Tessera

"No country is allowed to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway. International law" said Marco Rubio on June 23. Then, Trump announced the US will demand a 20% reimbursement fee on all cargo shipped through the Strait. Whose pockets will be lined? www.reuters.com/world/middle...

And this is Russ's side of the den ("despacho") in Arroyo de la Luz, Spain. Mirror images. Well, almost ...

Even away from home -- whether in Portugal or Spain -- Russ and I spend time working ... especially at the computer. So, after the kitchen, we set up our den in Arroyo de la Luz, Spain. This here is my side of the "despacho."

It is a sad day when, rather than mourn with the families of two US senators, we count them as two fewer GOP members around to support Trump and his dystopian agenda. "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established." (Proverbs 19:21)

A man reaches for his phone. Checks his email. Glances at the weather. Asks for directions. Dictates a quick text. Confirms a purchase. Watches a series calibrated to his taste served up by a streaming service. Artificial intelligence prompts every action. pastorbrucesblog.com/2026/06/30/h...

Hiding in Plain Sight

How artificial intelligence quietly took up residence in our inboxes, cars, cameras, bank accounts, and living rooms—long before most of us started worrying about it

pastorbrucesblog.com

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, just 19% of Americans say the signers of the Declaration of Independence would be pleased with how the country has turned out, according to Gallup. news.gallup.com/poll/711842/...

At 250 Years, 77% Say U.S. Founders Would Be Disappointed

More than three in four U.S. adults say the founders would be disappointed with how the country turned out, though a majority still say it has made progress.

news.gallup.com

I'm a pastor. So, maybe I shouldn't be saying this. But this man needs to be removed by whatever means possible. The havoc he's caused to the people Jesus championed -- the weak, homeless, sick, outcasts, prisoners, women -- are the very people Trump's operations are crippling. (Ecclesiastes 2:11)

Brazilian condom ad is burning up the internet, showing world leaders struggling in a condom, with the tagline ‘Some People Should Never Have Been Born' It spoofs a few world leaders. Though it never became an ad, it took off when the Facebook ‘We Resist’ page plastered it on their site.

According to "influencer" Ashley St. Clair, her proximity to Musk and the Trump campaign exposed her to information that deeply disturbed her. dailyboulder.com/ashley-st-cl... Personally, I never believed that Trump won the election.

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

lnkd.in

Patience is the key to living in Portugal for Americans used to snapping their fingers and getting things done quickly. ‘Quick ain’t gonna happen!’. Pour a glass of wine, take a good book and just relax. www.essential-business.pt/2026/05/11/t...

The Portugal Diaries - Why so many Americans are choosing Portugal - Essential Business

essential-business.pt

But for a lagging libido, Luke is content, comfortable, and committed to his long-term relationship. His reverie is interrupted, however, by an online encounter with someone stunning, younger, and very virile, awakening physical urges in Luke that lay latent too long. www.amazon.com/dp/B0FC2LZJW9

One part Bridgerton elegance, one part Outlander heart, and a dash of Downton drama. From the ballrooms of London to the wilds of Scotland, a tale of love that defies the crown and a scandal that could topple an empire. www.amazon.com/Passions-Intrigue-Adventure-Bridgerton-Outlander/dp/B0GSS1J6TP

Passions & Intrigue: Love, Scandal, and Adventure: Bridgerton, Outlander, Downton Abbey

Passions & Intrigue: Love, Scandal, and Adventure: Bridgerton, Outlander, Downton Abbey [Joffe, Bruce H.] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Passions & Intrigue: Love, Scandal, and Adventure: Bridgerton, Outlander, Downton Abbey

amazon.com

I asked AI to predict what could happen if the entire government – executive, legislative, and judicial branches – was Republican … albeit with one critical caveat: the president was a convicted felon. AI spit out the sordid story of Donald Trump's criminal activities. www.amazon.com/dp/B0FYLYDS42

"Unprecedented ...": Criminal in the White House (Social Sciences)

Amazon.com: "Unprecedented ...": Criminal in the White House (Social Sciences): 9798272285829: Joffe, Bruce H.: Books

amazon.com

No advance warning or notice. No explanation of what I might have done wrong to prompt this. Just this. I despise Facebook and refuse to play its dictatorial games anymore!

Most people think the Bible is a book of spiritual whispers. They’re wrong. From the property laws of Leviticus to the subversive "Kingdom" of Jesus, the Bible wasn’t written just to save your soul—it was written to govern a nation. Start reading the blueprint. www.amazon.com/Sacred-Polit...

Sacred Politics: Unveiling the Political Narrative of the Bible (Religion & Spirituality)

Sacred Politics: Unveiling the Political Narrative of the Bible (Religion & Spirituality) [Joffe Ph.D., Rev. Bruce H.] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Sacred Politics: Unveiling the Political Narrative of the Bible (Religion & Spirituality)

amazon.com

What if your Social Security check didn’t just cover your groceries, but funded a lifestyle across two Iberian countries? In this book, I pull back the curtain on the 'real' Spain and Portugal. No $1M Lisbon penthouses or Architectural Digest fantasies. Just comfortable, authentic Iberian living.

The U.S. national debt is now larger than the economy as a whole, hitting levels not seen since World War II's aftermath, new data has revealed. Figures released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis place the total debt held by the American public at $31.27 trillion. finance.yahoo.com/economy/poli...

US national debt is now bigger than the economy for first time since World War II

Lawmakers urged to ‘stop the bleeding’ and put the country on a more sustainable fiscal path

finance.yahoo.com