Russia - Not Normal 

     In our conclusion to Russia's problems, their economy has suffered. There is widespread damage and closure among Russian businesses. They cannot no longer complete basic functions like digital payments or online advertising. A news outlet estimated losses between $7 million and $12 million per day, just for businesses in Moscow. 

     According to a Reuters news report, foreign diplomats in Moscow wonder if the internet crackdown may be preparation for the eventual return of hundreds of thousands of Russian troops now in Ukraine. In 1989, following the end of the Soviet war in Afghanistan, returning soldiers caused major social upheaval across the Soviet Union, which disintegrated in 1991.* 

     Putin, a young KGB officer at the time, remembered the Soviet Union's collapse as the "greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the (20th) century." * The Russian president no doubt wants to avoid a new disaster on his watch.

     "Even those who support the regime understand this isn't normal," said a Russian woman. "But they're so intimidated, they're afraid to express themselves, their emotions - even by telephone."   

* In 1991, we moved to South Carolina to work in communications at what locals called the "bomb plant." All five nuclear reactors had been shut down. Russia's reluctance to end the cold war caused our side to reload one of the reactors...in September. It was an exciting time for me, just an office worker - no experience with nukes. Then Russia backed down, and the cold war ended. 

* Guess Putin didn't know about WW1 and WW2   😕

 Trouble For Russians 

     After a crackdown on the internet, Russia has complicated living for its people, even those well beyond the borders. We remember the days of nuclear faceoff, but this is a bit crazy. A woman withholding her last name said, the overall situation is "simply horrible." She can't enjoy video chats with her relatives. "Russia is returning to the Middle Ages." 

     In March, Russians had slower - or dead - connections on popular messaging and social media apps. The impact has provoked unusual public criticism. A popular Russian posted an 18-minute video complaint addressed to President Vladimir Putin. The post racked up more than 30 million views worldwide. In July, a government polling group reported a 5-percentage drop in Russians' approval of Putin, to 66%.  

     Respondents cited continuing internet blackouts, and a war-related fuel shortage as key concerns. Internet limits have added to Russia's everyday difficulties, as price inflation and higher taxes - both a result of the war - further erode standards of living. The Kremlin and Russia's telecommunications regulator have tied the slow down to the war against Ukraine. 

     Kyiv answers with sophisticated methods for attacks. Russia needs protection measures, as Ukraine sends drones to military targets, especially to its oil storage and export facilities. Oil sales help fund Russia's war. 

     For average Russians, who depend on their phones to pay bills, text or call contacts, or otherwise function in a modern society, the limited means of communication have disrupted life completely. Some reports claim the blackouts have already cost lives, since slow or no internet can hinder calls for urgent medical care. 

Conclusion tomorrow

 The Clancy Case 

     See as we see it, or disagree. We're not lawyers. What concerns us as the hung jury triple murder trial is back in court, is whether jurors - and lawyers - are honest. We would like to think court cases are mostly upright. 

     Mrs. Clancy, 36, strangled her three young children - Cora, Dawson and Callen. This was a planned act, under control, in the basement. She intended to follow them into history. She bungled her attempt. Views has no doubt the kids are safely in heaven. Believe as you wish. 

     There were 9 women and 3 men on the court. Eleven jurors decided Mrs. Clancy was not guilty, due to her psychosis. One female said not guilty was a good sign for women's rights...or something like that. One man, Michael, had/has no doubts Clancy was/is guilty. The foreperson told the judge that Michael was refusing to follow jury laws. He, a loyal Catholic, is under such fury he remains out of sight. 

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     Tuesday's meeting didn't move any sticks. Clancy's lawyer Reddington now says, "there is no proof she killed her kids" in 2023. She will be in a psychiatric hospital until this case is resolved. If acquitted, a judge could order her confined to a mental health facility.

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     We have fragile cracks in our legal system. Is the foreperson honest? Did the other 10 just go along? Was the case well prepared to begin with? We saw Michael's short interview on TV and we see his point. 

     Mrs. Clancy can be found guilty of first-degree murder, and her punishment need not be severe, being that she is full-time care. Lies and other mischief in courts will lead to more parents finding ways to get unwanted kids out of the way. 

     Years ago, Mrs. Donut and two other Christian leaders with as many as 150 volunteers were helping children not loved by their parents. And that's just one county in one state.  

Need a Job?

     Americans filed nearly 6 million business applications in 2025, the most in two decades. They say about a third of those will likely become businesses that produce jobs and paychecks, according to the Census Bureau. 

     More than 3 million applications have been filed in the first six months of 2026. "Many economists, says Todd Vician, attribute current numbers to artificial intelligence. More than half of small business founders used AI to start their business last year. And 50% said technology made the process faster or cheaper." 

     One expert said "I do not necessarily believe that AI will improve profitability, but I think AI is the explanation for the increase in the last year or two. Applications don't directly equate to opening new businesses that produce jobs and paychecks. Applications from existing corporations or those who are hiring employees are more likely to become functioning businesses within a year." 

     "The retail trade consistently has the highest number of applications, but construction, manufacturing and healthcare sectors are more likely to provide jobs." 

     Got all that?      Jimmy

 

 

 The Recess Comeback  

     Raise your hand if you had recess in grade school. Hua...we thought so. Yours truly had recess, free to do whatever, for maybe 20 or 30 minutes, in a field large enough to play softball, which we did when we got older. 

     We didn't know kids have been denied recess around the country...or for how long. Whatever, there is a push to restore recess, even for 60 minutes. Three mothers in Tennessee succeeded in getting schools to expand 10-minute recesses to 40 minutes. Twenty states have chapters of their nonprofit. 

     They argue longer recesses should be available to all elementary kids, regardless of good or bad behavior. About the only memory we have of recess is the time Bill saw me - youngest in the class and probably the weakest - and tried to knock me down. I responded without thinking, and Bill was the one on the ground. 

     Multiple studies affirm the necessity of play for children's physical and mental health. Somehow, longer recesses improve academic performance, and problem-solving skills. Really? The American Academy of Pediatrics reaffirmed its stance that recesses better children's cognitive, physical and emotional well-being. Really again? 

     Entering grade school four months short of age 6, we knew nothing about cognitive well-being. Did you? As for Bill, we withhold his last name here - and we blog without our last name - lest a reader who knows him tips him off. He might want to get even...really?

      Jimmy  

 

          

Rededicating America to God

     This summer thousands from around the nation gathered for a daylong prayer meeting on the National Mall in Washington. 

     Pastor Craig Moore from South Dakota said, "We get our marching orders from the Lord. We felt like the Holy Spirit was leading us to do this." Several speakers noted it was 250 years ago when the 13 colonies observed a day of humiliation, fasting and prayer in the early days of the Revolutionary War. 

     "Today, friends, we are in a spiritual war," said Gary Hamrick of Leesburg, Virginia. "This is a battle between good and evil, between right and wrong, between truth and lies, between light and darkness. This is a battle for the very soul of America. Please know that our hope is not lost. Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness." 

     Other speakers included Robert Jeffress, Jack Graham, Eric Metaxas and Alveda King. "How does rededication take place?" asked Jeffress. "The same way it happened 250 years ago: It starts with prayer. It starts with you. It starts with me."

     Franklin said, "Today there is no better moment than right now for each of us to look deep into our own hearts and quietly repent of our sins and call upon the Name of Almighty God." Cissie Graham Lynch said, "We do this not because we're perfect people; we're not. America is a deep and persistent belief that we cannot persevere on our own - that we need God." 

     President Trump, J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio addressed the meeting by video. Mike Johnson offered the official prayer of rededication: "Almighty God, we ask that you hear these solemn petitions, Just as in the beginning we dedicated this land to your most holy Name, today Lord - in this 250th year of American independence - we rededicate the United States of America as one nation under God."

We have peace with God - Romans 5:1 

     Really? Our world has tensions, emergencies and revolt. There are drones, cyberattacks, sabotage and covert operations. There is persecution, military robots and inhuman weather. 

     Christians flee Islamist attacks in Congo. Violent Islamist groups have attacked, abducted and murdered Christians. Pastors are not trained to deal with this. They themselves suffer physically, spiritually and mentally. 

     Meanwhile, Congolese pastors and Christians are still helping others amid the deadly Ebola virus in eastern DRC. The church remains the only place of hope for receiving displaced people. 

     The Congo is just one area of evil people and disease at work. 

     What about the USA? We have our laws and freedoms...and we have political and other opponents of laws and freedoms. Millions of foreigners who invaded during the Biden administration are still on the loose. 

     In 1968 a man killed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. setting off riots as Black Americans had enough of White supremacy. (Living in Toledo, I witnessed some rioting). One Black man, not considered equal in Catholic seminary, quit to join the revolt. He attended meetings run by Marxists and other foreigners. Eventually, this thinker realized America, for all its problems, is the nation he could be at peace with. Democrats hate him. 

     Maybe you've heard of (Black) Clarence Thomas.