Why AI Is Not Always The Right Path Forward. Do Not Mess With This Grandfather. “Ain’t Nobody”

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• I find it interesting, and sometimes puzzling, why the topic of healthcare seems to be an increasingly top-of-mind discussion point for too many people. I had a lengthy conversation about healthcare with two friends, one from Scottsdale, Arizona, and the other from Toronto, Canada. I found the conversation interesting with the topic covering everything from increasing costs to the quality of healthcare in the U.S. and Canada. The Canadian, for obvious reasons, boasted about her country’s publicly funded healthcare system, known as Medicare. The Canadian Medicare system is a set of ten provincial and three territorial healthcare systems, covering a wide range of services including childbirth, surgery, and prescription drugs. Based on this riveting 🙂 conversation about healthcare, I decided to post about the U.S. healthcare system.

The U.S. healthcare system is often criticized for various reasons, and some people describe it as corrupt or flawed due to several factors. It’s important to note that this description does not apply to all aspects of the healthcare system, and many healthcare professionals and institutions work diligently to provide high-quality care. However, some common criticisms and issues include:

• High Costs: The United States spends more per capita on healthcare than any other developed country. The high costs can be attributed to various factors, including administrative expenses, the cost of prescription drugs, and the high salaries of healthcare professionals.

• Lack of Universal Coverage: Unlike many other developed countries, the U.S. does not have a universal healthcare system. This means that millions of Americans are uninsured or underinsured, leading to disparities in access to care.

• Insurance Industry Complexity: The involvement of private health insurance companies has led to a complex and fragmented system. This complexity can result in high administrative costs and difficulties for patients in understanding their coverage.

• Pharmaceutical Industry: The cost of prescription drugs in the U.S. is often much higher than in other countries. The pharmaceutical industry’s pricing practices have faced scrutiny and criticism.

• Profit-Driven Healthcare: Some argue that the profit motive in healthcare can lead to overuse or unnecessary procedures, tests, and treatments, as well as a focus on profit over patient well-being.

• Inequality: Disparities in healthcare access and outcomes based on factors such as race, income, and location are significant concerns.

• Lobbying and Political Influence: The healthcare industry, including pharmaceutical companies, insurance providers, and hospital groups, often wields significant influence in U.S. politics, which can shape healthcare policy and regulation.

• Legal Issues and Fraud: There have been cases of fraud and abuse within the U.S. healthcare system, including insurance fraud, kickbacks, and overbilling.

It’s important to recognize that while there are systemic issues, the U.S. healthcare system also provides world-class care in many areas, and many healthcare professionals are dedicated to their patients’ well-being. Reform efforts continue to address some of the issues, but the complexity of the system and political considerations make significant changes challenging. Public discourse and policy debates about healthcare reform in the U.S. are ongoing.

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Did you fall asleep reading that? Reality:

1. I had a conversation about healthcare with my friends from Scottsdale and Toronto.
2. I did write the opening paragraph.
3. I did NOT write the italicized content. All of that content was written in under five seconds using artificial intelligence, specifically ChatGPT – Open AI.

After reading a good bit about artificial intelligence, I am going on record that I am very concerned about its use, the impact on our society, and how it may affect general human behavior. Without trying to put you to sleep with my concerns with AI, here are three in no particular order:

• AI’s ability to generate and use algorithms that prioritize engagement over truth – and how this may divide and polarize content…any content.
• The ability for AI to create or alter social media platforms to generate attention, emotions, and beliefs, and create a distorted sense of reality.
• How value and ethics come into play with the use of artificial intelligence, and depending on who is using AI, their ability to promote good, bad, and evil.

I used the comparison of the U.S. and Canada healthcare systems as an example of AI-generated content. Simple, straightforward, and no harm, no foul with that type of content. Where the use of AI goes sideways: it is an ungovernable technology and can be used by bad people to wrongly shape opinion, behavior, and values by generating content that is harmful and incorrect. The following are examples of AI going terribly wrong:

• In 2016, Microsoft launched an AI chatbot named Tay on Twitter. The chatbot was designed to learn from the interactions it had with users and become more intelligent over time. However, within a day of its launch, Tay began spewing racist and sexist comments.
• In 2018, Amazon had to scrap an AI recruiting tool because it was biased against women.
• In 2020, a study used AI to predict criminality from faces. Researchers from Harrisburg University announced that they had developed facial recognition software that could predict whether someone would be a criminal. The software could allegedly predict from a single photo of a face with an 80% accuracy rate and no racial bias. In response to this announcement, 2,425 experts signed a letter urging the journal not to publish this study or similar research in the future because this type of technology can reproduce injustices and cause real harm to society.
• In 2021, OpenAI’s GPT-3 language model was found to be generating racist and sexist content.

One theorist, Tristan Harris, argues that “AI is not just a tool, but a force that is shaping our perspective and reality in ways that we are not aware of or in control of. He also claims that AI is creating a “race to the bottom of the brain stem”, where tech companies compete to capture our attention and manipulate our emotions, often at the cost of truth, ethics, and human dignity.” Harris also believes that a level of AI legislation and regulation must be enacted very soon as “AI will end the world by amplifying our own human flaws and biases, and creating a feedback loop of polarization, misinformation, and extremism. He says that AI is already eroding our trust in each other and in institutions and undermining our democracy and social cohesion. He warns that AI could also trigger existential risks, such as nuclear war, bioweapons, or climate change, by destabilizing the geopolitical order or enabling malicious actors.”

I am not sure I agree with Harris’ extreme views on AI, but I do believe that entities better get a grip on the use of artificial intelligence very soon.

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Last week’s post discussing the tragedy in the Middle East evoked a good bit of feedback and comments. The ongoing horrible saga continues with no end in sight. Last week’s comments on the tragic events will be my last, though I felt it was important to substantiate and depict the reality of terrorism, whether it be in the Middle East or here in the United States. Below is a snippet of a thirteen-minute segment of last Sunday’s 60 Minutes, which after fifty-five years, is still one of the best written ‘news magazine’ shows on television.

This thirteen-minute video documents the heroism of a former Israel Defense Force operative, who did not hesitate to go into battle again to rescue his son and family, as well as a couple fleeing the terrorists, and two wounded Israeli soldiers. Thirteen minutes that most of us cannot relate to. This thirteen minutes is worth your time: https://www.cbsnews.com/video/israeli-family-rescued-by-retired-idf-general-60-minutes-video-2023-10-15/

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• I try to end every post with a bit of positivity and fun, and today will be no different.

Part of an inter-racial funk band, which started over fifty years ago, Chaka Khan, in my opinion, has been in a league of her own. Her powerful and amazing voice evokes emotion, happiness, and soulfulness. After fifty years accumulating numerous awards, including ten Grammy’s, Chaka Khan has finally been elected to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It really does not get any better than the 1983 classic “Ain’t Nobody.”

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

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Edwin Starr’s POV. Pure Evil. We Don’t Have Any Damn Trout. Peace.

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“We must learn how to compose differences, not with arms, but with intellect and decent purpose.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

• There have been many songs about war, from the battle on Iwo Jima to the conflict in Vietnam. Edwin Starr never sang it better when he belts out “War, what is it good for?” in this early 70’s classic. Military theorists always look for an advantage with command and control, and Edwin Starr’s command of his voice, tone, and emotion never expressed his disdain of the Vietnam War better. Unfortunately, some fifty years later, the song ‘War’, by Edwin Starr, is still relevant.

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• Last week’s post did not include any take on the tragic events in Israel and Gaza. I wanted more information and facts, and because I try to post on Sunday mornings, Hamas’ terrorist attack in Israel last Saturday left many harrowing questions. I decided to wait until this week to look at what happened in Israel, allowing time for the facts to come forward.

To start off this post, many thoughts and prayers for the people around the world who are suffering and in dire straits. I was not going to post today, feeling like my avantgarde take on ‘things I think’ would be trivial and unwarranted right now, with people suffering and in harm’s way. I decided to provide a bit of reflection on the situation in the Middle East, and maybe some thoughts and music…anything to lighten the bleak situation in many parts of the world.

After two thousand years of territorial and religious conflict, last Saturday afternoon provided us with a glimpse of real life in the Middle East. On Saturday, October 7, we watched in horror at what unfolded, starting with rockets landing in Israel from Gaza, a narrow piece of land located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, bordered by Israel to the east and north, and Egypt to the southwest. Gaza is ruled by Hamas, a.k.a. the Islamic Resistance Movement, an Islamist political and military organization currently governing the Gaza Strip of the Palestinian territories. Hamas have ruled Gaza since 2007, and they are deemed a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States, and other countries around the world. Hamas is forever aggressively resisting Israeli occupation of Gaza and seeks revenge for Israel’s 2021 raid on Islam’s third-holiest site, Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is located in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Hamas’s bloody massacre and Israel’s retaliatory airstrikes have so far killed more than 2,000 people. Israel has warned citizens who reside in northern Gaza, to leave as the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) readies to first destroy and then occupy Gaza to 1) try and rescue hundreds of hostages taken by Hamas, and 2) rid Gaza of the terrorists once and for all. This is a political and humanitarian crisis of a scale and complexity that is difficult to comprehend. As my friend S² has explained to me, Israel has no choice but to destroy Gaza and wipe out Hamas, as previous efforts by Israel have always come to to a stop, allowing Hamas to again regain a foothold and accrue military provisions. Note: S² was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, a country that shares its southern border with Israel, and for many years have had to live with their own terroristic organizations, including Hezbollah.

I have questions as I only have a basic understanding of the territorial and religious division found in the Middle East (and in regions of Africa, as well as other parts of the world). In no particular order:

• Will Israel’s agony and retribution end in chaos or stability?
• Is there any chance of rescuing the hostages taken by Hamas?
• How will the IDF fare with urban warfare in what is left of Gaza?
• Where will the residents of Gaza flee to?
• What is/was Hamas’ endgame with their terroristic rampage in Israel?
• How in the hell did Israel’s intelligence failure happen?
• Why has Hamas failed to rally the Middle East to its cause?
• The savagery of Hamas has garnered a pro-Israel sentiment similar to the aftermath of the six-day war in 1967 and Yom Kippur war of 1973. Will the support for Israel continue?

While the focus in the last eight days is the sadness and agony found in Israel and Gaza, let us not forget that other parts of the world, where we unfortunately find humanitarian issues that most of us can never comprehend. It is day six hundred of the Russia-Ukraine war. The continued violence in Haiti where gangs control basic goods and fuel. The same for Burkina Faso, where groups of terrorists control 40% of the country. The devastating drought in Ethiopia and Somalia, where thousands of people have already lost their lives to hunger with both countries on the brink of famine. The list of countries with humanitarian issues are too many to name, and now the crisis in the Middle East seems to have added more misery and fuel to fire.

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• Was it shocking that Hamas ‘walked’ into Israel, known for their vast and invasive intelligence services? Yes, on all counts, as what happened last Saturday has put the world on alert. The ‘never again’ mantra after Pearl Harbor and 9/11 happened again, in a country that we all felt had their finger on the pulse of terrorists who always want to due harm to Israel. United States Army Staff Sgt. David G. Bellavia’s speech is powerful – and is not a threat, but a promise to enemies of the United States.

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• When drama unfolds around the world, we always look to the protagonist or champion of a particular cause or situation. The great military generals of the past, Godzilla, David versus Goliath, or in this situation, this server, who for obvious reasons, I would follow into a street fight or gang war. “That wasn’t a question” has never been stated so succinctly. Yes, everyone, I did mention Godzilla.

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• No one knows what the short and long-term future of Israel and Gaza looks like, and if any of the many hostages will be rescued or released. What we all do know is that around the world, there are situations that are putting millions of people in a desperate situation. Whether the cause and effect relate to war and territory, ruthless gangs, or famine, we can only wish for some level of sustainable peace. Unrealistic? Probably, but one can only hope. O.A.R.’s song Peace really does sum it up.

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

There Was No One Like Butkus. Things I Think. Self-Checkout. The 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers. I Paid You!

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• I am a fan of the National Football League (NFL) for many reasons. Growing up in Miami, I had the Miami Dolphins, an expansion team that joined the NFL in 1970 following the merger of the NFL and the American Football League (AFL). In a matter of two years, led by coach Don Shula, the Dolphins went on to win back-to-back Super Bowls in 1972 and 1973. The Dolphins’ “No-Name” defense was led by Nick Buoniconti, small in stature for a linebacker, but a relentless tackler as well as a team-leader. Fond memories which led me to always watch the middle linebacker position on any team.

Middle linebackers of the AFL/NFL era were always my favorite. Along with Buoniconti, there were many great linebackers who were fierce, great hitters, and feared by quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers cutting over the middle of the field. To name a few, Ray Nitschke, Bill Romanowski, Mike Singletary, Willie Lanier, Ray Lewis, Jack Lambert, and Harry Carson. All of them exemplified the role and responsibility of the middle linebacker position.

Not to discount my list or any other notable middle linebacker, the most feared and intimidating linebacker ever to play, in my book, was Dick Butkus. Nicknamed The Animal, The Enforcer, The Maestro of Mayhem, and The Robot of Destruction, Butkus wreaked havoc game-in, and game-out, with his menacing demeanor, relentless intensity, speed, and strength. Butkus was fast and at 6’3″ and 245 lbs., he was big compared to other players of that era. His speed was astonishing for his size, tracking down running backs and dropping back to cover passes over the middle. Butkus intercepted twenty-two passes in his career, astonishing for a middle linebacker.

Teammates and opponents alike marveled at Butkus’ ferocity. He intimidated players like nobody else. “If I had a choice, I’d sooner go one-on-one with a grizzly bear,” former Green Bay Packers running back MacArthur Lane said. “I prayed that I could get up every time Butkus hit me.” In a video for NFL Films, John Facenda, in typically dramatic fashion, said Butkus played “with a religious fervor, with an unrelenting obsession not only to excel but to dominate and demoralize.” This video is well worth your time to understand the impact Dick Butkus made on football. Butkus passed away last Thursday at the age of 80. Note: NFL Films with John Facenda’s voice-over is still one of the best productions ever.

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Things I Think For October 8

• Completely wireless TVs – inevitable and there should be many interesting applications of these TVs in the very near future.
• The Pacific – a ten-part series that premiered a decade ago. Acclaimed by many to be a better watch than the Band of Brothers, this series is based on the accounts of Marines in the Pacific theatre in World War II. Producers included Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks so you know it is well done. After many weeks, I finished the series last Thursday night. Note: this series is extremely vivid and very gory.
• Tech firms are racing to put artificial intelligence (AI) in small, wearable devices and gadgets. I am not sure how I feel about this.
• I hope you are $1.4 billion richer after last night’s Powerball drawing.
• Sam Bankman-Fried. Was he an inexperienced nerd who could not manage a fast-growing crypto company, or is he all about fraud similar to Bernie Madoff?
• I enjoyed watching golf’s Ryder Cup, but I will say it is not the same without Tiger involved with the U.S. team at some level.
• After all the time, consternation, and aggravation, retailers are finally rethinking their self-checkout strategies. “Some are finding that they still need employees to combat theft and assist with purchases.” Duh.

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• The Major League Baseball (MLB) playoffs are in full swing. Great teams and great players in an era dictating rule changes including a pitch clock and larger bases. Due to the physicality of today’s MLB players, it is difficult to compare today’s players to the players of the past. The photo below shows a ‘bobble-body” lineup of the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers. With all due respect to the great teams we have watched in the last twenty-five years, this is the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers lineup from left to right: 2B Jim Gilliam; SS Pee Wee Reese; CF Duke Snider; RF Carl Furillo; 1B Gil Hodges; 3B Jackie Robinson; LF Sandy Alomar; P Don Newcombe; Manager Walter Alston. I wonder what level of performance we would have with these players if they had grown up in this era of weight and speed training, contact lenses, nutrition, chartered jets for travel, and ballparks tailored for teams to score runs. Thoughts from the baseball people?

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• Jo Koy is very funny. This bit discusses his seventh grader and the issues “they both are having” with math. Note: Jo Koy does not hold back with language.

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

Narcissism At Its Finest. Is Delta Still Atlanta’s Favorite Airline? Age = Wisdom. Could Care Less. A Great Time Of Year. The Sphere.

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I received many comments, mostly sent to my email address, from last week’s post. Please remember that it is my take and I am always looking for your opinion and comment. Thank you to all for taking the time to respond.

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• “I, _____________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic…”

That is the first sentence of the U.S. military oath of service. This 60 Minutes interview with retiring Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley literally turned my stomach. This take is not pointed at the former President, or any other politician, as all of you know how I feel about anything political. What makes me ill is that the statement made by the former President has again come to light as this military veteran of forty-three years gets set to retire. Mark Milley, before his appointment as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, served with the 82nd Airborne Division, 5th Special Forces Group, the commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, the commanding general of the 10th Mountain Division, and served as the commanding officer of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command. He earned degrees from Princeton, Columbia, and the Naval War College, and was awarded the Bronze Star four times. For anyone, nonetheless any politician, to infer that this military hero would do anything treasonous with China is disgusting.

In today’s post, I mention narcissism and cognitive abilities. It is ironic and sad that the two leading candidates for the 2024 presidency align with those descriptions.

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• Hello Ed,
  I clearly understand that successful companies must segregate their customers based on spend, as well as tenure and loyalty. As someone who has been a Delta customer since the early 1980’s, the changes made with both Medallion status and Sky Club access, while certainly differentiating your customer base based on spend, certainly does not reward customer tenure and loyalty. There are case studies outlining the missteps well-recognized brands and entities have taken with their lack of recognizing customer tenure and loyalty.

I am far from a “Bain’ consultant or analyst, but my leadership and P/L experience tell me that your staff could have developed a program that honored customer spend, as well as loyalty, and tenure.

That was an email I wrote to Ed Bastian, the CEO of Delta Air Lines, the day after Delta announced changes to their Medallion program and Sky Club access. The changes Delta announced only rewarded customer spend to create ‘greater value’ and delineate their customer base, with no regard to customer loyalty and tenure. I am sure my email, which was responded to by one of Delta’s customer officers, was one of thousands that flooded Ed Bastian’s inbox, as well as the media posting negative vibes with Delta’s new rules. An update is that Ed Bastian has conceded that the program changes may have gone too far and it looks like Delta may “roll back” their decision that resulted in angry customers and very bad optics. I guess the lesson learned is that well-run companies, even with strong leadership, can still take missteps with how they treat their customers. Here is a take from Kyle Potter from Thrifty Traveler:

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• Not one of our favorite topics, but America is getting older. The share of Americans sixty-five or older grew by more than a third from 2010 to 2020 and at the fastest rate of any decade in 130 years. The good news: As reported by Pew Research, among adults 65 and older, fully 60% say they feel younger than their age, compared with 32% who say they feel exactly their age and just 3% who say they feel older than their age. The bad news: About one-in-four adults 65 and older report experiencing memory loss. About one-in-five say they have a serious illness, are not sexually active, or often feel sad or depressed. One-in-seven cannot drive.

Now that I have your attention – it is obvious that we must try to maintain and improve our functional fitness, as well as our mental aptitude and cognitive skills. The old adage that “I don’t remember what I came into the kitchen for, but I do remember lyrics from ’80’s hair bands” – is mystifying. Speaking of aging and wisdom, this statement is so true in many, many ways.

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Here Are Ten Random Topics That I Could Care Less About. What About You?

• Taylor Swift attending NFL games to watch her new squeeze.
• NPD – Narcissistic Personality Disorder
• Any latest version of iPhone software
• Chatbots
• The sheer amount of commercials during NFL games.
• Mortgage rates hitting a 23-year high.
• Insincere people.
• Eyeglasses that support ChatGPT. WTH?
• Weak coffee.
• Anything to do with politics.

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• I mentioned this a few weeks ago, but if you enjoy sports, you are definitely enjoying this time of year. College and pro football are in full swing, as well as the other football around the world. Major League Baseball playoffs start Tuesday, the National Basketball Association on October 24, and the National Hockey League on October 10. Major League Soccer playoffs start soon, and for me it will be interesting to see where Orlando City and Atlanta United end up in the eastern conference standings, and how Chattanooga F.C. fair in their playoff run. A fun time of year heading into the Fall.

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• Speaking of live sports, this could be one of the most creative in-game productions….and of course it was hockey fans in an arena who pulled this off. Excellent!!!

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• I am not a huge fan of Las Vegas, probably due to the number of times I have been there for business. Las Vegas, similar to other cities, can be tough to do business in due to variable labor, union regulations, and the sheer volume of people in the city. The city has come a very long way over the years, and the newest ‘attraction’ in Sin City is magnificent. Sphere, part of The Venetian Resort, is a state-of-the venue combining music, art, and fabulous technology. Sphere has 160,000 speakers and 260 million pixels, took five years to build, and costs exceeded $2.3 billion.

U2 provided the entertainment for the Sphere’s opening on Friday of last week. Whether you like their music or not, this venue is just an amazing venue to see any performance.

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

I Need YOUR Thoughts. The Misfortune Of Others. Benicio. Florida & Texas.

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• I am interested with YOUR Thoughts on the Following. This is no time to be shy…just put your thoughts in the Comments section of the blog…or if you prefer, email me your thoughts. Grazi’.

• Today marks day 578 of Russia-Ukraine war.
• I am a big supporter of teachers, first-responders, and anyone who provides services to children. This quote, from a former Atlanta area teacher with eight years of experience, is just so wrong. “I am earning what a teacher with 15 years of experience made at my last school district — and 50% more than what I made when I quit.” This teacher quit her school system to go to work at Costco. I know, there are always three sides to every story, but this is appalling.
• Fall is officially here. It was under 70 degrees in central Florida this morning. Okay, you non-Florida people, stop laughing.
• Are interest rates, specifically fixed-rate mortgage rates, at a level that will not change in the near future?
• Will the CDC recommend we take a vaccine for every new strain of Covid-19?
• Families and individuals in Atlanta and Orlando spending way too much money on tickets to see Lionel Messi, with Messi unavailable/injured for last week’s game in Atlanta and tonight’s game in Orlando.
• The United Auto Workers (UAW) strike could result in 300,000 people without a paycheck – in Michigan alone.
• The Miami suburb of West Kendall has never been known for being recognized as an area of culinary excellence, but one eatery there has made the NY Times Restaurant List 2023. My go-to Miami contact is my longtime compadre, PDR, who has forgotten more about the inner workings of Miami than I ever knew. PDR: have you and DDR been to Smoke and Dough?
• They are not exactly the Shinkansen bullet trains of Japan, but Florida’s Brightline service finally provides high-speed rail service from Miami to Orlando. At a top speed of 130 m.p.h., the Brightline train service from Miami delivers you to Orlando in less than three hours. A great alternative for some trips, especially if you want to avoid the Florida Turnpike or the infamous I-95. There are other routes you can take on Brightline with a stops in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, and Aventura. In the very near future, Brightline will also service the Orlando to Tampa route. Nice job, Brightline.
• This is not a loaded question…it is just a question: Are the leading U.S. presidential candidates too old to be the Commander-in-Chief of the country’s armed forces, as well as the President?

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• This neo-noir crime thriller stars one of my favorite actors, Benicio Del Toro. Overall, can you think of an actor that is on-par with Del Toro and his ability to morph into that intense gaze, and moody, haunted persona?

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• My take on the quote below has nothing to do with who is quoted, though before her death three years ago, she was an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court. While I agree with the first part of the quote, we have all unfortunately witnessed that to “… do it in a way that will lead others to join you” may backfire.

“Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”– Ruth Bader Ginsburg

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• Word of the Day: Schadenfreude. This word is a direct combination of the German words for “harm or misfortune” and “joy.” It describes the happiness one feels at the misfortune of others. An example of ‘schadenfreude’ used in a sentence: “I felt a twinge of schadenfreude when I heard that my former colleague who liked to cause trouble for others had been fired.” Now you know.

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• For the last Sunday in September, I will end this take with a bit of fun humor. I enjoy living in Florida, especially between October and April…but Chris Cope’s perspective on the states of Florida and Texas are very funny.

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

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Ransomware Is No Joke. Things I Am Thinking For Mid-September. The Greatest Antagonist. Cheesesteaks, Anyone? CSNY.

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• By definition, Ransomware is a malware (software developed for malicious intent) designed to deny a user or organization access to files on their computer. By encrypting these files and demanding a ransom payment for the decryption key, cyberattackers place organizations in a position where paying the ransom is the easiest and cheapest way to regain access to their files.

Most of us are aware of ransomware with relative thinking that these attacks are primarily a nuisance, with you or your organization’s files encrypted until you pay a small payment to have them “released”, or decrypted. Nuisance is definitely not the correct way to describe a ransomware attack, as there has been a dramatic increase in both the frequency and severity of attacks. Today’s cybercriminals are more sophisticated, finding new ways to evade detection and infect devices.

Last week, cybercriminals went after Caesars Entertainment, the conglomerate that has many hotels under their umbrella, including Caesars Palace, Harrah’s, and the Flamingo. Las Vegas’ MGM hotel endured a cyber-attack back in 2019 as well, with the personal information of 142 million guests stolen by hackers and posted to a dark web cybercrime marketplace. Note: it has been reported that Caesars paid the cybercriminals $15 million to have their data decrypted. Before payment was made, the malicious software used by the cybercriminals caused long lines at check-ins, no phone service, no room service, and payouts from the casino taking up to sixty minutes.

Certainly not a benchmark, but in 2021, Chicago’s CNA Financial ended up paying out $40 million to cyber criminals to regain control of their network. Preventing these types of attacks, even with cybersecurity protocols in place, can be very difficult. As a baseline, here are a few things you and your organization can do to help prevent malware from entering your computer, phone, tablet, or your organization’s network. Samir, please chime in with any other thoughts on how to prevent malware from ‘entering’ devices or a network:

• Backing up important data is the single most effective way of recovering from a ransomware infection.
• Keep your system up-to-date, and use a newer version of antivirus software, like Microsoft Defender.
• Think twice, and then three times, before clicking links or downloading files.
• Do not trust pop-up windows that ask you to download software.

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Seven Random Thoughts For Mid-September

• It is ALREADY Mid-September!
• Delta Air Lines: I certainly understand that all organizations must segregate their customer and prospect bases by spend (or potential spend), but revising your loyalty programs without a component of tenure and loyalty is a misstep.
• Cable television providers are quickly retooling their go-to-market strategies by becoming resellers of streaming services. There is no doubt that traditional cable television service is on its way out – and with the National Football League and Major League Soccer offering league games via Amazon, YouTube, and Apple, streaming services have shown us that once the massive television rights contracts are up, sports and news programming will morph over to streaming service platforms.
• The UAW is on strike, demanding a 36% wage increase over four years, a defined benefit pension, and a thirty-two-hour work week. This does not bode well for America’s ‘Big Three’ automakers, Ford, GM, and Stellantis, who produce cars for Chrysler. Dovetail these demands with a very tight labor market and who really does know how this will get resolved? As many as 150,000 workers could be affected by this labor strike.
• Whether you like watching golf on TV or not, this week’s Ryder Cup, played at Marcone Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Italy, is usually must-see TV. The biennial men’s competition is between teams from Europe and the U.S. Depending on the results of the first two days (Friday and Saturday), the singles matches on Sunday are always fun to watch.
• College and Pro football are up and running. So are international football leagues including England, Germany, Spain, and Italy. Major League Baseball is heading into their playoffs as well as Major League Soccer. Fun, and more fun.
• Supply chain issues have bubbled up once more, this time due to the drought condition of the Panama Canal. This man-made canal connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean. Yes, I am going to ask: How can a canal that flows from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean be in a drought condition? Can someone just open the faucet at one end of the canal and let in some water?

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• Headline of the Week: New Godzilla Minus One Images Reveal Closer Look At Godzilla’s Destructive Rampage

Godzilla: The Greatest Antagonist to Ever Roam Earth?

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• Is the sky falling? Absolutely not, but what is the world (specifically Philadelphia) coming to when you read this: Philadelphia cheesesteak shop hires armed agents to protect customers outside.

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I get it. Neil Young, along with David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash are not for everyone. Their folk-rock music set the stage for early 1990’s grunge, but I think CSNY are one of the most underrated acts of all time. Again, not for everyone, but this rendition of Cinnamon Girl, performed at 2017 Live Aid, makes you wonder if similar music will ever return.

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

Don’t Be A Topper. Questioning Human Intelligence. Thoughts For The Last Sunday In August. Breakfast, Lunch, And Dinner. “We All Know You Are Out There.”

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• “Years ago, I tried to top everybody, but I don’t anymore. I realized it was killing conversation. When you’re always trying for a topper you aren’t really listening.” – Groucho Marx

We all know ‘toppers’ – they just can’t help themselves by 1) not listening to what you are saying; and 2) interjecting and ‘one-upping’ what you are saying. Groucho Marx is correct – ‘toppers’ are conversation killers and often are either really insecure or child-like, or both. Actively listening to someone prevents you from being a ‘topper’ and a ‘one-upper’ as you take the time to listen and absorb what someone else is saying. Here are five benefits of actually listening by not interjecting or being a ‘topper’:

• Listening builds trust with your family, friends, and associates.
• Listening helps to resolve conflict.
• Listening prevents you from missing important information.
• Listening enables you to identify or anticipate problems.
• Most importantly, listening stops you from being so self-absorbed.

Let’s all start listening a bit better so we can all know What’s Going On. 🙂

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• Human intelligence has many limitations, including the inability to process large amounts of information simultaneously, limited memory and self-control, and the tendency to make mistakes when processing complex tasks. Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, in this short video, provides an example of intelligence above and beyond most human intellect. I am definitely not a Magpie.

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Top of Mind World of the Weird:

• A former President of the United States and a former mayor of New York City booked into the Fulton County, Georgia prison last week.
• A few United States Women’s National Team players, with their early exit from the World Cup, now coming out that the team was not prepared properly. Say what? How can a national team from the United States not be fully prepared for the once every four-year World Cup? Mind-boggling.
• Electric vehicles (EV) are getting a good bit of pushback from consumers around the world. Meanwhile, gasoline in South Florida has climbed to almost $7 a gallon.
• A plane crashes with Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the infamous Wagner mercenary group aboard. Prigozhin led a failed mutiny against the Russian armed forces in June. Does anyone want to pony up a conspiracy theory?
• Inflation headed off by the Fed has led United States mortgage rates to reach 8% with home buying activity slumping to its lowest level since 1995. Okay, economist friends….please chime in with your take on the strategic initiatives enacted by the Fed. Thank you.
• I have not been to a McDonald’s lately. With that said, has anyone enjoyed Burger King in the last few years? Talking about a brand that has fallen off the deep end. I barely remember what I did last week, but I do remember this Burger King jingle from yesteryear:

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• I will get to the gist of this take, but just for a little background: When you hear or read the term ‘the speed of sound’ it is also referred to as Mach 1. Mach 1 converts to 761 mph, Mach 2 is 1,522 mph, and each additional Mach number is another 761 mph. As a baseline, the average cruising speed of a commercial airliner is 760 mph. As another reference point, for aircraft speeds which are much greater than the speed of sound, the aircraft is deemed hypersonic. By definition, hypersonic speed is greater than 3,000 mph and a Mach number greater than 5, or Mach 5. Have I lost you yet?

Now that we are all specialists with the speed of sound and what Mach numbers equate to, here is the scenario that soon will be possible for air travelers. Note: the word ‘soon‘ may be ten to fifteen years.

Hermeus is an Atlanta-based startup developing aircraft for both defense and commercial use, with their Halcyon passenger aircraft capable of traveling at Mach 5. Based on the first paragraph above, Mach 5 equates to somewhere around 3,800 mph. That is five times faster than today’s commercial passenger plane and will set up some very interesting itineraries in the near future. For example, a New York city resident will be able to have an early morning breakfast in their favorite NYC deli, board the Halcyon, and be in Paris ninety- minutes later for a late lunch (Paris is six hours ahead of NYC). They could then board the Halcyon at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport, and with the time change, be back in their NYC office by 1:30pm of the same day.

Halcyon Flight Itinerary NY-Paris-NY

• Leave NY -JFK airport at 7am, arrive Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport 8:30am, which is 2:30pm Paris time. Spend three hours or so in Paris.
• Leave Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport at 6pm, arrive JFK airport at 7:30pm, which is 1:30pm NYC time.

No eye-rolling, as you know this advancement in passenger aircraft is inevitable. Are there many barriers for the Halcyon to carry passengers at five times the speed of sound (Mach 5)? Yes, there many factors that Atlanta-based Hermeus will need to overcome, but I am quite sure they will get there or their competition will.

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• For whatever the reasons, the number of shark sightings and incidents on the east coast of the United States have risen sharply over the last year. Scientists and oceanographers have no solid answers but this one diver has come up with the solution when involved with a shark incursion. This is amazing and looks so simple and easy to accomplish.

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• I really like these reaction videos. This one has a young man named Polo listening to Red Rider’s Lunatic Fringe for the first time. Tom Cochrane & Red Rider were highly successful in Canada, but the band never had a song in the Top 40 in the United States….including this awesome Lunatic Fringe track. A forty-something year-old song with lyrics that are still relevant today.

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

A Very Interesting State. The Best All-Around Player of All Time. Winning Is Necessary. Be Curious, Not Judgmental. A Great Version of A Great Song.

• It is amazing how time just passes us by. I have been in the state of Florida for six years and as most of you have witnessed, this state has a lot going on. Unfortunately, much of what is going on, especially lately, revolves around politics, education, insurance entities, and the battle between Florida’s governor and Disney.

All of the babble and conflict is unfortunate as the state of Florida has many wonderful things to offer. Voted a top state to start a business, attractions galore, multicultural, and diverse, the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, and no state income tax, people from all over the U.S. are flocking to Florida for various reasons. Similar to many states, Florida offers various vibes and opportunities based on the area you live or visit. Certainly, the panhandle of Florida is quite different than the bustling corridor between Palm Beach and Miami, and central Florida presents different dynamics than the area from Clearwater south to Naples. A completely different experience in the state are the Florida Keys, from Key Largo to Key West. Florida is certainly not for everyone, but the state does offer a wide span of socio-economic diversity.

This young man has a bit different take on the state of Florida. To each their own. 🙂

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• The Premier League and other football leagues in Europe are underway, college and pro football are right around the corner, Major League Soccer is closing out its regular season, Major League Baseball’s pennant races are in full play, and the National Basketball Association (NBA) is bubbling up for its seventy-seventh year. My love for basketball stems from the days of the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the Miami Floridians, who made Dinner Key Auditorium their home arena. The Floridians, like many other ABA franchises, were underfunded which led to a team of various levels of skill. Those four years of ‘professional’ basketball were awesome as the roster included some great players, including Mack Calvin, Donnie Freeman, and Les Hunter. The team also included Al Cueto, who was promoted by the Floridians’ public relations staff as the world’s tallest Cuban. Cueto, born in Cuba, attended Coral Gables High School and was all of 6’7″.

I am looking forward to this year’s NBA season for many reasons. An Atlanta Hawks fan since the mid-70’s, they are primed to have a strong season. One of their games in November have the Hawks and the Orlando Magic playing in Mexico City at the Arena CDMX on November 9. The Magic should also be much improved with the addition of some impact players. I have that game on my calendar as that is a great excuse to take a long weekend in the massive and vibrant town of twenty-two million. Yes, Mexico City is home to 22 million people.

The ongoing saga of basketball’s greatest player is a continuous and exhausting debate. Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and others always come up in conversations regarding the greatest. Larry Bird is not the greatest of all time (GOAT), but to me he was one of the most entertaining and competitive players I have ever seen in any sport. When I watch NBA games now, I often wish players of today, who are fantastic athletes and players, had more of the attributes of Larry Bird. Along with Oscar Robertson, I deem Larry Bird as the best all-around player ever. His fitness, shooting and passing ability, defense, and rebounding were eye-opening. Many ex-NBA players have strong opinions about Larry Bird, including the praise offered up in this short video.

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• Quote of the week: “The measure of achievement is not winning awards. It is doing something that you appreciate, something you believe is worthwhile.” – Julia Child

I disagree with this Quote of the Week. While winning is not always the ultimate objective, a great measure of achievement is to do something that you appreciate and you believe is worthwhile, AND sometimes be recognized accordingly. I do also believe that there is great satisfaction in doing things for others without those you are benefiting from ever knowing that you helped or supported them.

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• The series ‘Ted Lasso” provided us with great writing and perfect casting. Wrapped up in all the fun and chaos of an American football coach managing his way through a London-based football team, the writers framed up Coach Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) to deliver some very strong messages in most of the episodes. This one stuck with me for various reasons, a message that I hope all of us can absorb and follow. As a level set, here is a clear and concise definition: Judgmental behavior typically involves appraising something like a situation, person, or action with a critical attitude. A person often does this in a condemning and fault-finding way using their subjective (likely moralistic) point of view and set of values.

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• The famous song ‘Side by Side’ talks about two people who are deeply in love and committed to each other, willing to stand by each other’s side through good and bad. I have heard many renditions to the song, and I want to thank J.P. for forwarding this interesting version, written by Harry M. Woods in 1927:

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

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Is Talent Learned Or Inherited?

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• The Cambridge English Dictionary’s definition of talent: Someone who has a natural ability or aptitude to be good at something. When I hear/watch a talented individual, which usually relates to sports, the arts, and specifically music, I often wonder about my limited talent. Yes, I was a decent athlete (Cody: no comments, please), and have a marginal business aptitude, but real talent has escaped me.

I have had a busy week, the weather is mind-altering as it has been in the upper 90’s in central Africa Florida for the last three weeks, and in light of all the negative news (Maui, Ukraine, Covid-19 strains back again) I wanted this week’s post to be positive and highlight real talent. So…in no particular order, here is a quick review of some very talented people. Comments and disagreements are welcome. 🙂

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• Electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, bass synth, singing bass, fuzz bass, electric piano, acoustic piano, Minimoog, Polymoog, ARP String Ensemble, ARP Pro Soloist, Oberheim Four Voice, clavinet, drums, syndrums, water drums, slapsticks, bongos, congas, finger cymbals, wind chimes, orchestral bells, woodblocks, brush trap, tree bell, hand claps, and finger snaps.

This is the instrument listing from Prince’s first album, For You. Significant, as Prince performed all vocal lines and played all twenty-seven instruments on the album. The amount of creativity, vision, songwriting, and arrangement skills from Prince is bar none and he was well-recognized for the quality of his playing rather than the quantity of instruments used. For my money, the most talented musician in the last fifty years. Enjoy the video below which highlights Prince’s top ten hits. Just talented people.

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• A painter, sculptor, architect, musician, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist, and writer, Leonardo da Vinci was perhaps the most diversely talented person to have ever lived. His estimated IQ scores range from 180 to 220 (note: Albert Einstein’s IQ was 160, and the average American’s IQ is 97, ranking 29th worldwide). By the way, da Vinci received no formal education but did apply his creativity to numerous fields, including painting, architecture, engineering, and to the study of human anatomy. Just talented people.

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• Daryl’s House is a fantastic show. Daryl Hall hosts the show at his ranch and invites various artists to his home to talk about their careers, try out the cooking, and most importantly jam to a Daryl Hall and John Oates song. This is Cee Lo Green, thirteen years ago, accompanied by Daryl Hall and band, covering I Can’t Go For That. Just talented people.

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• If I have to introduce Usain Bolt to all of you…well, I’ll just stop. My admiration for Usain Bolt does not stem from him being the fastest human on the planet. It stems from this simple but motivating statement in this video. A great message to all of us. Just talented people.

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• Led by the vocals of Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, the bass of John Entwistle, and the incredible drumming of Keith Moon, The Who may have been a top-five band to watch live. In this gig, on a 1969 version of the ‘Tom Jones Show’, we watch and listen to the awesome song, Pinball Wizard. Just talented people.

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• Dave Grohl. Formerly the drummer with Nirvana, and now the front man for the band Foo Fighters, Grohl is known worldwide for his pure talent. Obviously, the apple does not fall far from the tree as Grohl and his daughter Violet cover Adele’s When We Were Young. Just talented people.

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• Last week I went into detail about Lionel Messi’s arrival and his contract with Major League Soccer and Inter Miami. Many pundits have expressed their concerns that Messi has come to the U.S. to take his money without taking his role and responsibility seriously. Fact check: Messi has already scored eight goals in his first five games with Inter Miami, and anyone who thinks he is not taking playing in Major League Soccer seriously is very wrong. Have you ever tried to play beach soccer or volleyball? How about training in a sand pit? Just talented people.

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• Robbie Robertson, who led the Canadian-American group the Band to rock prominence in the 1970s and worked extensively with Bob Dylan and Martin Scorsese, passed away last week at the age of eighty. Robertson was a great musician and songwriter, and was elected to both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Just talented people.

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Thoughts and prayers to the people in Lahaina and the surrounding area.

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

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Impact Player. Intolerable Conditions In A Caribbean Nation. Who Is In, Who Is Out? Take A Moment For Yourself. A Tribute From The Twins.

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• The business of professional sports can be complex. Different sports and leagues around the world trade, buy, and sell players to ensure their player pool provides the franchise or club with the best chance of meeting their goals, whether that be in the standings, with their attendance, or their commercial targets.

Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Inter Miami F.C., whose ownership group includes former superstar David Beckham as well as the Mas brothers, pulled off a surprising signing and brought Lionel Messi to the club. Messi, who is already recognized by many as the greatest of all time, will enjoy a $60m base salary as well as lucrative sponsorship deals, a percentage of ticket sales from all MLS games, revenue-sharing with Apple + and Adidas, and many other components of compensation.

Why did the ownership group of Inter Miami and the MLS make this happen? There are many reasons, with some listed below, but the impact of Messi’s arrival to the MLS and Inter Miami creates an immediate and future valuation bump. Forbes’ most recent estimate had Inter Miami slotted as MLS’ eleventh most valuable team, worth $600 million. With the addition of Messi, Inter Miami’s valuation could more than double next year, somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.5 billion.

• Ticket prices are up 500% since the signing of Messi.
• Ticket prices for Messi’s debut on July 21 averaged $1,300 – on secondary ticket platforms.
• Messi jerseys from Adidas are $150 and are sold out. The MLS e-commerce partner Fanatics reported that more MLS team merchandise was sold after the news that Inter Miami had signed Messi than the previous entirety of the 2023 season.
• Inter Miami had 175k followers on Instagram before Messi’s signing. They now have 5.4 million.
• Apple + added 300,000 subscriptions after Messi’s signing.

Of course, the big question is how long can the MLS and Inter Miami sustain this instant momentum and how long will this ‘shine’ last?

Many questioned Messi’s commitment, after a storied career at Barcelona and Paris St. Germain, to continue his level of outstanding play after arriving at Inter Miami. That question has been answered as Messi has five goals in 204 minutes of play, which amounts to a clip of 2.2 goals per 90 minutes. His first goal with Inter Miami, on his debut with the club, was a game-winner.

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• Has Haiti been left to suffer alone? The Caribbean nation of twelve million, the second-oldest republic in the Western Hemisphere, after the United States, has dealt with many issues including dictatorships, earthquakes and hurricanes, and now is engulfed in total chaos as armed gangs have taken control of much of the country. The gangs, made up of two-hundred factions, have extorted most of Haiti’s business, corrupted the highest levels of politics and policing, with the cause and effect that Haitians are experiencing the worst hunger crisis in the country’s history. This country sits in the Caribbean, a mere eight-hundred miles from Florida. It shares a border with the Dominican Republic, with the Turks and Caicos to the north, and Puerto Rico, the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, Anguilla, and St. Kitts and Nevis to the southeast. A third-world country in this region, in this part of the world, is mind-boggling. It is 2023, correct?

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• Though I stay away from providing my take on politics (and religion), I thought it would be interesting to track who is in, and who is out, with the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Due to many circumstances, the 2024 election is going to be historic. The pandemic changed the way candidates campaigned and voters cast their ballots, and it has been three years or so after rioters waged their protest at the nation’s Capitol Building. I will update this list now and then just to see who remains standing as we head into 2024. The lists are alphabetical:

Democrats Joe Biden, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Marianne Williamson

Republicans Ryan Binkley, Doug Burgum, Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, Larry Elder, Nikki Haley, Will Hurd, Asa Hutchinson, Perry Johnson, Mike Pence, Vivek Ramaswamy, Tim Scott, Francis Suarez, Donald Trump

Third Party Cornel West

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Only in Florida headline of the week: Burger Chain Unveils Monstrous 10-patty Burger in Orlando to Honor Twitter’s Name Change to X

Enjoy Your Burger for $29.99

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• A friend of mine, in respect to the daily pressure we may feel, the noise we often hear, and the constant turmoil of the world, strongly suggested that we all do something for ourselves. I cannot agree more as many of us provide, offer, and give, but sometimes forget to take care of ourselves. Take a step back, go enjoy a good read, a massage, the pool, or just for once, some silence. 🙂

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• With the passing of Sinead O’Connor, famed for her powerful voice as well as her songwriting, I cannot find a better way of recognizing her than the reaction of these two young twins. RIP Sinead O’Connor.

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