Death. At my age, loss is something you learn to accept. Friends, family, classmates, church friends have all died with the last year.
Losing famous people is a different matter. If they improved our world, made my life more fun or interesting, I do feel some grief. I was deeply struck by the death of Robert DuVall and was not sure why I had such strong emotions.
In his obituary I read the range of his roles, the professionalism with which he performed, and his many films that I liked. I realized how I much I had enjoyed him and that was why I was struck by his death.
To Kill a Mockingbird, Lonesome Dove, Captain Newman M.D., Bullitt, Mash, Godfather, The Apostle, True Grit, Joe Kidd, Colors, Falling Down, Days of Thunder, The Conversation, Tender Mercies, Apocalypse Now, The Great Santini, True Confessions, The Natural, Open Range, Broken Trail, Second-hand Lions were all films I saw and enjoyed. He was in many more. I am not sure any other actor comes close to him in my experience. No wonder I grieve his loss.
He went up a notch when I learned he lived on a horse farm in Virginia rather than the dazzle of Hollywood.
The economy had positive developments this week.
First, the inflation rate cooled. This positive information is available from many sources. For those of you who think the mainstream media is totally bias, I chose the report by NBC News. Inflation cooled in January, offering some relief for consumers.
Second, the budget deficit was reduced. The news is welcome and near and dear to me. I live debt free and have deep fears about what the deficit might do to the lives of my grandchildren. This positive information is also available from many sources. For those of you who think the mainstream media is totally bias I chose the report by CNBC News. U.S. budget deficit lower in 2025; tariffs, debt payments both at records
Third, GE announced they were moving some of their washing machine production from China to Kentucky. Just for fun I looked at how FOX reported the news and how CNN reported it. You can see the bias on both sides. If you read both, you will have a better picture of what is happening.
The following story makes deportation have a human face.
Ofelia Torres died on Friday at the age of 16 from Stage 4 alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that affects the soft tissue. She was diagnosed with cancer in December 2024.
Her father, Ruben Torres Maldonado, was arrested on Oct. 18, 2025, while she was home from the hospital spending time with her family.
Torres Maldonado was released from ICE detention about two weeks later on a $2,000 bond after a judge took his daughter’s treatment into consideration.
Shortly before Ofelia’s death, a Chicago judge ruled that her father was entitled to a cancellation of removal because his deportation would impact his U.S. citizen children negatively, according to a representative for the family. This ruling is expected to provide a pathway for Torres Maldonado to obtain permanent residence in the U.S. and citizenship, per the spokesperson.
Ofelia, who was a junior at Chicago’s Lake View High School, was present for the hearing via Zoom three days before her death, according to the spokesperson.
“Ofelia was heroic and brave in the face of ICE’s detention and threatened deportation of her father,” said Kalman Resnick, Torres Maldonado’s lawyer. “We mourn Ofelia’s passing, and we hope that she will serve as a model for us all for how to be courageous and to fight for what’s right to our last breaths.”
In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, reiterated that Torres Maldonado has “a history of habitual driving offenses and has been charged multiple times with driving without insurance, driving without a valid license, and speeding.”
“How many more Americans have to die at the hands of illegal aliens driving recklessly on our roads and highways?” a DHS spokesperson said in the statement. “During Ruben Torres Maldanado’s arrest he did not comply with instructions from the officers and attempted to flee in his vehicle and backed into a government vehicle. This case is ongoing and DHS will continue to fight for the rule of law.”
Chicago teen who called for father’s release from ICE detention dies of rare cancer
I asked myself what would I have done knowing my daughter would miss chemotherapy if I am taken into custody. I like the common sense being applied by judges in this situation.
I want the worst of the worst to be deported. At the same time, we can respect humanity and act with common sense in some of the other cases.
Among the thousands being deported are common sense stories I would like our nation to consider. For example, in Alabama a man who was brought to the US as a one-year-old was deported. He grew up in the US, is married to a US citizen, has a child, had a job and does not speak Spanish. His crime was marijuana possession as a teenafer. I would have liked common sense to have allowed him to stay and pursue citizenship.
This and That
In the last blog, I cited a letter from former agriculture leaders. I got a thoughtful response from a reader who is part owner of an orchard farm. He is facing tough economic times but believes his agricultural problems are caused by other factors than the current economic approach cited in the letter. Among other factors hurting his bottom line, he cited lower foreign wages, unsafe standards and differences in shipping regulations. I will share more in the future after I have digested his thoughts.
Global Warming is not a hoax. I think this is clear data the earth is warming. Even if you believe humans are not a factor in the changes, we need to work to manage the problem.
https://reader.mobilepressregister.com/021226-warming/content.html
Food for thought
Is revealing victim’s names while redacting perpetrators in the Epstein Report right or wrong?
Ice can enter a church without a warrant, guns drawn, but a journalist cannot enter with a camera.
Good news
Heartwarming
‘I Just Instantly Ran To Help Him’: NYC Teen Rescues Child From Frozen Pond
They are back
2/18/2026 Mobile. Alabama
We have guests next week. I will be giving them my full attention.
THEREFORE NO BLOG NEXT WEEK.
Peace
Jerry
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