Is It Time For NATO To Impose Their Will? The NBA Playoffs. JLo. Real Comedy.
Define Boris Johnson, the U.K.’s Prime Minister, in any manner you see fit. The one characterization of Johnson you can define is bravery. Yesterday, Johnson visited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the capital city of Kyiv. Zelenskyy and Johnson, obviously escorted by a very imposing squad of Ukrainian special forces, took a long walk through the streets of the city, greeting and engaging with both their armed forces and civilians who decided to remain in their homes.
After arriving in Poland, Johnson’s trip in Kyiv was accomplished by a ‘secret’ train ride into Zelenskyy’s country, some of the territories demolished by Vladimir Putin’s Russian forces. After his walkabout with Zelenskyy, Johnson announced that the U.K. would no longer stand down with their tangible support of Ukraine, and though the balance of NATO support is tricky, he would authorize the immediate deployment of eight hundred additional anti-tank missiles, Javelin anti-tank systems, and an additional Starstreak air defense system. Zelenskyy’s call for immediate action was emphasized with the statement: “Freedom does not have time to wait” has been answered by Boris Johnson and the U.K. Though the balance of powers and the hint of Putin’s nuclear weapons have kept NATO in check, is it time for President Joseph Biden and other NATO countries to stand up to the crazed leader of Russia? Yes, it is.
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a walk thru Kyiv.
My top of mind things I think:
JLo is back in the news again. This time it is Ben Affleck. Does anyone care about the ongoing romance of JLo? Seriously?
I have been a big fan of basketball, both college and the NBA, for a very long time. I go back as far as the American Basketball Association and the Miami Floridians, who not only touted the ‘world’s tallest Cuban’ in Al Cueto, but Mack Calvin, who I still consider one of the best point guards ever to play the game. Professional basketball has exploded worldwide, with top leagues not only in the U.S., but in Europe, South America, and the Pacific Rim. Understanding that television rights are the big driver of revenue for leagues, it is amazing to me how the NBA has devised their playoff scheme and the ‘play-in’ round even to make it into the playoffs. Living in Atlanta before moving to Orlando over 4 years ago, I was and still am a big supporter of the Atlanta Hawks. As the regular season comes to a close later today, here is an example of the Hawks’ ‘play-in’ scenario: The Hawks get the ten seed tomorrow with: Loss + BKN win + CLE win + CHA win OR Loss + BKN win + CLE loss + CHA win OR Win + BKN loss + CLE win + CHA win OR Loss + BKN loss + CLE win + CHA win. Obviously, the NBA employs high level mathematicians and actuaries. 🙂
The drama with Will Smith and Chris Rock is hopefully over. The ten-year ban the Academy imposed on Smith has somehow overshadowed how talented and funny great comedians can be, whether scripted or not. Here is an example of Eddie Murphy’s impromptu (and brave) delivery at a ceremony celebrating Sammy Davis Jr. So good. (Excuse the video quality).
Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a Funday Sunday!
Thankful For Lady Gaga. English As A Second Language. Opportunity Knocks. The NFL Is At It Again. Being Authentic. A Tribute To Taylor.
In last week’s post I mentioned how put off I have been with award shows, and that due to the grandstanding of attendees and award winners, I would not watch last Sunday night’s Academy Awards. The Oscars are regarded by many as the most prestigious and significant awards in the entertainment world, with award-winners being honored for their artistic and technical merit in the film industry.
I did not watch the Will Smith-Chris Rock incident until sometime last Monday. I am not downplaying the seriousness of the incident…to me a criminal act of battery, but how sad for this once glamorous award show now diminished to one of personal mockery. In fact, Smith’s behavior overshadowed an Oscar presentation to Samuel L. Jackson. Despite Jackson’s illustrious career, and being the highest grossing box office actor of all time, with over $27 billion worldwide, the 73-year-old had never received an Oscar, until last Sunday night.
Chris Rock’s joke about Smith’s wife was not necessary and may have been a bit over-the-top, but what right did Smith have in leaving his seat, walking up on stage, and slapping Rock during a live broadcast? Was this incident fueled by the over-sensitivity of men these days, fueled by the ‘woke’ madness that has integrated itself into every thread of this country? Can you imagine this same shameful reaction from a studio audience watching and listening to Richard Pryor, Don Rickles, or Rodney Dangerfield? Will Smith: how about taking a step back, understanding that you are nothing more than an entertainer, and do something positive for the Academy. Or, with more relevance, support a former entertainer who is now the President of a sovereign country under attack from Russia.
The optics were and still are so bad for the Academy Awards, but thankfully the presentation from Liza Minnelli, supported onstage by Lady Gaga, brought some real significance and dignity back to this awards ceremony.
Liza Minnelli is among a rare group of performers awarded an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.
I had an interesting discussion last week regarding the English language. Many people around the world speak English as a second language, and most people who learned the language as their second (or third) have reminded me that English is not easy to learn. After a quick look-up, English has more phonemes than most languages, and an unusual amount of vowel sounds (11). There are an estimated 172,000 words in the Oxford English Dictionary with the average active vocabulary of an adult English speaker around 20,000 words. Without thinking too long, using Google, or a dictionary, answer the following regarding the English language:
What is a phoneme?
What is the shortest sentence in the English language?
Provide three examples of words that sound alike but are spelled differently (homophones).
Name three words where the rule “I before E except after C” does not apply.
What is a plural noun that does not end in ‘s’?
What is one word that looks exactly the same, but with different meanings and pronunciations?
I have been told that English is not always easy to learn – as a native speaker I cannot imagine the trials and tribulations people deal with learning English as a second language. Some of us may take the English language for granted, but learning the language and its anomalies, including the number of contranyms imbedded in the language, is sometimes overwhelming. Yes, I said contranyms.
A past contributor to JustMyTake provided his perspective on the subject of ‘opportunity’. Thank you Chris A., for your very powerful and relevant content:
When I am on the NC Coast, I go to church in Southport, NC. The priest there is a Vietnamese man. When I first started attending, it was very difficult to understand him. Over the years, he has worked hard at his delivery. Now, I can understand every word and it turns out, he is quite a wise, thoughtful person.
He writes an article in the bulletin each week. Below is one from last year that I saved. I’ve had a few recent events that made me revisit it. For me, when I was younger taking advantage of opportunities usually meant career. As I get older, it’s about relationships … family & friends.
Taking Advantage of Your Opportunities “In the days before modern harbors, a ship had to wait for the tide before it could make it to port. The term for this situation in Latin was “ob portu”, that is, a ship standing over against port waiting for the moment when it could ride the turn of the tide to the harbor. The English word “opportunity” is derived from this original meaning. The captain and the crew were ready and waiting for that one moment, for they knew that if they missed it, they would have to wait for another tide to come in. You may remember one of the most famous passages of William Shakespeare: There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune: Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries On such a full sea are we now afloat: And we must take the current when it serves, Or lose our ventures. We tend to think of “opportunity” as something that lies in the distant future. We dream of all that we could do and be if only given a chance. At the same time, opportunity knocks at our door every day that we live, with every breath that we draw. What opportunity do you plan to take advantage of?”
To: Danny, Aaron, Anne, Annica, Art, Becky, Ben, Brendan, Bob, Bret, Chris, Cody, Daniel, Darren, Dave, Doug, Gary, Jason, Jeff, Jen, Jim, Joe, John, Jon, Kay, Kelley, Kirt, Les, Mario, Mark, Marty, Matthew, Nick, Pat, Pete, Peter, Phil, Rhonda, Richie, Rick, Salvatore, Samir, Sarah, Steak, Steve, Steven, Tom, Tracy, Wes, and Yvonne, and anyone else I may have missed who would have interest in chiming in on the NFL Competition Committees’ proposed rule changes. There a few proposed rule changes that are interesting, but this one is eye-opening: Make field goals 55 yards or longer worth four points. While it sounds like fun and adds some new math to the game, I have this bizarre thought in my mind with this scenario:
The Indianapolis Colts, now led by quarterback Matt Ryan, have the ball on the Atlanta Falcons’ 37-yard line, and it is third down and 16. Instead of running a positive play to pick up a first down, Ryan takes the snap, steps back a yard, and takes a knee, downing the ball at the thirty-eight-yard line. The Colts now line up for a field goal, with the ball now at the thirty-eight, plus the 7 yards where the holder sets up, plus the 10 yards with the goalposts on the end line. The Colts’ field goal kicker now lines up a 55-yard field goal attempt worth FOUR points. Am I missing something, or did I just describe a negative yardage play that yields the offense a chance for four points over three by losing a yard? Call me crazy, but to me that is strange. Note: there were more than eighty field goal attempts from 50+ yards in last year’s NFL season.
Shakti Gawain is a pioneer in the field of personal development. A best-selling writer, for over twenty-five years she has authored books on the subject, selling over ten million copies. I have only read random samples of her work, but this quote on living authentically is one that I really enjoyed reading:
“Often people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want so that they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then, do what you need to do, in order to have what you want.”
The tributes to the late Foo Fighters’ drummer Taylor Hawkins continue to pour in. Last weekend, Elton John performed in Des Moines, Iowa, and provided this heartfelt tribute and incredible version of one of his many great songs.
RIP Taylor Hawkins.
Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a Funday Sunday!
One Tough Person. He Could Be A Power Broker. A Few Random Takes. Dog Gone Crazy.
She was born in 1937 in Prague, Czechoslovakia. At the age of two, her family was forced to leave the country to escape the Nazi regime. The family eventually settled in the United States – giving the late Madeleine Albright an opportunity she certainly capitalized on. After graduating from Wellesley College, Albright went on to earn a PhD from Columbia University and worked as a professor at Georgetown University and the University of Colorado. Following these terms as a professor, she took on the following assignments and appointments:
The U.S. State Department, earning numerous awards and accolades for her work as a diplomat, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
Advisor to the National Security Council
First female Secretary of State
Elected to a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2001.
Accepted a position on the board of directors of the New York Stock Exchange
Served on the board of directors for the Council on Foreign Relations
Appointed the co-chair of the Commission on Legal Empowerment of the Poor
A co-chair of the Genocide Prevention Task Force
Served as Chair of the council for The Hague Institute for Global Justice
Albright was widely considered to have been one of the most influential women in America, and her tenure as Secretary of State is often cited as a model for future female leaders. Madeleine Albright was known for her frankness and her ability to get straight to the point, and she was never afraid to speak her mind. Here is one of her quotes that I respect and agree with: “It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.” Madeleine Albright passed away last Wednesday at the age of eighty-four. She rose to power and fame as a brilliant analyst of world affairs…it is unfortunate she is not the U.S. Secretary of State now, as her demeanor, drive, and spirit might be sending a different message to Vladimir Putin. RIP Madeleine Albright.
Of all things…Madeleine Albright was not shy!
Roman Abramovich was a former political figure in Russia, having governed the eastern province of Chukotka. In the seven years of his regime, he revived this sparsely populated Pacific region, pumping billions into the region’s economy, rebuilding infrastructure, housing, education systems, and healthcare. At the time he left his appointment, back in 2008, he was Russia’s third richest man, with a vast fortune of $24 billion. Abramovich earned Vladimir Putin’s trust with the work he did in Chukotka, and to this day these two Russians remain very close.
Fast forward to present day, and Abramovich, deemed a Russian oligarch, had acquired assets including ownership of Chelsea football club. As an oligarch, Abramovich’s assets were seized with the UK’s imposed sanctions on all Russian entities and their assets. This included the Premier League’s Chelsea F.C., valued at more than $3 billion. Abramovich has subsequently put the Club up for sale, creating a bidding war for this West London football club.
Russian oligarch and former Chelsea F.C. owner Roman Abramovich
Reports out of Ukraine report that Abramovich attended a first round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Belarus during the first week of Putin’s brutal invasion – that has now dragged on for over a month. Here is to hoping that Abramovich, from Jewish origin and a holder of passports from Russia, Portugal, and Israel, really does have Vladimir Putin’s ear and can somehow convince the tyrant to back off and stay in his lane. That would be Abramovich’s gift to the people of both Ukraine and Russia, as the world now has clear evidence that his little buddy Vladimir is totally out of control. I have no idea how this conflict will evolve or somehow end. Praying that the pride and soul of the Ukrainian soldiers will prevail.
RIP to Foo Fighters’ drummer Taylor Hawkins. He took over the drumming duties from Dave Grohl twenty-five years ago.
My posts have gone back and forth on the future of the electric car. If you use supply and demand as a barometer, it is no longer a phenomena or fad. Last week, Google searches for electric cars broke records. Is this craze due to the price of gasoline or do some new car buyers feel comfortable with the reality of recharging their cars?
For various reasons, I will not watch tonight’s 94th Academy Awards. Watching and listening to both presenters and award-winners voice their political or religious views has become systemic, and the show’s ratings over the years tell us that I am not alone with my no-go with watching what was once a very cool awards show.
Close to ten percent of the Ukrainian population has been forced to leave their home and country due to Russia’s invasion of their sovereign country. The exodus has turned into a humanitarian crisis and your help is needed. An easy way to support the effort to help is with a donation. Just do it.
NYC To Montreal In Less Than An Hour. More Vitamin D In 2023. “To The Moon, Alice, To The Moon.” The Terminator.
$1.2 trillion is mind-boggling. It is only when you understand what the funds will be used for – can you somehow justify that amount of money the U.S. government will spend to fix and improve infrastructure. The infrastructure bill was signed into law and will be managed and allocated by the Department of Transportation. One area of infrastructure that will receive a massive amount of funds are bridges. Bridges that we cross every day, by foot, in cars, or on trains. Here is the eye-opener: There are more than 617,000 bridges across the United States. Currently, 42% of all bridges are at least 50 years old, and46,154, or 7.5% of the nation’s bridges, are considered structurally deficient. Yes, “structurally deficient.” You may shrug your shoulders and say so what, until you remember the bridge collapse in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area back in 2007.
Fifteen years ago, the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis collapsed, sending cars, trucks and even a school bus that were crawling over it in bumper-to-bumper rush hour traffic plummeting into the river below and onto the rocky shore. Thirteen people were killed, 145 more were injured, many of them seriously.
One of 40,000 bridges in the United States deemed structurally deficient.
Which brings me to another transportation issue. Though entities such as Brightline are implementing ‘high’ speed train routes in a few areas of the country, how and why did the United States, with highway congestion on every major interstate highway, miss out on “bullet” trains? Just to name a few, how marvelous would it be to travel the Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia to New York City routes in less than an hour? What about San Diego to Los Angeles to San Francisco in under two hours? I have read the rumors of super high-speed trains in the works from different entities, including Virgin’s ‘Hyperloop’, but how did we get here, or more pointedly, not get here? Many European and Asian train systems include super high-speed train systems, including Japan’s L0 Series Maglev, the fastest train in the world, with a speed record of 374 mph. It could go the distance from New York City to Montreal in less than an hour.
The U.S. infrastructure system recently received a C- score from the American Society of Civil Engineers earlier this year. The bill signed into law will initially deliver $550 billion of new federal investments in America’s infrastructure over the next five years…and with that said I cannot imagine the productivity, efficiency, and automobile fuel savings if the U.S. had invested in super high-speed trains years ago, similar to parts of Europe and Asia. A damn shame.
It is no longer a matter of how, but when?
For the five and a half years I have been writing JustMyTake, twice a year I remind everyone of my excitement on the second Sunday in March, and my disappointment on the first Sunday in November. Starting next year, my wish finally comes true as daylight savings time will be year-round, eliminating the darkness at 5:30PM. Some friends think I have been way over the top with this clock-changing issue, but I stand firm that this change to permanent daylight savings time is a really good decision. Sure, there may be a bit of downside with the early morning hours still dark, but here is a list of benefits with extended daylight in the early evenings:
Robberies drop 7% overall as the bad guys do not like the extra hours of light in the early evening hours.
Extended light in the early evenings improves safety on roadways and reduces pedestrian fatalities by up to 13%.
Extended daylight hours have a positive impact on mental health by creating more opportunities to socialize and be active in the evenings.
Researchers report that daylight savings time promotes a more active lifestyle.
Not to be self-serving, but those extra hours of daylight have a direct correlation to my tennis game, as I can actually see the ball at 7:30PM.
The bill still needs to be approved by the House and signed off on by the President…hoping it is smooth sailing and I can happily drop the subject matter from my blog.
After ten years of development, NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) is getting very close to its first test mission, with this powerful rocket ultimately getting astronauts back on the moon. On Thursday and Friday of last week, the SLS left the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and slowly made its way to the launch pad. If you have ever been to Kennedy Space Center or driven on I-95 near Cape Canaveral, there is no way you could not notice the VAB – the building is massive. Note: it took eleven hours for the SLS to make its way from the VAB to the launch pad. Fingers crossed that all goes well with the test flight in April.
The SLS and the Orion capsule will eventually get astronauts back to the moon.
A few short takes on things I think:
No one on the planet can tell me that Vladimir Putin is not a madman. A sick bastard with no moral character and definitely no self-esteem.
Even if you do not like college basketball, March Madness is a lot of fun. I cannot believe that it has been eleven years since Turner Sports struck a deal with CBS to telecast all tournament games.
Both soccer and non-soccer fans were shocked when the United States Men’s National Team failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Starting next week, the U.S. plays their final three-game qualification series. The outcome of these three games will again determine their fate to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, which starts in November in of all places, Qatar. On Thursday, the U.S. men face archrival Mexico at Mexico City’s famous Estadio Azteca. If you want to watch a sporting war, watch Thursday night’s game. This one will be nasty.
Some people do not care for Arnold. He may have rubbed people the wrong way when he governed California, or turned people off with the movie, “Twins.” 🙂 At least he did make the effort to try and reach some Russian citizens and explain the realities of Vladimir Putin and his gone very wrong regime. Maybe The Terminator can make an unexpected visit to the Kremlin?
At least Schwarzenegger tried to reach out.
Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and Have A Funday Sunday!!
What Is Not Inflated? He Is No Different Than The Worst Of The Worst. It Is Not Just Florida. Don’t Get Your Panties In A Wad.
The coronavirus and the pandemic. The serious supply chain issues reducing the amount of available goods. Stimulus checks being pocketed by millions. The sanctions and other economic responses to Russia invading Ukraine. All of these socio-economic and geopolitical events have resulted in the fastest rate of inflation in forty years. Compared to 2021, gas at our favorite convenience store is up 38%, used cars 41%, and food prices at the grocery store up as much as 9%. By economic definition, the continued rising prices across the board define inflation, a general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money. The sector of the population most affected by inflation are people living on fixed incomes or lower-wage workers. The problem is systemic and will hopefully resolve itself by solving the supply chain dilemma and the Federal Reserve slowly raising interest rates.
Established in 1913, The Federal Reserve System (“the Fed”) is the central banking system of the United States. It was formed in response to a series of financial panics with the goal of controlling the monetary system to help alleviate issues with financial and banking systems. It is interesting how things have not changed over the last one hundred and nine years, as there is no more important time than now for the Federal Reserve to step in to mitigate inflation not seen in more than 40 years. One way the Fed can help with slowing down the economy is to change (raise) interest rates. It does this by raising the short-term borrowing rate for commercial banks, who in turn pass on the higher rates to their consumer and business customers. It is sort of like a gas and brake pedal for the economy, raising rates to slow down the economy as higher rates usually correlate to a slowdown in spending, or lower the rates to stimulate the economy. For now, the Fed will try to make borrowing more expensive so consumers and businesses hold off on making purchases or investments, which will in turn cool off demand and bring prices for fuel and food back in check. With all that said, no one knows the full effect of Russia invading Ukraine, and what the subsequent sanctions, will do to our economy.
The United States is experiencing the highest rate of inflation in over 40 years
Josef Mengele. Adolf Eichmann. Saddam Hussein. Ratko Mladic. Pol Pot. Omar Al-Bashir. Muammar Qaddafi. Augusto Pinochet. Slobodan Milosevic. Idi Amin.
These are a random sample of so-called leaders accused of war crimes. As a level-set, here is the definition of a war crime, outlined by The International Criminal Court, an intergovernmental organization and international tribunal that sits in The Hague, Netherlands: A war crime is a violation of the laws of war that gives rise to individual criminal responsibility for actions by the combatants, such as intentionally killing civilians or intentionally killing prisoners of war, torture, taking hostages, unnecessarily destroying civilian property, deception by perfidy, wartime sexual violence, pillaging, the conscription of children in the military, committing genocide or ethnic cleansing, the granting of no quarter despite surrender, and flouting the legal distinctions of proportionality and military necessity.
There has been continued discussion regarding Vladimir Putin and his egregious behavior. Russia is bombing Ukraine’s civilian population, including apartment buildings and a maternity hospital. Civilian property is destroyed, and many civilians have been killed – in a sovereign country now devastated by Putin and his armed forces. These events in Ukraine are no different than Putin’s actions with Chechnya in 1999, Georgia in 2008, and Ukraine in 2014, which led to an illegal occupation and annexation of Crimea. Then there’s Syria. For a decade, Putin has propped up Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad despite evidence of atrocities that war crimes investigators believe is the “strongest since the Nuremberg trials”. By definition, Putin is a war criminal and must be treated as one. I understand the thirty-member NATO alliance, and their hesitancy to send troops to non-NATO Ukraine. What I do not understand is why a clandestine operative has not sent this narcissistic megalomaniac to a place called Hell.
Do you need any additional evidence that Putin is a war criminal?
I often run across some interesting (or puzzling) headlines:
India accidentally fires missile into Pakistan – how does India actually make this happen? Did they aim incorrectly?
Florida man arrested after stealing a crossbow by stuffing it down his trousers– yes, this happened in FLORIDA. Anyone surprised?
New Jersey animal control officer called to capture fake parrot – okay, so maybe Florida is not so bad after all?
Box of human heads stolen from Denver truck – Weed is legal in Colorado, right?
Unusual, submarine-shaped vehicle spotted on Florida road – okay, I take back what I said about Florida. It was obviously a slow news day in Punta Gorda.
No, and no.
We can lighten up the tone of this post with someone’s interesting definition of friends. I do not disagree with this take:
Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and Have a Funday Sunday!
Maybe They Could Impose Their Will. A Bit Of Humor Needed By All.
Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade the country of Ukraine has added additional concern and heartbreak after more than two years of dealing with a pandemic. I do not have any answers for stopping Russia’s onslaught as NATO’s hands are tied due to Ukraine not being part of the thirty-nation alliance. As I discussed with a friend last week, there is a non-NATO country who can run point on eliminating Russian tanks, artillery, and other assets…a country known for their precise use of air-to-surface missiles? I have one in mind.
Instead of trying to provide a light and funny take last week, I took a stab at the Russia-Ukraine situation. For this week, let us look at Jason Statham, Volkswagen A.G., a tractor, Clint Eastwood, some pets, Kramer, and of course my favorite breakfast:
He is a heartthrob. A badass with a British accent and the tough, handsome look of the star he has become over the years. More importantly, Jason Statham has a profound sense of humor.
Jason at his finest. 🙂
I am not making light of Volkswagen A.G. or their brands including Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, and Lamborghini. There is no humor with this cargo ship, carrying 4,000 luxury vehicles with an estimated value of $400 million, sinking in the mid-Atlantic Ocean. The Felicity Ace started to tilt to one side and take on water after it caught fire. There was no loss of life as all twenty-two sailors on board the ship were rescued after the fire started last month. I am a bit surprised that there was no off-loading option and more perplexing to me is the caption of this photo, which was taken by the Portuguese Navy.
The Panama-flagged vessel caught fire, tilted to one side, and then RAN AGROUNDin the mid- Atlantic Ocean.
There can be no doubt about my feelings with Russia invading Ukraine. My post last week provided my views but without too many solutions. I cannot comment on Russia’s armed forces, their tactics or strategy. They are doing massive damage to Ukraine, a savage attack on a sovereign nation instigated by Vladimir Putin. The armed forces and citizens of Ukraine have taken a stance and are fighting for their country. Let us all pray that they prevail and if the video below is a small indication of Russia’s Army, we may have some hope.
Really Russia?
If Vladimir Putin wants a fight, a good opponent would be a roll up of the badass characters Clint Eastwood played during his incredible career. Once bundled, a bit of a one-on-one interaction with Putin would be enjoyable. I think a combination of Josey Wales (The Outlaw Josey Wales), Blondie (The Good, The Bad, The Ugly), Will Munny (Unforgiven), Harry Callahan (Dirty Harry), and Walt Kowalski (Gran Torino) would be nice opposition in a duel with the Russian tyrant. “Get Off My Lawn” has never been more relevant.
Let’s get Harry Callahan to do the dirty work.
If you know me you know I love dogs, especially big ones. Whether they are a man’s best friend is up for discussion, but I have always enjoyed having a dog around. I guess there are guidelines with their breed and demeanor, but this video takes the pet thing a bit too far.
My first and only question is where is this bear’s momma? Hopefully far away.
I miss Seinfeld. Actually, I miss Kramer. I take in a rerun once in a blue moon – just to experience the bizarre world of Kramer. A little bit of Kramer may be what the world needs right now.
“They kept ringing the bell.”There is only one Kramer.
And finally, on this first Sunday of March, I finally decided to yield to my internist’s orders to keep my caffeine intake at a minimum. I am pretty sure some of you would agree with his directive.
Obviously Tito’sor Grey Goose–not Russian.
Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a Funday Sunday! And yes, we are one week from daylight savings time!
After my previous posts touched on serious topics, I thought I would lighten things up this week. Then, my prediction regarding the Russians invading Ukraine unfortunately came to fruition. For various and personal reasons, and without diving into politics or religion, here is my take on the invasion of Ukraine. Do I have a level of bias? Yes, I do, as my family lineage includes Ukraine.
We will start with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Made up of the republics of Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Uzbekistan, the Soviet Union’s demise was fueled by a substantial number of radical reforms. At that time, the Soviet Union’s president, Mikhail Gorbachev, had followed the paths set by Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin, with totalitarian controls including administering over all industrial activity as well as controlling most aspects of political and social life.
Late in 1991, after a never-ending bad economy, the repressed and frustrated republics of the Soviet Union, one by one, declared their independence from Moscow and the Soviet Union. Gorbachev, under immense pressure, resigned on Christmas Day of that same year. Many governing protocols with the former republics were initiated, but one ended up sacrificing tremendous leverage.
Though Ukraine inherited a large number of nuclear weapons after the Soviet Union’s collapse, three years after declaring themselves an independent country, they decided to fully denuclearize under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which offered Ukraine security assurances from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia. It is now obviously clear, that twenty-eight years ago, the Ukrainians could not foresee the impact of their decision to forego their nuclear weapons. The Budapest Memorandum was authorized at the highest level by the heads of state with the implication that Ukraine would not be left to stand alone to face the threat and onslaught that started last week.
Civilians shelter in a metro station in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
There are a few reasons that Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, decided to invade neighboring Ukraine. None of the reasons coming out of Moscow are valid, including Putin stating that this his war on Ukraine is a peacekeeping mission, a “denazification” of the country. This is simply a ‘power grab’ by a narcissistic henchman who shaped his persona as a long time KGB operative and FSB leader. There is no doubt that his insecurity stems from Ukraine’s alliances in the West, and the idea that another neighboring country being a NATO member unnerves him, but what type of leader invades another sovereign country? I’m sure the ‘napoleon complex’ plays into his thought process, a so-called leader of Russia with the following on his resume:
The murders of Putin’s critics, including Boris Nemtsov and Anna Politkovskaya. Nemtsov attempted to expose corruption involving Putin and the state-controlled natural gas conglomerate Gazprom.
Imprisoning hundreds of dissenters due to their political beliefs.
Supporting the murderous regime of Syria and their president, Bashar al-Assad.
Instigating the Russia-Ukrainian War early on in 2014, centering on the status of Crimea and parts of Donbas, republics that were internationally recognized as part of Ukraine.
Kickback schemes and unqualified elections.
The poisoning of anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny.
Poland’s leader welcoming NATO troops on February 25, 2022.
Last week’s invasion of a sovereign country, as I stated last week, has shocked financial markets and energy derivatives. The harm already done to Ukraine and its citizens is incomprehensible. NATO is frozen, with Article 5* in place, afraid of the ramifications of escalation. Putin is a tyrant, unstable, and has put the world on alert. * The most serious section of the treaty is Article 5, which is known as the “commitment clause.” Within this clause, every member of NATO agrees that it will consider an armed attack against any member state, whether in Europe or North America, as an attack against all 30 members of the organization.
Putin must be dealt with by whatever means necessary to end this invasion – yes, by whatever means necessary. This situation reminds me of two favorite quotes from former United States General Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr., who also served as the commander of the United States Central Command: “You can’t help but… with 20/20 hindsight, go back and say, look, had we done something different, we probably wouldn’t be facing what we are facing today.” “I believe that forgiving them is God’s function. Our job is to arrange the meeting.”
A sovereign nation invaded – forcing many of their citizens to flee to Poland.
On a brighter note, we are two weeks from the start of daylight savings time, March Madness gets going soon, the NBA and NHL seasons are in their late stages, and Major League Soccer’s 27th season kicked off yesterday. Godspeed to all Ukrainians and others whose lives have been turned upside down.
Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a Funday Sunday!
Global Markets React. The Numbers Are Still Staggering. Hippos. My Takes.
Vladimir Putin has indicated he sees NATO’s expansion as an existential threat, and the prospect of Ukraine joining the Western military alliance a “hostile act.” The situation is complicated and has already spooked global markets, as the prospects of spiking costs of gas, electricity, and oil are highly likely once the Russians clamp down on Ukraine. Energy prices were up 29% annually in December and will continue to rise should a war break out. I obviously have no inner circle of intel, other than my friend, Samir, but I predict the Russians enter Ukraine later this morning, two hours after the Beijing Olympics closing ceremony. I hope my prediction is very wrong.
Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, sits 236 miles from the Russian border.
For two years, we have focused on viruses. There is no doubt coronaviruses, namely Covid-19, woke up the world with the rate of infection, hospitalizations, and unfortunately over 927,000 people passing away. Pharmaceutical entities around the world went into action to quickly develop, produce, and distribute vaccines way outside of usual regulatory protocols, resulting in millions around the world electing to be vaccinated. The world of modern medicine took action – against a virus and its variants to help people.
I now wonder why another virus, first discovered forty-one years ago, did not have the same sense of urgency from the CDC and the World Health Organization (W.H.O.)? Maybe I am wrong, and that pharmaceutical companies that have so successfully and so quickly brought vaccines to the market to combat Covid-19, at that time did not have the same technologies in place to develop and produce vaccines to help people who are dealing with HIV. Here are staggering facts: “…after 41 years, the W.H.O. reports that 1.5 million more people were infected with HIV in 2020, and nearly half of them died, despite a commitment to end AIDS by 2030. Worldwide, 38 million people have HIV, and about 73% are receiving treatment with antiretroviral drugs.“
The ignorant consider discussion around HIV taboo, which is ridiculous considering infection numbers are still staggering. Is there any path to a cure, which is viewed as the only way to end the decades-long HIV pandemic? Possibly, as last week, a woman with HIV who received an umbilical cord blood transplant has become the third person in the world to be cured of the HIV virus. The woman was diagnosed with HIV in 2013 and took antiretroviral drugs to keep her virus levels low. The path to a cure may lie with hematopoietic stem cells, which are used to treat more than seventy types of diseases, including diseases of the immune system, genetic disorders, neurologic disorders, and some forms of cancer, including leukemia and lymphoma.
More than 36 million people have died from AIDS-related illnesses since the start of the epidemic but there is now some good news: Since 2004, AIDS-related deaths have been reduced by 65% with patients receiving treatment with antiretroviral drugs. Hopefully, the hematopoietic stem cell procedure will finally lead to a clear path of a cure. Let us all hope that the great news from last week continues.
As if Colombia needs more socio-economic issues: Colombia’s government plans to sign a document declaring hippos an exotic invasive species, according to Environment Minister Carlos Eduardo Correa. This means coming up with a plan for how to control their population, which has reached 130 and is projected hit 400 in eight years if nothing is done as they flourish in Colombia’s rivers.I asked the same question you are now asking: “Why and how are there hippos in the rivers of Colombia?” We can thank drug lord Pablo Escobar, who thought it would be a great idea to bring a few that were imported illegally from Africa in the 1980’s. Nice work Pablo. Why could you not stick to the thing you did so well?
At least they are so good looking…..
A Few Short Takes:
It was awesome to see former UGA quarterback Matt Stafford lead his Los Angeles Rams to a Super Bowl victory.
This could only happen in the state of Florida. The headline: Officer chases woman riding motorized suitcase in Orlando airport. And to reinforce the world of the weird:
The poor police officer.
Kanye and Kim – please stop; please go away.
With the pending invasion of his country, why did the Ukrainian President decide, of all times, to fly to Munich yesterday? Maybe he knows something we do not?
I have had little time and for the first time a lack of interest in watching a great amount of Olympics coverage. I am not alone as NBC’s ratings are down 40%. I guess the main reasons for this ratings slide include the thirteen-hour time difference between Beijing and the U.S. eastern time zone, China’s controversial human rights record, and viewer fatigue due to the short timeframe with the Winter Olympics following last summer’s Olympic Games.
I try to be millennial-relevant, so can someone please explain this headline to me?: Call of Duty now lets you destroy cheaters with your own automatic god mode.
BA.2 is a new subvariant of Omicron. Please be a variant with little to no severity.
The price-earnings ratio, for many years, was the barometer many used to gauge the future success of various business entities. That metric is no longer the case – especially with the technology sector and their start-ups. Many say that we are now in a market that is NOT rewarding non-profitable tech names with long pathways to profitability. At market close on Friday, many tech stocks took a bath, including the once-prospering Roku, whose shares are 77% off their highs from July 27th of last year.
I am still not finished with the Ted Lasso series – so well done, and at times so damn funny:
Ted Lasso at his finest.
Adios, pay it forward, be safe and have a Funday Sunday!
A Haunted Headcount. Mid-February Thoughts. A Goalkeeper For The Ages.
The desire to scale quickly has presented some very interesting scenarios for start ups across the world. The pressure to scale comes from institutional and private investors who want to see their positions with these companies yield positive returns – sometimes to the point of ad nauseum. The spectrum of financial metrics have expanded over the years, especially considering the level of sophistication some private equity firms have instituted to garner weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual financial data. Here are a few financial metrics to ponder:
Gross Profit Margin. Runway. LTV. Return on Sales. Operating Margin. Net Profit Margin. Operating Cash Flow Ratio. CAGR. Current Ratio. MRR. Working Capital. EBITDA. Quick Ratio. Acid Test. CAC. COGS. Gross Burn Rate. IRR.
Now that I have you Dazed and Confused (MillaJovovich was memorable in that 1993 movie), I am a bit confused as well. My case in point is Peloton. Once the darling of Wall Street, this “fit-tech” company scaled quickly but now has fallen on hard times. They have taken a beating after peaking early in the pandemic as homebound consumers turned to Peloton’s bikes to stay in shape, but sales have since turned to a trickle with the stock falling 80% from its all-time high in early 2021. I do understand that people returning to gyms, the supply chain, and competitive pressure have slowed Peloton sales down, but what I do not understand is how their Board and senior executives allowed headcount to grow exponentially, leading to the span of control actually spiraling out of control.
Peloton is expecting a $313 million operating loss – and better late than never finally took action last week by replacing CEO John Foley…and unfortunately terminating 2,800 employees, which was 20% of their workforce. So, while the consistent spiral of Peloton resulted in the Board finally taking action, can someone please explain to me how a company can cut 20% of its workforce and maintain operating efficiencies?
If I am Peloton investor, my first and big question is WHAT THE HELL WERE THOSE 2,800 PEOPLE DOING AT PELOTON IN THE FIRST PLACE, IF YOU COULD JUST CUT THEM FROM YOUR PAYROLL? I’m not the sharpest pencil in the stack so can someone please enlighten me? Here is a side note just to add a bit of fuel to the fire: Last December, while Peloton’s stock continued to plummet, former CEO Jim Foley bought a $55 million home in the Hamptons. He hosted an invite-only holiday party for Peloton instructors, though he had canceled a company-wide holiday event and froze hiring. Foley is laughing all the way to the bank while 2,800 people are looking for a job. Disgusting behavior.
Some mid-February things I think I think:
Amazing that it had not happened earlier, but there was finally a failure with a private space entity. Last Thursday, space exploration company Astra had their first launch result in the rocket spiraling out of control and losing its payload of satellites. I’m sure Astra will be back bigger and better very soon.
I’m a decent athlete but to date I have not conquered the art of ice skating. Then I watch what Nathan Chen does to earn a gold medal. I cannot imagine having that type of ability while wearing ice skates. My friend Richie can…he is a big Brian Boitano fan. 🙂
What exactly is Russia’s end game with their buildup of troops on the Ukrainian border? Let’s hope the Russians pull their troops off the border soon before this escalates into all-out war.
LSU’s Joe Burrow against the University of Georgia’s Matt Stafford in tonight’s Super Bowl. I am hoping that this game follows the thread of those crazy-fun playoff games.
Inflationary woes continue to be top of mind. Some of this is due to the supply chain issues, which certainly are not getting any better with Canadian truckers blocking entry points into and out of the United States…but that is a story for another time. On September 25th of last year, I posted about the number of cargo ships that were in queue off the coast of California, waiting to offload their cargo at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. That number was sixty-two. Almost five months later, this update comes to us from the Wall Street Journal: As of February 8th, the number of container ships queuing to enter the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach declined to 78 vessels, down from the peak of 109 ships reached a month earlier, according to the Marine Exchange of Southern California. C’mon…there must be a way to speed up this process. Maybe we should employ SpaceX and NASA to help solve our supply chain issues? Moving the new StarShip spacecraft prototype to Kennedy Space Center’s 39A launch pad is a logistical nightmare:
Maybe SpaceX can solve the supply chain issue?
The day originated as a Western Christian feast day, to honor one or two early saints named Valentinus. That means tomorrow is Valentine’s Day – have fun and enjoy!
With an ownership group that includes Magic Johnson and Will Ferrell, the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) plays in the Western Conference of Major League Soccer. The club began play in the 2018 season at the beautiful Banc of California Stadium, and over the last few years one member of the ownership group is well known to insert himself into the thread of the team. Will Ferrell attends most home games, some away games, and is serious about soccer and his club. I can’t explain the nuances of Will Ferrell, and after he made another appearance at a team training session, I am sure the LAFC players feel the same as I do. The player front and center is Carlos Vela, who before joining LAFC, played with the Mexican National Team as well as big clubs in England and Spain. Vela’s smile and wonderment with Ferrell is priceless.
Is Ferrell ‘in character’ or is this just Will Ferrell?
Adios, pay it forward, be safe, enjoy the Super Bowl, and all of you have a very nice Valentine’s Day.
Integrity. T-Minus Cruise Ship. Road Charge. Age Is Just A Number.
I’m a football fan. From my days watching the Miami Dolphins win back to back Super Bowls to the Atlanta Falcons epic collapse in Super Bowl LI, the NFL has always been must-see TV for me. There have been many controversies with the NFL as the socio-economics of the league, the owners, the teams, and the players are no different than what happens within major corporate entities around the world.
Brian Flores, the former head coach of the Miami Dolphins, has made some very serious allegations stemming from his tenure as the Dolphins’ head coach, and including interviews he was asked to participate in as many teams look to fill their head coaching vacancies. I am not going to comment on NFL hiring practices and the “Rooney Rule” – that is a subject that stands on its own as one of the League’s major failures. What I will comment on is Flores’ allegation that the Miami Dolphins owner, Stephen Ross, trying to position the Dolphins with a higher draft pick, offered Flores a $100,000-per-game bonus for every loss by the Dolphins in the 2019 season, Flores’ first as the team’s head coach. Would Brian Flores lie as a backlash for Ross firing him after this past season? Would Stephen Ross actually attack the integrity of the game by offering his head coach money to lose games?
The commissioner of the NFL, Roger Goodell, works for the NFL team owners and is reportedly paid a base salary of $63 million annually. He has dealt with many issues with teams and their personnel – but this issue is not about player personnel issues. It is about the integrity of the game. In so many ways I hope Brian Flores is lying…but why would he? What is your take?
As if the cruise ship industry has not suffered enough, another faux paus puts the Royal Caribbean brand in a bit of disarray. About fifty five miles east of where I live in Orlando, Florida, sits Port Canaveral. Just a few miles away from the port is Kennedy Space Center, which has never been more active with the private space exploration companies seeming having a launch once a week.
After three previous attempts were delayed due to poor weather, last Sunday’s SpaceX Falcon 9 launch was aborted just seconds before launch. No, not due to weather or a hardware/software issue, but because a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, against any and all protocols, sailed into the NASA “hazard area” off the Florida coast. Seriously people, are you telling me that the NASA/SpaceX and Royal Caribbean/Port Canaveral peeps had a failure to communicate? All indications are that NASA/SpaceX followed the proper communication advisory protocols, and that Royal Caribbean and the ship’s captain failed to stay away from no-go zone. NASA and SpaceX have not taken this failure lightly and the U.S. Coast Guard has launched their own investigation into this serious breach of protocol. As I have been told a few times…you can’t fix stupid.
There may be a cruise ship captain looking for a new job.
Just when we think the never-ending saga of interstate highway construction finally completed, for example the section of I-4 that cuts through Orlando, we learn that there is a possibility that many interstate highways may have to be replaced or retrofitted. No way, you say?
While I have written about the stake in the ground from Ford and other car makers with their commitment to electric vehicles, there has not been much discussion about electrical load factors servicing the onslaught of vehicles needing electricity to run. So some very smart people have decided that similar to placing your phone on a charging pad, constructing highways with electrical charging capabilities is the “road of the future.” In a few years, cars going down a road in a historic section of Detroit will theoretically be able to charge their batteries as they drive. That’s the goal of an Israeli company that is finalizing an agreement with the state of Michigan’s Department of Transportation to build the roughly one mile long experimental roadway.
If an electric car is capable of wireless charging journeys on powered roads, the thinking goes, it would be able to drive with virtually unlimited range, its batteries never running out of juice. Does anyone else predict some very interesting issues with this road technology?
This looks to be a very simple retrofit.
On Friday night, a group of us had dinner at the local trattoria, when one of our friends sent a group text. The look on everyone’s face, including mine, was one of puzzlement. I just don’t know what to say about this comparison.
I have no words….
The countdown continues: five weeks to Daylight Savings Time!
Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a Funday Sunday.
