Just Do the Right Thing. He Owned Every Role. Provide Your Answer. It is Already March! “Killing Me Softly…”
Quote of the Week: “It is never wrong to do the right thing.” – Mark Twain
In a world full of geopolitical conflict, we look for a way to level set everything that is going on in Washington, D.C., Gaza, Ukraine, Burkina Faso, Lebanon, Somalia, Syria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We are bombarded with disconcerting information from all regions of the world, while at the same time looking for what is good and positive. Mark Twain’s quote about doing the right thing is my baseline, something I fall back on with both personal and business dynamics, no matter the conflict or possible fallout.
I have made decisions that did not work out for everyone, but I based my decisions on doing the right thing. Mark Twain’s quote is general in nature and reminds us that many things can be better if we try to do the right thing. “Doing the right thing” does not need to be complicated. Sometimes, even if your first thought is to say ‘no’, doing the right thing may gain support, build morale, rally your team, your group, or your family.
It was not in General Norman Schwarzkopf’s typical day to agree to have a beer as the Commander of United States Central Command – but doing the right thing paid dividends in so many ways. Watch and listen to the reaction of Schwarzkopf’s audience when he does agree to have that beer. The last thing General Schwarzkopf wanted to do was interrupt his schedule – but he simply did the right thing.
RIP Gene Hackman. Has there ever been an actor who could nail every role (and every scene), from his comedic role in “The Royal Tenenbaums” to his sinister role as the terrifying sheriff in “Unforgiven?” His other roles in so many great movies made Hackman a self-styled actor and to me put him in a class of stars including Humphrey Bogart, Spencer Tracy, and James Cagney. He was undoubtedly one of the greatest to ever grace the medium. The French Connection, Get Shorty, The Firm, The Replacements, Crimson Tide, Bonnie and Clyde, and The Birdcage are just a few of the Hackman’s best movies.
This scene from “Mississippi Burning” shows us Gene Hackman’s incredible ability to own a scene. Gene Hackman will be missed.
Question of the Week is a new addition to JustMyTake. Thank you to all of you who submitted questions – and I am looking to all of you to provide your answer to the Question of the Week. Please reply to my email or put your answer in the Comment section of the blog post. Thank You!
What is a random act of kindness that you recently delivered or received?
Eight Things I Think for the Beginning of March
Are we ready for March Madness?
I will give tonight’s 97th Academy Awards show a quick look-in. For the last few years I have stayed away from these award show presentations, no longer interested with listening to presenters and award-winner’s political diatribes. I always watch the start of these shows to take in the opening production, and if the presenters and award winners stay in their lane, I can handle watching the entire show. Maybe.
In every day, there are 1,440 minutes. Make each one count.
Is the U.S. stock market on the verge of a meltdown?
One week until Daylight Savings Time.
Is the end of the Russia-Ukraine war within reach? What is the go-forward after Friday’s Oval Office spat?
What is going on with electrical vehicle charging station funding being put on hold? B.K.: you work in the EV space – can you help us with the future of EV?
Regarding the Academy Awards, Peter Sellers and the film The Pink Panther never won an Oscar. With that said, this is one of the best scenes from the incredible Peter Sellers. “Does your dog bite?” 🙂
Pure Talent. It is always easy to listen to a distinctive voice. Some may feel that the voices of Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Barbara Streisand, Steve Perry, Tony Bennett, and Carole King fit the description of distinctive. I cannot disagree that these performers brought us a tremendous range of vocal talent. There are many other performers who fit this definition with one of my favorites passing away last week – someone who could make beautiful vocals seem so simple.
Roberta Flack defined a voice of distinction. Her voice was one of a kind. Her ballads evoked emotion. No matter if you liked jazz, country, or rock, when Roberta Flack performed, everyone listened. She will be missed but I am very sure her voice will be remembered forever. Roberta Flack was Pure Talent.
Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a Sunday Funday!
Quote of the Week: “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” – Albert Einstein
We should always ask questions. We should always question. Asking a question usually results in obtaining information or knowledge, so why not be curious and just ask your questions?
My posts start of with the Quote of the Week, and I try to blend that quote with some relevant information. My posts end with a Pure Talent take, sometimes from the world of music, sports, or performance. I want to add one more weekly segment to JustMyTake, with the goal of tapping into your knowledge and experience.
The added segment to the weekly posts will simply be called Questions, and to make this segment a bit interactive, I need your help. Please take a minute of your time, and respond to the email you received this morning with one or two questions from any topic – including the two I stay away from: religion and politics. I will anonymously post a Question of the Week as part of JustMyTake, with the goal of you providing your answer to that question. No names mentioned – just a way to tap into your backgrounds that cover technology, corporate leadership, healthcare, customer service, construction, journalism, sports, energy, fintech, software, religion, education, design, and manufacturing.
As an example, I may receive a question about gold, and why it has reached a price of $2,900 an ounce. I will post that question and ask you to provide your answer. As for thought starters, starting off 2025 has been interesting in many ways. The first thirty days of a new president. The discussions around ceasefires in the middle east and in Ukraine. Elon Musk ‘rightsizing’ government agencies and departments. A soft Dow Jones Industrial Average. The Pope again hospitalized.
Rules: there are none other than to send me one question that you have – about any topic. Much appreciated.
Send me a question. There are NO stupid questions!
Pure Talent. It is okay if you do not care for this song. It is not about the song as much as the musicians who performed at the SNL 50th anniversary show. Yes, that is Dave Grohl back on the drums with a massively strong supporting cast. Forget the specific song, this is an ensemble of Pure Talent.
Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a Sunday Funday!
It is Not a Waste of Time. #59. In the Year 2032. Nate. “The Voice.”
Quote of the Week: “A day wasted on others is not wasted on one’s self.” -Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens is known for his quotes that emphasize the importance of helping others. I find that helping others has a direct impact and correlation with personal growth and fulfillment. When you do make a positive impact on the life of others you are making an investment in yourself. Satisfaction, meaning, positivity, and achievement are words that come to mind when you offer up an act of kindness.
In a world surrounded by negative geo-political dynamics, sometimes the solution is to reach out to someone, anyone, and offer up support and encouragement. That investment is certainly not ‘A day wasted on others…’Helping someone usually yields dividends in the form of personal growth and purpose. “A day wasted on others is not wasted on one’s self.“
The Caesars Superdome in New Orleans will host tonight’s Super Bowl. This is the Super Bowl LIX with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles in a rematch from the 2023 Super Bowl, when the Chiefs took home the Lombardi Trophy. This year’s Super Bowl halftime is being handled by rapper Kendrick Lamar, who most recently won five Grammy awards.
As always, the commercials will be fun, confusing, and humorous all at the same time. A 30-second commercial during Super Bowl LIX will cost $7 million, targeting the expected worldwide audience of 120 million viewers across all platforms. Tonight’s Super Bowl and its commercials should be great fun. Will the Eagles spoil the Chiefs chance at a winning three straight Super Bowls?
Note: A few of my friends have often asked me to compare the Super Bowl and soccer’s World Cup final. It is difficult to compare the two events, as the World Cup is not an annual event. While the NFL’s Super Bowl, held every year, draws a viewing audience of 120 million, the final of the quadrennial World Cup draws a viewing audience of 1.5 billion. It is not an apples-for-apples comparison but still eyebrow-raising.
I have mentioned the possibility in previous posts, with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory again reporting that an asteroid has a slight possibility of impacting Earth. There is only a 1.6% chance of the asteroid, called 2024 YR4 of contacting our planet but that small chance has warranted a great deal of attention from scientists in northern South America, Africa, and South Asia – areas where scientists think the asteroid could make contact. The predicted date of impact is December 22, 2032. Let us hope that everyone celebrates Christmas in seven years.
“I am going to drive separately.” We have all said it, not wanting to get stuck somewhere and giving you the ability to bail anytime day or night. No one does this type of storytelling better than Nate Bargatze. His stories resonate with all of us with his southern accent, cadence, and timing, always delivering relevant and funny content. I will see Bargatze live in Orlando this summer – it should be a good bit of fun. Here is a short take from him on getting old. 🙂
Pure Talent. Jon Bon Jovi called him “The Voice“. Billboard readers chose him as the favorite Rock Singer of All Time, with sixty-seven percent of the overall votes. As the front man for the band Journey, Steve Perry was renowned for his tenor vocal range. Music executive and former American Idol judge Randy Jackson described Perry’s voice as “the golden voice” and was quoted saying that aside from Robert Plant, “there is no other singer in rock that came even close to Steve Perry.” It was so unfortunate that a hip injury forced Perry to stop touring with Journey. There is no doubt that “The Voice” was Pure Talent.
Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a Super Bowl Sunday Funday!
We Must Never Forget. Rodney. Your Answers? The One and Only Isaac Hayes.
“First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.” – Martin Niemoeller, German Theologian and Pastor.
Many years ago, my soccer club was invited to Germany by the mayor of Linz, after my town of Marietta, Georgia and Linz declared themselves sister cities. We played teams in two different German cities and eventually found our way south down to the great city of Munich. We had a day to explore, and someone decided that our entourage, made of of sixteen players and some wives, should visit Dachau and the former concentration camp. Our visit in a word was surreal. Upon entering the main building, you wind your way back and forth looking first at pre-war photos that progress into photos and drawings of the horror that occurred at this concentration camp. After the last row of horrific photographs, you leave the building to find yourself in the middle of the camp. We viewed different areas buildings, including the prisoner’s barracks and a very large building. It took a few minutes to realize that we were in the building that contained the horrifying ovens.
We left the camp in silence with the thirty-minute bus ride back to Munich filled with sounds of sniffles and crying. Our entourage was flooded with all types of emotion, with our vacation energy suddenly depleted. We had a planned celebration that evening at Munich’s famous Hofbräuhaus. Obviously, we canceled those plans for a quiet and subdued dinner.
Last week, Holocaust survivors and world leaders gathered at Auschwitz in southern Poland to commemorate eighty years since the liberation of the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp. In total, approximately six million Jews and millions of non-Jews were killed across German-occupied Europe from 1941 to 1945. Roughly 220,000 Jewish Holocaust survivors are still alive today, with their ages ranging from their late seventies to over 100 years old.
Unbelievably, the systematic killing of thousands still occurs today. Unfortunately, the lessons learned from the Holocaust have had little influence with many countries including Burma/Myanmar, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, and the Central Republic of Congo.
A bit of humor is in order after reading that first take. The variety of comedians from the past still makes me smile. Do not get me wrong, present day comedians including Jo Koy, Sebastian Maniscalco, Bill Burr, and Nate Bargatze are fantastic with their wit and delivery. With that said, I also enjoy the comedians of yesteryear. Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Robin Williams, and Jerry Seinfeld come to mind. One comedian from the past is different in many ways. His peculiar delivery, incredible timing, and storytelling were bar none. In this clip, Rodney Dangerfield was selected to be a presenter at the 1987 Oscars. He is so awkward, but his wit surrounding the category he is presenting, all three minutes of it, is very funny.
Comments & Questions
How can it already be the second month of 2025? For that matter, how can it already be the year 2025?
How will the 25% tariffs on imports imposed by the president affect U.S. consumers, production lines, and supply chains?
Four hundred eight four days as hostages. Yarden Bibas, Ofer Kalderon, and Keith Siegel were released Friday from Hamas captivity. What about the rest of the hostages?
Speaking of conflicts, the U.S. has accused DeepSeek, a China-based artificial intelligence (AI) firm, of stealing U.S. technology and Nvidia chips. This is only a start to the AI warfare that will bubble up with Chinese AI startups.
Two plane crashes in two days only 123 miles apart. So sad, so unnecessary, so avoidable.
Roc Nation, the entertainment company of Jay-Z, has a long-term partnership with the NFL. Part of their agreement includes advising the NFL on entertainment, including the Super Bowl halftime show. Roc Nation has selected Kendrick Lamar, along with SZA, to perform at next Sunday’s Super Bowl halftime show. Kendrick Lamar is a tremendous talent, but for those ten minutes, I will take a redo of Shakira and JLo. Just saying.
The countdown continues: five weeks until daylight savings time!
Pure Talent. It is difficult to describe when someone is ‘cool.’ Is it the way someone looks, carry themselves, their smile, or their talent? To me, no one was ‘cooler’ than Isaac Hayes. A legendary composer, singer, producer, keyboardist, and tremendous performer. Twenty-three years ago, Isaac Hayes was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and performed, along with an amazing orchestra, the song Shaft. The man, the myth, the legend, and just Pure Talent.
Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a Sunday Funday.
Easier Said Than Done. Just a Bit Outside. You Can’t Fix Stupid. It is Already mid-January. Amie.
Quote of the Week: “Work often becomes a substitute for living. But I think the most successful artists, and the happiest people, find a fullness in both areas.” -Faye Dunaway
I am sure Faye Dunaway’s quote comes from firsthand experience. She has appeared in over seventy films, thirty television shows, thirteen plays, and two music videos. Her words “find a fullness in both areas” relate to balance with your life, navigating the demands of your work life with the importance of other activities, especially your family and friends. Most of us know that achieving that balance is easier said than done, but I do agree with Ms. Dunaway that success and happiness are found in “fullness in both areas.” I have made a pact with my group of ‘Freak Show‘ friends that for 2025 I would seek a better balance – and so far so good, though we are only nineteen days in!
Here is to Faye Dunaway and her quote of the week. I do not know about her personal life but her book of work is bar none.
Though his Major League Baseball career was nothing special, special he was. He was much more than a former Major League Baseball player and Milwaukee Brewers’ announcer. Bob Uecker’s comedic chops led to acting roles, including his memorable appearance in the movie “Major League.” Uecker passed away last week at the age of ninety. He left us with many memories but none greater than this bit from “Major League.” RIP Bob Uecker.
Speaking of random, a friend of mine probably had one too many coffees (or wines) and engaged me in a long conversation about idioms. I appreciate her interest in idioms as I have never put too much thought to the verbal phrases equivalent of using the wrong math formula but still getting the correct answer.
Here a few idioms. What idiom do you use the most? Mine is ‘you can’t fix stupid’, which speaking of stupid, may not be an idiom.
Break a leg
Beat around the bush
Bite the bullet
Costs an arm and a leg
A blessing in disguise
A piece of cake
Barking up the wrong tree
By the skin of your teeth
Call it a day
Some RandomThings I am Thinking for mid-January
It is already mid-January of 2025.
Tomorrow: Martin Luther King Day, the Inauguration, and a college football final.
Will the Israel – Hamas deal hold?
The go-forward with the devastation in Los Angeles.
How does the decision to ban TikTok in the United States reconcile with the 1st Amendment of the Constitution?
How disinterested I am in tomorrow night’s college football championship game (only because there is not an SEC team in the Final. I hope Ohio State and Notre Dame have a great game worthy of a Final).
The amazing weather in Central Florida.
Waffle House. It has been a long time since I have partaken.
Seven weeks until daylight savings time. 🙂
The grand opening of a project I have been working on for a year at Orlando’s Kia Center.
For no specific reason, Charlize Theron.
Pure Talent. Craig Fuller’s vocals on the song Amie are bar none. From a rock music standpoint, Journey’s Steve Perry always set the vocal bar for me, but Fuller’s voice performance on many of Pure Prairie League’s songs is fantastic. I would classify most of Pure Prairie League’s songs as country/rock/pop, but who really cares once you listen to Amie, Falling In and Out of Love, and Two Lane Highway – easy listening tunes with great musicians and vocals. Pure Prairie League = Pure Talent.
Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a Sunday Funday!
I Have Five Drawers. A Fruit Salad. Make A Donation. The Gap Band.
Quote of the Week: “I have five drawers. The top three I keep open all the time. The fourth I only open sometimes. The fifth I never open.” – Gunnar Sonsteby
The Nazi invasion of European countries during World War II resulted in groups of people forming a ‘Resistance’ to fight against Nazi rule. Norway was one country that was occupied by the Nazi regime, and similar to other occupied countries, resistance groups were formed.
Netflix has recently released Number 24, based on the life of Gunnar Sonsteby, who was one of Norway’s most decorated war heroes. This film is very well done, starting off with an elderly Sonsteby addressing a lecture in present day with students, then cutting back to the time period where Sonsteby is thrown into chaos when the Nazis invaded Norway in 1940. Sonsteby is an accountant who is horrified by the Nazis’ growing power and the burning of books. He is so upset that he joins the Norwegian Resistance by joining the British Special Operations – and was given the code name Number 24.
Sonsteby’s lecture in present day results in many questions from students about his actions back in the War. One young lady asks Sonsteby the hard questions about his confliction and moral value carrying out bombings and assassinations of Nazis in Norway. You can see the moral compass of Sonsteby spinning as he tries to answer and deflect the questions from the young student. Yes, there is a reason why the young lady is asking specific questions but I will leave that for you to take in. Asked how he can live with the ugly episodes of his past, Sonsteby tells the young lady: I have five drawers. The top three I keep open all the time. The fourth I only open sometimes. The fifth I never open.”
I cannot recommend that everyone take the two hours to watch Number 24. If you want to watch a well written and casted film, enjoy some level of history, and want to understand the dynamics of our moral compass, take the two hours to watch this film.
I am certainly not the one to explain the discernible difference between knowledge and wisdom. Yes, there is a difference never explained better than the former Irish professional rugby union player, Brian O’Driscoll. 🙂
In a word: shocking. The amount of devastation and destruction from fires in the Los Angeles area dictates that all of us make a contribution – no matter the amount. Just get it done and below are easy ways to do it.
Those hoping to help those affected by the fires and windstorms can visit www.redcross.org/kcal. You can also help through your phone by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
Pure Talent. It is 1981, and if I even need to explain the Gap Band to you…. well, forget about it. They were just Pure Talent.
Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a Sunday Funday!
Accept The Mission. Your Guess is Better Than Mine. We Should All Have a Bit of Sustainability. Neil Young’s Ohio.
It is year 2025 and an interesting year it will be with a new U.S. president and conflicts around world. I start the new year of posts writing about someone who reached the pinnacle of athletics, predictions you provided me for 2025, and a couple of examples of sustainability (which I know little about). To begin the New Year, here are three quotes that resonate with me…and I feel confident you will feel the same. All the best for a great 2025.
“Ask yourself about the kind of life you want: What would you do day to day, and with whom, and where? Consider the life you have. Do one thing today, however small, to close the gap between the two.” – Dame Maggie Smith
“In every day, there are 1,440 minutes. Make each one count.” – Les Brown
“I believe in the impossible because no one else does and that gives me an excellent chance at accomplishing it.” – Florence Griffith Joyner
People take on the ‘impossible’ in different ways. Florence Griffith Joyner’s (a.k.a. Flo-Jo) track career started at the age of seven, but she was forced to give up the sport at nineteen in order to help support her family. She eventually restarted her career at the 1988 Olympic Trials and set the still-standing 100-meter world record time at 10.49 seconds.
For those who remember Flo-Jo, it was apparent that she was an ultimate achiever and not afraid of speaking her mind, being Avant Garde, with her form-fitting bodysuits and six-inch fingernails. Her speed was amazing with her 100-meter record still intact after 37 years. She overcame the impossible, at one time working two jobs and having to train from midnight to 3am. Some tainted her world record and Olympic Gold medals with accusations of drug use, but the record shows she took and passed eleven drug tests in 1988 alone. Flo Jo is one of many examples of people overcoming the impossible. The two announcers at the 1988 Indianapolis Olympic Trials were stunned at the time she ran. That was thirty-seven years ago.
Predictions: Thank you for providing your 2025 predictions. Here is your list and we will review these at year-end:
Teleportation gets a good test in 2025. (I think this is “Scotty, beam me up?”)
Bitcoin hits $200,000.
Dementia declines due to a greater understanding of genetic mutations.
Several television station groups, including Tegna and Sinclair, sell out due to financial hardship.
Electric air transportation becomes mainstream.
DNA mapping at birth becomes the norm.
Elon Musk, who cannot stand bureaucracy, gets fed up and leaves his role as the head of DOGE.
Due to bundling, streaming subscriptions rise up to 60%.
The Atlanta Braves are shut out of postseason play.
Ukraine and Russa make peace. (Three readers made this prediction).
DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) practices will become more data driven. (Can an HR executive help us understand this prediction?)
The Buffalo Bills win the Super Bowl.
Type I diabetes becomes preventable.
Annual sales of American flags hit a record high.
Nanoprobes become commonplace to gather vitals usually done by blood testing.
No one would refer to me as an environmentalist. I do care about the environment to some degree, often thinking about my granddaughter and the world she will grow up in. Here are two takes on the environment and sustainability, the first about Florida’s Everglades, and the second about apparel manufacturing and production.
I have previously written about the Miccosukee Tribe, specifically my friend Tommy Tiger, who attended the same elementary and middle school in southwest Miami. I once stayed overnight at Tommy’s ‘home’ in the middle of the Florida Everglades..an experience that I will never forget. From Google: Referred to as the ‘Glades’, this wetlands preserve encompasses 1.5-million-acres on the southern tip of Florida. The Everglades is made up of coastal mangroves, sawgrass marshes, and pine flatwoods that are home to hundreds of animal species. Among the Everglades’ abundant wildlife are the endangered leatherback turtle, Florida panther and West Indian manatee – and a vast amount of alligators and crocodiles.
Last weekend, I read an article explaining why the Miccosukee Tribe is working every day to protect the Everglades wetlands, specifically the water levels. Unfortunately, the combination of long droughts and prolonged flooding is reducing native wildlife. Tribal elder Michael John Frank put it this way: “The Everglades is beautiful, but it’s just a skeleton of the way it used to be.Tribe members say water mismanagement has contributed to fires, floods and water pollution in their communities and cultural sites. Climate change, and the fossil fuel activities that caused it, are ongoing threats.“
The Miccosukee Tribe and its Council have spoken at public meetings, written letters to federal agencies, lobbied with state and federal leaders while gathering with stakeholders to hear their concerns. It does look like the Tribe’s efforts have led to state and federal legislation creating the Western Everglades Restoration Project. This is just one step in a long process, but if all goes well, the project will clean polluted water, improve hydrology, provide flood protection, and reduce the likelihood and severity of wildfires.
You can do many things to support the Everglades including a visit to the Everglades Alligator Farm, Captain Jack’s airport rides, or Big Cypress Gallery’s Everglades Swamp Tour. Just remember that there are over 200,000 alligators and 2,000 crocodiles in the Everglades. It is best to stay on your airboat and with your walking tour. 🙂
2. Emily Lane and Bret Schnitker run Stars Design Group, a global apparel and production house https://starsdesigngroup.com/ . Their ongoing efforts as fashion experts and innovators are supported by the way they handle the challenges (and solutions) with apparel production – specifically quality ethical manufacturing.
There are many best practices with apparel manufacturing. There are also worldwide apparel manufacturing practices that continue to be alarming. Emily Lane states that “over 60% of textiles produced are made with synthetic fibers (such as polyester and nylon), which are inherently plastic. These fibers are problematic to our environment due to their inability to biodegrade, taking approximately 500 years to naturally break down.”
Why do we care? There are many reasons but here is a one reason: According to Lane, “a substantial volume of microplastics shed from fibers in apparel, up to 6 million metric tons of these plastics end up in the ocean each year. Of these 6 million metric tons about 35% of the microplastics accumulating in the ocean comes from washing clothes.” As reference, read this article:
Alarming to say the least but there are innovations on the horizon, including a nature-based solution called CiCLO. CiCLO both reduces pollution from micro plastics and helps to accelerate the degradation of synthetic materials. To net it out, CiCLO made fibers will reduce decomposition to five years versus the 500-year duration with fibers made from synthetic fibers.
Emily Lane and Bret Schnitker. Business owners who care about the environment, work hard to promote sustainability, and strive to provide solutions and best practices with apparel manufacturing.
For anyone challenging the ability for private space exploration companies to scale: In 2024, there were ninety-three orbital launches from either Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
On the non-orbital side of space travel, Space Perspective, the world’s first stratospheric balloon flight experience company, is planning on a manned excursion to the edge of space (100,000 feet) in 2025. The Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation has oversight on this type of space travel. Here is a look inside the capsule which is tethered to a balloon. Yes, a balloon.
For your 2025 planning and calendar:
Jan 12-16 Australian Open
Jan 20: College Football Playoff Championship game (and the Inauguration).
Feb 9: Super Bowl
Feb 13-16 Daytona 500
Feb 16: NBA All-Star Game
Feb 20-26: SHEBELIEVES Cup
Feb 22-23: MLS opening weekend
March 27: Major League Baseball opening night
Apr 3-6: Women’s College Basketball Final Four
Apr 4-7: Men’s College Basketball Final Four
Apr 7-13: The Master’s
Apr 24-26: NFL Draft
May 3: The Kentucky Derby
May 17: FA Cup Final
May 23-25: Indianapolis 500
May 24: Women’s Champions League final
May 31: Men’s Champions League final
May 25-June 8: French Open
June 7: Belmont Stakes
June 5-22: NBA Finals
June 8: UEFA Nations League Final
June 12-15 US Open (golf)
June TBD: Stanley Cup Finals
July 6:CONCACAF Gold Cup Final
July 13: Club World Cup Final
June 30-July 13: Wimbledon
July 5-27: Tour de France
July 15: Major League Baseball All-Star Game
July 17-20: The Open Championship
July 19: WNBA All-Star Game
July 27: Women’s Euros Final
Aug 13-24: Little League World Series
Aug 25-Sep 7: US Open Tennis
Sept 25-27: The Ryder Cup
Oct TBD: WNBA Finals
Oct TBD: The World Series
Dec TBD: Major League Soccer final
Pure Talent. I realize that Neil Young is not a favorite of many. Politics aside, I was, and still am, a huge Neil Young fan for his ability to tell a story, his skills on the guitar, and the way he linked up with Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. The Kent State University killings of 1970 stemmed from students protesting the Vietnam war and plans for the U.S. to bomb Cambodia. The incident at Kent State supported beliefs by many that the U.S. was at war with itself, and Neil Young’s “Ohio” was written in response to the Kent State shooting on May 4, 1970. The song was also written as an effective response influential in the many protests that helped to end the war in Viet Nam. The song “Ohio” can also reflect the world we live in now, fifty-five years later, with the tragic incident in New Orleans and the Russia – Ukraine and Middle East conflicts. Fifty-five years later, Neil Young is still Pure Talent.
Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a great 2025.
Quote of the Week: “Prediction is the business of prophets, clairvoyants, and futurologists. It is not the business of ordinary people.” – Charles Kettering
Last year at this time I took a stab at some 2024 predictions. Though some of these may have been MOTO (Master of the Obvious), here is what I predicted one year ago:
The global economy will improve, and the U.S. will lead the way with a slow recovery led by the Fed methodically lowering EFFR, better known as the Fed rate. I would say that this prediction came true (based on your definition of the economy).
Continued regulation regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not get in the way of this technology being part of our everyday lives. This prediction was valid with AI now part of everyone’s everyday lives.
The continued severity of global climate events will dictate governments stepping in with more regulation, specifically surrounding carbon emissions. Though some countries have strengthened their carbon emission standards, this prediction was wrong.
Further advancements with healthcare technology and research will lead the way to breakthroughs helping to cure Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, only to a small degree.
Accessible commercial space travel to the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere becomes available this year. True, via Virgin Galactic and Space Perspective.
United States astronauts will return to the moon – including the first woman to step on that surface. False, as NASA has postponed the Artemis II mission to ensure crew safety.
The Israel-Hamas conflict will wage on through the end of the year. True, unfortunately.
The Baltimore Ravens win the Super Bowl and France will be the Euro 2024 champion. False. The Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl and Spain claimed the Euro 2024 title.
The U.S. presidential election. Nope, I am not going there. :) One year ago, how many of you really thought that Donald Trump would be reelected?
2025 promises to be an interesting year for many reasons. Instead of me providing a few predictions for next year, it would be great for each of you to provide me with one prediction for 2025. Any subject matter is okay with me, as it is your take, not mine. I will roll up the predictions I receive, publish them in January, and then we can look at them again at year-end 2025. You can email me or put your prediction in the Comments section. Thanks.
What I am thinking as we head into the new year:
Does Bashar al-Assad’s departure as Syria’s president change the political landscape of Syria and the Middle East?
The legacy of President Joseph Biden.
Will the universities of Texas and Georgia meet for the third time this season, this time in the January 20th college football playoff final?
Three years of warfare as of February 2025. Will the Russia-Ukraine war ever end?
Completely forgetting everything watching Billy Bob Thornton in the series “Landman.” As they say in some parts of America: “he ayent rite.”
Will mortgage rates continue to drop through Q1 of 2025?
The drone syndrome everyone is too over-the-top about is good fun…until NORAD or the U.S. Air Force discovers that they are not actually drones. 🙂
De’Vondre Campbell – I am not condoning his actions last Thursday night as he refused to enter the field and play for the San Francisco 49ers. With that said, let’s remember that professional athletes could have some of the same issues as anyone else. Before his coach, teammates, fans, and the media bash him completely, it might be a good idea to find out how we might help him.
The holiday stars have aligned as Christmas day is December 25th, Hanukkah starts December 25th, and Kwanzaa starts December 26th. I know little about Kwanzaa and found this description of the holiday from The National Museum of African American History and Culture: “During the week of Kwanzaa, families and communities come together to share a feast, to honor the ancestors, affirm the bonds between them, and to celebrate African and African American culture,” read the museum’s Kwanzaa guide. “Each day they light a candle to highlight the principle of that day and to breathe meaning into the principles with various activities, such as reciting the sayings or writings of great Black thinkers and writers, reciting original poetry, African drumming, and sharing a meal of African diaspora-inspired foods.”
Whether you celebrate a holiday or not, I hope that your 2025 brings health and happiness.
Pure Talent. The band Whitesnake was put together in the late 1970’s as a backup band for singer David Coverdale, who had cut his teeth with the band Deep Purple. Many people pigeonholed Whitesnake as a ‘hair band’, but in reality, their music was blues rock, or as some music pundits called it, “bluesy, sexed-up pub-rock.” Coverdale’s voice, the lyrics, and the music reinforces my ever-lasting belief that the 1980’s were the best time for music. It does not get much better than the guitar riff at the 2:40 mark.
A friend gives me grief for my description of “Is This Love” as a rock ballad, but there is no doubt that David Coverdale and Whitesnake are Pure Talent.
Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a Sunday Funday!
You Lied to the American People. A Take from a Reverend. Any Answers? Its More Than a Feeling.
Quote of the Week: “Leadership requires action: daring to take steps that are necessary but unpopular, challenging the status quo in order to reach a brighter future.” – Benazir Bhutto
This take discusses leadership and justice. Not politics.
Benazir Bhutto, the former two-term prime minister of Pakistan, was the first woman leader of a Muslim nation in modern history. Her action as prime minister was not always popular as she stepped into a precarious position of leadership. Her legacy: As prime minister of Pakistan, she endured frequent house arrest and went into exile from 1984 to 1986. She returned to Pakistan after martial law was lifted and soon became a leader disposing of the military dictator.
Joe Biden, the outgoing U.S President, just lost the presidential election to Donald Trump. His four years of office has been overanalyzed on a daily basis. His legacy: Unlike the leadership provided by Benazir Bhutto, Biden will be remembered for going back on his word not to pardon his son, Hunter Biden. Joe Biden ran for president on a platform of dignity and justice, and told the world that he would stand by his son’s felony conviction and not pardon him.
Again, I am only pointing out differences in true leadership. If my daughter was convicted of the same crimes and sentencing as Hunter Biden, would Joseph Biden pardon her? He would not – so why does he get to pardon his son, a convicted felon, after telling the world he would not?
Two leaders with two different levels of dignity, leadership, and legacies.
The Reverend Dr. Kirk Oldham has been a friend of mine since the dark ages. Kirk, now retired, was an experienced Campus Minister with a demonstrated history of working in the religious institutions industry. Kirk’s focus was community building, public speaking, pastoral care, fundraising, and nonprofit management. After earning his undergraduate degree from Berry College, Kirk went on to earn two Master’s degrees from Duke University’s Divinity School, and his Doctorate from the Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.
Kirk is this week’s guest writer. His take is based on his experience as a grandfather, father, husband, and minister. Maybe we should all take note of Kirk’s comments:
“Woke” and the Laziness of Hate.
I don’t know where you live, but in my state this past election cycle was brutal! I have never been more thankful for streaming services that shielded me from the constant barrage of hateful political ads fraught with hyperbole and snide innuendos. It seems as if every election cycle there is some word or phrase which is spat out pejoratively at opposing candidates. Several years back it was “snowflake”. This year “weird” and “woke” were the “Insults Du Jour”. I swore if I never heard the word woke again, I’d die a happy man! Perhaps what irritated me the most was not the political one upmanship to be gained by such buzzwords, but the attitude reflected using the words, particularly “woke”.
In recent years, the term “woke” has evolved into one of the most charged and polarizing words in our cultural lexicon. Originally used to describe an awakened consciousness to social injustices—particularly related to race, inequality, and systemic oppression—the term has increasingly become a shorthand for critique, often wielded by those who oppose efforts toward social change. Whether in politics, the media, or social discourse, “woke” has become a way to dismiss, mock, and shut down conversations about equity and justice.
I believe there is an uncomfortable truth behind the use (overuse?) of this term that should give us pause. The backlash against “woke” culture, and the vitriol that accompanies it, often reflects a deeper, more troubling tendency—a laziness in how we approach others. It’s easier to dismiss, deride, or hate than it is to engage with the complexity of human experience, to listen, and to change our hearts and minds in ways that might challenge our comfortable assumptions.
At its core, the impulse to label something or someone as “woke” in a derogatory way isn’t just about ideological difference. It’s a defense mechanism that protects us from the discomfort of change. It’s easier, after all, to condemn people who advocate for fairness, inclusion, and sensitivity to injustice than it is to do the difficult work of self-reflection and empathy. Hate, in its various forms, is the path of least resistance. It requires no vulnerability, no growth, no reckoning with the pain of others’ lived experiences. Hate simply reacts—it closes off dialogue, dismisses concerns, and keeps people at a distance. Rather than taking the time to listen, learn, or reflect, it’s far simpler to dismiss the problem by labeling it as overreaction, political correctness, or moral superiority. This knee-jerk dismissal avoids the hard but necessary work of dismantling harmful biases, confronting privilege, and growing as a more just and compassionate society.
If we are to move forward as a more compassionate society, which I believe is a noble and worthy cause, we must acknowledge that hate is always the easier choice—but it is also the more destructive one. It keeps us trapped in narrow, defensive viewpoints that limit our potential for growth and solidarity. To avoid this laziness, this path of least resistance will require a willingness to be uncomfortable—to challenge our assumptions, acknowledge the pain of others, and seek reconciliation where division and harm have taken root. It asks us to do the hard work of educating ourselves, to examine systems of power that perpetuate inequity. It challenges us to meet them head-on, even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient.
Instead of the laziness of hate reflected in backlash to “wokeness”, I would like to see us, as a society, make space for others’ experiences, to acknowledge their pain, and to work toward building a world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. It’s not easy. It’s not always comfortable. But perhaps it is the only path forward that honors our shared humanity.
As we approach the holiday season, we’ll hear the hope expressed many times “peace on earth, good will toward all”. If that is simply “wokeness” then consider me awakened! This is Just MY take…. Reverend Dr. Kirk Oldham.
The What and Why for the December 8, 2024
Did South Korea’s President completely go off the rails last week, or was his declaration of martial law warranted? The people of South Korea do not think so as the President is now facing impeachment.
Is it time, once and for all, for the NCAA and its conferences to put a complete stop to their athletes behaving like children before, during, and after games? Okay, yes, they are children.
Yesterday was the 83rd anniversary of when the Japanese military launched a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor. This attack killed 2,403 service members, wounded 1,178 more, and sank or destroyed six U.S. ships. The attack precipitated the entry of the United States into World War II.
Many Americans, for the right and wrong reasons, are not happy with the country’s inflation and escalating consumer prices. I do think it is important to benchmark, and when you do compare the U.S. with the Eurozone and U.K., U.S. labor productivity has grown by thirty percent since the 2008-09 financial crisis, more than 3 times the pace of the Eurozone and U.K. Americans can always complain, but when you look at our northern neighbor, Canada’s labor productivity has contracted for 14 of the last 16 quarters. Comparatively speaking…the U.S. is not so bad.
I commented on the Tesla Cybertruck many posts ago. Tesla set up their production lines and headcount to deliver 250,000 Cybertrucks per year. Year-to-date, only 48,000 Cybertrucks have been delivered with six recalls since January. So much for forecasting.
Understatement of the week: Sarah Silverman says she has become less political because ‘no one’ wants to hear from celebrities anymore.
Twenty days to XMAS and 26 days to 2025. Where did 2024 go?
I was raised in southwest Miami, Florida. If you have seen the docudrama Cocaine Cowboys III, or the movie American Made, you witnessed just a taste of the drug trafficking rampant in areas of southwest Miami. At the height of cocaine activity, the infamous Medellin cartel, led by Pablo Escobar, supplied 80% of the world’s cocaine market. Escobar designated Fabio Ochoa Vasquez to be his Miami area distributor, and by the mid-80’s Vasquez was included in Forbes’ list of billionaires. Vasquez was subsequently hunted down and arrested by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and sentenced to thirty years in prison. His was also implicated in the 1986 killing of DEA informant Barry Seal, who was the main character in American Made. For whatever reason, after twenty-five years served, Fabio Ochoa Vasquez was released from prison. Is anyone else wondering how a convicted murderer tied to the Medellin cartel was released five years early?
This forty-five minute National Geographic documentary provides a thorough explanation of the Medellin cartel from its beginnings in 1949. Informative and eye-opening to say the least.
Pure Talent. I lean a bit too much to yesteryear, but I miss the music from the late 70’s and 80’s. Whether the genre relates to rock, grunge, funk, disco, or yacht rock, there is a wide void in today’s music. I do like some of today’s artists as they are very talented, but I do wonder if their music will resonate with us in the future, similar to a song from forty-eight years ago by the band Boston. This was one of many songs by the band, with ‘More Than a Feeling‘ climbing to number five on the Billboard charts. Boston, in its day, was Pure Talent.
Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a Sunday Funday.
Slice and Dice. Give Me Some Answers. Beer v. Whiskey. No Turkey for Me! I Hope You Find Your Way Home.
Quote of the Week: It is a popular delusion that the government wastes vast amounts of money through inefficiency and sloth. Enormous effort and elaborate planning are required to waste this much money. – P. J. O’Rourke
Whether exaggerated satire or some level of truth, P.J. O’Rourke’s quote is never more relevant than right now. With the new administration assigning Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head the Department of Government Efficiency, it is obvious that it will take an enormous effort to slice and dice government inefficiency and waste. Within the confines of the law, do Musk and Ramaswamy not only have the responsibility, but the authority to wipe out inefficiencies, redundancies, and departments that the administration deems useless? Politics aside, will this Department of Government Efficiency be effective?
Milton Friedman’s resume is vast and impressive. Friedman concluded that capitalism and freedom were paramount and that “government should stay out of matters that do not need it and should only involve itself when absolutely necessary for the survival of its people and the country.” Friedman is recognized by many as a great economic theorist and was rewarded with his work by winning the 1976 Nobel Prize for Economics.
Elon Musk, a bit bias due to his new assignment, posted this video of Milton Friedman directly answering the interviewer’s questions regarding government and what departments he would keep and discard. Friedman’s assessment and answers are eye-opening.
I Have Six Questions on the Last Sunday of November:
Is Comcast’s spinoff of their cable networks, including CNBC, USA, MSNBC, Golf Channel, E!, and Syfy the last straw with cable properties? Yes, the former bold step of ‘cutting the cord’ has become the new normal.
I am a big supporter of NASA and the space program. The Artemis lunar exploration effort is now delayed with NASA’s Office of Inspector General now stating that each of the first four Space Launch System/Orion launches will cost $4.2 billion. Does anyone else have an issue with this?
Do you like hanging out in a grocery store? I go to Publix or Fresh Market once a week and it could the least favorite thing I do. Now I read that two Publix stores are opening a beer, wine, and coffee bar. Say what?
The Orlando Pride of the NWSL wrapped up a historic season last night, winning the league championship with a 1-0 win over the Washington Spirit. This was the Pride’s and the legendary Marta’s first league title. Will the 38-year-old Marta enjoy this championship and retire? I do not think so.
I have mentioned the demise of craft brewpubs in a previous post. What happened to this sector of the restaurant/bar industry?
Where are the two favorite places you have traveled in the last five years? I am going somewhere soon, and I am looking for suggestions. No cruising for me, just a place to visit. Thanks.
Billy Bob Thornton (BBT) is one of my favorite actors. He can play most roles, with an uncanny ability to make his character relevant. BBT currently stars in the series “Landman” set in the oil boomtowns of modern Texas. BBT uses his awkward personality and voice cadence to pull of different types of roles as good as any. He does make a great point in this bar scene:
The Thanksgiving holiday is like no other. Never mind that I am not a fan of turkey, the Thanksgiving holiday, whether with a group of family and friends or solo, is a time to reflect on the thankful things. No matter your surroundings, enjoy Thanksgiving for what it is meant to be: A day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. At whatever level, enjoy.
Pure Talent. Mesmerizing and soulful as we head into Thanksgiving week. Steve Winwood’s rendition of “Can’t Find My Way Home” sets a very high bar for the blend of guitar and voice. Whether it was his work with The Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, or Blind Faith, his experience and skill set led the way to fifty million albums sold, two Grammy’s, and his election into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Eric Clapton once said to Winwood: “You’re one of the best guitarists out there and nobody knows it.” Steve Winwood = Pure Talent.
Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a great Thanksgiving week.
