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
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.
Questions for the Last Sunday of October 2025
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?
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.
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.
A Few Things I Am Thinking About:
I Finally Tried a Driverless Car â 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 â or at least not something Iâd 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 â 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 wasnât nervous anymore. I opened my laptop, got some work done, and forgot there wasnât a person driving. It felt just as good â maybe better â than my best Uber or Lyft rides.
Weâve started seeing Waymos around Atlanta too, though we havenât tried them here yet. But after LA, Iâm sold. Itâs the future: quiet, clean, efficient, and human-free (in the best way).
So yeah, Dad â I get why it sounded a little crazy. But once you try it, youâll see. Itâs not scary. Itâs 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.
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:
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?
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”.
Quote of the Week: “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.â – 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.
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:
This week’s Question of the Week: If you could instantly learn one new skill, what would it be?
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:
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.
I do not know much about soul music. I remember that my brother, who was all things about music, often listened to B.B. King, which I never understood. Ray Charles is credited with starting the soul genre back in the late 1950s. According to Spotify, “the roots of soul music come from gospel hymns, with artists including Ray Charles, B.B. King, Etta James, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Smokey Robinson, and Aretha Franklin providing us with a broad stroke of soul.”
Soul music eventually crossed over to some semblance of R & B, with Bill Withers, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Patti LaBelle, and Stevie Wonder giving us music that was soulful with a touch of R & B. I am not sure what level of soul has become a part of me, but there is one current artist who is my usual Sunday morning listen. Gary Clark Jr.’s music is a combination of soul, blues, rock, and hip-hop. The four-time Grammy award-winner also is fantastic on the guitar, often playing with other musicians including Dave Matthews, Mick Jagger, John Mayer, and Earth, Wind, and Fire. I am not sure Gary Clark Jr.’s music “becomes a part of me” but it is a nice way to start a Sunday morning. In this video, Clark Jr. covers the song Come Together which I enjoy much more than the original version. This version is from the Lollapalooza in 2019 with the title resonating more now than ever.
Thank you for your answers to the last Question of the Week: What would be on a sandwich named after you?
Here is this week’s Question of the Week: 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?
Things I Think for the Last Sunday of September
Webster’s defines perspective as “a mental view or outlook, the interrelation of parts as viewed from a particular standpoint, the capacity to view things in their true relative importance, and the art of creating an illusion of depth on a flat surface by depicting how objects appear to the eye.” Everyone can have a different perspective based on their experiences, their education, and with people that influence their thinking. Having a difference of opinion is just that: an individual’s point of view that is shaped by assessing a topic or situation that is okay to disagree with, or even object to.
Regarding last week’s post regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the moral compass of our country, here is one perspective from a friend I have known for a very long time. Note: my friend misinterpreted one of my points. I was not suggesting that you must agree with me or not read my weekly posts. What I was asking: if you have used social media to celebrate the murder of Charlie Kirk, please ask that I take you off the JustMyTake distribution list. I write JustMyTake with the goal of my readers giving all of us their take, but I have drawn a line in the sand with people using social media to celebrate tragic incidents.
“I have struggled with how to respond to your latest post. First let me say, you know me well. I would NEVER advocate for the use of violence to prove a point and certainly NEVER endorse, celebrate, or encourage murder under any circumstance – including the use of the death penalty. I have given and continue to give what happened with Charlie Kirk considerable thought. It was/is very disturbing, maybe more so for what it says about the society weâve become. But, here are some of my thoughts, kind of randomly tossed out there:
1. The cliche, âfreedom is not freeâ carries a lot of truth. We do enjoy a great deal of freedom, including the freedom of opinion, expression, and speech. With that freedom, however, comes responsibility. Just because you have the freedom to express your ideas and oppositions, it does not mean you donât have the responsibility to hold your tongue or actions to protect the greater good or be respectful of others and their dignity. Like some people we all know, you have the freedom to say whatever you want, but sometimes itâs just best to shut the f–k up. In my career, I had to make that choice constantly. Itâs a fine and difficult line to walk between prophet and pastor.
2. Words and hateful rhetoric are a two-edged sword (sorry for the militant metaphor). The words one might use to EXCITE their âbaseâ or rally a movement can (and will) INCITE those who do not agree. When you denigrate a race of people, a particular gender, a political opponent, you do so knowing full well that those who you oppress or discriminate against will react negatively. One of the worst offenders is the current president. I say âoffenderâ because his hateful rhetoric and revenge tactics offends me. I know it is used as a political strategy. The alarming rise in Christian nationalism can be traced back to the 80âs when right wing political strategists decided they could use deeply held religious sentiment to rally behind a cause that they could use to gain power. Suddenly Ronald Reagan was a staunch Christian and the Moral Majority was born. The issue they could use to sway support was abortion. Watch the documentary entitled âBad Faith.” All that is to say, words can excite AND incite. Does that justify murder or violence? Hell no!! Never!! But, refer back to the first point.
3. The double standard in our society is disturbing and disgusting. If you are going to call out acts of hate and violence (as we should), recognize that it happens on both sides. Now the terms âliberalâ and âleftistâ have been demonized. Where were the shouts of anger and people being fired for cheering when those Minnesota politicians were murdered and all the other examples that are being tossed around now, Pelosiâs husband, etc? Why werenât people fired when they spoke out against the Black Lives Matter movement? I have mix raced grandchildren, I just want them to have a fair chance in this world. Why is the current administration using extortion tactics and threats against individuals, businesses, academic institutions, because they had an opinion or allowed opinions to be expressed that the administration did not like? Again, this is a very difficult line to walk. While at NC State we often struggled with balancing opposing viewpoints on campus. The evangelic Christian groups always complained they were being discriminated against because they had to follow ârules of engagementâ, meaning they could not poach other groups or harass or impede students. To me this was common sense, to them it was harassment. Again, refer to point one.
Anyway, if youâve read this far, while I do not endorse or support celebrating a murder, what happened to Charlie Kirk was wrong, very wrong. I struggle with how to allow opposing viewpoints to peacefully co-exist. How can you silence one side only – reprehensible as it may be. As the title of your blog expresses this is âjust my takeâ. I enjoy reading your blog, even when i donât agree, because I realize it is just your take. You kind of threw down the gauntlet thereâŠ.agree with me or go away. You can decide if you think I should be among your subscribers.“
Congratulations on your output, perseverance, dedication, and commitment to enlightenment/exposure for us unwashed! My first thought in reading your assessment was that it truly has been a labor of love before I got to the point where you labeled it such. Ah, great mindsâŠâŠ.Your questioning the Mayors’ pushback regarding Trump’s offer to help with crime. Gary, come on–Trump says white, the democrats/progressives say black! They are diametrically opposed to anything that comes out of the President’s mouth, I don’t care how much it helps citizens. The dems only platform is attacking Trump and half the country which supports his direction. Stupidity abounds–Obama deported far more than Trump has and nary a cry from the left. President after President has been cowed by Iran. Trump stuck it up their ass overnight and no Americans died and very few, if any, Iranians. I could go on and on ad nauseum. The Mayors have no plans–they just cannot bear Trump getting credit for a damned thing, to the detriment of their citizenry.
Regarding perspective and a difference of opinion:
The week’s Question of the Week: What would be on a sandwich named after you?
1. Disinfect everything you touch: tray, seatbelt buckle, armrests, touchscreen, even the air vent. Planes are bacteria hotels.
2. Carry a power bank. Dead phone equals no boarding pass, no transport, no hotel confirmation.
3. Keep copies of your passport and ID in multiple places: phone, email draft, and a hard copy.
4. Use luggage trackers. You will know where your bag is before the airline does.
5. Always pack one outfit, meds, and essentials in your carry-on. Bags get delayed every day.
6. Hydrate like your life depends on it. Cabin air will drain you if you donât. I double my water intake on travel days, and use electrolyte packs for added supplements.
7. Switch your devices to destination time as soon as you board. Train your brain early.
8. Download your airlineâs app before flying. Gate changes, rebooking options, baggage updates, even food ordering all happen there faster than at the counter.
9. Eat light before boarding. Heavy meals plus cabin pressure equals fatigue.
10. Study seat maps. Choosing the right seat changes the entire flight.
11. Slip-on shoes only. Security is faster, comfort is higher, and no hassle mid-flight.
12. Carry a pen. Immigration lines move faster when you are not begging for one.
13. Never store valuables in the seat-back pocket. It is a black hole of forgotten items.
14. A roll of duct tape can save your luggage, shoes, or bag strap in seconds. Pack a small roll in your carryon.
15. Pack a travel extension cord or multi-USB hub. Outlets are never where you need them.
16. Peppermint oil or gum relieves ear pressure and refreshes you after long flights.
17. Bring zipper bags. Perfect for leaks, snacks, and last-minute security requests.
18. Book morning flights. Delays stack up later in the day.
19. Photograph your parking spot, boarding pass, and luggage. Saves you time and headaches.
20. Carry a small collapsible tote bag. If your carry-on is overweight or you make last-minute airport purchases, this keeps you from paying extra fees or scrambling at the gate.
One more that is not about packing but about mindset, always be kind to gate agents, check-in staff, flight attendants, and pilots. Travel is stressful for everyone. A little kindness makes your trip smoother and makes their day better.
Due to my travel schedule I had planned on resuming JustMyTake next Sunday. I changed my mind based on the sad incident involving the assassination of Charlie Kirk. An incident that overshadowed the 24th anniversary of 9/11/2001.
Quote of the Week: “It’s those who lie outside ordinary experience who have the most to teach us.” -Malcolm Gladwell
I assume Malcolm Gladwell was referring to going against the grain and not limiting ourselves to conventional thinking? There are many benefits (and unfortunately downsides) to thinking outside the box. Some, in no particular order:
Gladwell has authored many books, one of them many of us read twenty-five years ago, called The Tipping Point. In this book, Gladwell explored how behaviors and ideas spread and become viral and lead to a ‘tipping point’. The book not only alludes to thinking outside the box, but covers how a small idea, with people transmitting their notions and using social media for socialization, can move that idea into an ‘epidemic’ – when that small idea explodes into a big moment changing many things all at once, also known as the tipping point. Sometimes, and unfortunately, that small idea does not always yield a positive outcome.
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.
I did not agree with Charlie Kirk on many of his viewpoints. I did not agree with viewpoints from George Wallace, Martin Luther King, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, and Joseph Biden. Here is what I would agree with: if you supported or celebrated the murder of Charlie Kirk, please send me a reply to my weekly email that you receive and ask to be taken off the distribution list. I have no interest in you reading my takes.
I do not agree with everything Stephen A. Smith has to say. What I do agree with is his take on the degradation of American society and people’s solace in celebrating Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
My brother turned me on to Dave Barry’s and Peter King’s columns. Many years ago, Barry was a columnist for the Miami Herald and now, for many years, has been syndicated across the U.S. He has an uncanny way of writing, bringing current events, humor, and sarcasm into his easy-to-read columns. Peter King’s weekly columns were also a must-read for me as he focused on the National Football League but included detail from his travels covering NFL teams and their games. Though Peter King’s content varied from week-to-week, his formatting always remained consistent.
JustMyTake first posted on August 31, 2016. Both Dave Barry and Peter King motivated me to write a blog, which started with me having to create a website. I decided to set some ground rules with the blog to hopefully generate a readership and a following. I had hoped that posting on a weekly basis, with an ethos of no religion, no politics, and keeping sports to a minimum, would yield some decent numbers.
JustMyTake has evolved over the last nine years and now includes weekly content that includes the Quote of the Week, the Question of the Week, and my favorite, Pure Talent. Posting a weekly blog has become a labor of love, with content some weeks easy to write about, and other weeks proving that there is such a thing as ‘writers block.’ I never thought that writing on a weekly basis would be easy, but I wanted staying power which to me means consistency.
Being consistent with JustMyTake has paid off in terms of readership. Nine years of posting has yielded readership numbers, that with your help are satisfying to me. Your comments, interaction, and guest-writing are needed and very much appreciated. Recent numbers from WordPress Statistics show a weekly average of 33,473 visitors which I do not benchmark or track. I am just grateful that anyone takes the time to read the blog.
I plan on continuing JustMyTake for a least another year, to get to a ‘milestone’ of ten years. All comments and suggestions are always welcome, whether they are good, bad, or ugly. đ
Things I Think for the End of August 2025:
The U.S. has expressed concerns about the potential influx of Chinese EVs, especially if manufactured in Mexico, due to the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) which has lower tariffs on vehicles produced in Mexico compared to those imported directly from China. Chinese automakers see Mexico as a strategic location for expanding their reach in the Americas, potentially using it as a launchpad to the larger North American market.
Minimizing the imposed Chinese tariffs by manufacturing in Mexico and exporting to the U.S. must be concerning for every automobile company targeting the vast U.S. market.
Here is this week’s Question of the Week: Have you ever talked your way out of a traffic ticket, and if so, what did you tell the police officer?
There can be no doubt that Roger Federer was one of the best to ever play tennis. At one time he was the world’s number one ranked player and held onto that ranking for an amazing two hundred thirty-seven consecutive weeks. Federer won twenty Grand Slams, including eight Wimbledon titles.
The question is how did Federer embrace hard work? His ability to work hard and garner positive results are reflected in the following ideas:
Roger Federer’s commencement speech at Dartmouth tells all of us about how hard he worked to become one of the greatest of all time.
All we can hope for is that this new strain of Covid has limited impact on the health of people here and abroad. With all of that said, there are viruses around the world that we can never wish for including Marburg and Ebola. Note: Ebola is the deadliest, with a mortality rate of 90 percent.
Here are The Spinners and the metal band QueensrĂżche with one of my favorite mashups of all time. The combination of soul and metal never done better with a mashup combining QueensrĂżche’s “Jet City Woman” with The Spinners’ “I’ll Be Around” (a Motown classic).
Here is this week’s Question of the Week, which should generate some interesting responses: What is a talent you have that not many people know about?
Pure Talent. Bobby Whitlock, the co-founder of the rock-blues band Derek and the Dominoes, passed away last week at the age of seventy-seven. In 1970, Derek and Dominoes embarked on their first U.S. tour, with Elton John their opening act! I know some of you have tired with my continued diatribe regarding the music of the past so please reply with a song and level talent better than this live version of the song Layla.
Just for your reference, this performance of the song Layla included Bobby Whitlock, Nathan East on the bass, Phil Collins on drums, and Eric Clapton on guitar. This video was from the 1985 Live Aid benefit concert. Bobby Whitlock and Derek and the Dominoes were Pure Talent.
Last week marked eighty years since the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima, and days later, Nagasaki. The casualty count associated with the two bombings have credible estimates of between 120,000-170,000 deaths.
There will always be debate concerning the ethical and legal justifications for the bombings. There is no doubt that the devastation from the two atomic bombs precipitated Japan’s surrender, but at what cost? Those who supported the use of atomic weapons say that their use was necessary to bring an end to the war with minimal casualties. Critics claim the bombings were unnecessary for the war’s end, resulting in moral and ethical implications with many calling the bombings a war crime.
It has been eighty years. Let us all hope that the diatribe surrounding nuclear weapon proliferation quiets down and never again rears its ugly head. This video is a recorded excerpt from President Harry S. Truman after the United States had bombed Hiroshima.
The question may have been answered last week as Israel intends to take military control of the entire Gaza Strip, according to last week’s statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu said Israel aims to eliminate Hamas and secure the area but has no plans to permanently govern there. The country will instead seek to transfer authority to Arab forces. Is this the best solution to free the remaining hostages? Could Israeli occupation finally rid Gaza of Hamas, or will it bring further conflict, devastation, and hunger to the Gaza Strip?
Here is this week’s Question of the Week: What sports team, college or pro, is your favorite and why?
