A Special Christmas Gift From ICE

In The News:

Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores was being pursued by U.S law enforcement in a global manhunt for being one of the seven men who in 2022 committed the biggest Brink's truck robbery in American history. He was accused of stealing over $100 million in gold, diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and luxury watches, during a heist alongside a freeway north of Los Angeles.

But unbeknownst to law enforcement, Mr. Flores was in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody since September and right after Christmas, 2025 they deported him to his native Ecuador, where presumably he is now in the wind. 

Inspired By Rosa Parks

Inspired by Rosa Parks’ 1955 refusal to give up her Birmingham, Alabama bus seat to a white person, and the yearlong bus boycott that followed, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which ultimately integrated the Birmingham buses, I knew I had to do something meaningful as well.

Now, before you read any further, please consider sometimes my aspirations fall far short of the greatness of others.

Greenland

Today in history, January 16, 27 BC, The Roman Senate declared Augustus Caeser, the adopted son of Julius Caeser, the first Roman Emperor. 

His first official act, for "strategic reasons," was to try to seize Greenland. Unfortunately, Augustus Caeser could not find Greenland on a map, and the attack was shelved for over 2,000 years.

A Humorous Business Lesson, Taken From A Real-Life Event

In business news, Jack in the Box is selling Del Taco to Yadav Enterprises at a loss of over $400 million! Jack in the Box paid $585 million in 2022 and selling now for $115 million. Yadav owns many Denny’s and El Pollo Locos, TGI Friday’s, etc.

Curious how Jack in the Box in only 3 short years could turn $585 million into $115 million, for purposes of what will now be this fable, I asked their CEO.

New California Driver's License

California has begun issuing new driver's licenses with beautiful images of redwoods, poppies, and the coastline and incorporates enhanced security elements like a digital security signature. Name and birth date are stored in the barcode.

And while I have yet to verify this, rumor has it that new California licenses will soon have 3 other features:

A Dog Who Voted In Two California Elections

That dog was Maya, registered to vote by her human companion, Laura Lee Yourex, 62 of Orange County. Maya voted in the 2021 California governor recall election and the 2022 primary election.

Mail-in ballots were used to cast Maya's votes and she posed with an "I voted" sticker. 

Her 2021 vote was successfully counted, but her 2022 ballot was rejected. Until recently, Maya was still receiving her mail-in ballots but due to passing away, was unable to vote them.

Ms. Yourex joyfully shared this adventure on social media, and after there was no response from authorities, later turned herself in. She faces possible prosecution for illegally casting votes and other charges.

On This Day In History

On this day in history, August 26, 1939 the first televised baseball game was broadcast. It was between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds.