Is this child smiling because of you?

Does he have a POSITIVE OUTLOOK on his future because of you?

Does he practice KINDNESS because you taught him how to be kind.

Will he become a GOOD ROLE MODEL because you are a good role model for him?

Does he understand the power of FORGIVENESS because you have forgiven him?

Does he APPRECIATE THE BLESSINGS he has?

Does he understand that OTHERS are less fortunate?

Will he have the SELF-CONFIDENCE he needs to succeed in this life?

Will he RESPECT others’ opinions because he learned it from you?

If you have done SOME of the above actions, you’ll leave this world a better place!

39th President of the United States, Nobel Peace Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom.

A graduate of the Naval Academy, he eventually became commander of a nuclear submarine.

He taught Sunday School in Plains, Georgia, his birthplace.

He and Evelyn, his deceased wife, worked tirelessly building houses for Habitat For Humanity.

To put it simply, he gave all he had to this country.

There will never be a greater patriot that Jimmy Carter!

The Houston Rockets and forward AJ Griffin agreed to a buyout earlier in the NBA season.

On Saturday, Griffin said in a YouTube video that he was indeed retiring from the game, announcing his intention to go into “full-time ministry.”

“I gave up basketball to follow Jesus,” he said in the video.

“I know that in a lot of people’s eyes, that seems like a loss.

But I just wanted to let you guys know that I’m super excited because I truly get to serve God.” (CNN)

Now, that’s news!

Nope.

Our modern society is hard to handle.

I feel it is in a state of chaos.

The last response we need to this chaos is anger.

Particularly when dealing with our kids.

Their school is making many transitions to the new realities.

Change is difficult for all of us, especially kids.

The one refuge they need that is free of anger is home.

It doesn’t mean that parents are having an easy time because they’re not.

But, they do have a duty as parents to provide their kids with predictability and security.

That means no ANGER!

If not today, when?

China’s newest nuclear-powered submarine sank pierside in the spring and the Chinese Navy tried to conceal the loss, according to two US defense officials.

The attack submarine was the first of its new Zhou-class line of vessels, the official said, under construction at a shipyard near the city of Wuhan.

The Zhou-class submarines have a distinctive X-shaped stern, designed to improve maneuverability underwater.

A satellite image from March 10, taken by Maxar Technologies, shows the Zhou-class sub, with its signature x-shape tail, docked at the port.

Additional Maxar imagery reviewed by CNN from later in June shows that the sub did not return to the pier. (CNN)

How outrageous is that?

Well, maybe it’s justified.

If a person owns a Gulf of Mexico waterfront home and refuses to evacuate with a huge hurricane bearing down, authorities are making a reasonable request.

After the storm has past, those wonderful “first responders” will either rescue the owner or claim the remains.

Is that fair to those who risk their lives to save another?

I understand the desire to save the house.

But, not if the storm is so strong that you need to write on your leg!

Non-alcohol drinks, as shown above, are being consumed by younger kids.

Statistics show that those younger people who drink the non-alcoholic versions are more likely to move into the alcoholic versions when they become of age.

It’s a good thing for the brewers’ profits because they can reach a whole new audience at ages below the adult years.

Alcohol seems to make people of all ages feel that they “fit in” and are more socially acceptable.

It is a habit that unfortunately usually catches up with drinkers in their later years with kidney and liver problems that can be fatal.

However, those of age who can’t drink alcohol for health reasons find the non-alcoholic versions socially acceptable.

Maybe it would be a good idea to make the non-alcoholic versions permanent and save ourselves from ourselves.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation on Monday giving California school districts two years to ban cellphones during school hours.

The new law is intended to address rising concerns over social media.

It is also targeting children’s mental health.

The Phone-Free Schools Act will take affect July 1, 2026.

More than a dozen states have already passed similar restrictions. (NYT)

I saw a family having dinner in a local restaurant recently.

One of the family members, a young 10 year old girl, was going through her cell looking for news.

I don’t know why the parents allowed her to avoid family conversation.

Cells are an addiction for adults & children alike.

I applaud the banning of cell phones during school hours!

Cranes at our ports and software in our cars are essential to run our economy.

Because of the current adversarial relationship between the two countries, the cranes and software are being replaced with American Made.

Are there other essential products that come from China?

Is China dependent on U.S. products as much?

I was born 3 months and 3 days before Pearl Harbor.

Now we drive Japanese-built cars.

Now Vietnam is building an auto plant in California.

The futility of war speaks volumes!

Can’t we all get along?

If not today, when?

Yep, I was a crewman on the 70′ racing yacht “Wind Dancer.”

It was the annual Muskegon MI to Milwaukee WI night yacht race.

I was 64 and the oldest guy on our boat.

Our biggest competitor was a 100′ racing yacht.

That night, there was a very strong wind from the north pushing us at top speed.

As I sat on the rail, I thought of my family all asleep while I was having the time of my life with a bunch of strangers.

We finished the 66 mile trip just at sunrise.

Even though the 100′ boat beat us to the entrance of Milwaukee harbor…

We beat them by less than a minute on corrected time.

Memories!