"Our entire much-praised technological progress, and civilization generally, could be compared to an axe in the hand of a pathological criminal." ~ Albert Einstein

Good morning and welcome to a new day. This one happens to be tagged with this identity: Thursday, May 10, 2018. Most of you know that I grew up in a rural area. After commuting in to and working in downtown Houston for some 24 years, I've spent the past nearly 12 years working at a facility that is somewhat like a return to my roots in a location in a rural area. Our facility uses modern technology to assist in our fabrication work, but, we are, as is often said, located off the beaten path. If you need proof, search my blogs and read the many times I've chronicled my contacts with the wildlife that still operates in this territory. Will it always stay this way? Probably not. Recently, a new convenience store opened a few miles from our workplace. Before they started construction on that facility there was nothing there but woods. It took them many months to complete that project. It's not only a C-Store, but it has room for other stores as well, like a small strip center. Here's the interesting feature. It is open 24 hours a day. I'm not talking about being able to purchase gas at the pump 24 hours a day. The store itself is open 24 hours a day. Where only woods stood before, now stands this large commercial operation and guess what? People are there. Not just the workers. I typically come by that store at 3:45 a.m. each morning. Several cars are typically there. There was no there-there just a few months ago. I suppose like the theme from the movie, this confirms the adage, "Build it and they will come." I wonder what they did before this place opened. Who knows? Maybe street lights next. That would make my daily commutes safer for me and for my animal friends as well.

I know most people are aware that when it comes to anti-Trump bias, the mainstream media is eat up with it. I fear it is terminal. The recently revealed back-channel meetings between former Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian officials is a good example. He is now a private citizen. Back when one of Trump's appointees made contacts with a foreign government, the mainstream press dug up a 1799 law called the Logan Act to say that particular individual needed to be prosecuted. This somewhat obscure law calls for the fine or imprisonment of private citizens who attempt to intervene without authorization in disputes or controversies between the United States and foreign governments. It has never been used to successfully prosecute any American citizen. Nevertheless, the mainstream was determined to see Trump's man dealt with using this statute. Fast forward to John Kerry. A much clearer case of interference could be made as he, a private citizen, attempted to influence the outcome of deliberations regarding the so-called US-Iranian nuclear deal. Clear cut. No mention by the mainstream press of the Logan Act with regard to John Kerry's meddling. None. Some of the conservative sources have pointed out this glaring double standard, but, most take it in stride, knowing that is how it works in our world today.

I'm not saying everything that Trump does is hunky dory. Obviously, his behavior, responses, and general approaches can be irritating to those who dislike him as well as those who voted for him. That would be me. One of President Obama's key advisors recently said that progress in the job market and economy can be directly attributed to President Obama's strategies. You have to know the mainstream would have loved to have run with that one, but, even they know how laughable that would be. You have a new President who does the opposite of what the previous one did and the economy begins to show improvement. Not even the most naive of our fellow citizens would buy how the previous administration going in a completely different direction could take credit for these positive changes. Or, could they? Even as I write this, the mainstream may be attempting to find another obscure law written in the 1700's that requires the president they like to get any and all the credit for any all things they deem to be positive. Tongue and cheek? I wish I could say it is, but, we do know what The Scriptures say, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD like channels of water; he turns it wherever he wants." (Proverbs 21:1, from the NET Bible) This means God has the final say, period, end of story. I'm trusting in Him. What say you? Amen. .....More later.