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Predictions. 2025 Thoughts. Pure Talent.

Guesswork. 2025 Approaches. Is This Love?

Quote of the Week: “Prediction is the business of prophets, clairvoyants, and futurologists. It is not the business of ordinary people.” – Charles Kettering

  • Last year at this time I took a stab at some 2024 predictions. Though some of these may have been MOTO (Master of the Obvious), here is what I predicted one year ago:

The global economy will improve, and the U.S. will lead the way with a slow recovery led by the Fed methodically lowering EFFR, better known as the Fed rate. I would say that this prediction came true (based on your definition of the economy).

Continued regulation regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not get in the way of this technology being part of our everyday lives. This prediction was valid with AI now part of everyone’s everyday lives.

The continued severity of global climate events will dictate governments stepping in with more regulation, specifically surrounding carbon emissions. Though some countries have strengthened their carbon emission standards, this prediction was wrong.

Further advancements with healthcare technology and research will lead the way to breakthroughs helping to cure Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, only to a small degree.

Accessible commercial space travel to the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere becomes available this year. True, via Virgin Galactic and Space Perspective.

United States astronauts will return to the moon – including the first woman to step on that surface. False, as NASA has postponed the Artemis II mission to ensure crew safety.

The Israel-Hamas conflict will wage on through the end of the year. True, unfortunately.

The Baltimore Ravens win the Super Bowl and France will be the Euro 2024 champion. False. The Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl and Spain claimed the Euro 2024 title.

The U.S. presidential election. Nope, I am not going there. :) One year ago, how many of you really thought that Donald Trump would be reelected?

2025 promises to be an interesting year for many reasons. Instead of me providing a few predictions for next year, it would be great for each of you to provide me with one prediction for 2025. Any subject matter is okay with me, as it is your take, not mine. I will roll up the predictions I receive, publish them in January, and then we can look at them again at year-end 2025. You can email me or put your prediction in the Comments section. Thanks.

What I am thinking as we head into the new year:

  • Does Bashar al-Assad’s departure as Syria’s president change the political landscape of Syria and the Middle East?
  • The legacy of President Joseph Biden.
  • Will the universities of Texas and Georgia meet for the third time this season, this time in the January 20th college football playoff final?
  • Three years of warfare as of February 2025. Will the Russia-Ukraine war ever end?
  • Completely forgetting everything watching Billy Bob Thornton in the series “Landman.” As they say in some parts of America: “he ayent rite.”
  • Will mortgage rates continue to drop through Q1 of 2025?
  • The drone syndrome everyone is too over-the-top about is good fun…until NORAD or the U.S. Air Force discovers that they are not actually drones. 🙂
  • De’Vondre Campbell – I am not condoning his actions last Thursday night as he refused to enter the field and play for the San Francisco 49ers. With that said, let’s remember that professional athletes could have some of the same issues as anyone else. Before his coach, teammates, fans, and the media bash him completely, it might be a good idea to find out how we might help him.
  • The holiday stars have aligned as Christmas day is December 25th, Hanukkah starts December 25th, and Kwanzaa starts December 26th. I know little about Kwanzaa and found this description of the holiday from The National Museum of African American History and Culture: “During the week of Kwanzaa, families and communities come together to share a feast, to honor the ancestors, affirm the bonds between them, and to celebrate African and African American culture,” read the museum’s Kwanzaa guide. “Each day they light a candle to highlight the principle of that day and to breathe meaning into the principles with various activities, such as reciting the sayings or writings of great Black thinkers and writers, reciting original poetry, African drumming, and sharing a meal of African diaspora-inspired foods.”
  • Whether you celebrate a holiday or not, I hope that your 2025 brings health and happiness.

Pure Talent. The band Whitesnake was put together in the late 1970’s as a backup band for singer David Coverdale, who had cut his teeth with the band Deep Purple. Many people pigeonholed Whitesnake as a ‘hair band’, but in reality, their music was blues rock, or as some music pundits called it, “bluesy, sexed-up pub-rock.” Coverdale’s voice, the lyrics, and the music reinforces my ever-lasting belief that the 1980’s were the best time for music. It does not get much better than the guitar riff at the 2:40 mark.

A friend gives me grief for my description of “Is This Love” as a rock ballad, but there is no doubt that David Coverdale and Whitesnake are Pure Talent.

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

Leadership. The Doctor of Divinity. Questions. Pure Talent.

You Lied to the American People. A Take from a Reverend. Any Answers? Its More Than a Feeling.

  • Quote of the Week: “Leadership requires action: daring to take steps that are necessary but unpopular, challenging the status quo in order to reach a brighter future.” – Benazir Bhutto

This take discusses leadership and justice. Not politics.

Benazir Bhutto, the former two-term prime minister of Pakistan, was the first woman leader of a Muslim nation in modern history. Her action as prime minister was not always popular as she stepped into a precarious position of leadership. Her legacy: As prime minister of Pakistan, she endured frequent house arrest and went into exile from 1984 to 1986. She returned to Pakistan after martial law was lifted and soon became a leader disposing of the military dictator.

Joe Biden, the outgoing U.S President, just lost the presidential election to Donald Trump. His four years of office has been overanalyzed on a daily basis. His legacy: Unlike the leadership provided by Benazir Bhutto, Biden will be remembered for going back on his word not to pardon his son, Hunter Biden. Joe Biden ran for president on a platform of dignity and justice, and told the world that he would stand by his son’s felony conviction and not pardon him.

Again, I am only pointing out differences in true leadership. If my daughter was convicted of the same crimes and sentencing as Hunter Biden, would Joseph Biden pardon her? He would not – so why does he get to pardon his son, a convicted felon, after telling the world he would not?

Two leaders with two different levels of dignity, leadership, and legacies.

  • The Reverend Dr. Kirk Oldham has been a friend of mine since the dark ages. Kirk, now retired, was an experienced Campus Minister with a demonstrated history of working in the religious institutions industry. Kirk’s focus was community building, public speaking, pastoral care, fundraising, and nonprofit management. After earning his undergraduate degree from Berry College, Kirk went on to earn two Master’s degrees from Duke University’s Divinity School, and his Doctorate from the Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.

Kirk is this week’s guest writer. His take is based on his experience as a grandfather, father, husband, and minister. Maybe we should all take note of Kirk’s comments:

“Woke” and the Laziness of Hate.

I don’t know where you live, but in my state this past election cycle was brutal! I have never been more thankful for streaming services that shielded me from the constant barrage of hateful political ads fraught with hyperbole and snide innuendos. It seems as if every election cycle there is some word or phrase which is spat out pejoratively at opposing candidates. Several years back it was “snowflake”. This year “weird” and “woke” were the “Insults Du Jour”. I swore if I never heard the word woke again, I’d die a happy man! Perhaps what irritated me the most was not the political one upmanship to be gained by such buzzwords, but the attitude reflected using the words, particularly “woke”.

In recent years, the term “woke” has evolved into one of the most charged and polarizing words in our cultural lexicon. Originally used to describe an awakened consciousness to social injustices—particularly related to race, inequality, and systemic oppression—the term has increasingly become a shorthand for critique, often wielded by those who oppose efforts toward social change. Whether in politics, the media, or social discourse, “woke” has become a way to dismiss, mock, and shut down conversations about equity and justice.

I believe there is an uncomfortable truth behind the use (overuse?) of this term that should give us pause. The backlash against “woke” culture, and the vitriol that accompanies it, often reflects a deeper, more troubling tendency—a laziness in how we approach others. It’s easier to dismiss, deride, or hate than it is to engage with the complexity of human experience, to listen, and to change our hearts and minds in ways that might challenge our comfortable assumptions.

At its core, the impulse to label something or someone as “woke” in a derogatory way isn’t just about ideological difference. It’s a defense mechanism that protects us from the discomfort of change. It’s easier, after all, to condemn people who advocate for fairness, inclusion, and sensitivity to injustice than it is to do the difficult work of self-reflection and empathy. Hate, in its various forms, is the path of least resistance. It requires no vulnerability, no growth, no reckoning with the pain of others’ lived experiences. Hate simply reacts—it closes off dialogue, dismisses concerns, and keeps people at a distance. Rather than taking the time to listen, learn, or reflect, it’s far simpler to dismiss the problem by labeling it as overreaction, political correctness, or moral superiority. This knee-jerk dismissal avoids the hard but necessary work of dismantling harmful biases, confronting privilege, and growing as a more just and compassionate society.

If we are to move forward as a more compassionate society, which I believe is a noble and worthy cause, we must acknowledge that hate is always the easier choice—but it is also the more destructive one. It keeps us trapped in narrow, defensive viewpoints that limit our potential for growth and solidarity. To avoid this laziness, this path of least resistance will require a willingness to be uncomfortable—to challenge our assumptions, acknowledge the pain of others, and seek reconciliation where division and harm have taken root. It asks us to do the hard work of educating ourselves, to examine systems of power that perpetuate inequity. It challenges us to meet them head-on, even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient.

Instead of the laziness of hate reflected in backlash to “wokeness”, I would like to see us, as a society, make space for others’ experiences, to acknowledge their pain, and to work toward building a world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. It’s not easy. It’s not always comfortable. But perhaps it is the only path forward that honors our shared humanity.

As we approach the holiday season, we’ll hear the hope expressed many times “peace on earth, good will toward all”. If that is simply “wokeness” then consider me awakened! This is Just MY take…. Reverend Dr. Kirk Oldham.

The What and Why for the December 8, 2024

  • Did South Korea’s President completely go off the rails last week, or was his declaration of martial law warranted? The people of South Korea do not think so as the President is now facing impeachment.
  • Is it time, once and for all, for the NCAA and its conferences to put a complete stop to their athletes behaving like children before, during, and after games? Okay, yes, they are children.
  • Yesterday was the 83rd anniversary of when the Japanese military launched a surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor. This attack killed 2,403 service members, wounded 1,178 more, and sank or destroyed six U.S. ships. The attack precipitated the entry of the United States into World War II.
  • Many Americans, for the right and wrong reasons, are not happy with the country’s inflation and escalating consumer prices. I do think it is important to benchmark, and when you do compare the U.S. with the Eurozone and U.K., U.S. labor productivity has grown by thirty percent since the 2008-09 financial crisis, more than 3 times the pace of the Eurozone and U.K. Americans can always complain, but when you look at our northern neighbor, Canada’s labor productivity has contracted for 14 of the last 16 quarters. Comparatively speaking…the U.S. is not so bad.
  • I commented on the Tesla Cybertruck many posts ago. Tesla set up their production lines and headcount to deliver 250,000 Cybertrucks per year. Year-to-date, only 48,000 Cybertrucks have been delivered with six recalls since January. So much for forecasting.
  • Understatement of the week: Sarah Silverman says she has become less political because ‘no one’ wants to hear from celebrities anymore.
  • Twenty days to XMAS and 26 days to 2025. Where did 2024 go?
  • I was raised in southwest Miami, Florida. If you have seen the docudrama Cocaine Cowboys III, or the movie American Made, you witnessed just a taste of the drug trafficking rampant in areas of southwest Miami. At the height of cocaine activity, the infamous Medellin cartel, led by Pablo Escobar, supplied 80% of the world’s cocaine market. Escobar designated Fabio Ochoa Vasquez to be his Miami area distributor, and by the mid-80’s Vasquez was included in Forbes’ list of billionaires. Vasquez was subsequently hunted down and arrested by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and sentenced to thirty years in prison. His was also implicated in the 1986 killing of DEA informant Barry Seal, who was the main character in American Made. For whatever reason, after twenty-five years served, Fabio Ochoa Vasquez was released from prison. Is anyone else wondering how a convicted murderer tied to the Medellin cartel was released five years early?

This forty-five minute National Geographic documentary provides a thorough explanation of the Medellin cartel from its beginnings in 1949. Informative and eye-opening to say the least.

  • Pure Talent. I lean a bit too much to yesteryear, but I miss the music from the late 70’s and 80’s. Whether the genre relates to rock, grunge, funk, disco, or yacht rock, there is a wide void in today’s music. I do like some of today’s artists as they are very talented, but I do wonder if their music will resonate with us in the future, similar to a song from forty-eight years ago by the band Boston. This was one of many songs by the band, with ‘More Than a Feeling‘ climbing to number five on the Billboard charts. Boston, in its day, was Pure Talent.

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

Milton Friedman. Questions. Billy Bob. Thanksgiving. Pure Talent.

Slice and Dice. Give Me Some Answers. Beer v. Whiskey. No Turkey for Me! I Hope You Find Your Way Home.

  • Quote of the Week: It is a popular delusion that the government wastes vast amounts of money through inefficiency and sloth. Enormous effort and elaborate planning are required to waste this much money. – P. J. O’Rourke

Whether exaggerated satire or some level of truth, P.J. O’Rourke’s quote is never more relevant than right now. With the new administration assigning Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head the Department of Government Efficiency, it is obvious that it will take an enormous effort to slice and dice government inefficiency and waste. Within the confines of the law, do Musk and Ramaswamy not only have the responsibility, but the authority to wipe out inefficiencies, redundancies, and departments that the administration deems useless? Politics aside, will this Department of Government Efficiency be effective?

Milton Friedman’s resume is vast and impressive. Friedman concluded that capitalism and freedom were paramount and that “government should stay out of matters that do not need it and should only involve itself when absolutely necessary for the survival of its people and the country.” Friedman is recognized by many as a great economic theorist and was rewarded with his work by winning the 1976 Nobel Prize for Economics.

Elon Musk, a bit bias due to his new assignment, posted this video of Milton Friedman directly answering the interviewer’s questions regarding government and what departments he would keep and discard. Friedman’s assessment and answers are eye-opening.

I Have Six Questions on the Last Sunday of November:

  • Is Comcast’s spinoff of their cable networks, including CNBC, USA, MSNBC, Golf Channel, E!, and Syfy the last straw with cable properties? Yes, the former bold step of ‘cutting the cord’ has become the new normal.
    • I am a big supporter of NASA and the space program. The Artemis lunar exploration effort is now delayed with NASA’s Office of Inspector General now stating that each of the first four Space Launch System/Orion launches will cost $4.2 billion. Does anyone else have an issue with this?
    • Do you like hanging out in a grocery store? I go to Publix or Fresh Market once a week and it could the least favorite thing I do. Now I read that two Publix stores are opening a beer, wine, and coffee bar. Say what?
    • The Orlando Pride of the NWSL wrapped up a historic season last night, winning the league championship with a 1-0 win over the Washington Spirit. This was the Pride’s and the legendary Marta’s first league title. Will the 38-year-old Marta enjoy this championship and retire? I do not think so.
    • I have mentioned the demise of craft brewpubs in a previous post. What happened to this sector of the restaurant/bar industry?
    • Where are the two favorite places you have traveled in the last five years? I am going somewhere soon, and I am looking for suggestions. No cruising for me, just a place to visit. Thanks.
  • Billy Bob Thornton (BBT) is one of my favorite actors. He can play most roles, with an uncanny ability to make his character relevant. BBT currently stars in the series “Landman” set in the oil boomtowns of modern Texas. BBT uses his awkward personality and voice cadence to pull of different types of roles as good as any. He does make a great point in this bar scene:
@neecee1230

#micultraversuswhiskey #landman #billyBob

♬ original sound – Neecee1230
  • The Thanksgiving holiday is like no other. Never mind that I am not a fan of turkey, the Thanksgiving holiday, whether with a group of family and friends or solo, is a time to reflect on the thankful things. No matter your surroundings, enjoy Thanksgiving for what it is meant to be: A day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. At whatever level, enjoy.
  • Pure Talent. Mesmerizing and soulful as we head into Thanksgiving week. Steve Winwood’s rendition of “Can’t Find My Way Home” sets a very high bar for the blend of guitar and voice. Whether it was his work with The Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, or Blind Faith, his experience and skill set led the way to fifty million albums sold, two Grammy’s, and his election into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Eric Clapton once said to Winwood: “You’re one of the best guitarists out there and nobody knows it.” Steve Winwood = Pure Talent.

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

Truth in Comedy. Tyson. Questions. Creative Protest. Pure Talent.

The Balance Between Fact and Fiction. A Farce of a Fight. Do You Have Answers? New Zealand’s Parliament. Badminton: Not for the Faint of Heart.

  • Quote of the Week: “The best jokes are dangerous, and dangerous because they are in some way truthful.” – Kurt Vonnegut

I have always felt that the best comedy opened and revealed the truth about society, human behavior, and the way we share experiences. Yes, great comedy effectively stretches the truth and exaggerates for effect. Great comedians create and describe fictional characters and scenarios that usually speak a level of overall truth.

Obviously, comedians must navigate the balance between fact and fiction and how to tie in a level of authenticity that connects with their audience. What all of us usually enjoy about comedy is its ability to highlight truth through humor. Some theorists call this type of comedy “observational” and examples of these types of comedians include Rodney Dangerfield, George Carlin, Richard Pryor, and Sebastian Maniscalco. These types of comedians are not always 100% spot on with their observations but have the talent to reveal the truth regarding human behavior, society, and shared experiences.

There is a fine line between embellishment and truth with comedy -but the ability to be relevant with the audience is key. We enjoy comedy that is genuine even when the subject matter describes an absurd scenario. Sebastian Maniscalco is a master storyteller, with the ability to engage his audience with relevant and impactful humor that describes real-life scenarios in a most funny manner.

  • The Mike Tyson – Jake Paul fight on Friday night was somehow sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. As I mentioned, it was no more than pre-fight entertainment, with the fight itself lame and a bit of a farse. Jake Paul reportedly received $40 million for the eight, 2-minute rounds. Tyson took in $20 million and will hopefully fade away into obscurity.

The best fight of the evening was the Katie Taylor – Amanda Serrano light-welterweight championship fight. Great effort, non-stop action, and no messing around. As for Netflix’s coverage and technical difficulties: I have no words.

  • Questions for Mid-November

Why are people leaving X and joining Bluesky?

What does Warren Buffett know that we do not? Berkshire Hathaway recently dropped a good bit of Apple shares and picked up Domino’s Pizza.

Did President Biden suggest that the political climate will change? Thanks for that update, Joe.

Should you have any interest in visiting central Florida, go now. The weather from now until April 1 is bar none.

How can we already be in mid-November 2024 with Thanksgiving only eleven days away?

  • Just when you think U.S. congressional hearings are a bit over the top, take a look at New Zealand and their Parliament last week. A divisive bill, which would reinterpret New Zealand’s 184-year-old founding document which would undermine the rights of the country’s Indigenous people. While thousands participated in protests and a nine-day march to protest the bill, this young lady, the youngest member of New Zealand’s Parliament, ripped up a copy of the bill and led the haka in Parliament as other Maori members and some visitors in the public gallery joined her.

    The haka is a Maori dance that is a challenge to opponents – especially before New Zealand plays a rugby match. I cannot imagine how U.S. lawmakers would react to this protest. 🙂
  • Pure Talent. I get it. Most people think of badminton as the backyard game we played with our friends and family, with the rally only lasting two or three hits. Badminton always looked easy to play but as we have all experienced the ability to properly hit the ‘birdie’ (shuttle) is easier said than done. After some quick research, badminton is the fastest racquet sport, with the shuttle able to come off the racquet at speeds close to 180 mph.

The aerodynamic design of the shuttle’s shape, regardless of its original orientation when struck allows the shuttle to fly ‘headfirst’ from one opponent to another. Now that I have bored you with the aerodynamics of the shuttle, take a few moments and watch this video. Badminton as we know it…not so much. These women are Pure Talent.

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

Reflecting. Pre-Game. Random Thoughts. Tyson. Pure Talent.

Do What You Can While You Can Do It! This is Not Camping World Stadium. Post-Election Takes. I Will Watch the Fight. A Music Icon Leaves Us.

  • Quote of the Week: “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” – George Bernard Shaw

Well said, George Bernard Shaw, a Dublin-born literary critic, socialist propagandist, and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1925. I agree that we need to do what we can do while we can do it. Obviously, there are different strokes for different folks but in the long run it is important to keep playing, no matter what that means to you and yours.

Thank you, N.B., for sending me this article about older people reflecting back to their younger days and childhood. The list referenced in this article reinforces George Bernard Shaw’s quote and doing what you can while you can do it!

Once we pass a certain age, we all tend to look back at childhood in mourning. Where did all those happy memories go? When was the last time you swung on the monkey bars or saw your favorite teacher?
But those realizations don’t stop in early adulthood. Older adults recently shared their answers to the question: “What’s something most people don’t realize they will never experience again in life?” Here’s what they had to say:

“The first time I heard this, it hurt bad. One day, you will pick up your little boy/girl and carry them for the very last time. It broke my heart when I heard it because I realized it was true, and I couldn’t remember the last time I picked up and carried my now 24-year-old son. The night of my daughter’s 13th birthday, I decided I would pick her up and carry her to bed for the last time in my life. That way, I would always remember it.

“The last time that you played with your friends.”

“Pain-free movement.”

“Having the older generation available to answer questions. There is so much I wish I had asked my parents and grandparents. There is nowhere to get the answers.”

“Dropping off and picking up my kids from school. When the last time happens, you don’t realize it, and that’s sad.”

“For abled people: Ride a bike, or roller skate, climb something or even just run with complete careless abandon.”

“The last time you take your kids to the park to play. I loved seeing them so happy and making friends at the park. Then, one day, they just don’t want to go anymore.”

“If you didn’t take the time to write down the recipe and practice it, your favorite meal that Mom cooked.”

“Going outside to play with your friends. Ringing the doorbell of their parents’ house and asking if they can come out to play. Never realized it until about a year ago.”

“Sleeping comfortably through the night. Or just sleeping comfortably for a few hours.”

“The flavor of foods when you don’t know they are going to change the recipe to make it healthier and worse tasting. I still love Goldfish crackers, but I had no idea when I ate my last bag of the OG recipe that I would never taste it again.”

“First love. There’s something about starting something and not knowing how an ending feels. After that first time, I always knew pain could come.”

There was a time when I last used a pay phone and a dial phone. There was a time when I called 411 and never, ever did it again. I don’t think 411 operators even exist anymore. I remember when I threw out our last phone book, knowing that another one wouldn’t be coming and that it was the end of an era.”

Sometimes reflecting back to what once was is healthy. Sometimes it hurts. What is a moment in your life you now realize you will not be able to experience again?

  • Last Tuesday, River Plate fans, ahead of an important Cup match, welcomed their team with this incredible display of fireworks and pyrotechnics. Obviously, the security at a match in Buenos Aires is not as stringent as many countries. River Plate and Boca Juniors are two of the biggest soccer clubs in South America, both in Buenos Aires. Think of the New York Jets and the New York Giants on steroids.

Regarding the world of international soccer: Last week, the massive Dutch soccer club, Ajax, hosted the Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv in a Europa tournament match. Violence broke out and Maccabi supporters were attacked after the match leaving five people hospitalized. Absolutely unacceptable, with the friction in the Middle East bubbling up between two soccer clubs in an international tournament match. There are always three sides to every story, but Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof stated, “This is simply antisemitic violence against Israelis,” calling the attacks “downright scandalous and reprehensible.” I wish I had answers and a solution to this 2,000-year-old problem.

  • Things I Am Thinking on November 10, 2024:

The change in regime of the United States could trigger many policy changes. One cause and effect that I do not need to guess about is how China is feeling about the new American President. China’s economy has been dealing with a property slump for over three years, as well as systemic deflation. President-elect Trump sustaining and increasing the tariffs that are in place with China will certainly affect the trade war. The same could hold true with the trade agreements we have with Mexico. Anyone care to chime in on how these tariffs will spur inflation, specifically consumer goods?

Speaking of tariffs, the economy and the markets: The Fed cut rates again, the S&P broke the 6,000 level, and Tesla hits $1 Trillion market cap. Is the U.S. economy overheating? Please chime in.

A few posts ago I looked at trade schools and how their curriculum can lead to a solid career in the fields of plumbing, HVAC, and electrical contracting. Indeed reports as of June 2024, the average welder salary across the United States is over $65,000 a year. Include overtime and holiday pay and that annual wage rises above $75,000. Trade schools focus on hands-on activity, while traditional college education relies mostly on classroom instruction. Trade schools provide job-specific skills, while traditional colleges offer a broader range of subjects and prepare students for various careers or graduate school. To me, two solid paths for our youngsters to pursue their career.

One of the pioneers of the Atlanta business community passed away last week. Bernie Marcus, who along with Arthur Blank founded Home Depot, went on to be a billionaire philanthropist providing Atlanta, as well as many communities, a great deal of financial support through the foundation he created. RIP, Bernie Marcus.

TGI Fridays. When was the last time you were in one of those restaurants? I remember when this chain opened with the one in Atlanta becoming an iconic Sunday afternoon extravaganza. The Fridays restaurant at the Prado shopping center was a must-attend Sunday back in the ’80s, with their three-for one specials and a gathering of all kinds of Atlanta people. Competition and the ever-changing socioeconomics of the restaurant business diminished Fridays’ dominance in the ‘sit-down chain restaurant’ category. Fridays filed for bankruptcy protection last Saturday, saying it is looking for ways to “ensure the long-term viability” of the casual dining brand. Who would have thought that such an iconic restaurant brand would fall on tough times?

  • The long-awaited boxing match between former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and Jake Paul is this Friday night. Streaming only on Netflix, many of us are hoping for a competitive battle between the 58-year-old Tyson and the 27-year-old Jake Paul. I will watch the fight live, but after watching this video I am curious if this fight goes more than two rounds. Mike Tyson getting old is like Godzilla getting old: The villagers still run for their lives. Tyson’s lack of “fight fitness” will dictate him looking to knockout Jake Paul within two rounds. God help Jake Paul if Tyson cuts the ring off and puts Paul in a corner. Is this boxing event dumb? Yes. Will I watch? Yes.

Warning: strong language in this video.

Pure Talent. He was a producer who collaborated with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, and hundreds of other recording artists. He also produced Michael Jackson’s Thriller, still the number one selling album of all time. Quincy Jones passed away last week at the age of ninety-one. Jones was among the most awarded producers in music history with 28 Grammy Awards.

Quincy Jones’ influence on the world of music was widespread. As many of you know, Eddie Van Halen contributed to and rearranged the famous song, Beat It. His reason: ‘…if Quincy Jones calls, you do what he says…” If you think about Pure Talent, you think Quincy Jones.

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

Quotes. Chase and Pryor. Darkness. Pure Talent.

Mindset & Motivation. No Woke. Night Falls. Robert Plant Still Rocks.

  • Quote of the Week: I post and write about one quote each week. That format changes this week, providing the following mindset and motivational quotes that resonate with me, for one reason or another.
  • We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. – Seneca
  • It’s never too late to be what you might have been. – George Elliot
  • Our life is what our thoughts make it. – Marcus Aurelius
  • Thinking is difficult. That is why most people judge. – Carl Jung
  • Care about what other people think, and you will always be their prisoner. – Lao Tzu
  • A fool is known by speech and a wise man by silence. – Pythagoras
  • If you are the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room. – Confucius
  • The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear. – Rumi

I like and respect all eight quotes. Number five is systemic – think ‘living up to the Joneses.’ Numbers six, seven, and eight make me smile. How about you?

  • Last week, part of my post referenced the music artist “Young Thug” and his beautiful home for sale in Atlanta. I had no idea that he was on trial for gang-related crimes and racketeering…I was merely suggesting that his nickname with the word “Thug” was concerning. Now, a week later, I read that Young Thug, a.k.a. Jeffery Willams, has been in jail for thirty months and has now been sentenced to time served and 15 years of probation. What a waste of talent of a Grammy award-winning artist. Very sad.
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  • Many of my posts clearly state my disdain and intolerance for all things racist. The level of worldwide racism remains rampant as we are close to starting of year 2025. This is why I find this video, with Chevy Chase and Richard Pryor, amazing. How would anyone think that in 1975, the white interviewer and the black applicant could have the back-and-forth dialogue, that in today’s world, would be 100% unacceptable and never part of a live television skit. Richard Pryor’s facial expressions while barking back at Chevy Chase are priceless.

Again, I have zero tolerance for anything racist, but this skit, performed on Saturday Night Live forty-nine years ago, is amazing in good and bad ways. Note: words not for everyone’s ears.

  • The first Sunday of November brings us the beginning of Fall, football in full force, a World Series champion, and a big election. This first Sunday in November also brings darkness, and not the emotional type. Today brings us literal darkness due to daylight savings time ending and not popping up again until March 9, 2025. I realize that some of you, for whatever reason, enjoy darkness before 6pm. Me, not so much.

Jesse Colin Young of The Youngbloods brings us Darkness, Darkness.):

  • From the world of the strange and the headline of the week: Anesthesiologist Matilda Crawford strikes a pose with a sledgehammer, circa 1894. I know this is a joke. Right?
  • Pure Talent. Now seventy-six years old, this English singer and songwriter was an original band member of Led Zepplin from 1968 to their breakup in 1980. Robert Plant helped make Led Zepplin one of the most famous rock bands of all time. Subsequently, Plant’s successful solo career has spanned the globe. Plant has won numerous accolades and awards, including the 1998 Grammy award for best hard rock performance. Robert Plant was, and still is, Pure Talent.

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

Self-Importance. Buy & Build. End of October Thoughts. Giving Back. Pure Talent.

The Hierarchy of Needs. The Private Equity Approach Explained. It is Almost November! Sadio Mane = Selfless. Bon Jovi & Richie Sambora.

  • Quote of the Week: “I think a lot of self-importance is a product of fear. And fear, living in sort of an un-self-examined fear-based life, tends to lead to narcissism and self-importance.” – Moby

We have all run into or dealt with this type of person. Someone who cannot get out of their own way, protects their fragile being with their over-the-top demeanor, or always having the last word. Narcissistic is one way to characterize this type of person, but their self-importance issues, in my opinion, directly correlate with their lack of respect and lack of self-esteem.

Better yet, to get a clear opinion of self-importance, refer to the video below. Cher’s answer to “Do you think men are important” is a classic. 🙂

For me to better understand self-importance and how someone morphs into a narcissist and megalomanic, I referenced Abraham Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs,” an idea in the realm of psychology proposed by psychologist Abraham Maslow. The basis for Maslow’s theory was that humans have basic needs that must be met before they can perform at the highest level and achieve their full potential.

I am certainly far removed with any skills relating to psychology, but I do believe in the hierarchy established by Maslow. Self-importance and narcissism are defined in various way by psychologists, but it does seem that they stem from individuals with low self-esteem.

  • My previous post detailed how private equity (PE) firms are strategically rolling up home services companies as one part of their overall strategy. Chris Antonello, an operating partner at Plexus Capital, provided the following details of the PE approach called ‘buy and build.’ Chris, many thanks for your input and explanation. Plexus Capital – Private Capital for the Lower Middle Market

Gary:  The trend you describe of PE’s “rolling up” or acquiring companies within an industry and then consolidating and leveraging back-room efficiency is alive and well!  This approach is commonly referred to by Private Equity (PE) as “buy & build” and is happening in more than just the HVAC and Plumbing industries … landscape maintenance, lawn care and pest control just to name a few others. 

The below diagram shows how the PE market works.  These entrepreneurial owners operate in the lower middle market where there are hundreds of thousands of existing small businesses and thousands growing into the category each year.  About 10,000 of these small businesses are invested in by PE each year.  So, to answer your question, there is plenty of “inventory” available for the trend to continue. 

The PE’s focus on providing operational and strategic support to acquire and integrate the companies.  The companies are acquired as a multiple of earnings.  The combined, blended multiple of all the acquisition is less than the resulting multiple when the newly consolidated company is sold the “middle market” at a higher exit multiple.  This is how the PE’s make money for their investors. 

It is the Last Sunday of October…

  • I am not picking on Boeing, but they did report a quarterly loss of $6 billion. Yes, $6B. Boeing is the single largest exporter in the U.S. by dollar value, generating close to $80B in revenue each year. Still, the company has failed to turn a profit since 2018. Their CEO called for a ‘culture change.’ Really?
  • The Atlanta Journal-Constitution entertainment section included an article about Young Thug’s home being on the market. It is a beautiful home in the Buckhead area but that is not my point. I am not demeaning Young Thug’s eccentric vocal style, but I can just imagine my father’s reaction if I decided to go by the name of Young Thug. It would have been ugly. Note: Young Thug’s name is Jeffrey Williams.
  • Buca di Beppo, Tin Lizzy’s, Rubio’s, Graffiti Junktion, 10 Degrees South, Red Lobster, Tijuana Flats, Burger Fi, World of Beer. These are just a few of the many restaurant chains who have filed for bankruptcy this year. Supply chain and labor shortages are wreaking havoc with restaurant owners causing serious margin and cash flow issues. Positive thoughts to restaurant owners and their businesses.
  • Speaking of food, Chilean Sea Bass crackers are the new name for the Goldfish cracker. What?
  • The World Series brings us the two massive markets of LA and NY. The Fox networks are smiling.
  • The NBA and NHL seasons are in full swing.
  • The NFL is already in week eight headlined by the Atlanta Falcons visiting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
  • The MLS playoffs are on Apple+.
  • College hoops are getting ready for what I hope is a great season.
  • The Champions League matches are now in the “league phase.” A very interesting format with each of the thirty-six teams handed eight games against eight different teams — four at home, four away.
  • Thanksgiving is less than five weeks away!
  • Leaves turning colors – the epitome of Fall.
  • May 22, 2025. The Orlando area will be adding Epic Universe to their list of theme park attractions next May. This theme park will be made up of five worlds: Celestial Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic, Dark Universe, Super Nintendo World, and How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk. After five years of construction, this should be another fantastic attraction adding to Universal Studios’ portfolio of Orlando attractions. Epic Universe joins Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay. Research firm MoffettNathanson projects that ten million visitors will visit the park in year one. A side note: Orlando and State of Florida transportation chiefs better fast track the changes at Orlando International Airport – and do it soon.
  • I may have shed a negative light in last week’s post regarding the top ten earning soccer players earning a combined $983 million. My point, after reading the Forbes article, was to understand the vast amount of money garnered by worldwide clubs and their ability to pay massive wages. On a positive note, there are many athletes, while enjoying their vast amount of compensation earned on and off the field/court, who do give back in a big way.

Sadio Mané is a Senegalese professional soccer player who plays his club football in the Saudi Pro League, along with his duties with the Senegal national team. From humble beginnings to an international soccer star, Mané is one of many professional athletes on a mission to give back. Sadio Mane is amazing.

  • Pure Talent. Do you remember the days when MTV actually played MUSIC videos? Do you remember when the MTV Music Awards show was must watch TV? There have been many great performances on various awards shows, but Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora’s acoustic version of Wanted Dead or Alive is fantastic. Pure Talent at its best.

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

SpaceX Again. Thoughts. Private Equity Trends. Pure Talent.

Catch It. Any Answers? Plumbers and Electricians Reap the Rewards. Boston Strong.

  • Quote of the Week: Do we really need these big, gigantic, heavy rockets? What if we launch a rocket that’s empty, and its sole purpose is to act as a source of fuel on the Moon? Who should build that? Well, I think the U.S. should build that. – Buzz Aldrin

Buzz Aldrin’s foresight into space exploration has come full circle. The privatization of space vehicle manufacturing and deployment has propelled (no pun intended) advancements in rocket propulsion as well as reusable rockets. To date, SpaceX is by far the leader amongst private space companies, with their ability to recover and reuse their Starship rocket. We have seen their rocket return to earth and land on a barge – mind-blowing to say the least. Last week, SpaceX topped their level of remarkable engineering by building a tower with ‘chopsticks’ to catch a rocket’s first stage.

The booster slowed down from four times the speed of sound, hovered, and steered itself to a precise point between the chopstick arms, and was caught in midair. In the future, when it is past the current test phase, SpaceX’s goal will be to then put the rocket back on its launch mount, fuel it up, and launch it again, possibly within hours. The technology and engineering shown in this video is mind-blowing. Richie: Please explain the aerodynamics that provided command and control of this first stage to be collected. Thank you.

Random Things I Think

  • Is there an implosion on the horizon with the amount of money professional athletes earn on and off the field/court? For example, as reported by Forbes: Combined, the world’s ten highest-paid soccer players are projected to earn $983 million this season. Amazing, eye-opening, and problematic all at the same time.
  • Amazon’s data centers are massive and require immense amounts of power. Solution: Amazon will fund and build small nuclear reactors. Tracy A: Thoughts on the continued privatization of nuclear power?
  • Gold broke through the $2,700 barrier last week. Is it time for the gold-for-cash pop-up stores to spread across our country once again?
  • After a very tough three weeks for people in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, a couple of other storms have popped up in the Caribbean. No, and no.
  • This should be a Harvard Business Case Study titled: How to Batter Your Balance Sheet by Boeing Co. Poor commercial jet production, defense contracts that are sideways, and a strike by half of its Washington state workforce. No bueno.
  • This quote from the late Colin Powell made me think about the upcoming Presidential election. Yes, I stay away from politics. Yes, I have already voted. “You can’t make good decisions unless you have good information and can separate facts from opinion and speculation.”
  • Just when we thought interest rates and mortgage rates would continue to trend downward after the Fed slashed its lending rate by half a point…well, I am not going to get into the correlation of the bond market and the 10-year Treasury yield…but mortgage rates have been rising since reaching its lowest level in two years — 6.08% — three weeks ago. You can blame the encouraging reports on the U.S. economy, including the better-than-expected September jobs report. So much for the expected recession?

Comedian Kurt Metzger, many years ago, explains the economy in terms I definitely understand:

  • I received many responses from last week’s take on formal education versus technical training. While certain professions must have levels of formal education, other careers align well with technical training. Last week, the Wall Street Journal published an article titled: “Plumbers and Electricians are the New Millionaires:”

Private equity firms are scooping up small town HVAC, plumbing and electrical companies, and turning some of their owners into instant millionaires. The equity firms are hoping to profit by running larger, more lucrative operations with branch operations in small towns across the country.

According to data from PitchBook, private-equity investors have purchased roughly 800 HVAC, plumbing and electrical companies since 2022. The strategy: Roll up businesses to create larger players and improve their margins. The P.E. firms add back-office efficiency, managerial know-how, increase marketing efforts and recruiting budgets.

There is no doubt that private equity’s roll-up strategy with different types of businesses will provide many owner-operators the opportunity of wealth and prosperity. I am interested to see if this trend will continue. Chris A: Do you have thoughts on private equity firms and their interest in this contractor, roll-up model?

  • Pure Talent. Years ago, as a tribute to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, Steven Tyler enlisted the help of a choir to help him with “Dream On.” An iconic song by a rock legend. This is Pure Talent for a great cause – Boston Strong!

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

Education. Thoughts. Shelter in Place? Pure Talent.

Formal Education v. Technical Training. Are We Already in Mid-October? Floridians. Fred Dancing with a Hat Rack.

  • Quote of the Week: “Education is one of the blessings of life—and one of its necessities.” -Malala Yousafzai

A profound quote from Malala Yousafzai. While a teenager, she spoke out publicly against the prohibition on the education of girls that was imposed by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), sometimes called the Pakistani Taliban. An activist in Pakistan, a country not exactly known for tolerating activists, Yousafzai was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in recognition of her efforts on behalf of children’s rights….at the age of seventeen!

While education is a blessing, I have often wondered how much education is actually necessary. I have also thought about different types of education, i.e. serving time in the Armed Forces or attending a technical or trade school, or a combination of both. While I do not discount receiving a formal education and earning a degree(s), today’s work environment, surrounded by technology including artificial intelligence (AI), could call for more specific technical education that may need to forego formal course work at a university. Here is a report published by Robert Half & Associates at the end of July, just three months ago:

The job market for software applications and development professionals remains resilient, according to an analysis of a proprietary dataset of more than 3.5 million U.S. job postings, including 60,000 Robert Half placements.
With over 450,000 new software applications and development jobs posted throughout the last six months, competition for top talent in these roles has been fierce. The demand for consulting and enterprise systems as well as AI, machine learning and data science roles also grew. Both areas saw twice as many job postings in the first half of 2024 compared with the first half of 2023.

I do not think 2025 and beyond will be any different than this year. The demand for technical expertise driven by AI and machine learning is at a high level with no short-term end in sight. Education is a blessing, but how much formal education really necessary as we head into year 2025?

Elon Musk’s short take on formal education. Agree or disagree, he does make his point clear.

A Few Thoughts for Mid-October

  • Hurricane Milton proceeded by Hurricane Helena. Thoughts are with all who have had their lives turned upside down in the last three weeks.
  • How far does the Israeli/Hamas/Iran/Hezbollah conflict escalate?
  • In three weeks, we again go dark as daylight savings time ends. I have no words.
  • Rafael Nadal is retiring from tennis after his last appearance for Spain in the Davis Cup. He will be missed.
  • Is it surprising that European transit authorities are now questioning Telsa’s Cybertruck being too large and heavy for European roads and highways? I understand that designers are tasked with creating automobiles with discernible differences, but who was the person at Tesla who approved this design.
  • As mentioned, I feel for everyone who has experienced the two hurricanes in the last three weeks. It you live in Florida it is inevitable that once in a while you will have to deal with property damage and loss. It is alarming that Florida and other southeast states were subject to back-to-back hurricanes. Lives turned upside down, businesses and their inventory lost to water damage, and some people for better or for worse, deciding not to evacuate areas targeted by the inbound hurricane.

I am not making light of the impact of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. I do hope that some humor helps people who are struggling to get their lives and property back in order. A take from Ron White should put a smile on your face. Warning: crude language in this video.

  • Pure Talent. Fred Astaire’s career was well-recognized for his acting and dancing. This is Fred Astaire, at age 52, turning a hat rack into his dance partner. Just Pure Talent.

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

Deceit. Honor. Contribute. Bowie. Math.

Glory to Shame. Respect Demanded. Donate Today. “It’s an Alien Life Form.” Pure Talent.

  • Quote of the Week: I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you. – Friedrich Nietzsche

In 1985, he surpassed Ty Cobb’s 57-year-old Major League Baseball record for the all-time leader in hits. He also was a seventeen-time MLB all-star and went on to manage the Cincinnati Reds after an amazing career. All the glory Pete Rose garnered from his baseball playing days was flushed away after a 1989 investigation found that Rose, as manager of the Reds, gambled on games he was managing. The unfortunate outcome was that Rose was banned from baseball, with that ban still upheld as of today.

Rose was a gamer, a player who was relentless in the pursuit of winning. Rose will go down as one of the greatest players of all-time, but his life after baseball, due to his gambling and tax evasion issues, was one of fret, grief, and despair. Pete Rose passed away last week at the age of eighty-three. Baseball people called him “Charlie Hustle” for good reasons. For one, I enjoyed watching him play baseball. RIP Pete Rose.

  • If you have read a few of my posts, you understand my take on racism. My stance is clear and concise: I have no tolerance for anyone or any entity who evokes, proliferates, or garners any realm of racism. It disgusts me that as we head to year 2025, racism continues to be a thread of America.

Dignity and respect. There are many ways to define Sidney Poitier, both as a man and as an actor. He defined what it meant to be a leading man as a tremendous actor, transcending race by breaking down barriers. In 1968, Poitier starred in two fantastic movies: “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” and “In the Heat of the Night.” His portrayal of a Black doctor engaged to a white woman forced Hollywood and society in general to deal with racial prejudices. Poitier was the first Black actor to win an Academy Award for Best Actor in the 1964 film “Lillies of the Field.”

Poitier demanded respect as a man and as an actor. He became a well-respected figure in Hollywood as a Black man in times of rampant racism. This interview gives us a quick look at his commanding presence, stature, and dignity. Well said, Sidney Poitier. Say No to Racism.

  • The despair and destruction from Hurricane Helene will continue for many months, with hundreds of people still missing from last weekend’s storm. Every amount of donation will help the people of areas devasted by the storm – so please contribute as you see fit. There are 140 people on the JustMyTake.net distribution list. A small donation of $75 x 140 = $10,500. I have done so. Please do so. Below is the donation link for the United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County. There are other agencies you can donate to including the American Red Cross, Project Hope, and the North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. Donate – North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (ncvoad.org)

Hurricane Helene Relief Fund Buncombe County (givebutter.com)

“Exhilarating and exciting…. the actual context and the state of content is going to be so different...” This was David Bowie’s take on the internet twenty-five years ago. Bowie obviously had an incredible sense of creativity and individuality. His legacy as a musician, songwriter, and actor stands on its own, but did we think he was a futurist? Twenty-five years ago, and Bowie was providing his take on the internet. He was not far off.

Pure Talent. The best part of this video is the look this two-year-old gives Howie Mandel at the 2:40 mark. Mandel speaks out, interrupting whatever this mathematician is doing to answer the equation. An amazing young kid with a mind of his own. This kid is Pure Talent.

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