Message Forum

Mike McL.,

As you know, photographing nature is my passion.

Over the 50 years I lived in Colorado, I got pretty good at predicting when and where the peak autumn color change would occur. The main determanits were, not only weather - including how much rainfall a certain region had experienced that year - but also the latitude and altitude of a certain region. And, of course, the species of trees in those areas.

Here in Ohio, I am going to have to re-familiarize myself with a whole different biosphere of trees and the weather patterns as well as areas which this aging body of mine can access without risking injury.

Jim

11/03/26 09:41 AM

#17568

Here’s hoping the Republicans have a big night tonight! Carol and I are already planning how to spend the $5000 each we’ve been promised by Trump if the Republicans sweep the midterms!

Also hoping all you Dems out there don’t spoil it for the rest of us...

11/03/26 04:53 PM

#17569

Joseph Gentilini

Hi John J - enjoyed your post with a smile. Yes, i'd like the $5000 but you know we would never get it - ha!. joe

11/03/26 04:57 PM

#17570

Joseph Gentilini

Hi Jim, welcome to Columbus again. when I was younger and didn't like the rain or snow or the heat, etc., people would always say: Well, it is Ohio - it will change tomorrow. Hopefully, our winter here will be dryer than usual with less participation. Having had back surgery (and needing knee replacement), when it is icy please be careful. Getting better at figuring out the different trees, etc., will keep you out of trouble - ha. Joe

11/03/26 09:40 PM

#17571

Joe G.,

Having also had back surgery 13 months ago, I have become very cognizant about protecting my back from injury by doing things that would make my neurosurgeon very upset. That would include snow shovelling ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ and falling on ice!

Jim

11/04/26 12:32 AM

#17572

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Sorry John,

It's not lookin' too good right now.

And to think, I was willing to give part of it (real small part) toward that big beautiful arch in the Capitol.

11/04/26 11:32 AM

#17573

Post election reflection from a dear friend of mine.

OUR HOPE REMAINS IN GOD!

I am saddened by the spiritual direction of our nation. But to Christ followers feeling discouraged or angry over election results, remember these eternal truths:

God is sovereign! No election changes who sits on heaven’s throne. (Psalm 115:3)

Our hope is in Christ, not politicians. Only Jesus can transform hearts. (Psalm 146:3)

Pray more. Complain less. Pray for our nation, our leaders, and those far from Christ. (1 Timothy 2:1–2)

Be light in the darkness. Respond with humility, love, and truth—not anger or bitterness. (Matthew 5:16)

Jesus is coming again! Eternity is real, and the gospel remains God’s power for salvation. (Romans 1:16)

America’s greatest need isn’t simply political change. It’s Jesus Christ on the throne of people’s hearts, beginning with our own.

Let’s pray more than we criticize, love more than we argue, and share the gospel more than we debate politics.

God is sovereign. Christ is risen. Our hope is secure in Him!

“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10

11/05/26 11:41 AM

#17574

So “Christ followers feeling discouraged or angry over election results” are OK with protecting pedophiles, non-stop lying, rampant corruption, starting of unnecessary wars, and demonization of anyone who doesn’t look like them?

Here’s a biblical reference I think is more relevant - Luke 18:9-14:

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed these things to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men, robbers, criminals, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give away a tenth of everything I gain.’ But the tax collector stood afar off and did not even want to lift his eyes to heaven, but began to beat his chest, saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I say to you, this one went down to his home justified instead of the other, because each one who lifts himself up will be humbled, but he who humbles himself, will be lifted up.

11/05/26 02:34 PM

#17575

Mary Margaret,

I too worry about the direction this country is going.

I wory about a leader who is a convicted felon and draft - dodging pedofile.

I worry about a sitting president who would profit billions in his own business activities - especially bitcoin. And who would allow his own son-in-law to accept billions from potential buiness partners in the middle-east.

I worry about a leader who would build useles memorials to himself.

I worry about cutting off the poor and elderly while allowing the ultra-rich to pay little or no taxes.

And I am especially frightened by a "Leader" who is afraid to stand up to the leader of the free world's enemy - either because he is an outright coward - or because he knows Putin "has something" on him ?????

Slava Ukrianie !

P.s. I won't miss pole-dancing Pete when he is gone. Or R.F.Kookoo. Jr.

----------------------

And yes, I worry about the other side too - hoping the recent results don't allow the liberal left to abuse their new-found power.

------------------

Ezekiel 36:26

26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.

And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

11/05/26 02:38 PM

#17576

Sorry for the extra wide page above. I don't know how tocorrect that.

11/05/26 04:19 PM

#17577

Joseph Gentilini

Thank you, John J and Dave M for your comments and also the Scriptural passages you quoted.

I could not have said any beter and I believe in what your both said.

Now, as always, it is important to pray for our country as we enter some more challenging times.

11/06/26 07:20 AM

#17578

Michael Boulware

If Democrats don't get to work right away and undo the errors of the past years I will be extremely disappointed. Dems need to establish goals that they can attain quickly and effectively. I want these five things tended to right away: 1- end the Iranian War 2-negotiate cheaper oil 3- reduce the tariffs 4- apologize to Canada and NATO, we need their alliance 5-aid Ukraine. We aren't recognized as the leaders of the free world anymore. It is going to take some time to regain the trust of our allies. Cheaper oil will come about by ending the Iranian conflict and reduce prices at the pump, on the farms, and in the grocery store. Dems take control in January; GET IT DONE.

11/06/26 10:21 AM

#17579

Somethings Never Change

This class has been arguing politics since AuH2O vs. LBJ back in 1963 in Mr. Walker's history class.

Jim

11/06/26 10:24 AM

#17580

We do it because it's important.

11/06/26 01:41 PM

#17581

I thought we did it becasue it was fun.

I never could pass up a good political argument.

I can recall Junior year (I think it was junior?) with a cute new girl - Tess Warrick (McKeon) and I sitting in front row next to each other in Father O'Reilly's history class. Tjhe two of us argued with him all the time!

I can still see him rolling his eyes at us when our hands shot up with a question.

---------------

Imagine how difficult it was for me when I "visited" a beautifull southern "men's rural camping resort" by the name of Fort Polk (down in Looziana). While there I was only allowed to open my mouth to say

"YES DRILL SERGEANT! or NO DRILL SERGEANT"!

11/06/26 01:45 PM

#17582

John Maxwell

Love the scripture quotes.

A few years ago our beloved orange julius, gunned down alleged drug runners. My take, cold blooded murder. No constitutional guidance employed, however rights were mortally ignored. How do we know they weren't just a family on their yacht for pleasure, and no drug runners. Without any people in those boats surviving, we'll never know. I believe that is extremely wrong. Coast Guard patrol those waters and could easily overtake anything in the water. Those poor souls could have been investigated and if found guilty would have been dealt with, prison sentences etc. But to murder them with no Rights observed, itself is not a mortal sin or a federal offense. I have to say the sooner we impeach that blustery bag of brag and bluster the better off the world will be. Granted I'm no lawyer or officer of the courts but in my heart I can decern wrong from right. Now it ends! Thank God.

Now my grandkids won't have to listen to their president curse and swear gratuitously.

11/06/26 02:45 PM

#17583

Time For A Judy Collins Moment

Both Sides Now.

Jim

11/06/26 03:58 PM

#17584

Saw Judy perform a couple of years ago at a small venue nearby and her voice was as wonderful as ever - who says we inevitably diminish as we get older? She's on her farewell tour and I'm hoping to see her one more time.

11/07/26 07:20 AM

#17585

Michael Boulware

Jocko, I sure agree with you about our attacks on the Venezuelan sailors in open waters. Those murders should have been condemned by the United Nations. We will never know if they were "drug runners" or not because due process was ignored.

11/07/26 08:58 AM

#17586

Michael McLeod

On veterans day I'd like to whip off a hand salute with congrats and gratitude to any classmates who served.

It would also be interesting to hear from anybody out there about your duty stations.

I was drafted after graduating from osu and was scared to death about serving but it turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me. I was trained as a clerk typist and after basic training at ft knox I was sent to a nato headquarters near Heidelberg, Germany. I learned enough of the language to get by while over there - my mom's side of the family is german so that made it mean more to me, just touched my heart in a way that is hard to describe. It turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I married my longtime girlfriend just before I was sent overseas and she eventually flew to Germany to live with me in a tiny basement apartment rented out to us by the German family who lived above us. I made friends with the French, Swiss, Canadian and German soldiers who also worked at the sprawling Nato office complex, which was set up much like a college campus. Man was I lucky. We conceived a daughter while over there and when I got home the gi bill paid my way towards a masters degree in journalsim and a great career. Grateful!!!! A hand salute to any fellow vets and i'd be interested in anybody else out there who wants to relate their time as a G I.

11/07/26 09:05 AM

#17587

Michael McLeod

Jack:

agreed.

11/07/26 01:50 PM

#17588

Jack,

I couldn't agree more with your point about the "drug boats". I thought it was outrageous when it happened, and was shocked that there wasn't more public outcry.

But with the elevation of Steven Miller to chief of staff, I fullly expect more of those actions to occur.

Last I heard (last week) there was a plane load of Afghans waiting for deportation to Afghanistan, but it was put on hold by judge. Some of thsoe people served on our side, fougth for us, and even risked their lives for us. If that plane is allowed to take off, many of those passengers are in for certain death by the Taliban - most likely by beheading.

It is difficult for me to imagine such mindless cruelty, but Miller seems to fit that role.

11/07/26 02:34 PM

#17589

Mike M.

As you know I had a slightly different expereince after I took the oath.

You flew East and I flew West.

In my duty station, we had no snow, and the locals did not speak German. Also I don't recall any famous breweries nearby. And women's "Dirndles" were not in fashion.

Right beside our airfield was a small city - Vinh Long - and after living there for 18 months, I realized that the large hunk of white concrete in the far right, beyond the airfiled was the Catholic Cathedral of Saint Anne. Not raelizing what it was, I never went near the place, but it was in my view every single time we took off or landed to the east.

Here is a view of that scene - from the front seat of a Cobra gunship (following another Cobra, barely visible in the middle right of the shot).

What you see (at an angle) is a long grey narrow strip (active landing fixed-wing runway) next to brown active rotary-wing landing and refueiing). In the very center is a long wide blue-grey strip (drainage pond beside the runway, then airfieid accomodations and admin all to the left. The City of Vinh Long beyond everything, and the large white Cathedral of Saint Anne on the distant right center.

From where you sit, you are turning "final" and will be on the ground in about 30 seconds.

11/07/26 02:51 PM

#17590

Once you are all collected on the flight line, you are given a ride on a "duece and a half", and driven off the flight line back to your barracks area.

Note: flight line "taxi" far right.

After a short ride around the long fixed wing runway (no direct crossing that flight line - on foot or driven - allowed) you are dropped off at your "hooch" for the end of the day.

11/07/26 03:43 PM

#17591