Category: Uncategorized

Sha’Carri Richardson. Bring Us Back in February? Changing the Weather. Stop Laughing at Me. Barracuda Never Done Better.

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• Quote of the Week: “One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.” – Arthur Ashe

Confidence can be defined in many different ways. The Cambridge dictionary defines the word confidence as the quality of being certain of your abilities or of having trust in people, plans, or the future. After taking in some of the Olympics over the last two weeks, I define confidence in two words: Sha’Carri Richardson. At twenty-four years old, and standing all of 5′-2″, this American track star is known for her speed and vibrant personality. She exudes a massive amount of confidence, best exemplified by the glare she gives her opponent as she streaked down the track to help the U.S. women earn gold in the 4 x 100 relay. Sha’Carri Richardson = confidence. Watch the video below at the .15 second mark.

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• Last week’s post had a list of questions, with one of them referring to the two astronauts who are temporarily stuck at the International Space Station (ISS). Last Sunday’s question:

Boeing keeps saying that the two Starliner astronauts are not stranded at the International Space Station (ISS). Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have now been at the ISS for eight weeks after a planned eight-day mission. If they are not stranded, then why not bring them home? Boeing: swallow your diminishing pride and enlist SpaceX to get them back to earth.

Early last week, NASA stated that the two astronauts were “kind of stuck, although certainly not stranded.” Sorry NASA, as much as I admire and follow the space program, this issue with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is problematic to say the least. This is Boeing’s first-time launching astronauts, after flying a pair of empty Starliners that suffered from software issues and other problems. Besides helium leaks, Boeing and NASA now believe there are problems with various propulsion thrusters. Engineers are now determining whether they take a chance and send them home soon in the Boeing Starliner, or wait and bring them back in February 2025 aboard Elon Musk’s SpaceX Dragon rocket? I mistakenly thought that the SpaceX Dragon could bring them back to Earth soon. I am wrong.

You all tell me, does something seem wrong with these scenarios?

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• If you have read justmytake.net over the years, you should be aware of my respect and admiration for Godzilla. As you roll your eyes, just a reminder not to start up the comparisons between Godzilla and King Kong. Please do not as there is NO comparison of the two. Without going into all the data points of comparison, this 2011 weather forecast, at the .46 second mark, again substantiates the attributes of Godzilla. Saving the world one big step at a time.

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• A while back I listened to live music at a local tavern featuring a guy and his guitar. Relatively talented, this musician’s playlist covered everything from pop to old school rock. One of his songs, in the day, would have been called a ‘rock ballad.’ When I mentioned this factoid to a friend, she started to laugh out loud and questioned me about the term ‘rock ballad.’ I succumbed to her wrath of laughter and went on with listening to some decent live music. Just for the record, I deem any song within the rock genre that tells a story containing emotion a ‘rock ballad.’ Last week, I was reminded of another genre of rock called ‘power ballads’ which often contain sound driven by drums, bass, keyboards, and big guitar. The vocal component of a ‘power ballad’ has a high value of verse, usually with powerful expressions of feelings and emotions.

I am sure I will be laughed at again but wanted to provide an example of a ‘power ballad.’ Formed in 1975, this Switzerland-based band was known for its big sound that bordered on the genre of heavy metal. To my friend who makes fun of me as a hobby, I give you the band Krokus and their ‘power ballad’ Screaming in the Night.

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• Speaking of music, here is this week’s Pure Talent. Combining Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters, Nancy Wilson, and Pink equals great music. A couple of years ago, in a tribute to former Foo Fighter’s drummer Taylor Hawkins, this group of great musicians combined to perform Heart’s song, Barracuda. This is another great example of Pure Talent.

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

Messi, Anatoly & Metallica. Answers Please. Prince At His Best.

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• Quote of the Week: Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence. – Henry David Thoreau

What does it feel like to be revered? The word ‘revered’ comes from the Latin word ‘revereri‘ which literally means to greatly fear. While that is the pure definition, being revered usually relates to someone or something being held in high regard. Dignitaries, sports icons, and to my despair, politicians have been revered by the millions. It is interesting that some people who are held in high regard are not necessarily those we feel most comfortable around. Sometimes we are too busy holding them in awe.

Martin Luther King, Winston Churchill, Mahatma Ghandi, Norman Schwarzkopf, Albert Einstein, Katie Ledecky, and Simone Biles come to mind when I think about the word revered. Here are three random examples.

• There are no words to describe how the people of Argentina and millions of others around the world feel about Lionel Messi, and his accomplishments on the field. It is noteworthy to mention how Messi’s off-the-field family life stays out of the tabloids. The world’s most famous athlete and a great family person.

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• Vladimir Shmondenko, known as “Anatoly”, has turned ‘gym pranking’ into a mega-business. You can usually see him on Instagram reels, portraying a janitor cleaning a gym’s floor before he throws down his mop and dead lifts five hundred pounds in front of astonished weightlifters. Shmondenko, born and raised in Ukraine, was once revered as pound-for-pound the strongest man in the world. He weighs 155 pounds and, in this video, completely startles the bodybuilders on Muscle Beach. Honored and revered by men twice his size. Shmondenko’s YouTube site has six million subscribers.

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• The total collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 was a surprise. Their economy was on the brink of collapse and their military in disarray due to their own Soviet policies, the Cold War dynamics, and the United States policy of containment to curb communism. It is also interesting that the Soviets yearned for music, and in this case the band Metallica, who agreed to play the Monsters of Rock concert in Moscow just days before the Soviet Union’s collapse. You only need to watch the crowd of 1.6 million for a few minutes to realize the level of appreciation, honor, and reverence at this Moscow venue. Side note: I am not sure why the Soviet helicopters were ‘divebombing’ the crowd.

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Random Questions for The First Sunday of August:

• The United States has deployed warships and fighter jets to the Middle East. The deployments include ballistic missile defense-capable cruisers and destroyers. Is Iran’s threat with Israel coming to fruition?
• Regarding Iran, how vulnerable is their Revolutionary Guard? It seems Mossad enlisted agents from with the Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to plant explosives in the Tehran guesthouse where Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was staying. Last Wednesday, a massive explosion at that guesthouse ended Haniyeh’s life.
• Boeing keeps saying that the two Starliner astronauts are not stranded at the International Space Station (ISS). Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have now been at the ISS for eight weeks after a planned eight-day mission. If they are not stranded, then why not bring them home? Boeing: swallow your diminishing pride and enlist SpaceX to get them back to earth.
• I barked very loud regarding the situation in Haiti, and I will do the same with the situation in Venezuela. When will the United States, already stretched thin with the issues in the Middle East, step in to oust Nicolas Maduro?
• Due to my schedule, I have had to pick and choose what Olympic events I can catch. What do you think about the television coverage?
• Does anyone have any insight on why Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway slashed its stake in Apple by 50%?
• What should the Olympic committee and other sports entities do about the gender eligibility issue?
• Is the Affleck and JLo ordeal just unfortunate and sad?

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• Pure Talent. This performance was only three years ago but, in that time, we lost tremendous talents, including Tom Petty and Prince. This rendition of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps‘ was performed in 2021 as an honor to George Harrison. It is 2024, and for the 100th time I am again watching Prince’s amazing guitar performance. By the way, Prince was snubbed by Rolling Stone Magazine’s top 100 guitarists. They got that very wrong. Pure Talent.

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

Sundown Town. Expressionist. Five Thoughts for the End of July. Who’s That Lady.

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• Quote of the Week: It is often easier to become outraged by injustice half a world away than by oppression and discrimination half a block from home. – Carl T. Rowan

Before moving to Orlando, Florida seven years ago, I spent much of my life in the Atlanta area. For various reasons I sometimes traveled to the Huntsville, Alabama area. Huntsville is a growing city with an economy that continues to prosper, anchored by NASA and its Marshall Space Flight Center. Depending on the route you take to Huntsville, you may find yourself crossing through Guntersville, Alabama and Lake Guntersville. A beautiful town and gorgeous lake, and a relatively quiet area with beautiful lakefront homes. I highly recommend visiting northeast Alabama with Cheaha Mountain, which sits 2,500 feet above sea level, and Little River Canyon, where you can hike and rappel off the canyon’s edge. Guntersville is less than a three-hour drive from Atlanta and Nashville.

Depending on the route you take to northeast Alabama, may find yourself driving through, in the blink of an eye, Arab, Alabama. This small town was established in the mid-1800’s with the current name of Arab a misspelling by the U.S. Postal Service. The city’s intended name, taken from the son of the town’s founder, was Arad Thompson. Unfortunately, Arab was known as a ‘sundown town’ warning African Americans not to stay in Arab after dark. Disgusting, yes, and Arab was only one of many towns in the U.S. known as ‘sundown towns.’ A sundown town (also known as a gray town) is an area in the U.S. where Black people are forced out of the public once the sun goes down. According to AP News, “these towns are inhabited by a majority of white people who insist that Black and white residents get along really well.”

Another sad chapter of discrimination in the U.S. Thankfully, we have comedian Henry Cho to put it all in perspective. Well done, Henry.

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• How do you define ‘expression?’ All of us have expressions, usually as a response to an action. Some of our expressions are sublime, and some of them outlandish as demonstrated by Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson). With the 2024 Paris Olympics opening last week, I remembered that Mr. Bean provided us, along with the London Symphony Orchestra, a performance to remember to open up the 2012 Olympics. I am not sure how he thinks through his expressions, or if they are all impromptu without rehearsal. This performance of expression is one to remember.

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Things I Think for the Last Sunday of July

• The ethos of the Olympic Games consists of three values: 1) Striving for excellence and encouraging people to be the best they can be; 2) Demonstrating respect in many different manners: respect towards yourself, the rules, your opponents, the environment, the public, etc.; 3) Celebrating friendship, which is quite unique to the Olympic Games – an event that brings people together every few years. While the creativity of Friday’s opening ceremonies should be celebrated, I am unsure of the some of the content including what looked like a recreated painting of The Last Supper. Again, I enjoyed the creativity of using the Seine River instead of the Olympic Stadium, but to me the opening ceremonies were a bit over-the-top as a ‘made-for-TV’ spectacle.
• A week later, Delta Air Lines is still struggling with IT infrastructure and recovery from a third-party service provider’s software glitch. Bad optics, especially if you are a shareholder.
• Do we finally get a federal rate cut in September?
• It interesting that of all countries, Greece is spending $3.5 billion to buy 20 F-35 Joint Strike fighter jets from Lockheed Martin. Their reason: continued tension in the region between Greece and neighbor Turkey. There is nothing good about this.
• The repressive government and dire economic situation in Venezuela have officials predicting that up to a third of their population could flee the country. Venezuela once boasted Latin America’s richest economy due the having the biggest oil reserves on earth. Due to former President Hugo Chavez and current President Nicolas Maduro, the country’s corruption and high levels of debt have led to an economic collapse. So unfortunate and sad.

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• Pure Talent. Rudolph, Ronald and O’Kelly Isley gave us music that unfortunately will not be replicated. “That Lady” is a song by the Isley Brothers, made famous in 1973 when it was reworked into a funk-rock style. The video below is the long version of the song, with the brother’s harmonic style and starting with the 2:30 mark, a guitar performance bar none. Here is to the Isley Brothers and their massive hit, “That Lady.” Pure Talent.

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

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Unbiased Companionship. ‘The Blue Screen.’ Paris is Ready. A Dream Come True. Niko Moon.

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• Quote of the Week: “Properly trained, a man can be dog’s best friend.” – Corey Ford

I could not agree more with Corey Ford’s quote.

Animals, specifically dogs, have been part of my life for a long time. I have had some great dogs, all with a mind of their own but for the most part, loving and loyal. My favorite was Montana, a white-furred half German Shepard, half Labrador Retriever. He was a rescue dog and early on I had to make a tough decision, due to a growth plate issue, to take his right front leg. Of course it was a rough time for about a month, but he quickly adapted, able to ‘run like the wind’ until he took too sharp of a turn. 🙂 Montana had a great life, was a great companion, and lived until he was thirteen. I have not had a dog for many years and miss the relative craziness of owning and training a dog.

There is data that details the benefits of dog ownership. In no particular order, here are a few that come to my mind:

Dogs are great, unbiased, and fearless unless there are fireworks! They are also very smart.

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• We sometimes question the amount of money spent by private and public entities with cybersecurity. Friday’s missteps by cybersecurity technology company CrowdStrike again exposed the fragility of connected technology, not only in the United States, but worldwide. CrowdStrike stated that Friday’s issue was due to a faulty software update and had nothing to do with a security breach or cyberattack.

Friday’s incident with CrowdStrike’s software update crashed Microsoft’s Windows, resulting in millions dealing with the ‘blue screen of death.’ Thousands of flights were canceled or delayed, including those with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. The outage disrupted emergency services and court systems in some areas, while some healthcare providers postponed nonessential surgeries. Thousands of other businesses had to cope with the outage, including government services and hotel systems.

Friday’s ‘blue screen’ issues again is a reminder that cybersecurity must be a high priority for every private and public entity. If Friday was a taste of vulnerability, what happens when a software malfunction or worm disrupts our internet or financial systems?

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The Summer Olympic Games start this week. I am looking forward to the competition and will focus on swimming, track and field, gymnastics, and how the U.S. fares in the men’s and women’s soccer competitions.

The first modern Olympic Games took place in Athens in 1896. With the 2024 Summer Games ready to open this week, I thought I would review a few facts from the past:

• The original Olympia-based Olympics were part of the Sacred Games, which took part in four different places: Nemea, Delphi, and the Isthmus of Corinth and Olympia. It is interesting that the athletes competed for money.
• The first torch-to-torch Olympic flame lighting was in 1936, when German organizers of the infamous Berlin Games arranged for the flame to be lit in Olympia and transported to the German capital. The 1936 Olympic Games featured American track and field athletes, including Jesse Owens.
• The marathon competition is based on the legend of Pheidippides, an ancient Greek courier, who ran twenty- miles from a battlefield in Marathon to Athens to announce Greece’s military victory over the Persians—then he unfortunately died on the spot.
• Ancient Olympians competed nude. Some speculate the athletes’ true motivation for competing nude might have been to simply show off their bodies, which they liberally coated in oil, to their peers, gods, and fans.

The competition starts Wednesday with men’s and women’s soccer with the opening ceremonies on Friday. Great fun and competition.

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• College and professional sports are sometimes scrutinized, especially these days with the salaries professional athlete’s garner, as well as the name, image, and likeness payouts to college and high school athletes. Sometimes that scrutiny may be warranted, but often, behind the scenes, college and professional sports entities are doing good deeds for their communities. A shout out to Minnesota United, and their opponent, D.C. United, for allowing this young child to fulfill his ‘Make-A-Wish’ dream. The fans, the announcers, and the opposing goalkeeper made this dream come true for Carter Lucero. Well done.

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• Pure Talent. This artist, who once worked alongside Zac Brown, has skyrocketed up the charts with his pop-country crossover performances. Signed by Sony Music, Niko Moon has also written songs for Dierks Bentley, Rascal Flats, and Morgan Wallen. Nico Moon is Pure Talent.

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

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Making the World Better. Jaws is Back. Mid-July Takes. Give Me Some Bad Company.

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• Quote of the Week: “We are still in the position of waking up and having a choice. Do I make the world better today somehow, or do I not bother?” – Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks’ quote including the phrase “…or do I not bother” is troubling. Is Hanks referring to the general population or is he specifically thinking about individuals born between 1997 and 2012, also known as Gen Z. To be clear, Gen Z characteristics include big-time gamers, anxiety orders, everyday users of social media, and the ability to absorb many realms of technology. If Hanks was referring to Gen Zers, he is wrong as I believe that the Gen Z generation does want to make the world better.

Gen Z grew up with technology, some of which I still have little grasp of. They are social, in a media kind of way, but nonetheless they stay in touch, informed, and are not shy to share their opinions. Are they different than millennials and baby boomers? Are they different than Gen X and Gen Y? Yes, certainly they are as we are different than our parents, who were way different from their parents. From the Pew Research Center: “Gen Zers are known for their social responsibility, dedication to social and political issues, and they demand authenticity when it comes to brands and advertising. They are resourceful, independent learners who value an inclusive culture and place a priority on well-being and mental health in the workplace.”

The video content below references Gen Z and generational differences. A funny and interesting take.

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• Thirty-three years ago this week, Discovery Channel launched Shark Week with their primary goal to increase summer viewership. Three decades later, Shark Week is a cultural phenomenon with an amazing amount of promotion and sponsorship. The week of the show is now treated like a point in time, no different than President’s Day in February. The spin regarding the show and sharks does bring science into play, but the stickiness of the show and its millions of viewers are that sharks represent an example of a common fear. Watching divers deal with sharks is exciting and dangerous, though the odds say that you are more likely to die in a car accident or by increasingly unstable weather (thoughts and prayers to all who have been affected by Hurricane Beryl).

Shark Week, for all the right reasons, is TV’s longest-running programming event. The show has great writing, production value, and that never-ending combination of education, danger, and fear. Iliza Shlesinger sums up all we need to know about Shark Week:

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Things I Think for Mid-July

• Snowflake is AT&T’s data-warehousing service provider. After Friday’s disclosure that a hacker downloaded call and text message data from AT&T’s ninety million wireless subscribers, Snowflake tells us they have not found evidence that the data breach was caused by any vulnerability with Snowflake’s platform. Sorry Snowflake, I am calling bulls–t on that press release. Yes, I am an AT&T customer.
• Later today and tonight hopefully delivers two great final matches of the European Championships (a.k.a. Euro), and Copa America. Last Wednesday’s semifinals were great, especially the crazy match between Colombia and Uruguay.
• Regarding the sports world, we are about six weeks away from the start of college football, the NFL, and the Europe’s soccer leagues. Are you ready for some football?
• Some good: Financial services firm CME reports that traders are now betting on a 94.4% chance of a Fed rate cut by September, up from 77.7% a week ago. Positive thinking, but have we not been betting on a rate cut since November of last year?
• Some more good: Artificial intelligence is outperforming clinical tests predicting progress of Alzheimer’s disease. Let us hope that this is a game-changer with this debilitating disease.
• Some not so good: Residents of the state of Florida have been enduring ridiculous and alarming rate hikes from their insurance carriers. Just when you think Florida is being singled out by insurance carriers, Allstate announced that they are seeking a 34% increase for California homeowners.

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• Pure Talent. Bad Company is a British hard rock band that was formed in 1973. The band consists of members Paul Rodgers, Simon Kirke, Mick Ralphs, and Boz Burrell. They are known for their bluesy rock and roll style with a touch of heavy metal. Bad Company quickly rose to fame in the 1970s due to their unique sound and captivating stage presence. The band has solidified its place as one of the most iconic rock bands of all time, with a legacy that influences music to this day. Bad Company and Paul Rodgers with a live version of the song Bad Company: Pure Talent.

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

Does The Asteroid Redirect Program Work? Halfway to 2025. Fly The Flag. Precision At Its Finest.

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• Quote of the Week: “If the Earth gets hit by an asteroid, it’s game over. It’s control-alt-delete for civilization.” – Bill Nye

The earth has had asteroid ‘near’ misses – which thankfully in scientific terms means skirting earth by 2,000 – 6,000 miles. Fortunately, about once a year, an asteroid about the size of an automobile does hit earth’s atmosphere but burns up before reaching the earth’s surface. Scientists guesstimate that every 2,000 years or so, a meteoroid the size of a football field hits earth resulting in significant damage. Those same scientists insist that every few million years, an object large enough to threaten our civilization comes along.

On June 30th of 1908, exactly 116 years ago today, an asteroid plunged through the earth’s atmosphere and exploded over Siberia. The shock wave and heat blast from the aerial explosion devastated that remote area of Siberia, created massive forest fires, and knocked down trees for hundreds of miles. In recognition of that event, the United Nations proclaimed Asteroid Day be observed globally on June 30. The event aims to raise awareness about asteroids and what can be done to protect the Earth, its families, communities, and future generations from a catastrophic event.

NASA has now established the Planetary Defense Coordination Office and evaluated the technology to redirect a small asteroid should one pose a danger to Earth in the future. Let us hope that NASA’s plan is one that works well. Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson gives his take on dealing with asteroids. We are hoping his “gravitational toe-line” works.

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• Every year, the Economist Intelligence Agency (EIU) evaluates cities for their livability using thirty indicators including stability, healthcare, culture, education, and infrastructure. The goal of the ranking is to show us “how comfortable these cities are to live in.” Like many of you, I have traveled most of my business career, and to avoid evoking outrage with some of you, I will not comment on how wrong this ranking must be. 🙂 Note: the overall ranking number compares these U.S. cities on a worldwide scale. Worldwide, Vienna, Austria ranked #1, Copenhagen, Denmark #2, and Zurich, Switzerland, #3. I have been to Copenhagen and have no argument with that ranking.

1. Honolulu, Hawaii (overall ranking: 23)
2. Atlanta, Georgia (overall ranking: 29)
3. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (overall ranking: 30)
4. Seattle, Washington (overall ranking: 34)
5. Washington D.C. (overall ranking: 38)
6. Chicago, Illinois (overall ranking: 39)
7. Boston, Massachusetts (overall ranking: 45)
8. Miami, Florida (overall ranking: 47)
9. San Francisco, California (overall ranking: 49)
10. Minneapolis, Minnesota (overall ranking: 50)

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Five Things I Think Halfway to 2025:

• A month ago, I mentioned using your time wisely and to try and balance all the political news with other interests (volunteering, taking in a good book, etc.) I also mentioned that using your time wisely would be “a great way to keep your mind off of the ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ and ‘The Donald’ presidential candidates.” I grudgingly watched the first five minutes of last Thursday’s debate, and again, here is my never-ending question: How, in 2024, did the two parties end up with these two candidates?
• A very happy Independence Day to you and yours. I hope that no one takes our independence with a grain of salt, especially in light of some of the chaos, terrorism, and war happening at home and abroad. I was surprised that Independence Day was only declared a federal holiday in 1941, considering the United States is celebrating our 248th birthday. On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence and two days later, on July 4, delegates from the thirteen colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, drafted by the one and only Thomas Jefferson. If you have a flag, please fly it.  If you do not have one, The Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Ace Hardware have flag kits for under $15.00. Buy a flag and fly it proudly. To our Canadian friends: you celebrate Canada Day tomorrow, July 1st….and my experience with Canadians tells me most of you have been celebrating a few days early!
• Some people are continuing to complain about interest rates, especially the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. The rate has now declined for the fourth straight week and is languishing at 6.85%. I am not going old school with this comment, but my first mortgage was at 14.8%. Will someone please provide us with their thoughts on post-election mortgage rates?
• As if the U.S. healthcare system is not in enough disarray, Amazon has created a platform for health services including primary care, pharmacy services, and telehealth. Hopefully, Amazon’s foray into healthcare will increase healthcare access after hospitals and clinics have decreased these services due to decreasing margins.
• I think that this is absolutely crazy. The game is basically over, in extra time and the scored tied. Atlanta attacks and the opposing goalkeeper saves the ball and goes to play the ball from his goal area. Little does he know that an Atlanta player, who first drank some water from the goalkeeper’s water bottle, is behind him. Watch what happens in the last few seconds of the game.

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• For this week’s take on Pure Talent we look in on The Royal Edinburgh Military Tatoo. A military tattoo is a musical display performed by the military. Military tattoos evolved from a process called “doe de tap toe,” which was Dutch for “turn off the tap.” The Dutch States Army sent drummers through garrison towns to mark curfew. By the late 19th century, military tattoos were commonplace, with this military tattoo another great example of Pure Talent.

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

Listen and Enjoy.

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• Quote of the Week: “Music is the soundtrack of your life.” — Dick Clark

An exaggeration from Dick Clark? I do not think so as many of us, upon hearing a song from the past, reflect on where we were, and just as importantly who we were at that time. One example: The bar at The Mutiny Hotel in Miami’s Coconut Grove district, made famous by the documentary Cocaine Cowboys III, the television show Miami Vice, and most recently by Netflix’s Griselda, always had interesting patrons and great live music. One of many nights at The Mutiny a band was covering Weather Report’s song Birdland. For some reason, from that night on, when I hear that song, it brings me right back to that evening in Coconut Grove.

There are other songs and music that also make me reflect, so I agree with Dick Clark’s quote about music being the soundtrack of our lives. Is there a song or music that brings you back to yesteryear?

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• Released in 1969, the Age of Aquarius was the fourth album from the group The 5th Dimension. I was a kid with an older brother who in some ways was beyond his years. He wanted to join ‘the movement,’ the counterculture, and of course attend the historic outdoor music festival, Woodstock (my father put the no-go to that idea). The Age of Aquarius was popularized by the 5th Dimension and the Broadway musical “Hair.” It was a new beginning, it was pop culture, and it was a song that became “a soundtrack of my life.”

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• There was no better theme song and more horrifying movie than The Exorcist (okay, maybe Jaws). There were many stories from across the country that people were throwing up all over each other and leaving the theatre. The atmosphere and intensity when The Exorcist made its way to the big screen was insane. Decades later, when I hear Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells, I instantly go back to that Miami movie theater and my nightmares that followed :). This theme from The Exorcist is really well done but I am good with never hearing this song again. Mike Oldfield and the theme from The Exorcist – a soundtrack of my life.

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• Led by Donald Fagen’s lead vocals and keyboard, my memories of this jazz, yacht rock, pop, and fusion band bring a smile to my face. They have sold more than forty million albums worldwide and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame way back in 2001. How can you not remember Rikki Don’t Lose That Number and the song Do It Again? Great memories from a great band.

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• Along with the famous clubs including Limelight and the salty Elan, there was a club on Roswell Road in Atlanta called Confetti’s. The club was filled most nights, with loud dance music, six-foot-tall speakers, and people of all types dancing to Michael Jackson’s Thriller. I have mentioned and asked this before: Do you know who handled the guitar riff on the song Beat It? 🙂 Go to the 3:00 minute mark of the video.

For someone who grew up listening to my brother’s rock music, Michael Jackson’s music became a soundtrack of my life.

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• Formed in 1983, The Cult brought post-punk and a bit of gothic rock from Bradford, Yorkshire in England. They were the forefront of this type of music, and it has stuck with me ever since. She Sells Sanctuary is my favorite from The Cult, and band and a sound that I really enjoy to this day.

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• The early to mid-90’s brought us alternative and grunge. My daughter’s first concert was REM and at that same time Dave Grohl was leaving Nirvana to start Foo Fighters. I am not a fan of all Foo Fighter songs, but their fifteen Grammy Awards make them one of the most successful rock bands of all time. Foo Fighters were elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021, their first year of eligibility. Grohl’s vocals and guitar really are something special.

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• This rap artist made a big impression on me. He came from nothing, as represented in the 2002 movie 8 Mile, and for the most part he kept out of the limelight and stayed humble. Eminem, in so many ways, was and still is a leader and a megastar. All of this has led to my admiration, and as a friend once told me: “Everyone is a celebrity until Eminem walks in.” Nicknamed “Slim Shady” Eminem is among the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated worldwide sales of over 220 million records. Fifteen Grammy Awards are among the countless honors Eminem has earned. His song Lose Yourself was never done better than at the 2020 Academy Awards Show.

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• Last Sunday was Father’s Day. I thought of my father and everything he did to ensure our family lived a comfortable life. As I reflect on my upbringing, my dad and I were similar in some ways and in other ways opposites. We were a sports family, so whether it was college or pro football, baseball, or basketball, we were always going to or watching a game on tv. He enjoyed the fact that I played all sports, but questioned why I took to a sport that he never understood. Though he did not follow soccer, I know my father was proud of me for the time I spent training. He did get to a few of my college games, and win or lose he would always congratulate me for the effort I put in. A great guy, a proud father and husband, and as Neil Young sings in this song “…old man, take a look at my life, I’m a lot like you were…”. My dad has been gone for a very long time, but I do think of him often. A week late from Father’s Day but always a salute to my dad from Neil Young.

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• These were just a few thoughts on the artists who provided me with great memories. I have not forgotten about Prince, Shania Twain, The Rolling Stones, Adele, The Weekend, Luke Bryant, Jimi Hendrix, Eagles, Metallica, Chris Stapleton, Blondie, Santana, and Madonna. Music does a lot of things for a lot of people. Music takes you right back to the very moment certain things happened in your life. Music is uplifting, it is encouraging, and it can be very inspirational.

• Though today’s post focuses on music that influenced me over the years, I would be remiss in not mentioning Willie Mays, regarded by many as the greatest baseball player of all time. RIP Willie Mays.

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Adios, pay it forward, be safe, listen to some music, and have a Sunday Funday!

Energy Draining. There is Only One Trunk Monkey. It is Already Mid-June. Does Your Dog Bite? The Theme.

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• Quote of the Week: Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason. – Unknown

I have stood my ground regarding politics. While I do care about the welfare of the United States, I long ago divorced myself from the political divide, or for that matter, politics in general.

My friends and family are sometimes frustrated, and sometimes polarized by what I call political de-socialization. In particular, how people who are friends, work together, and socialize together seemingly avoid each other due to their politics. With the November election five months away, the standing President’s health in the limelight, and his Republican competitor carrying baggage of thirty-four felony counts, I have witnessed people de-socializing from each other.

At least in my circle of people, which I am happy to report are people from many diverse backgrounds and walks of life, there are no bilateral discussions regarding the two candidates. I try to stay informed of course, but it is so energy draining to listen to people rant and rave about the November election. I follow a few ways of staying informed without feeling so drained from the constant barrage of rhetoric from the candidates, their handlers, and of course the media. Here is a list of a few ‘strategies’ I have followed for a long time:

• Carefully choose your sources – try to stick with unbiased news outlets. (Yes, that is funny).
• Pick a few times during the day to check the news. I have found that constant updates can be confusing, even overwhelming.
• For you politically focused people – try to balance the political news with some other interests. There are some great reads out there. Try the new Michael Crichton book, Eruption. This book will definitely keep your mind off of politics.
• Volunteer – there is nothing more rewarding than using some of your downtime to help others. Organizations and hospitals are always looking for volunteers; a great way to keep your mind off of the “Weekend at Bernie’s” and “The Donald” presidential candidates.

Here is my never-ending question: How, in 2024, did the two parties end up with these two candidates? This video is a bit old school, but comedian Bill Burr sort of sums up our world of politics.

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• Television commercials can be so puzzling. While some very talented people are charged with creating ad spots, sometimes we have to wonder how and why the client actually approved the creative. Suburban Auto Group’s agency has created this series of ‘trunk monkey’ spots delivering a different type of take on preventing car theft. There are a series of ‘trunk monkey’ ads, but this one is still my favorite.

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Things I Think for the Middle of June:

• How are we already halfway through 2024?
• Euro started on Friday (the cumulative worldwide television audience for the tournament is expected to surpass 5.3 billion), the final round of golf’s U.S. Open is later today, the Boston Celtics try to close out the NBA championship tomorrow night, the Florida Panthers should win the Stanley Cup Tuesday night, and Copa America starts Thursday…and college football is only seventy days away! Good summer fun.
• Not wishing for, but wondering what happened to all the pandemic-type viruses futurists were predicting just two years ago?
• What the heck is all the negative vibe surrounding Caitlin Clark? Do her teammates and opponents not recognize that across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, CBS, ION and NBA TV, WNBA games are averaging 1.32 million viewers, nearly tripling last season’s average of 462,000?
• I am looking for cool weather. Does anyone have ideas on great places to hide out in the Smokey Mountains?
• After many months, Houthi rebels are still able to attack ships on the Red Sea. There will be a trickle-down effect with global trade unless these terrorists are eliminated once and for all.
• What a novel idea. Working from home and using “keyboard simulators” to make it look like you are sitting at your desk….and actually working. Faking keyboard strokes. Just absurd behavior.
• Harvard Business Case for two long-standing Orlando-based brands. Red Lobster and Tupperware made missteps with their balance sheets and product offerings resulting in Red Lobster filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and Tupperware on the brink of following suit. Unfortunate and sad.

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• I watched it AGAIN. Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther just makes me laugh. There are too many funny scenes to count. This one has always stuck with me, as Sellers, better known as Inspector Clouseau, asks such a simple question.

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• I will stick with the Pink Panther theme for this week’s Pure Talent. The theme from the Pink Panther movies resonates with all of us, and Henry Mancini and his orchestra do it right. Mancini won four Academy Awards, a Golden Globe, and twenty Grammy awards. In 1995, he posthumously collected a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Henry Mancini’s orchestra, featuring Tubby Hayes on the tenor saxophone, and the Pink Panther soundtrack...Pure Talent.

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Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a Sunday Funday Father’s Day!

Character and Reputation. Eighty Years Ago. Coffee, Tea, or Not Me. Don’t Stop Believing.

Quote of the Week: “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” – John Wooden

This quote is from the “Wizard of Westwood,” one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time. John Wooden won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period as head coach of the UCLA Bruins, including a record seven in a row. He was renowned for his leadership in sports, business, and organizational leadership.

What exactly is John Wooden saying in the quote above? Are character and reputation interchangeable? Do they have the same meaning?

The answer is no, as character relates to the qualities of an individual, encompassing a person’s values, beliefs, morals, and ethics, which are usually shaped by their upbringing and experiences. Reputation is the result of how others perceive and judge a person based on their actions, behavior, and accomplishments.

I feel that many people do not distinguish character from reputation. Your character cannot be easily changed, as it is deeply ingrained in your personality and upbringing. On the other hand, your reputation is something that can be built or destroyed over time, and it is often shaped by your character and the decisions you make. Have we all made poor choices and decisions? Yes, we have, which may lead to the perception of your reputation – but not necessarily your character.

What distinguishes character from reputation? The two concepts are often used interchangeably, but they hold different meanings. While character refers to the qualities of an individual, reputation is the perception that others have of them. In other words, character is who you are, while reputation is who others think you are. The following differentiates character from reputation:

• Character = Inner qualities and beliefs; difficult to change; defines who you are.

• Reputation = How you are perceived; can be built or destroyed; defined by actions and behavior.

As John Wooden states: “your character is what you really are…….”

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• Last Thursday marked the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France during World War II, the largest amphibious assault in history. Two hundred veterans, with an average age of one hundred, were on hand last week to commemorate the invasion. Called Operation Overlord, the Allies assault started with 13,000 paratroopers parachuting behind enemy lines ahead of 135,000 U.S., British, and Canadian soldiers who landed on the beaches of Normandy. The invasion, dovetailed with the Soviet Union’s push from the East, helped the Allies defeat Nazi Germany. This fifteen-minute video is well done, covering the strategy and tactics of the Allied invasion, the largest military operation ever.

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• I have always brought a bottle of water on the plane. For no other good reason than to keep hydrated, as I have been told I do not drink enough water on a daily basis. I do not recall the last time I had a cup of coffee on a plane, and after reading this warning from a former flight attendant, that will not happen anytime soon.

With that said, let’s all recognize that she is a former flight attendant, and is now a TikTok influencer.

Her warning relates to the potable water used by airlines to make coffee and tea, as well as the cup of water served to passengers who are not sitting business or first class. Her claim is that the storage tanks aboard an aircraft to provide water “are never cleaned.” How she would know this is beyond me but that sounds alarming. She also claims that the coffee makers onboard are “rarely cleaned unless broken,” another eyebrow-raising statement. Add on this statement from CUNY’s Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center, and it might be a good idea to carry on a bottled water or other beverage, or order a beverage served from a bottle or can: “According to our 2019 airline water study by CUNY’s Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center that ranked 12 regional and 11 major airlines, airplane water tanks — which are typically situated beside or near the bathroom — are the very same source of water as the bathrooms.”

To be transparent, I have the upmost respect for flight attendants. There are two flight attendants on the JustMyTake distribution list, and I think all of us would appreciate their take on airplane water.

Warning: harsh/foul language.

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• This look at Pure Talent shows us a cover of the song Don’t Stop Believin‘, made famous by the band Journey and the great voices of Steve Perry, and most recently Arnel Pineda. Having a great voice usually comes from a good bit of training and experience, but this performance is Pure Talent.

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

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We Are All Artistic. Artistry = Bob Ross. A New Way to Start Sporting Events. The NFL’s New Rule. It is Already the Beginning of June! Mark Knopfler Rules!

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• Quote of the Week: “Art is the perpetual motion of illusion. The highest purpose of art is to inspire.” – Bob Dylan

After the short but important Memorial Day post, and other posts covering some serious and concerning issues, this take looks at various art forms. Many of us state that ‘we are not artistic’ but in many ways that is not true.

There are so many factors and dynamics to being artistic, as art widely expands beyond the paintbrush or software. Being artistic is not just about the canvas or software-generated drawing. Most of us know that feeling of being inspired by a work of art, whether it is a painting, song, play, poem, or novel. These forms of art spur thinking, engagement, and action. You do not have to be defined as an artist to be artistic, whether it is the artful way you manage your money, hit a passing shot, or manage your employees.

Being artistic is a form of self-expression and at a minimum, an outlet for all of us to share experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Whether you think of yourself as artistic or not, there are many reasons why we all have a connection to art. Art encourages us to think outside the box, explore new ideas, and express ourselves in our own unique ways: painting, writing, dancing, playing games, or sports.

Creativity and artistry are both a skill and process. This short video is excellent in the way it explains our everyday lives and how often we use creativity.

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• Bob Ross’ art was controversial – maybe because his television show promoted his artistic skill in a mere thirty minutes. I found him both amazing and mystifying, with his voice and stature providing a bit of calm on Saturday afternoons. Bob Ross passed away at a relatively young age, but the memories of his shows will stick with me forever. He was a magician with his paintbrush, especially to me as I cannot paint my way out of a broom closet. An artist who could paint something great in less than thirty minutes while explaining what he was doing.

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• There is no doubt that fashion design is artistry. The balance of form and function with clothing and accessories is an ongoing challenge for worldwide designers. I am not promoting or advocating Thom Browne, but this short video gives us insight into the effort and dedication…and artistry found in the world of fashion design.

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• Though I consider myself patriotic I have often wondered why the national anthem is played before sporting events. Again, I enjoy the patriotism, though it gripes my ass when some people refrain from removing their hats and participating in the singing of the anthem. With everything that is happening worldwide, it is time to start sporting events with a different type of musical composition. Again, this suggestion has nothing to do with me and patriotism, it is just a way of voicing a way to get everyone together.

Is this song inspiring before a sporting event? Yes, if you can get the entire stadium or arena engaged in singing The Youngblood’s Let’s Get Together -something the world needs right now. Yes, I know, a bit sappy for me, but it is what it is. I would love 30,000 people singing “Come on people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together, try to love one another right now.” Okay, I said it.

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• As we are less than sixty days from the NFL’s Hall of Fame pre-season game, many of my friends start to get ‘football fever.’ Some of them have obviously hit their heads on something as they must think that I am part of the league’s competition committee. A few friends have already asked me about the NFL’s new kickoff rule, thinking somehow that I work at the league office in Manhattan. 🙂

Of course, I looked into the new kickoff rule and here is my short take:

• The player who kicks the ball (it may not be the team’s designated kicker) will kick it from their own 35-yard line, and the other ten players on the kicking team will line up on the receiving team’s 40-yard line. Note: due to this kickoff formation, many NFL teams are going to use a regular player to kick off to reinforce their ability to defend the kickoff…in other terms a regular special teams’ player versus their kicker.
• The team receiving the ball must have nine players lined up between their own 30- and 35-yard line.
• Two returners from the receiving team must be lined up between their own 20-yard line and the goal line. This is called the Landing Zone.
• Only the kicker of the ball and the two returners can move in between when the ball is kicked and when it is received. Basically, other than the kicker and the two receivers, no one moves until the ball is received.
• If the ball touches the ground or a player in the “landing zone,” and rolls beyond the goal line or downed in the end zone, then the result of the play is a touchback, and the receiving team starts at their the 20-yard line.
• If the ball goes out of bounds behind the receiving team’s goal line, hits the goalpost or lands at or beyond the goal line and is downed in the end zone, the play results in a touchback, and the receiving team starts at their 30-yard line.

The goal of the new rule is to reduce the number of injuries on kickoffs and to increase the number of kickoffs returns. The XFL has used the rule and below is a quick video of what an NFL kickoff will look like this year. Thoughts?

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Five Top of Mind Thoughts for the Beginning of June:

1.‘Cooling trend’ coming to Central Florida? That was the headline on Thursday morning of last week, after Wednesday night’s 6pm temperature was 97 degrees. As I always keep things in perspective, it was 126 degrees in parts of India last week. Note: it may be time for a trip to Montevideo, Uruguay as the average temperature in that city this time of year is 60°.

2. Jeremy Renner is one of my favorite actors. After not engaging in a streaming series for a while, I have recently watched the first two seasons of Mayor of Kingstown. Renner is fantastic, but fair warning: these episodes have a high level of profanity, nudity, and violence. The third season starts tonight.

3. With Europe’s big leagues done for the season, the soccer world turns to this summer’s two massive tournaments, Euro and Copa America, featuring the national teams from Europe and South America, respectively. Euro is the second-most watched soccer tournament globally, following the FIFA World Cup, with Italy the defending champion. This year’s Copa America tournament includes the ten South American nations plus six invited teams including the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Copa America will be hosted and played in fourteen United States cities. Argentina, the defending Copa America champion, opens the tournament on June 20 against Canada in Atlanta’s Mercedes Benz Stadium.

4.Ransomware attacks continue to be in full swing. The most recent data compromise happened to Santander, a global banking group based in Spain. This time hackers tapped into one of Santander’s third-party databases, stealing information of thirty million customers in Spain, Chile, and Uruguay. I find this puzzling due to the level of cyber protection now imbedded in the IT infrastructure of most entities. This hacker group calls themselves ShinyHunters, and has also claimed their attack on Ticketmaster exposed personal financial data from 560 million customers. Does this ever stop?

5. The world has gone mad when a very prominent financial multimedia entity posts a serious article about etiquette…for text messaging. The article discusses how “…tone, volume, and body language can help alter how a message is received…“. I have no other comment on this craziness.

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• I started off this week’s take taking a look at art and creativity. To end this post, and for this week’s Pure Talent, we will go with the musical artistry of Mark Knopfler. Underrated as a guitarist, Knopfler is best known for his band Dire Straits, but his wizardry on the guitar is bar none. Mark Knopfler on the guitar…Pure Talent.

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