Make It Happen. Thoughts. Guilty or Innocent? Alma-Mater. Question of the Week. Pure Talent.

Ready and Willing. Peter Max. How Would You Have Voted? A Massive Campus. Jungle or the Ocean? Radar Love!

  • Quote of the Week: “Life’s short. Anything could happen, and it usually does, so there is no point in sitting around thinking about all the ifs, ands, and buts.” – Amy Winehouse

Her toxicology report showed a blood alcohol content of 0.416%—more than five times the UK legal driving limit and well past the fatal threshold of 0.350%. While she had a well-documented history of long-term drug and alcohol struggles in her earlier years, tests confirmed no illegal drugs were in her system when she died. The year was 2011, and at the age of twenty-seven, Amy Winehouse drank herself to death.

Amy Winehouse became one of the most influential artists of her generation. Her blend of genres included rhythm and blues, soul and jazz. Her history of addiction was too much for her to overcome, and we lost another music talent to the darkness of alcohol and drugs. Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, John Bonham, Hank Williams, Bon Scott, David Cassidy, Michael Jackson, Prince, Whitney Houston, Kurt Cobain, Layne Staley, and many more.

Amy Winehouse died fifteen years ago. Her quote suggests she may have understood the depth of her struggle with addiction: “There is no point in sitting around thinking about all the ifs, ands, and buts.” If alcohol is a problem in your life, stop waiting and seek help. Taking that step is difficult, but necessary. Here are a few places to contact:

1,511,921,963 views.
The official music video for Back To Black by Amy Winehouse.

I Have a Few Thoughts and Questions for September 20, 2026

  • What are lawmakers, business leaders, and parents really going to do to regulate AI?
  • I only watched a few minutes of last Monday night’s Emmy Awards. I happened to be tuned in during the Michael J. Fox tribute. So well done.
  • A huge shout out and praise to K.O. and D.B. Both are recovering well from healthcare issues. Get strong, K.O. and D.B.!!!!!
  • Curbing inflation by raising the fed rate – all good until you understand that this increase in the fed rate will have a ripple effect with higher costs for mortgages, car loans, and credit card debt. One example: mortgage demand from homebuyers has dropped 19% from a year ago. The upside to a fed rate hike will be deposit rates capturing higher yields for savings. Let us hope the Fed quickly figures out this dilemma.
  • Who is taking me to Daniel’s in Coral Gables (Miami)? Come on, I am a cheap date even if the AUSTRALIAN WAGYU TOMAHAWK costs you $295.00. Yes, I was raised in Miami. No, I was not raised in Coral Gables. 🙂
  • A $40 billion spend. Other than halting Iran’s nuclear programs, no one has provided me with a clear objective of this ‘conflict.’ Someone please enlighten me. To any of you with the negative vibes…this comment has nothing to do with politics. I would ask the same question no matter who is running the USA.
  • Have you seen Spider-Man: Brand New Day? I am only asking because the movie is now the highest-grossing domestic release of all time, earning $936.8M after 47 days in theaters. Interesting as many felt that streaming services would cannibalize theater-going.
  • His art graced everything from cruise ships to postage stamps. His colorful designs were instantly recognizable, reflecting the era of ‘psychedelic art’ and ‘flower power.’ Peter Max passed away last Monday at the age of eighty-eight. RIP, Peter Max.
  • I only caught bits and pieces of the Lindsay Clancy murder trial that finally resulted in a mistrial. Eleven of the twelve jurors felt that she was innocent of murdering her three young children due to a severe bout of post-partum depression. The lone holdout, a forty-eight year-old man, felt that Clancy’s actions were premeditated and deliberate: “Based on all the physical evidence, key witnesses, and what the prosecution presents, I thought it was enough proof that she [Clancy] knew exactly what she was doing and planned.”

As I was ‘out of the loop’ with the facts of this case, I would like to hear back from at least twelve JustMyTake readers on how you would have voted if you were part of that jury. I will summarize the ‘verdicts’ by each of you but of course your name will not be mentioned.

Verdict parameters: To find Clancy guilty, jurors had to be unanimously convinced beyond reasonable doubt that she intentionally killed her children and that she did not do so due to postpartum psychosis, a rare and serious condition.

How would you have voted? Guilty of three counts of murder…or not guilty by reason of insanity? Give me your take.

  • Over the years, people have asked me about the college I attended. Though a small college by enrollment standards, Berry College, located northwest of Atlanta, is massive. At 27,000 acres, it is twice the size of any other in the world. Berry’s work-study program guarantees every student paid campus work across eight semesters. Student run enterprises manage the Angus herd and Jersey dairy, selling beef and cheese under the state’s Georgia Grown label.

Sixteen thousand of those acres are managed with the State of Georgia as a wildlife refuge, so cattle graze inside a de facto nature preserve. The top-ranked majors at Berry are Business Administration, Animal Science/Pre-Veterinary studies, and Biology/Pre-medicine. Berry is ranked among the best schools in the nation. Their accolades include U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges Rankings, which named Berry #2 in Best Value, #2 in Undergraduate Teaching and #4 overall in Regional Universities in the South.

An NCAA Division III school, women compete in thirteen sports, eleven for the men. For all of you who have asked me about Berry…now you know.

Thank you for your answers to the Question of the Week regarding a simple thing that always makes your day better:

  • Waking up!
  • Hanging with my little dachshund Lilly Pulitzer – is my simple happy place.
  • Music! Listening to music always puts me in a better mood!
  • 1) Waking up. 2) Walking to Starbucks for my 1st cup of coffee 3) Driving to and from work in silence.
  • That first cup of coffee and the sunrise. 🙂
  • Taking the dog on an early morning walk !!🦮
  • A smile.
  • The pure love and joy my doggies exude upon coming home. I can be gone for 5 minutes, to hours, and regardless of the time, their joy is the same, full of eagerness, kisses and honesty. I just love it. Even thinking about those moments makes my heart sing.

This week’s Question of the Week: The take mentioned above discusses the Lindsay Clancy murder trial. How would you have voted? Guilty of three counts of murder…or not guilty by reason of insanity? Give me your take.

  • Pure Talent. The Dutch rock band Golden Earring started in the late ’60s, earning international success with the song Radar Love. Having sold millions of albums worldwide, they are one of the longest existing rock bands in the world that are still performing today with the same line up.

If this song is playing while you are driving, you better look at the speedometer as there is no way you are not exceeding the speed limit. Golden Earring and their song Radar Love is Pure Talent.

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

Failure and Success. Question of the Week. The Hose. What I Am Thinking. Tunneling. Pure Talent.

Part and Parcel. Going Forward. Yes, We Did All That. Underground Transport Tunnels. There Was Only One Rodney.

  • Quote of the Week: “Failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.” – Arianna Huffington

Some might disagree, but life experiences have shown me that Arianna Huffington’s quote is accurate. Huffington co-founded The Huffington Post, then started Thrive Global, a corporate and consumer platform focused on ending workplace burnout. Huffington is a pure definition of her quote, pivoting away from The Huffington Post due to burnout, then launching a platform for technology and AI-driven wellness initiatives.

Here is my take on why failure is part of success:

  • Failing, making a mistake, or a wrong assessment quickly shows you what did not work and what adjustments to make going forward.
  • When you fail, you can crawl up in a hole and disappear, or you can ‘man-up’, get strong, and find a better path to success.
  • Failing can help push you to step outside your comfort zone and look for other solutions.
  • Failing teaches you what does not work and pushes you to adapt, refine, and innovate.

Steve Jobs: “…if you are afraid of failing you will not get very far….”

  • Question of the Week: “Ask and you shall receive” is an understatement based on the dozens of replies I received to the last Question of the Week regarding the go-forward with JustMyTake. I very much appreciate all of you who answered – your responses have inspired me to continue to post, for now, on a weekly basis. That frequency may change as well as moving to the Substack platform, but for now, I will keep good, good...a phrase that I try to remember when making a decision. Again, thanks to everyone for your opinions, thoughts, and directives.

This week’s Question of the Week: What is a simple thing that always makes your day better?

  • The “yes, we drank out of a hose” video I posted in the last JustMyTake generated a big response from readers. I often compare the past to the present, mostly using music of yesteryear as a comparison, but this video provides us with a good dose of reality. 🙂

Things I Think for September 13, 2026

  • Two days and twenty-five years ago. I know exactly where I was, what I was doing, and who told me that I needed to watch the television in the office’s break room. Over 80% of Americans born before 2001 say they remember exactly where they were or what they were doing when they learned of the attacks. But over a quarter of the U.S. population was born after 9/11. Three words: devastating, disheartening, and astonishing.
  • The first weekend of NFL football. That means we are already in the ninth month of the year. How is it already the middle of September?
  • From 2008 to 2014, Sons of Anarchy was a weekly much-watch television series for me. The writing, cast, and production was excellent, especially considering the subject matter of the show. Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Redwood Original (a.k.a. SAMCRO) had the motorcycle club operating a legal auto repair shop as a front for an illegal arms-trafficking enterprise. Charlie Hunnam, who played the character ‘Jax’ in the original series, has announced a spinoff with many of the original cast returning to the series called Legends. Let us hope Hunnam can make this spinoff half as good as Sons of Anarchy.
  • Should your interest wane away from an NFL game this afternoon, and you want to watch two amazing athletes, tune into this afternoon’s U.S. Open men’s final. Ben Shelton and Alexander Zverev will slug it out at 2pm EDT. If Shelton wins, he will be the first American man to win a major tournament since Andy Roddick at the 2003 U.S. Open.
  • I totally understand “wearing your emotions on your sleeve,” but yesterday’s on-court behavior by Aryna Sabalenka was a bit shocking. During the match and after shaking hands with U.S. Open winner Elena Rybakina, Sabalenka let her emotions get the best of her, repeatedly yelling at her coaches and slamming her racket…very unfortunate considering the number of young tennis players who were taking in the final women’s match.

Do not feel sorry for Sabalenka. Her career prize money stands at $50 million with her income from endorsements, lifestyle brands, and equity stakes raking in $23 million annually. It might be time for Sabalenka to take a long break from the tennis circuit.

  • Have you experienced the tunnel connecting the UK and France? Known as the Chunnel, this engineering marvel connects England’s Folkestone with Coquellas in northern France. This thirty-one-mile railway tunnel opened in 1994, and it remains the only fixed link between Great Britain and the European mainland.

In the United States, the SpaceX subsidiary, The Boring Company, has created tunnels connecting hotels, the convention center, and the airport in Las Vegas, Nevada. I have used the Vegas Loop often, especially if I am staying at the Encore, Fontainebleau, or Resorts World hotels, which provides a ten-minute underground ride to Las Vegas Convention Center using a Tesla automobile. Projects underway for additional transportation tunnels planned for Nashville, Orlando, and Dubai.

How do you build an underwater tunnel?

  • Pure Talent. The comedians of the past had a longer and easier runway to deliver material. The ‘sensitivity’ of today’s society has muffled the content and delivery of most comedians, though there are talented ones out there. Yesteryear’s comedic landscape gave us brash, insulting, and sometimes perverse talent including Buddy Hackett, Don Rickles, Richard Pryor, Sam Kinison, Eddie Murphy, Katt Williams, and many others. Rodney Dangerfield’s content, delivery, and facial expressions were impressive, with an uncanny way of providing us with gut-busting levels of self-deprecating humor. Rodney discussing this one-liner about drinking: ““I drink way too much. The last time I gave a urine sample, it had an olive in it.” Rodney Dangerfield was Pure Talent.

Rodney on the Johnny Carson Show in 1983:

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

Dolly. Ten Years Later. Pure Talent.

Everyone Loved Her. A Decade of JustMyTake. ALL OF US.

  • in memoriam

Dolly Parton passed away last week at the age of eighty. She was an icon, an artist, compassionate, apolitical, philanthropic, and as my weekly signoff asks: she was the best human.

A poll conducted by the University of Massachusetts and YouGov found that 70% of the 1,000 Americans polled had a positive impression of the country icon. The next closest figure was former US President Barack Obama (50% favorable) and Vladimir Zelensky, the president of Ukraine (35% favorable).

Many suggested that she run for President of the United States. I, for one, think she would have won in a landslide. RIP, Dolly Parton.

  • Quote of the Week: “Plan in decades. Think in years. Work in months. Live in days.” – Nic Haralambous

Ten years ago I challenged myself to create a website and use WordPress to create a blog. I decided that I needed to give myself some content guidelines and how often I would post, which resulted in an ethos of no politics, no religion, and keeping sports to a minimum. The big decision was to post weekly, which some weeks comes easy, and other weeks not so much.

My influences to write on a weekly basis came from the ‘human encyclopedia’, my brother, Alan. He would enjoy my posts now, as I have come a long way from ten years ago. Alan was taken from us years ago by esophageal cancer – a big loss for me. Two journalists also influenced and motivated me to write – Dave Barry, the former Miami Herald staffer and now a syndicated journalist. His wit and sarcasm obviously resonated with me. Peter King also influenced my desire to write. The former Sports Illustrated and NBC journalist wrote a weekly column, Football Morning in America, which was a Monday morning must-read for me. I really enjoyed his style of writing and his easy to read column.

At this ten-year mark and after 453 posts, I am not sure what the future holds. Friends and other JustMyTake followers have suggested I take another (or additional) route, from using Substack as my platform to creating a podcast to supplement what I write. Substack my be an option, but I am not sure of the real value-add for my content. Podcasting has been and will continue to be a favored medium, but I do not generate enough content to podcast.

As I mentioned, the weekly blog is simply a challenge for me to write – and after ten years it has become cathartic and a labor of love. I am looking for any and all suggestions, comments, and ideas with my next steps with JustMyTake. My readership numbers are surprising solid, but after ten years I am looking for an alternative, a discernible difference, or a signal that after ten years, it is time to end JustMyTake.

Whether I continue or not, a big thank you to all of you who take the time to read the posts, answer the Question of the Week, and provide the positive and negative comments. After all, it is JustMyTake.

Thanks for your answers to the Question of the Week regarding your go-to album (CD/mp3, etc.) that you often listen to…

  • Music for Montserrat
  • I could listen to ABBA- Gold greatest hits album everyday! Love every song. 🙂
  • Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon
  • My go to album is the debut album of Gucci Mane – no doubt about that.
  • Rather than choosing one specific album, I always find myself drawn back to 80s music. For me, it represents a period of discovery and growth that provided lessons I still rely on today.
  • Jean-Luc Ponty. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEKrrn52w6g
  • Anything from J.B. or James Taylor.
  • Joni Mitchell: Court n Spark.
  • Pink Martini – Hang on Little Tomato. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Jz706sJMjg
  • AC/DC – live before every tennis match.

Here is the big Question of the Week: Should I continue JustMyTake, or should I close the door on ten years?

  • Times have certainly changed over the last ten years. The expanded digital world and A.I. have forever changed social dynamics – from the young to the old. For one, I would not change or switch the way I was raised, where I was raised, and who I surrounded myself with as a youngster. My neighborhood, my friends, my coaches, my teachers, and my parents set me up to have a well-rounded, diverse, and fulfilled life. There is no way I would trade those experiences.

The questions from the socially-challenged to the older generation are never-ending. There is no further explanation needed for the video below. Sinks were NOT an option.

Warning: expletives galore.

  • Pure Talent. This is very simple: the Pure Talent callout goes to ALL of us. All of us who interacted with one another, rode our bikes everywhere, left the house early in the morning only to be back home for dinner, respected our parents, and had real relationships. Yes, this week’s Pure Talent is all of us.

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

No Risk, No Reward. PTSD. The Space Race. Question of the Week. Pure Talent.

Zero-Risk Bias. Psychedelics. Inflatable and Habitable. Your Go-To Album. I Can’t Go For That.

  • Question of the Week: “Not taking a risk is a risk. That’s how I see it.” -Robert Redford

We have all heard, and sometimes followed the adage, “no risk, no reward.” As most of us have found out, that rule sometimes works out well, and other times not so much. Does risk always mean danger or bad outcomes? Not exactly, as taking a risk should be measured or calculated, so that your presence of mind focuses on the positive outcomes. All of us must be willing to face life’s challenges with an understanding of the risks while embracing the rewards.

Managing risk/reward is a balancing act. How do you move forward and make a decision or ‘pull the trigger’ without making sure you stand to be rewarded more than you lose? Here is a take discussing a way to mitigate risk, a.k.a. Zero Risk Bias. Yes, I had to watch this video twice.

  • Movie Review – The movie “The Odyssey” has earned $1.4 billion globally, surpassing “Deadpool and Wolverine” to become the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time. Call me shallow, call me ignorant, but I gave the movie no more than a six out of 10. Too much ‘fantasia’ and thirty minutes too long. 🙂 Let us know your critique of The Odyssey.
  • The ‘space race’ is always a top-of-mind topic for me. In the United States, the commercialization of space is being driven by private companies including SpaceX, Blue Origin, and ULA. In China, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) has been aggressive with its objective of surpassing the United States as the leader in space exploration.

Earlier today, China launched their Long March 5 rocket, carrying the Chang’e 7 lunar exploration mission. This is China’s most sophisticated mission to date, carrying a lunar orbiter with high-resolution cameras, a lunar lander, a lunar rover, and a mini hopper of a probe. This probe will land near Shackleton Crater, where the high rim of the crater and shadowed areas result in ‘cold traps’ where water may form. Exploring this coveted area of the moon’s surface will be a big win for China, especially if their probe reveals data on the prevalence of water.

Hopefully, this is a wakeup call to for the United States and NASA. Congress has taken a positive step, appropriating funding to get the Artemis program back on track and take an aggressive stand with China.

Here in Orlando, I am getting an inside look at a segment of the space program, working with Rockledge, Florida-based Max Space on a prototype of their adaptable and expandable habitats – that will deploy first to the Moon, and eventually Mars. The project to build this prototype is a massive effort, but one that has opened my eyes to the reality of future space exploration and livable habitats.

This video discusses the expandable habitats Max Space will deploy. Do you have questions? I have many.

  • According to Better Health Channel, “psychedelics are drugs that alter a person’s perception of reality and cause them to see or hear things that do not exist or are distorted.” The term psychedelic was coined back in the 1950s by the psychiatrist Humphry Osmond to describe the effects of drugs like LSD and mescaline. Psychedelics, or hallucinogens, are any type of drug that can change a person’s perception of reality, their thoughts, and their feelings.

The Oregon Health & Science University has recently conducted a study with patients given a controlled amount of psychedelics with two-thirds declaring the experience providing relief from their anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Here is a quick review of this study:

Participants reported their experience through a web-based portal, with 90% continuing to do so through three months. Key findings:

  • At one month, 91.5% felt they benefited and 64.9% ranked the experience among the most meaningful of their life.
  • At three months, participants reported decreased moderate-to-severe symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD. They also reported improved mental well-being and life satisfaction.
  • Few reported their experience as harmful, although four who used psilocybin for the first time experienced adverse behavioral reactions that required medical attention. No participants reported a serious event related to their physical health.

Why are the findings in this study important? To me, this study provides insight and evidence for policymakers (specifically the FDA) to consider programs for the treatment of mental health conditions, especially PTSD. Our military and first responders who are affected by PTSD may have an outlet and path to regain a level of positive mental health. Let us hope so.

This short segment from Austin’s Fox 7 provides a summary of psychedelic therapy.

Great answers to the Question of the Week asking what you would purchase if you won the Powerball lottery.

  • 1) put a chunk of the money away for my daughter’s private school and college and retirement 2) book trips to some of the coolest destinations in the world at great hotels 3) take another chunk and donate to organizations I believe in.
  • If I won the power ball – I’d wipe all my family’s debt and then go to Disney World 🙂
  • Pay off any / all mortgages for my family.
  • Setup a foundation and several public benefit corporations to feed it.
  • A serious donation to St. Judes.🎗️
  • If I win the Powerball jackpot, the first thing I buy is the advice of a good attorney on what to do with it…
  • A villa in Costa Rica.
  • I would pay off the debt and mortgages of family and friends including myself (anonymously) so they won’t know it is me. I would give lots to St Jude’s Hospital and The Guardian ad Litem Program ( which I have been a GAL since 2020).

This week’s Question of the Week: What album (CD/MP3/etc.) could you, or do you, listen to as your ‘go-to’ ? For example, I often listen to Traffic’s album John BarleyCorn Must Die.

  • Pure Talent. Talent can be defined in many ways. Talent does not necessarily need to be complicated – defining talent can be as simple as a distinct mezzo-soprano voice and Hendrix-like guitar work :). Blending blues, soul, and rock, Evan Nicole Bell gives us her cover of the Hall & Oates hit I Can’t Go For That. Evan Nicole Bell is Pure Talent.

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

Leadership. August 9 Thoughts. The Swiss. Bison. Question of the Week. Pure Talent.

Choose Wisely. $40 Billion War. It is Not All About Chocolate. It is Their Territory. What Would You Spend Your $ On? Take Your Time, Do It Right.

  • Quote of the Week: The difference between humans and animals is that animals never allow a fool to lead the pack. – Unknown

Have you ever been part of a business or sports team with the team leader in way over their head? Is it plausible that incompetency and leading an organization, at any level, can align? Whether by ownership, election, promotion, or irrevocable ego, some people have found themselves in a situation involving leadership – and they have neither the skill, experience, or most importantly, the desire to lead.

Animals pick their leaders (a.k.a. The leader of the pack) in a few different ways. While some fight to be the leader, most animals choose their leader based on experience, wisdom, bravery, strength, and empathy. For the most part, animals choose a leader who keeps them engaged while keeping them safe. Maybe humans can learn more from animals regarding honesty, communication, transparency, and intelligence. “Maybe” being the operative word.

The Quote of the Week resonates with me, and I assume many of you.

Random Thoughts for August 9, 2026

  • The war with Iran is now in month six. The United States has spent approximately $40 billion dollars on this war effort. The U.S. has temporarily stopped Iran from nuclear proliferation…but the U.S. failure to neutralize Iran’s threat to Gulf partners has both reduced American influence over key international players and negatively impacted their economic growth. Then there is the Strait of Hormuz debacle. Does anyone want to provide what the U.S. off-ramp can be since military options continue to have limited results?
  • SpaceX has tested the resiliency of the moon’s surface. The test was conducted by a bad actor – a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket hit the moon at 5,000 mph as it ran out of fuel that is required to direct a controlled descent back to Earth. Planning gone wrong to say the least.
  • Football is back. Enough said.
  • Puerto Rico – dire straits again. Not a power issue this time, but water rationing due to a severe drought. I have been to Puerto Rico numerous times, and it is beautiful. Hopefully, hurricane season brings the island some much needed water without the damaging winds.
  • Last Thursday marked 81 years since the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, leading to the devastation of tens of thousands of people and the surrender of Japan in WWII. The program that created the atomic weapons was called the Manhattan Project. Brookings Institute provided this summary of why the project was started: In 1938, scientists in Germany discovered nuclear fission—the splitting of an atom that releases enormous energy. Fearing Nazi Germany might build an atomic bomb, President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized advisory committees to study nuclear weapons—efforts that evolved into the Manhattan Project in 1942.
  • Restaurant Dive reports that fast food giant Burger King’s sales of the Whopper hamburger have increased 20% year-over-year (YOY). When is the last time you had a Whopper? For that matter, when is the last time you ordered food from a Burger King?
  • Regarding fast food burger restaurants, there were one hundred people lined up waiting for Orlando, Florida’s first Whataburger restaurant to open last week. Seriously?
  • Switzerland often brings to mind snow-capped Alps and chocolate, but few would expect this neutral country to have 370,000 nuclear bunkers. Under the Civil Protection Act, civilian safety is a priority for its nine million residents. The Cold War is to blame for this unprecedented level of protection offered to all Swiss citizens.
  • I never want anyone to be injured or killed. What I do want is for humans to stop bothering animals, including bison. How many times this summer have we watched people stray too close to bison, who roam THEIR land as part of their daily routine? Yellowstone National Park has five thousand bison – some of them weighing up to 2,800 lbs. and able to run at speeds up to 40 mph. An average human sprints at 12-15 mph with the fastest human recorded speed at 27 mph. Why, for any reason, would people encroach in a bison’s space…especially considering their size and speed?

Bisons roam vast prairies. As stated above, their daily schedule involves two-hour periods of grazing and resting, then moving to a new location to graze again. There is no reason that people need to have up-close experiences with a bison and this video shows us why. I am not being sarcastic, but it has reached the point that I am cheering for the bison.

Last week’s Question of the Week asked about your take on where and how the Covid-19 virus started. This question followed Anthony Fauci’s Senate hearing where he took the 5th Amendment one-hundred eleven times. Thank you for your answers:

  • A serious flu…no more no less, we were led by others.
  • I think it was manufactured – originally for medical research and then for financial gain.
  • It started (Covid) in my backyard as I was roasting garlic – not sure how that caused it.
  • “Origin was in Wuhan…where there is the virology lab and the Hunan wet market….Rule #39 There is no such thing as a coincidence…Jethro Gibbs…”
  • The wuhan institute of virology (WIV) was funded by eco health alliance to conduct corona virus gain of function research. eco Health received its funding ($600k) from the NIH (Dr. Fauci). WIV received another $1.1M over 10 years from USAID. We don’t have direct proof that the virus came out of the Wuhan’s lab because it has been covered up by both Fauci (his diary revealed all his contemporaries believed it was from WIV)and the CCP (no confirmed deaths of workers, etc). Per Jon Stewart, It’s not a stretch of the imagination to believe the virus was released by the WIV. https://youtu.be/v_IEC-0Yj6w?is=JFw6U47BpEeROCOI .
  • I am taking the 5th. Let’s see what others say!
  • The Chinese manufactured this virus. Someone who was in that lab was infected with the virus, then traveled to Europe and attended a soccer match in Bergamo, Italy. Soon, after the game, Bergamo became one of the worst-hit places in the world with infected people. Unfortunately, the rest is history.

This week’s Question of the Week: If you won last night’s Powerball lottery, what is the first thing you would purchase?

  • Pure Talent. Something magical happened in the late seventies and early eighties that will never be replicated. The funk, the groove, the energy, and the party atmosphere of that era’s music cannot be competed with – no way, no how. This is Atlanta’s SOS Band – musicians and singers who gave it their all to produce and perform great songs. The SOS Band was Pure Talent.

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

Rejected. Boeing. Question of the Week. One of the Best. Pure Talent.

Move Forward. Turn it Around. “The Virus.” RIP Franco Baresi. Lay it Down.

  • Quote of the Week: “Rejection is just a landing pad for your next takeoff.” – Dame Helen Mirren

While the short-term ramifications of rejection can cause a temporary setback, Helen Mirren’s quote is correct. The cause and effect of being rejected is a challenge to step back, analyze why you were rejected, and gain acceptance. Whether the rejection is the result of a job interview or a partner’s decision, the reaction after initial dismay should stimulate energy and focus to take that next positive step. Of course, this is easier said than done, but quickly climbing back into the saddle ‘for your next takeoff‘ can be a positive experience.

Some top of mind thoughts for dealing with rejection:

  • Replace the thought of not being good enough with “this was not the right fit, and that is okay.”
  • It is okay to feel disappointed but don’t let that feeling stop you from moving forward.
  • For your next challenge, partner, or job: set small, manageable, but achievable goals.
  • “Chance favors the prepared mind.” Stay mindful; stay positive.

Remember that a “no” reflects your manager’s or partner’s needs, tastes, or circumstances rather than your value as a human. It is important to understand why you have been rejected, do a bit of self-analyzation, pick up the pieces, and redirect your thoughts and energy to do whatever it takes to move on.

We can all take a lesson from Ben Stiller and his closing statement in this scene from the movie “There’s Something About Mary”…Stiller’s line: “I’m gonna hold you to that.”

  • The eye-opening business quote of the week:

“You have to recognize history didn’t start when you showed up — so you have to have a curiosity about what has taken place, why, and there are probably good reasons for a lot of things, but you also have to have a willingness to dive in and challenge the organization.” — Matthew Avril, who joined Marriott Vacations Worldwide Inc. as interim CEO in November before being officially appointed in February. He talked with Patricia Tolley of the Orlando Business Journal about efforts to redirect a company that posted a $308 million loss last year.

  • Are you a Boeing shareholder? I am sure that there have been case studies reviewing how Boeing lost its way. The downfall may have started way back in 1997 with the McDonnell Douglas acquisition, but the real icing on the cake was the 737 Max, where internal memos documented that Boeing’s culture of safety had been compromised for a number of reasons, including a new focus on cost-cutting and a lack of management direction. Two 787 Max crashes were one result of Boeing’s failing engineering culture.

Fast forward, and it seems like a few things at Boeing have not changed. Boeing’s huge contract to build two presidential planes is years behind schedule, with $3 billion in losses as part of its commitment to deliver the two “Air Force One” planes. Just last week, the company announced a quarterly loss of $280 million, a charge to support additional production and certifications, with delivery of the aircraft pushed to 2028. The only problem with that delivery window is that this was a fixed-price contract with the contracted delivery date in 2024. An amazing and unacceptable performance from The Boeing Company.

Question of the Week: Thank you for your answers to last week’s Question of the Week regarding a movie that makes you laugh even though you have watched it previously:

  • A movie that makes me laugh, that’s easy: Midnight Run. lol!
  • Animal House
  • Raising Arizona, and Something About Mary
  • The Other Guys
  • Bridesmaids. Some scenes still make me laugh out loud.
  • Young Frankenstein
  • The 40-Year-Old Virgin
  • Back to School and the Rodney Dangerfield craziness.

Here is this week’s Question of the Week: Former U.S. health official Anthony Fauci testified before the U.S. Senate last week, taking the 5th Amendment to refrain from the answering the questions about the Covid-19 pandemic. Now that it has been a few years since the pandemic, give us your opinion on how and where the virus started.

  • I played soccer (football) for a long time. There were always players I admired more than others, one being former AC Milan and Italian National Team defender Franco Baresi. Yes, he was blessed to play alongside fantastic AC Milan teammates, but his poise, presence, dynamic tackling, and command of his team and the game was unprecedented. It is difficult to compare players of yesteryear against the talented players we experienced in the recent World Cup, but to me, Franco Baresi was the definition of a total player. Baresi passed away last week from lung cancer at the age of sixty-six. RIP, Franco Baresi.
  • Pure Talent. Hair bands and glam metal. Of course, no one did it better than KISS, but this Hollywood, California band created a massive stir with their hit songs and worldwide tours. RATT exploded on the glam metal music scene with their first album, RATT, that went on to sell over 100,000 records. RATT, and especially the song Lay It Down, were Pure Talent.

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

Philosophy 101. 1st Amendment. World Cup. Peptides. Question of the Week. Pure Talent.

Submerge Yourself. Social Media Restrictions. A Great Five Weeks. Making You Laugh…Again. She Does Eminem.

  • Quote of the Week: “I just enjoy the moment I’m in. For me, life is a whole experience, not just a series of isolated moments. It’s like submerging yourself into a warm bath rather than sticking your toe under the faucet.” – Alex Trebek

I find the late Alex Trebek’s quote intriguing. His philosophy views life as a continuous experience rather than just a series of isolated moments. I am the opposite, as I tend to fixate on achieving significant milestones, which may come from competing in sports and business most of my life.

I did some research, trying to find an alternative to Alex Trebek’s viewpoint. Though I disagree with most of Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophies, I do agree with his idea of embracing the realities of the world passionately, “without relying on doctrines or outside influences that sometimes drain the energy from life.” The obvious conflict with my thinking and Friedrich Nietzsche has a hard stop as Nietzsche was both a racist and supporter of the Nazi party.

It seems plausible that I should step back from treating life like a checklist of accomplishments and tasks. Maybe this mindset and change of routine would help me understand that “…life is a whole experience, not just a series of isolated moments. It’s like submerging yourself into a warm bath rather than sticking your toe under the faucet.” How about you?

  • Social media restrictions have reached the European Union with France ready to impose a social media ban for children under the age of fifteen. This follows restrictions set by Australia, Great Britain, Spain, Greece, and Denmark. While I agree with restricting children’s use of social media, I question two things: 1. How does this restriction jive with any and all free-speech rights in those countries, and 2. How does each country actually prevent youngsters from spending countless hours on TicTok, Facebook, X, and Instagram? How will social media sites (or government entities) verify users’ ages and prevent children from opening or keeping accounts?

Arcom, France’s audiovisual and digital communications regulator, reports that children twelve to seventeen spend and overage of one hour and 21 minutes a day...just on TikTok. The OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) is an international organization of thirty-eight countries committed to democracy and the market economy. The organization reports “at least half of 15-year-olds in most countries spend 30 hours or more per week on digital devices.”

I assume the United States will follow suit in the near future. What are your thoughts on restricting social media for children fifteen and under?

  • The Bad News, Good News Headline of the Week: Oracle has crashed 34% this year, dropping to $126 per share and erasing $66 billion from CEO Larry Ellison’s net worth. The good news: Ellison’s new worth is now $181 billion. 🙂

Some Takeaways from the 2026 World Cup

  • The expansion of the tournament to forty-eight teams and 104 matches worked much better than I thought. One example is the country of Cabo Verde, who had an amazing tournament with many talented players. Without the expansion to forty-eight countries/teams, we would never know about Cabo Verde and their players.
  • People who were outraged about ticket prices were proved wrong as attendance numbers were fantastic. The Final match between Spain and Argentina was attended by over 77,000 at an average ticket price over $11,000.00. The math shows nearly $900 million in ticket revenue just for that one final match.
  • The average attendance for all 104 matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup was 65,490 fans per match. Overall, 6,810,966 spectators attended the games, with stadiums operating at an incredible 99.7% capacity occupancy.
  • In the United States, the television coverage from Fox and Telemundo was good. Remember that there is only one production feed for all worldwide networks, so challenges will always exist with camera shots, etc.
  • Television ratings in the U.S. and worldwide were above expectations. In the U.S., a total viewership of 62.8 million between Fox and Telemundo. Approximately 5 billion people engaged with or watched the 2026 FIFA World Cup across linear TV, digital streaming, and social platforms.
  • Andres Cantor….I cannot imagine there is a better play-by-play soccer announcer. Cantor keeps the game in focus, tells the viewers who has the ball, and the inflection in his voice is bar none. His calls when a team scores are fantastic. He works for Telemundo, who had the Spanish language rights to broadcast the World Cup in the United States.
  • The halftime show was the first at a World Cup match. Obviously my opinion, but it would have been preferred to have Shakira perform the entire time.
  • The late game heroics employed by Argentina was amazing. Even in the Final, playing a man down, they had their chances to tie the game and force it into penalty kicks.
  • The Final match proved that the best team won the World Cup. Spain showed us how the combination of tactics, technique, fitness, and bench depth helped suffocate a strong opponent in Argentina.
  • The United States, Mexico, and Canada were great hosts. The stadiums and Fan Festivals were great, and more importantly the fans around the world had a great takeaway of their experiences in the U.S.
  • Peptides seem to be the ‘flavor of the month.’ Social media, the media, podcast hosts, and the healthcare community have heightened the awareness of peptide compounds purporting to support everything from muscle growth and skin health to improved energy, cognitive function, and sleep quality.

From the Harvard Medical School publication Harvard Health Publishing: Peptides are short chains of amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) that can have a range of effects on the body. For example, peptides help orchestrate hormone activity, immune defense, tissue repair and growth, control of inflammation, and digestion. You can think of them as smaller and simpler versions of proteins, which are made of longer chains of amino acids. The body can make countless types of peptides by stringing together different amino acids. Each combination of amino acids produces unique — and very specific — functions.

Though our bodies can produce some peptides, lab-created peptides have infiltrated daily health practices by compounding them into injectables, similar to GLP-1 medicines. While FDA-approved peptide medications have value, the compounding of peptides (as seen on Facebook and Instagram) have not been vetted by the FDA or healthcare experts, nor have they gone through clinical trials.

At first glance, it does seem like the peptide craze will slowly get to the clinical trials and follow the massive commercialization we have seen with GLP-1 products. We can only hope that our friends and families are consulting their physicians before injecting themselves with unregulated peptides. Have any of you had success (or issues) with peptide use?

Here is a short video with a good summary of peptides, their use, the benefits, and the downsides:

Last week’s Question of the Week asked about a theme song as you walk into a room. As expected, here are a few interesting answers:

  • My entrance song would have to be The Bitch is Back by Elton John.
  • Desperado by The Eagles.
  • Wherever I May Roam by Metallica.
  • Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes by Jimmy Buffett.
  • My entrance song would have to be Stevie’s “Isn’t She Wonderful”. Makes me think of when my daughters were born!
  • You’ve Got a Friend in Me by Randy Newman.
  • Either Freedom Rider by Traffic, or Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum.
  • Pour Some Sugar on Me by Def Leppard.

This week’s Question of the Week: What movie makes you laugh even after watching it several times?

  • Pure Talent. Born and raised in The Netherlands, this opera singer was part of the National Opera Studio in London during the 2012/13 season. Maria Fiselier has performed in many opera productions but may be best known for this 2018 version of Eminem’s Lose Yourself. Fiselier’s voice and ability to take this song to a different level is Pure Talent.

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

You Cook. Daylight Savings Time. Things I Think. Night Light. Question of the Week. Pure Talent.

I Will Drink Wine. Keep it Light. Nocturnal. Dr. Alan Grant. Your Theme Song. Save a Prayer.

  • Quote of the Week: You cook, I will drink wine. – Anonymous.

Six simple words that make me smile. It is so much fun to figure out a meal and mess up the kitchen, all while enjoying your wine or favorite beverage. Cooking and grilling are never boring and at times, depending on the desired meal, particularly challenging. The challenging part is what makes it fun – concocting the correct ingredients and timing the appetizers, side dishes, and the main course.

My go-to recipe: Marinate a pork tenderloin using Dale’s, mustard, brown sugar, olive oil, garlic salt, pepper, a bit of honey, lemon or lime juice, and Worcestershire. You can use a large zip lock – place the marinating pork in the refrigerator for a minimum of three hours. Remove the pork tenderloin from the refrigerator and let it sit for an hour to return it to room temperature.

Heat your grill to 350 degrees. Place the marinated pork tenderloin on a large piece of aluminum foil and add pineapple slices and maraschino cherries. Wrap up the foil and place it on the grill. Give it ten minutes before opening up the foil and turning the pork tenderloin. Continue to grill for six to nine minutes and let the pork sit for ten minutes before slicing. Add the pineapple and cherries to the dish, serve with mashed potatoes and asparagus, and enjoy.

Pair the pork tenderloin with a Pinot Noir. Try the 2021 Covenant Landsman, the 2021 Sangiacomo, or 2022 La Crema. Give it a try!

  • Daylight lasting into the early evening is part of summer in the United States. As the calendar moves into October, daylight steadily decreases until the first Sunday in November, when clocks are set back one hour. New legislation passed by the U.S. House would make daylight savings time permanent, eliminating the twice-yearly clock changes.

This all stems from the U.S. House of Representatives passing the Sunshine Protection Act. The bill now goes to the Senate and may face potential opposition for reasons I have no clue about. How do you feel about daylight savings time being permanent?

Things I Think on July 19, 2026

  • It is time for the United States to take the postal service private. I have mentioned this in previous posts – the United States Postal Service (USPS) model is not sustainable. After losses of $9 billion (yes, $9B) in 2025, earlier this year the USPS told Congress that first-class stamps would need to cost ninety cents to ninety-five cents apiece to stop the bleeding. Question: other than receiving prescriptions via the USPS, would you be okay with receiving your mail twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays?
  • I just finished watching the 1920s British Irish crime drama Pinky Blinders. Sam Neill was excellent in his role as a Chief Inspector, as well as many movies, including Jurassic Park. This talented actor passed away last week at the age of seventy-eight. RIP Sam Neill.
  • Random headline: From Reuters: Volkswagen may need to cut about ​50,000 extra jobs to ensure they keep up with rivals in an increasingly fierce car ‌market, its CEO told staff in an internal memo, effectively confirming for the first time that the automaker is looking to reduce up to 100,000 positions. I always ask, and I will ask again: unless you are shutting down a massive operation within the company, how can you maintain operational efficiencies and reduce your headcount by 50,000?
  • No bueno, Taco Bell. Has the CDC and FDA really figured out the source of the multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak?
  • Two years ago, I posted about technology that would allow advanced air mobility using electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis. The obvious benefit is moving people quickly from a city center location to the airport…or from airport to airport depending on proximity. Orlando, Florida looks to be the first to integrate air taxis into their airport operations. In Central Florida, the goal will be to transport people to both Orlando International Airport and Tampa International Airport. This service will be welcome, especially if you have ever tried driving on I-4 between Orlando and Tampa.
  • The World Cup ends later today. Though I was suspect of expanding the tournament to forty-eight countries, I did enjoy the tournament. I believe that worldwide visitors enjoyed visiting the U.S., and that their takeaway was a positive one. Today’s World Cup final between defending champion Argentina and Spain should be a great battle. Going to the game? The average ticket price is $11,000.
  • Random question: Can you rank all seven continents from largest to smallest?
  • Earth’s night light? Last week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved a startup’s plans to launch a satellite reflecting sunlight onto the dark side of Earth. Reflect Orbital‘s first satellite will include a sixty-foot mirror that can light up a 3-mile-wide area on Earth with a full moon level of brightness for approximately 5 minutes. I am not sure how this works if the reflected light only lasts for five minutes, but I am sure the company will work through that in their confidential information memorandum (CIM) :).

The company ultimately hopes to roll out up to 50,000 satellites, potentially charging $5K per hour for those with an annual contract (and a higher rate in emergency situations).

Last week’s Question of the Week asked about a food you would eat if nutrition was not a factor. Here are a few great answers:

  • Pop Tarts.
  • My food would have to be a cheeseburger. Never get tired of a juicy treat.
  • Any kind of cake.
  • Pizza.
  • Italian pastries!
  • The Food I would consume everyday, ignoring all health concerns, would be a thick and properly aged 16 Ounce Ribeye Steak, seared and cooked no more than at Medium Temperature.
  • Ok…no judging…Oreos morning, noon and, night! Don’t forget a cold glass of milk please.
  • Ice cream on top of a brownie; add a bit of chocolate syrup.

This week’s Question of the Week: What is your theme song upon entering a room?

  • Pure Talent. We all know Duran Duran from their massive introduction to the worldwide stage in the 1980’s. Some people say ‘they went too pop’ but I always enjoyed their vibe – as it was presented and sounded different from many other bands. This song is just one of many from this Birmingham, England band. From the album ‘Rio,’ here is Nick Rhodes, John Taylor, Simon Le Bon, Andy Taylor, and the great drummer, Roger Taylor, with a live version of their hit song, Save a Prayer. Duran Duran is still Pure Talent.

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

Driving Me Crazy. Bull Run. Trade Deficit. Question of the Week. Pure Talent.

Don’t Hand Them The Keys. Pamplona. Why Does it Matter? The Airplane Ride.

Quote of the Week: “People can’t drive you crazy if you don’t give them the keys.” —Mike Bechtle

If your daughter or son is not ready to drive the car on their own, do you hand them the keys? If your peer is unprepared to present to an important client, do you allow them to make that presentation? If you have a friend or friends who drive you crazy, do you continue “to give them the keys” to the relationship? It seems like an easy proposition to prevent people from driving you crazy, but in many instances the word enablement comes into play.

How often have you told yourself that you were not going to let someone ‘get under your skin’ or drive you crazy with their incessant talking, complaining, or glass half-full attitude? What I have often found is instead of shutting down ‘the noise’ from someone, I have enabled someone to ‘drive me crazy.’ There is always that fine line between lending your ear and being patient with someone, but when is enough, enough? “Not giving them the keys” is easier said than done. Does anyone have any insight or recommendations? Here is a relevant take from Nate Smith:

  • Running with the bulls has become a must-see annual event. The festival is called the San Fermin Festival, and it kicked off last week in Pamplona, Spain. The tradition calls for thousands of people to run ahead of six fighting bulls and six steers every morning. Each of the morning runs are followed by a bullfight, which in itself is very strange (one man’s opinion). I am thinking that one or more JustMyTake readers have participated in this ‘fun’ run?

At least 16 people are believed to have died in the festivities over the past century. Here is a quick look at the run. What a great way to start the morning.

  • The U.S. trade deficit widened to $78 billion in May as imports rose 3.3% month over month to $395 billion, while exports fell 3.2% month over month to roughly $318 billion. The U.S. imported more products like pharmaceuticals, vehicles, and semiconductors for the artificial-intelligence boom, while American-made exports declined. The decline in exports was led by a large decline in sales of gold to overseas buyers.

Why does the trade deficit matter? According to the Peterson Institute for International Economics, several macroeconomic forces influence the size of trade deficit:

1. More government spending, if it leads to a larger federal budget deficit, reduces the national savings rate, and raises the trade deficit.
2. A stronger dollar makes foreign products cheaper for American consumers, while making U.S. exports more expensive for foreign buyers, again tending to raise the trade deficit.
3. A growing U.S. economy also often leads to a larger deficit, since consumers have more income to buy more goods from abroad.

The reality is that the trade deficit is neither all good or all bad. The trade deficit is about trade-offs with the U.S. economy benefiting from foreign goods and investment. So, now that I have used one minute of your time you will never get back, here is a better explanation of the trade deficit.

This is one of many takes on the trade deficit. JustMyTake presents this video as information for your review. Whether this take is political is not my concern.

There are interesting answers to last week’s Question of the Week regarding a person you would like to sit next to on a three-hour flight, and what question you would ask that person:

  • JFK. Did he have a clue as to his enemies?
  • No doubt–gimme Jesus! I wouldn’t question him–I’d just listen and learn. Man, if you come to bat, you swing for the bleachers!
  • Vladimir Putin. Do you have a conscience?
  • Snoop Dog. What made you go from the thug life to entrepreneur?
  • Jeff Bezos. What factors were key to creating and driving your success?
  • Roger Federer. Do you miss it as much as we miss you?

Here is this week’s Question of the Week: What food would you gladly eat every day if nutrition was not important?

  • With my infamous background with the sport of soccer, my phone lit up last Tuesday morning asking about the U.S. National Team’s (USMNT) poor performance against Belgium. There are too many answers to this question, but I asked my friends the comparative question which may or may not be an answer. My question back to them: How many Belgium players would start on the U.S. National Team, and how many U.S. players would start on Belgium’s national team? For clarity, not many U.S. players would start on Belgium’s national team. For that matter, I am not sure a U.S player would start for France, Spain, England, Norway, and Argentina.

The answer to the USMNT failure last Monday night is clear to me. It is our youth programs and their inability or refusal to develop players over getting results. Have you attended a youth soccer game recently? It is an embarrassment to listen to parents, with their child’s coach on the sideline, screaming at their kid with no respect for that coach or other children. A sickness of overbearing parents and youth clubs tolerating this behavior…which in the end provides the child or the club with no benefit.

Close friends of mine coached college soccer at the top level. I have heard people say that the college game has impaired the development of U.S. soccer players. This is wrong as top college programs bring in players who have come up through U.S. club programs (as well as internationals). The players coming through our U.S. club programs are already impaired due the nature of their Club’s management, organization, and financial objectives. I will ask again: how many of the starters from Monday night’s debacle with Belgium would start for Belgium, France, Spain, England, Norway, and Argentina? Do not tell me that college soccer impairs U.S.-based players. These players are already impaired before they reach the college level. This is JustMyTake, and I am sure BW and BS have a strong take regarding this subject.

Landon Donovan played professionally and for the U.S. National Team. He has young children playing soccer and he has decided to try and make some changes with soccer and our youth programs. Well said, Landon Donovan.

  • Pure Talent. . With an Adele-like vibe, 20-year-old Sienna Spiro—like Olivia Dean—showcases an impressive vocal range. The English songwriter, producer, and performer has taken the world by storm with her hit songs. “Die on This Hill” is about staying fiercely loyal to someone who does not always reciprocate that affection. Sienna Spiro is truly Pure Talent.

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

Make It Count. Mauricio. 250 Years. Neil the Seal. Question of the Week. Pure Talent.

One Day at a Time. Things I Think. Independence Day. Let Him Be. Who Would You Want to Sit Next To? Feels Like the First Time.

  • Quote of the Week: “Don’t count the days, make the days count.” — Muhammad Ali

I think we have all counted down the days—whether it be until school ends, a big pitch is finished, or a baby arrives. There is nothing wrong with counting down, but I have sometimes let the countdown consume my focus. Instead of preparing and taking the steps needed for success, I have obsessed over the days remaining. Doing something each day to make it count creates a path for setting goals and objectives. That might mean improving your work life, strengthening relationships with family and friends, or planning meals to spend less time at the grocery store.

Muhammad Ali’s quote has a clever way of playing on the two different meanings of the word “count.” Making a day count means not to waste it or look past that day to the finish line. The second meaning is closely related to word ‘account,’ as in accounting for that particular day. Instead of passively waiting and focusing on the number of days left until something happens, you should actively fill each day with purpose and effort.

I am guilty of sometimes focusing on the finish line instead of making each day count. Muhammad Ali’s quote really did resonate with me.

Things I Think for July 5, 2026

  • I find the Taylor Swift wedding extravaganza disturbing. For many reasons.
  • The sadness in Venezuela continues as rescue and recovery teams continue to remove debris caused by two massive earthquakes. If you have not already, please contribute a few dollars to support healthcare teams who are helping these families in Venezuela: https://give.doctorswithoutborders.org/campaign/816105/donate?
  • In the mood for new Madonna? I listened to the sixteen tracks from her recently released record, ‘Confessions II.’ A mix of her old and new. A nice change from my usual playlists.
  • Reality does set in when you think about day 1,591 since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine…especially as the USA celebrates 250 years of independence.
  • Does anyone have a foldable phone? If so, your critique is appreciated.
  • American innovation is endless – from the lightbulb to the airplane, from all the medical breakthroughs to the internet age. Various historians point to one significant innovation that provided a path for all others: The United States patent process. All things considered the patent system was good for the individual innovator and ultimately for the United States.
  • It seems like Hollywood made another space rescue movie but in reality, NASA really has a mission in play to ‘rescue’ the Swift telescope that has fallen out of orbit. The rescue spacecraft, appropriately called the LINK, will use its three arms to somehow attach to the Swift telescope and haul it from 22o miles above Earth to its orbital range of 373 miles above the Earth. Mind-boggling to say the least.
  • Nielsen is forecasting that tomorrow night’s TV audience for the USA-Belgium game in Seattle could top forty million (combined audience for English and Spanish). Those numbers are staggering, especially considering a Monday night in the summer.
  • Speaking of the World Cup, the background story about U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino and his parents is interesting. A farm boy from a small town in Argentina makes it to the big time. This story feels like Disney movie material to me.
  • Yesterday marked two hundred-fifty years since the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. The thirteen colonies under British rule voted to break away on July 2, 1776, but it took two days for the delegates from those 13 colonies to revise the original draft of the Declaration.

In 1776, the original colonies had 2.5 million people. Today, the USA has 342 million people in fifty states, along with 14 territories and one district. Even with all the socio-politico- economics causing concern, Americans should be proud of everything the country has achieved in a relatively short time. Happy 250th, America.

“I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival.” – John Adams, July 3, 1776

  • ‘Neil the Seal’ is back roaming the streets in Tasmania. It is obvious that Sky News Australia had a slow news day, but this seal is a favorite of the town’s people. In reaction to the government threating to euthanize Neil, one of town’s council members was quoted “If the government was to attempt to euthanize him it would be Civil War.”

Question of the Week. Thank you for your answers to last week’s Question of the Week regarding a country you would move to if you had to move away from the country you now reside.

  • I would choose somewhere in the Nordic nations. Most likely either Sweden or Denmark. The reason why, the Nordic nations have studies that show when we look at our entire world, the people who live in the Nordic are the happiest.
  • I’d live in Italy. For the food/wine, people, culture and so many other things make it such an amazing country.
  • San Miguel de Allende, Mexico – tried it out for six months and loved it.
  • Aruba. No storms, Arizona with an Ocean…
  • I would move to Mallorca, Spain. Why ? Beautiful Mountains, great beaches, wonderful food and English is a major accepted Language. Easy to get to and wonderful access to the South of France and the Portofino/Sorrento area of Italy.
  • No brainer… Amalfi coast of Italy for the weather, food , culture, scenery and slow pace of life.
  • A town on the coast of Costa Rica.
  • I would move to Italy. I love everything about that country. Montepulciano in Tuscany.
  • Dragor, Denmark. On the coast of Denmark but very close to Copenhagen. Quiet and peaceful but a stone’s throw from the beautiful city of Copenhagen.

Here is this week’s Question of the Week: Who is someone you would enjoy sitting next to on a three-hour flight, and what is the one question you would ask them?

  • Pure Talent. This band’s original lineup consisted of vocalist Lou Gramm, guitarist Mick Jones, and drummer Dennis Elliott. Foreigner was formed in 1976 and became one of the best-selling bands of all time, with worldwide sales exceeding 80 million records. This version of the hit ‘Feels Like the First Time‘ brings back so many great memories. Do you remember their other massive hits, including Juke Box Hero, Cold as Ice, Double Vision, Hot Blooded, Dirty White Boy, and Urgent? The band Foreigner was Pure Talent.

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