Month: November 2023

Random Thoughts Heading Into December. A Few Of Many Things I Am Thankful For. The Focker Gate Experience.

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With the holiday season in play, here are some top-of-mind things I think:

• Elon Musk – please use your resources, assets, and technology to help humankind, and stop your racist and antisemitic rants. Just stop.
• With retailers starting Black Friday earlier and earlier every year, does anyone still rush to their favorite store at 6am on Friday?
• Last Friday, Wall Street closed out a third straight winning week. Are we really heading to a ‘soft landing’ with the economy, and will 2024 see the Federal Reserve finally done with rate hikes? Note: On Friday, U.S. oil prices fell to a 4-month low.
• Many people are talking about Ridley Scott’s new movie Napoleon, which hits theatres this week. My pick, of course, is Planes, Trains, and Automobiles or National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
• Will Taylor Swift be at tomorrow night’s Monday night football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs? If so, what is the over/under on the number of times the director cuts to Ms. Swift frolicking in her suite? Must-see TV.
• I am a Deion Sanders supporter, but it looks like the University of Colorado coach and his two football-playing sons are finding out what ‘big-boy’ football is all about. Sanders’ Colorado team lost 56-14 to Washington State on Friday night.
• Journalism and fabricating stories have an inverse relationship. Charissa Thompson – you have done harm to your peers who have worked so hard to ensure women have opportunities with male-dominated sports broadcasting. Shameful.

• We have heard for years about Venezuela and their serious socioeconomic plight. What I did not know is that Argentina, a country I somehow assumed had a strong economy, is in its worst financial crisis in years, with annual inflation toping 140%. Latin America’s third largest economy is on track to shrink 3.0% year-over-year, resulting in a shocking cost-of-living crisis.
• The definition of a self-serving politician: George Santos. George, just go away, somewhere far away.

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As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, here are some general and personal things I am thankful for:

• The ongoing efforts of first responders and healthcare workers – they are fearless and amazing.
• For the freedom to vote.
• For my daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter.
• For the technology such as Zoom and FaceTime that sometimes drives us crazy but allows us to spend time together.
• For my baking skills, though one of my friends has been quite critical that I can do better. Meh.
• For the sponsors, partners, owners, staff, players, conferences, leagues, and media who bring us live, televised sports.
• For my friends who bring camaraderie, laughs, and sometimes a good bottle of wine.
• For the ocean and the mountains.
• For the weather in Central Florida now being amazing.
• For all of you, who read my blog, (this being post # 335), offer up suggestions, and comment whether you agree or disagree.

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• Regarding the Thanksgiving holiday, travel starting today through next Sunday is tracking to increase 2.5% over last year as more people will take to the roads, skies, and seas compared to 2022. Most airports are already busy, with an estimated five million people heading to spend time with family or taking a holiday during Thanksgiving week. We have all dealt with the bizarre dynamics at an airport gate and with the boarding process. After millions of dollars spent on time and motion studies, boarding a commercial aircraft is still a dilemma no matter the airline. Regarding the boarding process, the interaction between ‘Focker’ and this gate agent must be part of every airline training manual. Wishing those who do travel this week an easy and seamless travel experience.

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Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a great Thanksgiving holiday.

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• Those Were The Candidates To Lead The Most Powerful Nation On Earth?
• “This Is Not Soccer.”
• Salute Our Veterans!
• This Is My House…..
• Chicken Livers On The Way To School.
• Mike McDaniel Is A Different
• Can We Just All Get Along?

• I am still receiving emails about my thoughts on the 2024 Presidential election. Those thoughts will be kept to myself as I no longer comment or have an opinion with the world of politics and many self-serving politicians. Here is what I will say: Last Wednesday night, for a reason that I cannot explain, I turned on my television and the channel was showing the Republican presidential primary debate held in Miami, Florida. Republican, Democratic, or whatever party, that was twenty minutes I will never get back. No names mentioned of course, but the twenty minutes I watched was both embarrassing and slightly humiliating. Leadership candidates of the United States of America making a mockery of serious domestic and international issues. Okay, I have again said my peace.

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• From the world of sport: The ridiculous, outlandish, and time-wasting by soccer players complaining to the referee about every call needs to stop. Over and over again, players charging up to the referee after a foul or decision being made is maddening. There is no doubt that soccer leagues around the world need to put a dead stop to this practice – and learn from the world of rugby. Nigel Owens is a renowned rugby referee, known for his quick wit and one-liners, but more importantly his command and control of a sport played with reckless abandon. This video quickly shows who is in charge, and his quip regarding ‘this is not soccer’ is a classic. Yes, the center referee in world rugby is microphoned-up and wears a body camera.

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

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• Speaking of honor and respect, this is a post-game press conference and it is obvious Mexican LigaMX manager Ricardo ‘Tuca’ Ferretti was not exactly in a good mood. He always starts his presser with women reporters asking their questions first, and when one moronic male reporter asked him why….well, you can watch what happened…..

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• Chicken liver with your bus ride to school. Doggy daycare gone over the top? What an impressive and creative idea. Could daycare facilities and schools learn some best practices from the doggie bus? Wow.

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• Headline of the week: Plane bound for Orlando takes off with missing window panes as crew fails to spot damage. The plane reached an altitude of 14,000 feet before the crew realized ‘something was wrong.’ So much for the pilots’ pre-flight inspection protocols.

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• I have often reflected about my memories of the Miami Dolphins. Many of the famous Dolphins’ players are still top of mind for me, and their head coach of those days was the epitome of discipline, strategy, and most importantly exemplified his desire to win. I am referring to Don Shula, still the winningest coach in NFL history with 347 wins, including two Super Bowls and one NFL championship. Fast-forward to today’s Miami Dolphins’ head coach, Mike McDaniel. His path to a head coaching job in the NFL is mind-boggling, starting off as a 22-year-old intern with the Denver Broncos. McDaniel is no Don Shula, but he does bring a refreshing, quirky, and very honest personality to the ranks of NFL head coaches. McDaniel does not hide the funny, or not funny, like how he once consumed alcohol in excess and has battled hard to reach sobriety. From McDaniel: “I think people respond best to authenticity, to know that nothing that you say or do is fabricated,” McDaniel said. “So, I just try to stay true to my personality and I feel like that’s owed to people. You have to give yourself, if you’re in a leadership role where you’re serving other people. You have to give people yourself and so I just try to pride myself on that and hold nothing back because I feel like that’s what people deserve.” In many ways, but with a slightly different approach, Mike McDaniel does bring a level of leadership to the Dolphins they once enjoyed with Don Shula.

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• South Park has a massive following. The creativity and writing on that show has been honored many times, winning both Peabody and Emmy awards. The series became infamous for its profanity and dark, surreal humor that satirizes a wide range of subjects and issues. We can always hope that this animated bit can become true very soon.

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

An Explanation. Setting Standards. $7m For 30 Seconds. Baby Come Back.

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• It has been another six months and this morning we moved the clock back. Yes, every year at this time I moan about the lack of daylight in the early evenings. I do not understand why we continue to adhere to a strategy imposed in 1974 to help mitigate an ongoing natural gas crisis. Sure, we will have light earlier on in the morning, but the dread of darkness creeping into the afternoon is not fun. I never wish my life to move any faster than it already is, but for one I cannot wait until March 10, 2024.

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• In my last post, one take discussed artificial intelligence (AI) technology and my concerns about its potential use within technology sectors, healthcare, transportation, education, and the military. My issues with AI were not with the technology itself, but more about its exponential growth without standards and protocols.

Last week, the United States announced that it is leading the way with trying to wrap some level of regulation around AI, as the White House handed down an executive order, the most significant action with AI the administration has taken to date. The order provides standards for safety and security, protecting consumers privacy rights, advancing equity and civil rights, promoting workers, and spelling out how government should use AI. No, this is not the be all and end all of trying to control the use of AI, but at minimum it is start of trying to wrap some command and control with the exponential growth of AI.

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• There is no doubt that worldwide marketers are taking a hard look at their advertising spend, especially considering what many think will be a slow down with the economy. While over-the-air and cable television are still a bit of the norm, advertisers have been and will continue to use streaming and digital as alternative advertising platforms. With all that said, there is no doubt the NFL is still the preeminent televised sport in the United States. CBS/Paramount announced last week that their inventory for commercial spots for February’s Super Bowl has sold out…at $7 million for a 30-second spot. I assume that these advertisers are betting on two competitive opponents, a fantastic halftime show, and ad spots that the viewing audience glean over. The projected television audience for the February 11, 2024, Super Bowl is expected to reach 120 million.

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Six Things I Think I Think

• New York City is back in a big way. The streets, the restaurants, the stores – all packed with people. A great response from the dark days of the pandemic.
• Speaking of cities and a complete change of socioeconomics, the Miami River sector near the Dolphin Expressway in Miami, Florida should be a benchmark for redevelopment across the United States.
• What a weekend in Orlando with the two-day Fall Fiesta at Lake Eola Park, and last night’s Jazz Fest in the College Park neighborhood.
• Who would have predicted that flexible work entities would be in such bad financial shape, when just a few years ago that space was on fire? WeWork, Workbar, Impact Hub, and Regus are just a few of these businesses who have fallen on hard times.
• Mortgage rates fell below 8% on Friday – the lowest level since September. Will this trend continue or will the Fed step in again to ‘curb inflation?’
• Are we missing something here? The 2023 Cricket World Cup lasts six weeks with the final match at the end of November. Through the first eighteen matches, the worldwide television viewership was 365 million people. Say what?

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• I know I complain a bit too often about today’s music. While there are many artists who are fantastic, the music of the past will unfortunately never be replicated. I could start a long list, and many of you would agree with my assessment that the music of the 1970’s/80’s was incredible. Yacht rock, classic rock, disco, Motown, heavy metal, and folk music. “Baby Come Back” was released in 1977 by British-American rock band Player. The song is so well done it reached #1 on the Billboard 100. The music is fantastic and the vocals, by Peter Beckett, are bar none. Real vocals + real musicians = real talent.

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