Quotes to Ponder. Predictions. My Rules, Not Yours. Delta Force. 41.9 Million People. Question of the Week. Tariffs. Pure Talent.

Be the Best Human. 2026 Predictions. Religion and Politics. U.S. Bad Ass Mission. Asia and China Populations. Bourbon Woes. Bad Company!

Happy New Year. Five Quotes to Start off 2026:

“You pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud too. That’s a part of it.” -Denzel Washington

“Life’s too short to hang out with people who aren’t resourceful.” – Jeff Bezos

“Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” – Dolly Parton

“Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.” – Oprah Winfrey

“Shed indifference in face of suffering.” – Pope Leo XIV

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” – Walt Disney

I picked these quotes as thought starters and inspiration for 2026. Six quotes from six vastly different people, conveying different messages. Jeff Bezos’ quote can be taken as arrogant. What he is trying to convey is that we should surround ourselves with people who take initiative, do creative things, and find solutions instead of excuses. He feels that resourceful people quickly grab opportunities to adapt and make the best use of whatever “comes to their doorsteps.“

My father always told me that “we are a product of our own environment.” Bezos feels the same stating that “Spending time with unresourceful people can take a toll on your mental health and can be draining and unproductive.” Denzel Washington, Dolly Parton, Oprah Winfrey, Pope Leo XIV, and Walt Disney, at some level, are delivering the same type of message. I hope 2026 brings you good health, peace, and prosperity.

  • I will not comment on the ‘legalities’ of U.S. forces capturing the sitting President of Venezuela yesterday morning. What I will comment on is the mission itself. U.S. Delta Force, under Joint Special Operations Command, used their never-ending covert and extraction training to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. Delta Force is well known for executing missions with operational details remaining classified for many years. Delta Force selects its members from elite Army units, including The Ranger Regiment and Army Special Forces.

Two other comments on the mission:

1. We are assured that the U.S. President, Donald Trump, will as usual, give us his “play-by-play” of the mission. 🙂

2. The European Union has chimed in that there should be restraint and diplomacy in regard to Venezuela. The European Union, at most levels a farce of a governing body, can kiss my a–.

I wonder how well Gustavo Petro is sleeping these days? Petro is the president of Colombia.

Here are a few 2026 predictions. I will review these at year-end.

  • Vladimir Putin, under extreme economic duress, decides to stop attacking Ukraine in return for a land grab/de-militarized zone.
  • Hamas again re-establishes itself as a terror organization within Gaza.
  • The Seattle Seahawks win Super Bowl LX.
  • The U.S. national debt will surpass $50 trillion, the highest in history.
  • The United States, Great Britain, and Israel bomb Iran due to their continued threats of nuclear proliferation.
  • Due to health issues, President Trump is forced to step down from his presidential role.
  • A new C-level position will become prominent. Something named or similar to the title Chief of Preparedness to manage and mitigate A.I.
  • Like they did in 1998 and 2018, France wins the 2026 World Cup.
  • The United States Postal Service, like NASA, becomes the management oversight company of a few private mail delivery firms.
  • The Japanese walking method of exercise, where you walk at different intervals, becomes “the flavor of the month” with all fitness experts and pundits.
  • After nine years of writing JustMyTake, I still receive questions from readers asking why I stay away from politics and religion. My reasons vary, but specifically I do not enjoy the banter and division, sometimes misleading or harsh, when people engage in conversations regarding politics and religion.

Last month, one of the Questions of the Week asked what you would like to change for 2026. Here was one response of many I received:

Just one thing is a very difficult request, given the turmoil around the world, especially Russia/Ukraine, that most senseless killing. But one thing, it would have to get the US of A to refocus on all those principles the Founding Fathers enumerated 250 years ago. The Judeo-Christian guiding lights to them have evolved into forgotten memories today, totally obliterating foundational beliefs, tolerance, moral guidelines. That and send the Progressives and socialists to Europe where they belong–I think that would delight Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Monroe, Franklin et al.

Here is one of a few responses I received in the last two weeks:

And whoever wrote that first one is a mis-informed….so and so. The founding fathers did NOT have Judeo-Christian guiding lights (I’m sure he/she put in Judeo for your benefit. They are a radical Christian extremist all the way). They were deists who had a general concept and belief in God, but that’s about it. What they DID want as a guiding light was to escape tyranny of any kind which included freedom of religion. Not freedom for Christianity. They were never exclusively Christian….just like Jesus was never Christian. Instead of worrying about the socialists and progressives, perhaps he/she should move to Texas and that whole state be removed from the United States. It would really help our national budget!

I sincerely appreciate and enjoy both views, and these takes are part of why I write this weekly blog. It is also why I stay away from religion and politics.

  • I have visited Mexico City (CDMX) a few times in the last few months. I always assumed that CDMX ranked as a top populated city worldwide. Sixteen million people inhabit the city, full of history, culture, the arts, and from my experience, nice people. Upon further review, while sixteen million is a big number, CDMX does not rank in the top ten most populated cities worldwide.

Population growth, migration, and economic opportunity continue to pull millions into the major metropolitan areas of Asia, with Jakarta, Dhaka, and Tokyo leading the world in population. For comparison with the list below, New York City is the most populous city in the United States at 8.5 million.

As recorded by the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects 2025 Report, here are the world’s ten largest cities by population:
1 Jakarta, Indonesia 41.9M
2 Dhaka, Bangladesh 36.6M
3 Tokyo, Japan 33.4M
4 New Delhi, India 30.2M
5 Shanghai, China 29.6M
6 Guangzhou. China 27.6M
7 Cairo, Egypt 25.6M
8 Manila, Philippines 24.7M
9 Kolkata, India 22.6M
10 Seoul, South Korea 22.5M

Thank you to everyone who answered the last Question of the Week: Do you have a non-business trip planned for 2026, and if so, where are you going? JustMyTake readers have planned some fantastic vacations:

  • The Florida Keys, Dominican Republic, and France.
  • River cruise from Amsterdam to Basel. Pre-trip stop in Iceland, post-trip stay in Switzerland.
  • The beach, always.
  • We are celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary with a trip to London with the family.
  • End of January a week in Scotland with a buddy scotch drinking…our annual week in Park City early March…late March back to France to take possession of our new vacation home in Monflanquin…then to Paris for the month of May…then back to our house in SW France for a few weeks each in July and September, maybe longer or more often, time will tell.
  • Africa.
  • Traveling to Korea, Lebanon and Macon, GA.

This week’s Question of the Week: Have you ever followed through on a New Year’s resolution? If so, what was that resolution?

  • In the spring of last year, I wrote about ramifications to import taxes, a.k.a. the Trump Administration’s tariff plan, one being the bourbon industry. Nine months after the tariffs were enacted, the bourbon industry, especially distilleries in Kentucky, are in dire straits. One example is the popular Jim Beam bourbon, where inventories are at such a high level the company has halted production at its main site for all of 2026. Pricing has driven down consumer demand blended with the turmoil between U.S. and Canada trade.

Over 1,000 workers could temporarily lose their jobs – not the greatest way to start off 2026. Last October, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association stated that “the amount of bourbon in warehouses across the state was at a record high of more than 16 million barrels…with that stagnant inventory costing distillers a crushing $75m.” Let us hope that both the Administration’s tariff policies and Canada’s ‘boycott’ of U.S.-produced bourbon subside a bit.

  • Pure Talent. I wanted to start 2026 emphasizing that our older rock and roll legends are just as good, if not better, than anybody today. I am not discounting the talent and skill of some of today’s artists – I am simply saying that it does not get much better than Bad Company’s Paul Rodgers and the great song Burnin’ Sky. I might challenge people who feel that Paul Rodgers is the greatest rock singer of all time. Whether he is the best or not, Rodgers is Pure Talent.

Adios, pay it forward, be the best human, and have a Sunday Funday!

Do It Now. Predictions. SpaceX = 550. Plans for 2026? Pure Talent.

Do What You Can While You Can. Not So Much. The Definition of Reusable. Where Are You Going? Fight the Good Fight.

Quote of the Week: “You only go around once, but if you play your cards right, once is enough.” – Frank Sinatra

There are many cliches that support Frank Sinatra’s quote. The one that resonates with me is “Do what you can while you can.” Obviously, practicality comes into play, but I assume Sinatra really understood that while you have the means and the health to do so, go ahead and act now without waiting for perfect conditions. Go ahead and book that trip, take that hike, relocate to that town you always wanted to live in, and take action before that opportunity or your ability to act goes away.

There is no doubt Frank Sinatra lived life to the fullest…and I am sure he ‘played his cards right.’ The Christmas Song never performed any better than by Ol’ Blue Eyes.

My first post of 2025 included a few predictions. Here are those predictions posted back on January 1st of this year. My comments are in Bold.

  • Teleportation gets a good test in 2025. (I think this is “Scotty, beam me up?”) There was no large-scale teleportation of matter, but significant advancements in teleportation of the subatomic world of quantum mechanics did happen. In terms that I can understand, teleportation is happening with massive quantities of information. The transportation of large matter (beam me up) is not happening anytime soon. 🙂
  • Bitcoin hits $200,000. No, for reasons above my pay grade, Bitcoin reached a high of $93,620.0 as of December 21, 2025.
  • Dementia declines due to a greater understanding of genetic mutations. This is unfortunately a mixed result with overall lower rates of dementia this year, but the number of people with dementia rising due to longer lifespans and an aging population.
  • Several television station groups, including Tegna and Sinclair, sell out due to financial hardship. This is happening right now as Sinclair has proposed to merge with Tegna, and Nexstar is in negotiations to acquire both and consolidate the businesses. We will see how this floats with the Federal Trade Commission.
  • Electric air transportation becomes mainstream. It is on the brink of becoming mainstream and in 2026 “air taxi” transpiration will be available from a few eVTOL (Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) companies in different cities across the world.
  • DNA mapping at birth becomes the norm. Also referred to as Genome Sequencing, DNA mapping is becoming a normal protocol for newborns. Specialists site both benefits/risks with parents not having a true understanding should results show some type of genetic disorder.
  • Elon Musk, who cannot stand bureaucracy, gets fed up and leaves his role as the head of DOGE. Yes, he had enough of whatever he was supposed to be doing early on in 2025.
  • Due to bundling, streaming subscriptions rise up to 60%. No, streaming subscriptions rose on average of 10% during 2025.
  • The Atlanta Braves are shut out of postseason play. Yes, much to my chagrin.
  • Ukraine and Russa make peace. NO. Does Vladimir Putin really want to end this war?
  • DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) practices will become more data driven. Yes, scientific decision-making practices are better than DEI for corporations because they are fair, objective, and scalable.
  • The Buffalo Bills win the Super Bowl. No, the Philadelphia Eagles crushed the Kansas City Chiefs on February 9th of this year.
  • Type I diabetes becomes preventable. Not yet, but Type I is coming closer to being preventable. Recent breakthroughs have allowed for significant delays in its onset for high-risk individuals using new medications.
  • Annual sales of American flags hit a record high. No, while the sales of American flags increased year-over-year in 2025, the sales have been nowhere close to a record high.
  • Nanoprobes become commonplace to gather vitals usually done by blood testing. No. While nanoprobes have become increasingly common in advanced medical imaging, standard vitals are still gathered by traditional devices like electronic monitors, blood pressure cuffs, and stethoscopes.

The next post will have some predictions for 2026. Please send your 2026 predictions.

  • SpaceX Falcon 9 launch marks the 550th time the company has successfully recovered its reusable rocket booster; milestone comes days ahead of the 10-year anniversary of its first demonstration. Who would have thought that reusable rockets and boosters would become a standard for the spaceflight industry?

Speaking of air and space travel:

General Glen VanHerck is the Commander of NORAD, and reports directly to the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Canada. General VanHerck recently stated in no uncertain way that one of the most important services and missions NORAD provides will continue this week. The mission: since 1955, NORAD has tracked Santa on December 24, using “all available personnel and technology” to ensure that children around the world have a chance to see where Santa is in real time.

In a recent press conference, a question posed to General VanHerck challenged the December 24th mission as a non-essential use of funds and personnel. After a long stare down, General VanHerck told the journalist that he was “out of line and to stand down or be escorted out of the press conference.” There were no more questions for General VanHerck.

Last week, at a Pentagon press conference, the media again received direct communication that NORAD would go into full operational mode to track Santa. Again, there were no questions for the General.

Thank you for sending in your answers to the last Question of the Week regarding one thing you would change in 2026:

  • Just one thing is a very difficult request, given the turmoil around the world, especially Russia/Ukraine, that most senseless killing. But one thing, it would have to get the US of A to refocus on all those principles the Founding Fathers enumerated 250 years ago. The Judeo-Christian guiding lights to them have evolved into forgotten memories today, totally obliterating foundational beliefs, tolerance, moral guidelines. That and send the Progressives and socialists to Europe where they belong–I think that would delight Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Monroe, Franklin et al.
  • No work, calls, or BS, just enjoy the AI world.
  • Eliminate all Replay from sports. Like extremist politicians, replay has gone too far and it isn’t accurate enough to keep it. 🙂 Leave it to the humans to play and officiate. Maybe if we are more accepting of human mistakes in sports, we will be more tolerant of human mistakes in our normal life.
  • With respect to the 1st Amendment, somehow scale back all the nasty and false news found on X and other social media channels. It is sickening.

This week’s Question of the Week: Do you have a non-business trip planned for 2026, and if so, where are you going?

  • Pure Talent. As we close the year, I dedicate this song to all of you who are fighting the good fight – against a disease, a conflict, or a hurdle that seems like you cannot climb over. This video is the Canadian band Triumph, with their massive hit Fight the Good Fight, with Rik Emmett on guitar and vocals. The band Triumph was Pure Talent.

Go fight the good fight in 2026!

Adios, pay it forward, be the best human, happy holidays and all the best for a great 2026!

Change it Up. Thoughts. Holidays. Question of the Week. Pure Talent.

Take That Step Forward. Randomness. Celebrate All Three. Answers Please. One Hit Wonder.

Quote of the Week: “Never underestimate the power you have to take your life in a new direction.” – Germany Kent

As we near year-end 2025, this quote from syndicated journalist Germany Kent may align with one of your New Year’s resolutions…but I hope not. What I do hope is that all of us, at some level, have the power to make changes, take a new direction, and as the business world likes to say, pivot, without the changes being part of a 2026 resolution.

Many of my friends and associates, as well as my daughter and son-in-law, have done just that. They have put their foot in the ground and made the decision to change their lives, whether it relates to relocation, family, career, a companion, or just a mindset. Of course, altering your path is sometimes easier said than done. Here is a list of a few thought-starters with trying to go in a new direction:

  • Self-assessment and self-reflection: Understand your current situation, values, strengths.
  • Define Your New Goals: You can be aggressive with your new goals, but at some level those goals need to be realistic and reasonably attainable. For example, one of my forever goals was to be able to dunk a basketball. Not happening.
  • Free Yourself Up: let go of the past hurdles and issues to create a new outlook and path to reach your defined goals.
  • Step Forward: Get out of your comfort zone, set targets and milestones, and start by making small changes first.
  • Get Help: from your family, from your peers, and from your friends. Those people will help you, level-set you, and give you their honest take on how to alter your path.

Think about the days when the Berlin Wall finally came down. Think of the thousands, if not millions of people who were forced, good or bad, to make changes. Changing it up is doable, and there is nothing wrong with tying your initiative with the New Year but do not make these planned changes a New Year’s resolution.

The song Wind of Change by the Scorpions never said it better.

Things I Think on December 14, 2025

  • In one of many mind-boggling decisions by FIFA, the world’s governing body of soccer thought they would help Seattle and their LGBTQ + Pride celebration by with a “Pride Match” as part of the World Cup matches to be played in Seattle. All good stuff until you see that FIFA has decided that the “Pride Match” will be played between Egypt and Iran…two countries who impose severe penalties on LGBTQ+ people. Really, FIFA?
  • Good…and bad. The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by another quarter point last week. Good for interest rates on loans and mortgages and the Dow Jones. Bad for inflation and unemployment woes.
  • It is not okay. Taking mushrooms and not sleeping for forty-eight hours does not exonerate you from trying to shut off the engines of an inflight airliner. As a side note, I do like mushrooms with my New York Strip.
  • I am not trying to add salt to the wound but any of you in the Northeast or Midwest….if you are planning a Florida trip…come between right now and April. Just saying.
  • Investment bankers or private equity operators help me understand why Oracle’s stock dropped 11% last Thursday morning due to 14% year-over-year revenue growth in the quarter that ended Nov. 30, missing the projected 15% YOY growth. Why did the one percent miss in one quarter impact the stock so dramatically? Anyone care to chime in?
  • The eight days of Hanukkah begins this evening and ends December 22; Christmas, of course, is December 25; Kwanzaa runs from December 26, 2025, to January 1, 2026. A compressed and busy holiday season with significant celebrations happening close together. I am accepting gifts for all three.

Adam Sandler’s Hanukkah song, after thirty years, is still awesome:

Thank you for answers to the last Question of the Week regarding your favorite holiday memory:

  • Being surrounded by family during the holidays:). Decorating the tree was most memorable.
  • My grandfather would dress up as Santa and visit us on Christmas eve. For some unexplained reason, he always had a German accent.
  • Decorating our XMAS tree with my family. Always a fun time!
  • Making eggnog and spicing it up a bit different every year.
  • Taking my kids to the local mall for a visit with Santa!
  • Shopping for gifts at stores and malls. I actually liked to go to the mall on XMAS eve day to see the craziness.

Here is this week’s Question of the Week: this question relates to the take above about making changes: What one thing would you change in 2026, with money and location not a factor?

  • Pure Talent. The band is Real Life, and the song is Send Me An Angel. As we are now in the holiday season, I felt like this song about faith and hope was appropriate. The song defined the New Wave genre in the early 80s…sort of a prayer wrapped in synthesized rhythm. The band Real Life, and the song Send Me An Angel, even if it was a one-hit wonder, was Pure Talent.

Adios, pay it forward, be the best human, and have a Sunday Funday!

Anticipation. December 7, 1941. Social Media Ban. The World Cup Draw. Question of the Week. Passion. Pure Talent.

A Skill Not Everyone Enjoys. Pearl Harbor. Australia Leads the Way. Twelve Groups of Four. Holiday Tradition. Celebrating Victory. Metallica is Way More Than Metal.

Quote of the Week: “A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.” – Wayne Gretzky

Anticipation is a skill not all of us can obtain. The ability to anticipate involves developing a mindset to consider future and better outcomes. In the business world we all hope to be able to plan and act versus reacting to a opportunity, problem, or issue. Can you develop narratives around a set of assumptions to anticipate future scenarios? Can you identify and anticipate emerging trends that in the short and long term have future impacts?

Rather than simply reacting to a challenging situation, proactive, forward-thinking people are those who anticipate a problem before it happens and are able to stop, avoid or diffuse it. If you must react, it means the problem has already occurred, and it may be too late to avoid any negative consequences. Anticipation is learned and developing skills around critical thinking is important, especially if you are able to use them to anticipate a potential future problem and diffuse it. Do you have the ability to anticipate?

“You never know about the days to come, but we think them anyway....”. The song Anticipation never performed any better than Carly Simon:

  • Today is December 7. On this day in 1941, the Japanese military launched a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack killed over 2,400 American service members and civilians and prompted the U.S. to declare war on Japan the next day, officially entering World War II. December 7 is observed as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day to honor the victims of the attack. Today would be a good day to fly your American flag.
  • A few weeks ago I wrote about my disdain for much of the content posted on X (a.k.a. Twitter). Some of what I wrote back in September:

I have written about the tipping point because I have reached mine. Charlie Kirk’s assassination has pushed me over the edge, not only because of a twenty-two-year-old taking Kirk’s life, but because people are using social media to celebrate the assassination. I will continue to use LinkedIn for business purposes, and I will stay on Instagram for now as I enjoy photos from family and friends, but as of today I have left other social media channels, including X (Twitter). I will no longer indulge the wicked comments expressed by many on the sad and shocking diatribes from those who use X.

I will no longer read about groups of people celebrating the assassination of Charlie Kirk because his views and opinions differed from theirs. I will no longer read about people starting a Go Fund page for someone who murdered a woman on a bus in Charlotte, North Carolina. Though I will miss the just-in-time news and sports posts I read on X, I am done.

Social media has become a springboard for hoaxes, fake shootings, and more importantly an offramp for a lack of moral clarity. I am done with anyone who celebrates the assassination of Charlie Kirk. I am done with anyone who enlists the help of others to support the murderer who took the life of Charlotte bus rider. I am done with all of it.

Next week, Australia will impose a ban blocking under sixteen-year-olds from using social media including X, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and others. The platforms have finally agreed with the ban, preventing kids sixteen and under from engaging with social media – with Instagram, Facebook, and Threads already deactivating accounts. The Australian government has many reasons for imposing the ban, stating the platforms can be “powerful, harmful, and deceptive” with everyone but especially with kids sixteen and under.

The law takes effect December 10, and many worldwide legislators feel that this is the first step propelling other countries to impose barriers with the use of social media platforms. I do not know how this type of ban would work with the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution…do you?

  • The 2026 World Cup draw was held on Friday. The three host countries, Mexico, Canada, and the United States, automatically qualify for the forty-eight-team tournament. Each country was placed in a group of four, with the U.S.A.’s group opponents being Australia, Paraguay, and the playoff winner between Türkiye (a.k.a. Turkey), Romania, Slovakia, and Kosovo. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy told reporters last Thursday that he expects six million visitors to enter the U.S. next summer. That influx of people into the U.S. next summer should be interesting for many reasons.

Factoid: According to Sports Illustrated: The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar captivated a massive global audience, reaching 5 billion people across all media and drawing a record 1.5 billion viewers for the final match between Argentina and France, solidifying its status as the world’s most-watched sporting event. The entire tournament saw a cumulative audience of 5.6 billion (watching at least one minute), with an average of 175 million watching each match.

Thank you to everyone who answered the last Question of the Week regarding your favorite holiday movie. One was mentioned three times:

  • Old school movie: Home Alone. Latest movie: A Very Jonas Christmas Movie — masterclass in marketing nostalgia and getting a new generation of fans. Goes down easy like a glass of eggnog and a great ~1.5 hour escape.
  • 1. It’s a Wonderful Life 2. Elf 3. A Christmas Story 4. Christmas Vacation
  • The Bishop’s Wife with Cary Grant, David Niven, and Loretta Young.
  • Love Actually.
  • No doubt “It’s a Wonderful Life” is not only my favorite movie but one of the best movies of all time. I say this because I watched it 3 years ago for the first time and I loved this movie!!!!! Can you believe that and I think I am a movie guy…
  • It’s a Wonderful Life.
  • Elf – the family favorite for sure!
  • White Christmas.

Here is this week’s Question of the Week: What is your best childhood memory regarding the Holidays?

(My best and favorite holiday memory was my family, for over fifteen years, hosting a XMAS eve open house where family, friends, and neighbors dropped by for some food, cocktails, and my Aunt Kay’s eggnog).

  • Passion and sports are aligned at many levels. From youth sports to the professional level, people coordinate their schedules around their kids’ games and coordinate their time to ensure they can watch their favorite college or professional teams. In the United States, the professional sports landscape has fandom that is mostly geographically aligned. Green Bay Packer fans are worldwide, but in northeast Wisconsin, most, if not everyone, cheer on this famous National Football League club.

The fandom dynamics are no different worldwide, with sporting clubs from Madrid to Rio de Janeiro supported by millions of faithful followers. One example is the sporting club CR Flamengo (better known as Flamengo), a Brazilian sporting club that started in 1895 as a rowing club. Flamengo’s football club is based in Rio de Janeiro, a city with a population north of sixteen million. The football club is now one hundred-thirteen years old, with a valuation of $721 million. The passion surrounding this club is bolstered by a massive fan base of forty-nine million followers on social media across all platforms.

The passion from the Flamengo fans is unprecedented, especially last week as Flamengo defeated Palmeiras to win the 2025 Copa Libertadores title (the largest club football competition in South American). Here is what Rio de Janeiro looked like after Flamengo’s win:

  • Pure Talent. The band Metallica is known for being one of the biggest names in heavy metal. What Metallica is not widely known for is philanthropy – and they do that very well. Through their foundation, All Within My Hands, Metallica supports food banks, disaster relief efforts, and community services. They also have a passion for providing grants that open doors for students pursuing skilled trades, having created nine thousand Metallica Scholars. https://www.allwithinmyhands.org/who-we-support/metallica-gives-back/metallica-scholars.html

While James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and Robert Trujillo are known for their greatest rock hits (Enter Sandman and Fade to Black come to mind), their Pure Talent is what they do to give back. Well done, Metallica.

Adios, pay it forward, be the best human, and have a Sunday Funday!

KISS. The Penny. Question of the Week. Rockefeller Center. Pure Talent.

Keep It Simple, Stupid. A Penny For Your Thoughts. Who Portrays You? It is 75′ Tall. My Thanksgiving.

Quote of the Week: “Good mashed potato is one of the great luxuries in life.” – Lindsey Bareham

Though “good mashed potato” is both a comfort food and one associated with the holidays, I take Lindsey Bareham’s quote in a different way. This quote highlights that a simple food, made with care (and plenty of butter!) can be a simple source of pleasure and enjoyment. To me, the key word is ‘simple’ and reinforces that we should all try to keep things from getting too complicated.

As we approach the holidays, the dynamics of travel, family, and too much food can make things difficult. Dividing your time with family, traveling through the never-ending turmoil of airports, and putting up with some family members can add angst to the holiday season. The holidays should promote cheer and happiness, but we all know that sometimes the holidays, for many reasons, can be a tough time of the year.

The ‘Keep It Simple, Stupid‘ (KISS) principle was first used by the US Navy, but has expanded and applied to design and systems in many industries. In the business world, Apple and Amazon have built systems that keep things simple for their customers and partners (in theory). Keeping it simple has many benefits and crosses back and forth into our personal and professional lives. Good mashed potatoes bring all of us a way to enjoy simplicity. Sure, you can add cheese, olive oil, cream, and roasted garlic to your holiday mashed potatoes…but maybe the holiday season is a good time to practice KISS. It is obvious that Clark Griswold never bothered to keep things simple:

The production of the penny has ended. There are billions of pennies in circulation, so no one can predict the penniless future. Factoids:

  • In 2023, it cost U.S. taxpayers $179 million to produce 4.5 billion pennies.
  • The U.S. mint reported that each penny costs 3.7 cents to make.
  • Stopping the production of the penny will save the U.S. Mint $56 million annually.
  • Rounding to the nearest nickel will become common place for cash-paying customers.
  • By the way, the cost to produce each nickel is thirteen cents.

On the surface, it seems like no big deal. A customer paying with cash for an item costing $19.27 will simply pay $19.30. Then you dig in a bit and realize that the ‘no-penny’ currency strategy could affect point-of-sale systems, sales tax calculations, and federal compliance risks, especially with multi-state retailers.

Yes, pennies will remain legal tender. A friend reminded me of the old idiom: “A penny for your thoughts,” usually an ask for someone’s thoughts on a subject or question. Shane Profitt’s Penny to My Name – “I made million-dollar memories when I didn’t have a penny to my name….” Well said, Shane.

Thank you for your answers to the last Question of the Week: Who would you want to portray your life story in a movie?

  • Tom Cruise or Mathew McConaughey
  • I think Leslie Mann or Kristen Wig. It would have to be someone who is just as awkward and goofy!
  • Sean Connery….just because he’s Sean Connery.
  • Chris O’Donnell.
  • OK, I gave it some thought. I would invite five for an audition: Jack Lemmon, Peter Sellars, Jon Bernthal, Daniel Craig, and Clint Eastwood.

Here is this week’s Question of the Week: What is your favorite holiday movie?

  • The Rockefeller Christmas tree has arrived in New York City. This year’s tree is 75′ tall, will be lit with 50,000 LED lights, and topped with a 900-pound Swarovski-crystal star. The lighting ceremony is on December 3rd, and the tree will be in place until mid-January. The tradition started way back in 1931 and it is a really wonderful way to experience the holiday season.
  • Pure Talent. I always enjoy listening to Don Henley. He was influenced early on listening to AM radio stations from his home in East Texas, which reached as far as New Orleans, Nashville, and across the border into Mexico. Those stations introduced Henley to blues, gospel, jazz, and rock and roll, paving the way for his future as an award-winning artist. My Thanksgiving is a song from his 2000 album Inside Job and speaks to him giving thanks for life’s blessings including his family and friends. Don Henley is Pure Talent.

Adios, pay it forward, be the best human, and enjoy the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

Challenge. Economy Not Of Scale. The Giant Killer. Need Answers. Pure Talent.

Step Away from the Normal Routine. The Auto Industry. Veterans Day. Question of the Week. Saban.

Quote of the Week: “No big challenge has ever been solved, and no lasting improvement has ever been achieved, unless people dare to try something different.” – Tim Cook

Achievement is only one possible result of trying something new. Trying new things or focusing on something out of your normal routine can have other benefits:

  • Stepping out and away from your normal routine allows you to find new people and new passions that may provide personal and/or professional growth.
  • When you try something different and you achieve a level of success, you prove to yourself that you are capable of growth and change.
  • The old adage comes into play when you do not challenge yourself to try new things: “Doing the same thing over and over again without a result is insanity”.
  • A new challenge and new activities can jolt and stimulate you emotionally, physically, and intellectually – and may give you a new perspective.

A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions. — Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

  • While the equity markets have taken a bit of a hit last week, the year-to-date performance of the Dow Jones Industrial Average remains in double digits, up 10.6%. The other barometers of the U.S. economy tell a different story. One area that sounds the alarm is consumer debt, specifically relating to the automobile industry.

The average monthly payment for a new car has risen to $748, with the average price surpassing $50,000 for the first time. People who bought cars with lower credit scores (subprime borrowers) endured predatory interest rates on their car loan, resulting in delinquencies exceeding 6% for the first time. So far, 2025 sees 2.2 million vehicles being repossessed, with many predicting that the number will reach 3 million by year-end.

The amount of loans being defaulted on could lead to the market being flooded with less expensive cars. One dealer in Virginia feels like new car pricing could drop between 25-30% in the near future. New car sales have slowed since May of this year, with the September expiration of the federal tax break on the purchase of electric vehicles fueling the slowdown. Here is one report on the dire straits facing of the auto industry:

  • Veterans Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed on November 11, honoring military veterans of the United States Armed Forces. First observed on November 11, 1919, Veterans Day was first called Armistice Day in honor of the first anniversary of the end of World War I, which ended on the eleventh hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. Please get your flag out, fly it proudly, and to all veterans: praise, honor, admiration, and thank you.

This movie trailer talks about one veteran who was called The Giant Killer. This documentary details the career of Richard Flaherty, America’s shortest war hero. I suggest you take the time to watch this documentary – Richard Flaherty, at 4’10” tall, was a real-life Jack Reacher.

Thank you for your answers to the Question of the Week. I asked “What is the most irrational or strange superstition you have? I did get interesting answers…

  • Crazy, but I don’t look at treadmill odometer when any mile hits 0.66.
  • On every flight, I tap the window or armrest three times as we take off. So far it has worked!
  • I’m not really superstitious but…I did give away a longhorn top I wore when OU beat Texas in 2023 because I didn’t want to chance it again that it was the reason for the loss. LOL
  • I don’t have any superstitions. The outcome of a game, etc. does not depend on what color my panties are 🙂
  • First day of the month I say “Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit” the first thing in the morning. Mother in law said it’s supposed to bring good luck
  • Being attacked by a shark at New Smyrna Beach.
  • I have no superstitions–rather a waste of time and rational thinking.

Here is this week’s Question of the Week: Who would you want to portray your life story in a movie?

  • Has anyone authored a book, manual, or directive on how to behave before and during an online video meeting? All I can say is that this dog and I have the same reaction when I join a Teams call one minute too early. 🙂
  • Pure Talent. He was (at some level still is) one of the best football coaches of all time. He left the head coaching job at the University of Alabama a few years ago for a few reasons, one being the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) money being tossed around to college athletes. I am a University of Georgia supporter but I sure miss Nick Saban being on the sideline and in his press conferences. On the field and behind the microphone, Nick Saban is Pure Talent.

Adios, pay it forward, be the best human, and have a Sunday Funday!

Jamaica.

Devastation and Despair.

I was not going to post this week but after watching the news and seeing videos like the one below, we need to help the people of Jamaica. Hurricane Melissa has ravaged a good bit of the country and again the people of Jamaica must have the resiliency and strength to rebuild. There are a few ways to contribute money – here is one: https://theafj.app.neoncrm.com/forms/afj-disaster-relief-fund Any amount of donation is needed and much appreciated. Gary

Adios, pray for Jamaica, and Donate What You Can.

FBDM. Scary Music. Questions. Nazare Provides Pure Talent.

Fact-Based Decision Making. Michael Myers Friday. Any Answers? Catch A Wave.

  • Quote of the Week: “You can’t make good decisions unless you have good information and can separate facts from opinion and speculation.” – Colin Powell

What Colin Powell, the former General and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was referring to was fact-based decision making (FBDM). FBDM is a process that strongly emphasizes the collection and the quality of the right data to provide someone with data and facts to make a decision. Many CEOs state that FBDM leads to better decisions and outcomes, and with personal life, making informed choices with the right data leads to better family decisions. FBDM is an approach that uses and leverages accurate information to guide actions and decisions in both professional and personal situations.

Has there ever been a better time to separate the false news, misinformation, and fabricated information coming from social media and media outlets? The weaponized and politicized ‘fake news’ is widespread and there is no end in sight. This scene from the fantastic movie Hidden Figures represents fact-based decision making in many ways, including Katherine’s request to attend the briefing so she can hear, collect, and put the data and information discussed to use the best way…resulting in the right decision calculating complex equations determining a critical mission parameter.

  • The last time Halloween was on a Friday was back in 2014, and it will not be on a Friday again until 2031. The impact of October 31st and Halloween continues to grow, with the National Retail Federation reporting that spending for decorations, costumes, candy, and greeting cards will exceed $11.6 billion. Wear your costume well, be safe, and enjoy a scary movie. There have been many Halloween horror movie theme songs, but this one from John Carpenter is still disturbing.

Questions for the Last Sunday of October 2025

  • Is anyone surprised that President Trump canceled the scheduled meeting Vladimir Putin in Budapest? In last week’s post, I asked what the real reason Putin wanted to meet with President Trump. The answer is obvious: For no reason.
  • Will oil sanctions imposed by the U.S. force Putin to the negotiating table?
  • Who will be the next mayor of New York City?
  • The indictments handed down last week to an NBA coach, player, and former player. “Operation Nothing But Bet” – a crackdown on illegal betting or a witch hunt to send a big message?
  • If your brain is awake while sleeping, but dreaming, what is your brain doing if you are not dreaming? Anyone? Bueller?
  • Why and how does Jamaica and Haiti seem to always be in the path of devastating weather?
  • SpaceX launched its 139th mission of the year last week. Wait until the other private space exploration entities ramp up their missions. Will NASA need to govern space similar to the FAA managing our air space?
  • How and why does the Louvre not have a massive amount of security? This robbery had some semblance of an ‘inside job’ as the bad guys made this heist look so easy. There is one and only one law enforcement officer who can find the thieves:

Thank you for your answers to last week’s Question of the Week: You have a free airline ticket and you can travel for only five days. You have until mid-March to use the ticket. Where are you going and why?

  • Go to San Francisco. If I went it would be to visit a high school friend.
  • It would be tough to do in five days but go to Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast.
  • Drive the Pacific Coast Highway (the PCH).
  • Portugal. (for five days?)
  • Santa Fe and Sedona due to the temperatures between now and March.
  • Scotland, to drink Scotch and look at castles….in that order. 🙂
  • Tulum. More peaceful than Cancun.

Here is this week’s Question of the Week: What is the most irrational or strange superstition you have?

Pure Talent. Nazare is seaside village located between Porto and Lisbon in Portugal. Nazare is known for its massive waves during the months between October and March, bringing thousands to this small town to witness surfers challenging the dangerous and massive waves. Some waves surfers have navigated are over one hundred feet…Pure Talent in unique form.

Adios, pay it forward, be a better human, and have a Sunday Funday!

Principles over Privileges. Oktoberfest. Random Thoughts. Negotiation. Question of the Week. Pure Talent.

Eisenhower. The Party in Munich. Take the Yes and Move On. Traveling Where? A Magical Voice.

  • Quote of the Week: “A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

Eisenhower’s quote never resonated more than right now. Are we experiencing a society prioritizing its comforts and special privileges over its ethical standards and morals? Have many Americans compromised basic principles to maintain outlandish privileges? I do think the words justice, equality, and integrity prevailed in the United States shortly after 9/11, as most people gathered to support each other and the country. Those ‘words’ have again eroded creating an unstable society, one full of division, neglect, and compromise. In a word, I feel like our society is very uncomfortable.

Eisenhower’s quote was from his first inaugural address seventy-two years ago. Have we come full circle again? Regarding the word uncomfortable:

Oktoberfest is now celebrated in many countries around the world. Munich, Germany is the home to Oktoberfest, an annual festival held from late September to the middle of October. I was there many years ago, and from what I remember, it was a good bit of fun.

  • Munich’s Oktoberfest is the largest annual folk festival in the world.
  • The first Oktoberfest was two hundred fifteen years ago, in 1810.
  • The festival was started to celebrate the marriage of Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen, lasting for five days.
  • Only beers from one of six designated breweries can officially be called ‘Oktoberfestbier.’ The ‘youngest‘ brewery, Paulaner, was founded in 1634.
  • Most festival tents are themed and have lasted more than a century.
  • It is estimated that 6.7 million people visit Oktoberfest/Munich and consume over two million gallons of beer.
  • The festival contributes $1.5 billion to the city of Munich.

A Few Things I Am Thinking About:

  • What type of outcome is expected in the meetings between high level delegations from the United States and Russia? What is Vladimir Putin’s motivation to ask Donald Trump for a meeting in Budapest?
  • Anytime you go into wonderment with the ongoings of the U.S. government and the bipartisan craziness, refer to what is happening in France. They are on their third Prime Minister this year. The European Union has a three percent limit on the ratio of a nation’s deficit to gross domestic product (GDP). France sits above 4.7% with their debt at $4 trillion…and the U.S. thinks it has problems.
  • RIP Ace Frehley. Frehley and his Kiss band mates were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
  • My continued concern and disgust with social media and AI continues as ChatGPT will soon allow sexting for verified adults. What are we doing?
  • Former head football coach James Franklin received a $49 million buyout after being fired by Penn State. Indiana University just signed a long-term contract with their head football coach, Curt Cignetti – to an eight-year, $93 million contract. I cannot imagine what the University of Louisville will need to do to keep head football coach Jeff Brohm. Friday night’s win against the second-ranked University of Miami was Brohm’s fourth win against an AP Top 5 team while coaching an unranked team.
  • Regarding college football coaches, what exactly was the University of North Carolina thinking when they hired Bill Belichick as their head coach?
  • Have you used self-driving startup Waymo? The driverless taxi service has been around for a few years and is slowly expanding their presence across the United States. My daughter was in Los Angeles last week and used Waymo a few times. Here is her take:

I Finally Tried a Driverless Car — and It Was Awesome

My dad was a little wary when I told him I was taking a Waymo. To be fair, I was too. The idea of sitting in a car with no driver felt like something out of a sci-fi movie — or at least not something I’d do voluntarily.

But while I was in LA, my client convinced me to give it a shot. I brought a friend for backup, opened the app, and a white Jaguar pulled up with no one in the front seat. We looked at each other, laughed nervously, and got in.

And you know what? It was incredible. Everything happens through the app — unlocking the car, starting the ride, setting the temperature, even choosing the music. The car was spotless. The ride was calm, consistent, and weirdly relaxing. No small talk, no detours, no jerky braking. It even waits for you for five minutes when you arrive.

Halfway through, I realized I wasn’t nervous anymore. I opened my laptop, got some work done, and forgot there wasn’t a person driving. It felt just as good — maybe better — than my best Uber or Lyft rides.

We’ve started seeing Waymos around Atlanta too, though we haven’t tried them here yet. But after LA, I’m sold. It’s the future: quiet, clean, efficient, and human-free (in the best way).

So yeah, Dad — I get why it sounded a little crazy. But once you try it, you’ll see. It’s not scary. It’s actually kind of amazing.

I have been asked about my opinion about the negotiations between the United States and Hamas, with support from European Union and Middle East countries. Many feel that while twenty hostages were released, Israel lost the public relations (PR) war.

  • In any negotiation, you seek the “yes” – not the “buts.” As soon as Hamas said ‘yes’ to releasing the twenty hostages, it did not matter what Hamas said ‘but’ to…refer to the video below.
  • Two thousand years of continued conflict and PR are mutually exclusive.
  • Civilian casualties and collateral damage are part and parcel of war. If you disagree, take a look what happened to Japan after their attack on Pearl Harbor.
  • Negotiation of the release of the twenty hostages superseded any level of optics and PR.
  • The mechanics of negotiation the U.S. employed to gain the release of the twenty hostages was remarkable, but I unfortunately see no correlation between Hamas freeing the hostages and their overall objectives.
  • The twenty hostages were released; who cares about PR? In this negotiation, the “yes” from Hamas superseded any of their “buts.”
  • It bothers me that the innocents of Gaza, especially the children, were put in harm’s way with so many losing their lives. It is very sad.
  • Negotiation is all about achieving the “yes” and not worrying about the “buts.”

Thanks to all who responded to last week’s Question of the Week: If you could instantly learn one new skill, what would it be? Here are a few of your answers:

  • It would have to be a trade- probably electrician or maybe mechanic.
  • If I could learn one new skill instantly it would be to speak Spanish fluently.
  • A new skill would be beekeeping. Not sure you are aware but we have been trying for 3 years to have beehives in the backyard. Every year they leave. Invested few thousands and not even a gram of honey !!!
  • Speaking a second language.
  • ATP- air transport pilot.

Here is this week’s Question of the Week: You have a free airline ticket and you can travel for only five days. You have until mid-March to use the ticket. Where are you going and why?

  • Pure Talent. It is December of 1982 and Soul Train’s Don Cornelius, who hosted this awesome show for twenty-three years, introduces none other than Michael McDonald to the studio audience and viewers around the world.

Michael McDonald is best known as the lead singer and keyboardist for the Doobie Brothers. He cut his teeth performing backup vocals with Steely Dan and his music still has a wide range. One example of that range is his hit song, I Keep Forgettin, with this performance that includes Jeff Pocaro on drums, Greg Phillinganes on the keyboard, John McFee on the guitar, the great Louis Johnson on bass, and Michael McDonald’s sisters as the backup singers. Michael McDonald is still Pure Talent, and as Don Cornelius always said as his signoff: “I’m Don Cornelius, and as always in parting, we wish you love, peace and soul”.

Adios, pay it forward, be a better human, and have a Sunday Funday.

Goodall. Dress Them Up. Questions. 3D Technology. Scarlett, Bill, and Renner. 1492. Pure Talent.

A Difference Maker. Buffalo Trace. Travelers. Strong But Lightweight. A Sequel and Season Four. Christopher Columbus. The Vintage Explosion.

Quote of the Week: “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” – Jane Goodall

Most of us remember Jane Goodall’s work with chimpanzees. She was an inspiration for all of us, being one of only a few to be accepted into a PhD program at Cambridge without an undergraduate degree. She then went on to be one of the world’s premier primatologists, establishing the Jane Goodall Institute which focused on promoting the understanding and protection of great apes and their habitats.

Goodall is best known for her work with chimpanzees in Gombe National Park in Tanzania. She was the first to discover that chimpanzees made and used tools, overturning the belief by many scientists that toolmaking was reserved for humans. Goodall passed away a couple of weeks ago. In my mind, she was someone who made a difference. RIP, Jane Goodall.

  • I do not have a take, but I do have many questions with the video below. I cannot imagine what Jane Goodall would say about this interesting beauty pageant.

Question of the Week: Thank you for those who responded to the last Question of the Week: According to Travel and Leisure, the average person has visited three of the following cities: Paris, London, Barcelona, Los Angeles, Rome, Stockholm, Vancouver, Budapest, Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Marrakesh, Cape Town, Berlin, Vienna, Zurich, Naples, New York, Moscow, Athens, Cancun, Tokyo, Cuzco, Cairo, Sydney, Dubai. How many have you visited?

JustMyTake readers are well-traveled:

  • Thirteen!
  • Of these cities, I’ve been to 13. Color me fortunate.
  • Twelve
  • I’ve been to 7 and hope to complete visiting all of them.
  • I visited 22 of them. Missing Sidney, Cape Town, Cancun and Cuzco.
  • 10 of those cities.
  • 8
  • We have visited 17 of the cities listed, most multiple times.
  • 14 and counting!
  • Eleven of those countries. Enjoyed all of them.

This week’s Question of the Week: If you could instantly learn one new skill, what would it be?

  • 3D printers, once a bit of a mystery with their capabilities, are now being employed for hundreds of uses and applications. The latest development with 3D printing capability could be a game-changer. A class at MIT, taught by Greg Olson, was targeted at designing high-performance alloys using computer simulations. Alloys are materials that are comprised of different elements, which combined can have exceptional strength and rigidity.

Olson challenged his students to design an aluminum alloy stronger than any printable aluminum alloy but after many combinations of materials, the challenge failed. While this effort did not yield the desired results, Mohadeseh Taheri-Mousavi, a post-doctorate at MIT, and now at Carnegie Mellon University, took what the class worked on and used machine-learning tools to identify the key materials that could 3D print aluminum alloy at tremendous strength.

To physically produce this strong alloy, the team realized 3D printing would be the way to go instead of traditional metal casting. The end result is remarkable, with the printed alloy five times stronger than a casted alloy. The applications of a lightweight but very strong aluminum alloy are endless, but for practical matters they could be used as fan blades in jet engines, in high-end automobiles, vacuum pumps, and other uses for aerospace, drones, satellites, and consumer products.

The bottom line is to maximize the use of 3D-printed aluminum alloys as long as they match that of a molded part. The combination of lightweight and super strong printed materials will change manufacturing and fabrication, bringing weight/fuel efficiency and manufacturability advantages to vehicles, aircraft, and ships. This video summarizes the benefits of printed aluminum alloys:

Two Media and Entertainment Blurbs:

  1. I do not know why, but the movie Lost is Translation remains in my top ten movies of all time. I guess it was the dynamic connection between Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, but I have watched the movie numerous times. Now I learn that before year end, a sequel to Lost in Translation will be in a theater near you. There is no way the sequel can be as good but for me it will be a definite watch. Please watch the original 2003 Lost in Translation first.

    2. The Mayor of Kingstown, with the outstanding Jeremy Renner and a great supporting cast, has not received the recognition due as it sits on a streaming platform, Paramount+. This show, soon to enter its fourth season, is a combination of the Sopranos and Oz, with Renner the kingpin of the fictional city of Kingstown, Michigan, where the prison industry is the main form of commerce. The series is not for the faint of heart, with some violence and expletives galore, but will open your eyes to the goings on with Renner running the show. Season four starts October 26 so your binge watching better start now.

    • Tomorrow’s federal holiday in the United States celebrates Christopher Columbus and his 1492 voyage that led him and his shipmates to the “New World.” The date of this holiday floats every year, as it is celebrated on the second Monday of October. The second Monday in October is also Indigenous Peoples’ Day which recognizes Native American cultures and people who were here in America way before Christopher Columbus arrived.
    • Pure Talent. Led by William Hitchell’s vocals, this Glasgow, Scotland-based band sells out of their live performances, and for good reason. Add in a strong horn section and keyboards to great vocals and you get great music. The Vintage Explosion = Pure Talent.

    Adios, pay it forward, be a better human, and have a Sunday Funday!