worth it. What they need to do is just simply go commercial. Then, if they were really smart, they would know better than to put stuff like that on TV. Look at what it did to Budweiser. People don’t like seeing things like that. It’s not just me. I’m not the only one complaining. Why do you think they are losing the public funding so fast? People do have objections and they don’t like their money squandered as they do. They ought to figure it out as I’m sure the contributions are dropping. I’m sure their audience is shrinking as well. If it continues, they will just simply disappear, they will simply fade away. It won’t hurt my feelings.

Why should I contribute one dime to any organization that hates God the way they do. I know they hate God because of what they say and because of what they do. If they liked God, even a little, they wouldn’t talk like that and they wouldn’t act like that. They are openly and actively rebelling against the Him.

As for me, I’ll have no part of it. Believe me, if the stations were to be dropped tomorrow, we wouldn’t miss it. Those shows that are good will find their way onto other platforms. If they don’t, they must not be that good.

If they really want my support, they will need to change what they say and what they do. My guess is, that is not going to happen, not in my lifetime.

Thanks Shelby County

They just approved a 50 dollar wheel tax. That will encourage a few to move south, or north, or west. Of course, it won’t make my property value to increase but a penny or two, but every bit helps. Besides, it’s really long term anyway. We all know that the fifty will always increase, never decrease. Who knows what it will be in a few years.

When a person looks at that long term, they just might decide DeSoto County might be better than Shelby County to call home.

Well, there is always that traffic problem but that will be here anyway. The folks from Memphis are flocking to the better safer and more convenient DeSoto eating places. I know. I can tell. On any given Sunday, Southaven’s Golden Corral parking lot is about half full with Shelby County car tags.

It’s okay. Y’ll just keep coming. We appreciate the business and the tax revenues. My guess is that over a year, Mississippi will make gain more off the extra sales tax revenues than Shelby County will gain on their wheel tax. Oh. And by the way, we appreciate the government up north encouraging the migration south.

Seeking an Answer

If I may digress. This post reminds me of a song, “A Lover’s Question,” sung by Clyde McPhatter. I certainly am not a country/western music fan, but this one is pretty good. It’s got a good tune, some thoughtful words, and yes, even the backup group is good. It’s the kind of song that just might haunt you all day. You might even find yourself singing it without realizing it. More than that, you might find yourself identifying with it. If you can, you might look it up and play it, it is well worth your while, even if you don’t like country music.

I came to the above title from name of the song in a somewhat roundabout way. Originally, I started with “A Customer’s Question.” Didn’t feel that was apropos. I mean, we are speaking business, not love relationships. I was still somewhat tempted. It is kind of a catchy title. Nonetheless, I decided to use something not quite as good, but more accurate.

Now, getting down to the question and the reason for it. I would really like to know why big corporations like to (figuratively) shoot themselves in the foot. They make decisions they know are going to affect their bottom line and they do it without much true consideration. Consider Budweiser. Those that have read my post very long know that I don’t approve of alcohol at all. But this, this is really dumb. They have lost, what 7 billion dollars just to make a commercial that is friendly to homosexuals and unfriendly to their customers. And now, they can’t even issue an apology. The best they can do is march their Clydesdales out and hope for the best. I am sure that their stockholders have had a few things to say about that. They have likely said that they are desperately seeking an answer to why they did such a dumb thing. (Why did they do that?)

At one time, I had Xfinity cable and internet. I likely still would. However, one day, they started calling my home and suggesting we need a box for converting digital TV to analog. Don’t know if it was intentional, but they left both the wife and me with the impression that there would be no charge for it. We said no. We have but two TVs and they were both hooked up to cable. After the sixth call, one that I took, I agreed to let them send it. However, just to make sure there were no misunderstandings, I said that the first time they bill me for it, I’d pack it all up and take to the local store. They did, and I did.

They shot themselves in the foot. Why did they do that? It wasn’t so much the amount. I suspect that I could have returned the little box and had the cost removed. It’s the idea. They were dishonest. I told them what I’d do, and I did. My guess is that they didn’t care. At that time, they likely had enough customers, losing one or two wouldn’t hurt. I don’t know. Maybe they did have too many customers and they decided to prune a few.

I went to AT&T for cable and internet. Oddly they don’t love their customers either. I lost service so I called them up. Because I could not give them a 4-digit pin number, they refused to fix it. Fine. No problem I told them. I asked for an address to send the equipment and disconnected that day. Why did they do that? I guess they simply did not want to keep the over 2 hundred a month I was sending them. It must have been well decided on their end because I talked to two managers on the phone. Naturally, no face-to-face conversations here. No such thing these days.

It happens in local businesses too. I no longer go to McDonald’s, Wendy’s or Walmart. They have proved to me that they all have too many customers. So, Walmart has lost around two to three hundred a week. Sometimes more. They’ll never miss it. If they were to read this post, they’d not care. It would seem that they don’t like their customers. They just put up with them so as to make their billions off of us. I now go to Kroger. Maybe I spend a little more, but the service is far better and friendlier. Why did Walmart do that?

I could likely write thousands of words on this subject. I would suspect that there are many more who could. Those guys up in those board rooms just don’t seem to get it. They really do need customers. When they lose them they will lose their income. They just don’t seem to get it.

Being woke might impress one group of people. Going broke. Well. That could be a problem.

Which is Worst?

Which one is worst? Is it the one who offers the bribe in hopes of getting his way, regardless of what is right?

Is it the one who receives the bribe, knowing that he is going to treat a person or person wrong as a result?

Maybe the worst of all is the one who stands by and observes the bribe and says nothing. Maybe he says nothing out of fear. Perhaps he keeps quiet and benefits from the bribe. I don’t know. There might be dozens of reasons for blinding himself to that which he knows to be wrong.

When I was a young man, still in high school, I was taught about the third world countries where bribery was a way of life. The officer, expected and received the little payment to turn his head. The government official knew he would receive the bribe to allow the immigrant into the country. The teacher explained that, of course those things did not go in this country.

Now, 50 or 60 years later…

As I surveyed the recent history, I came to the conclusion that it is what happens in countries that turn their backs on God. You might ask if I consider it a judgement. To be sure, it would be a righteous judgement. But it is entirely unnecessary. It is simply a natural result. When people turn their backs on God, they do things that result in calamity.

They might call it lobbying, or donations for campaigning. It all has the same result. In but a short while, unless we allow God back in our lives, back in our schools and back in our government, the US will be a used to be. We will join the ranks of third world countries. People will be going south over the Mexican border, not north. No one will want to live in a land that is ruled by the few, the rich, the powerful.

And, invariably, the few, the rich and the powerful will not let go of their hold on this nation.

So. What is your thought? Are you one who bribes? Are you one who accepts the bribes. Or are you one who simply looks away when you see a bribe. Hopefully, you are none of those. Yet, millions of people stood by and watched Biden offer a billion-dollar bribe and still voted for him. Millions stood by and watched what the dems did to our voting system. And still they voted for them.

It looks like they approved of the bribes to me. So don’t be surprised when they count the US as a third world country. Don’t be surprised when money by the wheelbarrow will not buy a loaf of bread.

Don’t be surprised when God turns his back on us as this nation has turned its back on Him.

In the past, the US was an example of a Godly nation. Nowadays. Not so much.

Where to Put a Bridge

The other day they did a news story about the I-55 bridge being closed for the weekend and I-40 bridge being partially closed for a while. For those unaware, that mostly isolates Memphis from Arkansas. My guess is that it really affected trucking the most.

At any rate, the news folks brought up a subject I heard about from time-to-time. It seems there is a third bridge is in the planning.

It made me wonder, just where will they put the third bridge? My first thought was, where it will do the least good. Then I figured maybe they should put it south of the stateline. Then I realized it was not only selfish of me but highly improbable. Most likely Tennessee money will go into the building of the bridge.

The proper consideration would be to build it a few miles north of The Hernando Desoto Bridge. This would make the most sense as it might help straighten the I-40 kink caused by the fiasco of the effort to put I-40 interstate through the middle of Memphis. (Long story. Too much to get into right now)

On the other hand, maybe it could be put in south of the I-55 bridge…in line with I-240 south. That would allow the old bridge to do what it was originally intended for, serve downtown Memphis.

Actually, none of it matters to me. They won’t decide, maybe for another decade. They won’t break ground for another five years. Maybe, if some going green outfit doesn’t object, they will open the bridge after another five years.

If, by some chance, the bridge is done before I depart this earth, I will very likely have no idea where or am, let alone where the bridge is.

It’s sort-of the way government does things; very, very slow, if at all.

Grid Lock in Horn Lake, Mississippi

I know. Those of you in NY, NY or LA, CA have little interest in what happens in little ol’ DeSoto County Mississippi, but you ought to.

Let me explain, please. In 1977, when I was discharged from the Marines, Highway 302 (also known as Goodman Road) was a little two-lane road that had more pot holes than any known human could count. When I moved to Desoto County, Southaven wasn’t a city; Olive Branch was a city, but barely.

Highway 302 was 2 lanes all the way from US highway 61 all the way past Olive Branch. Now it is at least 4-laned all the way from US 61 to US 72, about 34 miles. And, by the way, nary a pothole all the way.

Now why should you care, those of you in Southern California? What difference does it make to those of you on Long Island? Of what importance is it to those in the Windy City?

Well, here is the point. I tried to drive across through I-55 interchange today and I encountered gridlock. That’s right. It took me four lights in all to cross the 3 7 lane bridge in little old horn lake. We had gridlock. How can this be? When I first moved to DeSoto County, the Horn Lake population was about 5000. Now, the population is about 27 thousand. (Likely more than that, as it has grown since the census) If things keep going, I’d suspect that the city of Southaven will rival Jackson in a decade or two. If those dems keep messing thing us, up there, maybe sooner.

This is sort of odd if you look at the growth of Mississippi in general, which has been decreasing, at least for the last decade or so. Why is this? Why do we have so many traffic problems in our little towns in northern Mississippi.

Of course, I can only guess. I have no degree in such things. I have no degree at all. Yet, I have noticed a thing or two over the years. The businesses in southern Memphis are closing. They are shutting down. In some cases, they are closing their doors north of the state line and opening up offices and storefronts south of the state line.

Now how can this be? Memphis used to be a really nice place. I know. When I was in the Marines, I was stationed there, twice. I saw it as a really great place to live in 1968. Then, when I went back in 1972, I saw some deterioration. Finally, when I was discharged at Millington in 1977, I could see the beginning of the downfall.

Nowadays, people are leaving the city by the thousands, and not too many people are moving in.

While I am sure, as the scarecrow in The Wizard of OZ, we can point in many directions for the problems the city has. Mostly though, we must point to the leadership of the city. Every time they even hint at making a really dumb decision, the value of my home goes up a percent or two. By the way, it also follows that the value of homes in Memphis decrease. I am sure there are many that would like to move south but they have homes they cannot sell for reasonable prices.

Could it be…? Mind you, I am only asking the question. Could it be that the democrats really don’t know how to run a city? I mean…, in every place throughout the country, when the dems took over, the property values plummeted, and not just a little. May I remind you of Detroit where they are bulldozing homes down. Apparently, they can’t even give them away and leaving them vacant only leads to more problems.

And now, if you look around, we see it is happening with states. I understand it is difficult to find a U-Haul to rent in California or New York. You notice there are counties wanting to detach themselves from Washington and Oregon to attach themselves to Idaho. I wonder why. Do you suppose they are all trying to escape the dems? Do you think maybe they don’t like the idea of living under communist regimes? Do you think maybe they are tired of their tax dollars going to those who are too lazy to work. Mostly, mostly, I suspect they don’t like the way the dems run the schools. They would rather their kids be taught how to read and write instead of pretending to be the gender they aren’t? Do you suppose, maybe they would rather their kids be taught math rather than global weather change. Just maybe it would be better to learn history rather than the lies and the brainwashing.

Look out folks. One day they will come up with a law to keep you from moving from a dem state to a Republican state. I mean, how can they spread their vile lies when the kids keep leaving?

As my aside, safety is certainly a big factor as well. I saw the other day on local news program that Memphis restaurant owners have had just about enough. They want the city to start enforcing the law for the safety of their patrons and employees.

It is why the folks are coming south to eat. It is why the businesses are moving south. Not only is it safer but that’s sort of where the customers are going. They are simply following the crowd.

Meanwhile, the little house of mine has gone from selling at 25,000 to a value of right close to 110,000 in about 40 years. I kind of like those dems…, as long as they stay north of the state line.