Again, I Hate to Go Here......I May Need a Second Blog? Teachers, You May Be Concerned.....

 Well, it is hitting the Texas economy. 

Dow Chemical is looking to lay-off 4500 people here in Texas. 

If Dow is going there, how far behind is Exxon-Mobil, Valero, Motiva, Chevron, Shell, etc?????? 

I know Lyon in Orange stopped operations. How many people will it be let-go at the Dow plants in our area? 

Again, and I know we all like paying lower prices for fuel, oil products, but in truth and you know this, Texas is still heavily reliant upon oil for the state to run all of its programs.  

And I notice that school districts around the country, lay-offs have started. Broward County in Florida, Sacramento Schools in California. Both very large districts in America. 

Makes you wonder, how long it will be before it comes to Jasper County districts? Quicker than you may know. Makes you wonder if they might have been better off saving that $2.5 million leftover cash for future hard times? 

But, I wasn't consulted. 

And if, I said "if" there are school lay-offs, that come to Buna Schools, and others, it won't be the first time it was caused by finances. 

Here are the lay-offs this week beside the 16,000 at Amazon and 4500 at Dow.....

Home Depot-850

UPS plans to cut 25 million working hours after the contract with Amazon ends. This will lay-off 30,000.

Nike-750

Pinetrest- 700 to 800 

Meta- 1500

Ericsson-1600

ASML- 1700 

Vimeo and Expedia announced cuts, but did not express numbers.  

This, is just this week......

I wonder when the "cats" in the Board Room will start asking, " Why is no one buying our product?"   

I know I am Going to Sound Like an Elitest Overeducated Fool......Concerning Public Schools....And Yes, it Includes Buna.....

 I reading things that don't make a lot of sense to me concerning public school, and it isn't just Buna, or Kirbyville, or Vidor, or the rich folks over in Lumberton or down in PNG. 

Right now, no one is happy . 

Well, let me rephrase that.....

A lot of people are unhappy with their schools, the district in which they reside. ( Of course there are people who pleased with their ISD. There always will be people pleased.)

But more people are just , well, they have had it with schools. 

And it is more than you know. 

A lot of it is school taxes and why it costs so much to fund the school and look at the product they are receiving. 

I know a lot of people were beyond upset at the TEA score that Buna ISD received this past school year, and again, are questioning, just what are we paying for, both in academics and athletics. 

And a lot of people are asking, just what do some of these people do at the distinct?  " I understand teaching history, or math, or English......But some of these extra teachers, that don't even see kids?"  And that is how it was described to me. 

I know some people are upset with the extra-curricular activities and are moving their kids out of schools, including Buna.  

Perhaps the biggest complain I get is that the schools are they just don't like "us" at the school district.  So, we are moving.....

Rarely , if ever,  do I heard complaints about the school is " Too rigorous."  

Those of you who took gov/eco from 93-11 at Buna understood a little academic rigor. And I had been at schools before where I was the " easy teacher" especially concerning so called " Honors " or even AP classes.  ( I taught an AP European History class that the kids read their eye-balls out.)

I don't know, there is an anti-intellectual movement going on right now. 

And I know everyone in my family has all this education and well, I look at things a little differently. 

Yeah, I know, college is not for everyone, and the cost ratio of colleges, well, they make no sense whatsoever. 

But, there will be a need for college educated folks, nurses, teachers, engineers, etc......And the problem is, so many folks take foundational K-12 educated for granted. It is like we are all concerned about everything else but the actual classroom.

Don't get me wrong, extra-curricular are important, but for some of you,  it is the be all. Too hell with that classroom nonsense. 

This element has always been there, but somehow, it seems to be getting worse.  

Public school is America is at a crossroad. Right now 33% of new teachers in Texas quit their first 3 years. There is a large number of older teachers about to retire, and no one is really training to replace them, and the teachers who left, well, they are are not coming back. 

Just something to think about this morning.....  

 

 

 

 

Having a Hard Time Writing on BISD, So You'll Get This Slop......

 -I am in the process of writing a blog on Buna ISD.........But my creative juices just ain't working right. So, here is today's blog.....I have already written the blog 4 times and once I was up to about 1700 words. Too wordy for this blog, and so I've started again 4 times now and in my opinion, they all were not what I wanted to convey. 

I am trying to throw a fit and well, it just isn't coming out like I want.....Stay tuned, I'll eventually get it written..... 

-Look for their to be a strike on Iran very soon. I know I've been saying this, but everything just wasn't in alignment and taking a while to move stuff literally around the globe. 

-Saw a guy complaining about why water fountains are always by the bathroom in public areas> This was a a Gen Z person........Have they not thought, that is where they ran the water lines? ( Same principal in England, Scotland. The washing machines " across the pond" are always in the kitchen. This is because many houses were built before they had washers, clothes were washed at laundries or by hand, and rather than run a new water line, they just put the washer in the kitchen....Yeah, we had to find out too......Also, to use an electrical plug, you generally have to flip a switch to turn it on....)

"Okay you learned something, you can go to bed tonight " as my old father said.....

-I heard a Yankee use the phrase " Fixin' to" I use that phrase at least once a day, after I heard them use it, I sort of wanted to stop....

- Those "Happy Pills" are doing a number on me. I was singing show tunes yesterday......If anyone had been here, they would have questioned my sexuality. And in truth, I really don't care.....

-I saw the Drudge Report this morning was talking about UBI ( Universal Basic Income) and it already supporting people involved in the arts in Ireland and Scotland. 

I am going to tell you, at some point in many of you younger readers lives, that will exist. Specially if AI/Robots come into being like they are predicting.   

They are even talking about giving UBI to people with jobs, as an incentive to keep their position. 

Again, who is going to buy product if no one has money? 

- Do I need to write a blog warning people that the blog often has bad words? I upset someone the other day with my salty language. Or can I just stop writing warning on the Facebook posts? I assume most of you know there is a given " Buyer beware" when you read the blog....Also, because I never really write on Beaumont ISD, and when I do I write Beaumont ISD.....I think I will start using BISD hence forth when discussing Buna Schools. 

 - They are already talking about a Ft. Sumter moment happening in America, possibly this coming Summer start off a 2nd civil war.....Ft. Sumter in in Charleston, SC. It is where the Civil War started. I've never been to Charleston and not sure why I've not. I really want to visit the only Huguenot Church in America. French Calvinists, most Huguenots assimilated and became Presbyterians in this country. 

I don't know, I just feel we are at some sort of breaking point, and when it does, no one will be immune. Things just are no longer right....And the future looks spooky. And in truth, it is worldwide.  

- Okay, let me think about how I am going to write the intended blog as mentioned above......Maybe I can write it where I like it?  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Results Are In.....

And all of a sudden the " Happy Pills" the doctor prescribed for me three weeks ago kicked in....

In the last 24 hours two events occurred pretty much at the same time in the past, I would have handled, but with stress. I have handled both, and in truth, did not get too upset and in the end, I had a " Don't Give a Good Shit" reaction.  

I could not have taught you with these anti-depressants. 

I couldn't have been the " Mr. Thomas" you all encountered when I was teaching Gov/Eco.....I would have sucked....Sucked bad....

I've found myself listening to a lot of Grateful Dead.....Yeah, they got off tune, all pretty much same key, but good, I don't care music....

Here is the  trouble, I need to write a blog on the local district, but can't get stirred up to do it.....

Not sure if that's good or bad?  

I go to the doctor next week. I'll talk to him then.... 

Just Dumber Than Sh*t.....

 Perhaps I am expecting too much? I did expect a good deal when many of you took my class, but this is on another level. 

 I got to talking to a recent person with a degree in history. 

They didn't know shit. 

Now, I know the areas of study have changed from when I was teaching, but this soul said, that many of their classes were covering Asia, particularly, China.  

50 years ago when I was in university( Sounding all British this morning) most of our classes were either American or European history.  So, in 2026, I expect that there has been an expansion of historical studies. 

And because I now have a daughter-in-law who is from the People's Republic, I have done some research on Chinese history. And trust me, I am far from an "expert" on the subject. 

They did not know shit about China. 

Basic stuff, like who was the European nation who controlled Hong Kong as a colony? ( Great Britain) Or a little harder, Macau? ( Portugal) 

They did not even know the capital of China. ( Beijing) 

Now, I have been to China, but I knew this shit as a youth, long before university.  

So, where did this recent graduate get their BA degree?

The University of Texas at Austin.... 

Texas WAS the school to study history in this state at one time.  Especially their PhD. Ralph Wooster, Paul Issac, Lamar professors, had their doctorate degrees from UT.  And many of you know what I think of Ralph Wooster, (he and Penrose St. Amant Church History prof at the seminary, he had 3 doctorates including one from the University of Edinburgh. ) were the most amazing teachers I ever had. 

And this person wants to teach high school...... 

What the actual cornbread fuck? 

Yes, working on a local blog, a source however has me holding off, and out of respect for them.....Well, may have to write it another way.....We will see.  

 

 

 

Wonderments......Just Wonder.....

 Been a little while since I have done one of these blogs on the economy......

I am wondering how many billions of dollars the winter storm we just had will cost? In just rebuilding the infrastructure in places will cost a pretty penny, and we got luck down here.  

The rice farmers in this country export most of their rice overseas and with tariffs, that market has shut. I read an article that Mississippi rice farmers were thinking about the rice they harvested this year just rot. 

BTW- The largest producer of rice in the US? Arkansas, followed by California.....

Amazon is to announce this week lay-offs of between 14,000-16,000 workers. 

Citi Group- 1,000.

Tyson Foods- 5,000

They are saying that on average, 258 workers at tech companies are being let go every day in 2026. 

My question is this, after all these people are replaced by AI, who is going to buy the products being produced? And I will continue asking that question. 

Watch the metal markets. They are going bonkers. 

Gold is right at $5100 an ounce-

Silver is right at $109 an ounce-

I hope you were not looking at buying any serious jewelry right now.  

Copper is at an all time high..... 

Natural gas prices are nuts right now, mostly due to the cold here in the South. And I use propane for certain items here at the Compound.  

With beef prices as they are, I looked at the profitability of turning the Farm into cattle production.  My luck, I'll get started and the market will drop like a rock. Plus, to seriously get anyone to work in that field for you anymore, well, ICE will ship them off. 

May write on something local later today. Let's see if it pans out. 

Stay warm folks. I see it will be pretty cold through the weekend.  

 

 

 

 

  

School Closed? Other Rants.....

 Going to be cold the next few days. 

And, when I saw that Liberty County schools had closed, I wondered how long it would be before Region 5 schools including Buna ISD closed......Well, they did and the thing is, it looks dry for Monday....Cold? Yes, and I don't know, we are closing because it is 19F.....

I don't know, I remember going to school and teaching in colder temps in the mornings.....Wet is another story....But dry? 

Kinda makes you wonder just what we are teaching Gen Z, Gen Alpha....Cold? Stay home, lay around,  and play Call of Duty or Madden and eat Campbell's chicken noodle soup? 

I know, a " Get off my grass" old man moment.....

Speaking of schools, I see Nederland ISD has already approved their calendar for 26-27......Seems early to me..... 

-Yeah, I have been not around. Certainly not written in a while...

Literally had a missionary going to Africa staying at the house. 

Had him for a week. 

Yep, after about 2 days, I was going, " I won't allow this again...." and " Man, I literally can't stand non-family at my house" And in many cases, it has to be certain family I even want here. 

Makes me wonder what circle of Dante's Hell I will wind up in because I was at that point, " It's time for you to get the Hell outta here man...." 

I got my bathroom back is all I could think yesterday afternoon when he left. .....

- College basketball is now allowing grown ass men who have signed pro contracts with the NBA with college eligibility play college ball again.....Come on, LeBron  James has 4 years left of eligibility to play college ball. When he retires, can he come back and play for UCLA or USC? 

-  I ordered C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters. Have not read it in 45 years.....Maybe there is some redeeming to the read? It's only about 145 pages. I'll bang it out in 90 minutes.....

-  Stay warm the next week folks....

 

 

Interesting, if Not Spooky........

 - Interesting weekend looks like in SE Texas. Rain and freezing temps....I know we actually had blizzard warning in 2025.....But snow is nothing compared to freezing rain and I know it will be a good chance of power being out. 

And the thing is, winter is my favorite season. I think perhaps it is because I've lived the majority of my life here in SE Texas. Summer about 10 months out of the year. If I had lived in say, North Dakota, I am sure I'd have another feeling about winter. 

Grab a little extra stuff, that spam as Donald suggested, water as Mr. Howell said, bread and hunker down for a few days. I'm always a fan of peanut butter and crackers or bread, both of which I keep stocked up on.  

- So far the school seems quiet, or what you can call quiet. And no, I am not optimistic. Too many people either have to be an apologist or just quiet because their paycheck is from the district.  

At this point in time, and I hate to say this for several reasons, if you can afford to do so, homeschool your kids. I don't see private schools as much better. Too many people worried about getting money in education than the actual intended goal which is education. Don't tell me otherwise. I won't believe you. The schools today lean more towards Epicureanism rather than hard work. 

- If  you are not watching. the world is in flames in many spots right now. I know America media doesn't cover it like it should, but watch Asia. Not good. 

- I was asked by 2 different people if the US will have a civil war this summer. 

If I was an odds maker in Las Vegas, I would put odds at about 50%. 

And it won't be a war like you understand, like I have said in the past, look at Northern Ireland in the 1970s.  And it could come close to home. 

- Inflation is going to get worse. Much worse. Get ready. If you need a high ticket item and can afford to buy it, do so now. 

-  Greenland.....I am going to write a blog on it in the future...

It has caused us to postpone a trip to Europe, at least for the foreseeable future.  We may go to the Canadian Rockies, but even there, we have our doubts. We might be glad we went to Europe when we did...

- I don't know, I have nothing really to be optimistic about concerning the future. Perhaps this is just what is coming. 

I am sorry, I don't see much hope in Gen Z or worse Gen Alpha. And they hate older generation like we Boomers and the older folks really do not understand. There is literally a war going on between younger and older generations. 

 Perhaps this was inevitable. Civilizations rise and they fall. We will be 250 years old this summer. About the time most nations start to show major cracks, and right now, we have plenty/ 

- I am in the process of running a purge......Good luck to you!  

 

  

 

 

I Had Not Planned to Write on This Topic...I Write This With Saddness

 I have about 2-3-4 topics in the queue to write on and well, this was not planned and it came to the top.

In the last few days, people I know in one way or another have lost someone they are close to. In both of these cases it was their long time spouse. 

One through an automotive accident, another through a medical incident.  

People, enjoy your loved ones. 

You never know when it is either your or their time.  

Time with them may be long, or it could be short. 

Prepare in any event. 

Have a will. Make one ASAP if you do not have one.

If you have such a thing, know where burial insurance, your life insurance policy has been placed. Other papers.

If you are younger people reading this, I suggest a life insurance policy, and it is not necessarily  for your beneficiary to not work, but to help them survive for a while after your death. Emotionally, they may not be able to find a job. 

But more than anything, have them tell you what they want after their passing. Be it what type of funeral, a burial, a cremation, etc. I know, I have asked to be cremated and dumped someplace in Scotland, if that is even possible. If not, pour the ashes into a river and let them float all over the earth. I do like the travel. No funeral. Maybe have a dinner. I like pork roast, or pinto beans with Beasley sausage and cornbread.  

If anyone speaks, I want humor. Tell stories on me. 

Deb knows this.  

But people love people. 

Tell them, you love them.... 

You never know how long God has planned for you or the people you love. Let them know you love them. 

Again, we love y'all, and thank you for reading.  

 

 

 

 

Again, This Happens.....And I Just Thought I was Doing Good With Buna Schools....There I Go, Thinking Again....

 I received a large number of private messages on Facebook and emails concerning my last blog.....

Most were very positive. 

Many messages were from male reader, long time readers who told me they too were taking some form of prescription medication to help with their "problems."  

Several men told me that if it had not been for their medication, well, there is no telling what their outcome may have been.  

Often they told me they they had not told anyone that they were taking " happy pills" especially their family members..... 

They really didn't want their wives to know. 

And REALLY did not want their kids to know. Especially their adult or teenage kids.  

As one young man told me, and if I taught you, I still consider you as a " young man" and compared to me, you are. 

One guy told me....." My wife and daughters had rather me die on my horse, rather than me fall off of it." 

I know in 2026, it is hard to be a guy for many men. I know many guys have to have that image of  invincibility. 

The old Govteach stopped years ago that.....I have more vulnerabilities, the more I age and I stopped trying to hide them long ago.   

But, I can see my demise closer than my prime years, and in all seriousness, the winter of my life is here, as the doctor told Aunt Bea in the Andy Griffith show, " We're no longer Spring Chickens."  

I think some of the guys were just glad they could tell someone. 

On the other side of the coin......

And there are always people who get upset with certain things you write on......

I had 2 separate people upset that I was taking medication for  "Mental Illness" as they both called it. 

One said I was now taking " Satanic Potions" 

If that is the case, I dare not tell them I stood in the middle of prehistoric megalithic structures similar to Stonehenge all over the UK. 

Stonehenge is just one of many, especially in Scotland. It just happens to be the most famous in the UK. 

Heck, we stayed in a cottage with a small of of these in the backyard. And yes, we stood in the middle of it.   And no, we didn't cast any type of 'spells' on people. 

One even said, that taking the pills was dealing with the ' Supernatural.' 

Well dadgum, I know many of you have never looked at this way, but every morning when I pray for y'all, I am dealing with the supernatural. Jesus, and Lucifer are both the supernatural. We even discussed that in a philosophy course in the seminary. Jesus is supernatural. Christian theology has taught that doctrine for years. 

Shoot, with a Chinese in my family, I will take their traditional medicine. And much of it sounds like the 'Witches Brew' from Macbeth.  Eye of Newt, Toe of Frog........I took dried seahorse spine and crushed locust shell......And it seemed to help. And my daughter in law's dad is trained as a doctor in Western Medicine. He uses both types of medicine. 

- Mr. T., why have you not written of Buna ISD recently?

I have a former student literally " Doing Battle" with Buna Schools. 

And she is doing so much better than I could at this point that while in the future, I plan to go back and write on district, well, she has taken the lead and I am afraid of messing up her points. 

Maybe it was a different time. Maybe the district doesn't understand the game, but in 2026, you sometimes to need to understand the politics involved with schools. And even though you may make other people mad, you have to work with parents. And the politics in different than it was even before 2020.

I have a thought on what is going on. And the district political IQ, well, sometimes school districts just do not understand...Maybe it is because I have worked in actual county-wide and area campaigns.... And the thing is, while I don't always agree with them, there are school board members who understand the political IQ.  ( Don't use Google AI  definition of political IQ, it is wrong, dead wrong) 

This blog may discuss political philosophy in 2026 at some point. And when I do, will try and tone it down, as to not upset too many folks.  

I'm afraid I am going to say some stuff that will make me look 'old fashion' but trust me, modernize it just a little, and work today just as it did 200 years ago..... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

I Know I Should Not Go Here......But I Try and Be Honest....

 As many of you have noticed, I've not really been my normal self. 

I've not been too normal concerning my blogs. Not really written on the school district. As a matter of fact the district has been part of my problem. It has become as I have written in previous blogs as a " Lost Cause." 

Heck, I'm almost to the conclusion that the school system as we knew it is dead. 

And needs some sort of a drastic overhaul. Call it COVID, call it society, call it social media, call it the political landscape,call it whatever.  Perhaps it was inevitable. 

( On a side note St Debbie just got aggravated at the cat and JUST referred to him as " Fred Garfield Thomas."  )

On an economic note, the math for America, the world ain't mathing. Don't tell me this or that political leader is doing better, it isn't. This is worldwide, here, Europe, Asia, South America.....It is why Iran is in the middle of a revolution.....Inflation is worldwide. 

I am worried about younger folks, Millennials, Gen Z..... What is going to become of them. They may take to the streets at some point. I may go with them...." It's a good day to die." as the Lakota would say....

But what has really pushed me over the edge is people I know, my age passing, that and a former student I taught in Liberty County passing. 

I had to speak at the funerals. 

Ask me to speak and well, I am going to go humorous.  I'm going to tell stories on you. ( If my wife asks you to speak at any memorial she has, do the same, go after me ....hard. It's what I would want.  The Lord knows, I like baloney, picking and teasing, going on.)

The student one, well, I went there and was told by his wife that I did exactly what she wanted concerning him and it is what he would have wanted. But I don't know, I was sick to my stomach the drive home down Hwy 90 back home.  I stopped at the store in Devers and got a 7UP to settle it down. 

Then, there was my best friend in high school passed while we were in Alaska this past May. I don't know, somehow there was no closure there for me. 

I have a 95 year old mother and while she is still okay, you are starting to see decline. Then, I have an uncle not well, I was close to growing up not well at all. 

My nephew who is essentially me, is having a hard go teaching his first year, and while first year teaching is always rough, the world has changed so much, well, I could not teach in 2026.  

I've had 2 major back surgeries in the past 2 years and neither really "fixed" my pain. It just sort of kept it from getting worse and recently, it hasn't even done that.  

In the past, all those pastoral psychology counseling classes taught by actual psychologists and psychiatrists in those days, I took at the seminary were able to, well, " Heal thyself."   

Lately, I've not been right and St. Debbie has noticed. And she has been concerned.  

I finally went to my doctor this week and he prescribed some "happy pills" for me...He said, "you already know the question and answers, sometimes you need other help." 

So, we will see. 

I really don't want my edge taken off, especially when I write the blog.   

So, if I seem " off" for a couple of months, it's all he wants me to take them, and in truth, all I want to take them.

I know TMI, but sometimes you need to be honest and let folks know what is going on.  

 

 

 

I Made a Mess....I Need to Defend......And Be Careful Who You Talk About.....

 I went full William Faulkner this morning. 

We were trying to write a blog on a situation that was taking place in Buna ISD and well, I got too wordy.

In defense of some folks I wound up with 7 lengthy paragraphs taking up for them and well, it was too turgid. And I want to keep in good graces because once I get the vlog running, I want  one of the family members as a regular guest. 

In a couple of spots it looked like I was against them, but in reality, I was not.  

And I am quite fond of them.   

I remember in one of Faulkner's books, he spent about 9 pages to describe a horse.  

All I needed was a grey mustache( I'd have one if I shaved my beard off), an old tattered herringbone tweed jacket, and a pipe.  ( He did like Dunhill pipes.) I've not smoked a pipe since I was an undergrad.  

But I am not Bill Faulkner.  I am too the point, I am writing poetry again. Perhaps I'll publish one I really like one this blog. And, I am not Lord Byron, nor Lord Tennyson. 

So, I made a mess, and will start over , probably in the morning.... 

- I saw some sorry individual bad mouthing Lamar University....

Folks, Lamar grads are just as bright as everyone else. 

When I went to divinity school, I was in there with all these Baylor, and Texas, and A & M grads. All thinking they were hot stuff. It wasn't until I got my first exam back and I had made an "A" and those poor wretches were making "Cs." And it stayed that way.  

Be proud of your Lamar degree. Hell, be proud of your Buna diploma. I can't speak about what's going on now, but when we got through with you, you were ready for whatever. 

-  Be careful when you talk bad about people, especially from Orange County. We are related to so many people in one way or another especially in Northern Orange County. I know a portion of my family was in Orange County since Texas was still a republic. 

Now I know some of them are people of questionable character, but many, are good folks. 

I know, when my child started to attend Little Cypress-Mauriceville I warned him about the possibility he might wind up dating his distant cousin. I think it might be why we have a Chinese daughter in law. He made sure he was far enough away from Orange County not to " go with" a girl not with his DNA. And made sure there was not even any European DNA involved. 

Damn You to Hell Buna ISD......And Other Stuff....

 Here I was, minding my own damn business. Scrolling through the Facebook, looking at posts that many of you made, and then......Then.........Then.......Then dammit, then.....

I see a post from the Buna Independent School District " Reminding" everyone that " Teachers report back to school January 5th....And students, report back January 6th.  "

I had flashbacks...... Come on man, I've been retired for 15 years now. 

My hands started to sweat just a little, and I do not have to go.... 

And really now, did the district have remind everyone  school is about to start back up? How many years did we go without being told, and we all showed up anyway. Reminding is almost like pouring salt into a wound. 

I already spent several days pumping up my nephew to go back to his school  in the Trans-Pecos.  He might be "One and done" out there. I am seriously suggesting law school for him. School ain't what it once was....

As the author of this blog has said time and time again, I could not teach the kids in 2026. I'd be sent home about 10AM on my first day.  

I don't know. February was always the worst month teaching to me. The Seniors are in the starting phase of "Seniorities."  No breaks, UIL Academics was on the horizon, not quite here, and often the month is cloudy,  chilly, rainy. Spring not quite here. 

I seriously wonder what kind of " Fresh Hell" I will be writing on in the coming year.  

Good luck teachers in the Spring Semester. 

- I was wondering what the Venezuelan situation would do to oil market.....Sure enough WTI ( West Texas Intermediate ) is down in price, if not steady.  More oil on the market, well, flood the market and prices go down. Economic " Supply and Demand" and right now demand is pitiful. 

That is not good for the Texas economy.  

Already the oil patch in the Permian Basin is not drilling. The Texas Government has put everything in one basket concerning the oil market. Oil down, they'll have a hard time paying for stuff, like, SCHOOLS. 

Less money to schools? Can you say lay-offs? Already property taxes are high in many areas.  

=The computer all of a sudden decided I needed to listen to STP " Plush." Good choice computer, good choice.... Strong cup of Community, STP, cat asleep on my feet, life is sometimes good. =

- Pay attention to Iran. They perhaps are in the middle of a civil war and the Western media is not covering it like it should. Also, watch what the press is saying, already I have caught the British Broadcasting Corporation( The BBC)  in several falsehoods. 

I know the Times of London is saying Iran's Supreme Leader has escape plans to Moscow.  

 I may need to write an extensive blog on what may happen over there. I don't talk about it, but I follow Iranian politics/economics fairly closely.  Trouble is the last blog on Iran was poorly read, then again, I did not push it very hard.  

- The Russian economy is in more trouble than the Western Media is telling us. They are running a deficit to fight the war in Ukraine.  Trouble is, no one wants to buy Russian bonds to fund the debt. Inflation there is much, much worse than here. 

They are running out of tanks and other armour. They are literally bring back cavalry.  Horses in the battlefield. Who are we fighting? Napoleon? 

- If China launches an invasion of Taiwan, watch the " Three Gorges Dam" in the center of China. Let you imagination think about what I said.  

- I'm still mad about how "Stranger Things ended......I should have stopped watching after Season 2. 

- There were a couple of "kids" I went to school with pass during the holidays. You've got to remember that our time is short. 1/4th of the people I went to high school with are gone. And they are going quickly.   If you've not done so, make a will, try and keep your finances in order, live every day like tomorrow may never come. 

-  And now the computer decided to remind me of my " Hillbilly" roots....Jerry Jeff Walker and " Jaded Lover." " I can see you are an angel, your wings just won't unfold, tune up your harp, polish your halo, yeah, the only kind of man that you ever wanted was the kind that you knew that you'd never hold very long, and you're sitting there crying like I'm the first one to go....." 

They just don't make good music anymore......

- I need to go talk to Jesus. I am behind. As always, you need me to pray for you, let me know. Always room for one more on the prayer list. There is always something comforting about someone praying to the Divine on your behalf. 

As always, please like the blog, less than 3% of readers like, hate, etc.... 

  

 

Well, I Knew it Was Coming....And Still I was Disappointed....

 Quick blog.

Warning- Spoilers 

Just completed Stranger Things 5, the Final. 

It was like watching a slow motion train wreck. 

I literally forced myself to watch. I could have been doing something actually worthwhile......It's like, yeah, the first seasons were pretty good, and then, the last seasons, well, they were awful, just awful....

Didn't care that Will " Came Out. " I know the show was set in the 1980s, but today, I mean, I don't care. It's 2026 and I know so many LGBT people now, that well, it's like, yeah, okay....There was no real " shock" value.  I know in some circles people get all bent out of shape, but from this seat, we got bigger problems in this country than folks trying to live their lives. 

You knew they were going to "Kill" El. And make it look like maybe she lives. 

 How is Steve still alive? 

How did they allow Max to graduate? 

The "kids" looked much older than their actual TV age.  

I did like how Henry dressed. Like a brown tweed. Looks very British. 

Joyce as the " hero." You knew that was also coming.

Ten years, for 5 seasons. 

I think I am going to drop Netflix. I see nothing coming up worth watching.... Shetland started a new series on Britbox yesterday. I still miss Perez. Tosh should have been made lead, (she might be my favorite character now.) That and Sandy as DS. That said, the new season looks interesting....I am still disappointed the seas were so rough we could not travel on a ferry to the Islands off the Northern Coast of Scotland. 

 

 

 

 

So You Want To....In 2026????

 First off let me wish all of you a Happy New Year's. 

I keep getting people who want to write their own blog and I encourage them to do so. 

Trouble is, it is more trouble than you know. There are days I literally " Got Nuthin'"......And there are day it almost writes itself. 

Many times I am sent information and those sources well, it often takes years to find ones you trust.  Some, are one time folks I will never use again. 

There are people who won't like what you say, there are people who will talk badly about you. 

You may lose long-time friends, or people you considered long time friends. But were they really?

There will be days you look at the numbers of people who had read the blog and you'll go, "It's time to do something else."

There will be days you will look at the numbers and  say, " Damn, look at that, who would have known, it would be that popular?" 

And the thing is, I never know what will get massive reads, and what will not. On an occasion you will know, but most of the time, you do not. 

I've been writing now, 15 years. Who knew? I certainly didn't. I make literally no money, and while in the old original version of the blog I had a  donation's link, presently do not have one. ( I had an individual give me enough money on it, we ate in Scotland for 2 weeks on the donation. And I don't know, I felt a little bad about it....But, in truth, she thought it was " Wonderful" that I treated St. Debbie to pints, Full Scotch( I got St. Debbie eating haggis. Marry a Coonass, and you need to learn to eat offal.), and the Scotch version of Fish and Chips. ( There is really no difference....fish,chips, mushy peas, curry sauce or gravy.) 

So Santee Clause brought me a nice camera for the computer. I thought it'd be easier than at first.....It is going to take a little time for me to figure it out. 

So, I've got the camera, the microphone and headphones from the old days at KJAS when I zoomed through a grainy, grainy camera. All I need to do is figure out the technical portion..... 

Easier said than done.....And I don't want to bother my expert as they are in the process of moving. 

So, it'll eventually get done, and I will at some point give you a launch date and where the vlogs can be found.  ( I've been asked about it already, thus why I am writing this.)

Again, thank you for reading.  I appreciate your support and as always, Please like if you read the blog. Only about 3% of reading like, hate, whatever on the blogs. Like and it bumps the blog up to the top of Facebook and helps readership.