Hey all,
the Linux Cinnamon Desktop environment is the most underrated DE out there. Here is an article I found online that validates my opinion. This post is more of a discussion. Do you agree with the author of the article? If not, why not? Do you use Cinnamon DE yourself? What are the pros and cons based on your own experience?

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I'll be honest: I'm a GNOME-enjoyer. I'm not a particularly big fan of KDE Plasma, but I'll tolerate it. And perhaps my most steaming-hot take: I always thought Cinnamon was a knock-off of KDE. I don't have a load of experience with it, and in all honesty, I was even tempted to opt for Xfce, a lightweight environment, when trying Mint again. It has been years since I first tried Linux Mint, but during my current stint with it, Cinnamon has actually won me over.

It's clean and friendly like KDE, gets out of my way like GNOME, but doesn't require a ton of tweaks to get it to a good spot. Cinnamon is super underrated, and if it's an option for your distro, I recommend taking it for a spin.

Cinnamon is usable out of the box​

The right defaults matter​

shows Mint Linux cinnamon desktop
Mint is always the first recommendation for a lot of Windows refugees, and for good reason: the defaults are familiar. It doesn't try and re-teach you how to use your computer, and I think the proof is in the context menus. Right-clicking on things shows you the options you expect basically everywhere. On other desktop environments, there's always one or two options missing that irk me, but on Cinnamon, all the usual suspects are there, and they're in the right places. Mint's reputation of being a beginner's Linux desktop shouldn't stop you from using it if you're a seasoned vet, either. The integrated "applets" are a strength of Cinnamon. They work as you expect out of the box, but installing new ones is very straightforward, and pretty much everything you want on your taskbar is available to download. Weather updates, system monitoring, script menus, and much more are all there, and feel just as integrated as the ones that come installed by default.

Cinnamon scales better than people might expect​

Strong keyboard workflows and consistent window behavior​

linux_mint_start_menu
Despite its reputation, I had no issues setting all my usual power-user workflows up. Keyboard shortcuts are straightforward and customizable, and the virtual desktops work exactly how you expect them to. Window snapping and workspace management are simple, reliable, and consistent. It doesn't feel like it's holding your hand, but it's still actually useful where it should be. The main Cinnamon menu that mimics the "start" menu is a great example of this. It has everything organized where it should be in terms of category, but search is the default behavior after clicking it, which makes the most sense, but everything is configurable, down to the size and spacing between icons.

The other options have clear benefits​

The merit of KDE Plasma and GNOME are obvious​

A Linux laptop running KDE plasma showing touchpad settings and the Bazaar app store
It’s fair to say that KDE Plasma and GNOME offer more on paper. KDE Plasma’s customization depth is unmatched, and GNOME’s design-first approach delivers a strong, opinionated experience that many users love. You can tweak KDE to the point where it's unrecognizable, and GNOME can change pretty radically with extensions, and Cinnamon does lack that. It's definitely not what I'd choose for any kind of touch-based interface, and I think it might feel a bit clumsy on a trackpad.

KDE and GNOME are popular for a reason, and compared to them, Cinnamon can seem a bit "safe", but in all honesty, I think it's right up there in terms of usability.

It doesn't try and do too much​

And I think that's why I like it so much​

A laptop running Linux Mint and showing various customization options
Between GNOME's minimalistic approach where "less is more" and KDE's infinite options, Cinnamon felt a lot less hectic to get set up, at least personally, I don't mind having to tweak the basics, but on GNOME, getting the dock to behave the way I like basically requires an extension, and on KDE systems, I just can't be bothered with the overwhelming amount of customizability, so I end up using a pretty bog-standard configuration, and that doesn't work super well for me either. Cinnamon strikes a good balance because it's not trying to do everything, but it's just getting the basics down really well, and that I can appreciate.

I'm staying on Mint for awhile​

After spending a few days on Mint, I'm pleasantly surprised by just how much I like Cinnamon as a desktop environment. I had expected it to be a little "hand-hold-y", but honestly, it was very usable out of the box, scales well to my needs, and doesn't try to do everything under the sun, and that's refreshing. GNOME is still going to be my personal go-to if the distro allows for it, because I have my specific concoction of extensions that get everything just right, but Mint is doing a lot of things right, and Cinnamon is a big reason for that.

Article written by
Ty Sherback

The building housing the Merchant's House Museum was built in 1832.

For the first time in over a century, historians say a new stop on the Underground Railroad has been discovered, fully intact, in New York City.

The site is hidden in the Merchant's House Museum, the only 19th-century home in Manhattan with both its interior and exterior preserved.

Tucked away in the walls on the second-floor is a chest of drawers that visitors have walked past for decades. But inside one of the drawer shelves is a hidden passageway -- just barely large enough for an upright person to fit through, leading 15 feet underground.

Museum staff have known about the existence of the passageway since the 1930s. However, they were only able to officially link it to the now-iconic Underground Railroad recently, after years of research.

Continued below.

Phoenix is believed to be home to the world's largest colony of rosy-faced lovebirds outside of their native Africa

PHOENIX -- Minutes after getting to a park in the middle of Phoenix, you can see flashes of green in the sky and hear chatter because love is in the air — or at least, the lovebirds are.

The small parrots are transplants from the other side of the world that are thought to be descendants of pet birds. Arizona is believed to be home to the largest colony of rosy-faced lovebirds outside southwestern Africa. They've been able to survive in a place known for sweltering weather by sticking close to humans and their air conditioning.

The lovebirds may have something to teach humans this Valentine's Day about keeping strong romantic bonds.

Rosy-faced lovebirds are originally from another arid region, the Namib Desert, which stretches from Angola, across Namibia and into South Africa. They are one of nine species of lovebirds.

Around the world, lovebirds are a popular pet. No one knows for sure how the lovebird colony started in Phoenix but they were first noticed around the city in the 1980s.

Continued below.

Larry the cat is marking 15 years as Britain’s Chief Mouser at 10 Downing Street, a symbol of stability in turbulent political times



LONDON -- In turbulent political times, stability comes with four legs, whiskers and a fondness for napping.

Larry the cat celebrates 15 years on Sunday as the British government’s official rodent-catcher and unofficial first feline, a reassuring presence who has served under six prime ministers. Sometimes it seems like they have served under him.

“Larry the cat’s approval ratings will be very high,” said Philip Howell, a Cambridge University professor who has studied the history of human-animal relations. “And prime ministers tend not to hit those numbers.

"He represents stability, and that’s at a premium."

The gray-and-white tabby’s rags-to-riches story has taken him from stray on the streets to Britain’s seat of power, 10 Downing St., where he bears the official title Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office.

Continued below.

The International Space Station is back to full strength with the arrival of four new astronauts

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The International Space Station returned to full strength with Saturday’s arrival of four new astronauts to replace colleagues who bailed early because of health concerns.

SpaceX delivered the U.S., French and Russian astronauts a day after launching them from Cape Canaveral.

Last month’s medical evacuation was NASA’s first in 65 years of human spaceflight. One of four astronauts launched by SpaceX last summer suffered what officials described as a serious health issue, prompting their hasty return. That left only three crew members to keep the place running — one American and two Russians — prompting NASA to pause spacewalks and trim research.

Moving in for eight to nine months are NASA’s Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, France’s Sophie Adenot and Russia’s Andrei Fedyaev. Meir, a marine biologist, and Fedyaev, a former military pilot, have lived up there before. During her first station visit in 2019, Meir took part in the first all-female spacewalk.

Adenot, a military helicopter pilot, is only the second French woman to fly in space. Hathaway is a captain in the U.S. Navy.

Continued below.

The acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement says that two of its officers appear to have made "untruthful statements" about shooting a migrant in Minnesota and may face federal charges for their actions.

"Today, a joint review by ICE and the Department of Justice (DOJ) of video evidence has revealed that sworn testimony provided by two separate officers appears to have made untruthful statements," Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said in a statement.

"Both officers have been immediately placed on administrative leave pending the completion of a thorough internal investigation. Lying under oath is a serious federal offense. The U.S. Attorney's Office is actively investigating these false statements," the statement said.

"The men and women of ICE are entrusted with upholding the rule of law and are held to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and ethical conduct. Violations of this sacred sworn oath will not be tolerated. ICE remains fully committed to transparency, accountability, and the fair enforcement of our nation's immigration laws," Lyons added.

Continued below.

The determination is based on analysis of a sample from the opposition leader.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a rare lethal toxin found in poison dart frogs from South America, according to a joint statement from the U.K., France, Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany.

The European partners said they are confident in their determination based on analyses of samples from Navalny which confirmed the presence of the lethal toxin, Epibatidine.

Navalny died in an Arctic penal colony at age 47, Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service announced in February 2024.

"Russia claimed that Navalny died of natural causes. But given the toxicity of epibatidine and reported symptoms, poisoning was highly likely the cause of his death," the European partners said.

Continued below.

Ofelia Torres, 16, was battling stage 4 cancer.

A Chicago teen who fought for her father's release from immigration detention while she was battling stage 4 cancer, has died, a representative for her family says.

Ofelia Torres died Friday at age 16, according to the family representative. The cause of death was metastatic aviolar rhabdomyosarcoma -- a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

Torres grabbed the national spotlight last fall after her undocumented father, Ruben Torres-Maldonado, was detained by immigration agents during the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, dubbed "Operation Midway Blitz." Torres posted a video on social media calling for his release, and was also interviewed on ABC News' "Nightline."

Continued below.

Ex-police chief says Trump told him 'thank goodness you're stopping' Epstein in 2000s​

A former Palm Beach, Florida, police chief who investigated Jeffrey Epstein in the mid-2000s told the FBI he had received a call from Donald Trump at the time to say "thank goodness you’re stopping him, everyone has known he’s been doing this," according to an FBI account of an interview with the ex-police chief in 2019.

The Miami Herald was the first to report on the FBI document.

The public perception of the honesty and ethical standards of clergy reached a record low over the last 50 years, according to Gallup’s annual honesty and ethics survey. Just 27% of the American public ranked clergy as high or very high on the scale.

Six other professions reached record lows in their honesty and ethical standards rankings over the period, including pharmacists (53%), high school teachers (50%), police officers (37%), business executives (10%), stockbrokers (9%) and telemarketers (5%).

Gallup, which has been gauging the public's views of the honesty and ethical standards of a variety of occupations since 1976, collected data for its latest poll from Dec. 1 to Dec. 15, 2025. In 2025, the Gallup poll found that 30% of respondents rated clergy as highly honest and ethical. Before 1999, pharmacists and clergy members consistently ranked as "the most highly rated professions for their ethics," researchers note.

Continued below.

CNN's Data Guru Reveals How the Far-Left Is Devouring Democratic Party​

Trump Wins Again: Final Epstein Docs Nail Huge Dems, Dem Supporters, and Anti-Trumpers - Here Are the Top 7 (Plus 5 Smug Leftist Celebs from the Earlier Docs)​

The other day, I was feeling so worried with fear over the "unpardonable" sin that I took the day off of work. I worked through some things and went back to work the next day. Someone asked me if I was feeling "better". I had been afraid I might be asked something like this, because if I said I was feeling "better", and my experience had been from the Holy Spirit, it might be blaspheming to say yes. But I froze when asked this, and felt so much pressure to say something that I finally blurted out "yeah" and then went on to explain that I'm feeling more comfortable. Later I tried to clarify that I don't know if I would say that I was feeling "better", so much as feeling more comfortable.

But my fear is that I already committed the unpardonable sin. I keep thinking, if Wednesday's experience was from the Holy Spirit, but I said that Thursday was "better", isn't that blaspheming? The thing is, I thought this ahead of time and yet still said "yeah" when asked.

I started working on avoiding compulsions fairly recently, and I think my anxiety has spiked. But this one seems more difficult to dismiss.

As I was waking up this morning, I had this phrase in my head, “The Lower Says.” Now, sometimes the Lord speaks to me in this way, for he is leading me to a particular message he wants me to give out which is fitting with the passage of Scripture that I am reading next. Earlier this morning I covered the first 3 verses of 1 John 4 (only quoted the first verse), and verses 4-6 are what came next. And as I looked at what the word “lower” means, well, it fit perfectly. For the word “lower” can mean “debase, corrupt, deteriorated, defiled, adulterated, vile, immoral, wicked, dishonest, and sinful.”

For the “them” being referred to in verse 4 has to do with false prophets who are of the spirit of the antichrist, and not of God (see verses 1-3). They are from the world; therefore they speak (refers to says) as from the world, and the world listens to them. So they are the defiled, the corrupt, the immoral, the wicked, the dishonest, and the sinful, etc. And those who are also defiled, corrupt, immoral, wicked, and dishonest, they listen to these false teachers because they say to them what their “itching ears” want to hear, which is that God does not judge them for their sin, so they are okay.


Therefore, those of us who are truly from God, via biblical and God-persuaded and God-gifted faith in Jesus Christ, should no longer be like the world. Our passions and desires should be focused on what God requires of us in heart, mind, words, and behaviors. And we should no longer be those who crave the sinful desires of the flesh. Therefore we should not be among those who are listening to these false teachers who are saying what “itching ears” want to hear rather than speaking the truth of God’s word to the people. But we should be obedient followers of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

The Gospel According To Christ and His Apostles

Scripture Summaries

Jesus Christ taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).

For by God-gifted faith in Jesus Christ, which is not of our own doing, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but as slaves to righteousness in walks of obedience to God’s commands. We are no longer to permit sin to reign in our mortal bodies to make us obey its desires. For if sin is what we obey, it results in death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it results in sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God (see Romans 6:1-23).

For God’s grace, which is bringing us salvation, is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for Jesus’ return. For Christ “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (See Titus 2:11-14; Ephesians 2:8-10)

And we learn in 1 John 1-3 that if we claim that we have fellowship with God, but yet we walk in darkness (sin), we are liars. If we claim that we know God, but we do not obey his commandments, in practice, we are liars. For it is not the one who claims he is “in Christ” who is “in Christ,” but it is the one who has denied self, died with Christ to sin, and who is now walking in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in practice, and no longer in sin. We have the hope and the promise of eternal life with God in heaven.

Additional Scriptures

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

An Original Work / January 29, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Should I Not Preach Jesus

Based off 1 Corinthians 9:16-10:13
An Original Work / July 4, 2013
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Woe to me should I not preach Jesus.
I’m compelled to preach the full gospel.
I make myself a slave to ev’ryone
To win their hearts to Christ.
All this I do for my Lord Jesus,
And for the sake of His Name;
Do it for the sake of His gospel,
So that I, its blessings gain.

Scripture notates the sins of others;
Written down for us as examples
To keep us from setting our hearts
On evil as did those of old.
Do not worship other gods of man;
Do not give your hearts to them;
Not partake in immorality.
Do not test your Lord and King.

So, be careful if you think you are
Standing firm in your faith in Jesus.
God has given his word to warn us,
So through faith we will not fall.
No temptation has o’ertaken you
Except what is commonplace.
God is faithful to not let you be
Tempted past what you can bear.
He gives the way of escape.

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The Lower Says
An Original Work / February 15, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Receive, O Lord, we beseech You, the sacrifice which we offer to You
for the final phase of our life: and grant
that by it all our sins may be cleansed away,
in order that we who, by Your provision, are stricken by scourges in this life,
may obtain eternal rest in the life to come.

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To walk the path of holiness is to respond wholeheartedly to the call, “We are called to be saints.” The saints who have gone before us blazed a trail marked by virtues—habits of heart and will that conform us more perfectly to Christ. The Church’s wisdom gives us the classical Seven Virtues: the four cardinal virtues and the three theological virtues. Together, they form the foundation for growth in sanctity.

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The past needs to be present to us because it is present to God; it shines forth His presence in time. The future cannot be present to us in the same way as it is present to God, but we know that He is present in the ages to come as He is present in the ages that have been. In the words of the well-known Gospel song, we know not what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.

Click to expand...

The Morning Offering

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) readings & commentary

Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time readings & commentary

The Instructions to Heaven Written on Our Hearts: Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time readings & commentary

A Scriptural Reflection on the Readings for Sunday, February 15, 2026

Sunday Reflections, 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, 15 February 2026

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A) Bible study

A Slide Show of Sanctity – A Homily for the 6th Sunday of the Year

The New Law, Nourishment of the Heart

Daily Gospel

Saints of the Day

Thoughts for an Extraordinary Lent

Morning Prayers

Divinum Officium

Our Morning Offering – 15 February – Grant Us This Day, O Lord By St Thomas Aquinas

Quinquagesima Sunday propers & commentary

Quinquagesima Sunday propers & commentary (Gueranger)

Quinquagesima Sunday propers & commentary

Rev. Fr. Leonard Goffine's instruction on Quinquagesima Sunday

Daily Gospel

Colligite Fragmenta: Quinquagesima Sunday

In Illo Tempore: Quinquagesima Sunday

The Shrovish Collect of Quinquagesima Sunday

Our Lord’s Death and Charity: sermon on Quinquagesima Sunday

Thoughts for an Extraordinary Lent

Saints Faustinus and Jovita Martyrs

Saints of the Day

Sermons for Everyday Living - Quinquagesima Sunday 2/15/26

Audio version of Gueranger
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Sadly, it appears that in our day and time on the earth that not many people are adhering to what this says, but they readily accept whatever sounds good to their ears and whatever is quick and easy and does not require much time or thought or consideration of words spoken to see whether or not what is being taught as truth is actually the truth being taught in the Scriptures. And the evidence of this is seen in how many are buying into a false diluted gospel which makes no requirements for death to sin and walks of obedience to God’s commands, but which coddles people in their sins.

But read this one verse in the context of the whole of 1 John, and not just in the immediate context (see vs. 2-3) which is easy to misinterpret because of the English translation. For the word “confess” is not a verbal acknowledgement of something only. The word means to speak to the same conclusion, in full agreement, to align with, in this case to be in full agreement with God about all that he teaches, and to align ourselves with his teachings via conforming our lives to be obedient to his commands, to walk in his ways, in truth, and to no longer live in captivity to sin.

So, in 1 John 1 we learn that if we say (profess, confess) that we are in fellowship with God (with God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit) but while we walk (in conduct, in lifestyle, in practice) in the darkness (sin, wickedness, immorality), we are lying and we do not practice the truth. But if we walk (in conduct, in lifestyle) in the Light (in Jesus Christ, in truth, in righteousness, in obedience to our Lord and his commands), the blood of Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, cleanses (frees us, delivers) us from all sin, and then we have fellowship with God and with others of faith in our Lord.

And in 1 John 2 we learn that we know that we have come to know God (Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit) if we keep (obey, adhere to) his commandments (New Covenant) which teach that by faith in Jesus Christ we must deny self, die to sin daily, and follow our Lord in surrender to his will in walks of obedience to his commands. And this doesn’t mean we will never fail (1 John 2:1-2), but if we do not obey our Lord, in practice, we are lying and the truth is not in us. But if, by the grace of God, in the power of God, obedience to God is what we practice, then we are truly in Christ Jesus.

And 1 John 3:7-10 says, “Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.” (see also: Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 9:23-26; Romans 6:1-23)

Yet so many people today who profess faith in Jesus Christ are ignoring teachings such as these while they embrace multiple Scriptures being taught outside of their appropriate biblical context which are being made to say what they do not say if taught in the correct biblical context. And so they have the impression that they are saved and on their way to heaven even if they ignore God and his commands, and even if they deliberately and habitually continue to make sin their practice, and not obedience to God. But they are believing lies which will send them to hell on the promise of heaven. So be those who test the spirits and who believe God and his word.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Acts 26:18]

No Less

An Original Work / March 19, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

I can do no less than praise You,
Lord, for all You’ve done for me.
You died for my sins to save me,
So I would be set free.
I adore You! Lord, I praise You!
Jesus, Savior, King of kings!
You provided my redemption.
Your grace has pardoned me.

I can do no less than serve You.
Lord, Your witness I would be,
Telling others of Your love,
And why You died on that tree.
Tell of how You gave of Your life,
So from sin we’d be set free,
So we could worship You forever,
And live eternally.

I can do no less than love You,
Lord, for You have first loved me.
You gave of Your life so willing,
Because You cared for me.
Turn from my sin! Obey freely!
Live for You each passing day.
Read Your word, and follow Your lead,
Lord, as I humbly pray.

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Do Not Believe Everyone
An Original Work / February 15, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Last thursday i had a row with my older sister, because she is claustrophobic and hates confined spaces , i locked her in her room, i enjoyed watching her kick and screaming to be let out, i only meant for her to be locked in for an hour or 2, while anyway my friend rang up and i got distracted and went out, i forgot about my sister, my parents came home 6 hours later and found her locked in, she had missed her driving lesson and a date with her boyfriend, my parents went mad and said i would be getting a taste of my own medicine , they said i will be spending ALL of this weekend locked in my room as a punishment,as i have exams this year my parents have set me tons of school work to do , including maths , english , french and science plus 2 punishment essays, as i write i am locked up and i DONT like it, are my parents being fair ?

Here's another short story with another different protagonist.
This one's inspired by a standup joke told by Daniel Tosh.



It was the year 2015. Cody pulled his Dodge Ram 1500 into the west parking lot at Sequoyah Park, where he and his wife, Faida, were planning to picnic for lunch. Cody had cooked 4 ground Italian sausage burgers. He had also made 2 blueberry muffins for Faida, as she was eating for both herself and their upcoming son, Henry. Cody had filled 2 thermal cups with lemonlimeade (a mixture of lemonade and limeade).

Cody was 28 years old. He was average male height. He was muscular and athletic. His hair was short and dark brown. He was completely white. Cody was dressed in a white t-shirt and blue jeans. On his feet, he wore white socks and brown cowboy boots tucked under his pant legs.

Faida was 27 years old. At this point, she was 7 months pregnant. She was firm-figured and moderately athletic. Her hair was long, straight, and very dark brown. Like her husband, she was completely white. Faida was dressed in a pale pink t-shirt and a gray sleeveless button-front maternity jumpsuit. On her feet, she wore white socks and white athletic shoes.

Cody made sure the women's restroom was available to Faida in case she needed it. He then laid out a sheet, and then sat with Faida on it. Cody got the food and drinks out of the container. He and Faida joined hands in prayer.
Faida prayed, "Lord, we thank You for the meal we're about to recieve for the nourishing of our bodies. Bless this meal, bless the hands that prepared this meal, bless the marital relationship between me and Cody. We thank You for our son growing in me. We beseech You to make him healthy in every way. We thank You for the gift of salvation brought to us by Jesus Christ. We accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name we pray, amen."
"Amen," said Cody.

Cody and Faida enjoyed their meal together while talking about many different things. After they were done, Cody helped Faida to her feet, and put everything back in the truck. Cody opened the front passenger door for Faida, and let her in. Seeing that Faida was safely inside, Cody shut the door. He then went around, to the driver's side, and got in. He started the truck. Seeing that the engine was still warm, he drove out of the parking lot, and turned right, onto Cherokee Boulevard. Cody was driving at a steady 34 miles per hour, even though the speed limit was 30 miles per hour. Suddenly, a black Koenigsegg Agera RS sped up quickly behind Cody's truck, skidded to Cody's speed, and was now tailgating very dangerously close. Cody had seen it all in his rear view mirror. Faida saw it too, in the outside mirror on her side.
"What in the world?!" said Cody.
"Speeder," Faida guessed, "Now, a tailgater."
"That's a Koenigsegg Agera RS," said Cody, "Those things are expensive and fast."
"I know," said Faida.
Cody and Faida then heard the sound of a car horn honking behind them repeatedly.
"Now, what?!" said Faida, turning her head, and looking out the back window.
The driver of the Koenigsegg was honking his horn repeatedly, wanting Cody to get out of the way.
"What's his problem?" said Cody.
"I don't know," said Faida, "Let's see. The driver is a blonde white guy who appears to be in his 20s. He's got 2 women with him, in the only passenger seat, one on the other one's lap, and they look around his age."
Faida saw the Koenigsegg's driver make an obscene gesture with his left hand.
Faida's mouth dropped open. "He made the obscene gesture at us," she said.
"Maybe, he feels he's entitled, because he can afford that car," said Cody, "Or because his parents can."
"Could be," said Faida, "Jesus warned about how much easier it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God's kingdom, and look at that guy back there; driving that car, acting all rude, and cursing at us with his hand. Now, about those 2 women with him, it seems at least one of them would tell him to stop acting the way he's acting. And, I'm also thinking he might be in a relationship with both of them."
"I hate that kind of relationship," said Cody, "I like it to be 1 man and 1 woman, just like us."
"Me too," said Faida, "Jesus said that marriage is between 1 man and 1 woman, and that's what we're doing."
"Totally," said Cody, "And I love it."
"Me too," said Faida.
The Koenigsegg's driver was still tailgating and honking his horn.
"Alright, that's it!" said Cody, "There's no one behind him, so I'm going to lollygag in front of him. If he thinks I'm going too slow now, I'll show him what too slow looks like."
Cody slowed his truck down to 20 miles per hour. The Koenigsegg's driver honked his horn in a long flatline.
"Oh! 'Sounds like I'm really ticking him off," said Cody.
Faida looked back, and saw a clearly enraged look on the Koenigsegg's driver's face. "I think so," she said.

Cody continued his slow drive with the impatient Koenigsegg driver tailgating, honking, and making his obscene gesture at him and Faida. As they approached the east end of the road, where it intersects with Kingston Pike, Cody and Faida noticed a dirty and unkempt homeless man standing in the median with a cardboard sign that said "Homeless. Need money for food."
"Aw! A homeless guy!" said Faida in a sympathetic tone.
Giggling mischieviously, Cody got his wallet out, removed a 20 dollar bill from it, put the wallet back in his pocket, and rolled his window down.
"We don't give panhandlers handouts," said Faida.
"This ain't a handout," said Cody, "I'm hiring him. Grab that handle, and hold on tight."
Faida tightly held the emergency handle on the ceiling with her right hand and her baby bump with her left hand. Cody held the money out the window, and the homeless man approached him.
"Here's 20 bucks," said Cody, giving the homeless man the money, "Now, as soon as the light turns green, I want you to go crazy on the car behind me."
The homeless man nodded in agreement and backed away from the truck. Soon after, the light turned green. Without even the slightest hesitation, the homeless man ran over to the Koenigsegg, placed his hands on the frunk, and cocked his head around with his tongue hanging out. Cody immediately stomped the gas to the floor, shooting through the intersection in a left turn onto Kingston Pike. He and Faida laughed the rest of the way home.

NORWICH, Conn. (AP) — The U.S. State Department has ordered certain public libraries nationwide to cease processing passport applications, disrupting a long-standing service that librarians say their communities have come to rely on and that has run smoothly for years.

Who says the private sector can do things better? This should be paid for by the taxpayers.

According to the Network Contagion Research Institute’s new report, "Democratic Socialists of America: Policy, Advocacy and Narrative Convergence with Hostile Foreign States," the organization has been engaging in a dynamic called "narrative convergence," advancing narratives that stoke domestic unrest and delegitimize state institutions while advancing talking points aligned with "hostile foreign governments."

Wake up America or we will lose our country.