Times are changing...You are not alone

The COVID-19 virus has caused wholesale changes to not only us here in America, but, all over the world as well. How we interact with one another, how we shop, and even what we spend our money on has been altered.

While the larger corporations will adapt and move on many small businesses will fail and fall by the wayside. Being a small business owner, I too will have to restructure my business in hopes to survive. Surviving being the key at this stage in the game.

However, there are those that will prosper during this time of crisis. Someone that hasn’t been decimated by the COVID-19 virus and still has money to invest can do quite well in this down market. Stocks are down temporarily but they will recover. For those with the right mindset, this will only be a little bump in the road and a chance to make a lot of money by investing in strong companies that will bounce back stronger than ever.

The key to many things right now is not to panic. This holds true both at home and in the marketplace. If you freak out like the multitude of toilet paper buyers, you aren’t yet in the right mindset.

If you take this situation seriously but calmly, like the ones that realize the grocery stores are still being stocked you might just get through this in good shape. There is light at the end of the tunnel, we’re just going to have to hold on a little while in order to see it. My thoughts and prayers to all that are suffering right now. I hope you like my blogs approach to things. If you do please fell free to follow it, like it, and share it with friends.

Why Martial Law?

Yes, as you would suspect the title “Why Martial Law,” does reference our current situation with the COVID-19 virus. Instead of freaking out emotionally, let’s explore how we may actually get to live under martial law for a little while.

The behavior of a few in this case will affect the lives of many. With the COVID-19 virus running 24/7 on both regular news and social media, I think it’s fair to say most Americans are aware of it and know what’s going on both here and around the world. People are dying. Please take that statement for what it’s worth…people are dying. The statement is not political, not some conspiracy, it is a cold, hard, fact.

No matter what you believe about this situation we are in, how you react to it affects others. For those of us still working, we see the ignorance of so many people. Having to be out and about for some is a necessity. For those that are flooding towns and cities unnecessarily, well, they are part of the problem. Shopping for things that you don’t need is putting both you and many others at risk. Not heeding the pleas from our health officials to please stay home is part of the problem.

Even as of this writing deaths rates are climbing. Yet all around me I continue to hear people downplaying the virus and going about like nothing is wrong. It is this ignorant behavior that will get martial law or at least mandatory quarantines put into place. The spring break beach goers quickly come to mind. Hundreds of thousands of partiers all mingled together. Not caring about being infected or infecting others when they all go back home.

We as a nation have been asked to do what is right for not only ourselves but our neighbors as well. The fact that so many are not doing what is asked of them will be why more restrictions will be placed on everyone. This is not some political plea. Which side of that fence you stand on I could care less. If we work together we will get through this, much easier and faster than the alternative. God bless you all.

The Dark Side of Social Media

These days no matter where we go or what we do, we are reminded of the tremendous impact of social media. Social medial in the early years was awesome. People could connect with friends and family from anywhere at almost any time. Many learned how to use social media to work and earn a good living. This is all still true, but, over the last decade we have learned of the dark side of this wonderful communication network.

Being able to immediately respond to any form of information has the whole world thinking they are experts on every subject. That is laughable but also dangerous. The days when we watched the evening news and trusted them are long gone. Every major news organization has an agenda. The only part of that they share together is making money. News is money.

Back to social media. Facebook for example allows us to share our opinions and ideas as soon as we form them. We no longer watch the evening news, talk things over with family and discuss things at the water cooler the next day. Instead we suffer from knee jerk reaction responses from every corner of the globe. Think before you speak should be taught in schools…it would serve us well.

Gone seems to be the days of factual reporting. Please bring it back. Media in any form needs to be based on facts. Yes, there is a dangerous virus spreading. The media could most definitely have handled this better. When a reporter or writer falsely reports a story, there should be consequences. This type of thing twenty years ago was not tolerated. Integrity in the passing of information should be brought back at all cost.

Distracted driving

Distracted driving like it or not is a very real problem. From simply being annoying, to as serious as death. We are all touched in one way or another by distracted drivers. 

Most of us older drivers that pay attention as we go about 

our daily lives see this behavior every day. People sitting at the red light too long as they finish up a text. We see young girls taking selfies as they drive down the highway. This list could go on forever...its endless. 

Most of the time distracted drivers are just a pain in the ass. But, everyday all across the nation innocent people die because of selfish, self-absorbed drivers with bad habits on display. These deaths are 100 percent preventable. 

These days you are more likely to be injured or killed by a driver with a cell phone than a drunk driver. My generation would have never thought such a thing was possible. Think that it could never happen to you? Well, chances are that if it does, you may never know it did. Please put the phones down. 

Will Alabama be upset this year?

Will Alabama be upset this year?  With the Crimson Tide continuing to dominate each team as they get to them, all of college football is asking that question. Personally, I think the mental status of many teams is that they are now playing for the number two spot. I think that Bama fans now understand what Auburn fans felt like when Cam Newton was taking snaps for them…anything was possible.

Unless LSU and Joe Burrow can squeeze out a win in a couple of weeks in Death Valley, the Tide could very well win out the rest of the season. Watching Joe Burrow play this week shows that LSU still has some serious work ahead. I do believe Coach O will put them through their paces have them ready to play a much better game when the Tide rolls in. It should be a tough game for both sides.

The Iron Bowl should be lots of fun…if you’re a Bama fan. Auburn looks disorganized and completely out of sync with each other. So much talk around Jarrett Stidham playing at the next level, but I just don’t see it. At least not yet. Even with Auburn winning this week I still get the feeling that the Auburn nation is not happy with their coaching staff. I look for a change to come after this season.

So…will Alabama be upset this year? If I were betting I’d say no. With the number one quarterback in the country and Jalen Hurts backing him up I think were gonna be ok. Not to mention that our defense seems to be stepping up more and more each week. No other team at this point in the season has both the offense and defense that will stop the Tide from rolling in.