Entertainment stories often lack substantive journalistic value, resembling more of a curated collection of rumors and speculative narratives than genuine news reporting. These pieces seem designed to titillate rather than inform, blurring the lines between credible journalism and sensationalized gossip.

Meteorological discussions during serene, cloudless conditions often lack substance, transforming broadcast segments into mere conversational filler that fails to engage or inform viewers.

Sports is not news. Technically, what they put on TV is news and sports. In some cases more like sports and a little news.

They have programming dedicated to gossip on entertainment. They have programming dedicated to sports. Why can’t they have programs dedicated to actual news?

Wish I had a choice. No mountains in the Memphis area, and the best thing to do for a beach is to rent a room where they have a pool. Oh well, no sharks or avalanches.

Actually, that’s not entirely true. There are a few muddy lakes within driving distance. When the kids were young, we visited them a few times. It is the one thing I miss about California. We spent hours at the beach at a time. Nowadays, the beaches are so crowded that one can’t enjoy them much. Going up to Big Bear was fun, but fighting the traffic on the way back removes all the enjoyment.

It might seem strange to some but I have written on this subject a number of times.

I started it after about the umpteenth time I read in the Bible about Jesus healing the ten lepers. Okay. I admit. Sometimes I am a slow learner. Sometimes, people never learn I might add.

At any rate, only one returned and thanked Jesus who asked where the other nine were. In other words, about 90% are as grateful as we ought to be. Why can’t we take the few seconds to utter a genuine thank you?

Originally I only thanked God as I should have years earlier. Then it occurred to me, I should thank others as well. When those at a restaurant provide for me a meal and does the dishes for me, shouldn’t I thank them? Should I slight them because I am providing payment in return?

They look at me strange when I thank them at Chick-fil-A as I leave, but they always smile and that makes me feel better as it likely makes them feel better too.

It does somewhat turn things around. I mean, they are supposed to thank me, right, for doing business with them? I feel better when I beat them to it.

When I was in my youth, people were fought to say thank you, or sir or ma’am. I think it is all as important. However, most of us don’t act like that.

Regardless, when someone does something for you, make sure you don’t part ways without a good honest, “Thank you.”

Enthusiasm, a lot of sound knowledge and the ability to share it. It also doesn’t hurt to have good dedicated students. Learning, after all, is a two part process.

I rarely do anything in the morning. All my life, I worked nights. Unless there is a specific reason, I don’t do mornings and neither does my wife. Now that we are retired, we have that option.

Unfortunately, there are things for which I much awake early, a doctor appointment or to have my car serviced for instance. I might be able to get someone to take my car to have it serviced but I must always be present during my doctor appointments.

I have always felt it was unfair that the world would make those of us working at night bend our schedule to the world’s schedule. I mean, if I must go in at 8 or 9, that is the middle of my sleeping time. Then to make matters worse, if I get done around noon, I don’t even have the option of trying to recover the sleep I missed. By the time I get a chance to catch up on my sleep, I’m about to fall over in my tracks before getting home.

Daily writing prompt

What are your morning rituals? What does the first hour of your day look like?

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I looked at this prompt and decided it was asked backward. I really can’t think of anything that isn’t unique in us all. Granted, some things are quantitative while others might be more cut and dry.

It is both a strength and a weakness in the armed forces. While in Marine boot camp, much of the training is to create a standard, uniform Marine out of each recruit. It frequently works out that one man’s weakness is another’s strength. And so it is that the strength of a platoon is far greater than the sum of its parts.

And so, every Marine meets certain standards while each excels in certain things. While we would never expect civilians to live under such standards, it does still work in similar ways. And the good leader sees those strengths and weaknesses and deploys his personnel in much the same way as the commander of a company. In this way, his personnel all pull in one direction instead of in opposing directions.

While the context may extend beyond the original inquiry, it illuminates my perspective on the matter. Upon completing Marine boot camp, individuals maintain their distinctive qualities, despite the standardized training that initially seems to homogenize their experiences.

Before the first training day, the group would display remarkable individual differences. Each person would stand out with distinctive characteristics, raising the intriguing question: What truly defines human uniqueness?

Daily writing prompt

Which aspects do you think makes a person unique?

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No bout adout it. If I had about fifty million dollars in the bank, I’d find somewhere near San Diego by the sea, and I’d walk among the waves every day, even if it were raining, as long as it wasn’t too severe.

It has but one problem. In order to afford it, I would have to tie my rowboat to the dock, put my bed in one place, and the fridge in another. I’d need to use a public BBQ for cooking.

Along the coastline stretching from the Mexican border to Camp Pendleton, numerous large boats crowd the marinas, creating a challenging landscape for boat owners. Despite having substantial financial resources, securing a suitable mooring spot remains a complex endeavor, highlighting the competitive nature of maritime real estate in this region.

Ironically, these lavish vessels seldom venture beyond the harbor’s protective barrier, with hired crews inhabiting their decks far more frequently than their affluent owners.

Squandering prime coastal real estate and perfect meteorological conditions feels like a missed opportunity. In retrospect, pursuing a maritime career during my younger years might have offered an escape from mundane routines, allowing me to embrace the sea’s allure without the need of immense wealth.

Daily writing prompt

What is your favorite type of weather?

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Yep. No two ways about it. I’m boring.

Daily writing prompt

What is one word that describes you?

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At one time, I really liked flying. Not so much anymore. It’s not nearly as safe, this in spite of all the inconvenience I have to go through.

It’s not just the rise in incidents, but more the type. It’s just plain sloppiness. It’s just blind luck we haven’t had a great deal more loss of life. I mean when that plug came off that plane, that wasn’t carelessness but plain sloppy maintenance. (I’m not so much interested in who forgot to put the bolts in, but who it was that was suppose to check it.) Now we have wheels falling off. (was that design, maintenance Anyone want to write that one off to negligence. It’s just simply sloppy in every aspect, from maintenance or just lack of interest in safety and design to flight planning and tower personnel. Really, do you want helicopters flying close to your runway approaches. How in the world did that one happen. Just where is the next one getting ready to surprise us all.

It’s going to catch up and I don’t want to be on a plane when it does. Why would anyone?

Personally, I’ll wait until they work out these efforts at equalizing, instead of making decisions based on skill and ability.

Daily writing prompt

You’re going on a cross-country trip. Airplane, train, bus, car, or bike?

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