Whether Or Weather?

My Take On What I Learned From The Hurricane Dorian Experience.

“I told the truth about the Miami life. It’s a nice place to visit, but you don’t want to live here. I lived through two major riots and three Category 5 hurricanes, I don’t know if a lot of people could say that”. Trick Daddy I don’t know who ‘Trick Daddy’ is and nor do I care. His statement is correct – not many people can say what he said about Miami but the kids of southwest Miami I grew up with all can support his comments. Regarding living in Miami, he is wrong. Miami is a great area to live – way different than most cities in North America.

This past week, most of Florida was alarmed at the size and strength of Hurricane Dorian as it approached and then subsequently stalled over the Bahamas. To monitor the storm’s path all of us painfully watched The Weather Channel and their 24/7 live reporting from the Bahamas and different beaches along Florida’s east coast. Even Jim Cantore, The Weather Channel’s infamous anchor and field reporter, put in numerous hours working with his camera crew on providing live dramatic shots. Speaking of drama, we all remember this weather reporter’s ‘fake’ weather broadcast barely being able to stand the high winds (while two guys easily walk behind him):

Regarding The Weather Channel, here are some of the weather terms I picked up over the last few days trying to determine when and for how long I needed to close my office early last week:

EYE: The center core of a hurricane. Or, one of two orifices located on either side of your nose.

GALE WARNING: A warning of 1-minute sustained winds in the range of 34-47 knots (39-54 mph). Or, the arrival of Bill Gale, a good friend of many – a day before he shows up in Atlanta!

HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM: Is sometimes called an anticyclone, is an area where the atmospheric pressure is greater than that of the surrounding area. Or, the opposite of a low pressure system – and there is nothing about low pressure that can be good for any scenario.

HIGH WIND WARNING: A high wind warning is defined as 1-minute average surface winds of 35 knots or greater (40 mph or greater) lasting for 1 hour or longer. Or, the ill effect an hour after leaving Tijuana Joe’s in Marietta, Georgia.

HURRICANE SEASON: The portion of the year having a relatively high incidence of hurricanes. Or, the cheapest time to take a Carnival Cruise with thousands of your favorite friends who think Las Vegas Boulevard is Rodeo Drive.

HURRICANE WATCH: Issued when hurricane conditions are possible or expected in a given area with the next 36 hours. Or, the total freak out time for most of Florida’s favorite folks fighting over bread and bottled water.

STORM SURGE: An abnormal rise in sea level accompanying a hurricane or other intense storm, and whose height is the difference between the observed level of the sea surface and the level that would have occurred in the absence of the cyclone. Storm surge is usually estimated by subtracting the normal or astronomic high tide from the observed storm tide. Yes, Weather Channel, we all use our calculators to do the subtraction from the astronomic high tide. Seriously?

SUBTROPICAL DEPRESSION: A subtropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface wind speed is 33 knots or less. Or, the feeling you get when The Weather Channel goes to commercial break every six minutes. Yes, every six minutes.

TROPICAL DEPRESSION: Obviously the exact opposite of a Subtropical Depression. My friend Samir can explain.

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The loss of life and damage from a hurricane is no laughing matter. The people of the Bahamas and out islands incurred devastating damage to their property – damage that may take a very long time and a lot of money to repair. Please consider contributing to the Bahamas Red Cross:

PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING TO THE BAHAMAS RED CROSS

https://bahamasredcross.org/volunteer/signup/

A View of Marsh Harbor – one of the Bahamas’ out-islands.

Thoughts and prayers to all that are affected by Hurricane Dorian. Adios, and pay it forward.

A Storm Called Dorian.

Psychosis With A Pending Storm.

I will never make light of possible storm damage or loss of life due to hurricanes. I was raised in Miami and I remember with Hurricane Donna, we slept in the hallway away from any windows or sliding glass doors. I remember securing trash cans and anything loose outside our home due to the magnitude of the winds. I also remember clogging up the drains in the neighborhood so that the rainwater would rise to a level allowing my friends and I to skim board down 92nd Avenue (until my dad figured out what we had done…which subsequently resulted in an ass-kicking).

What I don’t understand is the cause and effect with people’s mentality. Unlike a tornado, hurricane’s provide plenty of runway to prepare and get out of town… or prepare, stay put, and garner all types of provisions. So why, with many days to prepare, do people wait until until the last few days to grocery shop or purchase materials at their favorite home improvement store? Then, in a panic, they rush to the store only to find out that bottled water, pop tarts and plywood are no longer available. In contrast, this person must have arrived early on in preparation for Hurricane Dorian and obviously has taken advantage of the ORANGE Gatorade special:

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The panic gets so out of hand that one Publix in South Florida had to post a security guard in front of the “orders to go” area as people were taking cases of water already ordered and purchased by customers.

Another bizarre example are the people who wait to fuel up their cars. Does it not occur to people that lines at gas stations could be an issue? Hurricane Dorian is no laughing matter but the anxiety level caused by this pending storm has lead to very strange behavior by many people. Take for example one of Florida’s finest, who decided to dress up for the occasion:

I live on the top floor of a 17-story building. Yes, I am a bit concerned for all the right reasons but for the most part I am keeping my wits and have bought provisions. The rooftop hurricane party is set for Sunday night -even with Dorian changing to a northern course it may be the last night the power is intact for a while. Why not take advantage of the Labor Day Monday holiday?

On a serious note, Godspeed to any and all in the path of Dorian.

Be safe, pay it forward, and have a Funday Sunday!

It’s You. Not Me.

OK, It’s Me.

Is it me, or does Elon Musk have anything better to do than wonder about dropping nuclear bombs on Mars? More weed Elon!

Is it me, or is there basically no rhyme or reason to the fluctuations of the stock market?

Is it me, or are the dynamics of Brexit just too difficult to comprehend? Can someone explain in simple terms what happens with trade and immigration when England leaves the Union? https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/northern-ireland-police-say-officers-targeted-border-explosion-n1043851

Is it me, or would the U.S.A.’s purchase of Greenland be economically unfeasible?

Is it me, or do Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic need to ‘cork the whine’ and stop acting like they were forced to come to the U.S. to play in Major League Soccer…and get paid way too much money doing so?

Is it me, or did Iceland actually have a funeral for the first glacier ‘lost to global warming’?

Is it me, or is this summer hot as hell? I am in Orlando but when in Atlanta two weeks ago, both days were in the upper 90’s.

Is it me, or does Iran need to stand down before they take an ass-whipping by the U.S. and other allies?

Is it me, or is consistent and repetitive vaping incredibly unhealthy?

Is it me, or was the look and feel of Clint Eastwood’s The Mule and Gran Torino way too similar?

Is it me, or did the college football season start a week early? Let’s get ready for some football, college and the NFL…and the real football, as the European leagues have started and Major League Soccer heads into their final games of the regular season.

Is it me, or do we all wish we had the confidence, swagger, and presence of this young lady?

This young lady makes a statement – at 12-years old.

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

Just Funny.

The Classic Comedians. No Comparison To Today.

In light of this week’s negative vibes, namely the economy, the stock market, another nut job in Philadelphia, and China’s posturing, I wanted to try and give some light to a bit of darkness.

Their subject matter may no longer be relevant nor their unrelenting rants regarding race, creed and religion, but the comedians of many years past were incredibly funny. Sure, there are many modern-day stand ups who entertain us with comedy, but in my opinion they pale in comparison to the classics of the past.

Did you ever see or YouTube Don Rickles’ stand up diatribes on The Johnny Carson Show? Did you get to experience how Rickles not only picked on the audience but on Carson himself? Outrageously funny and a bit shocking for that day and age – some of his banter would in no way be tolerated in today’s world of sensitivity. Don Rickles, Rodney Dangerfield, Richard Pryor and Buddy Hackett. I would put these four up against any modern comedians as these guys from yesteryear had better content, delivery and timing than anyone else I have seen and heard. Richard Pryor? Unbelievably vulgar but everyone cried laughing at what he said and his unprecedented method of delivery.

I don’t make the time to visit comedy clubs like I once did. We could all use a daily dose of smiles and laughter – to rise above all the tumult of today’s crazy world. Many years ago I enjoyed seeing and hearing my father belly laugh at Don Rickles, whether it was stand up, as a guest on a late night show, or delivering comments about another entertainer who is being ‘roasted’. Here is a good example:

Comedy, laughter and smiles. After last week we should focus on making that happen all day, everyday.

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

The 2nd Amendment Should Not Be Top Of Mind.

Controlling The People, The Weapon, The Circumstance.

I am taking a holiday but wanted to provide previous posts that addressed tragic mass shootings, most recently taking place in El Paso and Dayton. As of last Sunday, which was the 216th day of the year, there have been 251 mass shootings in the U.S. In the past I have mentioned that we should focus on security at schools and other venues. Unfortunately, last week’s shootings, as well as many others, could not have been prevented with heightened security measures. These incidents were carried out randomly by unbalanced people, in possession of deadly weapons, with motivation to kill other human beings. The toll of 251 mass shootings include five high-profile rampages in the past 20 days, in which more than 100 people were shot: 

  • A shooting in a historic district of Dayton, Ohio, with 9 people killed and 27 injured.
  • A shooting at Walmart in El Paso, Texas, with 20 people killed and 26 wounded. It was the deadliest shooting of the year.
  • A shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in the San Francisco Bay Area, with three people killed and 15 injured.
  • A shooting at a Brooklyn block party, with one person killed and 11 injured.
  • A shooting at a Walmart in Southaven, Mississippi, with two people killed and two injured.

Here is what I previously posted on the subject of gun control and school security:

On December 15, 1791, the Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments to the Constitution) were ratified by three-fourths of the States.  The second amendment is unfortunately top of mind these days with another school shooting, this time at a high school near Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

The Second Amendment reads: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed”.  Little did Thomas Jefferson know that when he authenticated and ratified the Bill of Rights, the second amendment would indirectly lead to many school tragedies including Sandy Hook, Columbine, Parkland, and many other shooting incidents at schools around the U.S.A.  Nor did he know how people of lesser minds would use the weapons allowed by the Second Amendment.

After the tragedy at the Parkland, Florida high school, I stated that school security, not gun control, should be our #1 initiative: “I will not comment on why a 19-year old possessed a AR-15 rifle, groups of gun activists or gun control, nor our divided political system.  What I will comment on is school security.  Don’t get me wrong, I put no blame on the high school administrators where last week’s massacre took place.  My bewilderment relates to the ability of someone, anyone, able to enter a school with little security in place.  I only wish that the Washington, D.C.  protest would have been more focused on school safety than gun control.”  My  point is unfortunately reinforced with yesterday’s massacre at the Santa Fe High School near Houston, Texas.  The weapons, a shotgun and a .38 caliber handgun, were most likely purchased legally.  Gun control would have not changed the outcome of a 17 year-old who took the weapons from his house and walked into the high school he attended with the intention of killing his fellow students.  The guns he used were owned by his father so it is unlikely that gun control would have prevented this sick young man’s father from purchasing the weapons.  I will never understand why there is little to no security within our school systems.  I don’t know if the answer is employing retired police officers or our retired veterans, but Parkland, Santa Fe, Columbine, and other school tragedies all had one common denominator:  the perpetrator simply walked into a school and carried out the massacres.  I no longer have a school-age child but if I did I would help lead the charge to better protect all of our children when they are in school.

Let there be no misunderstanding.  I am proud of all the people worldwide, especially the children, who gathered yesterday to make their voices heard regarding gun control.  I just wonder if their efforts are misguided?  As I stated in my February 18th post:  “I will not comment on why a 19-year old possessed a AR-15 rifle, groups of gun activists or gun control, nor our divided political system.  What I will comment on is school security.  Don’t get me wrong, I put no blame on the high school administrators where last week’s massacre took place.”  My bewilderment relates to the ability of someone, anyone, able to enter a school with little security in place.  I only wish that the protest would have been more focused on school safety than gun control.  With respect to the 2nd Amendment it is time for more controls to be put in place when purchasing a gun, but what would have been the difference if the sick 19 year-old had walked into Stoneman Douglas High School with a shotgun instead of an AR-15?  The importance of security and locking down our schools is still way more important than gun control.

Originally designed to allow the disabled to fire weapons with little effort, the “bump-fire stock” became a weapon of mass destruction last Sunday night.  We can talk about the Constitution and gun control from now until eternity but the reality of Sunday night dictates that some higher level of regulation is needed, and needed now.  While I am in full support of our right to bear arms, the ability to acquire weapons or accessories to turn firearms into automatic weapons needs to be controlled by federal and state authorities.  I realize that sick human beings cannot be stopped from doing deadly damage but why give them relatively easy ways to fire automatic weapons?  I don’t have the answers but some type of regulation can only help to stop these sad events from happening.  It just so happened that after taking a look at other concert venues Stephen Paddock selected the annual country music festival that sets up behind the MGM Grand hotel.  His motive was to kill as many people as possible, using various high-powered rifles with the “bump-fire stock” accessory allowing him to spray the crowd with continuous and automatic rapid fire.  Though he selected Las Vegas, this tragedy could have happened anywhere.

The discussion, debate and argument surrounding the 2nd Amendment may not solve the problem of mass shootings. Does anyone have a suggestion or solution to this systemic problem?

Adios, pay it forward, protect your loved ones, and have a Sunday Funday.

Change Management.

What Would Tata Do?

At the suggestion (or demand) from a few readers, I have stayed away from the subject of soccer for many weeks. I will go back into the subject once again to give you my take on Frank de Boer, Atlanta United’s coach, who took over for the beloved Tata Martino. Just some facts: Atlanta United is coming off last year’s championship season. Martino left the Club to become Mexico’s national team manager. Miguel Almiron, United’s most important and impactful player, left the Club as he was purchased by Newcastle United of the English Premier League. Another key player at times, especially late in the season, was Greg Garza. His ability to affect the game from his attacking left fullback position caused opposing teams to lose their shape as Garza was a force coming down that left flank. Post season the club traded Garza to Cincinnati, a new expansion team. With the loss of their manager and two impact players, United hired Frank de Boer, a Dutchman with experience as both a player and manager.

Whether it be business or sport, new leadership most likely dictates a change in management style, expectations and culture. Frank comes from Europe, Tata from South America. Differences with their leadership style were always going to be questioned by the players, media, and the fan base, as well as the player selection and formation employed by Frank. No new leader likes-for-likes the exact dynamics of their predecessor – they bring their own style, strategies, and in most cases a new (coaching) staff.

Players have spoken out about the culture and playing style differences, and some of the fan base are irate with player selections and the defensive style of play. I guess there are a lot of short memories out there. As mentioned, Miguel Almiron left the club. Greg Garza was moved on. Due to qualifying for the CONCACAF Champions League and the U.S. Open Cup, the compressed schedule of games is borderline ridiculous. And most importantly, Frank has had to deal with numerous player injuries, which has caused a myriad of problems considering the schedule of games. Franco Escobar, Kevin Kratz, Mikey Ambrose, Ezequiel Barco, Pity Martinez, George Bello, Florentin Pogba, Tito Villalba, and Brek Shea have all missed significant playing time. Nine players have not been available for many games, no Miguel Almiron or Greg Garza, and a very compressed schedule. Never mind a few of our players who missed games due to national team playing assignments.

Then there is the Pity Martinez dilemma. Pity came to United in the off season heralded as the South American Player of the Year. Unfortunately, his short tenure with United has not been what was expected by the fans, the media, and more importantly the coaching staff. Yes, coming to a new club in a new league and in a new country is not easy. With that said, Frank has given this young man the runway to get acclimated to his new teammates and surroundings. It is now up to Pity to show his abilities – for 90 minutes and not short spurts like he has done to date. Work rate and attitude come to mind as being problematic and we can only hope that Pity snaps out of whatever is preventing him from playing well, game in and game out. Frank can only be tolerant to a point.

There are groups out there that are calling for Frank’s head. They want the Club to replace a manager that has dealt with all the talking points described above. Reality is that the team sits near the top of the Eastern Conference with a game in hand. Seven teams in the Conference will make the playoffs. United’s player pool is getting healthy once again with Barco, Villalba and Pogba now available. Some of the fans called for a walkout of this afternoon’s game with LA Galaxy. A walkout on a team that is three points out of first place in their conference…with a game in hand?

My question to all of you: under the exact same circumstances……WHAT WOULD TATA HAVE DONE? My take is exactly what Frank has done. #ATLUTD

Adios, pay it forward, and have a great weekend.

A Perspective On Simple.

They Are Not Dealing with Highway 400 or I-4. Nope.

Do you sometimes wonder how people living in remote areas or the world’s indigenous tribes living deep in the jungles and forests of the world ‘survive’.

My reference points are twofold: 1) as children, my father often took me and my brother to shoot guns in the Florida Everglades. I remember wondering why and how people like the Miccosukee tribe survived living in the vast swamps, bush and wildlife of the Everglades. 2) on one of two mission trips, I worked with the people of Honduras’ Agalta Valley, nine hours by bus from the capitol city of Tegucigalpa, and often referred to as the Valley of Death. What I have come to realize from these experiences is that the Miccosukee tribe and the people of the Agalta Valley, in most cases, are very content with their way of life and well being. No air conditioning, no constant source of running water, limited medical services, and a ‘bed’ made of wood and straw. So by natural instinct, heritage, and survival, they have morphed into a very simple way of life.

They don’t know what they don’t know, though the digital age has most likely brought some type of technology/communication to their villages or reservation. Yes, the Miccosukee tribe have now built a casino way out west of Miami but I am referring to their way of life many, many years ago.

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This is Buffalo Tiger of the Miccosukee Tribe. I went to school with his son, Tommy.

Though most of the people of Agalta Valley accepted Americans helping them with healthcare, commerce, and education, I felt very strongly that our help was a ‘take it or leave it’ proposition. Their children were reared to work on farms at a very early age so going to school was not really top of mind for their head of household. Education was something they had heard about but it was obvious that they could not tie any value proposition to their children leaving their working chores to go to school.

The reality is these people live a very simple life. Yes, too simple for us as we were raised in a different spectrum. The socio-economics are quite diverse from what we consider simple and how the people of the Agalta Valley define simple. I would venture to say that along with simple, most of the people I encountered and spent time with were very happy.

“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated”. Confucius

There are many indigenous tribes living in very remote areas of the world. Take a look at this short clip when two members of the Awa tribe deep in the Amazon forest realize that they have a visitor. Thankfully, they are scared and decide to run or it might have been a very bad day for this videographer.

Complication in our lives stems from many things including relationships, family, finances, and expectations. It is difficult to benchmark our lives against an indigenous tribe, but the reality is that there are many benefits to keeping things simple.

Getting simple is not as easy as it sounds. Getting into a complicated situation is way easier than it sounds. Sleeping on a straw mat, not having running water, and living in a remote area does not sound easy. But if you compare that to to a 6-mile drive on I-4 or a 90-minute commute navigating Highway 400…..well, you get my point.

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

Stop Judging.

It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.Henry David Thoreau


“To change ourselves effectively, we first had to change our perceptions.” 
― Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change

“I know that mirrors give us a false sense of confidence. The reflection that we see everyday has nothing to do with how others see us. The glass lies.” 
― Rasmenia Massoud, Human Detritus


I will raise my hand and admit that I have passed judgement. I am not sure if I am alone with passing judgement and I don’t care. The reality is that for whatever reason, passing judgement on others may have made me feel better, given me a laugh, or bolstered my self-esteem. Sure, I have told others to ‘stop passing judgement’ on others, but my ask was a bit hypocritical as my behavior was sometimes the same. I am not coming clean with my faults but after watching the video below, I realized that at one time I may have been looking at the dressed up Cristiano Ronaldo with a bit of scrutiny. The second video is simply a fun perspective of perception!

One of my favorite people may think I have hit my head. I have not. What I have done is reconciled many things over the last seven months and tried to be that ‘better person’….not for anyone else but for me. Life in general is fast-paced, dynamic, and can sometimes be complicated or get sideways. After my brother succumbed to cancer a year ago, I realized that life is very short, so one day at a time it was just time for me to ‘step up’, ‘rise up’, or ‘unite and conquer’, or whatever appropriate motivational tag line fits.

I am not preaching. What I am doing is asking that before you make comments, stir up the rumor mill, or pass judgement, take a step back. Take a step back far enough to re-adjust your perceptions, your feelings, and your comments. Look at the video below and compare the reaction of people before and after the costume is removed. It does make you think. #CR7

Perception Is Not Always Greater Than Reality

“Always focus on the front windshield and not the review mirror.” 
― Colin Powell

Fun At 30,000 Feet

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

Just Cause.

When Was The Last Time You………..?

  • For no specific occasion, gave flowers to a loved one or friend? Just cause.
  • Gave a gift to someone to show affection or as a thank you? Just cause.
  • Spent time with the elderly to give them something to do different than their normal day? Just cause.
  • Not given up on someone or something? Just cause.
  • Wrote a letter or an email to someone to tell them how much you really care? Just cause.
  • Paid the toll for the car behind you? Just cause.
  • Recognized someone not for superior performance, but for good, dedicated performance? Just cause.
  • Volunteered your time? Just cause.
  • Paid the restaurant bill for police officers, firemen (women), or emergency service personnel? Just cause.
  • Opened the car door for your wife, significant other, or a friend? Just cause?
  • “Swallowed your pride” for the good of others? Just cause.
  • Helped someone out of a tough situation? Just cause.
  • Made a donation? Just cause.

Pay It Forward is a 2000 Warner Brothers film that started this movement. The story line is solid, the acting great, and the movie is a nice change from the usual drama or action film.

Adios, PAY IT FORWARD, and have a Funday Sunday!

Summer Fun.

Headlines News.

This is post number 136. I have received a number of questions, inquiries and suggestions regarding ‘Just My Take’. Some of the questions relate to my writing style and the content, as well as the look of the blog site. Some of the comments suggest that I need to embellish the posts with links, photos, and video. To the best of my ability I have done so. Let’s all just remember that my weekly posts are a challenge to me, and that my content leans away from religion and politics. Posting on a weekly basis sometimes comes easy and sometimes is difficult but I will do my best to keep the Sunday morning post going.

I am taking a break on this Holiday weekend but I will leave you with ten newspaper headlines to think about. You just can’t make this stuff up:

Better late than never!!
Cheezburger Image 9218589184
Hahahahaha.
Seems self-serving to me.
The Most Obvious Headlines Ever --   Guns In A Gun Store?   Maybe they mistook "gun" for "gum" and thought they sold candy.
DUMBEST HEADLINES EVER (34+ Pictures) - LADnow
15 Hilarious Newspaper Mistakes and Apology Notes (funny newspaper mistakes) - ODDEE
25 Stupid Newspaper Headlines

And last, but not least:

love these kinds of headlines!

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