At least 1,000 birds were killed in one day in early October, when they collided with a single Chicago building, McCormick Place Lakeside Center. 

It is the largest convention center in North America.

A paradigm of architectural modernism, the Lakeside Centre was built in stages from 1960 to 2017, and is a steel, concrete and glass behemoth.

Although not particularly tall by contemporary standards, the building’s almost unbroken glass facade presents a problem for birds, most notably at night when the brilliantly lit interiors cause them to become confused.

The thousand killed that day were a small proportion of the millions of migratory birds that were moving southwards across the continent to their wintering grounds — a journey undertaken twice yearly. (CNN)

Sometimes, what’s good for people isn’t good for the wild life we love!

Our dog’s name is “Happy.”

We took her along on a recent car trip to Florida.

After staying a couple weeks to return home, we began to pack up.

Happy became alarmed.

Even though we’ve had her for nine years, she began sitting near the front door of our rental house just to make sure we wouldn’t leave her behind.

You see, she was a “Shelter dog” who had given her prior owner a large litter of puppies and then was sent out to live on the streets.

When local police found her, she was very malnourished.

The shelter wouldn’t give her to us until she had completly recovered.

Those memories are never completely gone.

We’ve had her nine wonderful years now.

After a trip of a 1,000 miles, she was so happy to be home again.

If only dogs could talk!

The greatest gift we can give our spouse is ACTIVE LISTENING.

ACTIVE LISTENING is the process by which someone takes in information from another person.

It involves hearing, processing and developing a thoughtful response and perhaps following with action.

ACTIVE LISTENING is one of the most important skills a person can use with another person.

How often has your spouse said, “You don’t listen to me?’

An effective marital relationship depends on effecive communication.

Please give your spouse the gift of ACTIVE LISTENING.

If not today, when?

 

There is still nothing like a hug!

The closeness of another person is magical.

It is the surrendering of one to the other.

It is more powerfull than words.

It could be a hug to say,”Hello!”

It could be a hug to say, “Goodbye!”

It could be a hug to say, “I’ll miss you!”

It could be a hug to say, “I’m sorry!”

It could be a hug to say, “Welcome!”

It could be a hug to say, “I love you!”

It could be a hug to say, “Congratulations!”

HUGS Say A Lot!

KinectAir has a new concept in private plane travel.

The way they’re really dropping those flight prices are through the “empty leg” repositioning flights.

This is where the aircraft has already been booked for one journey, and can pick up passengers to take them to its next booked destination.

KinectAir claims that its empty leg offerings come at a discount of up to 75% of a regular private airplane price.

Most of the deals are for short-notice booking.

From their data over the summer, three quarters of all bookings were made within 72 hours of travel.

This means that the empty legs were generated last-minute, too. (CNN)

This “empty leg” concept may suit your budget and quick travel needs!

This wonderful stained glass bird caught my attention this morning.

Whomever conceived of this gift item and brought it into being may be very successful.

Entrepreneurship still thrives. During Covid, many businesses were started that still flourish today.

Do you have an idea for a product, a new food, new clothing item, a new way of doing something?

If so, do extensive homework. Is there a market for your idea? Has someone else come ahead of you with a very similar idea?

Who will be your competitors?

What is their pricing?

What will be your differentiator?

Do you have the funds to live on while you pursue this? How long until it will be profitable?

Preparation is the key.

If not today, when?

Having served in the Navy, you know who I want to win.

But, it’s this country who is the winner.

On the football field are athletes and patriots.

Patriotism is under attack in today’s America.

All the services are struggling to reach their recruiting quotas.

Real patriots, however, step forward to put themselves in harm’s way on behalf of their fellow citizens.

We live in perilous times.

Whomever wins, stand up and salute true patriots!

If not today, when?

The pump at the Texaco station would not accept my credit card.

So, I went inside to pay.

I saw this tiny lady behind the counter.

She just had to be 90 years old.

She was bent over and very wrinkled.

I felt badly for her because she still had to work on her feet all day.

When I got home, I told my wife about the little old lady.

She said, “Let’s look on the bright side. She had a reason to wake up each day and she got to meet new people and to make a little money.”

When I was leaving the station, the old lady wished me, “A good day!”

Minneapolis/LondonCNN — 

Not all pandemic recoveries are created equal.

The world’s richest economies have taken diverging paths in recuperating from the devastating effects of Covid-19.

At a time when multiple forces and crises — wars, geopolitical tensions, the pandemic’s lingering aftershocks, high inflation and steep borrowing costs — weigh on global growth, there have been few bright spots.

The US economy is one of them.

Gross domestic product in the United States grew at a remarkable 5.2% in the third quarter, ahead of China, long the engine of global growth.

The United States has powered ahead of the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada and other advanced economies this year.

Nice to hear GOOD NEWS!

Professor Robert Enright (University of Wisconsin-Madison) helped develop the field of forgiveness science back in 1985.

Yes, this is an actual field.

His work specifically explored how forgiveness might be consciously cultivated.

What does that mean?

It means you can make yourself a more forgiving person?

He believes you can. And he even created what is now known as the Enright Model of Forgiveness, which lays out the steps to get there.

What I can tell you is that almost everyone agrees that having a forgiving brain is a good thing and there is plenty of evidence showing the psychological benefits including reduced anger, anxiety and depression.

We also know that forgiveness can have a tangible impact on your physical health.

It can lower your blood pressure, better sleep, lower levels of stress induced inflammation.

Enright believes that forgiveness does not necessarily mean forgetting.

You can, after all, forgive and remember.

It also doesn’t necessarily mean reconciling with the person who hurt you or not seeking justice when it’s called for.

It’s just forgiveness, pure and simple!

(Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Neurosurgeon)