If your house or apartment or, if your homeless your tent was on fire, and the Congress was “manning” the firehouse, your home would burn to the ground.

All the murders, all the dead people, all the dead children and we have this. This is past horrendous!

The Senate on Tuesday (6/21/22) cast a key vote to advance newly released bipartisan gun safety legislation, a major step moving the bill forward as lawmakers face pressure to respond to the the recent string of mass shootings. The bill still has a number of hurdles to clear, however. In the Senate, it will face two more major votes — first to break a filibuster and then on final passage. The vote to break a filibuster will be a critical, high-stakes moment for the legislation since it will require 60 votes to advance, which means at least 10 Republicans will need to join Democrats in support. This latest move to advance the bill is the clearest sign yet that it will likely overcome that filibuster. If so, the bill will go on to a final passage vote. The House would then need to take up the measure.

Least we forget…

The pace of mass shootings in 2022 is part of the three-year uptick that began in 2020. Between 2019 and 2020, the total number of mass shootings all year jumped from 417 to 610. The number jumped again in 2021 to 692. In 2022 so far, mass shootings have resulted in 1,357 people shot, resulting in 278 deaths. Through the same period in 2021, there were 1,293 people shot, resulting in 280 deaths, while in 2020 the numbers show 802 people shot with 152 deaths.

***** S&E *****

https://www.statista.com/topics/9087/russia-ukraine-war-2022/#dossierContents__outerWrapper

How long is the world and NATO, going to let this massacre continue. It is not about more sanctions, its about the destruction of a democratic country and out right murder of its people by a modern day Hitler. The world stopped Hitler.

Isn’t it time !

***** S&E *****

Jacinda Ardern

Jacinda Ardern became New Zealand’s youngest prime minister in 150 years when she was sworn in at 37 years old in 2017. Since then, she has worked steadily on gender equality initiatives such as equal pay for women and paid parental leave, and comforted her country through times of crisis.

The prime minister’s words here remind us that leaders make the most impact when they listen to the people around them, try to find common ground, and lift up those who need it most.

***** S&E *****

Here is an answer that might help address gun violence to a greater extent, without infringing on second amendment rights. And this blog entry in the face of 10 people killed in Buffalo, NY by an 18 year old on May 14th…

This solution will take away the “due process” rights of gun violence offenders. Due process means no justice department involvement (lawyers, courts, police time, etc.). The tax payers do pay for all of it.

Here is the solution: (And this does not infringe on any type of gun ownership)

If you are found, captured, using a gun, of any type, to injure, shoot, or kill another human being, you face an automatic death sentence. No attorneys, no hearings, no pleas, no psychiatrists, no due process.

It is not the perfect solution but it might cause one to think twice about committing gun violence.

Someone has to do something. It is crystal clear now that Congress will not act as the majority are bought off by the NRA.

Congress could enact this solution and stay in the good graces of the NRA (not that his blogger cares).

***** S&E *****

As I think back on my corporate career, and then relate the article below to that experience, my take is that the article (link below) is spot on.

Thinking of people you know, and your face to face work and social experiences, I suspect there are many who can “appreciate” poor listeners. The signs are evident and easily observable. They visibly are not paying attention, they interrupt, maybe start a conversation in the midst of yours, talking about oneself incessantly, you exchange background information with others but they don’t remembers yours, it can be infuriating to say the least.

What is notable is that those with substantial listening skills have a “one up” when it comes to getting ahead.

There are skills associated with good listening: focus, empathy, self-control, and inclusion to cite a few. “To some degree, the power of listening can be explained by the fact that good listening is rare. We live in a world in which people are often rewarded for self-promoting, being the center of attention, and talking as much as they can, even when they have nothing to say.” That is almost humorous!

Here’s the article, maybe an opportunity to add to one’s tool box!

https://www.fastcompany.com/90749446/how-to-become-a-better-listener-according-to-science?partner=feedburner&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feedburner+fastcompany&utm_content=feedburner&cid=eem524:524:s00:05/06/2022_fc&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=Compass&utm_campaign=eem524:524:s00:05/06/2022_fc

One would have to ask oneself if a poor listener would bother to read this post?

Improved listening skills probably require some behavioral change. Behavior change is usually challenging.

***** S&E *****

From CNN, “5 Things”, 4/28/22, $7B

You may have read this previously…

That’s the value of the military equipment the US left behind in Afghanistan after its 2021 withdrawal from the country, a Pentagon report says. The equipment is now in the hands of the Taliban — the very enemy the US was trying to drive out over the past two decades. The Defense Department has no plans to return to Afghanistan to “retrieve or destroy” the equipment, according to the report provided to Congress.

That just says it all!

***** S&E *****

1.22.2022. As of this entry, about 35% of the USA adult population are unvaccinated. 63% are vaccinated. The implications, the unvaccinated:

• Pose a great risk to each other
• Pose some level of risk to the vaccinated
• Pose a risk to health care workers, other first responders, and all those they interface with
• Are the majority of Covid related hospitalizations
• The cost of hospital care for the unvaccinated is huge (one way or the other we all pay for that)

• Cause medical facilities to refuse or delay care to others
• Impact many businesses and industries, driving job loss for others

Vaccines have proved to be beyond safe.

Some causes: Bad information on social media, anti-vac (all vaccines) mentality, the political mess and mismanagement, the belief that individual freedom in the USA is a right, not a privilege (see footnote). To the list one might add Ignorance. Stupidity.

One might ask if it is a right of the unvaccinated to infect others; possibly kill others. Is that a right?

It is all beyond all reason and logic!

***** S&E *****

___________________

The Bill of Rights of the US Constitution protects basic freedoms of United States citizens. … The Bill of Rights protects freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to keep and bear arms, the freedom of assembly and the freedom to petition. (It does not give others the right to harm or threaten others).

• Get your Steelers garb on: hat, shirt, socks, drawers
• Get a beer
• Fill the shot glasses
• Have some Prilosec and Tylenol handy
• Power up the tube
• Tune up your language skills
• Apply a blood pressure cuff to your bicep
• Watch the readings perform massive fluctuations
• At a BP of 200 over 150, switch to a movie, and,
• Take the pills

***** S&E ****

The Multiple Sclerosis organization sponsors a nationwide fund raising event each year in cities across the US. The event, “The MS 150” occurs on a weekend. Bicycle riders raise a minimum of $300 each to participate in the two day ride, 75 miles each day. It takes about 8 weeks of training to prepare and in most cities 1000’s participate on the weekend ride.

So well organized! MS recruits 100’s of volunteers to manage registration, safety, rest stops, and medical and equipment support along the ride route. Many, many organizations volunteer their time and resources to support the ride.

We have biked the event several times. Recently, my son and I completed the event on September 11 & 12. 50 miles, total ride time 13 hours, 24 minutes. (almost equal time each day, a little over 6.5 hours).  Average speed 11.1 mph.  It was challenging, with the afternoons hot.  The second afternoon, the last four hours, was grueling due to the lack of shade, wide open farm lands that offered no cover from the almost constant wind. The equipment held up just fine. Together we raised more than $2000 for MS. In this event more than 1000 riders participated and raised more than one million dollars for MS.

***** S&E *****

We are moving… many moving parts… so…. this might be a quiet blog temporarily.

Hang in there….

***** S&E *****