Luke 19:40 - Let us not be silent

                    Luke 19:40 "I tell you, "he replied. "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

                   ELECTION Day is no time to be silent. Get yourself out and vote at a minimum!!!

Image Source: https://medialibrary.cloversites.com/assets/rocks-powerpoint-sermon-230866

ELECTION Day November 4th, 2025 !!! Fired Up Ready to Lead.

                                                       Fired Up Ready to Go. - President Barack Obama

A family messaged me with "its a movement". In deed it is. Find your place and event! Exercise your right to VOTE in St. Petersburg Florida and in many cities in the great USA -- November 4 is municipal Election Day!

Checks & Balances Blogspot/Checks & Integrity Inc continues to vouch for and support the below freedom movements. 

50501 The Movement 

https://www.fiftyfifty.one/

No Kings Movement

https://www.nokings.org/

Follow up to No Kings March/ A National Movement Supporting Freedom of Speech!!!

   Brief Statement to continue following the movement: The No Kings Marches and Protests which occurred over the Summer 2025 paralleling other which are not uniform in membership nor agenda but, in purpose they are. Let me add that as of late I have been listening a veteran civil rights leader giving kudos to him; the Honorable Rev. Sharpton (leader of the National Action Network). In addition to the following civil rights groups I patronize even if my dues lapse on occasion the NAACP (locally and nationally) and Equality Florida (locally and nationally also). Giving a positive shot out to efforts in rural areas of the country such as in Missouri and Kansas City, a beautiful diverse state which receive little hype outside of the super bowl. The movement is juts as pure and on target supporting American freedoms as seen in New York and Tampa Bay according to news reports. As I have yet had the pleasure of visiting New York City. For freedom, liberty and democracy. -A.T. Yoda Brooks

Source: https://www.nokings.org/next

National Action Network: https://nationalactionnetwork.net/

Becoming an introvert on purpose

A recent talk given by a popular and admired spiritual leader stated there might be a middle grey area amongst introverts and extroverted personalities. What neither of the old or new terms mean is that “dreaded” C word. I might update the post with this term. How introverts and extroverts can be better friends : Life Kit

https://www.npr.org/2025/10/30/nx-s1-5590279/how-introverts-and-extroverts-can-be-better-friends

Real Data on Furlough and Laid Off Wokers

White House floats no back pay for some furloughed federal workers despite 2019 law

 

Government agency furloughs

Numbers reflect temporary furloughs during the government shutdown, as detailed in agency shutdown contingency plans.

Environmental Protection Agency	15,166	13,432	89% 89% 89%
Education Department	1,700	1,485	87% 87% 87%
Labor Department	12,916	11,061	86% 86% 86%
Commerce Department	42,984	34,747	81% 81% 81%
Department of Housing and Urban Development	6,105	4,359	71% 71% 71%
Nuclear Regulatory Commission	2,665	1,837	69% 69% 69%
State Department	26,995	16,651	62% 62% 62%
Energy Department	13,812	8,105	59% 59% 59%
Interior Department	58,619	30,996	53% 53% 53%
Agriculture Department	85,907	42,256	49% 49% 49%
IRS	74,299	34,429	46% 46% 46%
Defense Department	741,477	334,904	45% 45% 45%
Department of Health and Human Services	79,717	32,460	41% 41% 41%
Treasury Department	2,714	859	32% 32% 32%
Transportation Department	53,717	12,213	23% 23% 23%
Social Security Administration	51,825	6,197	12% 12% 12%
Justice Department	115,131	12,840	11% 11% 11%
Department of Homeland Security	271,927	14,184	5% 5% 5%
Department of Veterans Affairs	461,499	14,874	3% 3% 3%

Notes

Defense Department figures include civilian employees only.

Source: Government agency websitesCredit: Tamara Keith, Saige Miller and Rahul Mukherjee/NPR

 

Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/10/07/g-s1-92363/omb-memo-shutdown-federal-worker-backpay

In this Rat Race or Work Force: Keep your cards close to your chest

 "The term "keeping information close to pocket" is a variation of the common idiom, "keeping your cards close to your chest". It means to keep your intentions, ideas, or knowledge secret from others, either to gain an advantage or because you are being cautious. 

Origin and meaning

The phrase is a reference to card games like poker, where players hold their cards close to their chest so that their opponents cannot see what they are holding. By extension, applying this to real-life situations means you don't reveal your plans or thoughts to others. 

Common synonyms and related phrases

• Keep your cards close to your chest/vest: This is the most direct and traditional version of the idiom.
• Play it close to the vest: A common American variation with the same meaning.
• Keep something to yourself: To not share a piece of information with anyone else.
• Keep something under your hat: An older phrase that means to keep something secret.
• Keep something under wraps: To hide or keep a secret.
• Guarded: An adjective to describe someone who is careful not to show their feelings or give away information.
• Behind closed doors: This phrase describes something that is done secretly or without public knowledge. "

Source: Google AI

• hold/keep/play (something) close to one's chest

  idiom. variants or US hold/keep/play (something) close to the vest. : to keep (something) to oneself. It's better to hold such inf...

  

  Merriam-Webster
• Twenty Five Idioms about Keeping and Spilling Secrets

  Apr 12, 2016 — as quiet as a mouse – silent or very quiet. behind closed doors – out of sight, in secret, without public knowledge. d...

  

  Spellzone
• What does it mean to 'keep your cards close to your chest'?

  Feb 21, 2020 — * What does it mean to "keep your cards close to your chest"? * Literally speaking it means holding your playing cards...

  

  Quora

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Dive deeper in AI Mode

The Need to be Heard /La necesidad de ser escuchado

 

The Need to be Heard /La necesidad de ser escuchado   

The Need to be Heard. Oprah Winfrey (a leader I admire especially in the movie color purple which she started in before becoming form her talk show) says her religion is gratitude; this concept is an idea in my 40s have just received insight was a thing. Choose peace ahead of always needing to be right. 

   My take on this however is everyone required to express gratitude & gratefulness the same way or even verbally. I think not....

Mass Call: What’s Next After No Kings?

Your Life is Bigger than your job - Oprah!

 "Your Life is bigger than your job" - Oprah Winfrey

   Listening to an honor society presentation. What I advise is keep "balance" in perspective. USA the average worker puts in 40 hours plus. Europe its approximately 30 hours with social supports such as healthcare and a siesta. The balance is unsustainably off in my opinion regarding US economics. 

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siesta

Stay Close

   Respecting to the others who do believe in God, but the notion or luxury of denying 'faith' is not ours......in the words of a respected elder....."if you don't stand for something you will fall for anything" (Malcolm X). Not to offend the bright side is that so many believe there are many towards the same light. It is scientifically and historically true in past epochs how so much lined up during the same time period. This history, facts, archeology etc in themselves are no coincidence(s). 

   An old friend (an ordained Buddhist monk) made a statements to me years ago which he could just as much posed as question, the compass is now readjusting not just form myself but the global community of mankind: "you are so far away from the church".

Advice for Leaders: Listen, Learn, Love, Observe, then Lead.

Image Citation: https://www.blackartdepot.com/products/angel-of-love-magnet-buena-johnson

https://www.azquotes.com/quote/184516

Inspiration: Luke 22:54-62